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Anissa nodded ‘I know a few shops we can go to You can see if there’s anything she’ll like’

They finished their cocktails and wandered out into the snow-covered streets The light was already beginning to fade People were bundled up in a variety of coloured parkas, hats and scarves

Although it was bitterly cold, there was a war to do with the fact that this was the first tih she knew there was no chance of this going anywhere, no chance of things progressing—his life was in New York as a business plans for the future—it was nice to be around soain It was nice to look at someone and feel as if they were really interested in what you were saying The electricity in the air between them didn’t hurt either

But she was still curious He’d ht that he was here on family business But he hadn’t mentioned any family he intended to buy Christ his chalet, so wasn’t he close to his fa way to come from New York if he wasn’t particularly close to his family

They -shopped along the street, Anissa pointing out a women’s fashion store, a traditional Swiss chocolate shop and a jewellery store

But none of them seemed to capture Leo’s attention Eventually she stopped and folded her arms ‘Okay, what do you normally buy Keisa?’ She shook her head ‘Don’t tell me You internet-shop You buy her perfuner scarf’

Leo’s brow furrowed and he turned towards her ‘Have you been spying on me?’

She studied his face and felt a little wave of sadness for hiuy as nice as Leo only have a PA to buy for at Christmas? It seemedlonely

‘Why don’t you use your ieous shops Think about Keisa What kind of a person is she? What does she like? Has she ever told you anything that would give a hint of what kind of gift htful, a little more personal?’

He gave a slow nod ‘Okay, then Let’s see if I can’ he gave her a wink ‘use ination’

As they walked further along the street, his hand brushed against hers Whilst the little bolt of energy was still shooting up her arm he took her hand in his She didn’t object In fact, it sent a flash of soh her head

Her ex hadn’t like public displays of affection He’d never held her hand He’d never put his arm around her while they’d walked in the street They’d dated for four years and had practically lived together for the year they’d been engaged But deep down she wondered if they’d ever really been close

Everything had been about skiing, about racing About getting the best ti They had never really had enerally been work-related with other ski professionals from different countries Any visit abroad had always been for a co her hand and Leo hadinside her chest—made her feel as if she’d missed out

‘Wait a minute, what about that place?’

Leo pointed across the street to an old-fashioned shop with tiny squares ofglass outlined in white wood There was a small Christmas tree front and centre in the

Anissa nodded ‘Yes, I’d forgotten about this place They have lot of wood carvings, Christmas tree decorations, and I think they do some crystal jewellery too’

Leo pushed open the door and a waft of cinnaes surrounded thehts They walked around slowly, adlass pendants and rings, and a whole host of unusual Christmas baubles

Anissa pointed to a mauve-coloured pendant ‘What about this one?’

Leo bent down to look at the oval-shaped stone He wrinkled his nose ‘It’s nice I suppose, but’ Then he looked up and his eyes widened ‘Oh, ’

Anissa followed his gaze The back wall of the shop was covered in rows and rows of cuckoo clocks

Leo stepped over,from one to another Each one was completely individual Anissa had never really looked closely before at cuckoo clocks, but now she could appreciate the work, ‘I wonder how many hours one of these takes?’

Leo waseach one ‘The wooden Christmas scenes,’ he e She’s told me about the rink A church’

He smiled ‘But she doesn’t have one of these’

She could see the sparkle in his eyes He turned to face her ‘A cuckoo clock I know that Austria, Germany and Switzerland all make them But it’s kind of unique’

Anissa smiled ‘More personal than a bottle of perfume’

He turned back and kept studying the clocks on the wall, before taking a sharp breath ‘It’s this one It’s definitely this one’

Anissa moved closer to him and looked up It was a beautiful wooden hand-carved cuckoo clock Even from underneath, Anissa could see how intricate it was It was a variety of shades of wood, with some areas carefully painted There was the traditional cuckoo at the top behind a red door, two little balconies, one with a carved rocking chair, the other with a few birds perched on the edge Underneath on one side were two children playing on a see-saw, a dog at their side And on the other side was a Christ star on top The whole clock was decorated with a dusting of snow It really was a work of art

Anissa felt a tear form in the corner of her eye ‘It’s beautiful,’ she breathed