A Little Christmas Faith (Choc Lit)

by Kathryn Freeman

  He glanced down at his sweaty running kit. ‘Am I allowed to change first?’

  ‘Well yes, obviously—’

  ‘Chill, Aunt.’ Chloe rolled her eyes for the second time that morning. ‘He’s joking.’

  And yes, now her fluster level had started to abate, she could see amusement lighting up those striking grey eyes.

  ‘Give me fifteen minutes and I’m all yours.’

  Thankfully Chloe waited until he was safely out of earshot before bursting into giggles. ‘See, he’s just told you he’s yours.’

  Faith let out a long, shaky breath. ‘Sadly, even if that wasn’t just a figure of speech, I fear I’m too rusty to take him up on it.’

  ‘Rusty?’

  ‘I haven’t been out with a guy for … coming up to two years. Not since Patrick. I’ve been so focused on buying and doing up this place. Besides, my experience with Patrick taught me it’s hard to juggle a full-on career and a relationship. Easier just to forget men for a while.’ She gave her niece a long, questioning look. ‘How about you, Chloe? Any boys caught your eye?’

  Chloe’s face turned the colour of her hair. ‘No.’ Immediately she turned away, making a great show of straightening up a pile of notepads that was already perfectly straight.

  Faith took the hint and dropped the subject, though at least now she had an idea of what was troubling Chloe. It had something to do with a boy, and friends who were no longer friends.

  Adam glanced at the clock out of habit. It had taken him exactly fifteen minutes to shower and change, just as it did every morning, whether he was going to work or not. He found it hard to turn off, hard to relax. Here he was in a hotel three hundred miles away from home, with nothing he had to get out of bed for, and he’d still woken up at 5 a.m. Oh he’d tried to go back to sleep, but his mind wouldn’t let him. It was in those early hours, when it was still dark outside, that his thoughts often turned dark, too.

  Especially at this time of year.

  Sometimes he could fend them off, force himself to think of other things. This morning though, even picturing Faith, and all the things he’d like to do to her, hadn’t done the trick. In fact it had only made things worse, his mind bringing up images of another woman, her face glowing with laughter as she’d watched him put up their Christmas decorations. Directing him where to hang the silly yellow cab driven by Santa that they’d bought in New York. Where to put the mad saxophone-playing reindeer she’d bought in the sales.

  Then her face the last time he’d seen her. Angry, her anguished eyes spitting fire at him. Her cold, bitter tongue wishing him dead.

  Unable to bear the memories any longer he’d jumped out of bed, shoved on his kit and gone out for a long run as the sun had slowly come up.

  The exercise had helped, as it always did. Now as he made his way to the reception desk, and to Chloe, he thought he could handle anything. Even a teenage girl.

  But as he neared the desk he came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Chloe bent over her phone. Tears pouring down her cheeks.

  Bollocks.

  Crying teenagers were way outside his field of experience. Instinct told him to turn away, to give her some space. Hell, who was he kidding, he wanted out for his own selfish reasons. He had no clue what to do, what to say. Enough people had tried to comfort him over the years for him to know nothing ever worked, anyway.

  Before he had a chance to decide whether to stay or bolt, she looked up.

  ‘Is now a bad time?’ Of course it’s a bad time. She’s bloody crying.

  Chloe rubbed a hand vigorously over her face. Fifty years ago, a man faced with this situation would probably have had a handkerchief to give her. Adam had nothing except his wallet and room key.

  ‘I, umm.’ Her eyes darted in every direction but his.

  ‘You don’t have to explain,’ he interrupted, belatedly realising he sounded too abrupt. Too much like he didn’t give a sod. ‘Not unless you want to.’

  ‘No.’ She tucked her phone into her skirt pocket.

  ‘Where’s your aunt?’

  ‘Showing someone round.’

  There was an awkward silence during which Adam racked his clueless brain for something to say. He was the adult here. It was up to him to make Chloe feel less uncomfortable. ‘Shall we talk about this information pack your aunt was harping on about?’

  Chloe swallowed, giving her cheeks a final wipe with the back of her hand. ‘Guess so.’

  To avoid crowding her, Adam chose to keep the reception desk between them, though now he was towering over her.

  ‘You can sit round here. If you want.’

  Chloe pointed to the second padded stool next to hers. Not wanting to offend, Adam walked round and wedged himself onto it. He caught Chloe staring at him and gave her a wry smile. ‘I think they’re intended for people smaller than me.’

  As Chloe started to smile, he heard a buzzing noise coming from her pocket. Her eyes flew to where her phone was peeping out of the top and she started to pull it out.

  ‘Why not leave it for a while?’ he suggested gently.

  She swallowed and tucked it back in.

  ‘You know you don’t have to look at it at all. Not if it’s upsetting you.’

  Her eyes welled again and she blinked rapidly. ‘It’s not. They’re not.’

  Ignoring the stray tears rolling down her cheek, he focused instead on her use of the term “they”. ‘Good. But say it was, say some halfwits thought it was clever to write nasty things about someone.’ He was aware of her watching him, though every time he caught her eye, hers shifted away. ‘If that happened, it would really piss the dimwits off if they saw that person had shut down their account.’ He flicked her a glance. ‘Hard to be nasty to someone when they’re not listening to you.’

  She held his gaze for a moment before looking down at the notepad in her hand. He wasn’t sure whether he’d made any sense or whether he’d got the whole thing backwards and actually it wasn’t a bunch of messages that were upsetting her. Still, at least the tears had dried up.

  ‘Shall I tell you some of the stuff I’d find useful in a guest folder?’ She nodded, and he began to talk.

  Adam was aware of Faith before he saw her. Whether it was her subtle scent, or his pheromones mingling with hers he didn’t know. But when he raised his head from where he’d been checking through the list he and Chloe had come up with, he was hit by a bolt of lust.

  It seemed after years of inactivity, years when he’d not wanted to look at another woman, his libido had finally woken up and decided to play.

  Standing next to Faith was a slender guy with slicked back hair, wearing a tight-fitting suit and exuding self-importance.

  ‘Chloe, Mr Bannister would like his wife to take a look at our facilities before he makes up his mind about the New Year booking.’ Though Faith was smiling, Adam had a sense that she wasn’t feeling as relaxed as she was trying to look. ‘Can you make a note in the calendar that she’ll be round tomorrow at midday?’

  Chloe slipped off the stool and opened the computer. ‘What’s her name?’

  Tight-fitting suit raised his eyes. ‘If you’d been listening, you’d have heard. It’s Bannister.’

  Chloe glared at him in the way of all teenagers when they think an adult is looking down on them. ‘I meant her first name.’

  ‘Mrs Bannister,’ the suit replied cuttingly, before turning to Faith. ‘I’ll be honest with you Faith, having a teenager on the reception desk, especially one with hair that colour, doesn’t fill me with confidence.’

  Adam considered himself an even-tempered man, slow to anger, but Bannister’s attitude had his temper bubbling to the surface. Faith might be hamstrung by the need to be polite to a potential customer, but he wasn’t. With deliberate slowness he eased off the stool and walked round to t
he front of the reception desk, glad of his bulk, of his height. It meant he could look down on stuck-up squirts. ‘I didn’t realise hair colour and age were a prerequisite for efficiency.’ Though he kept his tone mild, he hoped Bannister would read the irritation behind it.

  The guy took a step back, and Adam felt a spurt of satisfaction. ‘Who are you?’

  ‘A guest.’ He gave Bannister a cool smile. ‘And I’m happy to vouch for the efficiency of both the hotel and the receptionist.’

  From the corner of his vision, Adam saw Chloe’s lips twitch.

  With the wind taken out of his sails, Bannister nodded. ‘Good to know.’

  Faith turned her focus towards Adam and as her eyes blazed with gratitude, he felt another foot taller. But just as he watched her shoulders begin to relax, he heard the sound of scampering feet. They all turned towards the direction of the noise, which was coming from the hall. Like two fluffy tornadoes, Nip and Tuck came hurtling towards them, knocking baubles flying off the tree as they skirted perilously close to it.

  ‘Oh my God,’ he heard Faith whisper under her breath. And in the blink of an eye, her shoulders were back to rigid again.

  Chapter Seven

  The bottom fell out of Faith’s stomach as she watched the dogs barrelling through the hall. For pity’s sake, was nothing going to go right today? Mr Guy Bannister had been a total jerk, turning his nose up at everything she’d shown him, yet still keeping her dangling on a thread. If she didn’t need the business so badly, she’d have told him to take a running jump, though he might have found it difficult in that eye-wateringly tight suit.

  How on earth was she going to explain the appearance of two wild dogs in the foyer of the hotel Mr Pernikity was considering for his posh New Year’s Eve party?

  ‘Nip, Tuck, sit.’

  Adam’s firm voice brought the dogs skidding to a halt. Though they didn’t park their bums on the floor, they did stand still, faces staring questioningly up at him.

  Faith watched with mounting incredulity as Adam strode casually over to them and picked them up; one cute, fluffy bundle resting under each of his heavily muscled arms.

  ‘Sorry. Must have left my room door open by accident.’ Adam glanced at Guy Bannister with an admirably straight face. ‘I didn’t want to leave them in a kennel over Christmas. I’m sure you can see why.’

  Nip and Tuck gazed up at him, heads cocked to one side, tails wagging, their expressions a glorious mixture of confusion and hero worship.

  The sight was almost too much for her. Adam’s bulging biceps wrapped round her silly, crazy dogs. Laughter bubbled inside, threatening to escape, and Faith knew she was only seconds away from totally losing it.

  In desperation, she bit into her cheek.

  Guy Bannister gave her a stiff smile and, thank you God, walked towards the door. The moment she heard it clunk shut, laughter erupted from her. Bending over she gave in to it, laughing so hard her sides started to ache. Adam caught her eye and grinned, the dogs staring goofily up at him. Behind her, Chloe was almost in hysterics.

  While Faith tried to stop laughing long enough to speak, her parents came dashing into the foyer.

  ‘Oh my goodness.’ Clearly out of breath, her mother’s eyes darted towards Adam. ‘That’s where those little rascals ended up.’

  Nip and Tuck were still gazing adoringly up at Adam, tongues hanging out of the side of their mouths. ‘You’re nuts, you know that,’ he told them before bending and letting them jump down.

  ‘I’m so sorry darling.’ Her mother gave her an apologetic smile. ‘We popped in to check up on them as you’d asked, but your father didn’t shut the door properly and they shot out.’

  ‘Knew it would be my fault,’ her father muttered.

  Faith gave them both a reassuring hug. ‘It’s fine, no harm done. And not the first time it’s happened, either.’ She glanced up at Adam. ‘Thankfully I have a guest who wants to spend Christmas with them.’

  A slow smile crept across Adam’s face and as their eyes met, her heart sped up.

  ‘We’ll take them back. Give them a quick run outside.’

  Faith barely registered her mother’s words, or her parents walking away with the dogs. She was totally unable to drag her eyes away from Adam’s. ‘I don’t know where to start.’ Her voice sounded quiet, husky. ‘Thank you, for defending the hotel, sticking up for Chloe. Risking permanent damage to your masculinity by claiming those two mutts.’

  He laughed softly. ‘I’m not worried about my masculinity.’

  And why would he, she thought, as everything female in her reacted crazily to everything very male about him. It had been a long time since she’d felt such a strong tug of attraction towards a member of the opposite sex. Now it was all she could feel, all she could think about. ‘Can I buy you a drink tonight, to thank you?’

  Something that looked nearer to shock than surprise flared in his eyes and she winced. Damn, had she sounded too forward? Too much like she was asking him on a date, rather than a simple thank you gesture? But you have an ulterior motive, her inner conscience niggled. You fancy him.

  A loud coughing fit broke the awkward silence and Faith turned to find Chloe staring at them, her eyes like blue saucers.

  Oh God, apparently she hadn’t just asked a guest out. She’d done it right in front of her impressionable young niece.

  ‘I’m just going to, umm, get myself a drink of water.’ Chloe was clearly fighting the urge to laugh. ‘You know, for my cough.’

  As Chloe sprinted past her, Faith died quietly on the spot.

  Adam watched her go, a small smile hovering around his mouth. ‘It’s good to see her smiling.’

  ‘Yes.’ He’s changed the subject, she thought miserably.

  He shifted on his feet, looking uncomfortable, and she braced herself for the excruciating thank you but no thank you speech. But then he surprised her. ‘Something was troubling Chloe earlier. I hope I’m not talking out of turn, but when I came back to talk to her about the information pack, she was crying.’

  Faith’s heart lurched, her embarrassment forgotten. ‘Oh no, how awful. She had a moment earlier with me, too. I think some of the girls she used to be friends with have started being bitchy to her. I’m sorry.’

  He cocked his head, giving her a strange look. ‘Why are you apologising?’

  ‘You’re a guest. You shouldn’t have to get embroiled in sorting out my staff.’

  His eyes met and held hers. ‘I’m your first guest. I’d like to think it gives me special status.’

  She had to swallow before she could speak. ‘It does.’

  ‘Perhaps then, after you’ve bought me a drink, that status will allow me to buy you dinner?’

  And boom, just like that, her heart began to thump violently against her ribs. ‘I’d like that.’

  ‘I’m not sure of the etiquette of taking a lady to dinner in her own hotel.’ His eyes smiled into hers and what felt like a swarm of butterflies broke free in her stomach. ‘Shall we meet in the bar?’

  She was pretty certain her face was one manic grin. ‘Works for me.’

  With a nod and another small smile, he walked away, almost bumping into Chloe as she came back through the hall with a glass of water in her hand.

  ‘Well?’ Chloe demanded when he was out of earshot.

  Faith paused, allowing the happiness to ripple through her. ‘I might have just got myself a hot dinner date.’ Chloe whooped, giving her a high five, and Faith forced herself to rephrase, for her benefit as well as Chloe’s. ‘Of course it’s not really a date. Just my way of thanking him for his help earlier.’ But he was the one who’d added dinner to the agenda. Much as she tried to squash it, the thought kept buzzing happily through her head. There was nothing wrong with a little light flirtation. Nothing at all.

 
As they strode back to the reception desk, the smile Faith had been so delighted to see on Chloe’s face, began to slip.

  ‘What is it?’ Faith asked.

  Chloe shook her head. ‘Nothing.’

  Concerned, Faith reached for her hand, giving it a quick squeeze. ‘I know it’s something. Does it involve a boy?’

  ‘Leave it, Aunt Faith. Please.’

  Chloe’s eyes pleaded with her and reluctantly Faith changed the subject.

  Adam dressed for dinner with a lot more care than usual. Scratch that, it made him sound like he went out to dinner a lot. He dressed for dinner with care. Hell, it was enough to say he dressed for dinner, because how many times had he actually done that over the last few years? As he straightened the collar of his shirt, he gazed into the mirror. Even after three years, the bearded face that reflected back sometimes took him by surprise. He’d started growing it because he couldn’t be bothered to shave. Then it had become something to hide behind, as if by covering half his face people wouldn’t be able to see what he was thinking. Lately he wondered if he kept it because he didn’t want a reminder of who he’d been before the beard.

  Faith obviously didn’t mind it.

  She’d asked him for a drink. He felt another surge of nervous adrenaline just thinking about it. Sure she’d done it as a means of thanking him, but the smile she’d given him when he’d extended it to dinner couldn’t be faked.

  She was interested.

  His hand trembled slightly as he reached for his beard trimmer. What had he done? He had no right encouraging a woman when he had no intention of following up on it.

  And he didn’t have … did he?

  Shit, he had no bloody idea where his head was. All he knew was he enjoyed her company. No point overthinking anything beyond that.

  Besides, he still had the evening to navigate his way through. Had things moved on since he’d last taken a woman out to dinner? Was holding the chair out for her, picking up the bill, considered too old-fashioned? He couldn’t even claim to be out of practice, because that presumed there’d been a time when he’d been in practice.