She looked up and laughed when she saw he was wearing the Santa costume—from the red hat and white beard down to the big black boots.
He had to give it to her—she had kept her word about wearing an elf costume, despite her feelings about Christmas, and she seemed to be taking it in her stride. He also had to admit that he liked seeing her dressed up as an elf! She looked more whimsical and beautiful than ever, and it made him smile to hear her feet making jingling noises as she walked about the department.
The patients loved it, too—especially some of the younger ones—and one or two had even asked where Santa was. Hence the costume. He had decided to join in, and he loved how her smile now made him feel all warm on the inside.
‘Dinner?’
She seemed to think about it.
‘Do we get to wear our own clothes or do we have to stay in costume?’
He grinned. ‘Costume would be fun, but I’ll let you decide. I’m up for either.’
‘Well, much as I’ve enjoyed being Merry the Elf today, I’m kind of looking forward to putting on something that doesn’t itch so much.’
‘Okay. I’ve got us reservations at eight o’clock at Ingrid’s. It’s a restaurant in town.’
‘Sounds great. Thanks.’
‘I thought it might give us a chance to talk about how things are going.’
Her smile faltered. ‘Is there anything in particular that you want to talk about?’
‘No. I just thought that usually when we get home from work we eat and then go to sleep. It might be nice to go out...have someone else cook and clean up whilst you’re meant to be resting.’ He smiled. ‘And, you know... I think going out for dinner is what normal people do, but I’m not sure.’
She nodded, smiling. ‘I’ve heard of the practice.’
‘We might like it.’
‘We might.’
He was still smiling at her, and she was smiling back, and he realised that they were so absorbed in one another that other members of staff were glancing at them with amused looks on their faces. It certainly hadn’t taken long for the hospital grapevine to do its thing.
Kristjan stood up straight, adjusted his scratchy white beard and his big fake belly, and headed off to treat another patient. He felt good because she’d agreed to eat out with him. They needed to get to know one another better and time was running out. He had no idea if she was going to leave or not, and he figured if he knew more about her he might find the thing that would make her want to stay.
Who’d have thought it? The eternal bachelor was trying to make a relationship work.
The only question was...what type of relationship would it be?
* * *
What to wear?
Kristjan had said they were going out for dinner, and Merry wanted to dress up nicely for the occasion, but she didn’t want him to think that she was dressing up for him. This wasn’t a romantic date or anything. They weren’t trying to court one another. It was like Kristjan had said. They were just going to get to know one another better.
So, what sort of dress should she wear to dinner with a friend? There wasn’t much in her luggage, and she’d hardly had time to go shopping for clothes, but there was a simple black dress that she’d put in her suitcase just in case she had to meet Kristjan at a place such as a restaurant.
It will have to do.
Merry slipped into it and stared at her reflection in the bedroom mirror. It still fitted all right—her pregnancy wasn’t showing too much yet, though she thought she could feel an extra rounding to her lower abdomen. Not much. But enough to notice a small change.
And my hair... I need to do something with my hair.
She pulled it back, then scrunched it up high, trying it one way, then another. In the end she just swept it up into a clip, added some small diamond stud earrings and put on some lipstick and eyeliner.
There. That’s not too much. I don’t look like I’m trying too hard.
She slipped into a pair of heels, sprayed her wrists with perfume without thinking about it, and stepped out into the living area to wait for Kristjan.
He was already there, dressed smartly in dark trousers and jacket and an ice-blue shirt that matched his eyes.
He took her breath away, standing there like that, looking so smart and formal, and when he smiled it went straight to her heart and it began to pound faster.
‘You look beautiful, Merry.’
‘This old thing? Oh, I’ve had it for years,’ she replied, suddenly nervous.
It’s not a date. It’s not a date. It’s not a date...
She distracted herself from his appreciative gaze by picking up her bag and coat.
‘Here. I got you something.’ He passed her a small parcel wrapped up in a gold paper and bow.
‘For Christmas?’
‘No. For now. For agreeing to stay. At least until the roads are clear.’ He smiled.
‘Oh... I feel bad that I haven’t got you anything.’
‘Just open it.’
With nervous fingers she undid the bow and carefully opened the paper to find the Nicola Drake book that she’d wanted.
‘Kristjan! You shouldn’t have!’
‘I saw that you wanted it.’
How sweet was that? But, knowing she was in danger of being swept off her feet by this charming, sexy man, she refused to take her eyes off the book and look into Kristjan’s face.
Because if she did she’d want to give him a kiss as a thank-you. And if she did that... Well, then they’d be close, pressed against each other, and she’d be inhaling his scent, feeling the solidity of his body, and her need for him might overcome all sensibility and they’d miss their dinner reservation!
‘This is so kind of you. Thank you. Let me put it in my room, so I don’t lose it, and then we can go.’
In her bedroom, she took a moment to rest against her bedroom wall and take a few deep breaths. What was he doing to her? Giving her thoughtful gifts... Dressing as Santa so she didn’t feel silly being the only one in costume, even though she was the one that had lost the bet... Opening a foundation for orphaned kids...
What else would she learn about this man? There had to be a dark side. There always was. She had to remember that. She’d made rash decisions before about a man and look how that had turned out?
After giving herself a stern talking-to in the mirror, she pasted on a smile and headed out to join him. ‘Are we ready?’
He gave a nod. ‘We are. Ingrid’s isn’t far. But you won’t be able to walk in those heels. Not in this snow.’
‘I can put on the snow boots.’
He smiled. ‘Those heels are nicer. We’ll take the snow sled.’
She bit her lip as he helped her on with her coat, like a perfect gentleman. She was perfectly aware of him standing so close to her. She could even feel his warm breath on her bare shoulders, and it sent shivers to all those perfect places...
‘Thank you.’
‘Wait here. Let me bring it round from the shed.’
She waited, with butterflies in her stomach, as she heard the engine start up and the sound of the purring machine as it stopped outside the front door.
When he came in and offered her his arm he quickly grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch. ‘So your legs don’t get cold.’
He told her to sit side-saddle, draping the blanket over her legs, and leaned in close to tuck the blanket around her thighs. Feeling his hands on her again almost doubled her heartbeat, and she badly hoped he wouldn’t notice her reaction to him. Thankfully he got onto the sled himself, wrapped her arms around his waist and held her with one hand—surely only for extra security?—as they quickly motored to the restaurant.
Ingrid’s really wasn’t far. It was small. Cosy. Intimate. Full of dark corners and perfect for private conversations. But i
t was also very aware that it was Christmas, and there were huge garlands draping from the thick wooden beams, with frosted slivers of orange and cinnamon sticks and poinsettia-red ribbons. Candlesticks gleamed. Sconces glowed. And a cascade of silver and white baubles hung from the ceiling like drops of snow.
A waiter received them and seated them in a corner booth, and Merry smiled at the table decoration. Three white tealights floating in a bowl that looked as if it had been carved from a silver birch tree.
‘This is nice. Have you been here before?’
‘Once or twice. We had the staff Christmas party here last year.’
‘Where are you having it this year?’
‘Wonderland.’
‘Oh.’
‘You’re very welcome to come. In fact, you should make sure you do. It’ll be fun.’
‘Well, we’ll see...’
She pretended to straighten the cutlery, though it didn’t need it. The table was perfect. As was this evening. As was he. Which was why she was trying to find fault with it. And she felt awful for doing so.
‘What would you like to drink?’
‘Oh, just a fruit juice or something will be fine.’
‘I’ll join you.’
‘You don’t have to.’
‘I know, but I will. I am driving, after all.’ He signalled to the waiter. ‘Could we have two apple juices, please?’
‘We have apple, pear and ginger? Will that be all right?’ the waiter asked.
Kristjan looked at her for confirmation and she gave a brief nod.
When the waiter had left to get their drinks, Kristjan seemed keen to get the conversation going.
‘I was very impressed that you stayed dressed as an elf all day.’
‘Well, I’m a woman of my word.’
‘I can see that—though I’m not sure anyone else would be able to wear it as well as you did.’
She smiled. ‘And you made a good Santa.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Do you think you’ll make a good father?’
The question was out before she could think about what she was asking, and her cheeks flamed red with heat.
But then she thought to herself, Well, we wanted to get to know one another a bit more. We might as well discuss what’s going to be important...
‘I hope so... Yes, I think I will be a great father. Given the opportunity.’
‘You want to be involved?’
‘How could I not? As soon as you told me about the baby I... And then when we saw the baby on the scan it was just...’ He shook his head, clearly lost for words. ‘I’ve never felt like that before.’
‘It was amazing...’
She felt her heart soften at the thought of the ultrasound. To see her baby moving the way it had! Jumping, slipping, sliding, waving its arms and legs! Its little heart pounding away! A real person already! It was incredible, and it was all going on inside her body. She was creating—no, growing the future.
‘How does it feel to know you’ll soon have your very first blood relation?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know. I veer from being amazed to incredulous to disbelieving from one moment to the next. I don’t think I’ll quite believe it’s really there until I hold him or her in my arms.’
He nodded. ‘I’ll be honest with you... I never thought I wanted this until it happened, and now I just know that I want it more than anything.’
‘I know what you mean. I’d resigned myself to being single for the rest of my life, maybe getting a cat or two, but...’
‘You can still have a cat or two. We do have pets here in Iceland.’
‘I’d much rather have my baby.’
She looked into his ice-blue eyes and saw exactly the same feeling mirrored back. He wanted this child as much as she did. It was a new opportunity for them both. But they needed to know how they would manage it. How it would work and who would have custody.
‘Do you think it’s a girl or a boy?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know.’ She’d had dreams of both. ‘Do you want to find out before the birth?’
‘Do you want to?’ he replied.
‘I think I’d like to know. So I can plan. Decorate a nursery. Do all that kind of thing.’
‘Agree on names?’
The waiter arrived then, with their drinks on a tray, which he served up along with their menus, before disappearing again.
Merry liked it that he didn’t get in the way, like in some places where the waiters were constantly in your face, asking questions. Did they want the wine list? Could they get them anything else? Did they like the food? She hated that.
To be fair, she didn’t know if he would interrupt their meal or not, but from what she’d seen so far the staff here liked to disappear into the background and let the atmosphere and the restaurant speak for itself. Taking a sip of her drink, she nodded at how wonderful it was—sweet, with a kick of ginger that warmed the palette. ‘You’re thinking of traditional Icelandic names?’ she asked.
‘I like Icelandic names, but I’d rather pick one that we both agree on, whether it comes from my country or not.’
Damn. He was still being chivalrous. What was there not to like? Or to pick fault with? Perhaps he was too giving? Perhaps she had stumbled from one man who took and took to one who gave and gave? Was that why she was intrigued by him? Attracted to him? Because he was the polar opposite of Mark?
She would have to be careful. Very, very careful.
‘I guess names can wait until we know what it is.’
‘Agreed.’
They picked up their menus and she pretended to be studying the selection, but in reality she was stealing glances at him. Watching his eyes as he read the offerings, trying to see if she could detect any hint of nastiness in his features that might speak of someone with a hidden dark side. But she could see nothing but his eyes, which spoke of kindness and generosity and sex appeal. Come-to-bed eyes. Let-me-undress-you eyes. Let-me-make-you-feel-good eyes.
She’d looked so intensely into those eyes once. In Hawaii. Amazed by the man she’d been with. Kristjan. A tall Viking. With long blond hair that he wore in a plait down his back, a beard, huge muscles...
If it wasn’t for the fact that he wore a suit and carried a cell phone she would have imagined he’d either stepped off a film set or off a longboat and mislaid his horned helmet and axe.
Perhaps it was the raw maleness of him. His outward appearance of someone who could take care of whoever he was with. Could offer protection.
Merry had never felt protected in her entire life. She’d been taken care of by her adoptive mother, but their roles had been so quickly reversed. She had never felt the way she did when she was with Kristjan.
‘See anything you fancy?’ he asked.
‘I’m sorry—what?’
He looked at her with amusement. ‘On the menu?’
‘Oh, right. Sure. Erm...what do you recommend?’
‘How are you with fish?’
‘Good.’
‘Okay. The scallops with a parsnip purée and pickled figs sound good.’
‘Great.’
‘Cod fillet for main? With garlic mash and champagne sauce?’
She nodded, and watched as he got the waiter’s attention and gave their order. It was feeling as if they were on a date. Even though they’d both said it wasn’t. But there was no way she was going to get into a relationship with this man. With any man, thank you very much. She couldn’t afford the risk to her heart.
Did Kristjan constitute a risk? Was it wrong of her to judge him on another man’s standards?
They were going to co-parent, so they were going to be involved with each other to some degree, but just how much would that be? Because if he was going to continue being chivalrous and lovely and kind and amazing, s
he didn’t know how her poor little heart was going to end up!
Kristjan was intoxicating her.
She had butterflies in her stomach, performing a full aerobatic show.
She sipped at her juice. ‘This place is nice.’
‘It is. The chef is a very good friend.’
‘Do you know everybody around here?’
‘Well, when you don’t have any family you make time for lots of other people.’
‘And this is quite a small community?’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you ever find that restrictive? Knowing that everyone knows your business?’
‘No. It’s nice, in a way. People look out for one another here on the mountain. I know I could count on anyone to come to my rescue if I needed it.’
‘You’re lucky, then. I’ve always felt alone.’
‘Is that why you got married so young, do you think? So you would have someone? To make a family?’
‘Maybe... I was a bit of a daydreamer. And Mark seemed so much wiser. So distinguished. Perhaps I was looking for a father figure? I was a big romantic. I’m not now.’
‘You don’t make any time for romance?’
‘No point. It never seems to end well. Every person I know who’s in a relationship has problems and difficulties.’
‘But isn’t that part of human nature, though? We have problems and difficulties with our friends, too. In any type of relationship.’
‘So why haven’t you ever got involved with someone, then? What’s stopped you?’
Kristjan shook his head. ‘I loved my parents. When I lost them on the mountain pass it broke my heart and I swore I would never care for anyone like that ever again. Plus, I experienced a little of what you just talked about. I saw all these other people having problems, giving themselves and losing pieces of who they were just to fit into a relationship and make it work, and as I got older I decided I was never going to compromise who I was. I was never going to lose any pieces of myself. I was just going to be me.’
‘So you’ve always been single? You’ve never been in a committed relationship?’
‘No, and I never intended to be.’
The Icelandic Doc's Baby Surprise Page 9