AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kelly nodded and looked at Mike. ‘Eddie,’ she said softly. ‘We’re calling him Eddie after Mike’s brother.’
There was a silence and Carlo cleared his throat. ‘Good name,’ he said gruffly, and Mike looked at him and rubbed a hand across the back of his neck.
‘I don’t know how to say this, Doc,’ he mumbled, and Carlo put a hand on his shoulder, his dark eyes warm with understanding.
‘There’s nothing to say,’ he said quietly. ‘You had a difficult choice to make, but you did the right thing. You were brave.’
Mike shook his head. ‘It was you who did the right thing and don’t think I don’t know that,’ he said hoarsely. He grabbed Carlo’s arm. ‘You need anything—anything at all—you come to me.’
Carlo was visibly moved and Zan leaned forward to give Kelly a hug.
‘Merry Christmas,’ she said softly, looking at Eddie Turner and deciding that miracles did happen after all.
* * *
It was much later when they walked towards Zan’s flat, both still dressed in costume.
‘That was fun,’ Carlo said, a laugh in his voice as he reached up to rub his dark jaw. ‘Apart from the beard. The beard made me itch.’
‘You were brilliant.’ Zan glanced over her shoulder, still nervous that someone might be following her. ‘Where did you find the reindeer?’
‘They came down from Scotland,’ he told her, following her gaze and looking at her quizzically. ‘Why do you keep looking over your shoulder?’
‘Because I’m paranoid about being followed,’ she confessed, moving a little closer to him. ‘I thought I saw a man watching me again this morning.’
Carlo glanced at her. ‘The same man from the restaurant?’
‘No.’ Zan shook her head. ‘Someone different. Well, actually, there were two of them. I’m sure it was my imagination. I’m seeing men on every corner.’
Either way, she didn’t really care at the moment. No one was going to hurt her while she was with Carlo. No one in their right mind would attack someone of his build.
They arrived back at her flat and Zan flicked on the Christmas-tree lights and lit a few candles.
She needed subtle lighting for what she had in mind.
‘I put some champagne in the fridge earlier,’ she murmured, moving through to the kitchen and fetching two glasses.
By the time she moved back to the sitting room Carlo had removed his hat and was wearing a snug pair of jeans and a thick jumper.
Zan’s eyes twinkled. ‘So this is what Father Christmas does in his spare time.’
‘Consorts with elves, you mean?’ He moved towards her and took the bottle, popping the cork and catching the bubbling liquid in the glasses that she held out. ‘You’re shivering.’
‘Yes, well, elves are obviously tou
gher than me,’ she admitted, a plan forming in her mind. ‘This outfit is freezing. I’m just going to take a shower and change into something warmer.’
Carlo tensed slightly. ‘OK.’
She walked through to her bedroom, stripped off the elf costume and showered quickly.
Her heart banging against her chest, she opened a drawer and removed a bag. Did she dare?
Taking a deep breath, Zan gave a womanly smile and started to dress.
* * *
Carlo glanced towards the bedroom as he dialled, hoping that she was going to take some time.
