Page 70 of Tis The Season for Secrets
“Does this make me your dirty little secret? I don’t know whether to be turned on or offended.” He grinned as he backed up into the bathroom.
“You can think it over and decide while you’re in there,” Juliet said, closing the door on him. She checked the room and was satisfied that he’d left no trace behind. She should’ve been pleased, but a chill went down her spine as she realised how easy it was for him to disappear from her life.
“Sorry for popping in so early, I wasn’t sure you’d be up yet.” Margot scurried inside when the door was opened, beaming. “I only have a few minutes, but I couldn’t leave without telling you.”
“Telling me what?” Juliet’s stomach dropped; she wasn’t sure if she could handle any more sudden news.
“Harvey is taking me skiing,” Margot squealed excitedly.
Juliet had never seen her friend so excited about participating in any sport. There had to be more to the story.“You don’t know how to ski. And you hate the cold!” she pointed out, praying for anyone who was about to ski with Margot. Her coordination wasn’t as good as her coding.
“I don’tneedto ski. Harvey said there’s some gathering happening with loads of execs at a resort in Aspen. Since I’ve refused to work with him, he wants to introduce me to some new clients,” Margot said, still smiling as if a hanger was stuck in her mouth.
“So, does this mean you are or aren’t going to sleep with him?” Juliet probed. It seemed Harvey had found a loophole in her friend’s rule.
“Technically, he’s only helping me, so I wouldn’t be breaking any of my rules.” Margot fidgeted with her nails.
Juliet had to give Harvey props for his smart thinking. Still, she wondered why he was whisking her off now. Had Will put him up to this, to keep Margot out of the way for the rest of the season? Maybe he was afraid that Juliet would tell her about Yule – too late. Still, her getting out of the blast radius was probably a good idea if everything fell apart.
“How did things go with Will?” Margot asked more calmly. “Have you spoken about your dad and the—”
“It’s fine!” Juliet cut her off, glancing at the bathroom door. “We talked; everything is cleared up. You should go and have fun.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? I don’t want to leave if you need me.” Margot’s tone turned serious.
“I’m fine, and you can’t give up this opportunity. I think Harvey might kidnap you if you refuse him. I saw the way he was looking at you at Alexandria – you’ve got him hooked.”
Margot folded her arms. “We’re friends. We’re even staying in separate rooms at his cabin.”
“But you’ll be in the same cabin?” Juliet teased.
“Shut it.” Margot stuck her tongue out at her. “He respects my space.” She looked at the breakfast, which Juliet suddenly realised looked far too plentiful for just one person. “Are you going to spend the rest of the season with Will?”
Juliet shimmied to the edge of the bed to hide the tray. “I don’t even know what the rest of the day looks like, never mind the next couple of weeks. I haven’t even been able to think about starting the new editing job,” she admitted. “I’m rambling – stop worrying about me and go! I don’t want Harvey coming to get you.”
“We won’t be back for Christmas. What about presents?” Margot asked, giving her a tight squeeze.
“We can exchange gifts when you get back! Have fun and get out of here,” Juliet ordered.
“I’m going,” Margot laughed, before hesitating at the front door by the bathroom. She glanced at the grey sweats strewn over the couch. Juliet blushed, wondering how the hell she could’ve missed them, but Margot just grinned. “Thanks for taking care of Juliet,” she called. “It’s safe to come out now.”
“My pleasure,” Will answered through the bathroom door. “Don’t make life too easy for Harvey– he’s used to getting what he wants.”
Margot chuckled, clearly needing no encouragement, and closed the door behind her.
Will emerged, a towel wrapped around his waist. “Speaking of my pleasure…” He backed Juliet up towards the bed. “I decided that I want to be your dirty secret, because right now, you’re looking far too clean.” His minty breath tickled her cheek, and her stomach flipped. She dropped onto the bed and he rested his hands on either side of her, pinning her to the mattress.
“I thought you were hungry. Breakfast will get cold,” she argued, looking at the food. However, he was looking far more appetising.
“That can wait for a few hours,” he said, trailing kisses along her neck. “There’s something else I want to taste.” His hand slipped under her jumper, and all thought of food, jobs, and life disappeared.
“I thought—” Juliet struggled to find the words as he undid the knot securing her sweatpants and eased them down her thighs. “What about getting the Christmas tree?” she managed to ask, in between kisses that took her breath away.
“We’ve got all day. Right now, you’re all I want to decorate.”
That evening, walking down Cane Lane, Will pulled at his collar, regretting that he’d left his coat at home before heading out to pick up dinner. He didn’t have any food at home; he hadn’t been expecting an impromptu Christmas tree shopping trip. But he’d wanted to give Juliet a day to remember before breaking the news about Mason and Eloise’s legacy plan.
He planned on how to talk it through with her once he got home. He’d never expected, when Juliet’s file had crossed his desk, that she’d be at his place one day putting as many ornaments on the tree as possible. When he’d left, Meet Me in St Louis was playing in the background and she was surrounded by the boxes of baubles he hadn’t taken out of the attic for the past few years. Leaving her was the last thing he wanted, but he’d stepped out to deal with something urgent. Eloise had called to warn him that she had been confronted by Council members Frederick and Una after the guardians’ graduation ceremony, having received information about a missing ancestral chest. Thankfully, the Frost chest was exactly where it was meant to be, but she’d wanted to give him a heads-up.
