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

Chapter 22

22

ELLA

‘Can I help you paint?’ Hunter begged for the fourth time as he paced the stage in the Mistletoe Village Hall. ‘I’d be really good,’ he implored, bouncing towards Alex who was unpacking pots and brushes, placing them next to a backdrop and a couple of fountain-shaped constructions which were going to be part of the scenery. The boy picked up one of the brushes and flicked it in the air.

‘It’s too late, lad,’ Aggie said as she fluffed a hand over the mouse ears Hunter never seemed to take off. ‘You’ve got school tomorrow, and we’re going to be back here for another rehearsal after that.’

‘Aye, boys need plenty of rest if they want to perform well,’ Henry ground out as he wiped his hands over his white Rolling Stones T-shirt, smearing green all over the logo. ‘Lasses too.’ He raised an eyebrow at Ella.

‘I’ve been sleeping fine.’ She grinned back at him because for the first time in a year, she wasn’t on her knees with tiredness.

‘Aye, I’ve noticed the bags under your eyes have reduced,’ the older man joked. ‘I also hear Clyde and Dane have been working their shifts for a change.’

‘Yep,’ Aggie agreed. ‘They’ve started looking after their pantomime costumes too. I’ve no idea what’s got into them all of a sudden, have you?’ She wagged a finger at Ella.

Ella shrugged. In the four days since she’d spoken to her stepbrothers, their whole attitude had changed. Suddenly they were working hard, turning up to their cleaning shifts, and even offering to cover hers – and there was no talk of toothaches, tonsilitis or tropical diseases. In fact, they seemed to be enjoying taking on their responsibilities.

It felt like a fairy tale, but she was still waiting for them to switch back – like one of the carriages in the panto transforming into a pumpkin once the clock had struck midnight.

‘I noticed Lucinda isn’t talking to you,’ Aggie commented. It wasn’t the first time the housekeeper had mentioned it, but Ella didn’t feel up to sharing.

‘Are you talking about all those angry glares she’s been shooting at the lass during rehearsals?’ Mae asked as she appeared from the back of the stage wearing a swishy blue skirt that emphasised her figure. Henry’s jaw dropped as he gazed at her, entranced.

‘She’s going all out playing the evil stepmother,’ Aggie said.

‘Aye, her acting has definitely improved,’ Mae agreed. ‘I’ve started to believe she actually hates Cinderella for real.’ Her gaze turned to Ella, and she grimaced.

‘She never speaks to me, but I think she hates mice too,’ Hunter said glumly as he swiped the brush in the air. ‘She makes a funny face whenever I’m around.’

‘She’s not very happy with me,’ Ella admitted. But she was trying hard not to care. Her stepmother had used her for months, making her feel guilty each time she’d so much as suggested having a day off. It was only now that she was able to accept the truth. Because of Alex.

‘Aye, well, it’s good to have you in my studio painting rather than mopping for a change,’ Henry said gruffly as he shot Mae another longing look which she ignored. Ella smiled at him. She’d made so much progress with her secret project over the past few days, felt like she was finally finding her painting feet again.

‘Are you sure I can’t help you with the scenery?’ Hunter repeated, skipping around the stage with his brush, swiping at them. ‘Mice like me don’t need much sleep and we really love painting.’ He yawned as he swept past Ella again.

‘Lad, if you don’t get enough sleep, you won’t be able to work on your drawings,’ Alex stepped in, his voice kind.

‘I suppose.’ Hunter looked thoughtful. ‘I’ve been working on some new pictures.’ He perked up as he wandered back to the pots of paint and put the brush down. ‘One of a dog for my da and another for you. I’ll show it to you at our next rehearsal,’ he said eagerly.

‘That’s a deal.’ Alex bumped fists with him, his cheeks flushing charmingly when he noticed everyone was watching.

‘We should go,’ Aggie said, taking her grandson’s hand.

‘So should I,’ Mae sighed. ‘I’ve got to work through some paperwork and check on ticket sales.’

Henry looked crestfallen. ‘Aye, I should go too.’ He turned to Alex. ‘Is it okay if I leave you to work on the scenery?’ He pointed to the paint on his T-shirt. ‘I’ve been at it all evening, but I need to get back to my latest masterpiece. It’s really important I get it done.’ His eyes strayed to Mae and warmed.

‘That’s fine with me,’ Alex said as Sprout came to give his shoe a swift lick.

A week ago, Ella knew Alex would have pulled a face, but instead he patted the terrier’s antler headband and fed him a carrot from his pocket. As soon as he had, Wyatt’s ears pricked up and he sniffed his way across the stage until Alex fed him too. ‘Do you want to leave the dog? I can take care of him,’ he asked Henry.

‘Nae, Sprout’s okay to come with me,’ the older man muttered, clipping on his lead and turning towards the stairs before he stopped and twisted around to look at Ella. ‘How in Jackson Pollock did you get your stepbrothers to pull their weight?’

She shook her head. ‘Christmas magic.’ She glanced at Alex. ‘Plus I got a little help.’

‘Perhaps one day you’ll tell me the story,’ Henry mulled. ‘I need to get off,’ he said abruptly, following Aggie, Hunter and Mae as they walked away.

When the door to the village hall swung shut behind them, Alex moved so he could study the canvas that Henry had laid down. The artist had already sketched the picture he wanted recreated and had begun to paint the grass.

‘You know you don’t have to help?’ Alex said. ‘I’m the protégé. This is supposed to be my job.’

‘I want to.’ Ella held out a hand, and he picked up a brush and gave it to her. ‘I owe Henry for being so patient with me – and I owe you.’

‘You said you don’t do tit for tat – and neither do I.’ Alex’s eyebrows dipped. ‘At least I don’t do it here.’

‘Maybe I just want to help?’ she asked, holding her breath in case Alex told her he didn’t want her to stay. They’d rarely been alone since he’d walked her back to her house after speaking with her stepbrothers – and she wanted to talk with him. Wanted to see that same flicker in his eyes from the night he kissed her.

He watched her face for a moment, and then nodded. ‘Do you want to work from the bottom and I’ll start at the top?’

‘Or we could begin at each end and work our way towards each other?’ Ella suggested.

Alex’s mobile began to ring and he pulled it from his pocket and frowned. ‘It’s my father.’ His voice was dull. ‘I need to talk to him. But…’ He sighed, stabbing at the screen. ‘I think I’ll do it later, when I get back to Pinecone Manor.’ There was something about the deliberate rejection of the call that made Ella wonder if things between them had got even worse.

‘Have you got your da a ticket to watch the pantomime?’ she asked as she opened one of the pots and carefully loaded her brush.

‘He won’t come,’ Alex said as his mobile rang again and he ignored it.

Ella studied Alex as he got to work. Could she help to fix whatever had happened between him and his father? After all he’d done for her, it only seemed fair. The pantomime was going to be brilliant, and Alex was a large part of why.

Her father had always been excited to watch her perform, sitting in the front row, enthusiastically clapping and laughing. Surely Michael Charming would do the same? They might have their differences, but a father was a father, after all. Alex clearly wasn’t a man who was comfortable with singing his own praises, so perhaps he was just embarrassed to ask? Could she step in?

She could ask Henry tomorrow. He and Michael definitely knew each other, so he was bound to have his contact details. Happy with her plan, Ella began to hum and dab her brush on the canvas.

‘I’ve never been involved with anything like this before,’ Alex shared, as he watched her for a moment and then began to paint too.

‘I’ve mucked in a couple of times,’ Ella told him. ‘Henry’s protégés aren’t always as talented as you – and he’s sent a couple of them home before the panto even began.’

‘You think I’m talented?’ Alex sounded so surprised Ella turned to look at him.

‘Don’t you?’ she asked, surprised. ‘It’s not like you’d be working with Henry if you weren’t.’

‘I have skills.’ He shrugged. ‘But that’s not why I’m here. I’m an emergency replacement because someone dropped out. Henry would have struggled to get anyone else around Christmas at such short notice.’

Ella pulled a face. ‘Can you imagine Henry Lockhart putting up with just anyone who could pick up a brush?’

‘I can paint, but I’m not particularly gifted.’ He looked unconvinced. ‘My father can be very determined when he sets his mind to something – most people find it’s easier to say yes. I’m sure Henry would tell you if you asked that I was a hard sell – it’s why I need to work twice as hard to be even half as good as you.’ The words fanned Ella’s ego even though they weren’t entirely true.

‘But you’re really talented, Alex,’ she insisted. His arrogance had faded so much over the last two weeks, and she liked him so much better because of it. But surely Alex understood he deserved his place at Pinecone Manor?

His brows knitted and his paintbrush hovered a few centimetres from the canvas. ‘I’m not fishing for compliments, Ella, you’ve already given me more than I need. I’m not a charity case who needs their ego building – it’s large enough without your help.’ His voice was stiff, and his body arched away from her. Then he shook his head and put the brush back on top of the pot. ‘I’m sorry, that was rude. I’m just?—’

‘Surprised?’ she guessed. ‘You’re amazing. That picture you did of me.’

He flushed.

‘I might not have liked what it said, but it was brilliant. The details, every line, the way you brought so much to life. It must have taken hours?’

Alex looked uncomfortable. ‘I believe in consistency and hard work.’

‘You’re embarrassed,’ she gasped. ‘Aren’t you used to people saying nice things to you?’

Alex might not get on well with his father, but he was hormone-stirringly handsome, smart and funny – when he felt comfortable enough to share his humour. He had an incredible job and a real talent for art. He kept his kindness and warmth hidden – but Ella had seen enough hints of it now to know it wasn’t just there, it was genuine. Surely other people had seen that. Told him?

‘Too much approval can make people idle – and they stop trying,’ Alex said as his face went crimson.

‘That’s not my experience,’ Ella countered. ‘I have to admit, I don’t get that many compliments. But when I do, I feel amazing. They make me want to try harder, so I can feel that way again.’

Alex studied her. ‘Aye, well, that’s something my father says. I suppose I’ve always believed he was right.’ His face clouded and he picked up his brush looking thoughtful. Ella watched. It was clear from their time together that Alex wasn’t used to sharing and he certainly wasn’t used to opening up. But she wanted to know more, wanted to understand him and the only way to do that would be to continue to poke at him until he broke.

Alex stroked his brush across the bottom of the canvas. ‘You’re doing a great job of that,’ she said, trying out another compliment to gauge what reaction she’d get.

Alex’s face twisted into an awkward smile. ‘I’d be doing a better job if you helped,’ he said gruffly. Although the fresh flood of colour across the tips of his cheeks suggested he wasn’t immune to her words.

Ella grinned and picked up her brush and began to paint too, edging closer to the centre of the canvas until her elbow brushed against Alex’s a couple of times.

‘You smell good,’ she said as her nose picked up the spicy scent of lemongrass and cardamon, and her skin tingled and fizzed.

Alex shifted until they were facing and gave her an odd look. ‘It’s just my aftershave,’ he said roughly. But his eyes had darkened a few shades despite the overhead lights, and she guessed he was pleased with this compliment, perhaps even stirred by it? Although she knew he’d probably never admit to that.

But she liked that she’d affected him, had managed to burrow between the layers he used to protect himself.

‘I couldn’t believe you knew all your lines when we were rehearsing earlier,’ she said, painting the canvas without looking at him. ‘You were word perfect. It took me ages to memorise mine. You work so hard; I’ve never met anyone with a work ethic like yours.’

‘Except for yourself,’ Alex said, looking at her oddly. ‘What are you doing?’ he asked.

‘Complimenting you.’

‘Why?’ He eased away, his shoulders tensing.

Ella leaned onto her haunches, mirroring him. ‘I don’t know,’ she admitted. ‘It’s just I’ve a feeling in your world people don’t do it enough.’

‘You’re right. People don’t pay me compliments in my world,’ he said, his forehead pinching. ‘Not unless they want something.’ He turned and carefully put his brush on the top of the pot. ‘So, what do you want?’

Ella’s brain helpfully suggested a couple of things which she wasn’t going to share. But her cheeks suddenly felt like she’d been sitting in the Mediterranean sun for the whole afternoon – and she could tell Alex noticed because his eyes skimmed her face and he swallowed nervously.

‘I don’t want anything, Alex,’ she said. ‘You helped me face what was happening with Clyde and Dane – helped me to call them out.’ She brushed a hand through her hair. ‘And it worked.’ Her eyes rounded. ‘I wouldn’t have changed a thing without you. If you hadn’t shown me what an eejit I’ve been. Without you?—’

‘Highlighting your faults?’ he asked, his tone tight. ‘Aye, I’m good at that,’ he said gruffly. ‘It’s easier to focus on other people’s than your own.’

‘You have faults?’ she gasped, deliberately using a teasing tone.

Alex dipped his chin and his chest bounced.

‘Did you just laugh?’ Ella offered Alex a wide grin.

‘No.’ He half laughed, half choked and thumped a hand on his jumper. ‘I think I might have broken something, though.’ He offered her a shy smile.

‘Oh damn.’ She swiped the back of her hand across her brow. ‘I think I’m going to swoon. I’ve told you already, you’d better not do it on the night of the pantomime, the whole of the front row will probably black out, then Mae will hit you with her magic wand.’

This time, Alex laughed out loud and the sound had something inside Ella tripping over itself in its eagerness to get him to do it again.

‘Aye, well, you don’t need to worry about that. Could be this is just a temporary blip due to paint fumes.’ He nodded at the pots. ‘Normal service will resume shortly. You’d only have to speak to my team at the office to get an idea of the type of person I am.’ He gazed at her for a moment before reaching out to pick up the paintbrush again, clearly shaken.

‘You don’t know yourself very well, do you?’ Ella asked quietly. ‘Because from what I can see, you’re really quite something.’

Alex cleared his throat but didn’t look at her. Instead, he leaned into the canvas and began to slowly paint. She could see she’d affected him because his hand wasn’t steady and after a few moments he gave up and put the paintbrush down. Then he turned back to her and his gaze grew fiery, making everything inside Ella go hot…