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‘For the next week or so, yes.’ Strangely, there was none of the annoyance in his voice that had been there yesterday when they’d found out she’d have to stay for the night.

‘But…next week is Christmas,’ she said. ‘And I have to be back at Worthington for Christmas.’

His expression remained unreadable. ‘As I said, unfortunately, you will not be.’

A sharp disappointment collected in the pit of her stomach. She was always around for Christmas at Worthington, and she always made a big deal of it for the kids’ sake. Most of them had never had a proper Christmas, or at least not a happy Christmas, so she would make sure there was a tree and decorations, and presents for each child beneath it. There were stockings, too, and on Christmas Day a big Christmas dinner for everyone, including turkey and Christmas crackers and Christmas pudding.

She loved doing it. She loved seeing the happiness and delight in the kids’ eyes, and the joy they got from celebrating together. It reminded her of the Christmases she’d spent at Worthington when she’d been little. The manager at that time had made sure Christmas was a special time, and Libby had always helped with the tree and decorating it. One time, she remembered she’d even roped Kai into making Christmas decorations with her, cardboard stars and snowflakes all covered in glitter.

Her throat closed at the memory, and he must have noticed because he asked abruptly, ‘That upsets you?’

Dammit. Why was he so good at reading her? Especially when he barely remembered her.

She shrugged, not wanting to make a big deal of it. ‘I… Christmas at the home is special. The kids love it.’

‘Presumably you have someone managing it while you’re away?’

‘Yes. One of my staff stepping in for me, but…’ She stopped. Rachel helped her with the Christmas organisation, usually, but she wasn’t as into it as Libby was. It didn’t matter to her as much.

‘But what?’ Kai asked.

‘I like to do it myself.’ She looked up at him. ‘Are you sure that’s the forecast?’

‘Yes.’

‘Damn,’ she muttered, shifting on her feet, uncomfortable with her disappointment and trying to find a silver lining in this situation somehow. If she couldn’t do Christmas with the kids, then she’d have to do Christmas here. Surely that was something they could do?

Before or after you agree to marry him?

Oh, yes, there was that, too.

All at once being in this small room with a beautiful half-naked man was too much for her. She needed to get out, get dressed and find some space. Think of what good things could come of this, how she could make this experience a better one, and not just one that had pushed her totally out of her comfort zone.

‘Excuse me,’ she said. ‘I really need to get dressed.’

He didn’t move, his silver brows drawn down. ‘What’s the issue, Liberty?’

A surge of annoyance flooded through her, no matter how much she tried to suppress it, her disappointment and discomfort boiling up inside her before she could stop it. ‘Look, could you move?’ she said sharply, glaring at him. ‘I won’t ask you again.’

He continued to stare at her impassively, then stepped aside.

Libby didn’t hesitate and bolted for the door.

* * *

Kaius watched Liberty’s small figure disappear through the door, a combination of frustration, impatience, and curiosity gripping him, none of which he should be feeling. Most especially not the curiosity.

He hadn’t expected to run into her in the laundry of all places, but he had to admit that he wasn’t sorry about it. She’d been swathed in one of the white fluffy guest robes, her golden hair a riot of curls down her back, her clothes clutched to her chest. The neckline of her robe had gaped slightly, revealing a quantity of golden skin and an intriguing shadow between her full breasts, so when she’d nearly run into him, he hadn’t been able to bring himself to move.

She was very warm and tousled, and her scent had a hint of sweetness, like flowers, and when she’d looked up, clearly startled, her amber eyes had had a smoky quality to them. She’d stepped back immediately, which he’d been disappointed by, but he hadn’t missed the way her gaze had kept drifting down to his chest. As if she were mesmerised by him.

There had been hints of her attraction in the way she’d blushed yesterday and in how she’d glanced at his mouth a couple of times. But now he’d caught her staring at his chest, there could be no doubt of it. He’d been surprised at his own response, that shock of physical heat, though really, he shouldn’t have been surprised. Not given how it had hit him the day before.

The physical attraction was unwelcome, but he’d been reflecting on it most of the night, since he’d been unable to sleep much. He hadn’t thought about sex for months, but now his body was waking up, reminding him forcibly of just how long it had been since he’d had a woman in his bed. Making him reconsider the marriage requirement and the question of whether sex would be part of that.

If he married Liberty, sex could definitely be a part of that.

In fact, the more he thought about marrying Liberty and taking her to bed, the more he wanted to do it. She was very pretty and his body was interested, and it seemed she was interested, too, so why not? Perhaps if the sex was good, she might even consider staying in his bed for a little time.