gone all out. I had just one winter party dress and Luke and Kate’s seasonal celebration felt like the perfect opportunity to give it an airing. It was deep burgundy, knee-length, close-fitting with long sleeves and a slash neck. A slender diamanté belt was the only embellishment and I felt wonderful in it.
‘Well, that’s all right then.’ I told him. ‘Can you give me a hand with the zip?’
Finn stepped up and I tried not to let myself become seduced by his near nakedness.
‘The other way,’ I laughed, when I realised he was undoing all the work I’d put in so far. ‘We haven’t got time for shenanigans.’
‘I hope there’ll be time later,’ he pouted, dropping a kiss on my neck. ‘I’ve never seen you all dressed up before.’
‘If you think the dress looks good on then why are you so keen for me to take it off again?’ I teased, stepping neatly out of his way before he answered. ‘Now, hurry up, or we’ll be late.’
I finished putting on my make-up downstairs while Finn got ready in the bedroom and I again admired my hair in the mirror above the fireplace. Finn’s large hands were extremely and surprisingly dextrous.
‘You look incredible.’
I spun around and found him framed in the doorway.
‘Wow,’ I grinned, ‘you look pretty good yourself.’
He was wearing dark jeans and a shirt, the colour of which matched my dress. He had tucked it in for once and I could make out the shape of his body underneath it – broad shoulders, narrowing to a slim waist. I stepped towards him, intent on finding out if he felt as good as he looked.
‘No time for shenanigans,’ he said, warding me off, ‘but there is something I want to give you.’
‘Oh yes,’ I smiled, hoping my luck was in.
‘Yes,’ he said, ‘sit down and close your eyes.’
I raised an eyebrow.
‘Just do it,’ he laughed.
I sat and squeezed my eyes closed.
‘Hold out your hands,’ he said, the smile obvious in his voice, once I had done as instructed.
I felt the weight of something land and opened my eyes.
‘What is it?’ I asked, my fingers closing around a small velvet-covered box.
‘Open it and see,’ he said, sitting next to me.
The box opened with a creak and there, resting on a bed of ruby-coloured silk, was the beautiful art nouveau snowdrop brooch that I had fallen in love with the day we went shopping in Norwich.
‘The suit of armour,’ I swallowed, running my finger lightly over the detail. ‘That’s what I thought you’d hung around for.’
‘Oh, that’s coming too,’ Finn smiled. ‘It’s being delivered after Christmas.’
I shook my head, blinking fast to save the eyeliner it had taken a while to perfect.
‘Do you like it?’ he asked, looking at the brooch again.
‘I love it,’ I told him as he took the box and carefully unpinned it. ‘It’s exquisite, even prettier than I remembered.’
He pinned it into place, his hands lightly brushing my skin and making me shiver.
‘Thank you,’ I said, kissing him on the lips. ‘Thank you so much.’
‘You are most welcome,’ he said, kissing me back.
‘So much for your embargo on gifts,’ I tutted.
‘I know,’ he said, ‘but I bet you’ve got me something, haven’t you?’
‘Of course,’ I said, nodding at the presents under the tree, ‘but you can have yours tomorrow.’
‘I can’t wait,’ he grinned, looking more like an excited child than a fully grown Norse god.
‘Me neither.’
We wrapped ourselves in coats and scarves, clipped Nell’s lead on to her collar and made our way across the square to Prosperous Place. It was still light but only just and I could see a few snowflakes falling from the slate grey sky. I linked my arm through Finn’s and he squeezed me close.
‘Who would have thought we would be ending our year like this?’ he smiled, shaking his head.
‘I know,’ I agreed, as we carefully negotiated the house steps and the sound of a party in full swing met our ears. ‘The pair of us didn’t exactly get off to the most auspicious of starts, did we?’
‘I suppose not,’ said Finn, ‘but then appearances can be deceiving.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well,’ he said, turning to me again, ‘I know it didn’t look like it after our initial meeting, when I bawled Nell out, but for me, it really was love at first sight.’
I swallowed and leant closer in.
‘It was love at first sight for me too,’ I said back.
‘Really?’ he asked, his cheeks flushed.
‘Really,’ I whispered back, quickly kissing him as the