Chapter 51
The Bella Dame Hotel was fast becoming Felicity’s second home, but this time they’d been upgraded to a luxury room with a huge modern four-poster bed and a sitting area by a large set of French windows looking out over the garden.
The whole place was decorated with taste and there were bunches of flowers, enormous fragrant white lilies and opulent white roses, on every flat surface.
Felicity ran over to look at the biggest arrangement which was sitting on the coffee table by the window.
‘Are these all from you?’ she said in awe.
‘I wanted red roses but you’re not supposed to put red and white together apparently,’ said James, rubbing the back of his neck.
‘What? Really?’
‘It’s meant to be bad luck.’
‘Oh yes, I’ve heard that. Blood and bandages or bone or something?’
‘That’s it.’
‘What nonsense. They’re beautiful. Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome,’ said James, coming over and wrapping his arms around her.
Felicity turned and buried her face in his chest. ‘Sorry for being an ungrateful whatsit,’ she muttered.
‘S’okay,’ said James, kissing the top of her head. ‘You were only a little bit whatsitish.’
‘I try. Hey, maybe that’s why Bex and Adam had bad luck flowers at their wedding. Doomed from the start, right?’
‘Ah no, I think in their case it was the teal that did it.’
Felicity chuckled. ‘I always said they should have gone for rose.’
‘Now, let’s go down, we’re just in time for afternoon tea.’
‘Yum. I’m starving.’
‘Don’t let me eat too many scones though,’ said James. ‘We’ve got dinner at 6pm.’
‘You’ve thought of everything.’
‘I hope so.’
‘What?’
‘Nothing. Shall we go?’
After the most delicious afternoon tea they went back to their room for a nap and then it was dinner with the hotel’s own gin, the most delicious home-made pasta with a festive cranberry twist and a dessert which consisted of a pile of brownies and home-churned butterscotch ice cream.
They retired to bed groaning and rubbing their bellies.
‘Diet starts tomorrow,’ said James with a laugh.
‘Don’t count on it in this place,’ said Felicity.
‘Well, in any case it’s time for my beauty sleep. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.’
‘I nearly forgot it was Christmas Day.’
‘You’ve forgotten to be grumpy about it too. I think it’s growing on you.’
‘There’s still time for plenty of grumpiness in the morning, don’t worry.’
‘Hush now, close your eyes or Santa won’t come.’ James patted her hand as he lay next to her on the bed.
‘That’s quite enough of that,’ Felicity said, laughing.
They lay in silence for a few moments, enjoying the feeling of being full and warm and together.
‘James…’ said Felicity.
‘Yes…?’
‘It’s two years since we met. Can you believe it?’
‘Feels like forever.’
‘Hey.’
‘Not like that.’
‘Two years since you swept me off my feet.’
‘Ha. And what a two years it’s been. Tell me something, did you fancy me straight away?’ He always loved asking her this question.
‘I mean, you were all soggy and dressed as a giant penguin.’
‘That doesn’t answer my question.’
‘It was late at night. I thought you were going to be an axe murderer.’
‘Still not answering the question.’
Felicity sighed. ‘Okay, fine. Yes, of course I fancied you straight away. I mean, have you seen you? Even more so when you took the suit off and I saw your blond hair all messy and gorgeous. That did it.’
They were facing each other now. James reached over and slowly stroked a strand of Felicity’s red hair.
‘Ditto,’ he said. ‘In fact, I can still remember how you looked when you first opened that door. My little Christmas miracle. You looked so hot even in that ridiculous Animal Saviours T-shirt. But it was when you took me out to rescue the cat in the ditch and put your shoe right into a huge muddy puddle that I properly lost my heart.’
‘I’m so smooth,’ said Felicity.
‘So… you liked the hair, did you? Wanted to climb me like a tree, did you?’ said James, one eyebrow quirked.
‘James Cowley. That is terrible.’
He moved closer. ‘You did, though, didn’t you? Admit it.’
Felicity’s face went hot like lava. ‘I may have. I mean, actually when you came down the corridor in that tight white T-shirt, I didn’t know what to do with myself.’
‘Tell me what you wanted to do to me.’ His voice was low, suggestive, and Felicity wriggled with anticipation as he moved so his lips were inches from hers.
‘You know I’m no good at all that.’
‘I’ll be the judge of that.’ His eyes were on her lips and it was all she could do to find any words at all.
‘I… wanted… to… sorry. I’m crap at this.’
James chuckled softly. ‘Just forget it, and kiss me instead,’ he said, then covered his mouth with hers in a deliciously deep kiss that sent delightful shivers down her spine. Before she gave herself to the moment completely, she paused and put her hand on his chest.
‘Climb you like a tree, eh? How would that go, exactly?’
‘Aren’t you getting bold?’
‘It is Christmas.’
‘Nearly.’
‘Well,’ he chuckled softly, ‘why don’t I show you?’ And with that he lifted her gently and pulled her on top of him and she kissed him again and wondered how she could keep living in this moment forever. Surely it couldn’t last. Could it?