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Blinking rapidly, Evie reinforced her smile as the elevator doors opened. ‘Building snowmen is hungry work, so I certainly hope that—’ She stopped, the words dissolving in her mouth as she saw the Penthouse.
It had been transformed from an elegant living space into a sparkling winter paradise.
Silver snowflakes were twisted through boughs of holly and an enormous Christmas tree, even bigger than the one she’d decorated, took pride of place next to the fire. It looked like a child’s fantasy.
The only thing missing was Santa.
The moment the thought entered her head, Santa appeared from the second bedroom, complete with red robes and full white beard.
Evie blinked. And then she peered closer, through the clouds of ridiculous white beard, and started to laugh. ‘Antonio? Is that you in there?’
‘Ho, ho, ho—’
Appalled to find tears in her eyes, Evie kept smiling. ‘That doesn’t quite work with an Italian accent. First fairy wings, now Santa—your job description seems to have shifted slightly over the past week.’
‘I have a gift for you.’ Overplaying his role like mad, Antonio reached into his sack with a flourish and pulled out a large square parcel. ‘This has your name on it.’
Evie took it, wondering what all this meant. ‘Am I supposed to keep it until Christmas?’
‘No, you open it,’ Rio said immediately as he urged her further into the room, away from Antonio who discreetly let himself out of the Penthouse.
Evie looked around her, unable to believe what she saw. ‘But you don’t…you hate…’ She swallowed. ‘You’ve done this for your little girl. I thought Elyssa couldn’t be with you for Christmas.’
‘I haven’t done this for Elyssa.’ His voice was rough and held a touch of uncertainty. ‘I’ve done it for you.’
‘For me?’
‘Because you love Christmas and, this last week, I’ve deprived you of Christmas. I’m making up for it. Open the present. I hope you like it.’ His eyes were wary and Evie wanted to say that the only present she wanted was him, but she couldn’t, could she?
He didn’t want that and it took two people to make a relationship work.
Dipping her head, she ripped the paper off the box and opened it. At first she thought there was nothing inside, and then she saw the envelope.
Puzzled, she discarded all the packaging and opened it. Inside was a printed ticket and it took a moment for her to understand what it meant. As the words sank into her brain, she gasped. ‘I can spend Christmas Day with my grandfather?’
‘Bec
ause the snow is so bad and your roads are pathetic, I am going to fly you by helicopter to this place where your grandfather lives—’ Looking ridiculously pleased with himself, Rio outlined the plan. ‘We will all spend the day together.’
Looking at Rio, with his sleek, expensive clothes and his taste for the best in everything, Evie gave a disbelieving laugh. ‘Rio, you eat in hideously expensive restaurants—your chefs are the best in the world—I’m sorry, but I can’t see you eating Christmas lunch in the Cedar Court Retirement Home.’
‘Sì, I have thought the same thing myself,’ Rio confessed, ‘which is why two of my top chefs are currently preparing to cook lunch in more challenging surroundings than usual.’
‘You’re kidding.’
‘It will be a true test of their talents, don’t you agree?’
‘But who is cooking lunch in your restaurants?’
‘Someone. I don’t know.’ He spread his hands in a gesture that was pure Italian. ‘I don’t micro-manage every part of my business.’
‘But if they don’t do a good job, they’re fired.’
‘Very possibly. Are you pleased with your gift?’
Evie found it hard to speak. The fact that he’d done this made everything all the more mixed up in her head. Would it have been easier if he hadn’t been so thoughtful? Would it have been easier to walk away cursing him? ‘I’m so pleased,’ she said huskily, standing on tiptoe and kissing him. ‘Thank you. Can I phone him and tell him?’
‘He might be rather busy. All the residents are currently with a stylist, choosing new outfits for Christmas Day.’
