Page 64 of The Christmas Wife

"You okay?" He frowns.

No, of course not.

"Of course I am." I fold my hands in my lap.

He looks at me intently until I nod, then straightens. "I’ll check the cabin and lockup, to ensure we're safe. Then we can go to bed." He grabs a log and heads toward the bedroom.

My eyes widen, but before I can worry too much, that dumb voice inside of my head chimes in.We.Gah!He used the'We'word. I stare up in his direction.Doesn't signify anything, bitch.Wait, does he mean go to bed to sleep or go to bed for something else? And omigosh, isn’t that all cozy? So domestic. Would it be like this if we were together…? Maybe married, with kids…What the f?—?

“Bedroom’s clear,” he says as he stalks toward the other end of the house.

I shake my head, push myself up to my feet. Clearly, I am delusional, or the Christmas season is affecting me, or the way he’d swept me up in his arms like I didn’t weigh anything at all, and proceeded to carry me in here had made a huge impact on me. No one had ever done that before. No one.Shit.I am this…close to doing something stupid.Gah!Like giving up the money and giving in to him.No, no, no.I need advice. Need to talk with someone.

I march to the bedroom, which is illuminated by the moonlight coming in from the window, then reach for my handbag; my fingers brush my phone. Huh?

So he decided to return it to me? When had he put it back? Why would he do that? Is this his way of making up for the douche he's been thus far? My head spins. Talk about being complex. The alphahole is certainly the most complicated man I've ever met; and the most intriguing... Don't forget gorgeous. Why does he have to be this difficult though? It sure makes this entire relationship hard work... And unique... No wonder I can't stop thinking of him. And no... Our relationship is strictly professional.Yea, keep telling yourself that, bitch.Regardless, I am going to take every break I get... Like this phone. He returned it; now I can use it.

I grab the phone, glance around.

Where can I speak without him hearing me? I walk into the ensuite bathroom, lock the door behind me.Shit, it’s dark.I switch on the light on my phone, walk over to the bath candle at the head of the tub. I grab it, rummage around in the drawers under the sink, until I find a lighter. I light the candle, place it on the counter next to the sink.

Then, for good measure, I crawl into the bathtub.

I swipe the phone screen, notice a text message. It's from Julia, one of my oldest friends. She'd left high school, gone to Australia for her gap year and stayed on as a nanny for a family there. Last I heard, she'd planned to stay on for another year. I peruse her text:

Hey Amelie, change of plans. I'm returning to London. Should be there just after Christmas. Can I stay with you until I find a place of my own?

Oh, yay!

It's going to be awesome to have her back, especially consideringSummer is on her honeymoon. Victoria is still in that early stars and sunshine phase in her relationship with Saint. Karma… Well, she seems to have forgotten about us, since discovering her hottie on her extended Sicilian sojourn—a hottie she is still hiding from us. So that leaves me and Isla—the only other single woman in our clique, and Julia, when she returns.

I text her back:

Awesome news.

Can't wait to see you! Of course you can stay with me. Come over when you land.

I press send, then call Isla. She picks up on the third ring.

"Hey," her voice is breathless.

"Did I disturb you?" I keep my voice low.

"Nope. Just me and my Hitachi getting all cuddly." She snickers. "If I were to fall pregnant now, I'd give birth to batteries."

"What the—?" I snort, then swallow down the wrong way and start coughing. "That was such a bad joke, it was good." I clear my throat. "At least someone's having fun." I bite down on my lower lip.

The silence stretches, then, "Amelie?"

"Yeah."

"You okay?"

"Of course."

"Why are you whispering?"

"Because I don’t want to be heard?"

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