As if sensing her sudden awkwardness, he turned to face her again and softly said, ‘Hey, penny for ’em?’
‘I’m just thinking that was probably the best sex I’ve ever had, but don’t go getting all big-headed and arrogant now.’ She poked his bare flesh playfully.
He scooped her up and pulled her into him once again. ‘If I told you that I felt exactly the same way would that help?’ he asked, stroking her hair.
‘If it were true then yes, I suppose I’d feel pretty good,’ she replied in a small, shy voice.
‘All I can say, Mallory, is that I hope we doalotmore of that and on a regular basis too. In between the odd conversation and meal of course,’ he teased. ‘A man’s gotta eat.’
She nuzzled into his neck again, smiling and savouring his words.
*
Sam returned to Canada for Christmas a couple of weeks later and Mallory missed him terribly. He had left her a little gift under her tree and given strict instructions that it wasnotto be opened until Christmas morning. She had picked up the box on several occasions to examine the beautiful wrapping – or that’s what she had told herself she was doing. She had secretly sniffed it, shaken it and been so tempted to peel back just one corner of the sparkly Santa paper but she had always placed it back under the tree unopened.
In their usual festive tradition, Josie and Brad arrived to stay on Christmas Eve and they all drank champagne and prepared the veg for their festive feast. They had eventually gone to bed at around midnight, after playing a very long game of Scrabble, which Brad had won and boasted about for the rest of the wine-fuelled evening.
Mallory awoke at nine on Christmas morning and made her way downstairs, eager to open her gift from Sam. Brad and Josie were still sleeping and so she switched on the tree lights and admired her beautifully decorated,realtree as she inhaled the fragrance of the garland over the fireplace. In spite of the losses she had suffered over the years, Christmas held so many wonderful memories for her and she loved the festive feeling.
Taking the rectangular box wrapped from under the tree, she read the tag once more,
To my beautiful Yorkshire Rose, lots of love from Santa Sam.
She grinned widely and eagerly ripped off the paper and inside was a red velvet box. She opened it slowly and gasped at the contents. A stunning white gold bracelet of linked hearts, each with a diamond at its centre. Wedged into the lid of the box was a note.
She unfolded it and read,Mallory, I give you my heart, forever.Tears of happiness stung her eyes and she wished so much that he was here with her.
Lunch was amazing but Mallory and her guests ate far too much, rendering them all sleepy. At two o’clock, the phone rang and Mallory almost vaulted over the sofa to answer it.
‘Hello? Sam?’
‘Hey, baby, it’s me. Merry Christmas.’
‘Oh Sam! Merry Christmas to you too. I miss you so much.’
‘I miss you too. Been telling my mom and Ry all about you,’ he told her. ‘They want to meet you. How would you fancy a little holiday out here sometime?’
In spite of how fast things had progressed she could think of nothing she wanted more. Maybe she should have been terrified at the prospect of meeting his family but deep inside she knew this was meant to be, so instead of fear, her heart tripped with a jolt of excitement. ‘That’d be amazing. We’ll have to arrange it. I opened my gift by the way.’
‘Yeah? What did you think?’ He sounded hopeful.
‘It’s just beautiful, Sam. I love it.’
‘I’m so glad. I just wanted you to have it when I saw it.’
Hearing his voice made her heart melt and made her miss him even more. Being apart at Christmas was difficult even though, relatively speaking, they had only just met. They chatted for a while until Sam had to go.
‘I’ll see you soon. Can’t wait.’ She sighed into the receiver.
‘See you soon… I love you.’
Her heart skipped a beat when she heard his words. ‘S-sorry?’
There was a pause at the end of the line. ‘Whoops… I should maybe have said that to you in person, huh? Well, it’s out there now so I’m going to say it again. Mallory, I love you.’
Tears cascades down her face. ‘Oh Sam, I love you too.’
*
