by Holly Martin
‘What?’ Eden said, catching him staring at her.
‘You’re adorable.’
She frowned and without thinking he bent down and kissed the frown gently away. He pulled back slightly and Eden stared at him with wide eyes.
‘Hi Dougie,’ Josie said.
Dougie tore his eyes away from Eden and gave Josie his best smile. ‘Josie, how lovely to see you. You’re looking beautiful as always.’
He heard a little soft sigh of frustration come from Eden as she tried to move away, but he snagged her hand with his own, entwining his fingers through hers.
Josie blushed at the compliment. He genuinely enjoyed making people feel good about themselves. When he was working for Poseidon Games he’d found that compliments went a long way with the men and women he worked with as well as with the clients. Positive comments about their work or even how they looked meant people went away feeling happy. He hated that women always felt so much pressure to look good and how much that affected their self-esteem. Many of them lacked any kind of confidence at all and even the ones that didn’t seem to have that trouble were often hiding vulnerabilities or sore spots somewhere else. He’d seen a video online once about all these women and how much they hated their bodies and he couldn’t believe it. He thought women were beautiful creatures, and it didn’t matter how big or small they were, what colour their hair or skin was, every woman was beautiful to him. Eden accused him of being a flirt and maybe he was but why not make people feel happy?
‘Good to see you back, we all missed you,’ Josie said, curling a ribbon of hair round her finger. ‘Though I think if I was living in New York, I don’t think I’d ever come back here.’
‘I love Hope Island. The beaches, the views, the people.’ He glanced down at Eden and smiled as he said that.
‘Well, if you get bored and you want to go out for a drink and have a bit of fun some time you can give me a call,’ Josie said, offering out her number with impeccable timing. She didn’t even have to find her card in her bag.
He smiled at Josie. ‘That’s really kind but, well… me and Eden are seeing each other, we have been for a few months. She wanted to keep it a secret, you know what the islanders are like, but now I’m back I don’t think there’s much point in keeping it a secret any longer, is there honey?’
He grinned at Eden who stared at him in shock.
‘Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realise,’ Josie said, the card disappearing so fast back into her handbag that he wasn’t sure if he had imagined it in her hand in the first place.
‘Don’t be sorry, I’m hugely flattered. And you know, I heard that Simon has a massive crush on you. If you’re looking for some fun, I bet he’d be happy to oblige.’
Josie’s face lit up. ‘Simon Broadman?’
‘Yes, I just ran into him. It seems you’ve definitely got yourself a fan.’
Josie smiled then turned her attention on Eden. ‘I’m happy for the two of you. When will the mug be ready for me to collect?’
‘It’ll be after Christmas now, we’ll call you when it’s ready for collection,’ Eden said.
Josie nodded and gave Dougie another smile before walking out.
Eden took a swipe at him as soon as the door closed. ‘Why did you tell her that we’re seeing each other?’
‘Well technically we are. I see you every day, you see me, I think that counts as seeing each other.’
She rolled her eyes and he couldn’t help but laugh.
‘That will be round the whole island by lunch time.’
‘And that will stop people asking me about my love life. I told you I’m not interested in having some meaningless relationship so it doesn’t matter what people think about us.’
‘And what about me? Just because you’re not interested in meaningless sex, doesn’t mean that I’m not. I happen to love meaningless sex.’
The customers in the pottery café went silent as they all listened to this conversation. Eden didn’t seem to notice.
‘You said you weren’t looking for love after what happened with Stephen,’ Dougie said.
‘Stephen hasn’t put me off dating. He might have shown me I’m rubbish at it but I’ve not given up. I know I’m not seeing anyone at the moment and my sex life is a bit sparse of late but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to date anyone. If someone nice came along and asked me out, I might say yes, I might not, but I’d at least like the option rather than you taking me off the market without my permission.’
He brushed his hand through his hair. He hadn’t even thought of that when he’d quickly fumbled for an excuse to give to Josie. And although he hated that he’d upset Eden and she was perfectly right in her outrage, he was secretly very pleased by that outcome. He didn’t want anyone to go out with her. The thought of someone else kissing her, making love to her, was not pleasant.
‘I’m sorry, but if your sex life is a bit lacking, I don’t mind helping you out.’
‘You just said you didn’t want meaningless sex,’ Eden said, clearly exasperated, and he loved to see the fire in her eyes.
He hooked an arm round her waist and pulled her against him. ‘Believe me honey, there’d be nothing meaningless about it.’
She stared up at him, her face just a few inches from his, and for a fraction of a second her gaze wandered down to his lips before snapping back up to his eyes again.
‘Go on Eden, go for it,’ Barbara Copperthwaite from the chemist called across from the corner. ‘It’ll be the best decision you ever make.’
Eden blushed furiously and disentangled herself from Dougie’s arms, suddenly realising that everyone had been listening to them. Well, she’d hardly been discreet.
‘Go on, get out, before you completely humiliate me,’ she said.
‘Can I get a coffee first before you cast me out on the street?’
‘Clare, can you get him a coffee, make sure it’s extra sweet,’ Eden said, obtrusively, knowing full well he didn’t take sugar in his drinks.
Dougie smirked as Clare Crissell, Eden’s lovely assistant, got his drink ready. He turned his attention back to his best friend.
‘Are we going to the Christmas festival together this afternoon?’
Eden sighed and he could see that she was thinking of some excuse. Thankfully Clare came to his rescue.
‘There’s a couples’ snowman-making competition this afternoon, you two should enter,’ Clare said, handing him his coffee. ‘I know Bella and Rome are entering with their respective partners. Sounds like a lot of fun. The families’ one is tomorrow, my two boys are really looking forward to it.’
‘That does sound like fun,’ Dougie said.
‘And a perfect opportunity for you to show the whole town that we are in fact a couple,’ Eden said, pointedly.
‘Ah come on, it’ll be good to do something with Bella and Rome, and there’s no way we can let them win when we both know our snowman-building skills far surpass theirs.’
‘Dougie, I think I’ve made one snowman in my lifetime, we so rarely get a lot of snow here in the Scilly Isles.’
‘Well now is the time to start. Besides, I have years of experience building snowmen from the heavy snow we get in New York.’
‘That’s what you did with your time out there?’ Eden said and he could tell she was thawing slightly.
‘Oh yes, I’ve built hundreds. Look, if we don’t win I’ll do something for you, anything you want, no questions asked,’ Dougie said, wondering what he was letting himself in for with that offer.
‘Well that’s an offer you can’t refuse,’ Clare said, waggling her eyebrows at Eden in her not so subtle attempts at matchmaking. Dougie wasn’t blind to the efforts of the islanders to get them together but it was going to take a bit more than a few comments and eyebrow-waggling to get Eden to fall in love with him.
‘OK, deal,’ Eden said, suddenly, an evil glint in her eyes. He got the feeling that he was going to have to pull out all the stops to make sure he did win now.
<
br /> He offered Eden some money to pay for the coffee but she shook her head, so he kissed her on the cheek instead. ‘I’ll see you here at one, beautiful.’
She smiled at him and he left the shop.
Now all he had to do was look up how to make the perfect snowman.
Chapter Five
Eden waved goodbye to Clare and her family as she locked up Pots and Paints. The café was open seven days a week, so it felt a bit strange to be closing halfway through the day, but as all the other shops were shutting for the opening of the Christmas festival and all the islanders would be in the park for it too, there didn’t seem much point in staying open.
She looked down the street at all the other shops, lit up with beautiful Christmas decorations. Large oversized snowflakes twinkled from above and multi-coloured fairy lights, strewn across the roofs, danced and sparkled in the light fog that had descended on the island since that morning.
She loved this time of year: the decorations, the festivities and parties, all the wonderful food and delicious sweet treats from the various bakeries and sweet shops in the town. She loved buying presents for her family; finding the perfect gift that she knew would make them smile. She loved the Christmas music and the silly Christmas jumpers. It really was her favourite time of the year. Maybe she should wish for it to be Christmas all year round when she went to Mistletoe Cove the following night.
The last few stragglers were locking up their shops and hurrying off to the park for the start of the festival, when she saw Dougie strolling down the road towards her. As he drew closer she didn’t know whether to be delighted or horrified by the fact that he was wearing the exact same Christmas jumper that she was. But as always he had the biggest smile on his face and it was hard to find it in her to do anything to take that smile away.
‘What’s this?’ Eden gestured to his jumper as he bent his head to kiss her on the cheek.
‘Team colours,’ Dougie said. ‘I saw it in a shop in town and knew I had to buy it. I bought supplies too.’ He held up a large bag. ‘The rules clearly state that couples are allowed to bring their own props and I think our snowman will be the smartest dressed snowman Hope Island has ever seen.’
Nothing seemed to dampen Dougie’s spirits, he always seemed to be high on life. Just being around him was contagious; he made her so happy too. And that’s why she could never tell him her feelings for him – she never wanted to lose him as a friend or lose this wonderful close relationship they had now.
She had long since reconciled herself to the fact that nothing was ever going to happen between them but as long as she had this, then she would be happy. Well, as long as Dougie stayed single, she would be happy. She didn’t think that she could cope with watching him go off and marry somebody else.
He took her hand, linking his fingers through hers as he led her down the street. ‘Come on, we don’t want to be late.’
Eden looked down at their joined hands and smiled. Maybe pretending to be a couple wasn’t going to be the worst thing in the world.
They quickly arrived at the park and it was clear that the Christmas festival was well underway, with hundreds of people wandering around the market, tasting the wonderful foods and enjoying the different activities. Children were squealing and laughing with delight at the ice skating rink or the small toboggan run or excitedly queuing up to meet Santa in his grotto. With the beautifully decorated Christmas trees donated by local businesses lining the edge of the festival and the gingerbread-style houses for the Christmas market, the place looked beautiful and magical. The island had never done anything like this before; it looked like a winter wonderland.
Over on the far side of the park, near the ice skating and sledging, was a small paddock filled with fake snow. The idea being that people could come along whenever they wanted and play in the snow, but for the first two days of the festival there were going to be three snowman-building competitions, one for couples, one for families and one for friends. Crowds were already starting to gather to watch the event and Dougie pulled her over in that direction.
Angela, the new mayor, was directing proceedings, shouting instructions through a megaphone. When the old mayor had stepped down a few months before there had been lots of people who wanted the job, but it seemed Angela got it because she was something of a mini local celebrity, having published a crime story that year. According to Angela’s sister, who also had wanted to be mayor, the book had only sold twenty-nine copies but that didn’t stop Angela dropping it into the conversation at every available opportunity.
Eden waved at Angela as she and Dougie went over to greet the others. Bella and Freya gave them both a hug and Rome and Isaac wandered over too.
‘Good to see you’ve finally woken up,’ Isaac said, clapping Dougie on the back.
‘Ah, sorry to fall asleep on you last night,’ Dougie laughed.
‘No worries, that flight from America is always a killer.’
‘Look what a cute couple you two make,’ Rome said, dryly, eyeing their matching jumpers. ‘And I hear on the grapevine that you two have been a couple for several months.’
Eden laughed, nervously. ‘That was just a bit of a misunderstanding.’
‘Well, you’re wearing matching jumpers, holding hands and entering into a couple competition,’ Rome said. He turned to Dougie. ‘Are you sleeping with my sister?’
Eden rolled her eyes. She knew Rome was only joking but he did have a huge overprotective streak.
Freya swatted Rome’s arm. ‘That’s none of your business.’
‘No I’m not,’ Dougie said.
‘Good job too,’ Rome said. ‘She can do better than you.’
Dougie’s smile fell off his face and he dropped Eden’s hand. Anger flared up in Eden so fast she nearly lashed out at her brother.
‘Don’t say that, that’s a horrible thing to say,’ Eden said. ‘Dougie is an amazing, kind, sweet, generous and wonderful person and any woman would be lucky to have him. I know you’re only joking but that’s nasty and absolutely not true.’
Dougie stared at her. They all stared at her. A slow smile spread across Dougie’s face at her overprotectiveness, as if he was secretly pleased she’d stuck up for him.
‘Well said,’ Bella said.
Rome cleared his throat. ‘Wow, Eden. I’m sorry, Dougie. I was genuinely joking. No one would be happier than me if you two finally got together, but if you do, and you hurt her, it is my job as her brother to beat you up.’
Dougie smiled. ‘Duly noted.’
The megaphone suddenly squeaked as Angela turned it back on. ‘Positions please!’
Rome bent his head and kissed Eden on the cheek, squeezing her hand to apologise before they went back to their allocated bays. Dougie went over to the bay next to Bella and Isaac and Eden followed him.
She was still angry at that comment but Dougie didn’t seem to be bothered by it any more as he squatted down to feel the snow.
He looked up at her and smiled when he saw that she was still scowling. He stood back up.
‘Rome was only joking, you know we have a relationship where we mock each other. It’s never meant horribly.’
‘I know, but he shouldn’t have said it.’
‘Remind me never to piss you off,’ Dougie said, slinging his arm round her shoulders and kissing her head.
‘You should already know that,’ Eden said, thawing a little.
‘I do appreciate what you said,’ Dougie said, quietly. ‘You really think any woman would be lucky to go out with me?’
‘Yes, stop fishing for compliments.’
‘Including you?’
‘Dougie!’ Eden groaned in frustration.
‘I’ll take that as a yes.’ He moved in front of her, his hands on her shoulders as he dipped his head to look in her eyes. ‘Although believe me, I’d be the lucky one.’
Eden sighed. ‘You’re such a flirt.’
Angela started calling out the rules and Eden moved out of Dougie’s
arms to listen. It was pretty simple: they had thirty minutes to create a snowman, they could use props and they couldn’t hinder another team. There were three other teams apart from Rome and Bella’s and she knew them all, apart from one couple who were obviously tourists. Everyone seemed to be taking it very seriously.
‘One of these days I’m going to call you out on it,’ Eden said, quietly, and Dougie turned to look at her with a big smirk.
‘You are?’
‘Yes, one day, you’re going to offer me a kiss or to take me to bed and I’m going to say yes. Then what will you do?’
Dougie shrugged. ‘Kiss you and take you to bed.’
Eden stared at him for a moment and then smirked. He was so full of it.
Angela started doing a countdown and Dougie turned away to look at the mound of snow that each bay had been provided with.
‘The key is that we have to make three sections for the snowman, a bottom, middle and the head, because that makes the snowman look more real rather than shapeless. And when we make the three snowballs, we need to pack the snow tightly as we roll it and pack more snow in between each layer.’
‘You really know your snowmen,’ Eden said, bending to pick up a small snowball and packing it with her hands.
‘I looked it up on Google,’ Dougie said.
‘I thought you said you were the expert.’
‘I lied.’
There was no time to be indignant as Angela released the air horn to start the competition.
‘I’m holding you to your deal: if we don’t win, you have to do anything I ask,’ Eden said.
‘Will it involve kissing you and taking you to bed?’ Dougie said, as he bent down and started forming a large ball of snow with his hands.
‘No it will not.’
‘Pity.’
Eden shook her head and added her ball to his larger one, packing the snow around his hands and then helping him to roll the ball through the snow, so it picked up weight. It was getting heavier with every second as Dougie deliberately rolled the ball towards Bella and Isaac’s area. He winked at her as he ‘accidentally’ crossed over their line with the ball and stole some of their much needed snow. He was on his way back over the line when Bella spotted him.