Mix-Up under the Mistletoe (Glenbriar #11)

Chapter Twelve

Tilly

Saturday, December 21 st

Morning

T illy pulled a fleecy robe over her shoulders and slipped her feet into a pair of white fluffy slippers. Hilary Harrington had thought of everything. This place was better than a five-star hotel. She left the little shower room fresh as a winter rose. Thankfully she’d put a reserve set of clothing in her case. The dull leggings and plain grey sweater weren’t exactly the glamorous, sexy garments she wished she’d packed for an unexpected weekend with Rafe Harrington, but they’d have to do. After that, she had nothing clean, which meant she had to find a way back to London, preferably today. She stretched her arms, her muscles slightly tense. The thought of returning to London was high in her mind, but the thought of staying here pushed its way in, waking fluttering snow fairies in her tummy. Pinpointing exactly why wasn’t tricky. Rafe’s face rose to the surface of her mind and the snow fairies danced, reminding her of the night before. All those smouldering glances. The way his accidental touches sent bolts of electricity to every nerve end. This was bordering on dangerous territory.

Don’t get carried away or imagine this to be anything special.

She had to take care. Swatting the visions away, she crossed the beautiful bedroom and opened the curtains. The floor-to-ceiling window was actually a door onto a little veranda, but no way was she getting out there today. Thick snow blanketed the floor right up to the door, making it impossible to open. The garden and countryside beyond sparkled white. Sun lit up ice crystals that glittered like pixie dust, and pure blue skies contrasted with the white landscape. Icing-sugar-like snow encrusted the branches of tall pine trees.

She wrapped her arms around herself, drawing the robe close as goosebumps slid along the back of her neck. If only she could cocoon herself in a blanket and sit and watch this all day. Of course, she couldn’t actually do that. A groan escaped her lips, but she still couldn’t drag her eyes from the stunning landscape. Somehow, she needed to find transport to get her to London, either today or tomorrow. Surely something, somewhere, would be running. Wouldn’t snow ploughs come along and make the roads safe to travel on?

The 1-Quick office was open right up until Christmas Eve. They didn’t even finish early. Scrooge or what? Apparently, the company CEO thought they shouldn’t even close on Christmas Day and he’d already stopped giving them Boxing Day off. People’s holiday needs didn’t stop for Christmas, which meant they shouldn’t either – or so he said – which meant Tilly still had to work on Monday and Tuesday. She’d be off on Wednesday for Christmas Day and then back on Thursday for the Boxing Day rush. Pressure built in her brain with every thought she added to it. How could anyone find this time of year fun or relaxing with a schedule like that? Having Wednesday off was barely worth it. And with a Monday morning looming just two days away, she couldn’t afford to linger. Arnie wouldn’t accept her being snowed in somewhere in the Highlands as a reasonable excuse, when technically she shouldn’t even be here. No reason she gave was likely to go down well.

She sat on the bed and opened her phone, checking the train app. All trains in this area were cancelled. Seriously? What about buses? Same story. Only a handful of buses were running on the main roads, and none were currently stopping in Glenbriar. She wasn’t sure if she could even get from Greenacres into the town anyway. Rafe had said it was too far to walk in this weather and if the taxi journey had been anything to go by, he wasn’t joking. A trip that took ten minutes in a car must be at least an hour’s walk, and she didn’t have boots or waterproof clothes. Would the Raptor get through this? It had those big thick tyres, but the snow looked deep.

I can’t expect him to go out in this.

How could she? It would put him at risk and no way did she want that. Taxi drivers would be the same. None of them would want to risk it out here, and who could blame them? Tilly didn’t drive, but she didn’t fancy even being a passenger in this.

A low hum of people chatting outside her room caught her attention. Were they going downstairs? She wasn’t sure what she should do. Stay here or go down with them? They’d said she was welcome, but was expecting breakfast an imposition? Had they only said those kind things because they had good manners but actually couldn’t wait for her to leave?

She clutched to the hope that it was real. Last night had been such fun, and she’d felt so included. Hopefully, it wasn’t a fantasy that had died overnight.

Rafe’s room was next door. Should she knock and ask him if she could go downstairs with him? Or was that too clingy? She glanced up at the door to her little shower room and then along the wall. The layout suggested he had a matching shower room in his bedroom. Had he been taking a shower just through the wall from her? Why did that feel so intimate? An x-rated movie had started rolling in her head in monochrome. Rafe, with a tanned body, toned abs, and muscular shoulders, like the shirtless guy on the front of the book she’d borrowed last night, was showering before her, water cascading over him as he ran his fingers through his hair. As her internal voyeur cam moved lower, she gasped and shook her head.

Oh my god.

She had to shut that down. But how? Last night on the sofa, they’d been so close. Just how good had that felt? When he’d hugged her, she’d felt safe and cared for. But the daydream she’d just had was something else.

Or was it just further evidence of her clinginess? Her imagination filled in gaps with wild suggestions, miles away from the reality he was living. A guy like him was easy in his own skin, carefree around other people, and sitting next to her probably hadn’t put him up or down. She let out a little scoff and gave herself a mental shake. Time to stop this. Why did she always read all sorts of things into situations? She’d imagined all the looks. He didn’t like her any more than any other woman. Why would he?

Just concentrate on getting back to London; this will all blow over and none of it will matter anyway.

The thought pushed her into getting the rest of her clothes on quickly. She opened the door and glanced into the corridor. Voices were still chattering somewhere in the house. Not being familiar with the layout, she couldn’t work out exactly where they were coming from. Now was the time to be brave and go downstairs and find out. Slowly, she made her way to the top of the grand, sweeping staircase. It was modern in design but, like everything in this place, the contemporary, mixed with rustic, gave it a charm all its own. She stopped for a moment, running her fingertips over a poinsettia and pine garland on the banister. Such gorgeous festive décor. Hilary must enjoy this kind of thing to have spent so much time on it. Tilly hadn’t bothered with a single decoration. Even if she loved Christmas, she couldn’t imagine finding the time to go all out like this.

She edged through the half-open door into the kitchen, following the smell of bacon and the sound of happy chat and clinking crockery. Most of the family were there, sitting chatting, or at the worktop making drinks and popping slices of bread in the toaster. Tilly swept around, mentally ticking them off. No Geoff and no Rafe. Without him, it felt weird going in. She took a deep breath. Everyone kept saying she was welcome. Now was the time to test that.

Just one more step.

‘Morning,’ Hilary said with a bright smile and Tilly froze before she could move further into the room. ‘Did you sleep well?’

‘Yes, thank you,’ Tilly said. And come to think on it, she really had. Surprisingly well, all things considered. The peace and quiet had been second to none. The lack of blaring music and traffic replaced by roaring gusts and the faint tinkle of wind chimes had been just the tonic. She’d even managed to forget about work in the aftermath of such an enjoyable evening.

‘Looks like you’re stuck with us for a while longer,’ Genevieve said. ‘No one’s getting out of here yet.’

‘Oh dear.’ Tilly made her way into the room.

‘Yeah,’ Cressida said. ‘Take a seat.’ She pointed to the table where Genevieve and Finlay were sitting with Grandma, and Tina was putting Alexander into his highchair. ‘This area has been badly affected.’

‘This glen has always been good for snow, even if the village wasn’t affected,’ Genevieve added as Tilly took a seat next to her. ‘I remember quite a few days off school.’

‘Do you?’ Cressida said. ‘I remember Mum sending us in all weather.’

‘Really, girls,’ Hilary said. ‘You were older when we moved here, Cressida, you didn’t have as long at school as Genevieve.’

‘Yeah, but I remember that time the school bus skidded going around a corner and nearly hit the sweet shop on the main street.’

Hilary frowned and gave a little shake of her head.

‘Funny how memories change as we get older.’ Grandma chuckled as she spread jam on her toast.

‘I’m not making that up,’ Cressida said.

‘Morning, everyone,’ a voice behind Tilly said, and she turned instantly. Rafe stood at the door, looking delicious in a chunky cable-knit sweater and jeans. He’d taken off his boots and had on thick cosy socks.

Uh-oh. How could she even attempt to kid herself on that she didn’t fancy him?

‘Morning,’ Tilly said along with everyone else.

‘Quite some weather out there, huh?’ He raked up his slightly damp hair, giving Tilly a smile that could have melted most of the snow.

Mitzi came bounding in, slipping and scratching a little on the wooden floor as she made a beeline for Genevieve. Genevieve scooped her up and cuddled her. ‘Did your naughty uncle let you get all wet and not dry you properly?’ she cooed.

Cressida picked up Alexander’s cup from the floor and put it back in front of him. ‘We’ve just been talking about the weather. It’s going to cause some disruption.’

‘Lucky we’re not going anywhere.’ Genevieve put Mitzi down and dusted off her clothes.

‘I need to get back to London,’ Tilly said. ‘Either today or tomorrow. My boss will kill me if I’m not at work on Monday morning.’

‘Dear, dear,’ Grandma said. ‘He sounds like an eejit. Fancy expecting someone to get from here to London in this weather.’

‘Yeah,’ Tilly agreed. ‘But I can’t impose on you all anymore and I’ve also run out of clothes.’

‘The clothes aren’t a problem,’ Hilary said. ‘I can wash everything.’

‘I’ll put them on with my things after breakfast,’ Genevieve said. ‘I need to wash this stuff now.’

‘Um…’

‘And we can lend you anything you need. I’m sure between the four of us’ – Hilary gestured to herself, Genevieve, Tina, then Cressida – ‘I’m sure we can find something that fits.’

‘And there’s always me,’ Grandma said. ‘I have some very fetching floral skirts.’

‘Mother,’ Hilary said. ‘I didn’t include you because I know you didn’t bring much yourself.’

Grandma chuckled and gave Tilly a cheeky wink.

‘And you’re not imposing.’ Genevieve patted Tilly on the arm. ‘We like having you here, don’t we?’ Her gaze fell on Rafe and Tilly felt her cheeks burning like someone had slapped her.

‘Of course we do,’ he said breezily.

‘Why don’t you just call in sick? Feign a stomach bug. That’ll buy you forty-eight hours, minimum,’ Cressida suggested.

‘That’s the easiest thing to do.’ Rafe padded into the kitchen and cut a thick slice of bread.

Tilly shook her head at his back and let out a little huff. ‘Are you serious? You’re a CEO.’

He pushed his bread into the toaster, then turned to face her, leaning on the work surface and folding his arms in a casual way that still exuded sex appeal. ‘Uh-huh?’ His grin looked equal parts questioning and wicked.

‘Well, would you want your employees doing that?’

‘He’s very naughty.’ Grandma shook her head. ‘So, he probably does it himself.’

He smiled one of those megawatt smiles of his, melting Tilly some more. ‘I’m not just a CEO, I’m also a human being. And, let’s get real, people do it. Everyone knows that. We’ve all done it at some point in our lives.’

‘Told you,’ Grandma said.

‘Yup,’ Cressida added. ‘Sometimes it’s the only way.’

‘I haven’t done it,’ Tilly murmured, fiddling with the cuff of her boring sweater.

‘First time for everything.’ Grandma winked at her.

‘I think you should do it,’ Genevieve said. ‘Then you can relax and not have to worry about getting back.’

‘It’s going to be impossible anyway,’ Cressida said. ‘You might manage it, but you might also cause an accident for yourself or someone else.’

‘That’s true,’ she said. ‘I’ll have to think about it.’ Though she was pretty sure she wouldn’t relax if she ended up staying here. Her brain would never stop badgering her with guilty thoughts of where she should be and that would block anything pleasant that might happen.

‘You shouldn’t put yourself at risk.’ Rafe lifted his toast from the toaster, plated it, and joined Tilly at the table, which was already set with pastries and a selection of spreads. All of it looked so yummy Tilly wasn’t sure what to choose. ‘I wouldn’t expect anyone who works for me to do that, but I understand how you feel.’ He took the empty seat next to her. ‘You’re a conscientious employee, which is great. You don’t want to feel like you’re letting anyone down.’

‘Exactly.’

‘But I’m inclined to think they’ve let you down.’ He offered her a plate laden with pastries and she lifted a croissant.

‘Maybe they have.’ She sighed and reached for the jam.

‘It’s probably not my place to say it.’ Rafe spread a liberal amount of butter on his toast. ‘But from what you told me yesterday, it sounds like they’ve been abusing your loyalty. Of course, I don’t advocate tit-for-tat behaviour, but it makes me wonder why you’re so happy to give without getting anything back. Even respect. They should be prepared to accept your word and your predicament without threatening behaviour. If an employee of mine called in to say they were snowed in, we’d work around it. They could work from home or, if that wasn’t possible, make up the time elsewhere. We’d agree on something that was fair.’

‘I don’t see anyone at 1-Quick caring enough to do that. They’re more likely to say it’s coming off my pay and still make me work the time back.’ Tilly cut her croissant in half rather aggressively.

‘That’s unacceptable, but I know it happens all too often.’ He offered her a small bowl. ‘Clotted cream?’

‘Is that normal on croissants?’

‘It’s Christmas. You can overindulge on anything you fancy without feeling guilty.’

She flicked him a little smile and their eye contact grew intense. Normally, she didn’t even bother with breakfast. There just wasn’t time. But she got the feeling his words carried a hidden meaning. What else did he want to overindulge in? She almost groaned out loud. There she was doing it again ‘Ok.’ She took the bowl from him, twitching a little as her fingers brushed against his hand.

‘Just see how things go today,’ he said. ‘We’ll keep an eye on the weather and watch out for the snowploughs.’

‘I guess that’s all I can do; maybe I’ll get out tomorrow.’

‘If it clears at all and the trains or buses start again, I’ll give you a lift to the station.’

She bit into her croissant and gave him a little nod of thanks. The warm buttery pastry combined with sweet jam and rich cream was so divine she almost let out a moan of pleasure. Catching a stray croissant crumb with her fingertip, she brushed it from her lips and into her mouth.

Rafe raised his eyebrows as he held his toast to his mouth and Tilly savoured another bite. His lips probably tasted as good as this. But she wasn’t supposed to be thinking about things like that. She looked away, steering her thoughts to her predicament. While trying not to do anything rash made sense, she couldn’t shake the feeling she was doing something wrong if she didn’t spend every second at least trying to be back.

‘You’re one-hundred per cent replaceable at work,’ Cressida said. ‘I’m sure they can survive a couple of days without you.’

‘Give me the phone number,’ Grandma said. ‘I’ll call them and tell them the situation. That’s one thing about growing old, I’m not easily intimidated. What’s the worst that can happen?’

Tilly chuckled with the others. Nothing would happen to Rafe’s lovely grandma, but Tilly wasn’t sure Arnie would extend that courtesy to her. Of course, he could survive without her for a day or two, but it didn’t wholly remove the queasy sensation in her stomach. That job was all she’d ever had. She didn’t know how to do anything else.

Geoff came in clapping his hands, looking ruddy cheeked. ‘It’s gorgeous out there. Just dried the lads. They’re getting warm by the fire now.’

‘You look frozen.’ Hilary took his arm as he approached the Aga.

‘It’s bracing, alright. I’ll take the camera out later and get some pictures. I’ve not seen it like this for a while.’

‘Would you like to go for a walk?’ Rafe asked Tilly. ‘We could find some boots that fit you, I’m sure.’

‘Yeah, I’d like to. It’s so beautiful.’

‘What size of feet are you?’

‘Five.’

‘I think that’s the same as Mum. She has loads of boots. I’m sure she’d be happy to lend you some.’

Tilly bit into her croissant again. She wasn’t going anywhere for the next few hours at least, so she could afford to relax and enjoy this. The fairies in her tummy fluttered again, making their way into her chest, sending tingles through her nervous system. Enjoying herself here meant spending time with Rafe and that thought was really doing things to her body… and her brain.