Page 46 of Yule Party on Sunflower Street

‘Please stop thanking me,’ he said. ‘There’s no need.’

‘There is. You’re a lovely man, you know?’

‘You’re a lovely woman,’ he said.

There was a beat of silence as they gazed at each other. Tara’s eyes were filled with unspoken words, and he knew his were the same. There was something else at work here. Something that existed at a level beyond words. A deep attraction and connection that made Seth long to hold Tara all night long.

He reached out and cupped Tara’s face, gently stroking his thumbs along her soft skin.

‘Tara,’ he said, ‘may I kiss you?’

‘I would like that very much,’ she replied.

He lowered his head towards her then pressed his lips against hers. He raised his head then slid his hand into her silky hair and kissed her again, this time deeper than before.

When he met her eyes again, they were both breathless.

‘I’d better go,’ he said.

‘I wish you didn’t have to, but I guess it’s for the best.’ She peered at him coyly. ‘Another kiss like that could land us both in trouble.’

‘Yeah.’ He grinned. ‘One for the road though?’

She was the one to pull him close this time and they kissed for what was only moments but felt like hours. When they finally broke apart, they both had to take a moment to compose themselves.

‘I am going to go now but I’ll try to stop by tomorrow,’ he said, heading for the door. ‘Goodnight, Tara.’

‘Goodnight, Seth.’

He let himself out then gestured for her to lock the door behind him.

He got back in the van and started the engine, waited for the windscreen to clear then pulled away from the kerb. But as he drove away, he saw Tara standing in the shop window, arms wrapped around herself, a dreamy expression on her beautiful face.

Leaving her there was one of the hardest things he’d had to do in a very long time.

23

SADIE

Tara had returned from her trip to London with some fantastic stock. Sadie had spent the morning going through it with her and they’d been like children on Christmas Day. There were so many pretty pieces, from vintage glass baubles and painted wooden decorations to ornate brass candlesticks. They thought it would all prove to be popular with their customers.

‘Time for a cuppa?’ Sadie said.

‘Definitely! I’m parched.’ Tara grimaced. ‘That was fun, but who knew I’d bought that much stuff?’

Sadie stood up. They’d been in the stockroom going through the boxes while their dad was out front. Their mum had gone Christmas shopping alone, so their dad had offered to run the shop while they sorted through Tara’s purchases.

Sadie made tea then took their dad a cuppa and some biscuits before returning to the kitchen and sitting on a chair at the small table. She was beat. It had been a busy morning, and she was aware that they had a busy time ahead before Christmas.

She cupped her mug and watched as steam rose into the air. Outside, it was snowing! It had been snowing all night and while the roads had been kept clear by local farmers on their tractors, the houses and gardens were all blanketed with white. The village looked like a Christmas card and Sadie was falling in love with it more by the day.

‘Here you go.’ She pointed at Tara’s mug when she returned from the toilet.

‘Thanks. I need that.’ Tara sat down and pushed her hair from her forehead.

‘You did well yesterday,’ Sadie said.

‘I’m glad you think so.’ Tara smiled.