“Trev,” said Rudy, his beautiful green eyes staring earnestly at him. “Do you really think I’m going to be able to keep my hands off you today? As I said, I enjoyed what we did last night and hoped we might find time to be alone again today. I am into you and I’m sick of hiding how I feel. After your holiday, you’ll all be heading back to England—we’ll cross that bridge when we need to—so let’s at least be together for Christmas and New Year. Are you okay with that?”
They had only just found each other. Trevor hadn’t even considered the cold, finite dread of a deadline on their time together. At some point, he would also need to deal with that eventuality.
“Does it mean I can kiss you under the mistletoe?” he asked, smiling.
“As long as it’s on the lips,” said Rudy, playing along and, this time, causing Trevor to burst into laughter, quickly staunched by Rudy’s kiss. “Come on, let’s conserve water and shower together.”
Twenty fun-filled minutes later, they stood on either side of the bed, getting dressed. Trevor grinned, watching an uninhibited Rudy pull on his jeans, remembering how nervous they had both been the night before. When Rudy reached to the floor for his top, Trevor stopped him.
“You can’t wear the same shirt, Rudy. Apart from being creased to nothing, you’ll so obviously be doing the walk of shame. Oh, hang on, I have the perfect solution. I know you’re a few inches taller than me and broader around the chest, but try these on for size.”
Trevor reached into his case and hurled across a plain white T-shirt and a thick knitted jumper. Intrigued, Rudy opened the jumper and instantly started laughing.
“Och, Trev! Are you kidding me? You really want me to wear this thing?”
“And I’ll wear this one.”
On one side of the bed, Trevor held up a black jumper with the cheerful, red-cheeked face of Santa Claus on the front, while on the other, Rudy’s one in dark green had the smiling face of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
“Monica used to knit me one every Christmas for my present. I’ve got three, but sadly the one of a Christmas pudding shrank in the wash. What do you think?”
“You’re worried about me doing the walk of shame? If we’re both wearing your clothes, your friends will know for sure we’ve slept together.”
“Who cares? Let them,” said Trevor, shrugging before pulling on his sweater. “I’m not ashamed. Quite the opposite, actually.”
“Yeah?”
“Absolutely,” said Trevor, smiling. “Come on, let’s get some breakfast. I’m starved.”
Luckily for them, everyone else had already awoken and sat either chatting or tucking into a light breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on toast or crumpets. Conversations quietened around the table as Rudy and Trevor entered and took their seats, next to each other this time.
“Look what they’re wearing. Santa and Rudy Rudolph jumpers,” said Jessica, oblivious to the obvious and giggling into her coffee cup. Both hers and Antoni’s cheeks were bright red, and Trevor guessed they had enjoyed playing in the snow that morning. “Totally lit. Love them.”
At first Cheryl and Mrs M said nothing, but after a brief exchange of glances, both turned and grinned at Trevor. Cheryl got up and brought two champagne glasses of sparkling orange juice to them—at least, he assumed they contained juice—and nudged Trevor while placing one glass beside him. If others around the table suspected anything, they said nothing, either not noticing or deciding to be polite.
Until Irish Johnny piped up loudly. “Mary and Joseph! Did you two sleep together last night, Mac?”
“Sleep?” added Frank. “More like shag. Am I right or am I right, Trev?”
Trevor shuffled uncomfortably in his seat until Rudy took hold of his hand beneath the table.
“Yes,” said Trevor, aiming for brevity. “Rudy stayed the night. In my room. With me.”
Even though he had decided to leave out the part about shagging, he noticed Karl’s unsmiling face. As though he had any right to a say in the matter.
“Good on you, mate,” said Frank, beaming.
“Rudy,” called Cheryl, slowly and meaningfully, from the end of the table. This time Trevor felt the blood drain from his face. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Cheryl, please—”
“It’s okay, Trev. I’ve nothing to hide,” said Rudy. “Cheryl, you can ask me anything you want. However, as you’re in my home, and in my country right now, I reserve the right whether or not to answer.”
“It’s just, in the brochure, I saw this lovely table setting in the main room, overlooking the lake—”
“Loch,” said Trevor, before turning to Rudy. “Actually, Cheryl’s got a point.”
“Except I notice the table’s been taken away. Not that I’m complaining, but I thought we would be having Christmas lunch overlooking the loch instead of here in the kitchen.”
