Free An Unexpected Christmas by Lori Jennings

man who got jealous very often and he certainly wouldn't care if I was
being set up. It was probably the thought of having to work while on holiday
which would put anyone in a foul mood. I heard him let out a sigh then he
picked up his coffee and left. I could hear him walking along the hallway and
up the stairs.
    'He
needs to get laid.'
    'Ella!'
Maggie raised her voice at her daughter.
    ‘What?
It’s true. He has been so tetchy recently, and the last time I asked if he was
seeing anyone he told me where to go and that was two months ago.’ She lifted
her mug to her lips and took a long drink.
    ‘Yes
well, your brother works very hard it must be difficult for him to meet
people.’
    Ella
snorted. ‘He meets people all the time; they're just not the right people.’
    Maggie
looked over at her daughter. 'Well we could say the same about you dear. When
was the last time you brought a boy home?' I looked from Maggie to Ella and was
impressed with Maggie's sass towards her daughter. I knew Ella had dated a guy
only last month but she had only seen him twice before she ended it; she told
me he “just wasn't what she was looking for” . I do remember a night out
we had just before she met him where Ella got a little too drunk and mentioned
something about a guy; all I got out of her was that she had known him for a
while, he was really hot, and she didn't have the guts to go for it. When I had
tried to mention it the next day she looked totally horror struck and just
claimed she didn't want to talk about it.
     Ella
leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. 'I don't need a man, I am
perfectly happy without one.'
    'If
you say so dear.' Maggie dropped her gaze back to the paper in front of her but
I saw the smile on her face. Then she looked up, 'What about that nice boy from
the village?'
    Ella
stared at her mother then dropped her gaze to her mug. Maybe the boy from the
village was the guy Ella had drunkenly babbled about? She looked pretty much
put in her place so I felt as though I should change the subject. 'So, what
time are we going out?'
    Ella
looked over at me and smiled, her conversation with her mother maybe not
forgotten but at least put on hold. 'About half twelve if that's alright?'
    'That's fine; it will give me
plenty of time to finish my book.' I sent her a cheeky smile.
    'Out of curiosity how many books
did you bring with you?'
    I took a final drink of my coffee
and placed the mug on the counter to my side. 'Only six.'
    'Only six.' Ella echoed my words.
'That's crazy? I probably wouldn't read that many in a year let alone in a few
days.'
    I shrugged. 'I read fast and
besides it helps me relax, you know that and you did say I had to try and relax
and forget about work and stuff.'
    'I did say that.' She stood and
picked up her mug and moved over to place it in the sink, 'Just make sure you
make some time for something real as well as fictional while you are here.'
    I thought about 'really' kissing
Nate, and very 'really' running my hands over his broad chest and then maybe
'really' stripping him completely naked. The thought brought a smile to my lips
and Ella squinted her eyes as she studied my face. 'I'm sure I can find the
time to fit something in.' I gave her a big grin and she just shook her head at
me.
    'Right well I best go and jump in
the shower, you are all making me feel insufficient with your early rising.' I
had to laugh as she sauntered out of the room as it wasn't exactly early.
    I turned to make myself another
cup of coffee. It was a habit I picked up a few years ago that if I was
somewhere with a kettle I would quite literally chain drink mugs of coffee. It
was also a sign that I felt comfortable and that brought a smile to my lips, it
was only my second day in this house with this family and I was really looking
forward to the next few days. Once my coffee was made I turned and wandered out
of the kitchen leaving Maggie to read in peace and went to fetch my book, there
was a very comfy