An Unexpected Christmas

by Lori Jennings

  Even though I had stopped thinking of him as Nate Hamilton -Hollywood Actor it didn't stop it from being true. I was not the sort of person that someone like him would seriously date. But this was Christmas, and it was a time for magic, and if that meant that I could spend just a little time with him then I was going to take it – even if it meant that I would have to walk away in the end.

  I opened my eyes and sat up, I couldn’t just keep grinning at myself like an idiot! I lifted one of the books up off the pile on the bedside table, climbed off the bed and headed back downstairs.

  When I walked past the office the door it was firmly shut and I thought about Nate sitting at the desk and working hard even though he was supposed to be on holiday. I knew he had lots of reading to do and probably a lot of other things too and even though I wanted to knock on the door, to talk to him about what our kiss meant I couldn't bring myself to disturb him.

  I made my way into the living room and settled myself in what I was beginning to think of as my chair. It stood between the fireplace and the window so it was nice and cosy and I had a view of the F-type. That view made me smile again and I hoped that Nate would take me for a spin in it soon. As soon as I sat, Toby and Milly move from their spot by the fire and plonked themselves at my feet. I reached down and scratched each of them behind the ear before wriggling into a more comfortable position and opening my book.

  Over the next couple of hours I remained blissfully undisturbed except for a couple of times when Maggie popped into the living room and brought me coffee, which I had tried to tell her not to do but she had insisted, and she had said with a smile that her ungrateful children didn't let her fuss as much as they used too.

  I was about half way through my book when Ella came home from the pub and dropped herself onto the sofa opposite me.

  'How's your headache?' She sent me a small smile.

  'Much better thank you. How was the rest of your afternoon?' I returned her smile and saw her relax into the sofa a little more.

  'It was good. Everyone is planning on meeting for a drink before the carol service. It was nice catching up, I haven't seen Victoria looking so happy, she is so excited to be a mum.' I nodded in response. Ella looked at me for a moment. 'April?'

  I placed my bookmark between the pages of my book and closed it. I knew from her tone that she would want all of my attention. 'Yes Ella?'

  She shifted in her seat and sat up a little straighter. 'Can I ask you what you thought of Daniel?'

  I tried to keep my face neutral but I felt my smile waver slightly, I knew Ella wanted to set me up with him, I just had different ideas. 'He seemed very nice.'

  She let out a sigh. 'Alright, can I ask you then if you fancied him?'

  I thought about it for a moment; he was attractive, and he had a good job, and the jokes he had made at lunch were funny but… That was the problem, there was a 'but'. 'Ella, it's not that he wasn't attractive it's just...' He isn't your brother '…he isn't really my type.'

  Ella let out a heavy sigh then slumped back into the sofa. 'I have known you for what? Ten months and I still haven't figured out what your type is. You have been on one date since we met and it was some guy your sister set you up with, who you only agreed to go out with to shut her up.' She shook her head, 'I just don't get it. You told me that you haven't been in a relationship for what was it? Two years? How can you live your life without a little companionship? Even I have dated, even if I haven't settled yet.' I had heard similar questions from a number of my friends, all of whom were happily married or engaged and I told them all the same thing.

  'I'm not the sort of person to settle.' She tilted her head to one side in a gesture to get me to carry on, to explain what I meant, 'I have read and watched far too much romance to allow myself not to wait for that one person. The one who when I kiss them there is nothing else in the world that I could possibly think about. When I think about them I can see our life mapped out before me. That is why I wait and don't settle for something less. My one, and only, relationship was rushed and ended badly, you know that.' I felt a little bad saying this. I wanted Nate, but I knew it wouldn't go further than Christmas and it was probably the most selfish thing I had decided to do. When he kissed me I had forgotten everything else and I had to stop myself from seeing a life with him because I knew it wouldn't ever happen.

  'But what about having a little fun now and then? You never know it could lead to something more, and Daniel is a great guy – you would make such a good couple.' She sent me an encouraging smile.

  'Your definition of fun is a little different from mine. I'm sure Daniel is a lovely person and in time he will meet the perfect girl for him, I just don't think it's me.'

  She rolled her eyes. 'I'm not going to convince you to go on a date with him am I?'

  'Probably not.' I sent her an apologetic smile.

  ‘Even if I told you that Daniel thought you were sexy, and funny, and he told me to give you his number?’

  I looked at her to see if she was being serious and I could tell that she was. However the kiss that Nate and I shared on the beach entered my mind and I just couldn't bring myself to agree to go on a date with anyone after the way that kiss had made me feel things I thought I would never get the chance to feel. Ella was a much more open person than I was, it seemed that she was always going out on dates and had men asking her out all the time. I had noticed though that there weren't as many over the past few months and it made me wonder if it was something to do with her mystery crush, who I was beginning to suspect might be Roddy.

  'Give who who's number?' I looked up and saw Nate standing in the doorway. I felt a smile cross my face then it wavered at the blank look on his. I noticed that he was wearing the same dark jeans he had been wearing earlier but had changed into a warm black v-neck jumper that I wanted to snuggle up to.

  'Daniel wanted me to give April his number. Will you please try and convince her to ring him and agree to go on a date. I think they would make a great couple.'

  Nate moved into the room and over to the drinks cabinet, he poured himself a whiskey then turned back and leaned against it swirling the amber liquid around the glass. He looked me straight in the eye with a face void of any emotion. 'Do you want to go on a date with Daniel?'

  I could see why he had gone into the acting profession; I had no idea what he was thinking in that moment. I had an overwhelming urge to jump out of my seat and stand right in front of him and tell him that I didn't want to date anyone unless it was him, that no one came close to him, and that I had a feeling that no one ever would. But that would be incredibly melodramatic and I was not that sort of person. I looked him in the eye and after a moment I answered his question. 'No. Not really.'

  I saw a little twitch of a smile then it was gone and Nate turned to his sister. 'Well then, there is your answer.' He held out the glass he was holding towards me and I instinctively took it. Nate turned back to the drinks cabinet and poured another glass and turned back to the room. 'Don't you think April can make her own decisions when it comes to who she dates?'

  I watched Ella's mouth drop open and then close and thought she looked a little like a fish. 'Of course I do, I just want to see her happy.'

  'And you don't think she can do that for herself?' I was looking from Nate to Ella in some weird verbal tennis match, the proverbial ball being my love life. It was a pretty surreal situation and I took a mouthful of whiskey in the hopes that it might help.

  Ella crossed her arms over her chest and stared at her brother. Nate in turn stared back at her. I looked from one to the other. 'Do I get a say?' They both turned to me but neither of them had a chance to answer.

  'Ella, can you help me in the kitchen please?' Maggie had walked in to the living room and taken the attention from me which I was grateful for.

  Ella stood and sent Nate one last glare then followed her mother into the kitchen. I took another slightly smaller sip of my drink and leaned back into my chair watching Nate move across t
he room to take the seat that Ella had just vacated. I watched him take a drink then lower his glass and look at me.

  'I'm sorry about that,' he said gently and I shrugged before taking another sip of my drink. 'You don't have to do anything you don't want to.'

  'I know. I said I didn't want to go on a date with him because I don't.' I watched for his reaction but he just looked at me, there was something off with him which was more than just bickering with his sister. I thought he would be in a good mood after our kiss but maybe he was regretting it, maybe he wished it had never happened and now I was worried the next few days were going to be really awkward and uncomfortable. I didn't know if I could handle that. Our kiss had so far been the highlight of my Christmas and if it was just going to be weird between us then I might as well go home and spend it alone as I had planned.

  'I'm glad.' He sent me a small smile then leaned back into the sofa and pushed his fingers through his hair and dropped his gaze to his glass.

  I may not have known him for long but I knew that that gesture was a sign that he was worried or stressed about something. 'Do you want to talk about it?'

  His eyes flew up and he looked right at me and then to the doorway his mother and sister just left through.

  'I didn't mean that.' I felt the heat rise into my cheeks and I dropped my gaze. 'I meant what it is that's bothering you.' I lifted my eyes back up to his and saw the small smile that had appeared again and I hoped that he thought I was worthy to share his troubles with.

  Chapter Twelve

  Nate

  'I meant what it is that's bothering you.' I looked at her. Shit, was it that obvious? I knew I was stressed out but I thought I was hiding it better. Who was I kidding? I had been in such a good mood yesterday and then this morning but since the call from Ian I had been trying to get as much stuff done as possible. The one highlight in my day had been that kiss. I could have spent all afternoon thinking of that kiss but I had to push it to the back of my mind to concentrate on my work. Looking at April now it all came flooding back; the way she felt against me, the way she tasted. I wanted to kiss her again. 'Do you want to talk about it?'

  I didn't want to talk I wanted to drag her down onto the rug in front of the fire and show her what her kiss did to me. That probably wouldn't be appropriate with my mother and sister in the other room. I licked my lips as my mouth had gone dry and noticed that April's eyes darkened at my action. 'It's nothing.' I managed to say.

  'Clearly it's something.' She smiled at me, 'I have been told I am a great listener and give great advice, so come on, spill it Hamilton.' She had only ever called me Nate and hearing her refer to me as Hamilton brought a smile to my face.

  'Alright.' What would it hurt? Maybe it would even help to tell someone who I wasn't related to. I took a sip of my whiskey then lowered my glass and rolled it between my hands. 'I was really looking forward to this holiday. I have worked practically nonstop for two years and all I wanted to do was spend time with my family and not think about anything until I had to head to Miami the day after Boxing Day but my manager keeps calling me. He sent over three more scripts for me to read which at the moment gives me a total of twelve that I have to get through and make notes on, and I know this all sounds awful because I should be jumping at all the opportunities in front of me it's just...'

  ‘What?’ Her tone was soft and caring.

  'I'm really tired.' I let out a breath. It sounded pathetic. 'I feel like I could sleep for a week and still want to spend all day in bed. I love my job, and I love my life, but I would just like a few days away from it.' I waited for her reaction. I really hoped she wasn't the sort of person to tell me to stop being such a baby and just get on with it. That is what I had been telling myself for the past few weeks, to just suck it up and get on with it but everyone needed a sympathetic ear sometimes.

  She looked at me, then slowly leaned forward and reached out her hand. 'Give me your phone.'

  'What?'

  'Your phone, hand it over.' She was serious. I leaned forward and reached into the back pocket of my jeans and pulled out my mobile then stretching across the coffee table I placed it into her outstretched hand. I watched her locate the power button and switch it off. Then she turned and placed it on the mantelpiece above the fire. She turned back and smiled, 'there! Now your manager can't call you.' I opened my mouth to tell her she might be a little crazy but she held up her hand to stop me. 'I'm sure if it is really important he can leave a message and when he asks why you didn't answer your phone, you can either tell him a crazy person held it to ransom or a phone tower fell down and there was no signal but it is now one less thing you have to think about.'

  I leaned back into the sofa and I couldn't stop the smile forming on my face. 'What about all the reading I have to do? I still have to get through twelve scripts, that is if Ian doesn't send me more, and I have to give him feedback for all of them before I fly out to Miami.'

  A smile, I could only describe as cheeky, crossed her face. 'Well, do you have to read them? Because if you haven't noticed I read, quite a lot actually, and as you know I'm also a movie fan.'

  I shook my head. 'I couldn't ask you to do that, you're on holiday.'

  'So are you, and if I help it will be done a lot faster and you might be able to enjoy some of the Christmas season.'

  She was amazing. I couldn't help myself, I stood and moved around the coffee table and stood in front of her. I held out both my hands and she gingerly slipped her own into them. I tugged and pulled her to her feet then wrapped my arms around her.

  She was short but the perfect height for me to gently rest my chin on the top of her head. I could smell her shampoo, it smelt like coconuts and something I couldn't quite put my finger on. I moved my head so I was speaking into her hair then whispered; 'Thank you.' At my words I felt her run her hands up my sides and around my waist then leaned her head against my chest. I just held her for a moment, savouring the way it felt and how for the first time in ages I could feel myself physically relax.

  'That's alright, what are friends of your little sister for?' Her voice was quiet but her words worried me. Surely she knew she meant more to me than just Ella's friend? I didn't go around kissing all her friends for Christ’s sake. I pulled away but kept my hands on her shoulders and looked down at her.

  'April, I... well.' Oh what was I trying to say? How could I express the way she made me feel? It was too soon, I hardly knew her, but what she did to me was unnerving in the most fantastic way. 'I wanted to talk to you about what happened on the beach.' I watched as she dropped her gaze and bit down on her bottom lip. 'I wanted...'

  I didn't get to finish what I wanted to say as Ella walked through the door. I automatically dropped my hands from April and stepped to the side. As I turned to face the room I realised that Ella hadn't noticed how close April and I had been standing. I wasn't ashamed of my feelings for April, or that I had wanted to kiss her again, and again, until we both couldn't breathe but it was just new and exciting and until I could talk to April about what she wanted then I thought it best to keep it just between the two of us.

  Ella had walked over to the sofa and plonked herself in the spot I had been sitting in only moments before and reached for the tin of chocolates that sat open on the coffee table. April sank back into the armchair and tucked her feet underneath her.

  'What were you talking about?' Ella looked from me to April.

  'When?' April answered.

  'Just now?'

  April smiled at her. 'I was just offering to help Nate with his work... the reading part, you know how bad I am at acting.' I looked down at her and really wanted to find out how bad at acting she was.

  I turned my gaze back to Ella, her eyes narrowed and I thought for a moment she was going to call bull shit but she seemed to accept April's answer and pushed the chocolate she had unwrapped into her mouth then reached for the television remote. April glanced up at me and sent me a small smile.

  'I'll just go and get
those scripts then shall I?' She sent me a little nod and I moved across the room, before I got through the door I turned and smiled at her then headed out to the office to get the scripts.

  We had taken over most of the living room. After I had come back with the scripts Ella had announced that she was bored and volunteered to help Mum with something for the carol service or was it the pensioners' dinner? Anyway they had both left us to it.

  April had curled herself into the armchair that I was beginning to think of as solely her's and I had commandeered the whole sofa, sitting on one side and with my legs stretched out across the rest. The coffee table was covered in scripts and post-it notes in a variety of colours and empty coffee cups. I had already finished a script about a guy who finds out he has a daughter when she turns up on his doorstep one day; it wasn't bad but it didn't grasp my attention, and I really couldn't see myself in the role. The one I was currently trying to get through was some weird sci-fi mash up with werewolves and a robot that was starting to hurt my brain. I lowered the script and turned my attention to the woman sitting across the room.

  She really was beautiful. She had piled her hair up onto the top of her head and secured it with a pen in a way that defied gravity. I knew that all I would have to do was pull the pen out and it would tumble around her shoulders. I watched as her smile broadened and then she bit down on her lip before darting her tongue out to moisten it. I was getting turned on just watching her and then she giggled and the sound went right through me and settled in my chest. I took a deep breath to steady my heart beat.

  'You seem to be enjoying that.' Thankfully my voice came out steady and didn't give me away, 'which is it?'