Golden Christmas by Helen Scott Taylor

Author:Helen Scott Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: pets, england, clean romance, holiday romance, sweet romance, christmas romance, military hero

Chapter Nine

The next two days flew by while Vicky spent nearly every waking hour in Jonathan's company. She gave up running alone and instead they took long walks around the Rosemoor gardens together, throwing a ball for Honey and laughing at her exploits as she tracked rabbits and tried to climb a tree after a squirrel. Every day they ate lunch or dinner at the Fat Goose, chatted with Shelly, and visited the puppies.

Jessie was an adorable, mischievous bundle of golden fur. She had worked her way into Vicky's heart, and she couldn't wait to take her baby girl home. Jessie already seemed to know who her new mum was. When Vicky walked into the kitchen at Holly Cottage, her puppy would scramble out of the big dog bed and scamper across the flagstones to be scooped into Vicky's arms, eager for kisses and cuddles.

On Christmas Eve, Vicky and Jonathan went to the supermarket together and bought ingredients for a special dinner of Moroccan lamb. Vicky had seen the recipe in a magazine and read it out loud to Jonathan. When he said he'd like to try it, she decided to prepare a romantic meal, with candles on the table and soft music playing—something she hadn't done for years, not since before she had Josh.

She scored the shoulder of lamb, coated it in a mix of olive oil, garlic paste, lemon juice, and ras el hanout, a fragrant mix of Moroccan spices, and put the joint in the fridge to marinate while they walked. Later she put it in the oven on a low heat to cook slowly.

Jonathan wanted to help, but she banished him to his study to write the book about the history of Rosemoor Hall he was working on, so she could make the meal herself as a treat for him. She put tea lights in pretty glass holders she bought specially, ones that were difficult to knock over and wouldn't burn Jonathan if he accidentally touched them. Then she fitted her MP3 player in his dock and chose romantic music to play.

Once she had taken the lamb out of the oven and served, she went to Jonathan's study to fetch him.

"It smells delicious," he said as she led him through by the hand.

"We're eating by candlelight. There are two candleholders about three inches tall in the middle of the table. One is purple and the other is yellow, and the flames on the tea lights are glowing inside the glass. They're really pretty."

As they shared dinner, Vicky confided how she felt terrible about being so distant with her mum and dad. Jonathan reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

"I would go to see them more often, but they have so many photos up that I can't bear to see, tons of Josh, and some of me with Colin and Josh. They even have my wedding photo at the top of the stairs."

"Have you told them how you feel?"

"I did mention the photos to Dad. He said he'd speak to Mum, but it's not just that.

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