Page 67 of Tis The Season for Secrets
“You want me to go now?” he asked, looking down at himself. His shirt wasn’t even dry. “I need clothes…”
She jumped up from the couch and opened the wardrobe by the large double bed. “I already brought them to the hotel. Victor won’t tell my dad where I am.”
“You’ve really thought this through?” Will asked, joining her by the bed and helping her put his suitcase on the bed.
“I have. I don’t want you to go, but we can’t risk delaying. When Dad talks to Gillian… my stepmother and I didn’t exactly part on the best of terms. He might realise that I’ve got no intention of giving in to his demands, and with Beth away for the rest of the holidays he doesn’t have much leverage, so we need to use this time to our advantage.” Juliet sat on the bed, watching as he took out a thick navy jumper and some jeans.
“Okay, but I’m not leaving you alone. I’ll have Harvey bring Margot to the hotel,” Will said, loath to leave her. Seeing her so panicked, he had to do what he could to help her. He didn’t want her to spend the next week frightened of her father’s shadow.
“She’s staying in this hotel.” Juliet frowned, apparently confused that he didn’t know. “She came with Harvey.”
“They’re staying here? Together?” Will clarified as he got changed. Harvey had left out that small detail; it seemed his friend was keeping secrets of his own. “He didn’t say anything to me. I know he’s been trying to get her to work for him, but I’ve never seen him so invested…” That was putting it politely. He’d never seen him answer anyone’s texts faster than he had Margot’s at the country club.
“I think it’s a little complicated. Margot doesn’t want to work for him because she doesn’t mix business and pleasure, so until they work it out, they’re staying in adjoining rooms.” Juliet grinned.
“I’m sure Harvey’s loving that. He loves a challenge.”
Will reached for his phone on the table, remembering how his friend had stared at Margot at the bar. They might have met their match in each other. Harvey answered on the third ring; he and Margot were in the hotel bar downstairs.
“They’re on their way up. Harvey and Margot’s rooms are close by, just in case you’re worried about your dad coming here.”
“I don’t think he’d go that far, but thank you,” Juliet said, fidgeting with the fluffy white throw on the bed.
“You never need to thank me.” Will smiled, kneeling in front of her.
Juliet held his face and brought her lips to his. The small touch made his soul ache for more. His hand slipped behind her neck as he peppered her cheeks with kisses until he lost control and claimed her lips as his own. He felt her sharp intake of breath as he pulled her against him. She arched her back, and he dropped his hands to grip her waist, wanting her to remember the weight of his possessive touch while he was gone. He released her, his nose brushing hers.
“Maybe you could go in the morning.”
Her hazy words made his stomach tighten. She rested her hands on his shoulders, not moving away from him an inch; her skirt had risen on her legs, testing his willpower. She moaned softly as his hand slid up her thighs – and there was a knock on the door. Will watched her glare at the door over her shoulder.
“Too late. You’ll just have to wait.” He winked, and she groaned.
“Fine, I’ll just have to take care of myself.” She shrugged as he stood, still between her thighs. He leaned over her, encompassing her in his shadow.
“Don’t test me.” It took all his willpower not to ignore the repeated knocking and take her right there, not caring if they heard her moans.
“You should get that,” she told him, looking up at him with those siren eyes.
“When I get back, we’ll finish this.” His words came out more commanding than he’d intended, but her eyes widened, and that small smirk on her lips told him she loved it.
Adjusting himself, Will went to the door to find Margot alone. He wasn’t surprised Harvey didn’t want to face the grilling about being in adjoining rooms. He’d get to that later.
The girls sat on the bed and talked about what had happened at the bar. “Judging by your right hook, you really didn’t need any help,” Margot said, miming the punch.
“I never thought I’d hit him!” Juliet said with a laugh. “It happened before I even realised what I was doing.” She showed Margot the bruises on her knuckles. “Safe to say we won’t be returning any time soon.”
“It’s fine. Harvey talked it over with the manager and paid for any damages.”
Will picked up his suitcase, ready to head back to Yule. Margot eyed it, and he had the feeling she knew exactly what was inside. Having heard Juliet’s plan, he’d guessed that she’d already gone over her plans with the one person she trusted more than anyone. He didn’t have time to worry about it; given how Harvey wouldn’t leave Margot alone, she was going to find out sooner rather than later anyway. If Juliet trusted her, then he had no choice but to put his faith in her too.
In the Hall of Guardians, Will wasn’t surprised to find the corridors empty at this hour – the perfect time for sneaking around with suspicious luggage. Many of the boarders would be in bed by now, if they hadn’t returned home for the holidays.
Heading to the vault, he opened the door with his key and only turned on one of the lamps; he didn’t want anyone to know he was there. When he removed the chest from his suitcase, he opened it to see that Juliet had returned the bell necklace. He wondered if he should leave it there, but just in case, he slipped the velvet box into his pocket. If Juliet needed it, he wanted her to have an escape. He was also troubled by the idea that the Frosts might have eyes in the Hall of Guardians; this way, he could keep it safe.
Cranking the lever, Will placed the chest back in its rightful place.You’d never even know it’d been missing.The shelves reshuffled themselves back to their original state, erasing any trace of tampering.
Will turned to leave – and Eloise stepped out of the shadows, nearly frightening the life out of him.
