Christmas Is Cancelled by Aurelia B. Rowl

Author:Aurelia B. Rowl [Aurelia B. Rowl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781474008440
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2014-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Tilly squealed and jumped away from Dean, her body reacting before her head could overrule, even though she’d done nothing wrong. With nothing to be ashamed of, she scurried back to him and felt a surge of relief when he wrapped his arms tightly around her. Together they turned to face the stocky redheaded man that stalked towards them, coming to a halt a few short strides away.

Nobody spoke, nobody moved.

Frigid air positively hummed around the three of them, growing in intensity. The calm before the storm. She’d seen the same look in Phil’s eyes many times before, mostly when they were kids and arguing about something stupid like brothers and sisters do, and it had always resulted in an epic showdown.

‘Merry Christmas, Phil,’ she blurted, the mounting tension finally getting to her. ‘So what brings you out here? The jaunty tone she’d gone for didn’t quite work. ‘I thought we’d agreed that I’d come to you for New Year instead?’ There was a definite maniacal edge to her voice but for all the reaction she got, she might as well have been invisible.

Phil continued to glare at Dean. ‘I said… put her down.’

Strike one.

Nobody treated her like she didn’t exist. She’d had enough of that at the hands of their parents. ‘It’s okay, Phil. Better than okay, in fact.’

‘What’s this? Hiding behind my little sister now?’ Phil didn’t even extend the courtesy of looking at her. Her placating words fell on deaf ears and it staggered her to see how stupid and blinkered he could really be.

Strike two.

‘Sweetheart…’ Dean’s voice in her ear pulled her out of her murderous thoughts; his voice so calm, so polite, so at ease. ‘I think your brother wants a quiet word with me. Would you mind stepping aside for a moment?’

‘No, he doesn’t.’ Like hell did Phil want a quiet word. ‘He wants to punch your lights out!’

‘It’ll be okay.’

Tilly managed to tear her gaze off Phil to look at the man rubbing his hands up and down her arms in a soothing rhythm. ‘But–’

‘Trust me.’ Dean’s control over his emotions bordered on bizarre; while Phil’s expression was full of sneer and menace, Dean’s face matched his tone: calm, controlled, polite. The only hint of stress was a slight tightness in his jaw, one she was fast beginning to recognise, but still nothing in comparison to what she’d expected to see.

Tilly opened her mouth to counter his argument but there was nothing she could say. All she could do was believe in him and trust he knew what he was doing.

‘Yeah,’ Phil said. ‘Be a good little sister and let the men talk.’

Strike three.

Tilly rounded on him, the fire in her belly hot enough to thaw the snow. ‘Get stuffed, Phil!’ She forced the words past her gritted teeth, ready to swing for him herself. Shame there wasn’t a rounders bat handy. This particular Carter wasn’t a natural redhead for nothing and no amount of brown hair dye could save Phil now.

Dean pre-empted her charge and restrained her.

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