Page 289 of Ten Lords for the Holidays

Thank you for visiting Christmas!

“Is it to remind visitors of the nickname, or to make them sad that they’re leaving?” he asked.

“Both,” she answered. “With luck, as they drive away, they’ll already be planning their return visit.”

“Or moving here,” he murmured. “There are certainly enough attractions.”

His eyes didn’t leave hers.

Her flesh heated.

“The play,” she stammered. “You liked my play?”

“Your play was excellent and you know it.” He turned the wheelbarrow back toward the castle and fell into an easy pace beside her. “I know it must have required long hours and hard work, but it looked smooth and flawless. I have always been in awe of your creativity, but you’re even more talented than I remembered.”

Estelle’s cheeks flushed with pleasure. She kept her eyes trained on the castle at the peak rather than risk allowing her gaze to meet Aaron’s. There would be no hiding how his words made her feel.

As if there was hope.

As if Christmas wasn’t just a wooden sign, but something that might come true.

She had to change the subject. “When we return home—”

Ack!

The rest of her thoughts splintered.

She’d just referred to the castle as home.Theirhome. As if they both lived there, together.

“Yes?” he prompted casually, as if strolling to their mutual home was a perfectly normal activity.

“We can leave the wheelbarrow outside of the glasshouse,” she said without looking at him. “And then we can both return to work. I am certain you’re extremely busy.”

“And I,” he said, “am beginning to suspect that you’ve forgotten today is Christmas Eve.”

Of course it was.

Hedidn’thave something more important to be doing.

Shewas the important thing he wanted to be doing.

Her pulse leapt in favor of the plan.

When they reached the castle, he held the door open to the greenhouse and she dashed inside.

A mistake.

It was warm and bright and cozy and inviting, and filled with the heady scents of spices and hothouse flowers.

It was a perfect place to kiss a man one had no business kissing.

Aaron turned to face her.

Estelle gazed up at him.

He didn’t haul her into his firm embrace and forcibly crush his lips to hers.

That would have been too easy. That would have madehimto blame for any wanton kisses that followed. Instead, if such kisses happened at all, he was going to force her to begin.

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