Christmastide with His Countess by Ellie St. Clair

Author:Ellie St. Clair [Clair, Ellie St.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-12T16:00:00+00:00

15

Because I don’t want to fall in love with you and spend the rest of my life like my mother.

The truth had been on the tip of her tongue. Just as the words had been about to cross her lips, however, she caught herself, coming to the sudden realization of just how close she had allowed herself to grow to him. She was moments away from allowing him to see into her most innermost thoughts, which would have been the most foolhardy decision she could have made. But it seemed that the more she tried to push him away, the more she enjoyed his company, looked forward to the next time that they would see one another.

What was she doing, flirting with him, spending all of these precious moments alone together? Christmas was magical, but behind every magic trick was a practical explanation. In this case, it was simply the fact that the two of them were ensconced alone in this estate, with a staff apparently intent on them finding their way together.

“I suppose dessert can be arranged,” he said, calling out the door for a footman, who entered moments later with a tray of gingerbread, fruit cake, and bowls of plum pudding.

“My goodness,” said Scarlett, her eyes widening. “If we eat all of this, we shall not be able to walk out of the room on our own two feet. I believe my stays may spring open.”

“I can help you untie them if you’d like.”

Scarlett whipped her gaze from the dessert to Hunter’s face and found he was laughing at her, the corners of his eyes crinkling as a wide smile stretched across his face.

“You’re a brute,” she whispered sardonically.

He shrugged, winking at her. “I jest.”

“I know.”

“Here,” he said, breaking their joined gaze, reaching down to scoop up a spoonful of pudding. He held it up toward her.

“While I have never had a Christmas feast as it were, every Christmas since I was a boy, Cook would ensure this was our dessert on Christmas Day. It’s unlike anything you have ever tasted before, I promise.”

“I’m not sure…” she said, as she had been eyeing the gingerbread.

“You must try the pudding,” he insisted, and he looked so eager she finally gave in.

“Fine,” she said with a sigh, reaching out to take the spoon from him.

“Ah, ah, no, allow me,” he said, bringing the spoon to her lips. She opened wide for him, and his eyes sparked with undisguised desire. She hadn’t time to digest the thought, however, as the pudding touched her tongue.

“Oh!” she said, bringing her napkin to her lips. “That is … that is…”

“Vile?” he finished, his words dissolving into a chuckle. “Yes, Cook has always had trouble with that particular recipe.”

“Oh, you … you…” She swatted his arm, and he laughed even harder.

“Have you run out of names for me? Ah, the look on your face right now,” he said, mirth overcoming him.

She shook her head, narrowing her eyes at him. “That was rather unkind.”

“It was worth it.

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