Snowbound Surprise for the Billionaire

There was nothing like this in Australia. Nothing. A lump lodged in her throat. She’d never seen anything more beautiful.

‘If you like those you should go to Paris. They have green domes enough to gladden every soul.’

No. She forced her legs forward again. She was exactly where she ought to be.

When they entered the town square, full of bustle and people on this bright chilly morning, and made their way to its centre even Flynn was quiet for a moment. ‘That’s really something,’ he finally said.

All Addie could do was nod. Gothic architecture, sweeping spires, gargoyles and a glockenspiel were all arrayed in front of her. ‘What more could one want from a town hall?’ she breathed.

On cue, the glockenspiel rang out a series of notes. She and Flynn shared a glance and then folded their arms and stood shoulder to shoulder to watch. Addie had to keep closing her mouth as the jesters jested, the couples danced and the knights duelled. She watched as if in a dream, Flynn’s shoulder solid against hers reminding her that this was all for real. She soaked it in, marvelled at it, her heart expanding with gratitude. The show lasted for fifteen minutes, and, despite the cold and the sore neck from craning upwards, she could’ve watched for another fifteen.

She spun to Flynn. ‘Can you imagine how amazed the first people who ever saw that must’ve been? It would have been the height of technology at the time and—’

She suddenly realised she was holding his arm and, in her enthusiasm, was squeezing it. With a grimace and a belated pat of apology, she let it go. ‘Sorry, got carried away.’ It certainly wasn’t dainty to pull your boss’s arm out of its socket.

His lips twitched.

No, no—she didn’t want to amuse him. She wanted to impress him.

She gestured back to the glockenspiel. ‘And they call that the New Town Hall. I mean, it’s gothic and—’

He turned her ninety degrees to face back the way they’d come. ‘Oh!’ A breath escaped her. ‘And that would be the Old Town Hall and as it’s medieval then I guess that makes sense.’

She turned a slow circle trying to take it all in.

‘What do you think?’

He sounded interested in her impression. She wondered if he was merely humouring her. ‘I can’t believe how beautiful it all is.’ She turned back to the New Town Hall and her stomach plummeted. An ache started up in her chest. ‘Oh,’ she murmured. ‘I forgot.’

‘Forgot what?’

‘That it’s Christmas.’

‘Addie, there’re decorations everywhere, not to mention a huge Christmas tree right there. How could you forget?’

She’d been too busy taking in the breathtaking architecture and the strangeness of it all. She lifted a shoulder. ‘It’s been such a rush this last week.’ What with signing the contract to sell Lorna Lee’s and preparing for the trip, Christmas had been the last thing on her mind.

Christmas. Her first ever Christmas away from Lorna Lee’s. Her first Christmas without her father.

The ache stretched through her chest. If her father were still alive they’d have decorated their awful plastic tree—loaded it with tinsel and coloured balls and tiny aluminium bells and topped it with a gaudy angel. She’d be organising a ham and a turkey roll and—

A touch on her arm brought her back with a start. ‘Where did you just go?’

His eyes were warm and soft and they eased the ache inside her. She remembered the way his eyes had blazed when she’d asked him if he knew what it was like to want something so terribly badly.

Yes, he’d known. She suspected he’d understand this too. ‘The ghost of Christmases past,’ she murmured. ‘It’s the first Christmas without my father.’

His face gentled. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘I’ve been doing my best not to think about it.’ She stared across at the giant decorated tree that stood out at the front of the New Town Hall. ‘I’m glad I’m spending Christmas here this year rather than on the farm.’

He nodded.

She turned back to him. ‘Are your parents still alive?’

‘My father isn’t.’

Her lungs cramped at the desolation that momentarily stretched through his eyes. ‘I’m sorry.’

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat. ‘It was a long time ago.’

‘Your mother?’

‘My mother and I are estranged.’

She grimaced and shoved her hands into her pockets too. ‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ She shouldn’t have pressed him.

He shrugged as if it didn’t make an ounce of difference to him, but she didn’t believe that for a moment. ‘She’s a difficult woman.’

She pushed her shoulders back. ‘Then we’ll just have to have our own orphans’ Christmas in Munich.’

He opened his mouth. She waited but he closed it again. She cleared her throat, grimaced and scratched a hand through her hair. ‘I, the thing is, I’ve just realised in the rush of it all that I haven’t bought presents for the people back home.’

He stared down at her for three beats and then he laughed as if she’d shaken something loose from him. ‘Addie, that’s not going to be a problem. Haven’t you heard about the Munich Christmas markets?’

‘Markets?’ She wanted to jump up and down. ‘Really?’

‘Some are held in this very square. You’ll find presents for everyone.’

‘There’ll be time for that?’ She could send the gifts express post to make sure they arrived on time. Hang the expense.

‘Plenty of time.’

She folded her arms and surveyed him. ‘When are you going to tell me what your business in Munich is?’

‘Come right this way.’ He took her arm and set off past the New Town Hall. They passed what looked like the main shopping area. She slanted a glance up at him. ‘We’ll still be in Munich for the post-Christmas sales, right?’

‘Never stand in the way of a woman and the sales. Don’t worry; you’ll have time to shop.’

Cool.

She shook herself. That was all well and good, but when were they in fact going to do any work?

Eventually he stopped, let go of her arm and pointed. She peered at the building he gestured to. It took her a moment, but... ‘Ooh, a beer hall! Can we...? I mean, is it too early...?’

‘It’s nearly midday. C’mon.’ He ushered her inside.

The interior was enormous and filled with wooden tables and benches. He led her to a table by the wall, where they had a perfect view of the rest of the room. He studied the menu and ordered them both beers in perfect German.