Page 39

“Can we go walk in it?” Ellie asked, glancing up at Chloe.

Chloe nodded immediately. “Is there any other thing to do with snow so pure? Let me grab us some jackets.”

Not half an hour later, they were trudging through the snow, and then, making a snowman, then snow angels, then snowballs. Finally, when the ice seemed to have reached their core and the rest of the world had woken up, they made their way to a café on the High Street and pushed inside to the glowing warmth.

“Two hot chocolates, please,” Chloe ordered, handing over her credit card and smiling at Ellie, who’d taken up a seat at the window. And as she looked at the girl, her heart lurched with something she could no longer pretend she didn’t feel.

Love.

True, proper, heart-stretching love. She’d realized her feelings for Dimitrios as soon as she’d left his manor, but somehow, it had taken her longer with Ellie. Not to realise that she loved her, so much as to realise that her love was different with Ellie than with her nieces and nephews. With Ellie, Chloe had truly started to feel something maternal and proprietorial. As though her whole life needed to be in the service of Ellie’s. No matter what.

Enough to accept his offer?

“Here y’are, miss,” the barista said groggily, seeming like he’d just woken up, passing two takeaway cups over the counter.

“Thanks,” she smiled breezily as she made her way to their table. “You thawed out enough to keep walking, or do you want to go home?”

“I want to walk,” Ellie said, looking left, towards the river. They left the coziness of the cafe and headed to the Thames, sipping their hot chocolates.

“So, you really don’t have any Christmas stuff in your apartment, huh?”

“I know. It’s pathetic. What kind of Christmas decorator am I?”

“Well, I mean, you’re good. But it’s so sad.”

“Sad?”

“Yeah. You love Christmas, right?”

Chloe nodded. “I really do.”

“So why don’t you just make your apartment Christmassy all year round?”

Chloe considered that, wrinkling her nose. “I think I like that it’s just for a small time of the year. It makes it more special.”

“But it’s almost Christmas,” Ellie pointed out.

“I know.” Chloe laughed softly. “I’ll do better. How about I text you a photo once I’ve got it set up? You’ll love my ornaments.”

Ellie considered that, then nodded. “Deal.”

He double checked the address again, frowning as he stared up at the nondescript apartment building. Shops lined the high street, and if the address she had texted him was accurate, Chloe’s apartment was above a frozen-meal shop.

“Wait here,” he said to his driver, as he stepped out of the car, his long coat flapping against his legs as he walked to the glossy navy blue door and regarded the gold buzzers. He pressed the button that corresponded with her number and waited.

A second later, laughter pealed through the speaker. “Yeah?”

Chloe. But Chloe happy and joyous and carefree. He swallowed past a throat that was suddenly constricted.

“It’s Dimitrios. Is Ellie ready?”

Fuck. He really hadn’t meant to sound so cold. What the hell was wrong with him where this woman was concerned?

He could practically see the laughter dying. “I’ll check.” Her voice was businesslike suddenly. “Wait there.”

As though he was going to scale the wall or something.

He rubbed his hands together, then impatiently dusted snow from his shoulders.