Golden Christmas (12 page)

A high-pitched yap made Jonathan jump, and he
laughed.

"Jessie's jumping around Honey and trying to
grab her ear."

Another succession of puppy barks, and Marcus
and Vicky both laughed. It was so frustrating not being able to
see.

"Oh, Honey. What's this fur ball doing to
you?" Marcus said.

Jonathan pictured the scene. "Is Honey off
her lead?"

"I'll let her off now," Marcus said. The snap
of the clip on Honey's lead sounded, and the volume of puppy barks
increased. "Honey's coming straight to you, and Jessie's on her
heels."

Honey rubbed against Jonathan's side and he
stroked his dog, the familiar feel of her sleek fur making him
smile. She squeezed between his bent knees and sat down, obviously
hoping for protection from the young upstart.

"Incoming," Marcus shouted, and a lively
bundle of fur hit Jonathan's shin. He put a hand to the wet grass
to steady himself.

"Whoa." Vicky intervened, her hair brushing
his cheek, her enticing fragrance tantalizingly close. Then both
dogs were gone and so was she, the sound of rough-and-tumble play
and puppy grumbles and play growls nearby.

"They sound like they're having fun." He
stood up when his thighs started to object to crouching.

"Honey's getting used to her now." Vicky
returned to his side and took his hand.

As Jonathan listened to the sound of the dogs
playing, he remembered his promise to Shelly.

"Hey, Marc. Shell's got one pup left. You
could have her."

His brother's footsteps jogged closer and he
blew out a breath. "I'd love to, but Gabby doesn't like dogs."

Gabriela made it her business to dislike
everything Marcus liked. It made Jonathan furious.

"A dog would be good for you. You could take
her for long walks, then you wouldn't need to keep borrowing my dog
all the time."

He kept his tone light and joking, but he was
deadly serious. A dog would be the perfect companion for Marcus. He
needed some unconditional love in his life.

"The little black girl that's left is a
sweetie," Vicky added. "The people who were due to have her let
Shelly down. She needs a good home."

Jonathan frowned in concentration as he
listened for his brother's response. The noise of the dogs and
rooks cawing in the distance was all he could hear. "What do you
think, Marc?"

"I think…yes." Marcus's phone beeped as he
dialed. "Hi, Shell. Jon says you have a puppy left…I want her."

Jonathan grinned and Vicky hugged him. "How
wonderful. Jessie will grow up knowing two of her siblings, Chloe's
pup Paddy, and the girl Marcus is having."

"Labradors at Rosemoor Hall," Marcus said.
"Just like old times." He patted Jonathan on the shoulder. "I'll go
and buy some dog supplies later before Shell drops the pup over.
Thank you. Both of you."

"I'm getting chilly," Vicky said. "Do you
think Jessie will get cold?"

"Not if she's running around." Jonathan
stepped sideways and circled his arms around Vicky, pulling her
against him. "Warmer now?" he said softly.

"Much," she whispered.

"Where's Marcus?"

"He's gone to play with the dogs again."

Jonathan took the opportunity to nuzzle her
neck and made her giggle. "I can't believe how much you've changed
my life," he whispered. "I owe you so much, love."

She turned in his embrace and put her arms
around his neck. "I'm the one who owes you. I might never have
found the strength to move on if it wasn't for you, and look at me
now. I can hardly believe I'm here, with you and my new fur baby.
You've given me a second chance at life, and a second chance at
love."

Her soft feminine curves pressed against him,
and Jonathan wished they were alone in his apartment. But from the
happy sound of the dogs playing, that wasn't going to happen
anytime soon.

But he could wait. They had plenty of time
together—they had the rest of their lives.

Twelve
months later

Vicky woke in the warm cocoon of the bed beside
Jonathan and smiled to herself in anticipation of the wonderful
surprise she had for him this Christmas Day.

It had taken nearly a year, but they finally
had the gatehouse exactly as they wanted it. The two of them had
worked side by side painting the walls and choosing the style and
layout of the new kitchen and bathrooms they'd had renovated.

Jonathan slept at her side with Honey and
Jessie curled on top of the covers, Jessie by her feet and Honey at
Jonathan's. Vicky rolled over and stroked strands of hair off
Jonathan's forehead, grazing her fingertips along his scar.
Strange, she was so used to it, she hardly noticed it now.

When she shifted position, Jessie uncurled,
stood, and stretched, then trod up the bed and licked Vicky's hand.
Vicky rubbed her dog's chest and stroked her ears. "Merry Christmas
to you too, sweetheart."

Jessie's feathered golden tail flapped madly
at the prospect of another day. She was such a happy dog, so full
of energy and curiosity, such a loving furry friend.

Honey decided that as Jessie was awake, she
should get up too. She padded up the bed and flopped with her head
on Jonathan's chest, politely waiting for him to wake before she
licked him.

"Good morning, Honey." His voice was thick
with sleep as he pulled a hand from beneath the covers and rested
it on her head.

Vicky leaned over and kissed him. "Merry
Christmas, darling."

Jessie decided she wanted a piece of the
kissing action and shoved her nose in Jonathan's face, making him
laugh as he fended her off.

"Come on, you two golden girls. Let Daddy
wake up before you smother him." Vicky climbed out of bed and put
on her slippers and fleecy winter dressing gown. "Honey, Jessie,
let's see if there're any pheasants in the garden, shall we?"

Both dogs leaped off the bed. Claws
scrabbling on the wooden floor, they charged along the corridor,
through the kitchen, and into the utility room. Honey waited
obediently at the back door to be let out, while Jessie jumped up
at it, whining. Vicky had taken her to dog training classes, but
she was nowhere near as well trained as Honey.

Vicky unbolted the back door and both dogs
shot out onto the frosty grass, tails wagging as they patrolled
their territory, following their noses along the scent trails left
by nocturnal animals. Crossing her arms against the chill, Vicky
stepped outside and pulled the door closed behind her to keep in
the warmth.

Her breath floated away in clouds, and the
cold stung her cheeks and nipped at her bare ankles. Yet she
welcomed the cold, loved this time of year when the trees were bare
and the landscape iced white. Winter in the Cotswolds would always
hold sweet memories for her. She'd never forget Colin and Josh, but
Christmas now marked her first meeting with Jonathan and the start
of her new life.

From the gatehouse garden, her view stretched
across the parkland to the golden walls of Rosemoor Hall. How lucky
she'd been to choose this place as her retreat last Christmas; how
lucky she'd been to meet Jonathan. He and her beautiful Jessie had
transformed her life. As if Jessie sensed Vicky's thoughts, she
loped back, lithe and muscular under her fluffy golden coat, and
dropped a stick at Vicky's feet.

The chewed piece of wood was icy cold to the
touch, and Vicky shivered. She tossed it a couple of times for
Jessie, then went back inside and called the dogs with her.

"Come on, golden girls. Time to warm up
again. You'll have a longer walk after breakfast."

Both dogs trotted into the utility room, and
she dried their feet, then fed them. Jonathan was making mugs of
tea when she went back in the kitchen. He turned and she stepped
into his arms for a kiss, snuggling close to his strong, warm
body.

"Our second Christmas together," he said.
"Can you believe it's been a year?"

Vicky placed a hand on her belly and smiled
to herself. A wonderful year, and the next one would be even more
amazing. Three days ago she'd taken a pregnancy test, and she had a
Christmas surprise to share.

They carried their tea back to the bedroom
and climbed under the covers, the dogs joining them again. Vicky
fluffed her pillow and leaned back, sipping her tea, waiting for
the perfect moment to tell Jonathan he was going to be a dad.

He set his tea on the nightstand, then pulled
a small present from under his pillow and laid it on her lap. "For
you."

Excitement zinged through her at the cubed
shape of the gift. Could this be the present she'd hoped for? Vicky
put down her tea and pulled off the wrapping paper. Inside was a
red velvet box. She flipped up the lid to reveal a cluster of
diamonds, and gave a little squeal.

"Oh, Jon. It's beautiful." She threw her arms
around him and pressed a kiss to his lips.

"Will you marry me, darling?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Holding him tight, she
closed her eyes, blissfully happy. "I love you so much. I'm the
luckiest woman in the world."

He took the ring from her, felt her fingers,
and slipped it onto the third finger of her left hand before
kissing her again. "You've made me happier than I ever thought
possible," he said. "Before I met you, I'd resigned myself to
spending the rest of my life single."

Vicky hugged him tighter. The thought of this
kind, loving man being lonely brought tears to her eyes. "You'll
always have me." And now was the moment she'd waited for. "And
you'll have someone else to love as well. I'm pregnant, Jon. I did
a test, and it was positive."

He pulled back, and for a moment it was as if
he could see her out of his brown eyes. "Really?" he whispered, his
voice low and tight with emotion.

"Really. In just under eight months, we'll
have a tiny baby."

He drew her back against him, more gently
this time as if she'd suddenly become fragile. "I'll look after you
and our child." He kissed her forehead and ran his fingers across
her cheek and lips. "The fact I can't see won't keep me from being
a good father."

"Oh, Jon, I know that. Our baby will be lucky
to have such a loving dad."

Jessie chose that moment to push between them
and try for a furtive face lick. Vicky and Jonathan both
laughed.

"Yes, Jessie, we love you as well, and you,
Honey." When Vicky spoke Honey’s name, she crowded between them too
and they had a group hug, their arms around the dogs as they kissed
over their heads.

"Merry Christmas, darling," Vicky said to
Jonathan.

"Merry Christmas, my precious fiancée," he
replied.

"Merry Christmas, golden girls," they said to
the dogs in unison, and both dogs wagged their tails like
crazy.

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