Page 77 of Starry Nights over Dragonfly Lake

He unwrapped the present and stared down at the battered leather box. She watched as he opened the lid to look down at the gold timepiece.

‘It’s a maritime compass,’ she told him in a proud tone. ‘From the 1920s. I saw it in an antique shop in Aldwych a fortnight ago and thought it would look perfect in your lovely boat and you could use it when you head out for your first ever voyage.’

Noah looked shocked and stared down at the compass for a moment, completely speechless.

‘It’s okay,’ she told him, reaching out to take his hand in hers. ‘I felt the same way about the stars you made me.’

He looked down at their hands entwined before looking up at her face.

‘Thank you,’ he said.

‘And thank you. Nobody’s ever given me anything like that before,’ she told him, looking at him with wide eyes.

‘Not an ex-boyfriend?’ he asked, reaching out to stroke her cheek and she felt her stomach clench as his fingers trailed down her skin.

‘Definitely not,’ she told him. ‘Normally if I were in a relationship at Christmas, my present would be some kind of underwear.Probably flammable.’

She heard Noah gulp.

‘You know, I love this secret side of you, making special presents for me.’ She grinned at him. ‘Don’t panic. I’m not asking for a proposal but I don’t think you’re the cold-hearted person I did when I met you.’

He was still studying her with his dark eyes. ‘You don’t?’

‘I think you’re guarded but there’s another side to you that you don’t show very often, sometimes only to me. And I like it.’ She laughed once more. ‘Don’t worry. I don’t love you.’

‘Good to know.’ He grinned.

‘Next time I’m in a relationship at Christmas, I’ll have to make sure I up my present request expectations,’ she carried on. ‘Although yours will be hard for any boyfriend to top.’

‘Glad to hear you’ll be aiming higher next time,’ he replied.

Beth nodded. ‘I will. But I’m beginning to realise that it doesn’t mean I have to be in a relationship to be happy. After all, I’m happy now.’

‘So am I.’

He said it so softly and yet she caught the heavy weight of his words.

She looked up at him and time stood still.

Slowly, he dipped his head towards her, his arm wrapping around her to draw her close. It was inevitable that they would kiss in that moment. She couldn’t stop her hands creeping around his shoulders until they were both embracing the other close and tight. She felt dazed by his slow but thorough kiss.

Finally, and she had no idea how long they had kissed for, they both pulled back a little.

There was nothing but their heavy breaths in the silence as they stared at each other.

She understood now what her friends had been talking abouta few nights ago. It was the magic that she had missed from every other relationship. The magic felt real with Noah.

‘What was that for?’ she asked, still feeling dazed and trying to make light of her growing feelings for him. ‘To keep our kissing game up in case Jeremy returns?’

He shook his head. ‘It was a kiss between friends.’

Friends. What friends ever kissed passionately like that? The word shook her out of her daze and she blinked back to life.

‘And there isn’t even any mistletoe nearby!’ she told him, fixing on a wide smile. ‘You know what? As a reward for giving me my first ever Christmas stocking, I’m going to make sure you get an extra portion of roast potatoes at lunchtime.’

She stood up, suddenly needing to get some distance between them. The kiss had been wonderful and she felt shaken to the core.

She looked down at Noah to see if he was feeling the same way. But his face was a mask as usual as he smiled up at her and said, ‘Happy Christmas, Beth.’