Christmas Under a Starlit Sky

by Holly Martin

  Ivy didn’t know what it was about him that had her questioning her ‘no men’ plan. It wasn’t the sweet, protective way he wanted to look after her, she knew that. She didn’t need anyone to look after her, she was fine on her own. And it wasn’t the way he just laughed off her sarcastic comments, almost as if he saw through her spiky exterior to the person she was underneath. She didn’t like that person – she was too soft and likely to get hurt and the only way to ensure that didn’t happen was to push people away – but Adam had seemed unfazed. It wasn’t the way he had seemed genuinely interested in her painting either. She painted for herself, because she could get lost in the sensations and the creativity of making something with her hands. If she made money from it that was great, but she didn’t do it for anyone else’s approval.

  Ivy sighed as she added a swirl of gold to the glass. She was all alone in her little workshop and she was lying to herself.

  She hadn’t seen Adam since he’d left her in the shower and it bothered her more than it should. She had stood under the shower for ages, until her body was warm and the pins and needles had faded completely. Afterwards she had dressed in the clothes he had laid out for her, eaten the food one of the porters had brought up for her and still he hadn’t returned.

  Eventually she had wandered down to his office, but the door was closed and she had heard him talking on the phone so she’d left him to it. She’d gone back to her lodge, after checking in with Deborah from the chocolate shop next door, and slept a little while and then reopened her shop for the evening crowd but still there had been no sign of him. But then why would he come to see her? He had done his job as assistant manager, he’d joined the search party and got her out of the ditch. What possible reason would he have for coming by? He had a hotel to run and it was Christmas Eve, he probably had far more important things to do.

  It was getting late now and as her painting didn’t remotely resemble a Christmas tree, she decided to wipe the glass clean and go to bed.

  The wind chime near the front door suddenly tinkled, indicating that it had been opened. She always meant to lock the door once the shop was closed but she never remembered. In that sense she was too relaxed for her own good and one day it was going to come back to bite her.

  Ivy peered round the doorway leading from her workshop into the main shop and couldn’t help the grin from spreading on her face. Adam was standing there, looking insanely sexy, dressed in a thick black winter coat and jeans that showed off his broad thighs.

  As he closed the door behind him and walked towards her, she couldn’t decide if her relaxed attitude to keeping her door locked had finally come back to bite her or all her Christmases had come at once.

  ‘I was just passing,’ Adam said, knowing it was a terrible excuse and knowing she knew it too. He just wanted to see her. Though judging by the huge smile on her face she clearly didn’t mind the impromptu visit. ‘Thought I’d see if you’d made me that cake yet.’

  She laughed, loudly, and he loved the sound of it.

  ‘Not yet, I think you’ve had a wasted trip.’

  Adam shook his head, not taking his eyes off hers for a second. ‘I got to see you so it definitely wasn’t a wasted trip.’

  Her smile faltered a little and he decided then and there he wasn’t going to play games with her. He took a step closer, relishing in her sweet, clementine scent.

  ‘I got caught up with work and when I came up to see if you were OK, you’d gone. I’ve been thinking about you all afternoon.’

  Her eyes widened with surprise. ‘I’ve been thinking about you too.’

  She clapped her hand over her mouth, clearly shocked that she had been so honest with him.

  ‘I just wanted to make sure you were OK.’

  She swallowed. ‘I’m fine.’

  Ivy looked down at the paint on her hands and peeled off some of the dried bits. It seemed he made her nervous and he didn’t know whether to be delighted or saddened by that fact. He stepped back a little. ‘You’re in the middle of painting, it looks incredible. Can I watch you finish it?’

  She waved her hands, dismissively. ‘This is awful, I’ve been too distracted to do anything decent. I don’t suppose your presence here will make things any better, but you can watch me attempt to rescue it if you’re really interested.’

  He smiled. ‘If this is bad, then I can’t wait to see the good stuff. It looks amazing: the shadowing on the branches, the way the baubles stand out so much – you have a real skill here.’

  ‘Those are some of my better ones.’ Ivy gestured to a row of paintings stacked up against the wall. Some of them were snowflakes, some were ponies in the snow, others were of the ice palace or the reindeer. They were all detailed and beautiful pieces. ‘Those aren’t for sale though, they’re all Christmas gifts for the villagers. I was going to take them round tomorrow.’

  ‘That’s very kind, they must have taken you ages to do.’

  She shrugged. ‘They’ve all been so welcoming, looking out for me, inviting me for dinner. I wanted to do something to repay them.’

  She turned her attention back to the painting in her hand. He watched as she danced her fingers across the glass, sometimes using her nails, sometimes bending her finger and using the pointy parts of her joints and ligaments. Her fingers moved so quickly, as if she instinctively knew which parts of her hand to use to get the different results. She dabbed her fingers in different colours and swirled and twisted the patterns across the glass until the tree gleamed with trails of gold, ruby and silver. It looked so real he wanted to reach out and touch it. In a matter of minutes she had produced something that the best artists in the world would take weeks or months to create. She had a rare and beautiful talent.

  She stepped back to admire her work and pulled a face. ‘Not one of my best, you can have it if you want.’

  ‘It’s perfect, I would love to have it.’

  She handed it to him and he held it reverentially, twisting it so that it caught the light.

  ‘Thank you, doesn’t mean you can get out of making me a cake though.’

  She laughed. ‘Why don’t you come upstairs with me to the kitchen and I’ll make a cake while you wait? Then all my debts are paid.’

  Adam stared down at the glass for a moment. He didn’t want her to feel obligated to make a cake for him, especially this late at night – he wasn’t even that keen on cake – but if it meant that he got to spend more time with her then that was definitely a good thing.

  ‘I want a chocolate cake,’ he said, trying to keep the smirk off his face. ‘With three layers.’

  She laughed loudly. ‘Coming right up.’

  Chapter 5

  Neve stood in her bathroom and leaned her forehead against the door. She and Oakley had talked all day and all night. They had ordered more food, neither of them willing to leave the little bubble they had made for themselves. And now, on the other side of the door, Oakley was waiting for her in her bed.

  There had been no suggestion from either of them that he should sleep on the sofa. She had announced she was going to bed and he’d gotten up and followed her up the stairs as if it was the most normal thing in the world. What on earth was she thinking?

  She usually slept naked but she had to put the brakes on this somehow. Walking out there with no clothes on and getting into bed with him was just handing herself to him on a plate.

  She glanced around the bathroom and saw Oakley’s shirt lying over the chair where he had discarded it to have a quick wash. Slipping it on, she relished the wonderful smell of him. She wrapped her robe over the top. Feeling a little less vulnerable, she opened the door, walked out into the bedroom and froze.

  Oakley was sitting up in bed waiting for her, naked from the waist up. The duvet was covering his legs and hips so she couldn’t tell if he was wearing anything at all. He looked divine though. He’d clearly been working out for his new superhero role and the muscles on his arms, chest and stomach were toned and well defined. Sh
e couldn’t help but smile at his mischievous grin.

  ‘Are you wearing any clothes under that duvet?’

  ‘You know I always sleep naked, Freckle,’ he said, innocently. ‘You know I get too hot otherwise. You normally sleep naked too.’

  ‘Well, one of us has to be sensible. We’re supposed to just be friends, remember.’

  She dumped her robe and felt Oakley’s eyes appraise her in his shirt.

  ‘Where’s the fun in that?’ he said as he lifted the duvet slightly for her. She climbed in next to him and briefly saw a flash of his legs, showing he was indeed completely naked and, by the looks of things, ready for action.

  She laughed. ‘You promised nothing would happen.’

  ‘I didn’t promise that I wouldn’t be turned on by the prospect of sharing a bed with my beautiful girl. And I didn’t promise nothing would happen, just that I’d be a perfect gentleman and we could be friends. We can be friends who make love, I’d be happy with that arrangement if you are.’

  Neve giggled. ‘I bet you would.’

  She lay on her back as she stared up at the ceiling. It felt so good to be lying here with him, just like they used to. She was having a hard time remembering why she was resisting him. He was here for one week and she was kidding herself if she thought that she could lie in bed next to him for that length of time and not let anything happen between them. And as he was only here for a week, shouldn’t she be grabbing him and making the most of it now? But nothing had changed, she had to remember that. For all of Oakley’s requests to pretend that this problem didn’t lie between them, it did and to go back to making love and being together would just make everything harder when he left again in a week’s time. And what if they got back together, when would she see him next? How much time could she realistically take off from work to go and visit him? Would flying to see her every spare chance he got grow tiresome or distract him from his job? Could she really trust him to turn down the advances of all those pretty women when he was apart from her for months on end? And what about the secret she promised she would tell him? That would change everything.

  She rolled onto her side and switched out the light. ‘Goodnight, Oakley.’

  He was silent for a moment before she heard him shifting around in bed behind her. She felt his warmth cocoon her as he lay on his side directly behind her. He leaned forward slightly and kissed her shoulder.

  ‘Is this code for you wanting me to spoon you? Because we both know how much you love that sexual position.’

  She couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing. ‘Goodnight, Oakley,’ she said, more firmly this time.

  She felt him shrug. ‘OK, well, just let me know. I’m here all week.’

  He rested his hand on her hip for a moment and then slid his hand round to her stomach, pulling her against him, so her back was against his chest. Her breath stalled. As his breathing became heavy, his hand stayed over her belly and it brought tears to her eyes. In a perfect world, this was how it would be. Lying next to each other every night, cuddled up close, his hand protectively over his unborn child as slowly it grew bigger and stronger. She wanted this more than anything. She had a new dream now and she was going to fight for this one.

  Ivy stood in her kitchen as she threw ingredients into the blender. Her heart was racing at having Adam here. He scared her and attracted her in equal measure. She didn’t want to get involved in a relationship but that didn’t stop her heart from wanting the complete opposite. He smelt so good. Even with him leaning against the unit on the opposite side of the kitchen, she could smell this scent that reminded her of fresh rain-soaked grass and the sweetness of toffee. He was talking to her about the plans for the New Year’s Eve ball and the plans for the hotel in the coming year and she was impressed that, although he was only there for a few months, he was still taking his position very seriously, not just killing time.

  She threw the eggs, flour and milk into the blender on top of the creamed butter and sugar, put the lid back on and fired up the blender to mix them all into a light creamy batter.

  She opened the lid and took the melted chocolate off the stove, pouring it into the batter.

  Adam came up behind her to inspect what she was doing and her heart danced in her chest.

  ‘Smells delicious,’ he murmured, his warm breath on her neck making her heart go into a gallop. Why did he have such an effect on her? He made her laugh and it had been a long time since she had found anything to make her smile. He was sexy and good-looking and charming, but she had been the victim of a charming man before and that had ended badly. She refused to let herself get hurt again. But he’d been hurt too and there was something about him that made her want to trust him.

  She flicked the blender on and squealed as she belatedly realised that she hadn’t put the lid back on. Thick gooey chocolatey batter splattered across the room, all over her and Adam. The mixture hit her in the face and she quickly turned the blender off.

  Silence descended over the room, the only sound the noise of the cake batter dripping off the cupboards and onto the unit tops. Ivy didn’t dare turn round to look at Adam, who hadn’t said a word. She wiped her face and then slowly turned around.

  He was staring down at himself aghast. It was all over his face and clothes.

  She reached up and wiped a finger through the chocolatey mess on his cheek, then popped the finger in her mouth and sucked off the mixture.

  ‘Tastes delicious too.’

  He smirked and the smirk quickly turned into a loud laugh, deep and masculine, and as he continued to laugh, she couldn’t help laughing too.

  He moved closer to her and removed a chunk of batter from her forehead before putting it in his mouth.

  ‘Mmm, it does taste good,’ he said, his eyes on her as he sucked it from his fingers. He suddenly bent his head and kissed the side of her temple, gently sucking the mixture into his mouth. ‘Tastes very good.’

  All humour had gone from his voice now and Ivy couldn’t remember how to breathe as he trailed his mouth down the side of her cheek, kissing the chocolate batter off her skin. He reached the corner of her mouth and kissed her softly there. He paused for a moment, waiting for any kind of reaction from her, waiting for her to stop him but she couldn’t.

  He kissed her gently on the mouth, his hands moving to her waist. She tentatively kissed him back, tasting the chocolate on his lips, and as she let out a soft involuntary moan, he slid his tongue inside, tasting her too.

  His kisses were so soft and so not what she was expecting from him. He was taking his time, being really gentle with her as if she was someone to be cherished. She had never been kissed like that.

  He pulled back slightly and leaned his forehead against hers. His eyes were closed and he was breathing heavily.

  For a moment, a wonderful, blissful moment, she felt contented and happier than she had felt for a long time. She had only just met this man but everything about the kiss had seemed so perfect, so right. But that peace didn’t last long. A few seconds later all her fears and doubts slammed back into her brain.

  She put her hands against his chest and attempted to push him away, though he held onto her. He opened his eyes, studying her carefully, completely unfazed by her reaction.

  ‘I don’t want a relationship,’ she blurted out.

  He didn’t bat an eye. ‘Neither do I.’

  ‘I’ve just come out of a messy divorce.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘You leave in three months.’

  ‘True again.’

  ‘So what was this?’

  He shrugged and kissed her softly on the forehead. ‘A Christmas kiss.’ He stepped back. ‘Let me help you clean this mess up.’

  ‘No, please, don’t,’ Ivy said, quickly rebuilding the wall that he had just knocked down. She needed some space from him now.

  ‘OK.’ He moved to the sink, quickly washed his face and hands and then moved to the stairs. ‘It’s Christmas Day tomorrow, do you have any pla
ns?’

  She shook her head. ‘Deborah or someone will probably invite me round for lunch.’

  ‘Our chef will be putting on a huge Christmas banquet. I thought the villagers had all been invited.’

  ‘I was, but...’

  ‘Being on your own seemed a better idea. I get that. You could join me, I’ll be eating at twelve o’clock. We can sit in the corner and ignore everyone else. As assistant manager, I don’t think I can get out of it.’

  ‘I’ll think about it.’

  He smiled. ‘Don’t think too hard. It’s just lunch after all.’

  She couldn’t help but smile too. ‘OK. I’ll bring the leftover cake.’

  He grinned. ‘I’ll look forward to it.’

  He waved goodbye and left and Ivy let go of the breath she had been holding.

  What was she doing?

  Adam stepped out onto the street and looked up at the cranberry sky, the Northern Lights dancing and flickering across the darkness. It was rare that the aurora was this colour and he wanted to run back inside and drag Ivy out to see it but he knew that she needed some space from him. That kiss had surprised them both.

  No one was out to see the show from the Merry Dancers and somehow it made it all the more special.

  The front door of the lodge opposite suddenly opened and Luke came out from Audrey’s house.

  He watched Luke give Audrey a hug and then step out onto the street.

  That was an interesting partnership. Luke was so closed-off and Audrey had seemed so bubbly when he’d met her a few days before. But Audrey had been there with Luke today, helping him with the pony, so it seemed they were friends at least.

  Luke started walking back to the hotel and jumped slightly when Adam stepped out from the shadows and fell into step beside him.

  ‘Great show tonight.’ Adam gestured to the sky and Luke looked up as if seeing it for the first time. ‘Red is a foretelling of love apparently.’