A Little Christmas Faith (Choc Lit)

by Kathryn Freeman

  ‘You don’t have to use them.’ God, his heart was racing more than it did during a serious work-out. ‘I just thought I’d make myself useful while I was here.’

  ‘It’s the extension I talked about,’ she whispered, raising one hand and pressing it to her chest. ‘I can’t believe you were even listening to me rabbit on about it, never mind …’ She tailed off, shaking her head. When she finally looked at him again, he was astonished to see tears in her eyes. ‘The pool room, the side extension. You’ve added hints of the old building, but not tried to make it look the same, which never works.’

  He cleared his throat. ‘Is it okay? You can take the bits you like and discuss it with another architect—’

  Her mouth covered his, stopping all speech, which was fine by him because he’d never been good with words. He guessed, by the way her body was climbing over his, her hands running under his shirt, that she was pleased with the plans he’d drawn.

  ‘I love them,’ she whispered, her breath hot against his neck. ‘They’re perfect.’

  So are you, he wanted to say, because it was true. He’d never met a woman so giving, so smart, so damn sexy. But her body was pressing against his and the desire to talk was easily eclipsed by the desire to take her in his arms again.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Faith looked around the crowded restaurant and felt a burst of pride. It was true nearly half of those tucking into the amazing turkey dinner, courtesy of Antonio and Mario, were her family. Also true that of the others, most were here not through choice but because last night’s heavy snowfall had made many roads treacherous to drive on. Still, listening to the busy hum of conversation, scanning her eyes across animated faces wearing party hats, tables crowded with cracker remains, the warm glow of the fire in the wood burning stove, Faith had a sense of what was possible.

  ‘Lord of all she surveys.’ Her father smiled over at her. ‘Admiring your new kingdom?’

  ‘More like feeling grateful it’s not just me and the dogs.’

  He chuckled. ‘My daughter’s hotel was always destined to be busy over Christmas. Had to be some reason you dragged that ruddy great tree in here.’

  Feeling stupidly emotional, Faith had to take a drink before she could speak. Maybe that was what was making her so sappy. Too much wine. ‘A few people’s misfortune turned into my good fortune. If it hadn’t been for the weather and Giles’s faulty electrics, today would have been a different story.’

  His hand reached out to grasp hers. Rough, the fingers slightly bent now, the joints swollen with arthritis, it still held surprising strength. ‘All businesses need a drop of luck. Those who succeed follow up on that luck with hard work and discipline. I know you’ll provide the latter two.’ He nodded towards the tables of guests; the family with their two little kids, who’d decided to stay for lunch and visit their family later, when the roads were expected to be clearer as the snow was beginning to melt. Alongside them were the guys from the pub quiz who were sharing a table with Giles and his wife. Then there was Joe, Mary and, sitting next to Stuart, a happy looking Chloe. In the corner sat Emma and her family, with Adam. Their table wasn’t wearing party hats. It was a table of quiet conversation, rather than raucous laughter but Adam was smiling and looking surprisingly relaxed for a man eating with his ex-wife’s family. ‘And in that lot,’ her father continued, including all of the diners with a wave of his arm, ‘you have a bunch of avid supporters who’ll help spread the word. This time next year, there’ll be no room at the inn.’

  ‘Maybe this time next year the inn will be looking to expand.’ Faith knew she was running ahead of herself. Still, if you were going to dream, you might as well dream big. And that was so easy to do now she’d seen what her hotel could look like.

  Her father chuckled. ‘That’s my girl.’

  A few moments later she became aware of her father studying her. ‘What? Have I got bits of sprout stuck between my teeth?’

  ‘No. But for the last minute your eyes haven’t left that Hunter bloke.’

  Guiltily she tore her gaze away from Adam’s dark head. ‘Sorry. I was just remembering what he gave me this morning.’

  Her father made an odd, strangled noise and then began a coughing fit. On the other side of her, Faith’s mother laughed. ‘Darling, I just came in on the end of that conversation. And unlike your father, I’m dying to hear what Adam gave you this morning.’

  Her father made that noise again, and Faith began to giggle. ‘Jeez, Dad, get your mind out of the gutter. I was talking about the designs Adam drew up for me.’

  ‘The man has designs on you,’ her father muttered, which made Faith laugh even harder.

  ‘And why wouldn’t he have?’ her mother countered. ‘Our daughter is a smart, beautiful woman with her own business. Of course men are going to want to pursue her.’

  Faith’s smile slipped a little. Pursuing her when she was in the same building was very different to pursuing her when she was at the other end of the country.

  ‘Now, about these designs.’ Her mother turned her sharp gaze towards Faith. ‘What were they for?’

  She could feel herself starting to blush, which was ridiculous. She wasn’t that thirteen-year-old girl being quizzed on the love letter the boy next door had sent her. The designs felt that important to her, though. Felt as if, with every clever stroke of his pencil, Adam had tried to convey feelings he hadn’t verbalised. ‘Some ideas for the extensions I bored him about one evening.’

  ‘Adam’s an architect?’ Tom, Hope’s husband asked.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And the plans are detailed?’

  Faith didn’t know much about architects’ drawings. ‘Well yes. It’s not a sketch, if that’s what you mean. He’s put measurements in there.’ He’d listened when she’d told him about making a quadrangle, she thought with a flutter. Listened and remembered every detail.

  Tom blew out a breath. ‘Then congratulations. If you like them, you’ve just saved yourself a small fortune in architect fees. I should know. We just paid three grand for drawings of our house extension.’

  Automatically her gaze flew to Adam, and the black T-shirt he was still wearing. It really did fit him perfectly, hinting at the beautiful body beneath. But it had only cost her fifteen pounds.

  Her mother touched her arm. ‘He would have done it out of a desire to help. Not to have you fretting over the cost.’

  As if aware they were talking about him, Adam looked up and caught her eye. He gave her a small smile, though his eyes said more. They said he wished he was sitting next to her. Wished they were alone.

  Warmth surged through her veins, pooling between her thighs.

  ‘I remember a time your father looked at me like that,’ her mother murmured, causing her father to cough yet again. ‘So, is the delectable Mr Hunter still planning on going home tomorrow?’

  Reluctantly Faith dragged her eyes away from Adam and onto her mother. ‘Yes.’ And just like that, her chest felt tight, the turkey that had been merrily digesting now sitting heavy in her stomach.

  ‘You’re going to miss him.’ Her mother didn’t form it as a question. ‘Any plans to see him again?’

  The air rushed out of Faith’s lungs. ‘Not so far.’ Would he ask tonight? Tomorrow morning just before he left? Even if he did, would it be wise, considering the chance of them actually being able to see each other on a regular enough basis to continue a relationship was pretty much zero? And that’s before she factored in the feelings he obviously still had for his ex-wife.

  Faith’s gaze slipped away from his and immediately Adam felt its loss. There was something about Faith, about the way he connected with her, that didn’t just flame his desire. It soothed him. Made him feel hopeful for a future that held more than the emptiness of the last three years. But tomorrow he would be saying goodbye to that connect
ion. He couldn’t help but feel he’d be saying goodbye to that hope, too.

  He tried to focus back on his lunch, and the people he was sharing it with. For the most part he’d enjoyed it. Emma’s mother, Cathy, had opened her arms to him the moment she’d seen him. Her simple gesture had made a hundred stilted words redundant. Then her father, Peter, had shaken his hand, looked him squarely in the eye and said, ‘it’s great to see you again, son.’

  Adam had been too choked to reply. For three years, he’d believed he’d lost this substitute family. He’d understood – of course they had to side with their daughter. Yet incredibly here they were, sharing Christmas lunch with him. Three people who understood why he was still haunted by the day. Understood why he couldn’t laugh and joke and wear party hats. Not yet, not while it still felt raw.

  He could however sit at a table with them and eat turkey. Share conversation about everything he’d missed over the last three years.

  ‘And Ruth?’ he asked, resting back against his chair. So far they’d all been careful to avoid her name but he’d had enough of dancing round the topic. ‘What’s she up to these days?’

  Cathy glanced at her husband, clearly not sure how to answer. In the end it was Emma who answered on a huff of frustration. ‘We should tell him.’ She turned to Adam. ‘The friend I told you Ruth’s spending Christmas with? It’s a guy she’s been seeing for the last six months. She seems really taken with him. I think he, more than anything, has helped her become her old self again.’

  As the words registered, Adam braced himself for his response, but none came. There was no sting of jealousy, or pang of regret. No flash of anger that she’d got on with her life while he’d still been wallowing. Actually, maybe there was some anger, but it was directed at himself, not her. Why had he let what she’d said to him rule his life for so long?

  Because you believed it.

  And the gut-wrenching part of the whole sorry mess? He still did.

  Reaching for his wine glass, he took a big gulp and forced his focus back on the conversation. ‘I’m glad she’s doing well.’

  Cathy studied him, her eyes shining with understanding. With compassion. ‘She’d like to—’

  ‘I already mentioned that to Adam,’ Emma cut in. ‘I don’t know about you guys, but even though I’m stuffed I’m going to help myself to some of that Christmas pudding. And drown it with brandy sauce.’ Beneath the table, Adam gave her hand a grateful squeeze. ‘Any other takers?’

  ‘Months old dried fruit and suet?’ Adam shuddered. ‘I’ll pass.’

  Faith was back at the buffet. The brothers had outdone themselves today, piling up the heated trays with everything anyone could possibly want from a Christmas lunch. There had been turkeys, crisp roast potatoes, a selection of stuffing, sausages wrapped in bacon. Parsnips, perfectly cooked Brussels, their flavour helpfully hidden by the pancetta they’d been sautéed in. Very little remained.

  Now her eyes devoured the choice of trifle, mince pies, fruit salad. Or Christmas pudding. Okay, there was no choice.

  ‘That looks like heaven.’

  Having landed a generous portion of the pudding into her bowl, Faith turned to see Emma watching her. ‘I’d be willing to wager it tastes like heaven, too. And a million calories.’

  Emma screwed up her face. ‘Calories don’t count at Christmas.’

  ‘Let’s hope it’s true.’

  She was about to leave when Emma spoke again. ‘You and Adam. You seem to have something going on between you.’ She peered over at her. ‘Sorry if I sound nosey. It’s just Adam’s important to me. And I get a sense he’s important to you, too.’

  Unsure what to say, Faith went with a noncommittal, ‘oh?’

  Emma laughed, her blue eyes glinting. ‘You’re as bad as Adam. I told him about the way you wouldn’t tell us his room number and how it made me think there was something going on between the pair of you, but he wouldn’t admit to anything. Said it was hotel policy.’ The laughter eased, her face turning curious. ‘It’s more than that, though, isn’t it? You sounded protective of him.’

  ‘He’s our first guest.’ Faith gave her a professional smile. ‘I guess that gives him a special status here.’

  ‘He is special.’ Emma briefly touched her hand. ‘I hope I’m not the only one who can see that.’

  Faith didn’t know what to say, what to think. ‘Don’t you want Adam and Ruth to get back together?’ she blurted. They were clearly all so close, she couldn’t see how, now he was back in the fold of his ex-wife’s family, he wouldn’t soon be going back to his ex-wife, too. His first and only love.

  Emma looked momentarily taken aback. Then, slowly, understanding dawned in her eyes. ‘He hasn’t told you what happened, has he? Why my sister divorced him?’ Faith shook her head. ‘Maybe you should ask him. He needs to talk about it and it might help you understand him more.’

  Faith’s hand clutched at the bowl of Christmas pudding as she watched Emma walk back to her table. When Adam had offered to talk about that part of his life she’d turned him down, afraid he was doing it because he felt he had to. But if Emma was right, talking might help him as much as it would her.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Adam gave Emma one last hug before she ducked into the passenger seat of the Discovery. Her parents were already in the back, her husband in the driving seat and looking keen to set off before it got too dark.

  ‘Stop worrying,’ she told Adam for the umpteenth time. ‘The snow has been melting fast since this morning. Plus the travel websites say the Lakes were the worst hit. As soon as we get onto the motorway, we should be okay.’

  He didn’t like the thought of them driving in the snow, though. Not one bit. They bloody knew how dangerous icy conditions could be. But he also knew they needed to get back. Emma’s in-laws were coming round for lunch on Boxing Day. And Ruth would be expecting to see them tonight.

  ‘Please take care,’ he managed, gripping at the door handle.

  ‘I’ll text you as soon as we’re home.’

  His stomach twisted anxiously as he watched their car ease out of the car park.

  He didn’t relax until he got Emma’s text several hours later.

  You can stop worrying now, we’re home. Enjoy your evening. Say thank you to the pretty hotel manager from us. E x

  She’d added a damn winky face emoji.

  He stabbed out a reply, his fingers far too big for the silly touch-screen keyboard.

  Pretty? I hadn’t noticed. Glad you’re home safely. Thank you for coming. A x

  With a sigh he put down the phone and flicked over to another channel, bored of the film he’d been watching. He’d seen The Great Escape too many times. Then again, now he realised the choice was that, Finding Nemo or It’s a Wonderful Life, maybe he’d finish the ruddy film. See if Steve McQueen managed to escape this time.

  It flickered on in the background but his mind wasn’t on it. It was on the hotel manager he hadn’t noticed was pretty. Probably because to him she was more than that. Stunning. Gorgeous enough to make his heart stop. They were more fitting descriptions.

  The restless feeling returned. He wanted to see her, spend as many of his last remaining hours as possible with her, but her family were here. He couldn’t impose.

  Heaving out another sigh, he settled back to watch the film.

  An hour later, just as Steve McQueen was captured yet again, there was a knock on his door. He shifted off the bed, telling himself not to get his hopes up.

  But when he opened the door, those hopes rocketed skywards. ‘Hey.’

  Faith gave him a big, warm smile. The one that reached into her eyes and bathed him in it. ‘I wondered if you’re up for a glass of whisky and a turkey sandwich?’

  ‘Do you come as part of the deal?’

  She reached up to g
ive him a soft kiss on his lips. ‘Yes.’

  He cupped her face and kissed her back. ‘Count me in.’

  ‘The rest of my family is playing Monopoly downstairs,’ she told him as she opened the door to her place.

  Halfway inside, he halted. He knew how important her family were to her. ‘Do you want to join them?’

  ‘Are you kidding?’ She slipped off her shoes, bringing the top of her head down to his shoulder level. ‘I swear my father cheats. He always ends up with hotels on Mayfair and Park Lane.’

  ‘So I’m here because you hate losing Monopoly?’

  Pulling at his hand, she led him into her sitting room and pushed him down onto the sofa. Then she crawled onto his lap. ‘You’re here because I missed you this afternoon. Because I want to make the most of you before you go.’ Her mouth trailed kisses along his jaw. ‘And because I hate losing at Monopoly.’

  Laughter shot out of him and he shook his head as he gazed down at her. ‘What is it about you?’ he murmured.

  Her head, currently resting under his chin, shot up. ‘What do you mean?’

  He hadn’t meant to say it out loud. ‘I just realised I haven’t laughed since I left you this morning.’

  ‘I make you laugh?’ When he nodded, her lips curved into a smug smile. ‘I’m going to take that as a huge compliment. Want to know a secret?’ Before he could answer she was talking again. ‘When you first arrived here I thought you’d never smile, let alone laugh.’

  It hadn’t been too long ago that he’d felt the same way. ‘I hadn’t done much of either until I came here.’

  The body wrapped snugly in his arms tensed and Adam drew her head back so he could look at her. ‘What is it?’

  She kept her head down, her fingers fiddling with the button on his shirt. ‘Yesterday you offered to tell me what had happened to you. Why you hate Christmas.’

  Now he was the one whose muscles were tensing. ‘I did.’