Christmas Ever After (Puffin Island 3)

“You keep helping me. Why?” Her eyes were huge and he tensed, instinctively withdrawing from anything remotely suggestive of vulnerability.

He didn’t want her leaning on him.

“Because I thought the last thing you needed after everything that has happened was to fall apart in front of a bunch of strangers. That’s all it was.”

He was no one’s idea of a white knight and it was important that she knew that.

He opened the door and ushered her into the room, hoping she didn’t read anything into his behavior.

He’d averted a potentially emotional situation, nothing more.

And now he had another situation to deal with—the fact that his mother had put them in the same room.

A fire crackled and blazed in the hearth and ropes of lights had been twisted around the wooden beams, adding a warm festive glow to the room.

By the corner window was a small Christmas tree, complete with the star Liv had made for him when she was in nursery school. His mother stored it and each year it reappeared, slightly more battered than the previous year.

Until his marriage, this room had been somewhere he’d always been able to relax.

Now, mixing with the smell of logs and pine needles was the light floral smell of Skylar’s perfume.

He watched, tense, as she walked over to the large windows that overlooked fields and farmland.

“This is your room?” Her voice was wistful. “What a stunning view. So peaceful.”

Desolate, his ex-wife had called it, before sinking into another of those long awkward silences that had peppered their marriage.

“I’ll take the sofa. You can sleep in the bed.” He knew he sounded terse, but he couldn’t help it.

Why hadn’t it occurred to him that his family might think there was something more to their relationship? They were so desperate to see him with someone again, they didn’t care who it was. Apparently any woman, even a stranger, was better than seeing him alone, even though being alone was his preferred choice.

He made a mental note to kill Michael next time they met.

“If my family embarrassed you, then I apologize.”

She gave a choked laugh and wrapped her arms round her middle. “We both know that in a contest to find the most embarrassing family, I’d win, Alec. You don’t need to apologize. Your family are wonderful. They love you.”

“They interfere.”

“But you don’t let them. They respect your opinion.”

“Occasionally. When it suits them. There’s a bathroom through the door on the right.” He dumped her case on the floor and she turned, eyebrows raised. Instantly he felt churlish and the associated guilt did nothing to improve his mood. “Make yourself at home.”

She eased away from the window. “You’re mad because they think we’re an item. This is all my fault. You were planning a wonderful family weekend and I’ve ruined it. I shouldn’t have come. I really am sorry for everything.”

Her sweet apology cut him off at the knees. He preferred arguing with her and getting irritated to feeling the way he was right now. He was used to her being ballsy and combative. Even a little prickly.

This version of her made him feel uncomfortable.

It made him feel—

Protective.

Dragging his hand over the back of his neck, he tried to keep his tone neutral.

“You’re not the one making false assumptions. It’s not your fault.”

“It is. You brought me home, and it’s obviously a big deal for you to bring a woman home. They’ve been worried about you. I guess that’s why they want to see you with someone.”