Christmas Ever After (Puffin Island 3)

“I handled him just fine until I fell.”

“And if you hadn’t fallen?” He spoke softly. “What then?”

She knew what he was asking because she’d been asking herself the same thing. “I don’t know,” she said finally. “And it doesn’t matter now. I appreciate your concern, but this is my problem and I’ll deal with it.”

“You’re not in a fit state to deal with anything. If he walked into the room now, what would you do? You don’t have the strength to defend yourself from anyone. You’re vulnerable.”

And yet hadn’t she been a thousand times more vulnerable the night before, with Alec?

He’d seen her stripped down, bare, both literally and figuratively.

And she’d seen him.

Her brief glimpse of his powerful frame was welded into her brain.

Heat poured over her and she tried to make a joke.

“I could vomit on him. That would send him running, believe me.”

He didn’t smile. Instead he crossed the room, picked up her purse and found her phone. “Check your messages. I want to know if he called.”

“I forgot to switch it on. It’s an annoying habit of mine.” Hands shaking, she took the phone. “He won’t have called. I don’t think you know Richard very well. I damaged his ego.” But that was the least of her problems. She switched her phone on and saw four missed calls. “Two calls from Brittany, one from Emily and one message from my mother.” Even though she could guess what it would be about, a faint thread of hope made her press the button to listen. Because her fingers were shaky and she wasn’t concentrating she played it back on speaker.

“Skylar? Richard landed at JFK a few hours ago and called to update us, which was good of him under the circumstances. I had hoped that the time had come when I could stop having to make excuses for you. That this once you’d make the right decision. But it seems not. I confess that of all the difficult conversations I’ve had in my life, that was one of the most awkward and embarrassing. You’d better call him back fast and hope he’ll reconsider.”

Awkward and embarrassing was having played that back on speaker.

Without looking at Alec she ended the call, digesting the fact that while she’d been bleeding and throwing up in Alec’s bathroom, Richard had been flying first-class across the Atlantic.

Feeling as energetic as roadkill, she sank onto the sofa Alec had recently vacated.

“Well, I guess you have the answer to your question. No one is looking for me, so you can safely leave me unprotected.”

And alone.

Totally alone.

London no longer felt exciting and full of possibilities. It felt big and impersonal.

“That was your mother?”

Hearing the undercurrent of shock in his voice, Sky kept her head down and sent a quick text to Brittany. “Yeah, she’s always pretty formal on the phone. Of course it doesn’t help that she’s probably gone nuclear over this thing with Richard.” Without elaborating, she dropped the phone in her bag. “I have one more favor to ask. Could I borrow a shirt? I’ll return it next ti

me I see you.”

“I’m not leaving you alone in an impersonal hotel room when you’re vulnerable. You’re coming home with me.”

It was the last thing she’d expected him to say and she glanced up at him, shocked. “You’re kidding. Alec, we’re not even friends.”

“You need to stop being a drama queen. It’s too early in the morning.” A smile touched the corners of his mouth, distracting her.

She was usually too busy being irritated to notice the detail of his features but this close she could see that his eyelashes were thick and dark. He hadn’t shaved and the line of his lower cheek and jaw was dark with stubble.

In that single moment she could understand why he had an army of female fans.

Alec Hunter might be insanely irritating, but he was also insanely hot.

And now she knew what he was hiding away under the smart suits and rugged outdoor wear.