Page 30 of The Secret Holiday Kiss

‘Bedside table, too. All the luxuries.’

Daisy laughed around another mouthful of cake. ‘This is delicious, thank you.’

‘You’re welcome.’

It was a simple sentence, but the way Avery said it … Daisy felt it in places she shouldn’t. She was being addled by sugar. She needed a safer topic than where he slept each night. ‘How often do you go back to Norwich?’

‘Once a week,’ Avery said, his gaze drifting back to the fire. ‘My place is a rental, and it seemed … well. I don’t know how long I’m going to be here, so I’ve held onto it. I go and check it’s OK.’

‘Your rented flat?’

‘Yeah.’ He looked over at her. ‘Just to be safe.’

‘Is it not in the best area, then?’

‘It’s fine.’

‘You didn’t think about giving it up while you’re here? Finding somewhere new when you go back? You know you’ll be here for the next few months at least, so isn’t it a waste of money?’

‘It’s fine,’ he said again, pulling apart his bun. His frown suggested it very much wasn’t fine, and Daisy knew she hadn’t invented the worry she’d seen on his face. She was instantly intrigued, in a slightly horrified way, because after Stefan, secrets didn’t hold a lot of appeal for her. But she didn’t know Avery, and he didn’t have to tell her anything about his life. She kept returning to May saying how easy-going he was. She’d seen flashes of it when they were sparring, but he’d gone straight from that to brooding.

‘How are your Christmas sculptures going?’ she asked.

He blinked, looking up at her, and it was as if she’d snapped him out of a trance. ‘I can’t tell you that.’

She didn’t know if he was being serious. ‘Why not?’

‘Because we’re on different sides. Ball versus treasure hunt. Competing Christmas activities.’

Daisy laughed. ‘I was just being friendly.’

‘You’re trying to mine me for information. I was told this would happen.’

‘By who?’

‘Frank Carsdale and Valerie. The old man and woman who were vocal at the village meeting?’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘They are firmly on Team Avery, and they’ve said I can’t tell you, or anyone on Team Daisy, what I’m getting up to in case you sabotage it.’

‘That. Is. Ridiculous.’

‘We shouldn’t even be talking to each other. Word gets out about our clandestine meeting, and there will be uproar.’

‘Uproar? Wow. So this is a thing, then.’

‘It’s a whole thing. Like battle of the bands, only it’s battle of the festivities. You’ve got Harry and Sophie, and my traitorous sister, on your side. All working on the fancy pants ball.’ He waggled his fingers, and Daisy pressed her lips together. She would not laugh again. ‘I’ve got Valerie and Frank – pretty harmless, you would think, but they are nothing if not determined. I also know that the family who run the arcade are up for the treasure hunt, and Dexter’s daughter Lucy has given me several ideas for sculptures, although Imogen was trying to convince her that a ball would be fun.’

‘So Imogen is with me, and I can work on Lucy.’ Daisy tapped her lips. ‘There’s Birdie, isn’t there? Imogen’s grandmother? She has an amazing vegetable garden and knits all of Felix’s jumpers. Would she love a ball?’

‘I think she’ll love anything. She’s like everyone’s grandma. Also, I can’t believe I just gave you valuable intel.’

‘Up until five minutes ago, I didn’t even realize this was a serious thing. Winning a competition is no fun if your opponent doesn’t even know they’re your opponent. It was your duty to tell me.’

‘Was it?’ Avery picked up his mug and leaned back, crossing one leg over the other, all sexy nonchalance.

‘Of course.’ Her voice was a rasp. ‘Now I know I need to gather the troops, Team Daisy will grow in size and power.’

‘Don’t underestimate the appeal of a charming tradesman. I can offer my services to anyone in the village, bribe people with shelves and fixed gutters and wreath hooks just in time for Christmas.’

‘Believe me,’ Daisy said, ‘I have met a thousand charming tradesmen. That is one thing I am all over.’