WARM WINTER KISSES a feel good Christmas romance novel

by STEEPLES, JILL

  ‘Don’t worry about it; the fish will still be there another day. And Zak’s gone home now. He hung around a while to make sure you were okay. You gave us all quite a fright.’

  I grimaced. I was supposed to be here to help Rocco. So why, with each passing day, was I feeling more and more like a liability?

  ‘It was a bit more than a fall, Beth. Your temperature was sky high and you were talking gibberish.’ So no change then, I thought, smiling inwardly. ‘The doctor seemed to think you may be suffering from nervous exhaustion.’

  ‘Doctor? What doctor?’

  This was getting weirder by the moment.

  ‘Do you not remember? He examined you earlier. You spoke to him, but to be honest you weren’t making a lot of sense. Kept going on about Lexi and Martin? All sorts of strange things were coming from out of your mouth.’

  My head hit the pillow again with a thud. I hoped I hadn’t let slip anything too embarrassing. Particularly anything about Rocco. I mean, the sort of thoughts I’d been harbouring weren’t fit for public consumption.

  ‘The doctor took some blood tests just to be on the safe side, but he reckons a couple of days rest and you should be back on your feet again.’

  ‘Look I’m sorry, Rocco,’ I said, my mind assaulted by the long list of jobs that still needed to be done. Gingerly I attempted the getting out of bed manoeuvre again. My feet found the floor, but my head was spinning like a whirling dervish. ‘I’m feeling much better now,’ I said, trying to convince us both. ‘I’ll make a start on reorganising the filming, shall I?’

  ‘You’ll do no such thing,’ he said, pushing me gently back down again. ‘And everything’s taken care of anyway. Sylvia’s downstairs, she’s desperate to come up and see you, but I wanted to make sure you were up to visitors first.’ He smiled, shaking his head as if he were having a joke at my expense. ‘I’ll send her up with a cup of tea.’

  ‘Oh, that sounds wonderful, but let me phone the agency first. I can get them to send a replacement. They’ve got plenty of good people on their books. You won’t want me hanging around here making a nuisance of myself.’

  Rocco stood up and put his hands on his hips in a display of artful masculinity.

  ‘Are you always this difficult? Would you please just do as you are told and rest? Despite what you may think, I can manage perfectly well without you for a few days. I certainly don’t want to be bringing anyone new in at this stage. We can start filming again next week when you’re better.’ He ran his hand through his dark curls. ‘Besides, I need to be up in town for a few days anyway, to sort out some business.’

  ‘Oh, right.’ I sighed. Really, it would be an ideal time for me to leave then. He didn’t have to act as my nursemaid, just because he felt lumbered with me. And the good thing about temping is that there is always another contract round the corner. Besides, putting some distance between Rocco and me would probably be a good thing. Being in such close proximity was, I decided, seriously damaging to my emotional well-being. From my disadvantaged position on the bed, I said,

  ‘Well, in that case I think I’ll go and stay with my sister for a while.’

  He clasped my hands in his, raising his eyebrows in barely disguised irritation.

  ‘Your sister who is newly engaged and newly pregnant and is busy making plans for a wedding?’ He really knew how to turn the knife. ‘That sister? You need some peace and quiet, Beth, and you’ll get that here. So that’s an end to it. Okay?’ He sounded very matter-of-fact and I wasn’t sure I had the energy to argue with him. ‘Sylvia will keep an eye on you while I’m away; she’ll keep you fed and watered. And I expect you to be here when I get back with a little more colour in your cheeks and the sparkle in your eyes again.’

  I gulped. Why was he being so nice to me? If he carried on like this there was a danger of me dissolving into tears.

  ‘Do we have an agreement?’

  I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

  ‘Good.’ He bent down and kissed me gently on the forehead, a hint of musky aftershave wafting from his shirt collar, his light covering of stubble grazing my cheek. It was only a kiss. A chaste, well-intentioned get-well kiss from a boss to his employee. But if I was in any doubt about the way I felt about Rocco, that feather-light kiss made up my mind once and for all. I’d fallen, and in a very big way.

  * * *

  I’d sometimes fantasised about being confined to bed with a none too threatening illness, something that required complete bed-rest, endless cups of tea and ample quantities of TLC. In reality, after the first twenty-four hours, when I’d got over the swings in temperature and aching bones, I was bored out of my mind. It’s one thing to be at home with nothing to do, but being in someone else’s place is another thing entirely. All I could do was sit there and think, which in the circumstances, was the last thing in the world I needed to do.

  I was able to reflect on why I had taken Lexi’s news so badly. It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy for her, quite the opposite, in fact. Now that I’d got my head around the fact that my baby sister was having a baby of her own, it was really rather thrilling. If that was what she wanted, then of course I’d be happy for her, but the trouble was I wasn’t certain Lexi knew what she wanted. All her life she’d lurched from one seemingly great idea to another, sometimes with great success but at other times with more dismal results; but marriage and a baby wasn’t something you could easily turn your back on if things didn’t go according to plan. At some indefinable point over the last couple of months, she’d turned into the ‘I know my own mind and what I want from my life,’ sister, and I’d turned into the ‘where the hell is my life leading, what should I do, where will I end up next,’ sister. Without even realising it, we’d performed a complete role-reversal.

  And if I was being honest with myself I suppose I was a little put out that it wasn’t me overflowing with excitement about getting engaged and married and having a baby. Only now could I admit to myself that I wanted all of those things. A little aggrieved that, at five years older than Lexi, no one had ever felt such depths of emotion about me that they felt inclined even to ask. I didn’t realise it until then, but I assumed being the eldest, the sensible one, I’d be the first to get married and give Mum and Dad their first grandchild, but now Lexi had upstaged me, taking away even the possibility. Chiding myself for such uncharitable thoughts I swung my legs out of bed and slipped on a heavy towelling robe borrowed from Rocco. I breathed in the erotic smell, nuzzling my face into the softness, when I heard Sylvia’s tinkling voice at the door.

  ‘Cooee! How is our patient today, then?’

  ‘Oh, Sylvia!’ I was delighted to hear her cheery voice. I turned round to greet her, but all I could make out were her slippered feet. She was hidden behind the biggest bouquet of flowers I’d ever seen. The most beautiful lilies, roses, delphiniums and gypsophila, all wrapped up in cellophane etched in gold and cream and held together with an elaborate bow.

  ‘These have just come for you.’ Sylvia’s head poked round the side of the huge display, a big smile on her face.

  I gasped. No one had ever sent me flowers before.

  ‘Oh my goodness!’ My heart leapt. ‘Here let me help.’

  I took the bouquet from Sylvia and laid them on the bed.

  ‘Aren’t they gorgeous? But who?’ I took out the card that was tucked in at the top, my fingers trembling, my heart thumping with excitement.

  Dear Beth,

  What some people will do to get out of a fishing trip!

  I hope you’ll be feeling much better very soon.

  See ya soon!

  Love Zak xx

  ‘Oh,’ I sighed, inching out a smile as best I could. I was thrilled; what girl wouldn’t be? But what surprised me most was the bitter sense of deflation that coursed through my veins. ‘Isn’t that lovely of him?’ I said, trying to keep the disappointment from my voice.

  ‘Well, Zak has a heart of gold; you know that, don’t you? He’s so generous too and
not immune to the charms of pretty young ladies. You obviously made quite an impression, Beth!’

  I laughed, meeting Sylvia’s raised eyebrows.

  ‘Stop it,’ I chided, catching the mischievous tone in her voice. ‘Shall we go and find some vases for these?’

  ‘Hmmm, I think we’ll need at least half a dozen for this little lot. Come on, let’s see what we’ve got downstairs. We’ll have a nice cuppa while we sort them out.’

  Chapter 9

  At some ungodly hour the next day, my mobile rang, rousing me from the most delectable dream. Groggily, my finger found the green button.

  ‘Morning!’ Rocco’s voice, instantly recognisable, but lacking the smooth tones he’d been using in my dreams, was abrupt and showed no signs of the warm affection he’d displayed only a few days earlier. ‘So, how are you feeling now?’

  ‘Much better, thank you,’ I lied, sitting up in bed, combing my hair behind my ears with my hands, thankful it wasn’t a video phone. It was only a little white lie. Well, alright then maybe it was a huge, great big whopper. In truth, I was still feeling pretty awful, but I didn’t want Rocco thinking I wasn’t up to the job.

  ‘Raring to get back to work,’ I enthused.

  ‘Hmm . . . Are you sure?’ I could just imagine the disapproving look on his face. The hard glint to his eyes, the firm set of his mouth. ‘Have you heard from the doctor about your blood test results?’

  ‘All okay, apparently. Just a throat infection, but he’s given me some antibiotics to clear it. Think I must have been run down.’

  ‘Mmm . . .’ There was a pause before I heard an unedifying snort. ‘Well, I want to make sure you’re one hundred percent fit before you start back again because quite honestly Beth, you’re no good to me if you’re working under par.’

  I sighed inwardly. An albatross around his neck, I suspected. It was only to be expected that Rocco’s sympathy would wane after his initial concern.

  ‘I’m absolutely fine, Rocco. I can assure you of that.’

  ‘Good, in that case we ought to crack on. We’ll go ahead with the filming of the supper scene on the boat tomorrow evening. I was going to cancel but if you’re sure you’re up to it?’

  With everything else going on, it had completely slipped my mind.

  ‘No, that’s absolutely fine,’ I said, weakly.

  ‘I’ll bring Pandora down with me in the afternoon. Perhaps you can remind Zak of the times etc. Tell him not to get too lashed before we start.’

  ‘Of course. I’ll make sure everyone knows what they should be doing,’ I said, mentally running down a checklist of everything that needed to be done. I’d have to confirm with Paul and Dave too, as I hadn’t spoken to them since the incident on the lake. Hastily I grabbed my notepad from the bedside cabinet and scribbled down a couple of things as they flashed into my befuddled brain.

  Putting down the phone with a sigh, I sank back into the pillows feeling a severe relapse coming on. However much better I was feeling I certainly wasn’t up to seeing Pandora. I’d probably need six weeks of therapy and intensive aerobic training to feel fit enough to cope with facing her.

  ‘What’s the matter, lovey, feeling tired?’ I’d managed to drag myself out of bed and was sitting at the kitchen table with my laptop when Sylvia came in and sat down opposite me.

  ‘No, not really. Rocco’s just reminded me that we’re filming the dinner party scene tomorrow. To be honest, I’d forgotten all about it.’

  ‘Oh yes,’ Sylvia’s voice whooped with pleasure. ‘The four of you enjoying a relaxed informal meal together. Now won’t that be lovely? It’ll make for great television.’

  ‘Oh stop teasing. I don’t know why he insists I get involved. Perhaps I’m there just to make Pandora look even more gorgeous. If that’s possible. I’m not sure how relaxed I’ll be making polite conversation. I mean, what on earth will we talk about? Somehow I don’t think we shop in the same places. I can’t think of one single thing we have in common.’ My gaze drifted out of the window, taking in the swathe of green fields that surrounded the house. ‘Apart from Rocco,’ I sighed.

  Sylvia shook her head, laughing.

  ‘Pandy is hard work, I’ll give you that. Still at least Zak will be there to lighten the atmosphere. He’ll make you feel at ease. Just be yourself and you’ll be fine.’

  I sighed, running my hands through my wayward tresses which, not content with having a single bad hair day, had rebelled big-time and were having a mega awful fortnight. I wondered if I could fit in a cut and blow-dry before tomorrow.

  ‘I just sometimes wish I had a little of Pandora’s grace and beauty.’

  ‘Now don’t go doing yourself down.’ Sylvia shook a reproving finger. ‘You’re a lovely, pretty little thing. A natural beauty, I’d say. That red hair of yours sets you apart from other girls and looks wonderful against your lovely creamy skin.’

  ‘Aw, Sylvia, that’s such a lovely thing to say.’

  ‘It’s true, so don’t compare yourself unfavourably to Pandora. I know she’s got a fantastic body and those lovely legs . . .’ Sylvia sighed, wistfully, obviously conjuring up an image of Pandora, ‘and such beautiful hair too and well, that face, it’s like an Egyptian goddess’s, but that’s not everything, is it?’

  I caught the mischievous glint in her eye and we both dissolved into giggles.

  ‘If you’re trying to make me feel better it’s not working, Sylvia. Ah well, as you say, I’ll just have to play to my natural talents, I’ll see if I can find some by tomorrow and hope that Pandora doesn’t cast too large a shadow over my little star.’

  * * *

  The next day I took myself off early in the afternoon and went down to the Painted Lady. I wanted to avoid, at all costs, any last-minute panics. I had a feeling that if Pandora could catch me out at having forgotten something or messed something up, she’d delight in making a point about it. And I wanted to make sure that the boat was looking her best. I took some of the flowers Zak had sent me; two large armfuls which made barely a dent in the profusion of blooms dotted around the house, and arranged them prettily in little jugs around the boat. I lit the stove and had a general tidy up of the cabin. Not that anything much needed doing. Just a plumping up of cushions, a quick wipe of the surfaces and a sweep of the floors and it looked ready for anything— well, good enough for a TV crew to descend, anyway. It seemed a shame really. It was such an intimate and cosy atmosphere, just right for two people sharing a romantic meal on the water under the twinkling night stars. I wondered with a pang if it was something Rocco and Pandora often did.

  Up on deck I hung fairy lights across the painted woodwork and placed tea lights in gold lanterns along the edges of the gangplank. As dusk fell the glittering little lights gave a fairy-tale effect. I was feeling pretty pleased with my efforts until Pandora turned up.

  ‘Oh my God.’ Her distinctive voice with its Eastern European edge, cut into the night sky. ‘It looks like Santa’s grotto.’ I glanced at my watch, my heart sinking at the realisation that, in her inimitable style she’d arrived early. She sashayed along the gangplank as if it were a catwalk. I felt inclined to push her overboard, but the centimetre of professionalism that remained to me just won out.

  ‘I wondered what Rocco was paying you for, and now we all know.’ She threw her head back and chuckled. ‘You obviously have a creative streak, Beth.’

  ‘It looks great.’ Rocco, armed with basketfuls of produce, gave me a warm smile, pushed Pandora out of his way and dumped his gear in the kitchen. ‘What time are the guys arriving?’ Immediately he started unpacking onions and garlic and pulled down a frying pan from the overhead rack.

  ‘Dave and Paul should be here in about an hour. I told Zak seven o’clock, but I think he’s in the pub already. I could always go and rescue him.’

  ‘Don’t worry, Pandora can do that,’ said Rocco, slapping her playfully on the bottom. ‘She needs something to do.’

  ‘At least Zak will pay me some att
ention,’ she whined, her big brown eyes boring into the back of Rocco’s head. She waved her hands in front of her face like some Victorian heroine. ‘I find it so claustrophobic in here; I don’t know how you can stand it.’

  ‘Seven o’clock, Pandora. No later. Or else we’ll start without you.’

  ‘And think how exciting the programme would be then, just you and Beth making scintillating small talk.’ With a toss of her hair, she breezed out, raising her eyebrows in disdain as she passed me.

  Did the two of them spend their whole time bickering? I didn’t think I’d heard either one of them say a single good thing about the other.

  ‘You’re looking better.’ Rocco turned to give me an appraising glance. He seemed relaxed and surprisingly good-tempered. I’d noticed how mercurial his moods were, and knew there was no way of guessing which way the wind was blowing on any particular day. Although one thing I had noticed was that his mood was considerably lighter every time Pandora was out of the way.

  He was looking hot too, dressed casually in a blue chambray shirt and moleskin trousers. I blushed as I felt his eyes travel over my face and then down the length of my body. It was a practised move, one he obviously used on every female he came across, but it worked, making me feel as if I was the most delectable woman in the world. A surge of desire shot through my veins. I could entirely understand why Rocco’s hit rate was so high with the female of the species.

  ‘Thanks,’ I said, unable to hold his gaze. I moved across to the sink to wash my hands in an attempt to get away from the intense scrutiny. Pandora was right. It was claustrophobic in here. ‘What would you like me to do?’

  ‘How about you open this and pour us both a glass?’ He handed me a bottle of chilled Sancerre from the cool bag he’d brought with him. ‘I could do with a drink.’

  For some reason, my hands were shaking and I could feel a flush of heat rise up my neck. I was grateful to have something to do. I poured the wine into two goblets and handed one to Rocco, who raised his.