Free Christmas Kiss by Chrissie Loveday

you to it.’ He stared at her, looking puzzled.
    ‘Why would you do that?’ He opened his eyes wide and then his mouth broke into a broad grin. ‘Don’t tell me you’re jealous? My, that’s encouraging. Must mean you care.’ She blushed and looked down at one of the pups to cover her confusion. She was ashamed of being so foolish.
    ‘Right, all done,’ Mrs Harper said as she came back into the utility room. ‘You might want to put that one outside. She’s about to squat down. Bye then.’ She left and Alex scooped up his pups and carted them outside. Sarah followed him and watched as the little animals performed on the grass.
    ‘Lots of praise. That’s how you’ll get them trained.’ He petted them and congratulated them on being good dogs. They scampered back inside, glad to get out of the cold air.
    ‘Do you mind staying with them for a few minutes? I need to put the horses in.’
    ‘Fine, but I need to see Major too. I haven’t been near him for days. He’ll forget me and I couldn’t bear that.’
    ‘We’ll both go. These two have to get used to being left some time. They’ll come to no harm in here.’ He lifted them into the bed and tucked them in with the old blanket he’d found. They instantly gave a sigh and went to sleep.
    It was a cozy evening. Supper was delicious, as expected. They had wine and later went into the lounge to discuss the decorating plans. It was a completely blank canvas as he had no furniture for the room so everything could be chosen from scratch.
    ‘I’d go for pale neutral colours for the walls and add splashes of colour with the furnishings. Once it’s painted, you can choose things for each area of the room and build the complete picture with everything coordinated.’
    ‘You really sound as if you know what you’re talking about. I’d really like it if you are involved with it all.’
    ‘I’d love it. Besides, spending someone else’s money sounds ideal to me.’
    ‘Let’s make some sketches and notes. What are you doing tomorrow?’
    ‘Today’s cleaning?’
    ‘That’ll keep. And you didn’t do any shopping so we’ll go out for lunch. I’d offer you a room for the night if there was one, but there isn’t so I’ll have to take you home.’
    ‘You’re on. But I’ll pay for lunch. You’re always feeding me. It’s my turn.’
    ‘An independent woman... What more could I ask for?’

 
    Chapter Six
     
    Despite their growing friendship out of work, over the next weeks Alex treated Sarah just as he treated the rest of the staff. Never could he be accused of favouritism. At last, her plaster cast had been removed and she had a smaller, support splint which she could take off whenever she wanted to. She could also drive again and so ceased her morning drives with Alex. At least the office gossip about them had been dropped. They did see a lot of each other outside work. She had left Major staying at Darnley Manor and Alex had even suggested she stopped renting her own paddock and leave him there permanently. It was however, a step too far in her estimation. She agreed her horse was better placed there for the harsher winter months. Another couple of weeks, it would be Christmas. She wondered what Alex would be doing for the holiday. Her parents were expecting her to go and stay with them and Beth and the tribe would join them for a family day. If Alex was to be alone, perhaps she should invite him to join them. On the other hand, it would start her mother planning weddings and organising bridesmaids. It was for that reason she had never shared any male friends she had with the family. Beth was nearly as bad, telling her at every opportunity that it was about time she was settled and breeding more grandchildren for her parents to spoil.
    ‘I don’t know what you plan for Christmas?’ Alex said when they were out riding together one Saturday.
    ‘Family of course. There’s a three line whip out for a family Christmas. I daren’t even think of