Page 12 of Tis The Season for Secrets
“Have you made any contact with Juliet?” The chief of the Guardians of Yule and his mentor, Eloise Heart, was clearly too eager for answers to waste time on pleasantries. Then again, he’d failed to check in last night as promised. Harvey had gone to great lengths to get him invited to Hugo’s Christmas bash, but he’d arrived as Juliet was leaving and ended up staying for less than five minutes. Without her, there’d been no reason to attend.
“I didn’t get to talk to Juliet at the party as planned, but she’s fine. Nothing out of the ordinary to report– she’s keeping to herusual routine. However, I’ve confirmed with the courier service that the chest has been delivered,” Will informed Eloise.
He’d planned to talk to Juliet at the bar instead, but then Harvey had called him to scold him for leaving early. The poor guy had been deeply frustrated after all the strings he’d pulled, so Will had promised to bring him some of his favourite peppermint cookies from Yule, since he rarely went home.
Between Juliet’s intoxicating laugh and rosy lips, he hadn’t been able to resist the temptation when she’d kissed him in the elevator. He couldn’t tell Eloise that Juliet hadn’t had time to discover the contents of the chest because she’d spent the night with him. He wondered if she’d remember their night as fondly once she discovered he would be responsible for turning her life upside down. However, he was determined to be there for her every step of the way, as a guardian should be. If only his head and his heart would remember he was a professional, and not a teenager controlled by his urges!
His mentor distracted him from his thoughts. “If anything changes, I need to know. I’m worried Juliet will confront her father without having all the answers. The truth never came naturally to him.”
Her anxiety could be heard from thousands of miles away. Will hadn’t worked a legacy case in years, but he owed Eloise. That, and when Juliet’s picture had slid across his desk, he’d found himself not wanting to let anyone else guide her home to Yule.
“I’m sure it’s frustrating that you can’t come and talk to her yourself, but when the time is right, she’ll be prepared,” he assured Eloise.
She sighed. “You’re right. Learning the truth slowly will give her more time to adjust. I’ve waited twenty-six years, but now I can’t seem to wait another day.”
Will winced. He had definitely screwed this up. Hopefully his boss would never find out that he’d slept with her estranged daughter. He wasn’t sure what she’d do to him. “Juliet has the chest. Once she opens it, the next move will be up to her,” he said.
“Be careful not to reveal yourself. Giving her the Frost chest could lead to our banishment, if we’re discovered.”
The words cut him like a knife, though not out of fear for himself. When Juliet learned who he was, he hoped that she’d see past his white lies.
“As discussed, I’ll only reveal myself when and if needed. Adding her grandmother’s letter to the chest should help cushion the news.”
Eloise Heart had got the Frost chest out of Yule, and Will had made sure it was delivered along with the letter Rose Frost had sent him before her passing for safekeeping. He hoped he hadn’t jeopardised their plans by mixing business with pleasure. When he’d offered to spend Christmas with Juliet, it had been to keep her and the chest away from her family when she learned the truth about her mum, Yule, and the Frost family’s banishment. Since she was determined to return to the Frost Estate, he had to find a way into the Frost House to make sure that her father didn’t find out about the chest.
“I never wanted to call in this favour, but if I can’t be there to protect her, then I had to send someone I trust. You’re the only one I could turn to.”
Her words only added to his guilt. Will wouldn’t have been able to become a guardian or started his own company to help dozens of people from Yule on the Outside if she hadn’t trained him in the first place. Having spent the last twenty-six years devoting her life to Yule, and to becoming Chief Guardian, he’d never expected his mentor would ask for his help with Juliet. By reaching out to her banished daughter, Eloise was riskingeverything– and he’d put all their hard work in jeopardy because he couldn’t control his emotions. All he’d wanted was to reunite his mentor with her daughter after all the years of guidance she’d given him. He promised himself he wasn’t going to let his feelings for Juliet ruin that chance.
“There’s no need to explain. I’m happy to help, and I won’t let anything happen to her.” He was used to helping people adjust to the Outside, but this would be his first time helping someone accept that they were a descendant of a Christmas village in the North Pole that was concealed from the outside world by magic.
“Once Juliet learns the truth about the Frost banishment, she can decide where she belongs. So long as she’s safe and happy, I’ll accept her decision, but she deserves to know where she comes from.” Eloise’s words seemed to be more for her own reassurance than his.
“You can rest easy. Juliet is happy. She lives with her friend Margot and enjoys her job at the publishing house. Like you, she isn’t afraid to go after a promotion…” He picked up the manuscript from the table. “I’ll call you with any further developments. Trust me to do the job you trained me for, all right?”
After saying goodbye to Eloise, Will grabbed his jacket and headed out. He didn’t have much time if he was to get to the Harley & Rowe office before the meeting Juliet had mentioned. Sparing her from her boss’s wrath might earn him some points, and he needed her trust if he was going to remain close to her– though he wasn’t quite sure if he wanted that for his sake or that of his mentor.
In the hotel lobby, Jingle Bell Rock started playing through the speakers, reminding him of the early wake-up call. Fate was officially taunting him.
Stepping out into the cold, he was able to grab a taxi now that the roads were clearer. Giving the Harley & Rowe address, hetucked the manuscript inside his jacket to keep it dry and safe. As he stared out the window at the waking city, he was haunted by the knowledge that if Juliet reacted poorly to everything she was about to discover, he’d have to wipe her memory. He couldn’t stomach the thought of erasing what little time they’d spent together.
He clenched his jaw. Regardless of his feelings, above all else, it was his job to protect Yule’s sacred secret.
Instant gratitude washed over Juliet as a wave of heat hit her. Margot had remembered to turn on the heating. Unfortunately, she stumbled over her roommate’s discarded shoes and cursed aloud.There goes my plan to sneak in.
Margot, still in her dress from the night, was awake on the couch. The smudged mascara under her eyes and the pint of water on the coffee table beside her gave away just how much fun she’d had on the dance floor.
“Morning, sleeping beauty. You look truly ravishing in the morning– I don’t know how you’re single,” Juliet teased, hoping to deflect attention from her walk of shame.
“Don’t even start. I think I’m still drunk.” Margot winced, snuggling a fluffy blue blanket to her chest.
“What time did you get in?” The distraction seemed to be working. Juliet stripped off her jacket, and her feet cried out in relief as she took off her heels. She watched her friend place a gel hangover mask over her eyes and tenderly sip her water.
“Late, but I got you coffee from our favourite place. You’ll probably need to microwave it– I already chugged mine.Speaking of late, you look like you had a good night.” Margot eyed her neck, and Juliet’s hand flew up to cover the hickey.Damn.
“Coffee first,” she bargained, putting the mocha in the microwave.
“There’s also a raspberry muffin for you on the table. Now, tell me what or who you’ve been doing!” Margot sat up, tucking her purple elephant under her arm – her favourite hangover snuggle buddy. It was technically Juliet’s, but they shared pretty much everything.
