The Complete #LoveLondon Collection

Making her way into the skate entrance building she stomped off to staff quarters to have a rest and something to eat before getting ready for the club night.

Her eyes stung and she knew moral support was needed. Pulling her phone out, she tapped the screen. 'Carly? It's me. Fancy coming clubbing with a difference tonight?'

Noel leaned up against the rink wall by the oversized Christmas tree, hands stuffed in his pockets for warmth, face burrowed in the depths of his navy scarf. He must be mad, standing in the freezing cold like this.

He hadn't planned to be here. Originally he was supposed to be at home, like he usually was on Christmas Eve, drinking beer, eating a take-away and watching unashamedly non-Christmassy TV. Then Matt had persuaded him to spend a few hours with him and the kids, and this year for some reason Noel had softened and agreed. But as he'd stared blankly at the crackling flames and logs in Matt's fireplace, he'd known he couldn't leave it like that with Holly. So unfinished. He hadn't thanked her properly for everything she'd done for Jasper, or - even as he thought it, he realised how true it was - told her how much he'd enjoyed her company. He'd got up from his chair and found Matt in the kitchen.

'Look, Matt, I need to-'

'Don't tell me. You've changed your mind and are heading home to hibernate,' his friend joked as he made coffee using the space-age looking machine. It probably cost more than Noel earned in a month.

'No. But I am heading out for a while.'

'You going back for the girl? I saw the way you looked at her.'

He thought about denying it but settled on a shrug. 'She's nice. And I just need to clear the air, that's all.'

'Right. Still flying the no complications flag then?'

He avoided an answer, because he wasn't sure he knew it himself. 'I hardly think you're one to talk, mate.' He smiled to take the sting out of it, 'I'll see you a bit later.'

Matt threw a bunch of keys across the kitchen. 'Take the P1, and park in my usual space at the hotel.'

'Thanks.' Noel caught the keys and pocketed them. Matt drove an environmentally friendly Prius but had a few other cars and had insured him and Stephen on them all a long time ago. The P1 was Noel's favourite; sleek, sexy, low to the ground and fast.

Stephen charged in, shrugging into his jacket. 'I'm coming too,' he insisted. 'I want to have a look at the hot blonde totty who's taught Jasper all these tricks. Maybe she can teach me a few things.'

'That's not what I said about her,' Matt protested.

Noel threw Stephen a dirty look. 'I don't think so.' He ground out. 'She's far too nice for you.'

'Come on,' Stephen spread his hands, 'I'm not that bad am I? I wine and dine the ladies.'

Silence greeted his comment. They all knew that while he was good at romancing women initially, he was not good at anything that came after that. Like returning their calls, being honest with them or telling them when the relationship was over.

'Thanks.' Stephen sighed heavily, green eyes mocking. 'Can I come if I promise to behave?'

Noel blew out a breath. 'If I say no, are you going to turn up at Somerset House anyway?'

'Of course.'

'You might as well get a ride with me then.'

'So where is she then?' Stephen asked now, jumping up to sit on the plastic wall, ignoring the dirty look he got from a passing member of staff. He seemed unaffected by the cold, leather jacket open over a white open necked shirt.

'I don't know,' Noel scowled as the DJ started a club anthem up, lights starting to spin across the ice.

He looked around, unable to see her in the heaving crowds of skaters and spectators. And then he did.

Wow.

Jasper had asked Noel to help hang the Christmas stockings above the fireplace the night before, but as Holly skated gracefully onto the ice, and Noel caught sight of an expanse of long, lean thigh encased in black tights below a short, twirly figure-skating dress it was a different type of stocking he was thinking of. Black sheer stockings that ended as lacy hold-ups on upper thighs, leaving inches of bare skin sexily bare below lacy black knickers…he gulped. Shit. He had the hots for Holly. Pity he'd blown it by acting like such a cold bastard earlier.

He watched as she helped someone up off the ice, and then checking she had enough room, went into a series of spins and jumps to the beat of a remixed Ellie Goulding track. Some kind of diamanté studding on her skates flashed and caught the lights and the way she moved her body was stunning. She had control and precision but a flair in the flick of her arms. The way she went so low down to the ice with one leg bent in front of her and the other extended behind, in what he now knew was called a drag – he'd googled figure-skating while at Matt's – was almost artistic. And at the same time, sexy as hell.

Stephen let out a loud whistle and looked at Noel. 'That's her, isn't it?' His grin was wide and knowing. 'She's gorgeous. Looks like an ice princess.' He dismounted and turned to scope Holly out some more, slapping Noel on the shoulder. 'If you don't, I will.'

'Don't you fucking dare,' he shot, returning Stephen's slap on the back with a gratifying oof from the younger man. He was shocked at how possessive he felt over Holly.

'Doing your principled bit, are you?' Stephen raised one eyebrow, looking taken aback. 'Fine. But don't try and pretend it's all about being noble. You want her too.'

Noel opened and closed his mouth a few times, but couldn't actually deny it. He did want her, and he really liked her. He just hadn't acknowledged it until now. She'd definitely managed to creep under his defences.

'I knew it,' Stephen crowed. 'Never mind, I'll find someone else. I always do.' He smiled arrogantly. Studying Noel's face under the strobes. 'So, what are you going to do about it?'

'No idea, Stephen. Not a clue.'

Carly slithered out onto the ice. It was the only way Holly could think to describe it because her friend inevitably spent more time on her hands and knees, or bum, or spread-eagled on her stomach with her arms pulled in tight to her body to protect them, than upright.

Anyone else who was so bad at skating would look silly, but Carly was one of those girls who was effortlessly graceful and stylish. She made a pair of jeans and plain top look haute couture and Holly had never seen anyone look as devastating in a skirt, slim Bambi legs attracting the attention of every guy around.

'So what do you think?' Holly asked, gripping her friend's arm to steady her.

'Of?' Carly tossed her long black hair away from her face, pale skin looking Snow White-ish in the club lights.

'Of Noel.' She'd spotted him half an hour earlier, but was unsure whether to go and talk to him, and if she did, what she would say. Did he even warrant five minutes of her time after the way he'd spoken to her?

'Do you like him?' Carly challenged.

'I don't know,' Holly moaned. 'I didn't think so, and he was off with me earlier, but there's something about him. Sometimes he's pretty cool. Oh, I don't know. I don't even want a boyfriend so I don't know why I'm bothered.'

Her friend pursed her lips thoughtfully, running assessing hazel eyes over Noel, who was in animated conversation with a younger guy. 'He's kind of hot,' she grinned, 'but not your usual type.'

'Not in looks, no. But maybe my usual type is overrated?' Holly frowned. 'Never mind, this is making my head hurt. Come on, let’s skate.'

'You know I can't skate,' Carly laughed, 'that's a really bad suggestion.'

'Yes, but you can stand still and concentrate on the dancing bit. We both know you can shake that booty.'

Carly grinned, 'Yep, we do. And yes, I can.'

Noel clutched a cup of non-alcoholic punch, watching Holly twirl around the rink. Her friend had gone home, and so had Stephen, thank god. The crowds had started drifting away and the music had been turned down once it hit ten. Club night was finishing early given it was Christmas Eve and the place was closed the next day. Holly was still on the ice though, eyes closed blissfully as she skated around. It was easy to see how much she loved it, how she got lost in the flow.

Then something went wrong. Her right knee seemed to lock and then fold. She turned white, wobbling and starting to go over, but just saved herself from falling by sinking down onto the ice on her bum. She clutched her knee, face contorted.

'Holly!' Noel ran over the ice in his trainers. Reaching her, he knelt down and ran careful hands over her leg, first-aid training kicking in. 'Where does it hurt? Is this better, or worse? Do you feel sick? Did you hit your head on the way down?'

She squirmed as he ran hot hands up and down her leg.