Deck the Shelves (Village of Berkingsley #2)

All I Want for Christmas is You

Chapter 10

(and a Couple Thousand Dollars)

A s the black taxi pulled up to the address, I hopped out of the vehicle and looked up at the buildings towering over me. Was this the right place? I guess in all of our chats, we never talked specifics about what we did for work in London. But surely, this wasn’t the correct address. Oh, bonkers. Just my luck. I sent a message to Freddie asking him to resend the address.

Me: You’ll never believe where the taxi left me off. It’s nuts.

I put my mobile back in my purse and turned back to get into the taxi, but the driver had already pulled away.

A smooth voice ahead called, “Nuts, really?” I looked up and there was Freddie, standing in athletic pants, a zipped-up sports jacket, and a black beanie. I did a double-take. He looked smoking hot in his athleisure gear.

“So, I guess we forgot to share what we do during our 9-5 grind. What do you do here? I mean, Stamford Bridge? Isn’t this where they hold football games or something?

“Yeah. It’s the stadium for Chelsea F.C.” He motioned for me to walk ahead with him.

“Oh, well, that’s pretty neat. What do you do here?” Poor guy. I knew it was hard getting a job with a background in history, but selling concessions seemed like a tough break.

He chuckled to himself. “Come on, Alice. I’m going to show you.” As we walked up the sidewalk, the images of football players lined the painted wall of the entrance. It was pretty void of crowds at the moment, but a few security guards were patrolling around. As we passed one, he nodded his head at Freddie. I gave him a warm smile and looked up ahead at the images.

“Holy shite, Freddie.” I stopped in my tracks. My mouth flew open, and my eyes expanded like flying saucers. I pointed at him. Then, at the wall. Then back at him. “Is that YOU? Are you a football player? What the–”

He reached over with his hand and lifted my chin back up to my mouth. His eyebrows joined his mouth in a playful smirk before shrugging his shoulders in slow motion.

“Yeah, I guess I am. Is that okay?”

“Well, yeah. I guess. I mean, of course. I mean… wow.” I took a deep breath. I had zero interest in sports. I didn’t even know the rules of football, except you couldn’t use your hands. I mean, duh. It’s in the name. So, I can’t say that I was starstruck. Mostly, just surprised. And a little turned on. I don’t know how it was possible, but he even looked hotter, blown up four times his size. His thick thighs sat snug in his uniform and every strand of muscle was visible in the photo. His eyes darkened in intense concentration as he flew through the air, kicking the ball high in the air.

My body froze as it tried to catch up with my rambling brain, but with a point of his finger, Freddie bypassed the awkward moment. “Are you going to share that sandwich with me? I’m pretty famished after practice.”

“Um, yeah.” I handed over the paper bag that held our meals. “They’re most likely cold but I promise, still worth every bite.”

He pulled out a sandwich, handed me one, and unwrapped the end of the other, taking a huge bite as we walked toward the stadium. Enormous blue banners cascaded down the sides of the building, and there, front and center stood a statue of a man holding a football in his hand. I followed Freddie around the side of the building to a black door, where he swiped a keycard and let us in.

“Thanks for bringing food. This hit the spot.” He tossed the wrapper into a nearby trash bin. “How was your day at the office?”

So, that’s how it was going to be. We weren’t going to discuss this huge boulder that sat between us. And it was pretty massive. Freddie was a football player for Chelsea? I couldn’t wrap my head around it. But it was obvious he didn’t want it to be a big deal. So, I pretended it wasn’t. While he gave me a tour of the stadium where he played his games, I smiled and nodded my head. He told me it was rare that he practiced here, but they had an open practice special for the holiday season this morning. The field looked infinite, and it was hard to imagine him down there, playing before crowds of screaming fans. A chill ran down my spine just looking down from the seats at the turf that produced a magnificent hue of green under the flares of the lights. With the clouds holding an effervescent shimmer as dusk fell, it was an eerie sort of beautiful, being the only two people in this palace built for thousands.

“I never thought I would say a football field was breathtaking, but here I am. It’s beautiful, Freddie.”

The left side of his mouth lifted in a half-smile as his eyes left the field and caught mine. “It’s a different beast down there on the pitch. So, I appreciate it when someone can remind me just how magical the scene can be from the stands. Come on, let me show you more.” He reached for my hand as we climbed down the stands, both leading the way and making sure I didn’t stumble in my heels.

We walked through a tunnel and passed an area with cushioned tables and plastic tubs where the players received physical therapy and ice baths, and finally, to the locker room so he could grab his bag. We passed a few guys on our way whom I assumed were teammates because they greeted Freddie with a nod or pat on the back or a “We’re gonna kick Manchester’s arse, Saturday.” A few stopped and asked Freddie for an introduction.

My cheeks warmed as I became the topic at hand. Freddie introduced me as Alice. Simple and uncomplicated.

“So, Alice,” the player named Tommy said. “How did you like your backstage tour?” He and his two teammates were dressed similarly to Freddie, athletic pants and a hoodie or zip-up jacket. A typical post-workout outfit, I assumed.

“Oh, it was everything I dreamed it would be and more. The tubs for the ice baths, particularly, look so inviting. I’m thinking about getting a candle and maybe some bubble bath soap for Freddie for Christmas.”

Wes, the player with blonde hair, winked. “Ah, I knew all it was missing was a woman’s touch. Something to make the dreaded minutes in that frigid thing pass by.”

The third guy, Nase, hit him on the back. “Toughen up, mate. You’re making us look like wimps in front of the lady.”

I laughed. “No way. I don’t even understand how you can play outside in the cold without freezing your arses off. I just don’t get the appeal. But I admire the deep dedication to your sport.”

They all laughed. “Not a football fan, eh?” Tommy asked.

“Not until I met Freddie here,” I replied, being honest.

“Wow, Carter,” Nase said, using Freddie’s last name, “how did you manage to beguile this one? It can’t be your charming personality.”

Freddie glared back at him, feigning a stoic face as best he could.

“Oh, Freddie knows how to captivate a woman,” I said, trying to give the guy some credit. Instead, the daggers shooting from his eyes now focused on me before filling with a questioning intrigue over what exactly my words meant.

His three friends laughed, wiggling their eyebrows and patting him on the back.

“That’s not…” I protested, “what I mean!” The end of that sentence more or less came out as a mumble to myself. The good-natured ribbing between teammates was unavoidable.

“Alice, it was a pleasure meeting you. Please come to a match soon. We would love to have a woman cheer for Freddie besides his sisters and mum,” Wes said.

“Yeah, yeah. At least I have a cheering section, Wes.” Freddie slapped the banter back at his friend playfully. The five of us chatted together for a few more easy minutes before they shared a half-hug, pat on the back type of thing men did when saying goodbye.

I flashed the guys a big cheeky smile as they turned to leave. “Nice to meet you guys. Don’t worry; I’ll be sure to cheer for you all when I make it to my first game.”

“First game?” Nase called out with a whistle of amusement as they wandered away. “Freddie, mate, you need to set this girl straight right away. We’ll be looking for you in the stands, Alice.” He gave a friendly wink as they walked away.

Soon, we were sitting in Freddie’s sportscar, heading toward the city center, with the heater on full blast and cheesy holiday tunes coming from the speakers. Freddie shot me some curious looks as I twisted the knob around, looking for the right music for a chilly winter’s night. But he didn’t say a word when I stopped on a station playing holiday hits. With a shrug of his shoulders, he leaned over and turned the volume up. “If we’re going to celebrate the season, better go all in,” he said.

I smiled at him, feeling all warm and toasty on the inside, and it wasn’t just from the defrosters. A hum of genuine happiness escaped my lips. Everything was glowing and shimmering outside the car windows. Wreaths and fake snowflakes hung from city signs decked out in lights of red, green, and gold. The night held a feeling of enchantment.

Freddie had changed his clothes before he left the locker room and was wearing a soft brown sweater with a tan scarf tucked into a short jacket. He looked delicious. I couldn’t help but do a double take when he casually whipped his shirt off in front of me. His back was to me, and although I couldn’t report back to Emilia on the status of his six-pack, I could confirm that the man was ripped. The muscles in his back left indents up and down, like tight coils on leather. And when he stripped down to his knickers to change into jeans, good Lord, I think I might have died and gone to heaven.

For a moment, with the whimsical conditions out the car window and the devastatingly handsome man sitting next to me, I was feeling pretty damn good. So why I decided to address the elephant in the room is beyond me.

“Freddie, I feel a little silly that I had no idea you were a football star. You must think I’m dense.”

He looked over at me with his forearm resting on the steering wheel, and his sexy stare burned a path of fire down my torso. “Nah, that’s why I like spending time with you. You don’t treat me differently. I hope that won’t change.”

“Ha. You’re quite the lucky guy because, as far as athletic fandom goes, I could give two shites. Don’t get me wrong, I will, of course, be purchasing a Chelsea jersey and rooting for you and your mates, but beyond that, you’re just Freddie, the history nerd to me.”

“Don’t buy one,” he answered.

“Why not? I know you like our…” I paused, searching for the right word. “Easy friendship, but I can’t pretend that I don’t know you’re a football player now. That would be weird.”

“No, I mean, don’t buy one. I’ll get you one for free.” He said it all matter-of-fact like it was no big deal, but it meant he wanted me to stick around. Whatever we had going on wasn’t temporary to him. He wanted me to wear his name across my chest. My cheeks bubbled up into a smile despite my failed attempts to keep it at bay.

“Will you sign it?”

“If you want me to,” he replied coyly.

“What are the rules involved with this “free” jersey? Do I have to wear it around London or just at games?”

“Well, that’s totally up to you.”

“Can I wear it to bed? I feel like those athletic jerseys have a nice, cool feel to them. Perfect for warm nights.” Sometimes, the heater in my flat malfunctioned, and I couldn’t get it to turn off. In the past, Rian would fix it, but since he’s been gone, it’s been temperamental, and sometimes I swear I was going through early menopause.

He smirked at me, eyebrows raised in a teasing way. “I guess if that’s your thing.”

“Oh, my God. Are you picturing me in just your jersey and knickers?” I swatted his arm. “You’re bad.”

“You’re the one who roused the image in my head. Not my fault. But you know, a signed jersey would probably go for a lot of money, so maybe don’t wear it to bed.”

“I guess you’re right. Naked it is, then.”

He choked at my reply, trying to play it off as a cough. I might be coming off a little forward, but that just meant I was getting my groove back. Good flirty Alice. Never knowing when to keep her snarky comments in her head.

After circling a few times, Freddie found a spot on the side of the street and parked the car. We decided to go ice skating and wander around Hyde Park, which was trimmed with every type of holiday decoration one could imagine. It was the annual Winter Wonderland Festival, and the entire park was filled with market stalls, food samples, and runway rides. We settled on a drink first to warm ourselves and ended up side by side on a bench, drinking boozy hot chocolate and careful not to let our thighs meet. A propane-fueled log fire. Twinkling lights. Christmas wreaths. Frosted Christmas trees. Everything you could think of to create a cozy, magical atmosphere. It would be perfect for a first date. But that’s not what this was, right?

After my conversation with Scarlett, I began to feel a sort of peace within myself. She was right. Even though the heartache hurt, Rian and I had some wonderful moments together, and I couldn’t just banish them from my memory. He wasn’t a bad guy, no matter what I told myself while healing from the breakup. I felt like I was finally coming to terms with being on my own again. I mean, I was a pretty sensational human being. If I couldn’t be satisfied with being single, then what luck did I have being happy with someone else? Whether or not this was really a date shouldn’t matter. At least, that’s what I told myself.

The impending nightfall cast shadows across Freddie’s face, making the angles of his chiseled face even more defined. Once again, I wondered how I could feel so comfortable next to someone I just met a few weeks ago. Usually, I talk and talk, and people wonder when I’m going to shut up. But with Freddie, we constantly fell into moments of comfortable silence, and it was a new feeling for me. It was warm and fulfilling, like that first bite of your nan’s special waffle recipe that no one else could replicate or crawling into your bed after a draining day of adulting. It was… nice. I couldn’t deny that I enjoyed his company.

“This hot chocolate is glorious.” The velvety milk passed my lips and settled pleasantly in my stomach, making my fingertips tingle from the alcohol.

His tongue slowly rolled across his bottom lip, tasting the whipped cream that had settled there. How I wished I was that whipped cream. “It is. Have you been here before during the holiday season?”

I nodded. “Who hasn’t, right? It’s such a magical place. I need your niece, Liddy, here to take notes for Saturday’s Christmas market.”

“She would love that. It sounds like it will be a great event. I really hope it works out for your parents. I’m sorry I can’t be there.”

I nodded my head as a revelation suddenly hit me. “It all makes sense now. You have a game on Saturday. That’s why you can’t come to the festival.”

“Yeah, otherwise I would be there to help support your family. How are you handling it all? Are all the plans set in motion and ready to go?”

“Truthfully, I am a few steps from having a nervous breakdown. I want to do this for my parents, and I don’t want to let them down. They don’t accept help easily, and I know this has been a huge undertaking for them. And it’s my home, you know? I can’t lose it.” Tears began to gather in the corners of my eyes, and I quickly flicked them away, forcing enthusiasm into my voice. “Sorry, I don’t mean to get all sappy on you. It’s just been a difficult month, but damn, this hot chocolate makes it better.”

“You never have to apologize to me, Alice. I know how important family is. That’s why I’ve been in and out of Berkingsley. My mum had hip surgery a few weeks ago, and since my dad passed away a few years ago, it falls on my sisters’ and my shoulders to care for her. And being the guy in the family, the pressure falls extra hard because I feel like I have to make sure everyone is okay.”

“I get it. You’re the glue.”

“Yeah, I’m the glue. I mean, I know it’s not true. My sisters do so much for the family, and God knows no one could knock Mum down. She’s made of steel and tough as a nail. She was raised on a farm with five older brothers, and my grandad made sure she bloody knew how to take care of the cattle and herself. But, still, that evolutionary male trait of needing to provide is hard to extinguish, no matter how chauvinistic it may be.”

“It’s clear your niece adores you, and your older sister, Sophie, seems to think you’re alright.” I giggled. “So, I’d say you’re right where you need to be.”

“Thank you.” He hooked his hand around his neck, giving off the impression that he wanted to say more. But his hesitation turned to silence. We tossed our empty cups in a nearby garbage bin and decided to wander the park for a bit.

We slowly browsed the rows of items for purchase: candles that came in scents like evergreen and white Christmas, boxes of chocolate truffles tied up with little red bows, and knitted blankets in a rainbow of colors. Inside a large tent filled with displays of jewelry and clothing, a rack of winter caps caught my attention. I skipped ahead and grabbed a Santa hat and placed it on Freddie’s head, removing the beanie he was wearing first. He smirked, that stoic eyebrow lifting again at me in amusement.

“Yup. I’m getting this for you, and I expect you to wear this next time you visit the bookshop. Then I’ll have reassurance that you’ll stop with my Christmas nickname, or you’ll get your own.”

“Ah, come on. You make a cute little elf. I make a pretty ugly Santa. This doesn’t seem like a fair setup.”

“Well, we can add the jumper if you want to increase the cuteness factor.” I hold up a wool sweater with the outline of Santa’s jacket stitched across the belly. “Hmm… A bit too big. I don’t think they have your size.” I shrugged my shoulders. “We could always stuff your shirt. It would make it more realistic, too.”

I swiped the hat off his head and fake turned toward the till to pay for the items, knowing full well I would never get him into the sweater.

With a playful sigh, he grabbed the hat from my hands and placed it on his head. “Fine, you evil little elf. I’ll play Santa, but I will go no further than the hat.”

I pinched my lips together, stifling my grin as best I could. “Okay, but you have to wear it tonight as a test run.”

He let out a hmph followed by an okay .

As we walked in the direction of the skating rink, he huffed, “God, Alice. Does everyone always follow along with your plans, or am I just a sucker?”

“That’s a very serious question, Freddie Carter. I’d have to say… a little of both.

“Are you ready to ice skate?”

“I was born to ice skate.”

Fifteen minutes later, my fingers clutched Freddie’s arm as I shuffled clumsily along the ice like a newborn deer learning to use her legs. A round later, I realized that the notion of ice skating might have played out more romantically in my head. Turns out, I was not born to ice skate.

“I might have exaggerated a bit when I proclaimed my ice-skating abilities. How about we throw in the towel and finish our night with a spin around that?” I lifted my chin to the night sky.

Freddie’s eyes widened in amazement as we both looked up at the giant observation wheel that spanned the skyline. I grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the ticket booth. A few minutes later, we were sitting in our private pod, making our way slowly around the globe, abruptly stopping every minute or so as groups of people entered the queue. As we reached the top, I sucked in a quick, frosty breath as I took in the scene before me. The view was spectacular. Amongst the treetops, strung glimmers of lights in every color. Children waved glow sticks, and couples walked hand in hand like miniature figurines in a dollhouse. I pulled out my mobile, wanting to take a photo of the sweeping view. I grabbed a few shots and turned to snap one of Freddie, but his face was buried between his legs.

“What are you doing? You’re missing the sights, silly.”

He lifted his head, and all I could think was that he was far from photo-ready. I lowered my phone. “You look like you’re about to vomit. Are you okay?” I asked, suddenly concerned.

“Yeah. I’m just a bit afraid of heights. I’ll be alright.”

“Oh blimey, Freddie! Why did you let me drag you on here?”

“I told you; I can’t say no to you. Plus, you looked positively jubilant when you mentioned it. I’ll be okay. It’s just a few minutes more, right?”

“Well, seeing how we haven’t even finished our first 360-degree rotation, it might be more like ten.”

“Oh, God.” He looked positively sick.

I dug through my purse and pulled out a pack of Tic Tacs. I shook them in relief. “Here, hold out your hand. These will help.”

“Tic Tacs? Really?”

“Trust me. This will work.” I poured a few into his hands. “Suck on them, don’t chew. And under your tongue, sir.” I saw his tongue move in his mouth. I turned his face toward mine. “Good. Now, just look at me and not beyond. Tell me, what did you get your sweet niece for Christmas?”

I distracted Freddie with small talk until we finally reached the bottom, and the wheel stopped. As we found our feet back firmly on the ground, I linked my arm through Freddie’s. “If only your friends knew that the strong, brave football man is afraid of a child’s ride.”

He feigned a look of shock and clutched his chest. “You wouldn’t.”

“I’m just teasing. Pinky promise. But it’s just because you’re still wearing the Santa hat.”

“Well, I owe my survival to you. Those Tic Tacs were a lifesaver. I hadn’t realized they helped with acrophobia.”

“Me either. They were the only things I could find in my purse that could serve as a distraction. I’m glad it worked.”

He clapped his hands together as he chuckled. “Oh, Alice. You’re really something.”

“Well, thank you.” I was beginning to think so, too, again.

We drove back to Berkingsley in a comfortable silence, both of us lost in thought. Mine immediately landed on this thing Freddie and I had going on. The fastest way to get over someone was to get under someone. That’s the advice I usually gave my friends after a breakup. But something about this time felt different. Maybe it’s because I’m not twenty-two anymore. Maybe it’s because I was now well aware of what it felt like to get my heart broken, and I didn’t want to risk that happening again. I knew that I had to take whatever this was with Freddie slowly.

He pulled up to the entrance and hopped out of the car, opening the door for me and offering a strong hand. “Thanks for a great night, Alice. Let me know how the Christmas market goes on Saturday.”

Before I gave him the opportunity for more, I planted a quick peck on his cheek and scampered away. “Thanks, Freddie. I had a lovely time as well. Good luck at your game.”

“Match.”

“What?” I asked, turning back.

“It’s called a match,” he said with a sly smile.

I giggled. “Right. Good luck at your match.”

I gave a slight wave from the doorway, watching him return to his car, and smiled at myself. It had been a long time since I had a night as fun as this one.