Page 10 of One Naughty Christmas Night

When it came again, more insistent this time, she swung her feet to the floor. A curse was pulled from her when she fell face-first on the floor, the blanket twisted in her legs.

Kicking the blanket away, she scrambled to her feet and hurried to the door.

Yanking it open, her heart stopped.

“Can I come in?” Heath asked, his large body filling the doorway.

She swallowed hard and let him in, peeking outside to make sure no one saw him.

“I wasn’t followed, I promise.”

“Good. The last thing I need is my father realizing we still meet sometimes at night,” she said, closing and locking the door.

She motioned for him to take the chair across from hers, a slight squeak accompanying his occupation of the seat.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” he said, his head inclined toward the window.

“Don’t worry, you didn’t,” she replied, clasping her hands together in her lap. “I was looking out at the snow, my mind occupied with distressing things. Your appearance is a reprieve from those thoughts.”

“Then I’m happy to assist,” he replied, the edges of his lips kicking up ever so slightly.

He leaned over and picked up the book, setting it back on the table.

“Did you go down for dinner?” she asked.

“I did. Mother wouldn’t have accepted me begging off.”

“No, she wouldn’t.”

Silence fell, and she studied him, dressed in a robe and what looked like his trousers instead of his usual nightwear. Whenever Heath would come to visit her at nighttime, he would be fully dressed in either nightclothes or his clothes from the day.

Tearing her gaze away she asked, “Did you enjoy your dinner?”

“I did. It was perfect, as it is every time she makes it.”

“I’m pleased to hear it,” she replied, her attempt at small talk going terribly wrong.

“Victoria—”

“Did you—”

“Victoria.”

She clamped her lips together and waited for him to speak.

He opened his mouth to say something but closed it again, nothing coming out.

If we must speak about it, then let’s get on with it.

“It was a unique experience,” she supplied, and he nodded.

“It was.”

“That neither of us could have prepared for.”

“Yes.”

“There was no way we could have known that Valentina and Quinn would come upon the library and choose it for their rendezvous.”