Free Christmas at Waratah Bay by Marion Lennox Page A

again. He should be grateful. He was, he told himself. He had to be.
    “I won’t wear them near you again,” she said, hugging Gerome close. “And I’ll tell my sponsor they work. You could write a review if you want—How I Was Seduced by PJs.”
    Then she hesitated. “Max, that was a very nice kiss, but you’re right, it’s unwise. We don’t need to make this any more complicated than it already is. Gerome and I will go to bed now. We’ll take Bing, too, if it’s okay by you. But meanwhile . . . thank you for having us. Thank you for inviting Harold and me, and thank you for making Katie welcome.”
    “She’s my sister. You don’t need to thank me.”
    “Would you have turned her away if I hadn’t been here?”
    He sighed. “No.”
    “So I’m not responsible.”
    “It’s not your fault, no. And Harold . . . ” He had to say it. “It’s a great idea to be bringing him home for Christmas. If you can manage it . . . He’s my friend, so it’s me who should be thanking you.”
    “Even though you thought I was appalling,” she asked.
    “I don’t know anything about you,” he conceded. “I thought you were a money hungry step-daughter, here for the kill.”
    “And now? Post-kiss?”
    “Now I’m reserving judgment.” He summoned a grin. “Regardless of the kiss, I’ll see how well you can cook the turkey.”
    “Hmm,” she said and went silent.
    “Sarah?”
    “Mmm?”
    “Even if you burn it, it’s okay,” he conceded. “If you keep Harold happy and you keep my family out of my hair, all is forgiven.”
    “Gee, thanks,” she said and tilted her chin a little, a gesture he was starting to know—and like. But she didn’t look like she liked him. She looked . . . defiant. “That’s very kind of you,” she said, formally now, and the kiss suddenly seemed a very long time ago. “Very kind indeed. I’ll take you up on your offer of Bing, Mr. Ramsey, but only for Gerome’s sake. For the rest, I’ll stay out of your way as much as I can. So, you can forgive me from a distance. Thank you, Mr. Ramsey. It was a very nice kiss and it’s a very nice night, but I’ll leave you to it. Goodnight.”
    She clicked her fingers. Bing took a step toward her, then turned back and looked at him—and the look the dog gave him was almost reproachful.
    And then, dog and girl and pup disappeared into the house and he was left with his solitude.
    *
    What? What had just happened? He replayed the night over in his head but at the end of two replays, he didn’t have a clue.
    He’d kissed her. He shouldn’t have.
    She was angry with him.
    Yeah, well, that’d be the kiss. You didn’t kiss a woman and then tell her it was a mistake.
    Even if it was?
    It was.
    He rose and stared out into the night. The stars were hanging low over the ocean. This was the most beautiful place on earth, a place of peace and solitude.
    And now . . .
    He’d hurt her. She’d sounded defiant, but he knew he’d hurt her.
    He didn’t do relationships. Had he learned nothing?
    A couple of days, he told himself. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve. Harold would come home, they’d have Christmas and then everyone would leave.
    Life would settle.
    Harold’s dogs were lying on the veranda behind him. Now, as if they sensed that he needed . . . something . . . they edged forward.
    Katie’s dogs had been in the shadows as well and as if signaled, they headed for him as well.
    Four dogs. Two more in the house and how many people?
    He scratched ears—eight ears because a man had to be fair. He sat on and waited for the night to settle. The dogs settled around him.
    He’d only ever wanted one dog. A man had to have limits.
    After Christmas, he told himself, starting the eight ear scratch again. After Christmas he’d get those barricades up again, but with Sarah . . . With Sarah, those barricades had to go up now.

Chapter Six
    ‡
    C hristmas Eve.
    Even though he’d gone to bed late—really late—Max was up