Free The Unconventional Angel by Nicola May Page B

in unison, with totally different connotations.
    Evie downed her sherry and slammed her glass on to the bar. ‘OK. OK. I’ll do it.’ She turned her head to the side and smiled up at the handsome stranger.
    ‘You will?’ Greg was buoyant.
    ‘I’ve always thought about giving up my time on Christmas Day to help others less fortunate than myself.’
    ‘Have you?’ Bea screwed up her face.
    ‘Yes, I have as a matter of fact, Beatrice Stewart. I just have always been too selfish to go through with it.’
    ‘Well, that’s marvellous, then.’ Greg drained his glass. ‘You can feel good about yourself too – and you need that sort of uplift at this moment, for sure.’
    ‘Just tell me where and when I need to be. But wherever it is, I’m bringing a bottle of sherry.’

Chapter Two
    ‘Are you any good at stuffing?’
    ‘Obviously not good enough or my boyfriend Darren wouldn’t have run off with his secretary.’
    Greg put his hands on his hips. His comic apron with a corkscrew hanging out from his crotch’s position couldn’t help but make Evie smile.
    ‘I’m not saying sorry, because positive thoughts create positive happenings.’
    ‘My boyfriend, or should I say ex-boyfriend, has just walked out on me. If you expect me to be a jovial Mrs Santa bloody Claus then you’re barking down the wrong chimney, mister.’
    ‘You’re very beautiful when you’re angry.’ Greg laughed and placed a Christmas hat on her head.
    Evie smirked and pulled her blonde curls out from under it.
    ‘That’s better. Now come on, Goldilocks, let’s get these tables laid. We have many homeless bears to feed.’
    ***
    By midday the other volunteers had all sprung into action and the Church Hall was full of Christmas Day hope. Paperchains hung from the ceiling, and children from a local primary school had created a huge sparkly mural which hung behind the food station. A huge Christmas tree in the corner was laden with donated tinsel and baubles, and a mass of presents awaited the homeless folks of East London. A hairdressing bay had been set up and even a chiropodist was giving his time up for the day. Evie was deeply touched by how many people were kind enough to give up their own special day to help others.
    The buzz of the community spirit was overwhelming and it actually made her realise what a shallow existence she had been living with Darren. If she could have felt half the love she could feel around her now, she would without fail have been happy.
    ‘I can’t believe just how kind everyone is.’ Evie placed the final gift out of the huge box that Greg had handed her. ‘It’s embarrassing to admit that I have never done anything so charitable in my whole life. To tell the truth, I don’t even really like Christmas Day. All that fake joviality, usually ending in a hungover row about what to watch on television. I should have done this before.’
    ‘Hmm. You might not ever want to do it again once we get to the end of the day.’ Greg raised his eyebrows.
    Evie looked him up and down. She usually liked men in their thirties, but at forty-two he was very handsome and she loved the little heart-shaped birthmark on his right cheek. She had a secret urge to kiss it.
    She looked up at him and then quite spontaneously and naturally did so!
    ‘Happy Christmas, Greg, and thank you so much.’
    Greg put his hand to his cheek. ‘Aw, that was nice, but thank you for what exactly?’
    ‘Stopping me from moping about all day in complete misery. Aitchoo!’
    ‘Bless you.’ He took his hand away from his cheek and placed it gently under her chin.
    ‘A pleasure,’ he said. ‘Right – let’s make it a magical day for everyone, eh?’
    ‘Yes, let’s.’ Evie smiled. ‘Do you mind if I take some photos of the day?’
    ‘No, of course not. That’d be great. In fact, if you don’t mind we could use them for the website. Make it look fun, and it’ll stop me from trawling bars to find last-minute waif and stray