Christmas Ever After (Puffin Island 3)

There was a brief silence. “You could call it that.”

“Are you doing this because of what Emily said?”

“No. I’m doing this because I want to get to know you. The real you. And we don’t have much in the way of conversation when we’re naked.”

The sudden lift in her spirits took her by surprise. He was taking her to the Ocean Club, that was all. The Ocean Club, where she’d been a thousand times before. It shouldn’t feel special. But it did. And it flustered her. “I hope you don’t expect me to sleep with you just because you buy me a chocolate milk shake. I’m not that sort of girl.” She hid her confused feelings behind a joke and the corners of his mouth flickered into a smile.

“I appreciate the warning. And you should have told me you wanted to go to the village today. I would have given you a lift.”

“You were working and I was happy to walk. I enjoyed the fresh air. I spent the first part of the morning playing with designs for Laurel Ferrara.”

“I saw them when I was looking for you.”

The thought of Alec leafing through her designs made her feel breathless and vulnerable. “I don’t normally show my early sketches to anyone.”

“They were all over the floor of the garden room.”

Her tendency to spread her work everywhere was another thing that had driven Richard crazy. And just like that the guilt and anxiety was back. “I’m sorry. I’ll clear up as soon as we walk through the door. You’ll never know I’ve been there.”

He parked at the Ocean Club and killed the engine. “Let’s get something straight—I’m not Richard.” There was an edge to his voice she hadn’t heard before.

“I know.”

“Then stop apologizing for living life the way you want to live it.”

“You do it, too. You warn me you’re going to hurt me. If you can bring baggage to this relationship, then so can I.” Everything about him flustered her. His words, his touch and the way he was looking at her. “We should have equal baggage allowance. I suggest one large case and a carry-on.”

He smiled. “For the record my favorite was the seashell design. I think you should send her that one.”

“I wasn’t sure if it was a little fussy. Laurel likes to keep things simple.”

“I thought it was clever and original. Would it be difficult to make?”

Richard had never discussed her work with her. She wondered if Alec was being polite.

“Part of it might be.” She elaborated a little as they walked into the Ocean Club and Kirsti, the restaurant manager, found them a table by the window.

“Good to have the two of you back on the island.” She handed them menus, gave them both a dazzling smile and then melted away.

Sky knew the menu by heart and didn’t bother picking it up. “So how did your day go? Tell me more about what you’re working on.” She trawled her brain for what she already knew. She’d learned to file away details and bring them out when she needed them. After all, she’d been trained by the best. “Make any progress with your book?

“Some. But we were talking about you.”

“I thought we’d finished talking about me. You’re writing a naval history of the American Revolution, right? I confess I know nothing about that so you’ll need to enlighten me.”

He was silent for a moment, studying her. “So is this how it works?”

“Is this how what works?”

“The game of conversational tennis that your mother taught you. You forget yourself and focus on something you know interests me.”

Flustered, she felt the heat rush into her cheeks. “I thought you brought me here for conversation.”

“I did,” he said slowly, “but genuine conversation. The sort where we discover things about each other apart from what turns us on.”

“This is a real conversation, Alec. I asked you a question. Now it’s your turn. You’

re supposed to answer.”