Page 55 of The Christmas Competition

Once we parked in town, we made our way across the slush-covered road to the square housing the market. The early afternoon sun was bright in the blue, cloudless sky, and it warmed my face against the bite of the cold winter air. I kept my gloves on but pulled off my woolly hat to stuff into the pocket of my coat.

“Anywhere in particular you want to go?” Kerr asked as we reached the start of the stalls. “Or just peruse them all?”

“The latter.” I rubbed my hands together. “I like a browse.”

“Sure thing,” he said, smiling.

The first stall was selling gingerbread goodies. I selected a few Christmas-themed biscuits and got them packaged up for Aisha, placing them into the reusable shopping bag that I kept folded up in my handbag. “Sustenance for the recovering patient,” I told Kerr.

He nodded, holding out a hand to indicate that he wanted to carry the bag for me.

“That’s okay,” I said, blinking. “You don’t have to do that.”

He shrugged. “I’d like to.”

Warmth oozed into my veins. Wordlessly, I handed it over, flashing him a grateful smile. We headed on to the next stall, which housed various crystals and wind chimes. I felt the brush of his gloved hand against mine, his fingers catching hold. “Is this okay?” he asked, leaning to murmur the words by my ear, his warmth caressing my skin and giving me the shivers.

“Yes,” I said, taking hold of his hand in return. The slightly bashful smile was back, and I liked it.

Hand in hand we browsed the wares at the next couple of stalls. I bought a bright, sparkly purple acrylic necklace for Rona that said Goddess on a gold chain, and Kerr acquired a package of artisan brownies for his mechanic friend Greg and his family. Kerr kept hold of my hand the whole time, his fingers warm and strong around mine, every now and again giving a little squeeze when he wanted to catch my attention and point out something he thought I’d like in the stalls.

When we reached the stall selling homemade Christmas decorations, something caught my eye that appealed to my inner demon, the one still determined to win the decorating contest. A large string of gold and green baubles intertwined with sprigs of gold leaves and little fairy lights—battery-powered ones, so no outlet required. I sidled up to the stall, the heat of Kerr’s body close behind in the small crowd gathered to peruse the wares.

“I see what you’re up to, Ansari,” he whispered in my ear, the heat of his breath caressing my skin and causing me to shiver as goose bumps prickled pleasantly over my neck. It took a moment to realize that there was no sting at the sound of him using my maiden name. Quite the contrary.

I turned my head, our faces only inches apart. “Take that, Murdoch.”

He answered me with a smile in his dark eyes.

I turned back to the seller and pointed at the bauble garland, thinking about how lovely it would look lining my living room window. Then I spotted a large, LED-studded hanging Christmas star and also asked for one of those to be added to my purchase. Again, battery-operated, and it could dangle from the midsection of my window.

I paid for my wares, feeling decidedly pleased with myself, and Kerr again insisted on carrying the large paper bag containing the goods.

After that we reached the first coffee hut, the tempting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries filling our nostrils, and I insisted on buying as a thank-you. It was a drop in the ocean after all he’d done for me.

I ordered a salted caramel latte for me and a straight-up Americano for no-nonsense Kerr, plus a couple of pains au chocolat that were as big as Kerr’s hand. And he had really big hands. Swoon.

There was a small collection of wooden picnic tables adjacent to the coffee hut, and we sat next to each other to munch our treats and drink in the soothing warmth of our coffees.