An Unexpected Christmas (5 page)

Nate

I stretched my legs out in front
of me, draped my arm along the back of the sofa and took in the sight around
me; I loved this house and I especially loved it at Christmas. Mum's huge
Christmas tree stood in one corner, it's brightly coloured lights slowly
twinkling, and the ornaments she had had since both Ella and I were little
dangling from the branches. Mum had also decked the mantelpiece out and there
was a mass of holly and more lights sitting above the fire. Ella sat
cross-legged to one side of the hearth and April was curled up in the armchair
to the left. She had been sitting quietly with a happy smile on her face for
most of the evening just listening to Ella and I tell her stories of our
childhood.

'So every so often we would find
him curled up in the dog bed with the dog lying just outside it watching him.'
Ella was laughing now and I sent her a stern look; that wasn't a story I really
wanted sharing but when I heard April laugh, and I looked across at her, I let
any anger towards my little sister go. If my odd actions as a child made her
laugh like that then I would happily feel the humiliation of them.

'Thanks for that Ell, I'm sure
April would be interested in hearing that you used to sit in front of the
washing machine for hours at a time just watching it go round and round.'

Ella reached behind her and
grabbed a cushion then launched it at my head and I heard April laugh louder. I
looked back over at her and smiled. She really was incredibly attractive and I
wanted to know why no one had managed to wriggle their way into her heart. I
was a little grateful for the fact but also a little curious, how had she gone
so long without falling in love with anyone? I'm sure men had tried, they would
be idiots not to, but I wanted to know what she was waiting for, or who?

Ella let out a yawn and
stretched, 'Right I'm going to bed.' She stood and I watched as she picked up
her empty glass and left the room. I turned back to April and smiled, she moved
in her chair and I watched as she un-tucked her legs and began to stand.

'I should probably head to bed
too.' She had moved towards the door and I realised that I didn't want to say
good night yet.

'How about a night cap?' The
words came out of my mouth before I even thought about them.

She stopped and turned to look at
me and I could see her thinking about it. 'Alright,' she said, and sent me a
shy smile.

I hadn't realised I was holding
my breath until she answered and a wave of relief surged through me. I would
have felt so disappointed if she had said no. I gestured to the sofa and
watched her move to sit right on the edge; she looked ridged and nervous and I
hoped a drink would relax her a little. I moved to the drinks cabinet and
pulled out a bottle of Jameson's and picked up the two whiskey glasses that
stood on top. I placed the glasses on the coffee table, unscrewed the bottle
cap and poured a good measure of the amber liquid into each glass, passing one
to her before leaning back into the sofa with my own.   April took the tumbler
from me and wiggled herself towards the back of the seat; I watched as she took
a sip and her eyes closed, she let out an 'mmm' noise that hit me a little
south of my stomach. She leaned back into the sofa and turned her head towards
me and her eyes fluttered open, a small smile on her lips.

'Hi,' I smiled back and took a
sip of my own drink.

'Hi.' She let out a little laugh and
took a deep breath and then slowly let it out.

'Are you feeling any better?' I
realised I wanted her to feel at home and comfortable here. I wanted her to be
happy.

'I am thank you. I'm hoping to
give my parents a call at sometime on Christmas Eve and I have decided that I
am going to enjoy my Christmas no matter what.' She grinned at me and I had the
urge to lean across and kiss her.

'So are you claiming today as a
good day?' I twisted in my seat so I was facing her a little more.

‘Today
has been wonderful, despite the slight homesickness. Being welcomed and getting
the opportunity to stay in such a beautiful house practically on one of the
most stunning beaches I have had the pleasure to walk along. Good food, great
company, what more could a girl ask for.’ Her smile and words were genuine.

'I'm glad that you had a good day
and that you're feeling better.' I watched as she took another sip of her drink
and when she lowered her glass she shifted slightly in her seat and turned more
towards me and looked into my eyes. 'So tell me Miss Walters, what have you
asked Santa for this Christmas?'

She giggled, 'Well, the usual; a
pony, a castle, and a yacht.’ Her giggle broken in to a hearty laugh and she
shook her head. 'In reality I only ever ask for the same things, books, they
are my weakness after all.' She started to look a little shy again and I stayed
quiet hoping she would open up to me. 'I have to say though; if I could have
anything I would say your car.' I smiled. 'Well not your
actual
car,
obviously, but a Jag F-type... in black.'

'It's a great car.'

'Oh it really is. It's a sexy
car.' She blushed slightly but took another drink to try and hid the fact, 'I
bet she handles like a dream.'

My smile broadened. Before I got
the F-type I was driving around London in a Renault Cleo hatchback that I
bought about nine years ago with one of my first decent pay cheques. It was a
good car and it served me well, but as soon as I saw the F-type I fell in love.
She was a beautiful, sleek, and as April said, sexy car - I had to have her. I
had waited until the last 'Danger' film had wrapped so I had a little free
time, and the extra cash, and I booked myself in for the test drive which was
the closer for me.

'You have no idea. I have never
driven a car that I would get so excited about driving. I usually come down on
the train and mum would pick me up but I needed to bring her just so I could
drive the three hours it takes to get here.' I saw her eyes light up at my
words and I wanted her to experience how great the machine really is, 'I am
going to have to take you out for a drive because everyone deserves to
experience it.'

Her smile widened and she bounced
a little in her seat. 'That would be amazing. Just to sit in it would be great
but to go for a drive.' She grinned at me and laughed. I really liked to see
her excited about something, and I realised that over the past couple of hours
I had seen so many emotions from her but I still wanted to see more. 'What
about you? What do you want Santa to bring you?'

I thought for a moment. 'There
isn't really anything I need.' I took a sip of my drink and savoured the way it
burned down my throat and warmed my stomach. When it came to physical things I
tended to just buy what I needed. If it was something on the slightly more
pricey side, like the car, then I would wait until I thought I had earned it,
or wait and save if I needed to. Ella and I had been brought up to work for
what we wanted. Money hadn't been an issue for our family; our mother came from
money but also worked really hard building her own events business and our dad
was a lawyer with a huge firm in London and they could have just given us
things when we asked for them but then neither of us would be the people we are
now. We work hard for what we want and if we don't earn enough then we didn't
deserve it.

'I didn't ask what you needed, I
asked what you
wanted
.'

I thought a moment and gazed at
her. Kissing her was what I wanted right at that moment, but I thought she
might be somewhat taken aback with that answer. 'How about a surprise,
something I wouldn't expect.'

I saw her lean into me a little
then my eyes dropped to her lips and I watched as her tongue darted out and
moistened them. My God, had she read my mind? Was she about to kiss me? A
second later it was as if she thought better of it and she turned away and
downed the last of her drink. I let out the breath I was holding and watched
her place her glass on the table in front of us and pick up the bottle of
scotch and pour herself another decent measure. She turned and held the bottle
towards me. I lifted my glass towards her and she poured me a measure then
placed the bottle back on the table.

'So a surprise Christmas present,
that would be nice.' She leaned back into the sofa and sipped her drink.

'Yeah, well I tend to just buy
stuff which kind of makes it hard for me to come up with ideas for presents for
me.' I looked at her, feeling kind of like a jerk for having so much. 'That
makes me sound sort of... privileged, right?'

She shook her head. 'No, to be
honest I tend to do the same sort of thing. If I want something I buy it, or
save up to buy it. I would never expect anyone to buy me anything.' She let out
a little laugh. 'That's probably why I always ask for books. They never seem
like a big ask.'

I nodded in agreement, to me
books were an essential item, not something huge, but essential. April ran a
hand through her hair and the action fascinated me. She shifted in her seat
again and I wondered if this was what she was just like, she was someone who
constantly moved about or was it just if she was relaxing into a new
environment. She smiled at me then asked, 'So what about when you were little?
What was the best present you got?'

I thought about it for a moment.
There had been some great presents but there was one that stood out a little
more than the rest. 'When I was eight I remember waking up on Christmas
morning, charging down the stairs and then opening the living room door to a
massive pile of gifts. Standing right in the middle was a bright red racing
bike.' I let out a sigh and closed my eyes, 'I can still picture it. My dad had
tied a massive bow to the handlebars and the lights from the tree made it look
like it was glowing.' I opened my eyes and looked over at April.

My heart leapt at the look in her
eyes, it was warm and happy and there was something else. I watched her bite
down on her bottom lip and her eyes began to squint slightly as if she was
trying to work something out in her head. I shifted forward slightly putting me
within inches of her and I took a breath, sending her a small smile. I reached
my hand forward and lifted the ends of a lock of her hair; I rubbed it slightly
between my thumb and forefinger and wondered how she got it so soft. She had
stopped biting her lip and I watched as her tongue flicked out to moisten the
reddened skin.

I leaned towards her and she
swayed forward, her eyes fluttering closed; she wanted this too, she wanted to
kiss me as much as I wanted to kiss her. We were so close and my heart was
hammering in my chest and then... zzzz... zzzz.

'Shit.' I leaned back and pulled
my phone out of my pocket. I watched April's eyes fly open in surprise and she
quickly leaned away. I wanted to pull her back towards me but I had
automatically pressed the answer button and held the phone to my ear.
'Hamilton.' It came out a little throaty and I could hear my own frustration in
my voice. April stood and I looked up at her. As Ian twittered on in my ear I
watched April gesture that she was going to head upstairs and I knew I would
probably be on the phone for a while if Ian was calling this late so I nodded
and tried to send her an apologetic smile. I watched as she walked away and out
the door, I could hear my name being called from my phone and drew my attention
back to it. 'Sorry Ian what was that?

April

I
usually struggle to sleep in a new place but I woke from a deep and
revitalizing slumber, stretched my limbs out in the bed, and let out a
satisfied sigh. I took a moment to wake up then I remembered last night. I
played the conversation I had had with Nate over in my head, and then my
blatant lean in for him to kiss me. I pulled the duvet up and over my head and
let out a groan. What was I thinking? Why would Nate ever want to kiss me? He
must have thought he got a lucky escape when his phone went off. I wanted to
kiss him but, more than anything, I wanted him to want to kiss me too. Hell, I
wanted him to do a lot more than kiss me. I took in a deep breath then slowly
let it out. Okay I was not going to think about that; I was going to get up,
get dressed, and head down stairs like any normal person would.

I threw
the duvet off and headed into the bathroom, turning on the shower and waiting
for it to heat up. I caught my reflection in the mirror and was surprised to
see that there was colour in my cheeks which I decided must be due to the
wonderful sea air and not my previous thoughts. Stripping out of my pyjamas and
stepped into the hot water I let it cascade over my body.

I
played the events from last night over in my head again because apparently I
was a sucker for punishment. Had I really leaned in to kiss Nate? It was a
foolish thought but it didn't stop me from wanting to try it again or kicking
myself for not waiting for his call to finish and then trying to kiss him there
and then. He was a good man and I was very, very much attracted to him but that
didn't stop all the doubt entering my mind. He was smart and thoughtful and
funny and it all came down to one thing - I wasn't good enough for him.

Once
I was relatively prune like I switched off the water and grabbed the large
towel that hung up next to the shower cubical; wrapping it around myself I
headed back into the bedroom. Through the window I saw that it would be another
crisp day and so settled on jeans, a white long sleeve top and a thick woolly
cream jumper. I moved over to the vanity and picked up my mascara, applying a
generous amount to my lashes. I took a quick look in the mirror and thinking
that it probably wasn't going to get better headed out of my room and down the
stairs.

Maggie
was sitting at the kitchen table; a cup of tea and a round of toast in front of
her, and the paper open up across the rest of the table. She looked up when I
walked in. 'Good morning April. Did you sleep well?'

'I
did thank you.' I moved over to the kettle, my caffeine addition kicking in.

'Can I get you anything?' Maggie
began to rise from her chair.

'No it's okay, I can sort myself
out.' She sat back in her chair and I turned to lift a mug from where they were
hooked on the wall and add coffee and sugar. Then, adding a splash of milk from
the carton on the side, I waited for the kettle to finish boiling.

The back door opened and Milly
and Toby padded in followed by a windblown Nate. 'Morning.' He smiled at me
then moved to drop a kiss to his mother's cheek. I took the opportunity to take
in his appearance; he wore loose fitting navy blue jogging trousers and a dark
grey hoodie which slightly hid his slender yet toned frame. I saw him just like
a Christmas present that when you took off the wrapping you were gifted the
most amazing present you would have ever seen. His cheeks were flushed and his
breathing still a little heavy, it was doing very bad things to my body.

'Good morning darling. Good run?'
Maggie looked up at her son and smiled.

'Great run.' He turned to me and
smiled, 'Are you making coffee?' He moved over to where I was standing and I
wondered how he could smell so good after a run, it was like a mix of salt air
and something else I couldn't put my finger on but it filled my head and
settled in my memory.

'I am. Would you like a cup?' I
managed to ask mentally pushing my feelings to one side.

'Please, if it's no bother.' I
turned and set about making more coffee and not thinking about my proximity to
him. Once I was done I handed one to Nate. He smiled at me again and I couldn't
stop from smiling back.

Ella walked in from the hallway
dressed still in her pyjamas and her blonde hair all over the place. 'Morning.'
She yawned then took a good look at each of us in turn. 'How are you all up and
dressed at this time of day? You know we are on holiday right?'

'We're just not as lazy as you
are sis.' Nate grinned at her and leaned back against the counter next to me.
Ella moved over to him, punched him in the arm, took his mug from him and
ambled over to the kitchen table where she sat herself in the chair opposite
her mother.

Nate turned to me and gave me the
poutiest look I had ever seen; it made my heart speed up as I looked into his
blue eyes and I realised that I wanted to give him anything he asked for. I
smiled and, without saying a word, placed my mug on the counter next to me, lifted
another mug from the wall and set about making another cup of coffee. When I
turned to get the milk Nate was standing very close to me and was placing the
carton he had already fetched for me down on the counter. I looked up into his
smiling face, my brain turning to mush, and I had to turn away quickly before
he distracted me so much that the boiling water meant for his cup went all over
the counter. I pushed his mug along the counter in front of him.

'Thank you.' His voice was quiet
and right next to my ear as he reached across me to pick up his drink, his
breath on my ear made a shiver move down my spine; I was so turned on by his
proximity and the heat I could feel coming off him I had to take a step back. I
turned back towards the kitchen table and hoped to God that Ella and Maggie
didn't notice the flush that I knew was now in my face.

'So, what are everyone's plans
for today?' Maggie asked the room.

'April and I are heading over to
the Hare and Hound later to meet up with some people. There is a guy I want
April to meet, he is totally cute.' She grinned at me.

There was a thud behind me and we
all turned to see Nate, stood with his hand on the counter, as though he had
slammed it down. I turned back to Ella and Maggie who both looked a little
confused but it was Maggie who spoke first.

'Are you alright Nate?'

'I'm fine.' He looked up, he had
plastered a smile on his face and even though I knew he was a brilliant actor the
smile was so obviously fake. 'Just thought I saw a spider.'

Maggie looked at him for a moment
then smiled, 'What are your plans for today?' It seemed that Maggie was happy
with his answer.

‘I
have a few calls to make and some reading to do.’

‘Darling,
do you have to work? It’s Christmas.’

‘It
isn’t Christmas for another two days, and they can’t wait.’ I stayed silent; I
noticed the tone in Nate’s voice. He had seemed in a good mood only a couple of
minutes ago but now he stood ridged and tense, and his voice had an
uncharacteristic harshness to it. A little part of me hoped it was the thought
of Ella trying to set me up but I quickly brushed it away, Nate didn't seem the
sort of man who got jealous very often and he certainly wouldn't care if I was
being set up. It was probably the thought of having to work while on holiday
which would put anyone in a foul mood. I heard him let out a sigh then he
picked up his coffee and left. I could hear him walking along the hallway and
up the stairs.

'He
needs to get laid.'

'Ella!'
Maggie raised her voice at her daughter.

‘What?
It’s true. He has been so tetchy recently, and the last time I asked if he was
seeing anyone he told me where to go and that was two months ago.’ She lifted
her mug to her lips and took a long drink.

‘Yes
well, your brother works very hard it must be difficult for him to meet
people.’

Ella
snorted. ‘He meets people all the time; they're just not the right people.’

Maggie
looked over at her daughter. 'Well we could say the same about you dear. When
was the last time you brought a boy home?' I looked from Maggie to Ella and was
impressed with Maggie's sass towards her daughter. I knew Ella had dated a guy
only last month but she had only seen him twice before she ended it; she told
me he
“just wasn't what she was looking for”
. I do remember a night out
we had just before she met him where Ella got a little too drunk and mentioned
something about a guy; all I got out of her was that she had known him for a
while, he was really hot, and she didn't have the guts to go for it. When I had
tried to mention it the next day she looked totally horror struck and just
claimed she didn't want to talk about it.

 Ella
leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. 'I don't need a man, I am
perfectly happy without one.'

'If
you say so dear.' Maggie dropped her gaze back to the paper in front of her but
I saw the smile on her face. Then she looked up, 'What about that nice boy from
the village?'

Ella
stared at her mother then dropped her gaze to her mug. Maybe the boy from the
village was the guy Ella had drunkenly babbled about? She looked pretty much
put in her place so I felt as though I should change the subject. 'So, what
time are we going out?'

Ella
looked over at me and smiled, her conversation with her mother maybe not
forgotten but at least put on hold. 'About half twelve if that's alright?'

'That's fine; it will give me
plenty of time to finish my book.' I sent her a cheeky smile.

'Out of curiosity how many books
did you bring with you?'

I took a final drink of my coffee
and placed the mug on the counter to my side. 'Only six.'

'Only six.' Ella echoed my words.
'That's crazy? I probably wouldn't read that many in a year let alone in a few
days.'

I shrugged. 'I read fast and
besides it helps me relax, you know that and you did say I had to try and relax
and forget about work and stuff.'

'I did say that.' She stood and
picked up her mug and moved over to place it in the sink, 'Just make sure you
make some time for something real as well as fictional while you are here.'

I thought about 'really' kissing
Nate, and very 'really' running my hands over his broad chest and then maybe
'really' stripping him completely naked. The thought brought a smile to my lips
and Ella squinted her eyes as she studied my face. 'I'm sure I can find the
time to fit something in.' I gave her a big grin and she just shook her head at
me.

'Right well I best go and jump in
the shower, you are all making me feel insufficient with your early rising.' I
had to laugh as she sauntered out of the room as it wasn't exactly early.

I turned to make myself another
cup of coffee. It was a habit I picked up a few years ago that if I was
somewhere with a kettle I would quite literally chain drink mugs of coffee. It
was also a sign that I felt comfortable and that brought a smile to my lips, it
was only my second day in this house with this family and I was really looking
forward to the next few days. Once my coffee was made I turned and wandered out
of the kitchen leaving Maggie to read in peace and went to fetch my book, there
was a very comfy armchair with my name all over it.