The Complete #LoveLondon Collection

'See the wonder of it through a child's eyes, you mean?' he quipped, unzipping his coat.

Obviously this guy had a cynical streak a snow-covered mountain-peak wide.

'Perhaps.' She muttered, gliding nearer as Jasper brushed her arm. 'Or maybe … is there a reason you don't like Christmas? Are there bad memories, or-?'

'It's really none of your business, and please don't psychoanalyse me. Despite us joking about counselling, I don't need therapy. I don't mind other people enjoying Christmas, I just don't want to be forced too as well. I mean,' he pointed at the enormous Christmas tree, 'look at that. Is it really necessary?'

She flushed. This guy was deeply unhappy about the whole thing. Well, each to their own, and he was right, he was a customer - the last thing she wanted was a complaint. She was enjoying this job too much. 'Maybe not necessary, but it's tradition, which to some people is important. Anyway, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.'

'I'm not upset. Don't worry about it.' He waved off her apology. Rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. 'Oh, man,' he muttered under his breath, 'I'm being an idiot.'

A waft of sexy male aftershave hit Holly at the same time as his admission, and something tingled in her belly. She realised how close they were, only a foot spanning the space between them, thanks to Jasper's game. Her eyes wandered over his face, noticing that actually he had a lovely firm jaw line, with a slight coating of stubble. She gulped. Shame he was such a Scrooge. Not that she was really into dating at the moment. She planned to be immersed in her new business for the next few months, or years, if that was what it took.

Noel suddenly lurched toward her, as Jasper ran into the back of him. 'Oof! Jasper!'

He grabbed Holly's shoulders so as not to crash into her, and she braced her hands against his chest so that they didn't head-butt each other. She caught another waft of sexy aftershave.

Jasper giggled and skated away in a figure of eight.

'I am so …' Noel trailed off as he stared down at Holly.

She held her breath, aware of the firmness of his chest under his woolly green jumper, the way her fingers were clinging to the soft material.

Shaking his head, looking confused, he tried again. 'I'm sorry. He's a handful sometimes. And I'm sorry I snapped.' Stepping back carefully, he made an effort to smile, and the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly. 'It's not you at all. It's completely me. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. It's just that I've had the same conversation with people for years. It's getting boring. Not to mention frustrating. Christmas just stresses me out.' He touched her arm, and she swore she could feel the heat of it through her waterproof top, which should not be possible.

She dropped her arms and tucked her hands in her trouser pockets. 'Fair enough.'

'Really?' he looked surprised, quickly followed by suspicious.

'It's your choice.' Holly shrugged. 'And I get it; people going on at you about the same thing over and over can drive you a bit barmy. My mum does it all the time about the skating. I've just learnt to listen, nod in the right places and then do my own thing anyway. Works wonders for my stress levels.'

'Maybe I'll try that,' he mused. 'But I mean it,' he insisted. 'I am sorry. And I'm not like this about everything, honest. You should see me in the summer. I can tell jokes with the best of them.' He smiled. 'I know a good one about a health and safety officer who walks into a bar-'

'You don't have to convince me of your comedy value,' she shook her head, 'it's fine. Hopefully Jasper can come back tomorrow, but if he can't, he can't. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon.' She'd done all she could, and would just have to see if they'd show up the next day.

'Wait, I-' he caught hold of Holly's sleeve as she went to skate away backwards.

Jasper appeared next to them, stopping with a spray of ice. 'Can we go have a hot drink ’Ncle Noel? I'm cold.' He chattered his teeth to demonstrate how much. 'Pleeeeease.'

Despite her desire to leave, and that she should be asking Noel to let her go, Holly smiled. The little boy was a real cutie.

'And can pretty Holly come with us please?' He turned to her, eyes bright. 'I want you to say about ice skating. And your cups and trophies.'

'I- ' she gazed at Noel over the boy's head. Oh, help. 'I'm sure you can manage without me. I'm due a break but-'

'Please join us.' Noel said, to her bewilderment. 'If you can.' I'm exhausted, he mouthed, rolling his eyes. 'The drink is on me.' Please, his brown eyes begged, in much the same way Jasper had pleaded with him a moment before. He obviously wasn't used to looking after kids, and needed a break from Jasper's steady stream of random chatter and demands. 'I'll be nice,' he promised.

She decided to take pity on him. But only to make his godson happy. 'Okay.' It's at a price, her eyes sparkled back. 'They do a nice hot chocolate or cream tea in the Fortnum's Lodge.'

'Yay!' Jasper hopped up and down, 'Yay, yay, yay.'

She noticed Noel swallow at the brand, and could almost see a cash register in his brain ringing up the bill, but to his credit he simply nodded. 'Sounds good to me. The lodge is in the West Wing right, just behind us?'

Nodding, 'Have you been here before?'

'No, I looked up the floor-plan online.'

'You're a guy who likes to be prepared.'

'I don't like the unexpected.' He said, looking serious. 'I like to know where I am, where I'm going, what's happening.'

Holly stared at him. 'Sounds like you're talking about more than maps of Somerset House. But surely you can't always know where you are, where you're going or what's going to happen.'

'I don't see why not.'

'Life isn't like that,' she shook her head, 'it's messy and complicated. You can never know what's around the corner.'

'I can't think like that. I couldn't think of anything worse.'

'But,' she drifted closer to him, 'the unexpected things are the best parts.'

'They are? Why?'

'Because they usually end up being the fun or exciting bits, or the times you learn the most about yourself, or your friends or family.'

'That's very idealistic,' he replied, his dark gaze fluttering over her mouth before returning to her eyes, 'but an interesting way of looking at it.'

Feeling her cheeks warm, she grinned to hide how flustered she felt. 'You know I'm right, despite that lukewarm reply. Now let's get going, I can't be too long.'

Signalling to a fellow Ice Marshall colleague that she was taking a break, Holly tapped on the face of her sports watch and held both hands up twice. He nodded in reply and waved back at her, grey hair catching the bluey-purple spotlights spanning the rink.

Spinning around, she got off the ice and took a seat in the Skate Entrance building, Noel and Jasper following close behind. Rapidly unlacing her skates, she encouraged Jasper to do the same. 'Come on, the quicker we get our shoes on, the quicker you can have a hot chocolate. Race you.'

'While you two do that, I think I'll get rid of a few layers.' Noel said above her. 'I'm sure it'll be a lot warmer inside the main building.'

Holly heard rustling and when she straightened up, skates in hand, her eyes widened. Who'd have known he'd have such gorgeous broad shoulders in that clinging green jumper and amazingly taut, muscular thighs in snug black jeans?

'If you come back tomorrow,' she muttered, 'you might want to try wearing trousers that aren't so…' she got her breathing under control with a effort, 'tight.'

Huh. It was obviously too long since she'd pulled if she was finding the Grinch of Christmas Present so damn attractive.

A few minutes later, Holly lead Jasper over to grey double doors with a red sign hanging above it, Fortnum's Lodge at the Christmas Arcade in bold white lettering. Noel was trailing a few feet behind. He loved Jay, but his boundless energy could be challenging. At least Jasper was practically attached to Holly's hip, giving Noel a break.

'Thank you for saying I'm pretty, Jasper,' Holly pulled the door open for the boy, motioning him ahead of her, 'it was very nice of you.'

Swivelling his head, Jasper gave her a toothy smile. 'S'okay. You are. Melody's pretty too, but she has darker hair. You look a bit like Rapunzel out of Aimee's book but I don't think your hair is long enough.'

Holly ran a hand down over her pale blonde ponytail, which reached the middle of her back. 'My hair is long, but I agree a prince couldn't use it to climb the side of a tower. Who's Aimee?'