Free The Yuletide Engagement & A Yuletide Seduction by Carole Mortimer Page B

“Ellie, introducing you to my parents is not tantamount to making a declaration about our relationship,” he finally drawled teasingly.
    â€œNo, Patrick.” She gave a firm shake of her head. “Helping out with this situation concerning Gareth is one thing, but I won’t complicate things by meeting your parents.” She determinedly released her hand from his. “You go and say hello to them. I’ll go and find the ladies’ room.”
    He frowned darkly. “But—”
    â€œI said no, Patrick.” Her gaze met his unwaveringly. “I’ll be standing over by the bay window when you’ve finished talking to them.”
    â€œWearing a pink carnation in your lapel?” he returned, with obvious impatience at her determination.
    She gave the ghost of a smile. “I don’t have a lapel.”
    Patrick shook his head as he looked down at her frustratedly. “You are undoubtedly the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met!”
    Her smile was more genuine this time. “Nice to knowI have the distinction of being something,” she returned unconcernedly.
    His expression lightened. “Oh, you’re a lot more than that, Ellie,” he assured her dryly, before sighing resignedly. “Okay, no introduction to my parents. But try not to get lost, hmm?” he encouraged.
    As it happened, despite directions from the busy maid in the hallway, she did get lost—several times—and it was almost fifteen minutes later when she came back down the stairs. Only to walk straight into Gareth—literally—as he began walking up them.
    The words of apology died on his lips as he looked up and recognised her. The boyish smile turned to one of derision. “I thought you had decided not to come to the party after all when I saw your boyfriend was in there alone,” he bit out caustically.
    Ellie straightened her shoulders, her hand tightly gripping her evening bag; Gareth was the last person she’d wanted to find herself alone with! “Obviously you thought wrong,” she returned, non-committal—about the “boyfriend” or the fact that she was there!
    â€œObviously,” Gareth acknowledged hardly. “I don’t know what you’re hoping to achieve by all this, Ellie, but—”
    â€œI have no idea what you’re talking about,” she interrupted firmly, glancing over his shoulder in the hope that Patrick or Toby might see her predicament and come to her rescue; neither of them was in sight.
    He grimaced. “I realise that you’re in love with me, Ellie, but—”
    â€œYou realise no such thing!” Ellie interrupted heatedly, knowing that briefly she might have thought herself in love with this man. But it had only been briefly. Shewas most certainly over whatever she had once felt for him! “If I’m in love with anyone, it most certainly isn’t you,” she added scathingly.
    Gareth’s gaze narrowed. “McGrath?”
    She didn’t know what she felt for Patrick—had spent most of the last twenty-four hours determinedly not giving herself time to even think along those lines.
    Her chin rose challengingly. “And what if it is?”
    He gave a pitying shake of his head. “Then you’re wasting your time there more than you were with me,” he scorned. “Delusions of grandeur!” he added nastily.
    â€œAnd what about you?” Ellie flushed angrily—more so because she knew what he said was true. “Isn’t Sarah Delacorte just as much out of your league as Patrick is out of mine?”
    â€œAh, but I’ve already succeeded with Sarah,” he reminded her confidently.
    â€œNot for long, if I have my way,” Ellie snapped furiously. “You— Let go of my arm, Gareth!” she gasped as he grasped her painfully on exactly the same spot he had the previous evening. And she had the bruises to prove it!
    He ignored