Christmas Ever After (Puffin Island 3)

“We’re line jumping?”

“I know someone.” And he’d paid a small fortune, but he didn’t tell her that. But it was worth it to see her face when she discovered that they had the capsule to themselves.

“Just us? And champagne?” The doors closed and she turned to look at him, a strange look on her face. “Alec Hunter, you are the king of surprises. This is easily the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

He handed her a glass of champagne. “And technically it isn’t even Christmas yet.”

“I’m pretending it is, because real Christmas is going to be a total crapfest.” She strolled round the capsule. “Where do I stand for the best view?”

“It doesn’t matter. The view is different from all angles. Experiment.”

“On my own?” She turned her head, and threw him a smile. “Are you going to experiment with me? Has anyone ever had sex in one of these?”

“Only you would ask that question.” He wondered what it was about her that made him contemplate something that would undoubtedly get them both arrested. “I don’t know. And don’t take that as a challenge.”

She lifted her glass. “Happy holidays. You have no idea how envious I am of you spending Christmas on Puffin Island with our friends. Spare a thought for me making small talk with the upper echelons of New York society.”

“You could refuse to go.”

She stared into the glass, watching the bubbles rise. “I can’t even imagine how that would look. My parents would probably never speak to me again. They’re my family. And they’re not perfect, but—” she shrugged and drank her champagne “—in their own very controlling way they do love me. I know it’s not going to be anyone’s idea of a perfect Christmas but it’s the one I’ve got, so it’s best not to think about it. Suck it up, that’s what I

tell myself. And now let’s forget it. I want to enjoy this moment, not worry about that one.”

He didn’t want to forget it. “What is your idea of a perfect Christmas?”

She turned her head and stared through the glass at the carpet of lights beneath them. “A Christmas where I can be myself, around people I already know and love. I want laughter and conversation, not serious faces and polite small talk. I want—” She tilted her head back and smiled. “I want surprises, adventure, small, thoughtful gestures, no agenda, no reason to be gathering, except to enjoy each other’s company. I want a Christmas where duty isn’t allowed in the room, and yes, I want gifts, not empty boxes. Not expensive but thoughtful. Perfect gifts that show someone has thought about who I am and what I’d love.”

There was a pause.

“So you don’t want much then.”

She laughed, as he’d known she would, and focused on the view. “This is incredible.”

“It’s just a giant Ferris wheel.”

“That’s like saying Hawaii is just a bunch of islands.”

“Hawaii is a bunch of islands.”

All the time they were talking Alec was imagining her surrounded by perfectly wrapped empty boxes, making small talk in a crowd of people she didn’t know.

She was dreading it, but still she had that smile on her face.

She was the most resilient person he’d ever met.

He guided her to the front of the capsule and stood behind her, caging her as she gazed through the glass at the city below. “This is my favorite view. Are you warm enough?”

“Not really, but that’s because I went for silk and lace rather than thermal. But you already know that of course. Having peeled off my underwear piece by piece a few hours ago.”

“I remember the underwear.” But most of all he remembered the woman. He eased her against him and wrapped her in the folds of his coat.

“You don’t have to cuddle me. That’s not part of our deal.”

“I’m protecting my investment. I don’t mind being adventurous in bed but I draw the line at having sex with a frozen object.”

“When I’m trapped making small talk with some boring banker from Manhattan, I’m going to remember tonight.”

He was fairly sure the banker wouldn’t be bored and the thought elevated his tension levels a few more notches. “Because tonight was the night you developed frostbite?” He felt her curves mold against him as she drew closer.