by Nikki Moore
Two in the morning found them sitting outside on a frozen wooden bench, an inch of snow crunching underfoot, giving the night a fairytale feeling. Despite her mum's protestations, Holly had proved herself Champion again, and was giggly as a consequence. After Fizz, Buzz they'd drunk creamy Baileys over ice, played monopoly, Pictionary and charades, and at one point Holly had laughed so hard that rum and coke had shot out of her nose. She'd put on a funny Christmas jumper as they'd left the back room, and now she shivered, huddling into his side.
'It's a shame about the jumper,' he remarked, studying it, praying his eyes didn't cross.
'Yeah, I'm sorry I had to ruin your fun by reminding you of what day it is,' she hiccupped.
'It's not that. I was just sad to see the sexy dress covered up.'
'Oh.' Her eyes brightened, 'Oh, do you like it? I designed it.'
'You did?'
'Yeah,' she paused, eyes sliding closed, then jerking upright. 'After the injury, when they said my knee wasn't healing right, that it would never be the same again and I couldn't skate professionally any more … well, it was bad. For a while at least.'
'So what did you do?' he wrapped an arm around her shoulders for warmth.
'Felt sorry for myself then realised I had to make other plans. So I studied design at college and decided to set my own company up designing and selling figure-skating dresses. It's something I know about, what's comfortable and what isn't, what emphasises and what distracts.' She raced straight on into her next thought. 'Noel?'
'Yes?'
'You don't like Christmas because your mum died at this time of year, and you broke up with your ex, and I get those are horrible associations to have, but you must have had some nice Christmases growing up?'
'My mum did love it, and the ones I can remember with her were … really special.' He drew in a deep breath. 'My grandparents raised me, and loved me, but they weren't very warm people, and were deeply religious, so it was all about the Christian tradition, and symbolism, not the kind of Christmas a kid who'd just lost his mum needed. They passed away a few years ago, six months apart.'
'It must have been hard,' she took a sip from the beer she'd brought out. 'But can't you start creating Christmases that you enjoy?' she suggested in a soft voice. 'After all, it's not about the time of year really is it, why you don't enjoy it? It's about that relationship, those people. The memories. So you should try and separate it out in your head. Spend some time with your family, just for the enjoyment of being with them, and don't worry about the whole exchanging presents thing.'
'I don't have any left.' His arm tightened, and he picked up her hand, tracing a pattern over the knuckles.
'You have your friends,' she replied, breath audibly hitching, squirming on the bench. 'Family is whatever you want it to be, whatever that might look like. Sometimes you choose them, it's not always who you're stuck with through blood.' She laughed. 'And maybe you should be glad, I mean look at my lot! They're pretty overwhelming.'
'Well, your aunt did pin me up against the fridge and tell me the mistletoe was pointing in our direction earlier.'
'Nooo,' she shook her head from side to side, blinking slowly.
'And they are pretty overwhelming. But I like it. And you're part of that. You overwhelm me.' Sod no complications, and not risking his heart. He had to get to know this positive, bright, energetic girl better. It might not be part of the plan, but it was the only thing that made sense.
'Say again?' Holly sat bolt upright, gazing at him. 'In what way?'
'In a good way.' Sliding his hands around her waist, he hauled her in close, watching her watching him.
An endless silence grew, and she leaned in to him. 'What is it?'
'You're worried about what happened with your ex-fiancé, and about needing to focus on your business.' He summarised, despite the fogginess of alcohol in his head. He wanted to get this right.
'I- yes.'
'But I'm not here to hurt you.'
'Okay.' Running a hand up over his broad shoulders, she stroked his stubbly cheek.
'Okay.'
'So?' she nudged.
'So?'
'Are you going to kiss me, or what?' she blurted.
'Oh, that. All right then. But we might have to conduct a risk assessment,' he joked. 'After all, kissing in the snow could be a dangerous activity, or if there's too much heat-'
'Ha ha,' she murmured, and solved everything by kissing him.
He was gratified when she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and clung on, moaning when he lifted her up and sat her on his lap. He ran a hand up her bare thigh, then broke away from her luscious pink mouth, framing her face with gentle hands.
'Merry Christmas, Holly.'
'I thought you didn't like Christmas,' she said breathlessly, twirling shaky fingers through his dark hair.
'Still don't,' he said bluntly. ‘I still think it's stressful, expensive and driven by retailers.'
'You do?' she looked disappointed.
'I don't think I'll ever like it, but I do like you, so I'll consider not hiding in my man-cave.'
'Yeah?'
'Yes.' Resting his forehead against hers, chest to chest, the button of his coat caught her jumper, starting up an electronic, jangly Silent Night.
They both roared with laughter, their cold breath forming clouds between them.
'There's something I should probably tell you,' Holly admitted.
'What? Another ex? A child? A horrible disease that will cause hideous boils?'
'Nope. Just that I hate summer.'
Noel smirked, 'Wow, what a pair. Well, how do you feel about spring? Is spring all right?'
'Spring is good,' she grinned, 'I guess during certain times of the year we'll just have to distract each other.'
'I can definitely see certain activities being distracting enough to keep me happy.' He kissed her, hard and fast, and when he lifted his head she looked dazed.
'Wow,' she breathed.
'Yes,' he agreed. Squeezing her tight, he nodded. 'You know, you were right.'
'Right about what?'
He grinned. 'The unexpected things can be the best parts.'
'They can,' she nodded, blue eyes sparkling. 'Hey, what are you doing?' She yelped as he dug his phone out of his pocket and she almost slid off his lap into the snow. 'You're not texting or calling someone now?'
'I am,' he arranged her on his lap and looped his arm around her, holding on tight. 'I'm going to text Matt and thank him.'
'What for?' she rested her head against his broad chest, snuggling in.
'For making me take Jasper Skating at Somerset House.'
Coming soon from Nikki Moore…
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Coming soon from Nikki Moore…
Tap the cover to preorder now.
Also by Nikki Moore…
Crazy, Undercover, Love
Nikki Moore
I've adored writing and reading since forever and have always been a sucker for love stories so I'm delighted to be part of the fabulous HarperImpulse team! I write short stories and fun, touching, sexy contemporary romance and really enjoy creating intriguing characters and telling their stories.
A finalist in writing competitions since 2010, including Novelicious Undiscovered 2012, I'm a member of the fantastic Romantic Novelists’ Association. I blog about three of my favourite things – Writing, Work and Wine – at www.nikkimooreauthor.wordpress.com and am passionate about supporting other writers as part of a friendly, talented and diverse community, so you'll often see other authors pop in!
You can find me at https://www.facebook.com/NikkiMooreAuthor or https://www.facebook.com/NikkiMooreWrites or on Twitter @NikkiMoore_Auth to chat about love, life, reading or writing… I'd love to hear from you!
About HarperImpulse
HarperImpulse is an exciting new range of romance fiction brought to you from the women’s fiction team at HarperCollins. Our aim is to break new talent from debu
t authors and import the hottest trends from the US, bringing you the very best in romance. Whether that is through short reads for your mobile phone or epic sagas that span the generations we want to proudly publish romance fiction that gets everybody talking.
Romance readers, come and meet the team at our website www.harperimpulseromance.com, our Facebook page www.facebook.com/HarperImpulse or follow us @HarperImpulse!
Writers, we are simply looking for good stories! So, what are you waiting for? To submit, e-mail us at [email protected].
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