Page 156 of The Christmas Trap

As he enters the clearing, he adds, “Hope he didn’t bother you?”

“Not at all, we’re heading in.” I nod in his direction.

Facing the view, he pulls out a cigarette from his pocket. He hesitates, then, with a sigh, tucks it behind his ear.

“Are you going to smoke that?” Lark tilts her head.

“I’m trying not to,” he confesses.

“Didn’t know you were trying to quit.” I pull my wife into my side.

She melts into me willingly. Once again, that feeling of everything being as it should be envelops me. Once more, I must grudgingly admit that my grandfather was right in insisting that we settle down.

“I wasn’t.” James shifts his weight from foot to foot. “At least, I didn’t think I was. But now, every time I light up”—he slides the cigarette out from behind his ear and looks at it longingly—“I realize I might be taking off years from my life. And I don’t want that happening.”

“Hmm.” I exchange a glance with my wife. The gleam in her eyes tells me the same thought occurred to her.

“You in love, ol’ chap?” I ask gently.

“What?” He reels back like I punched him in the face. “Of course, not.”

The way the blood drains from his face tells another story. I begin to chuckle, then turn it into a cough.

“It’s okay if you are.” I rub circles over my wife’s arm. “I used to react with as much horror as you at the thought of opening myself up to someone. But now, I realize, it’s more about meeting the right woman.”

His mouth tilts to one side. “I’d say you crossed over to the dark side, but I have too much respect for Lark here. Anyone can see the two of you are made for each other. You guys got lucky. That doesn’t mean I will.”

“By that logic, each of my brothers got lucky. As did my uncle Quentin. And our friends, Sinclair and the rest of the seven. Seems we’ve struck a rare vein of good fortune. There’s no reason it can’t extend to you.”

He rubs his chin. “Given the amount of time Margot has spent with Arthur in there…” He nods over his shoulder. “It’s more likely going to be her manipulating events, so my siblings and I tie the knot. I’m going to do everything possible to avoid the traps she sets for me.”

“You sound like there’s someone special in your life. Someone you’re trying your best to avoid falling for,” Lark says with that flash of insight I find particularly appealing about her.

He looks like he’s going to deny it. Instead, he nods.

“Oh, there is someone. Someone who occupies my mind and drives me a little crazy. Someone I’m going to do my best to make sure she doesn’t screw up my life.”

“You’re talking about Harper, I take it.” Her tone is cautious.

He scoffs. “Who else? Since I took her on as my sous chef, it’s been one incident after another. If I hadn’t been badly in need of someone as my second-in-command, and if my first and second and third choices hadn’t turned out to be too busy to take on the role, I’d never have offered it to her.”

“But you did.” I nod.

“And here I am.” He cracks his neck. His phone buzzes. He pulls it out, looks at it, and groans. “And I thought I resolved the earlier flash point, but of course, there has to be another.”

“Harper again?” My lips twitch.

“Harper, I assume?” Lark bursts out at the same time.

I glance at her sideways to find she’s trying her best not to giggle.

It feels like poetic justice to see the unflappable James Hamilton getting his panties in a twist.

“Of-fucking-course, it’s Harper!” He stabs at the phone like itpersonally offended him, then jams it to his ear. “This had better be good.”

To find out what happens next read James and Harper’s best friend’s brother, marriage of convenience romance in The Unwilling Bride by L. Steele, here

Harper