Nick looked incredulously at Natalie as she plonked the big plant on the table.

"It's Christmas," she said stubbornly. "It's the human thing to do."

"Well, it can't stay *there*!"

But she simply shifted the antique centrepiece to the top of the piano, and then spent a good minute carefully positioning her gift. "Just remember to water it," she admonished him. "Isn't it lovely?"

"I suppose," came the unenthusiastic reply.

"Oh, come on," she chided. "As soon as I saw it I thought of you."

"Well, at least it's my favourite colour," he said, with a wicked little smile. "Red."