Page 69 of The Holiday Cottage

“I don’t know if I’d describe myself that way. I’m usually working at Christmas.” He glanced at the tree. “It’s a bit over-the-top, isn’t it? I’m willing to bet that you can see it from space when I switch the lights on. You can blame my sister for the decorations. She worries that I spend too much time working, so she arranged for one of her interior design team to come and set up a tree for me. Can you believe that is actually someone’s job?”

She stepped closer and took a closer look at the tree with its artistically arranged decorations. She could smell the forest, and for the first time in her life understood how such a thing might lift your spirits. There was something magical about bringing the outdoors indoors. She reached out and touched one of the branches. “What do they do for the other eleven months of the year?”

“They work for my sister, which means they won’t even have time to breathe. Ironic, given that she tells me off for working too hard.”

She glanced back at him, remembering how tired he’d looked when he’d picked her up. “Do you work too hard?”

“Probably.” He shrugged. “But I’m happy. I love my job, except perhaps at three in the morning when I’m out in freezing snow and howling winds with my arm up a cow’s backside.”

She laughed at the image. Actually laughed, which seemed like something of a miracle, given that only a short time ago she’d been ready to hide in a snowdrift.

“I can see why your sister would be worried.” She glanced around her and felt a twinge of envy. “This place is like something out of a magazine.”

The living room had a vaulted ceiling and exposed beams. Like Holly Cottage, there was a wall of Cotswold stone and large windows that overlooked the snow-covered fields. Two comfortable sofas were arranged either side of the fireplace, and in the middle of a large rug (in an impractical shade of cream) there was a coffee table stacked with books.

The place looked tidy, as if the person who lived here spent very little time sitting down.

“Ridiculous, isn’t it?” He rolled his eyes as he gestured to the duck-egg blue sofas. “It’s all Lissa, obviously. I stupidly gave her free rein with the furnishings. I asked for practical, but as you can see I didn’t get what I asked for. She got a little carried away.”

“It’s gorgeous. Elegant and stylish, but still cozy.” And between Holly Cottage and this place, she was starting to rethink her life choices. Maybe it was time to stop saving and finally buy somewhere of her own.

“As I said, Lissa is an interior designer and she decided that as my work life involves me up to my thighs in mud half the time, my home life should be more civilized. I pointed out that my lifestyle isn’t compatible with pale blue, and that’s when she converted that room we just used into a mudroom/utility room. I’m supposed to scrub off the dirt before I enter my own house. I’d ignore her, obviously, except that I’m convinced she has installed CCTV somewhere, just to check that I’m not ruining her work by living in the place.”

Imogen felt Ralph nudge her leg, and she bent to stroke him. “Do you want to leave him in the other room in case he breaks something or jumps on something?”

“Definitely not. A home is to be lived in, and it seems this is his home now. And anyway—” his eyes held a wicked gleam “—if there aren’t marks on the duck-egg blue, I won’t be able to prove I was right that it was an impractical choice. There’s no point in having a sibling if you can’t say ‘I told you so.’ Come through to the kitchen. You need a hot drink and so do I.”

She followed him through the beautiful living room and into the kitchen, which did seem more practical with its stone floor and large kitchen island.

“Coffee?” He eyed her. “Or maybe I should make you hot chocolate. It might warm you up.”

“Hot chocolate sounds comforting.”

He gave her a quick look and she berated herself for her choice of words. Now he was going to ask her why she needed comfort.

But he didn’t. Instead, he opened the fridge and pulled out the milk. “Did you eat lunch? Because I’m going to make myself a sandwich so I can easily make you one too.”

She relaxed, grateful that he hadn’t probed.

“I’m not that hungry, but thanks.” She was still too stressed about what had happened earlier to contemplate eating.

“I’ll make extra in case you’re tempted. Food will warm you up.” He frothed some milk and made her a hot chocolate, and then made himself a coffee using a machine that looked as if it could have launched a rocket into space.

He intercepted her glance and smiled. “I don’t care what color my sofas are, but I do care about my coffee. So would you if you spent as much time awake at night as I do.”

She did spend a fair amount of time awake. Maybe she needed to invest in a coffee machine like his.

She sipped her hot chocolate and instantly felt warmer.

Miles opened the fridge and pulled out random ingredients. “Cheese or ham?”

“I’m not really—”

“Let’s go with cheese then.” He pulled out a block of cheese and gestured to a cupboard near her. “You’ll find some dog food in there. You’d better feed your new friend as you seem to be his favorite.”

“I envy you, being able to keep him. I wish he was mine.” She slid off the chair and found the food and a bowl.

The dog pressed against her leg, tail wagging in anticipation.

---