Playboy On Her Christmas List

by Carol Marinelli

  He turned on the big bright lights then and he politely ignored that her mascara was down to her chin as he held up two Advent calendars.

  ‘There’s still five minutes left of Christmas.’

  Even chocolate couldn’t help with the way she felt, but Holly gave a thin smile and took her calendar and went to open the double doors.

  ‘What do you think it might be?’ Daniel asked, but Holly didn’t answer. It was the last chocolate, the last special day, the last of them.

  ‘A chocolate-covered gold leaf star?’ he suggested. ‘Or a little white chocolate dove filled...’

  Oh, dear, just as he was getting the hang of Christmas the master chocolatier failed him. It was another little ball with red and green sticking out and a dusting of icing sugar.

  ‘I think this must be why they ended up in the discount store,’ Holly said.

  They had come this far with their Advent calendars and so were sort of duty bound to eat them really. Even as they opened their mouths and dropped the chocolates in, both hoped they were wrong and that this time it would taste delicious.

  It didn’t.

  ‘I hate glacé cherries.’ Holly pulled a face and swallowed the bitter chocolate.

  ‘And me,’ Daniel said as he did the same. ‘I think the chocolate’s burnt!’

  Then they looked at each other and, though she smiled, it was a sad one.

  He loathed that he had hurt her.

  Really hurt her, he knew, because they had made love this morning, and he had been an utter bastard afterwards.

  ‘Don’t you want to know what’s in the letter?’ Daniel asked.

  ‘I’m going to smash it in the morning and find out,’ Holly said, and they both smiled at the vision of her angrily taking a hammer to that blasted ball.

  But then she started to cry.

  ‘Go away,’ she said.

  ‘I can’t,’ Daniel said. ‘Holly, I’ve been trying to leave for weeks but I can’t. You’ve got me working Christmas, and adopting elephants and lining up in department stores for three hours just to get the perfect gift.’

  ‘Three hours?’

  ‘Which was plenty of time to change my mind, but I didn’t,’ Daniel said. ‘I’m even arguing with elves...’

  ‘Why were you arguing with elves?’

  ‘I don’t think my letter was effusive enough for them and, please, when you smash the decoration, bear in mind—’

  ‘We both know I’m not going to smash it.’ Holly sighed, but then she frowned. ‘Bear in mind what?’

  ‘That it was written before we...’ He really struggled with the next two words. ‘Made love.’

  She smiled at her small victory.

  ‘I shall bear it in mind!’ Holly agreed. ‘So what does it say?’

  ‘I can’t tell you. Elf rules.’

  Holly rolled her eyes.

  ‘Actually, if you guess correctly, I’ll tell you so.’

  ‘I don’t want to guess.’

  ‘What do you think the note might say?’ Daniel insisted.

  And so Holly thought for a moment and she smiled before delivering another little victory. ‘I think it says “Are you on the Pill?”’

  Daniel also smiled at her vindictive reference to that morning. ‘I’m going to love rowing with you.’

  And she could have sworn her earrings flashed, or was it hope that darted past her heart as he made reference to a future us.

  Stop it, she told herself.

  ‘What would you like the letter to say?’ Daniel pushed.

  And she knew what she’d like it to say, but she diluted it down, of course. ‘That you like me a lot.’

  ‘Correct,’ Daniel said in sarcastic response. ‘I got the little elves to write, “Dear Holly, I like you a lot.” What would you really like it to say?’

  ‘Don’t,’ Holly said, ‘because I’ll get all carried away and then...’

  ‘You can get carried away, Holly. What would you like the letter to say?’

  And she would be sophisticated next year.

  ‘That you love me?’ She said it as a question but it was the truth—it was what she wanted the letter to say. She had no pride left and the emotional desert that was Daniel would just have to deal with it.

  He gave a small snort at her soppy response. ‘We’ve slept together twice, Holly.’

  ‘I know.’ She worried her bottom lip. ‘It’s embarrassing really...’

  ‘What is? Your devotion to me?’

  Holly nodded.

  ‘I like it.’ He grinned. ‘Next guess?’

  ‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t like this game.’

  His mouth gaped open and for the second time in their short history he pointed at her. Caught! ‘You wanted it to say “Marry me”!’

  ‘No, I didn’t.’

  ‘Holly, I don’t hold out much hope for us if we’re already reduced to lying. Did you or did you not hope it said that?’

  ‘In very abstract wild dreams, possibly, while knowing of course it didn’t say that...’

  She had to know what it said.

  ‘I’m going to go out to the car now and smash it!’

  She was.

  Holly was through being led down some emotional garden path by Daniel.

  It was four minutes to midnight and with any luck that stupid ball would be history soon.

  ‘Holly.’ Daniel caught her arm as she went to go. ‘Perhaps I should tell you that, for an inordinate sum, you can purchase a duplicate letter.’

  ‘Oh.’

  He opened his new wallet and instead of a condom nestled in the corner there was another shiny silver package and in the teeniest letters she saw her name.

  It was rather tricky to open, but finally Holly got the letter out and she stared at the tiny squiggles.

  ‘I can’t read it.’

  This was torture!

  He went into a drawer and took out the magnifying glasses used for the most delicate suturing and she put them on and the tiny words came into clear view.

  Dearest Holly,

  I can only say this from a distance and only once I’m safely gone.

  Sorry for being so contrary. You truly didn’t deserve it. I want you to know that I’ve been cold and held back because, in truth, if I ever was going to settle down, and if there ever was that one person, then it would be you.

  Daniel xxx

  ‘The elf didn’t approve,’ Daniel said.

  ‘Well, I do.’

  As he took the magnifying glasses off her a part of her didn’t want him to, she just wanted to stare at his words. But as the world came back to normal size she stared instead at him.

  Into those absolute navy eyes that she had fallen in love with on sight.

  And now she could admit it, not just to herself but to him.

  ‘I love you.’

  She’d never said it before, well, to her family and the dog and things, but not in the way she said it now.

  ‘I know,’ Daniel said. ‘And I can’t believe that I didn’t want you to. I can’t believe that I kept trying to avoid hearing those words. But you’re the reason I couldn’t leave and the reason I want to stay...’

  Oh, there was work, and there was his sister, but his world had only fallen into place when she had entered it.

  Life had started to get better the day Holly had arrived and it had made him not want to leave.

  ‘It’s you,’ Daniel told her. ‘And if you’ll have me, and we hurry, you might get that winter wedding.’

  ‘You mean it?’

  ‘I more than mean it,’ Daniel said. ‘I’ve even chosen the location. We’re getting married in a castle.’

  Later he would tell
her about a family holiday and happy memories and miniature castles and motorways on Christmas mornings and all of those things, but right now there was but one thing to be said.

  ‘I love you, Holly.’

  He said the words that he never had to any other and then he lowered his mouth to hers.

  It was a soft and delicious kiss and it tasted of glacé cherries with a faint trace of bitter, burnt chocolate.

  And it was wonderful.

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Carol Marinelli

  SEDUCED BY THE SHEIKH SURGEON

  SEDUCED BY THE HEART SURGEON

  THE SHEIKH’S BABY SCANDAL

  DI SIONE’S INNOCENT CONQUEST

  All available now!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE ARMY DOC’S BABY BOMBSHELL by Sue MacKay.

  The Army Doc’s Baby Bombshell

  by Sue MacKay

  CHAPTER ONE

  ‘WOULD YOU LOOK at that? Sex in hard boots will do it for me every time.’ The female sergeant at Captain Sophie Ingram’s side ogled Captain Daniels striding across the dusty compound in their direction.

  He was drop-dead gorgeous, Sophie admitted to herself as she tried to ignore the spark of arousal low in her body. A sensation she needed to shove aside. Working in Afghanistan was not the right time or place for liaisons. On a disappointed sigh, she told the military nurse, ‘I’m off sex, hunk or no hunk available.’

  Kelly’s jaw dropped. ‘You’re kidding, right?’

  ‘Not at all.’

  ‘I mean, look at him,’ Kelly spluttered.

  She did. He was built.

  The Kiwi captain, who’d arrived in camp late last night, widened his eyes as his gaze cruised over her. That delectable mouth lifted at one corner. Guess that meant he’d heard her blunt statement.

  So what? It was best put out there. Saved time and misunderstanding. He could think what he liked. She wouldn’t be hanging onto his every word in the hope of scoring during the three days he was in camp, helping out in the army hospital. Her last sexual experience had been something she didn’t want to remember—or repeat—and had started her considering celibacy. Except it seemed some parts of her body hadn’t got that message if the tightening in her belly and beyond was any indication.

  ‘Captain Ingram?’ The overly confident man stood in front of her, his hand outstretched in a friendly, yet provocative, manner.

  Sophie nodded. ‘Yes.’ She took his hand to shake it but ignored the challenge staring out at her from the deepest pewter eyes she’d ever encountered. Neither would she acknowledge the rising tempo of her arousal. Sex was off the menu for the duration of her posting, no matter what. In her first weeks here a certain officer—now back home, thank goodness—had wooed her, then shown exactly what he thought the role of female personnel really was. Degrading didn’t come close. Joining the army for an adventure was one thing, being treated disrespectfully was another. She’d since seen enough other liaisons end messily to know sex was best avoided on tour.

  But she groaned. Captain Daniels with his dark, cropped hair and knowing eyes would tempt her every time. ‘Welcome to Bamiyan NZ base.’

  His eyebrow lifted in an ironic fashion. ‘This is my third—’

  The air exploded. The rock-hard ground heaved upward, shoving Sophie’s feet up to her throat. Then she was airborne, her arms flailing uselessly, her head whipping back and forth. Slam. She hit the ground, landing on her back, the air punched out of her lungs, her limbs spread in all directions.

  Stones pelted her. Dust filled her eyes and mouth. Breathing became impossible. Whizz. Bang. The air around her was alive, splintering as objects sped past her. Bullets? Fear gripped her. Who was firing at her? A heavy weight crashed over her, pinning her down. A human weight. What was happening? What had caused that explosion? Her heart beat so fast it was going to detonate out of her chest. Her ribcage rose higher and higher as she strained to fill her lungs with something purer than sand and dust. Her airway hurt. Her head hurt. Every single thing hurt.

  ‘Stay down,’ a deep, dark voice snapped.

  She daren’t open her eyes to see who the man protecting her with his body was. Gulp. Cough. Dust scratched the back of her throat. Strong arms were on either side of her vulnerable head. Muscular legs held down her softer ones. The one and only Captain Daniels.

  Around them the gunfire was sharp and loud, and dangerous. Then suddenly it stopped. But the shouting and yelling continued. Orders were barked. Screams curdled her blood. Racing footsteps slapped the ground. Fear flew up her throat, filled her mouth. Was this it? The end? Lying on a piece of dry, barren dirt in some place she’d barely heard of growing up in lush green New Zealand? No way. She’d fight to the last, would not die lying here defenceless and useless. Flattening her hands on the ground, she tensed, ready to push upward, to remove her human shield.

  ‘Easy.’ That voice was right beside her ear, lifting the hairs on the back of her neck. Almost seductive—if she hadn’t been terrified for her life.

  Sophie squirmed, felt the muscles covering her body tighten.

  ‘Easy,’ he repeated a little desperately.

  ‘Let me up.’ She’d aimed for nonchalant, got light and squeaky. Damn. She was a soldier, supposed to be fearless. A little bit, anyway.

  ‘Wait.’

  Sophie needed to know what was going on. Apart from flying bullets and a bomb exploding. Needed to assess the situation, see if she could move, find shelter, help someone. As a doctor she’d be required in the hospital unit. Squinting, she looked around to see if it was safe to move. And came eyeball to eyeball with Cooper Daniels.

  Her heart stopped its wild pounding, stopped trying to bash its way out of her chest. Went completely still. Her lungs gave up trying to inhale as that intense grey gaze bored right into her, deep into places no one had been before. Places where she hid the vulnerability that directed her life. Shock ripped through her. Every muscle in her body seemed to twitch, tighten, loosen. Had she died? Been taken out by one of those bullets?

  ‘Captains, move. Now. Sir. Ma’am.’ Someone, somewhere above them, roared in a strained shout, ‘Get up off the ground. We’ve got you both covered.’

  I’m definitely alive. Sophie pushed at Cooper, desperate to get away from him, to find safety, to regain her composure and see what needed to be done. There’d be casualties for sure.

  The weight lifted from her body, a hand snatched at hers, hauled her upright in one swift, clumsy jerk. ‘Run towards the officers’ quarters,’ Cooper yelled in her ear as he tightened his grip on her hand. ‘The hospital’s a target.’

  She ran, trusting him completely. But even as she ran she looked around, and gasped. Where the ground had been flat moments ago there was now a deep crater. An enormous dust cloud hovered above, blocking the sun’s intense heat. Otherwise everything looked weirdly normal—apart from the troops stationed on the perimeter, facing outwards with machine guns at the ready.

  Forget normal. A body lay against the wall of the hospital block. Sophie shouted, ‘Kelly,’ and veered left around the destruction, aiming for the nurse.

  Cooper pulled at her, tried to prevent her going in that direction. ‘Wait. It’s more exposed that way. Snipers will see you.’

  Sophie got it. And wasn’t having a bar of it. She paused to lock her gaze on him, her heart rate steady, her lungs finally doing their job. ‘We need to get to Sergeant Brooks ASAP. Move her to safety.’ She had no idea where the calmness now taking over came from, but she was in control, able to do something for someone, and not be a victim being protected by this man.

  His eyes widened and he shook his head as though to get rid of something. ‘You’re right. Let’s go.’

  ‘Kelly was standing beside me when that bomb went off,�
� she muttered as they reached the nurse sprawled with blood pouring from a head wound and her legs at odd angles to her body. Dropping to her knees, Sophie reached to find a pulse, holding her breath as she tried to find any sign of life. Dread rose, and she quickly swallowed on it. Now was the time to step up and be professional; not let emotions override everything else. ‘Come on, Kelly. Don’t do this to me.’

  A faint throb under her fingertip. ‘Yes.’ She slumped with relief. Her friend didn’t deserve to die. Sophie kept her finger in place for a few more beats, to be absolutely sure, and looked at Cooper, who was crouched beside her, gently probing Kelly’s head. ‘She’s alive. Get a stretcher out here. We’re going into surgery.’ Those legs looked in need of some serious work, as did the head injury. Blood also seeped into the ground from under Kelly’s right shoulder. They’d have to do a thorough assessment but she wasn’t hanging around out here for some sniper to pick them off.

  ‘Yes, Captain.’ Cooper was on his feet and racing towards the hospital unit, now all business, the challenging male no longer visible. Neither was the captain, aka general surgeon. He was just one of the battalion, doing the job of an orderly because she’d told him to. Impressive.

  The man who’d thrown himself over her to protect her from those bullets. Very impressive. Sophie bit down on the flare of yearning and astonishment suddenly touching her again in that place she’d thought so well hidden. What was it about him that exposed her weak side far too easily?

  ‘Captain Ingram, we’ve got two casualties from the other side of the perimeter,’ a soldier called above the noise of troops clearing the area and checking on one another. ‘They’ve been taken into the medical unit for assessment. That unit’s now clear of danger.’

  Nothing, nobody was ever completely out of danger, but she’d keep that gem to herself. Glancing up, she acknowledged the young man who was on his first stint overseas with the NZ Army and sometimes dropped into the hospital to talk or read to patients.

  ‘Thank you, Corporal.’ His face was chalk white. ‘Did you sustain any injuries, George?’

  ‘No, Captain.’

  ‘Right. Captain Daniels is bringing a stretcher so we can shift Sergeant Nurse Brooks. I’d like you to help with moving her.’ Shifting Kelly without doing more damage to her broken body was going to be a nightmare. Even if the unconscious woman couldn’t feel a thing, Sophie knew she’d wince at every single movement. She hated inflicting any pain whatsoever on someone. Her fellow surgeons often gave her grief about that, pointing out that any surgery was followed by some degree of pain.