‘Except the tree,’ Callie taunted, pulling out the box of decorations to begin hanging the gaily coloured baubles on the lush green branches.
Logan looked at the tree admiringly. ‘Did you carry this in yourself?’ he frowned.
‘Yes,’ she glanced round at him. ‘Why?’
‘It looks heavy—’
‘It was.’ She moved to stand beside him, her arm about his waist.
‘You could have hurt yourself.’ His arm tightened about her shoulders.
‘But I didn’t,’ she placated, kissing him on the cheek. ‘Come and help me decorate the tree.’
‘Then can I give you your present?’
She blushed at the warmth in his grey eyes. ‘Yes,’ she answered huskily.
‘Right,’ he said briskly. ‘Let’s get the tree done quickly.’
It looked really beautiful when they had finished, the coloured lights shining through the tinsel they had draped over the whole tree.
Callie’s eyes glowed as she looked around the room. ‘It all looks beautiful,’ she said excitedly. ‘Oh, Logan, I can’t tell you what having you here means to me! I—I thought I was going to be alone, and it—it would have been the first time that had happened.’ She looked down at her hands. ‘As a child I had my parents, then Mummy, and then Jeff.’
‘The man who died?’
‘Yes,’ she swallowed hard.
‘You still miss him?’
‘Just a little,’ she nodded. ‘He—he meant a lot to me.’
‘I can see that,’ Logan said huskily.
She gave a bright smile. ‘You can have your present now. I’ll just go into the bedroom—’
‘Exactly where I wanted to go.’ He moved purposefully towards her.
‘Logan!’ Callie looked at him with wide eyes. ‘I meant your present is in there.’
‘Yes.’ His eyes brimmed with laughter.
‘Will you behave!’
‘Do I have to?’
‘No,’ she sighed her defeat, and moved into his arms, her face raised invitingly.
For long moments he was tempted. ‘No,’ and he finally put her away from him, ‘it wouldn’t be a good idea.’
Callie pouted her disappointment. ‘I was only teasing.’
‘I wasn’t.’ He relaxed in one of the armchairs. ‘Off you go.’
‘Logan Carrington, you—’
‘Yes?’ he raised one eyebrow.
‘Nothing,’ she snapped. ‘I’ll get your presents.’