The Unexpected Holiday Gift by Sophie Pembroke Read Free Book Online Page A

own wonderful Christmas with Ivy too.
    â€˜No, I suppose not. Of course, snow is obviously essential,’ Jacob added.
    Clara stared at him. Was the man insane? ‘Snow. You want me to arrange snow?’
    Jacob lifted one shoulder. Was he teasing? She never could tell when he was teasing her. ‘Well, it is Christmas, after all. I think we can all agree that the perfect Christmas would have to be a white one.’
    Clara’s mouth tightened. ‘I’ll check the weather forecast then.’ Jacob looked as if he might be trying to dream up some more outlandish requests, just to throw her off her game, so Clara hurried on.
    â€˜Which just leaves us with the presents.’ This, she knew, was the real test. If Jacob truly had changed—if this perfect Christmas idea was a sign that he was ready to embrace a family and, just possibly, the daughter he didn’t know he had—the presents would be the giveaway.
    â€˜Presents?’ Jacob frowned, and Clara’s heart fell. ‘Aren’t you going to buy those? I’d have thought it would be part of the contract.’
    â€˜Usually, Perfect London would be delighted to source the perfect gift for every member of your family,’ she said sweetly. ‘But, under the circumstances—with less than a fortnight to go, not to mention this being your father’s last Christmas—I am sure that you will want to select them yourself.’ She stared at him until he seemed to get the idea that this was not a suggestion.
    â€˜But what would I buy them?’ He looked so adorably flustered at the very idea that for a moment Clara forgot that she was testing him.
    Then she realised this could be an even better opportunity.
    â€˜I’ll tell you what,’ she said, making it clear that this was a favour, just for him. ‘Why don’t we go shopping together and choose them?’
    â€˜That would be great.’ The relief was evident in his voice.
    â€˜Right now,’ Clara finished, and his eyebrows shot up.
    â€˜Now? But I’m working.’
    â€˜So am I,’ she pointed out. ‘By taking a client shopping.’
    â€˜Yes, but I can’t just leave! There are meetings. Emails. Important decisions to be made.’
    â€˜Like whether your sister would prefer a handbag or a scarf.’
    â€˜Like the future of the company!’
    Now it was Clara’s turn to raise her eyebrows. ‘Do you really expect that to come up in the three hours you’ll be gone?’
    â€˜Three hours!’ Clara waited and finally he sighed. ‘No, I suppose not.’
    â€˜Then I think that your father’s last Christmas might matter rather more than emails and meetings. Don’t you?’
    He looked torn and Clara held her breath until, finally, he said, ‘Yes. It does.’
    She grinned. The old Jacob would never have left work at 9:00 a.m. on a weekday to go Christmas shopping. Ha! He’d never left work or done Christmas shopping.
    Maybe he really had changed after all. She could hope so. After all, Christmas was the season of hope and goodwill. Even towards ex-husbands.
    * * *
    â€˜What about this?’ Clara held up a gossamer-thin scarf in various shades of purple that Jacob suspected cost more than his entire suit. Everything else Clara had suggested had and, since his suit had been handmade especially for him, that was quite an achievement.
    â€˜For Mum?’ he asked with a frown.
    â€˜No. For Heather.’ Clara sighed. Jacob had a feeling she was starting to regret her insistence on taking him shopping.
    â€˜She’s a student,’ he pointed out. ‘She wouldn’t wear something like that.’
    â€˜She graduating this summer, right? So she’ll have interviews, internships, all sorts of professional opportunities coming her way. A statement accessory like this can make any outfit look polished.’ As always, Clara had a point. He’d almost