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The door opens and a pretty woman looks out with a curious smile.
“Can I help you? It’s not religion is it, it’s just that I’m busy wrapping presents and attempting to make mince pies? I’m afraid I have no time for religion at Christmas.”
Jessica shakes her head. “I’m sure Jesus would be happy to hear that on his birthday.”
“Oh.” The woman’s face drops. “It is religion, and now I’ve offended you. I didn’t mean to do that. Let me donate something to your church to compensate.”
“It’s not religion.” Jessica withdraws her warrant card and shows it to the woman whose face pales immediately, “I’m so sorry, I should have paid it, but I forgot and then the deadline passed, so I kind of thought it didn’t matter anymore.”
“It’s not whatever you’ve forgotten to pay either,” Jessica says with an irritated sigh, “but whatever it is, pay it immediately before you spend Christmas wrapping a lot more than presents in prison.”
“Of course; my apologies. How can I help you?”
“We are here to see Samuel Masters.” Jessica says curtly.
“Sam! What’s he done?” Her eyes are wide as she peers anxiously down the street.
“We are not at liberty of discussing that with you, miss…”
“Carlotta, Sam’s wife.”
I stare at her in surprise because I never realised he was dating, let alone married. Even during the court case a few months ago, he came alone with only his parents for company. Jessica also seems surprised and I’m guessing this is news to her too. “His wife?”
Carlotta appears a little edgy. “I get it was a stupid idea but well, one drunken night in Vegas at the work’s party made for a very memorable trip and we’re working out a way to deal with it.”
“I see.” Jessica turns to me, and I glimpse a hint of amusement in her eyes that is quickly replaced with cool disinterest.
“Is he in?”
“Who, Sam?”
“Of course, Sam.”
Jessica rolls her eyes as Carlotta shakes her head. “No, he went out to deliver some letters. I must say that was hours ago, but well, the lines in the post office are murder at this time of year. Shall I give him a message?”
“We’ll wait.”
Jessica nods towards the house and Carlotta shakes her head. “I’m not letting you in because you are strangers, and that ID could be fake. As I really don’t have time to be murdered this Christmas, you’ll have to wait in the coffee shop across the road where you’ll notice him coming from a mile away because he’s wearing an orange jacket.”
She closes the door before we have time to argue and Jessica says through gritted teeth, “Great, now she’ll be straight on the phone to him, and he’ll be on the run by teatime.”
She glares around angrily, but I’m relieved that I never came face to face with him and I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her close by my side.
“It was worth a shot, but to be honest, I couldn’t care less anymore.”
“What do you mean?” She appears confused as I shrug. “If it’s Sam, he’s harmless. I’ll step-up security to make sure I keep my own personal detective happy, so she’ll stay with me.”
“Is that right?” The pleasure in her eyes makes me smile and for a moment, the chill of the icy wind doesn’t even register. We are standing in the middle of one of the busiest streets in London at Christmas and even the promise of snow can’t chill the warmth that’s spreading through my heart right now.
They say you know ‘the one’ when you first set eyes on them. I completely agree because when I first saw Jessica hailing me down as a taxi, I took one look, and I was done. Done living alone, done trying to be single, and done living in my own personal bubble. I wanted her then and I want her now and so I draw her close and whisper against her lips. “I love you, Jessica Taylor, and I want you to move in with me.”
The way her eyes sparkle and the heat from her breath hovers between us, creating warmth on the frozen streets of London, makes it even more magical. The scent of chestnuts roasting from a vendor nearby mingles with the haunting tunes of a carol playing from an open window. The passers-by rush past with their shopping bags and loud conversation as they speak into their phones and the constant traffic splashing up rain puddles does nothing to dampen the spirits of the busy people who are caught up in the last-minute rush of the festive season.
“OK.” Jessica’s eyes are wide and her breathing shallow as she delivers me my finest gift and as we seal the deal with a long lingering kiss, the whistles and honks of horns mark the special moment when Robert and Jessica, against all the odds, found each other during the most magical Christmas ever.
CHAPTER39
JESSICA
