Mix-Up under the Mistletoe (Glenbriar #11)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Rafe

Tuesday, December 24 th

Christmas Eve

Evening

‘ C ome with me a minute,’ Rafe whispered to Tilly, leading her away from the fireplace and into the corridor. He opened the door into the little library room where she’d gone on her first day with them.

Cooler air greeted him, and the compact size of the room focused his attention on the heady scent of Tilly’s perfume. Something about that fragrance was comforting, but stimulating at the same time.

‘What is it?’ she asked as he closed the door.

He looked at her, and a powerful bolt of electricity surged through his body. ‘Just you.’ He moved closer until she was backed against the door and he rested his arms on either side of her head, inhaling her sweet perfume. ‘I’ve wanted to do this since the second you got back.’

‘Do what?’ she whispered.

‘Kiss you, hold you, make love to you. I want you, Tilly. Just you. I want you to know how much. I don’t want to leave you with any doubt that you’re in the right place with the right person.’

‘Even though we know so little about each other.’

‘Yes. Because I know how I feel. I know what torture it was being apart from you, even for just one day.’

‘Me too,’ Tilly said. ‘And it’s made me realise something. Something really important.’

‘What?’

‘That I love you.’

Rafe froze, his eyes locked on hers. Then he blinked.

Tilly’s heart pounded manically in her ribcage. ‘Isn’t that what you were saying to me?’ She sucked her lip. ‘Or have I got it horribly wrong?’

‘You’ve got it exactly right.’ He dipped in and pressed a long, slow kiss on her forehead, then brought his head to rest on hers. ‘I love you too. I really love you, like so damn much. It seems too much, but that’s just how strong it is.’

‘That’s how I feel too, but I was so scared it was all this attachment stuff.’

‘Even if it is, it’s fine. I want you to attach yourself to me, please do. And I’ll always be here for you, so will my family.’

She raised her hand to her mouth and tears leaked from her eyes. ‘You have no idea what that means to me.’ Her voice cracked and Rafe drew her close, kissing the tears away gently.

‘I do. Because your love means all that to me too. When we’re together, good things happen. I feel more alive and happier with you than I ever have with anyone.’

‘I know what you mean.’

‘It’s like the world sits in the right place and everything aligns. We don’t need to know everything about each other. There’s time for all that. Time to talk, time to learn.’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘There’s no rush, is there?’

‘No. In fact, I’d like to take my time getting to know you properly. Because I know whatever happens, my feelings won’t change. I’ve been scared of rushing into things and messing up like I did with my ex-wife, but this is different. This time I’m scared of losing you, scared I waste time, and someone swoops in and snatches you from me.’

She giggled through her tears. ‘That’s not going to happen. I only want you.’

He held her for a long moment. Words ran dry, but they weren’t needed. He and Tilly were together, and they understood each other.

‘My mum is likely to come looking for us any second now.’ He placed a gentle kiss on Tilly’s forehead. ‘I just wanted you to know exactly how I felt before anything else happened.’

‘And now you know I feel the same.’

‘Life is good, huh?’ He pulled back and smiled at her.

‘The best. And Rafe.’ She took his hand just as he was about to open the door.

‘Yes.’

‘I don’t want to be alone.’

‘You won’t be; that’s what I’m saying.’ He drew her in for another hug. ‘I won’t leave you alone tonight or any night. I don’t want to be alone either. In fact, I have a very special Christmas present for you, but it only works when we’re together.’

She let out a little chuckle and tapped her finger on his chest. ‘I like the sound of it.’

‘Good, and later on, you can unwrap it at your leisure.’

‘Sounds like fun.’

‘It’s the gift that keeps on giving.’ He gave her another gentle kiss. ‘Let’s get back to the others.’

Once he was back in the living room, he nibbled chocolates until he was stuffed but he declined more wine from his dad. He wanted to have his wits about him. His plans for Tilly that evening were wicked, but delectable.

She’d gone upstairs to wrap presents. Didn’t she realise she didn’t have to get them anything? But then, of course, she’d want to, and it was kind and sweet of her.

‘Son, I hope I haven’t put undue pressure on you.’ Geoff sat next to him after filling up everyone else’s glasses. ‘To take over the business. I probably shouldn’t have made a big deal out of it. When I retire, I can sell the business or hand over the management to someone else.’

‘Yeah.’ Rafe sighed. ‘I don’t want to seem difficult. It’s just that I’ve spent a long time building my own business.’

‘It’s all good. Just so long as I don’t hurt your feelings by selling it when the time comes.’

‘It won’t hurt my feelings, but I’ve been thinking things over, and I wonder if there might be a way to keep it in the family by making all three of us owners, only nominally. We’d have the final say in anything huge, but the majority of the day-to-day business would be handled by a manager.’

‘Hmm. That might work and I like the idea of the company staying in the family.’

‘Then let’s look into it in the new year.’ Rafe patted his dad on the arm. It might not be the solution his dad most wanted, but it might work as a compromise.

Tilly returned to the room carrying an armful of wrapped gifts. She looked around with an almost furtive glance before heading over to the tree and placing the presents under it. That was when Rafe noticed she was wearing Christmas themed pyjamas.

‘They’re very festive.’ He eyed over the white top with a dog in a Santa hat and the red tartan trousers.

‘I bought them before I left London.’ Tilly took the seat next to him. ‘I thought they might come in useful.’

‘They certainly have.’ Rafe checked no one else was listening before he leaned in and whispered. ‘Though I’ll be taking them off later.’

She shushed him with a play slap on his leg and her cheeks flushed quite adorably. When Hilary appeared with hot chocolates, everyone else took that as a sign to get their PJs on too. And when his dad started reading The Night Before Christmas, Rafe felt like a child, all buzzed up and unable to wait to get to bed, though knowing he wouldn’t sleep for hours… only this time that had nothing to do with Santa’s imminent arrival and everything to do with the woman cuddled up beside him.

Alexander was in bed by seven and everyone else snuggled up to watch Home Alone . Rafe laughed along with the jokes and one-liners he knew off by heart, but he was more interested in making little circles on Tilly’s shoulder with his fingertips. She leaned her head on him, nuzzling into the crook of his neck.

When the film finished, there was some sneaking about as people disappeared to get the gifts for the stockings, pretending not to see each other and laughing when Geoff arrived in a full Santa suit.

‘Ho, ho, ho,’ he said.

‘Merry Christmas, Santa,’ Rafe said.

When Tilly went up for her shower, Rafe filled up her stocking. He’d completely forgotten to give her these gifts to take with her when he’d given her a lift to Glasgow for the train, remembering when it was too late to go back for them, and stupidly exclaiming. It had given her a fright. Now he was glad he hadn’t given them to her or told her what was up. This would be so much better.

‘You got the best present this year,’ Hilary said. ‘I’m so glad Tilly came back.’

‘Me too.’

‘I absolutely adore her.’

‘Me too,’ Rafe repeated.

‘Good.’ Hilary hugged him. ‘So does this mean you and she are officially going to get together?’ Her eyes asked the question louder than her words.

‘Yes, Mum. We’re giving it a try, and I think it’ll be good.’

‘I’m sure it will be.’ Hilary hugged him. ‘It started off as a mix-up, but I’m positive it’ll end up exactly right.’

‘Yeah. I have a great feeling about it.’

Rafe headed upstairs and stopped outside Tilly’s room. He knocked on the door and waited until she called for him to come in.

Inside her room, their little tree twinkled.

‘Hey,’ he said.

Tilly sat on the bed wrapped in a fluffy white blanket. ‘I’ve been thinking,’ she said, her eyes wide and her fingers fiddling with the blanket.

‘What about?’

‘If I do get a job with you and we end up working together… Well, I can’t be dating the boss.’

Rafe laughed, sat on the bed and shuffled up next to her.

‘What’s funny about that?’ She stared at him.

‘That’s not even a rule at Innova because none of my colleagues have ever wanted to date me before. Wait until you meet Marnie. She’ll laugh herself silly at the idea.’

‘Are you that bad?’

‘Apparently so… But we could test that theory if you like?’

‘Oh, I do.’ Tilly dropped the blanket and straddled him. ‘I want to do that, and I also want to make our Christmas magic.’

‘Your wish is my command.’ Rafe leaned back, crossed his arms over his front and hoisted off his pyjama top. ‘It’s hot in here.’

‘You’re not kidding.’ Tilly leaned in and kissed him.

His hands cupped her bottom, and he closed his eyes. Their lips met and reacquainted themselves. Tilly tasted better than champagne, mulled wine or mince pies. She was addictively sweet. The faint tinkling of wind chimes in the garden made Rafe smile into the kiss. Was that Santa’s sleigh? Maybe he was rushing off with a twinkle in his eye and a flash of stars behind him. Rafe had got everything he wanted for Christmas right here.