By the time they left the pub—after a couple more from the search and rescue team and Rayah with Jonny had been to interrupt them—the sky was a heavy black duvet, losing feathers of snow all over the place.
It had stuck and was building considerably. Tomorrow the children in the town would be able to build snowmen and a couple of official snowball matches would be arranged, one for the kids and another for the adults who were missing out on their fell runs and football games.
“Do you have a Christmas tree yet?” he said, trying not to smile at how she was struggling to walk in the snow. It was past the top of her boots and she hadn’t figured out yet that giving up trying to keep her jeans dry was the only solution.
“I’ve got three,” she said. “The sunroom, the lounge and the entrance hall. But I need one more for the dining hall, especially with having Christmas dinner there for everyone at Sunrise.” She gave him a smile and this time he stayed guilt-free.
Sorrell was trying to go the extra mile with Christmas dinner, although she was insistent that it wasn’t because she felt guilty for poaching his builders.
“You’ll need a real one,” he said. “It’s a huge room. I’ll get it for you tomorrow.”
“You don’t need to go to that trouble, Zack…”
“It isn’t trouble. I’ve been getting a Christmas tree for that room for years and I went to the same place every year. Jake and I are going for a couple for Sunrise and the farm tomorrow, so we’ll pick you one up.”
Her eyes narrowed and he wondered if she’d ever considered being a school-teacher as she had the glare down to perfection. “I assume you buy it from somewhere?” she said.
Zack shrugged. “Kind of. Why don’t you come and you can see for yourself?”
“Hmmmm,” she said. “If there are any illegal goings-on I’m not sure I want to be involved.”
This time he laughed. Sorrell wasn’t the type to steal traffic cones when drunk or streak naked through a park, not that things like that were up his street either. Jake had always been the rebel, unsurprisingly. Scott had rivalled him, but in a less obvious manner. Alex had always been the law abiding one and Rayah he wasn’t even going to think about.
“There aren’t, so you’re safe. Rayah will be there too. And maybe Keren—if Scott’s not there,” he said, opening the door for her to climb into his car.
“We’ll see,” she said. “I might be too tired.”
“What do you mean by that?” he teased, trying to sound innocent. “I’ll see you home, make sure you’re in all safe and sound in your cottage and then I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
He started the engine, hearing it purr with life and then whacked the heat up high. The temperature outside had dropped considerably, the wind adding a chill that would seep under your skin and into your bones. He had offered to help Jake on the farm in the morning, pack up the barns and do the animals’ waters. Zack knew Jake loved his job, his career really, but mornings like tomorrow would be hard. The animals would need the extra attention and the jobs would need to be done quickly. Heavy snow would need shifting, cows potentially moving to a different barn and there was always repair work. Then they’d be deciding on a field to host a snowball war.
“You don’t want coffee? Or a beer?”
Shit, she thought he was serious?
Zack turned to her and rested what he hoped was a warm hand on her cheek. Her skin was red with the cold, even from the short walk from the pub to the car. “Coffee’s good. A beer even better. Anything so I can stay awhile with you.”
Her eyes grew heavy and bright, shining with what he thought might be tears. It was still the date on which she should’ve been getting married. He’d not wanted to leave her while they were on their date, but he couldn’t say no to the call out. And they’d probably saved a man’s life by being able to get him out of the cold so quickly. The break wouldn’t have been the problem; it was the conditions and the shock.
“Are you just being nice to me because you feel sorry for me—that I should’ve been getting married today?” she said, shooting the words out like they were sour sweets.
He didn’t think of a sentence. Instead he leaned across the gear stick and moved his lips to hers.
The kiss was long and soft, not asking for anything, just giving. She tasted of the red wine she’d drunk and the apple crumble she’d had for pudding—sweet and rich. His hand moved from her face and rested on her leg, the other going to her waist.
She kissed him back, tentatively at first but then she started to relax. Her hands found him, seeking his skin and travelling under his coat.
A bang on the window pulled them apart.
Zack wound it down and saw Scott standing there, his hairy face grinning at him. He grabbed hold of the ends of his beard and tugged.
“Next time you fall asleep drunk, this thing will be gone,” he said.
Scott brought up a hand to protect his pride and joy and flinched backwards. “Just trying to make sure you didn’t have to wait half an hour for your car to de-steam. We’re getting the trees tomorrow?”
“You’ve not disturbed us to ask that, have you? It’s called a phone. You can use it to send a message. One that’s non-intrusive.” Zack started to put the window up, but Scott still had his hand there.
“Sorry, Sorrell,” Scott said, finally acknowledging the woman in the car. “Although the longer I’m here, the less time you have to put up with him trying to seduce you.”
