The Christmas Marriage Rescue (Lakeside Mountain Rescue 4)

Christy risked a glance at him and saw that he looked exhausted, too.

And tense.

Was being with her really that much of a strain?

Oh, for crying out loud. It was Christmas Day and nothing, not even her crumbling, disintegrating marriage, was going to spoil it!

‘Come on, then.’ Pushing away the heavy bands of stress and tiredness that threatened to crush her skull, she slid out of bed and pulled on her silk robe.

The children careered downstairs, shrieking with excitement, and she followed more slowly, watching their pleasure with an indulgent smile.

‘He’s been, he’s been,’ Ben shouted, dancing up to his stocking and lifting it. ‘And look—he’s eaten the chocolate roll and left a footprint.’

Sure enough, a large, dusty footprint lay in front of the fireplace and Christy gave a smile. Alessandro must have come back downstairs during the night to make that, she thought to herself. He’d always done it, even when the children had been too young to notice. He was a brilliant father.

He walked into the room moments later, his dark eyes heavy with sleep, his jeans half-undone and his T-shirt rumpled. He’d obviously reached for the first thing in his wardrobe and still he managed to look impossibly sexy, she thought with something close to exasperation.

Why couldn’t she look at him and feel nothing?

How did you stifle a love as powerful as hers?

How did you carry on with life?

‘Has Father Christmas been coming down my chimney without wiping his feet again?’ Alessandro glowered at the footprint and Ben giggled.

‘Do you think he brought the reindeer?’

Alessandro raised an eyebrow. ‘Into my living room? I hope not.’

‘Come on, Ben.’ Determined not to dwell on Alessandro, she turned back to the children. ‘What has he brought you?’

Christmas Day had begun. They opened the presents in their stockings, ate breakfast together and then went to the carol service at the local church.

Wrapped up warmly in a long coat, Christy listened to the pure voices of the choirboys and felt a lump in her throat.

It was normally her favourite part of Christmas but today it just seemed to make her feel even sadder.

‘Hey.’ A masculine voice came from behind her. ‘I hope my lunch isn’t burning while you’re here.’

It was Jake.

Having him for the day would be a welcome distraction, she thought to herself as she turned to acknowledge his presence with a quick smile.

‘Come on, Mum.’ Katy grabbed her hand as they arrived back at the barn to the delicious smells of turkey. ‘Time for all the other presents now.’

Her parents arrived moments later and suddenly the house took on the chaotic, crazy feel that only ever happened at Christmas.

‘I have to go and spend some time in the kitchen,’ Christy began, but Katy shook her head.

‘It can wait. It doesn’t matter if lunch is late. We can always eat crisps to keep us going.’

‘You cannot eat crisps!’

Katy grinned. ‘Just winding you up, Mum.’

Christy gave a weak smile and followed her daughter through to the living room.

Jake and Alessandro were talking by the fireplace and Katy dropped to her knees and dragged the presents out from under the tree.