Her brother and his family left with hugs and kisses and thank yous and invites for Emma and Max to go and visit them soon. James shook hands with Max firmly and Em noted her brother also giving him an approving pat on his good shoulder.

Holly and Adam left soon afterwards. Gran had been most thankful for the Christmas dinner and the visit from them earlier, and they were pleased to report that she was starting to feel a little better.

So, Max and Emma had a cosy night in. Alfie managed to sneak up on the sofa after polishing off a delicious bowl of turkey and trimmings, and lodged himself between them – well, it was Christmas after all. Emma felt really tired, but in a happy, contented way. In fact, it had been the best Christmas she had had in years.

Bedtime, and after helping Max remove his clothes, they snuggled together under the double duvet in her room. She wasn’t quite so afraid of banging into his injured shoulder now. In fact, it was amazing how you could adapt sexual techniques to compensate for a broken collarbone, and though she was tired, she wasn’t that tired. There was just one point where she wasn’t sure if the groan above her was of pleasure or pain, so she quickly popped her head up over the duvet to check.

‘Huh, what the hell are you stopping for?’ came a frustrated cry.

‘Okay, okay, just checking I haven’t hurt you.’

‘That was pleasure not pain,’ he grinned, with such a yearning please-don’t-stop-now look in his eyes.

‘Sorry, sorry,’ Emma muttered, and went back to finish what she had started.

After making love, very carefully, she lay beside him, aware of the amazing feelings growing within her that she hadn’t felt in such a long time. She curled up against his good side, relishing the feel of his skin against hers; his warmth, his body so close, and they were soon fast asleep.

50

Boxing Day, and she wasn’t alone this year. Emma woke up with a gorgeous, very much alive – though a little bashed-up – man in her bed. A man who had helped her bring The Chocolate Shop back to life, and was making a damned good effort at fixing her shattered heart.

‘Morning, beautiful.’ He looked across at her from the other pillow.

‘Morning, bashed-up gorgeous.’

And despite his battered ribs and shoulder, she managed to snuggle a little closer to him.

Christmas Day had been just wonderful in a busy, beautiful way with her family and friends, and her parents were due later on, but for now today was their day. There was no need to rush, or to be anywhere in particular, and Emma was intent on savouring their time together.