Page 159 of The Duke Who Saved Christmas
“I see you’re hoping for a Christmas miracle, Your Grace,” I shot right back. “That or we need to see a doctor because you’re hallucinating.”
He clutched his chest dramatically. “You just keep breaking my heart.”
“Not enough, clearly.” I met his eyes, fighting back a smile as I softened at his theatrics. “I really am working, you know.”
“I know, I know. Is it a crime to say I miss—”
“We’ll be in Thomas’ office while I find him something to do,” I said to Heath. “Please let me know when everyone starts arriving.”
I barely waited for his response before I grabbed Thomas by the wrist and dragged him out the ballroom, away from all the prying eyes of the household staff.
They were dreadful at being discreet.
Then again, so were we.
I wasn’t fooling anyone.
I pulled him all the way to his office on the other side of the house and shut the door behind us with a heavy sigh. “You can’t do that stuff in front of the staff. Especially not when I’m working.”
Thomas plucked my tablet from my hands and set it on his desk, then wrapped his arms around me. With his face buried in my hair, he said, “You’re living at my house, and I’ve barely seen you for two days. It’s a crime.”
We were literally sharing a room.
The man spent eight hours a night clutching onto me like I would disappear if he let go. What on Earth was he on about?
“You’re so needy,” I said.
“So would you be if you were me.”
“I highly doubt I would cling to me. I know me too well.”
“Hmm.” He pulled back and looked into my eyes. “Thankfully, I have much better taste than you.”
“Is that so?” My lips twitched into a smile. “That’s somehow both an insult and a compliment at the same time.”
Thomas dropped his head back with a laugh. “I suppose it is. Do you have much else to do tonight, or can I steal you away when it’s done?”
“Sorry, I’m busy all night. The rehearsal is starting soon, then we have the rehearsal dinner at the restaurant, and I’m spending the night with Hazel.”
“Will you be all right?”
“Yes, I’m sure of it. I want to clear things up between us before tomorrow, and I haven’t had a chance to. Besides, we always planned to spend this night together anyway. I want to keep my promise to her.”
His bottom lip jutted out a little bit.
“Are you… pouting?”
“Dukes don’t pout.”
I squeezed my hand up between us and gently pinched his lower lip. “This duke is pouting.”
“Watch where you’re putting that.” He snatched hold of my hand and kissed the inside of my wrist, sending a shiver darting up my arm. “I can’t believe I’ve barely seen you.”
“You’ve hardly been here yourself, you know,” I pointed out.
He huffed, linking his fingers through mine as he tightened his grip on my waist. “Then surely you can spare me five minutes right now. I rushed back in time for this rehearsal.”
“I didn’t ask you to,” I murmured when he lowered his face until our noses touched.
