Just for Christmas - Emily Harvale Page 0,36

His furniture might make it to the cottage, after all. Even if the respite might only be brief.

He took both dogs for a walk, leaving Molly and his mum at home, and returned in time for breakfast.

Vicky said she wanted to do some last-minute Christmas shopping, but due to the icy conditions on the pavements and the roads, Chance didn’t want her to go alone. Before he had time to say he would take her, Molly had offered instead.

‘If that’s okay with you and your mum,’ she said.

‘I would love that.’ Vicky sounded thrilled. ‘If you’re sure you don’t mind, sweetheart.’

‘Mind?’ Molly laughed and grinned at Chance. ‘I can’t think of a better way to spend the day. Unless you need me at the cottage?’

‘No,’ he said, beaming at her. ‘I’ll be painting for most of the day. And praying that some of the furniture arrives. You would probably be in the way.’ He winked at her and silently mouthed the words, ‘Thank you.’

She smiled at him and nodded and he hoped she understood how much her offer had meant to him. He had never seen his mum so happy and it filled his heart with pleasure to see the pure joy written all over Vicky’s face.

‘Would you like us to get you anything while we’re out?’ Molly asked. ‘Like a beautiful Christmas present for me, for example?’

She was clearly joking, but it made him think. Not only had he not yet bought a present for Molly, he hadn’t bought any presents for his mum. Once the furniture arrived, he would have to sneak away and do some Christmas shopping of his own.

‘Thanks. But I can buy a bar of chocolate anywhere.’

‘Make sure it’s milk chocolate, because I don’t like dark. And it had better be a big bar.’

‘It’ll be big. You have my word on that. I might even stretch to two bars if you’re really good.’

‘I’m always good. In fact, I’m nothing short of an angel.’

‘I agree with that,’ Vicky said. ‘You’ve definitely brought some light into our lives since you’ve been here.’

Molly blushed, and Chance felt something surge inside him, especially when he saw her glance at him beneath her lashes, the green flecks in her beautiful hazel eyes sparkling and an awkward smile creeping across those soft, pink lips.

‘Thanks,’ Molly said. ‘But I think the truth is that I’ve brought you quite a lot of trouble and inconvenience. And I don’t just mean in the shape of Miracle. The last thing you expected was to have me and a stray dog staying for the holidays.’

‘Nonsense.’ Vicky shot a look at Chance. ‘Having you here and Miracle, of course, has been wonderful. And I’m sure my son agrees.’

‘I do,’ he said. ‘I’ve loved having you here. You and your daft dog.’ He coughed and turned away. ‘But I’d better get on. There’s still a lot to do. Have fun, you two. I’ll take the dogs with me.’

‘Move the Christmas tree,’ Molly said. ‘Just in case. Miracle hasn’t caused havoc for a couple of days. He might need to let off some steam.’

He wasn’t the only one. Chance was feeling pretty hot under the collar himself right now.

Why did Molly always look so damn good?

Even in jeans, a Christmas themed sweater, her hair tied back in a ponytail and not a trace of make-up on her face, she managed to look as sexy as hell.

And for the umpteenth time, he told himself, that he must stop fantasising about making love with Molly Ford.

It was never going to happen.

The sooner he took that on board the better it would be.

For everyone.

Twenty

The following day was Christmas Eve and snow was falling again, as the forecasters had predicted.

Thankfully, most of Chance’s furniture had arrived the day before, although he still didn’t have a bed in any of the bedrooms. At this rate he would be sleeping on the floor.

‘You can take the bed from your room,’ Vicky offered. ‘At least you’ll have something to sleep on until your new beds arrive. But you’ll need to hire a van or something to move it.’

‘If it comes apart,’ Molly said, ‘it can go in the back of Sarah’s Land Rover. There’s plenty of room in there.’

‘That’s not a bad idea. And it’s another problem solved. Thanks Mum. And thanks for the suggestion, Molly.’

‘I’m here to help. So what’s the plan for today? Any deliveries expected? Or anything I can do at the cottage?’

‘Two deliveries. But I can deal with those. And everything else