The Complete #LoveLondon Collection

'No, I didn't hit my head. I'm fine, just in pain. It's the old injury. I've just overdone it. Noel,' she stilled his hands by laying hers on top of them. 'I just need to get home.'

She inhaled through her nose and blew out through her mouth, fighting to control the pain. Wincing, 'Mum is going to have a field day. She's been telling me not to skate so much. Fantastic.'

'If you're in a lot of pain you should go to A&E.'

She looked aghast. 'No way, not on Christmas Eve. Are you kidding? Scrub that, are you mad? It'll be heaving. I'm not waiting around for hours surrounded by drunks. I just need to get home and take an anti-inflammatory.'

'I really think that-'

'Noel.' Her blue eyes, when he looked into them, were calm. 'I've been here before. I know what I need; go home, medicate, and rest my knee. It'll be better in a few days’ time.'

'I'll take you home then. I'm parked up just around the corner.'

'Haven't you been drinking?'

'Nothing alcoholic.'

'Right. But,' she pushed off the ice, wincing, 'I can probably tube it. I live in Wembley.'

'I'm driving you home,' he stated as he wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her up, 'just accept it.'

She threaded an arm around his neck, staring up at him. Her cheeks reddened. 'Only if you're sure.'

'I am,' he nodded, picking his way carefully across the rink.

Holly hissed and muttered at regular intervals at his slow progress, but he ignored her and concentrated on getting off the ice safely. Once on the grey lino flooring, he sat her down and gingerly removed her skates, kneeling at her feet. 'All done.' He murmured, looking up at her.

'I-I, y-yes,' she stuttered, gazing down at him. Her pupils dilated in her ice-chip blue eyes, creamy skin darkening with a blush that swept up from her chest and into her face.

He felt his own temperature rise in response, and shifted uncomfortably. At least his jeans weren't as tight today. 'Are you all right? In much pain?'

Her expression cleared and she frowned. 'No. Yes. Can we please get on with it?' she asked thinly. 'The sooner we're on the road, the sooner I'll be at home with my prescribed drugs.'

Following her additional instructions, he found a manager drifting about starting to lock up, explained the situation and got Holly's belongings from her locker. He smiled. Who'd have thought that for once it was her being a grouch, instead of him?

To Holly's mortification, Noel insisted on carrying her to the car. She hid her face against his chest, just inside the collar of his coat. The streets were still busy, and it was difficult to ignore the wolf whistles and catcalls from party-goers, caused by both the way he was holding her and the amount of leg she had on show in her tiny figure-skating dress.

Even so, there was a pang of regret when he set her down in the underground hotel car park next to some kind of black low-slung super-car. He'd smelt amazing, and in the end being held by him hadn't exactly been a sacrifice. The way he helped her into the expensive car, carefully sliding her injured knee in, then taking his coat off and tucking it under her leg to elevate it, really touched her.

'How are you feeling?' Noel asked, staring into her eyes. 'Ready to go?'

She nodded but was quiet on the way home other than giving him directions. The pain in her knee worsened with every movement of the car, even though he was driving sensibly, and she closed her eyes, nausea rolling across her in heavy waves. She did not want to throw up in a car like this; the damage would probably cause tens of thousands.

'It's snowing.' He remarked into the silence.

'Really?' her eyes fluttered open but she felt too ill to be enthusiastic.

'You really must be suffering,' he mused, 'if you can't even raise a smile for a white Christmas.'

'Tell me again later, after I've taken my painkillers.'

'Will do.' A silence, 'Holly?'

'Yeurgh?'

'Tell me your home address. You've been dozing for the last two minutes and we must be getting close.'

'Kay,' she murmured, clocking distantly that she sounded a bit like Jasper. Reciting the address, she let her head fall back against the chair in the cosy darkness, concentrating on not being sick.

Thirty seconds later, or at least that's what it felt like, although her watch said over five minutes had passed, she was back in Noel's arms, cold flakes of snow kissing her face.

He leaned on the doorbell, waiting several moments before pressing his elbow on it again.

She mumbled under her breath.

'What was that?'

'Said you still smell amazing!'

He laughed oddly. 'Pain has a strange effect on you by the look of things. Ah, um, hi!' he exclaimed as the door swung open. Light and noise, including seasonal music, spilled out into the front garden. 'I believe she belongs to you? She hurt her knee at the rink.'

'I ruddy knew it!' An exasperated voice said over her head. 'She never listens to me. She's so bloody stubborn.'

'Muuum,' Holly grimaced, and snuggled closer to Noel and comfort, and away from the fierce warmth emanating from the centrally heated terrace house which was making her feel sicker. 'Please, not now.'

'I can't think where she gets her stubbornness from,' another voice, this one amused, spoke over the top of her mum's.

'Hi, Dad,' her mouth curved.

Loud, rapid-fire barking joined in over the rabble and she waved a floppy hand in the air. 'Hi, Pudding. I love you too, but don't feel well, so please be quiet.'

Immediately the barking stopped.

Noel stood patiently as the large chocolate Labrador came out of the house, circled him and Holly three times, sniffed them both, gave Noel a half approving, half distrustful look then pranced into the house with his moist, dark brown nose in the air.

'He thinks he's a show pony, I swear.' Holly said, burrowing her face further into Noel's coat, making him smile.

'Come in, son,' Holly's dad ushered him into a narrow hallway, while his short, rounded wife made constant clucking sounds with her mouth, concern etched on her face. 'Second door on the right.' He told Noel. ‘I'm Tom, by the way. We'll take her out to the back room, away from this rabble,' he explained as they went past a front room packed with milling people and loaded plates of food and bottles of drink lined up everywhere. 'She'll feel better after some cold water and fresh air. There are patio doors in there. She'll be fine, love,' he said, turning to his fretting wife, 'go and find her tablets.'

Noel caught sight of the dog standing in the doorway to the room Tom had indicated. Hurry up for god's sakes, his big brown eyes seemed to say, we haven't got all night. Noel nodded, readjusting Holly's weight and carrying her into the back room. Then he realised he'd taken instruction from a dog. He must be tired. Or going mad.

Tom was already ahead of them, throwing open the double patio doors so a fresh breeze swept through the room, bringing mini snow flurries in with it.

Noel settled Holly in the middle of one of the sofas facing the doors, with a pang of regret, sorry to have to put her down. She came to a little, when he guided her head down between her knees, complaining about the position hurting her leg.

'I know Holly, but the pain is making you feel sick and dizzy, so it's a good idea to get some blood pumping to your head.'

The Labrador seemed to agree with him, padding over and holding Holly's arm still when she tried to move by gripping the fabric of her sleeve gently between his front teeth.