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Chloe tilted her head to the side. “Same recovery time though, right?”

Ellie’s surprise was obvious. “You’ve done this?”

“Oh, god, yes. I was a ridiculously clumsy kid—and it’s a gene I’ve passed along to at least two of my nieces. One is on her second broken bone, the other’s managed to escape breaks so far but not for lack of trying. She’s fallen down stairs, out of trees, tripped on her own feet more times than I can count.”

Ellie’s lips twisted in a small smile. “That’s how it was for me. I was just walking down the corridor at school, next minute, I hit the deck. In front of everyone.”

Chloe pulled a face. “Ouch.”

“I went to collect her earlier today, took her for x-rays,” Dimitrios said, as if Chloe had asked for an explanation. She hadn’t, but when she looked at him again, she got a better sense of the worry on his features.

He wanted to wrap Ellie up in cotton wool and keep her safe. He couldn’t lose her, too, and he couldn’t fail his friends. But a broken bone was just a broken bone.

“Hence you’re early,” Chloe said with an easy smile that somehow didn’t quite feel natural. “It’s fine. I have a night out planned. You guys go in,” she gestured down the corridor, towards the large living room. “Let me know what you think later,” she winked at Ellie.

“Of what?” Ellie asked.

“Come and see,” Dimitrios said, voice gruff. He looked as though he wanted to say something else though, but Chloe didn’t allow it.

“See you later.” She slipped away from them before anyone could say another word.

He’d seen her work all week, but today, for one reason or another, he’d stayed out of the lounge room completely. Even for him, it came as a surprise. It was all the little finishing touches that pulled it together, taking a tree here, a garland there, a decoration on the mantel, and turning it into a glorious exultation of festivity—without being schmaltzy or tacky. Every single item was carefully curated, chosen for its rightness, displayed beautifully and the atmosphere was homely in a way he hadn’t thought this place capable of.

“Oh my god,” Ellie expelled a breath as she walked around the room, lifting one hand to her lips and holding it there. “What is all this?”

“Christmas,” he said, unnecessarily, realizing he was nervous for her reaction. Nervous that she might not like it. Nervous that he’d messed up by going all out like this.

“But…why?” She spun to face him, shaking her head and dropping her hand to her side.

Great question. There was no answer he could give that wouldn’t risk upsetting her, so he just shrugged and said, “Why not? Need a hand getting your bag upstairs?”

For the second time that evening, Chloe was caught right as she was preparing to leave. This time, it was Dimitrios on his own, prowling towards the door just as she reached it.

“You’re going out?”

She spun around, wondering at the thundering of her heart, covering it with what she hoped passed for a casual smile. “Yep. Don’t wait up,” she added with a wink.

His eyes flared though, tension tightening between them.

“She liked you.”

Chloe hesitated, frowning. “Ellie?”

He nodded once. “That’s the most I’ve seen her talk to anyone in a while. Even Jane.”

“We barely spoke,” Chloe said in surprise.

“For Ellie, that’s an improvement.”

Chloe’s heart twisted in pain for the poor girl. “She’s been through such a lot.”

He nodded once, but he still stood there, as if choosing his words carefully. “You’re sure you won’t stay for dinner?”

He wanted her to stay. He wanted help—not just with Christmas decorating, but with drawing Ellie out of her shell. Only it was a blurred line neither of them really wished to encourage. He was just panicking. Desperate.

She shook her head. “I’ll have a cup of tea with her tomorrow, talk about her room. Why don’t you lay the groundwork for that tonight? Mention that I’m keen to help if she’d like it?”

“Suddenly, I don’t want you to go,” he muttered, moving closer, and closer again, until his legs were braced on either side of hers, their bodies touching. He hooked a finger beneath her chin, tilting her face to his. “I don’t want to wait until Monday to be with you again.”