Free Christmas with the Boss by Annie Seaton Page B

like a brand.
It was crazy but she did.
    The couple whistled to their dog and waved to Dominic and Jilly as
they walked away.
    “Do you want to go back in the surf on my board or go back to the
cottage?”
     She tried to read what was in his voice and subdue the restlessness
that was in her. It was hard to quell, that deep ache low in her belly and the
tingling between her thighs made it hard to think logically.
    She tried to lighten the mood. “How about some plum pudding for
breakfast? It is Boxing Day.”
    His mile was distant and the warm feeling in her shriveled. He’d
started it and she’d made a fool of herself. Dominic stood and together they
picked up their boards and headed back toward the cottages.
    Her heart was still thudding in slow, heavy beats and the blood was
zinging around her body. Her nerve endings were skittering all over the place
as confusion filled her. But when they reached the road, Dominic turned to face
her.
    “Sorry the surfing was such a fiasco. We’ll try again another
morning, okay?” He hitched the board up higher and nodded at her. “Have a good
day; I have to go to Coffs Harbour. Anything you need?”
    Jilly shook her head. “No, thank you.”
    She watched him as he walked away, before she turned and went back
to her place. This holiday was not working out how she’d planned. It was time
to forget about Dominic, and start to relax and have the rest she’d planned. It
had been a long time since she’d made out on a beach, but the frustration that
filled her had more to do with Dominic’s hot and cold moods than any
unfulfilled sexual needs.
    ##
    The day passed slowly. No matter how much Jilly tried to push him
from her mind, Dominic wouldn’t leave her thoughts. She’d come here for the
quiet and today, she got in—in bucket loads. She read and dozed and took
herself off for a long walk down to Valla Beach after lunch.  Burned off the
chocolate, the strawberry milk and the beer. The cottage up the road stayed
quiet and empty and there was no sign of Dominic’s silver car.
    When she came back from her walk, she settled gingerly in the
hammock chair with a cold drink and her Kindle. She looked around nervously as
she plumped up the cushions. No wind this afternoon. She pushed her foot onto
the floor and rocked the chair gently as she began to read.
    “Who the hell are you?”
    Jilly dropped her Kindle with a start and slid out of the hammock as
a woman clumped up the wooden steps. She strode along the verandah towards her,
arms swinging wildly by her sides. It was hard to pick her age; her skin was
tanned a deep nut brown and her face was set in a ferocious glare. Her hair was
looped up in some sort of old fashioned beehive bun and she wore a pair of
men’s board shorts and a bikini top and her feet were bare and encrusted with
dirt. One hand pointed at Jilly, in the other was a small garden spade which
she was now waving around.
    Before Jilly could reply, she was hit with another spray of angry
words. “What the hell are you doing in my brother’s house?”
    Jilly straightened and took a step back as the garden spade came
perilously close to her head. The woman’s dark eyes were fixed intently on her.
    “I’m Jilly Henderson and I’m renting this house for the Christmas
break.”
    “Says who?” The woman stepped closer.
     “Says me. And I believe you are trespassing.” Jilly lifted her chin
as anger replaced fear. “Unless you can be civil, perhaps you should leave.”
    “No. I’ve come to weed the garden.” She took a step back and pointed
to the overgrown garden bed along the front fence.
    Jilly’s eyes narrowed. “Was it you who mowed the lawn yesterday.”
    “Yes, and I suppose it was your car that was in the way.” Even
though her face was unfriendly the woman had lowered her voice. “I washed my
feet before I moved it.
    Well at least that let Dominic off the hook. He had been
telling her the truth all along.
    “Was it you who left me the flowers?