Page 142 of The Duke Who Saved Christmas
That one day I would look back at this moment and wonder if this was the exact second I fell in love with Thomas Castleton.
“Are you sure?” I asked softly.
He raised his eyebrows. “Do I look unsure?”
I smiled, then shook my head.
“Right, then it’s sorted.” Emily clapped her hands together. “Tom, I’ll leave some pyjamas in your room for her. Unless they aren’t needed?”
My cheeks burnt at her teasing tone, but Thomas barely batted an eyelid.
“Mother, it’s time for you to leave.”
Emily sighed and turned towards the door. “Too far?”
“Just a little,” he agreed.
“I’m only trying to help. You know how I feel about Sylvie being my daughter-in-law.”
“Then stop scaring her off, you lunatic!” He threw his lap cushion at her.
She deftly avoided it with a quick sidestep. “If you don’t marry her, I’ll adopt her!” She ran out of the room with a cheeky cackle, tugging the door closed behind her.
A smile crept onto my face, despite the embarrassment that was still trickling through my veins. “You have such a great relationship.”
Thomas paused, looking at me. “Do we?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I’ve thought it for a while, but you can see how much you care about each other. I think I’m kind of jealous.”
He got up from the sofa and walked back over to me at the desk. He brushed his thumbs across my cheeks, cradled my face, and pressed a gentle kiss to the tip of my nose. “You know, there are more kinds of family than just the one you’re born to.” He nuzzled his nose against mine. “I’ll let you borrow mine if you want to.”
A smile tugged at my lips, and I leant into his touch. Into the warmth of his palms against my cheeks, the softness of the tip of his nose against mine, the gentle flutter of his exhales as they crossed my lips.
“Maybe just for a few days,” I whispered.
“Then they’re all yours.” He touched his lips to mine, then slid his hands down and linked our fingers. “And since you’re a part of it now, you can help me wrap my Christmas presents.”
I sighed when he pulled me away from the desk. “There’s always a catch with you.”
***
“Do you never close your curtains?” I mumbled, pulling the covers over my face as sunlight filtered in through the monstrous gap between the drapes.
“Every night,” Thomas said, finally pulling them together. “But I was a bit too busy last night.”
I grunted and rolled over, peeking out from above the top of the duvet. “Why are you up and dressed so early?”
“Early?” He raised his eyebrows. “It’s almost nine.”
“Nine? In the morning?” I shot up to sitting, and the covers fell to my lap, exposing my bare chest.
Thomas’ gaze dropped.
I grabbed the quilt and tucked it around myself, cutting off his line of sight. “I have a shit ton of things to do today. Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because dying by your hand isn’t on my own to-do list?” He smirked and pulled a jumper over his head. “Did you drive here yesterday or come back with Mum?”
I yawned and stretched my arms out in front of me, stopping halfway before I exposed myself again. “I drove. Where are my clothes?”
