Page 39 of The Perfect Gift

She laughed and shook her head. ‘Definitely not that.’

He grinned. ‘Well, that’s a start. Come on, let’s look at the decorations and see what inspires you.’

It didn’t take long for Frankie to get into the swing of things and after a few minutes she’d set her heart on a combination of colours she called fancy names like burnished bronze and old gold. She’d asked his opinion a couple of times but Ed knew from past experience that it was madness to actually express one because inevitably the blame would fall on him if Frankie then decided she didn’t like what she’d chosen. He settled for non-committal noises and affirming only what were clearly her final selections.

They moved on to the trees and, after a bit of toing and froing, Frankie settled on a darker green one grandly named the Majestic Mountain Pine. On his recommendation, she opted for a pre-lit one and he lifted the box onto the trolley next to the packs of decorations.

‘I’d like a wreath,’ she announced as they headed deeper into the store. ‘And some external lights for the porch.’ She glanced at him from under her fringe. ‘If you don’t mind volunteering to help me put them up.’

Ed laughed, because there was no way of resisting those pretty blue eyes of hers. ‘Of course I don’t mind.’ He pointed towards the large double doors that led to the outside plants. ‘You’ll probably find a wreath out there, assuming you want a real one?’

Frankie nodded. ‘The ones I’ve seen around the village mostly look real so I think I’d prefer that.’

‘If you’re feeling artistic you could have a go at making your own tomorrow while we’re at the Christmas Fayre,’ he suggested, recalling something he’d seen on one of the posters advertising the event.

She raised her eyebrows at him. ‘You really want to go to the fayre? I thought you were only saying that because you were looking for excuses to persuade me to stay.’

‘You might not realise it but you’re dating one of Santa’s little helpers. Everything festive is my scene, and besides, it’s the first time the village has done anything like this so I want to do my bit and support it. Plus I have to be there for the splash-for-cash fundraiser.’ He checked his watch. ‘I’ve promised Rick I’ll give them a hand setting up after lunch and no doubt he’ll want extra hands early in the morning for any last-minute hiccups.’ He set his hands on the trolley and began to walk a bit more briskly. ‘Come on, we need to get cracking if we’re going to get everything we need and get back to Halfmoon Quay in time.’

20

Frankie trailed after Ed as he headed towards a different display area full of cards, wrapping paper and other stationery items like diaries and pretty notebooks. Her mind was racing a mile a minute as the words he’d used so casually echoed around her head. ‘You’re dating one of Santa’s little helpers.’ It wasn’t the Santa bit that was bothering her. Choosing a tree and the exact decorations she wanted for it had been way more fun than she’d expected and she was already eager to get home and put it up. No, it was more the ‘dating’ part that was the problem. It sounded too formal for what she’d had in mind for them, too serious. She’d figured they would hang out a bit, fool around together and then part company after the new year with a hug and a wave goodbye. Dating sounded more like he thought it might lead to something and that was definitely not what she was in the market for.

Relationships were for other people. She’d tried it and they always ended messily. Being in the public eye was a nightmare too. The couple of times she’d made the mistake of dating a co-star their every move had been reported on by the online gossip sites. Going out with a civilian was even harder because they resented the intrusion, which, while completely understandable, was outside Frankie’s control. That hadn’t stopped one of her exes from accusing her of sharing stories, or another one from selling private photos of them after they’d broken up. They weren’t anything that didn’t get shared by people on Instagram a million times a day, but they had been deeply personal moments Frankie had believed he’d treasured as much as she did. No, she needed to nip this in the bud straight away before there was any risk of either of them getting hurt through a misunderstanding.

Reaching Ed’s side, Frankie tugged his sleeve to get his attention. Ed turned to look at her, a Christmas card in his hand. ‘There you are,’ he said, all smiles. ‘My brothers and I don’t bother to give cards to each other, but Mum loves a Christmas card. What do you think of this one?’ He held it up to show her an image of a pair of cuddly teddy bears dressed in scarves and hats.

Choosing a card for his parents was definitely a big step outside her comfort zone. ‘I don’t know. Go with whatever you think she’d like.’

Ed turned the card back towards him and frowned at it for a moment. ‘It is a bit cutesy, isn’t it?’ He put it back and selected a plainer one with a stylised gold Christmas tree on a red background. ‘This one?’ he asked, holding it up to show her.

‘It’s fine. It’s nice, whatever.’ She glanced around to make sure there was no one else around then said, ‘Look, can we talk a minute?’

Ed’s easy smile vanished in an instant. ‘Is something wrong?’

‘Not wrong, I just think we need to make sure we’re on the same page, that’s all.’

‘About Christmas cards?’

‘About expecting me to have an opinion on the card you want to give to your parents.’ She could feel her face getting hot. Why did shops always have their heating cranked up to tropical when customers would be wearing coats and scarves? She opened the zip on her jacket and tugged her hoodie away from her neck. Ed was still staring at her in utter confusion, clearly not getting the point she was trying to make. ‘Look, you used the word “dating” earlier and, well, it has some connotations attached to it that I don’t think apply to our…’ She cast around for an appropriate word. ‘…situation.’

‘I’m asking your opinion on a card; I’m not asking you to marry me, Frankie.’ His bemused expression only served to make her more uncomfortable.

‘I just didn’t want you getting the wrong idea about my kissing you earlier.’

‘Oh.’ Ed’s sigh was an echo of the disappointment written across his face. ‘You’ve changed your mind about that and would rather just be friends?’

‘No!’ The word shot out too quickly and she clamped her mouth shut for a moment as she tried to figure out the right words. She was a grown-up, for God’s sake, it shouldn’t be beyond her wit to speak clearly about what she wanted. ‘I liked kissing you and I am hoping that, should the appropriate opportunity arise, there will be more kissing, and, well, you know.’ She gestured between them.

‘I know,’ Ed said, with a grin that made it clear he was enjoying her moment of discomfort.

‘Okay, good. But I want to make sure that you know that any you knowing that might happen between us is purely temporary and come the new year we’ll both go our separate ways.’ There, that should do it.

‘So you just want me to be your fuck-buddy?’

‘Bloody hell, keep your voice down!’ She glanced around but thankfully there was no one near enough to have heard him. ‘I was thinking more along the lines of friends with benefits.’

‘Situationally adjacent,’ Ed suggested. ‘Dance partners in the horizontal tango?’