‘Ah, it was nothing, and I don’t expect free labour in return.’
‘Well, you’re going to get it.’
‘OK, I’ll check in on you in a bit.’
He walked back out into the main shop and, after a few minutes of preparation, he unlocked the door and flicked the sign to ‘OPEN’.
He looked back through the window separating the main shop and the cool room and smiled as he watched Immy concentrating on her work. He could definitely get used to having her here.
It had been a manic morning with people buying Easter eggs and other Easter chocolate but as the last customer, at least for now, left the shop, Xander thought he’d go and help Immy with icing the eggs. He peered throughthe window and saw she was wobbling precariously in her chair as she was clearly fast asleep.
He quickly locked the shop door, turning the sign to ‘CLOSED’, and then went into the cool room and scooped her up into his arms.
She jolted awake, blinking at him blearily and automatically wrapping her arms round his neck to steady herself. ‘Oh my god, I fell asleep, I’m so sorry. First day on the job and I can’t even stay awake.’
‘It’s OK, I’ll dock your pay for negligence and dereliction of your duties. Come on, let me take you to bed.’ He glanced at the workbench where she had easily completed seventy or eighty eggs. She must have worked non-stop since he’d left her.
She pressed her nose against his neck, sleepily, her eyes closing. ‘Take me to bed, eh?’
He grinned. ‘To sleep.’
‘Spoilsport.’
He was surprised by that as she had been so firm about nothing happening, but he could feel the chemistry between them. He didn’t think it was one-sided. Although he knew this was probably just the sleepiness talking.
He moved to the stairs and carefully started carrying her up them.
‘I can walk,’ she muttered.
‘Really?’
‘Probably.’
‘Let me look after you.’
‘I’m an independent woman, I don’t need anyone to look after me,’ she mumbled against his skin.
‘Let me look after you for me then.’
She peered at him in confusion. ‘For you?’
‘I want to take care of you. Just this once.’
She closed her eyes again and rested her head on his shoulder. ‘Very well.’
He smirked. He carried her into the bedroom and laid her down carefully on the bed, pausing to take off her shoes, her hairnet and, with a bit of a struggle, her overcoat and jumper, before covering her with the duvet.
He kissed her on the forehead. ‘Get some rest.’
‘You could stay, if you want,’ Immy said, sleepily.
He didn’t need asking twice. He quickly took his shoes off, shrugged out of his jacket and got into bed next to her, wrapping her in his arms. She snuggled up against his chest and immediately drifted off back to sleep. Xander couldn’t help marvelling how something as sweet and simple as cuddling Immy in bed could feel so completely perfect.
Immy woke a while later and smiled when she saw she was still wrapped in Xander’s arms. He was awake, absently stroking her hair, and he had the biggest smile on his face as if simply being with her made him so happy. As soon as he saw she was awake his smile broadened and he kissed her on the forehead.
‘Hi.’
‘Hello,’ she said. ‘Am I fired?’
