Operation White Christmas: Escape to the Country by Nicki Edwards

Author:Nicki Edwards [Nicki Edwards]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781760302153
Publisher: Momentum
Published: 2015-10-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Hollie looked up minutes later to see Jim at the back door with Roo in his arms. She hadn’t expected him to be so fast.

He was grinning, eyes sparkling.

“I’ve changed my mind,” he said, depositing Roo on the tiled floor. She made a funny bleating sound and looked around expectantly.

“About what?”

“Come with me to collect your car. The sun is shining and I can show you the farm on the way.”

Her pulse raced at the idea, then her heart plummeted. She scowled in disappointment. “Remember I don’t have any boots.”

“I told you I could fix that.” He grinned again. “Feed Roo, grab your coat and I’ll be back.”

The little llama butted against Hollie’s leg and she laughed and ran her fingers through the soft wool. “Are you hungry?”

She tested the milk and decided the temperature was okay. She held it up and Roo’s eyes seemed to sparkle. Hollie laughed again. “You are adorable.”

She angled the bottle and Roo made a little leap and gripped the teat in her mouth, sucking eagerly. Within minutes she’d drunk the entire bottle.

Jim returned brandishing two pairs of boots and the ugliest woolen beanie Hollie had ever seen. “Not sure what size foot you have, but if these are too big I’ll get you another pair of socks.” He handed her the beanie.

She eyed it suspiciously. At least she wasn’t trying to dress to impress him.

He laughed at her expression. “It might not be fashionable, but trust me, it’s colder today than it was yesterday and you’ll need it. I promise it will keep your ears warm.”

How had he read her mind?

She peeked through the window behind him. The sun was blinding bright as it bounced off the snow.

“But the sun is shining. It can’t be that cold.”

He chuckled. “Never let that sun fool you.” He reached and tucked a strand of hair behind one ear and she shivered at his gentle touch. “Your hair is still damp and if it’s not tucked in, it will freeze solid.”

She pulled the beanie over her head so it covered her ears and slid her feet into the first pair of boots. They fit perfectly. Jim handed her gloves.

“These should fit too.”

She didn’t have time to dwell on who the boots and gloves and hat belonged to because Jim grabbed Roo, locked the back door and dragged her by the hand across the yard. The air was so cold she gasped, coughed, spluttered, certain her lungs were freezing closed.

Jim laughed at her. “I told you it was cold. At least the snow is powdery so you shouldn’t slip.”

The words were barely out of his mouth when she felt her legs coming out from underneath her. She landed on her back with a heavy woomph as the air rushed out of her lungs.

Jim turned around and, rather than helping her up, stood with his hands on his hips, grinning down at her. “You should have told me you wanted to make snow angels.”

He threw himself onto the snow

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