A Christmas Romance in the Scottish Highlands (Scottish Highlands #6)

Chapter 20

20

ALEX

Alex was walking along Mistletoe’s high street when the heavy snowball came out of nowhere and hit the back of his head with a loud , thwack! Its remnants bounced off the window of The Snug Tea Room and shattered, while icy stragglers slid down his neck.

‘Oy!’ He yelled as he heard the thunder of feet and spun around, searching for whoever had thrown it. He immediately spotted two figures dressed in dark snowsuits with red and white lacy petticoats pulled over the top, sprinting away and laughing. They were both tall and had black hats pulled over their faces. Scraps of what looked like orange and blonde wigs poked from the bottom like octopus’s arms. Despite the disguise – or perhaps because of it – Alex knew who they were. What kind of eejits wore their pantomime costumes to ambush people?

He cursed and narrowed his eyes as ice dripped down his back and watched as they followed the path of the Christmas lights that lined the pavement, before disappearing down a side street. ‘I’m coming for you,’ he muttered, taking a step, intending to follow, just as he heard a jangle from the café door.

‘Did you just throw a snowball at my window, lad?’ Blair McBride asked, sounding surprised.

Alex turned to face her and shook his head. ‘Nae, but I saw the two culprits run down that street.’ He pointed to the spot where they’d just disappeared. ‘I know who they are?—’

‘Clyde and Dane McNally?’ Blair’s eyes glittered and she pursed her lips. ‘Aye, lad. Were they wearing their ugly sister costumes?’

‘Aye,’ Alex said, intrigued. ‘How did you know?’

She looked annoyed. ‘It isn’t the first time. They think they’re being funny. Last year, when they were back for Christmas, they dressed up as a pantomime horse and cracked my window.’ She shook her head.

‘What did you do?’ Alex asked, surprised.

She shrugged. ‘Lucinda refused to accept it was them. Although the costume was still soggy the following day. She made up an alibi as she called it. The lads both had a bad toothache, which meant they couldn’t go out apparently. Although I’m still not sure how toothache affected their feet. Eejits !’ She grimaced. ‘I doubt their mam would believe it was them tonight either, considering she told me earlier they were both at death’s door.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Those two have got more lives than a cat! They’re just as lazy too.’

‘Aye. I heard they’ve been sick again,’ Alex said, shaking his head. ‘Aggie told me Ella’s been working all their shifts.’ He took in a deep breath. ‘I don’t understand why she keeps covering for them.’

What was she waiting for? Ella knew her brothers were lying. She’d even accepted it the other day.

Blair’s mouth pinched. ‘The lass has a soft heart – and it’s not always easy to take on your family – especially when it’s the only one you have,’ she said. ‘Also, she made a promise to her da?—’

‘Aye,’ Alex said, ‘but don’t you think she’s kept that promise for long enough?’ Blair shrugged. ‘Although…’ He could hardly fault Ella when he hadn’t confronted his father about sacking his best friend yet. Sometimes, loyalty and expectation were harder to navigate than it seemed.

Blair stepped back into the tea room, signalling to Alex that he should follow. ‘It’s too cold to have the door open,’ she said as she headed towards the counter without looking back.

The tea room was busy and the buzz of voices soothing. Being in Mistletoe was so different from Alex’s usual world, and he was beginning to love it here – which made little sense. He should be missing the push and pull of the office. The high figure deals and adrenaline rush he got from winning. Should still be craving the scraps of approval his father occasionally delivered, the surge of gratitude he felt when he received a half-hearted compliment. Only he wasn’t…

‘Aggie called and told me she’d asked if you’d pop something in to Ella, so I’ve been looking out for you. I wondered if you’d take her some Christmas cake too – she’s not been eating properly. Also, I’ve just written her Christmas card and the postman popped in earlier and forgot to take it with him.’

She disappeared into the back room before returning with a festive tin and a red glittery envelope. ‘Here you go.’ She handed them both over and Alex put them in Ella’s bag. ‘There’s enough in the tin for you. Get the lass to eat if you can.’ She frowned. ‘And make her sit while she’s doing it.’

‘I’ll do my best,’ Alex promised, fully intending to feed Ella something while he encouraged her to see sense about her stepbrothers. ‘I’ll catch up with you at rehearsals,’ he said, realising he was looking forward to seeing the older woman again.

‘Aye – you know you make a really good Prince Charming,’ Blair said after a long pause. ‘Probably even better than the original.’

She winked and Alex nodded, too touched by her words to respond. Still feeling tongue-tied, he headed out of the door.

Alex had to use Google Maps to find Ella’s house. It was a couple of streets away from the high street, but the snowfall had grown heavier since he’d left the tea room, which meant it was more difficult to find. He paused at the front gate and checked the address twice on his mobile because the house looked smaller and shabbier than he’d expected. Also, there were no Christmas decorations anywhere and, considering Ella had covered most of Pinecone Manor with tinsel and lights, he was surprised.

He knocked and it took a few minutes until the door opened.

‘Alex!’ Ella exclaimed. She looked an endearing mixture of tired and shocked. She shoved her hands over her cheeks as if attempting to hide her expression. ‘Are you okay?’ She moved back into the small hallway as Wyatt bustled past and came to give Alex a sniff.

‘I’m fine,’ he said, stroking the dog. ‘Can I come in?’

‘Aye, sorry.’ She moved and waited as he shut the door then made his way into the house, taking a moment to tug off his boots and coat before handing her the bag. ‘Aggie asked me to bring your things. There’s cake in the tin and a Christmas card from Blair too.’

Ella stared at him. ‘That was kind,’ she said. ‘Of you I mean.’

Alex felt the punch of the words hit deep. He wasn’t used to compliments, but he’d received more today than in the last year and he wasn’t sure what to make of it. Couldn’t bring himself to articulate how it made him feel.

He shoved his hands into his pockets as Ella continued to stare. Her gaze slowly dropped to his mouth, and his body heated as he took a step forward – just as Wyatt decided to bark.

‘I’m sorry!’ Ella jerked away. ‘I don’t know what’s got into me. You must be cold. Do you want to sit?’ She turned and quickly charged down the hallway leading him into a sitting room.

The room was small, but there was enough space for a small green sofa and a matching chair. Alex saw a glowing fireplace in the corner and went to stand in front of it, enjoying the heat. He turned and spotted a tiny Christmas tree in front of the window – it had been covered haphazardly in decorations, suggesting Ella hadn’t had much time. A pile of papers sat on a small glass coffee table next to the sofa. Beside that was a large basket filled with washing which Alex guessed belonged to Ella’s stepbrothers because he recognised some of the shirts. ‘Ignore the mess,’ she said, looking embarrassed. ‘That’s just ironing Lucinda asked me to do.’

‘You haven’t spoken to your stepbrothers, have you?’ Alex blurted as he finished looking around.

Ella’s shoulders sagged.

‘You’re good at being kind to others – why aren’t you doing the same for yourself?’ he asked.

Ella swallowed and then plucked a letter from the pile on the table. ‘I was going to. On the day after the rehearsal.’ Red skimmed up her cheeks as if she were suddenly recalling their kiss and Alex had to stop himself from reaching for her. ‘I got as far as Lucinda’s house. I was going to talk to her about Clyde and Dane.’ She frowned. ‘But before I could, she gave me this.’ She sighed and waved the envelope. ‘It’s from the bank. It’s not the first one we’ve had, but this is a final warning.’ She handed it to Alex. ‘You can read it if you like.’

He unfolded the paper and scanned the contents. ‘Magic Mops is in debt.’ He winced at the numbers.

‘Aye.’ She looked weary. ‘It has been for a while. Da took out a loan before he died and since then things have just got worse.’

‘Because you’re the only one doing any work,’ he said sourly. ‘You should leave.’

She laughed, but the sound was sad. ‘If I could just get my hands on some money, I’d pay off the debt and then I probably would. But—’ She pulled a face. ‘I can’t leave them in this mess.’

‘It’s not all your mess, Ella,’ Alex said, folding the letter and putting it back into the envelope.

‘Da asked me to take care of the business. He begged me. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.’ A tear trickled down her pale cheek, and Alex gritted his hands into fists. This wasn’t his mess to fix either.

This is not your problem. He told himself, even as he found himself stepping forward and taking Ella into his arms. ‘You can still talk to your stepbrothers, this doesn’t change that,’ he said as she pressed her face into his chest, making everything inside him heat up.

‘Clyde thinks they’ve both got tonsillitis. I don’t know what to think. They could be lying – but what if they’re telling the truth?’ She shook her head, and Alex got a waft of eucalyptus again, found himself breathing it in and closing his eyes.

He let out a long breath. ‘I saw your stepbrothers earlier.’ Ella went still. ‘They were throwing snowballs in the high street. One hit me. Neither of them looked sick.’

‘It’s snowing, lots of people are out in the snow,’ she said, speaking to his chest. The warmth from her breath seeped through his clothes, making him shiver, but not with cold. ‘How do you know it was them?’

‘I’m not sure how many other burly men would be running around Mistletoe’s high street wearing their wigs and pantomime dresses,’ he muttered.

Ella pulled back, her eyes wide. ‘They were wearing their costumes? Aggie and Blair will murder them.’

‘Unless we do it first?’ he joked and grinned at her when she laughed. ‘Or we could just catch them out?’

‘You mean now?’ Her eyes widened.

‘It’s the only way anything’s going to change.’ He stared at her. She looked terrified. But there was a spark in her eyes too – something that looked a little like hope. ‘Isn’t it time you stopped being Cinderella?’ he asked gently. ‘I’m not saying you should walk away from Magic Mops, but your stepbrothers have to start stepping up.’

Ella blinked and Alex wondered if she was going to refuse – then she slowly nodded. ‘Okay, but let’s go now before I change my mind.’ She offered him her hand.

Alex took it and squeezed, ignoring the rush of warm pleasure he felt. Something inside him was changing – he just didn’t know if he should embrace it or run.