Page 21 of The Naughty Or Nice Clause

“Then who am I to mess with your perfect life? I can’t make any promises. You’ll have to play the role to perfection.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be the perfect doting fiancée—”

He suddenly pushed her up against the side of the house. The impact forced a grunt from her, but his hand covered her mouth, preventing her from asking what the hell he was doing. She considered licking it, sure he would be grossed out enough to release her. Then she heard footsteps on the balcony above them, and the echo of faint music. Releasing her slowly, Klaus held a finger to his lips, and looked pointedly towards the balcony. The trees along the perimeter helped protect them from view.

Distracted, she noticed a low hanging branch covered in fresh snow. While he was busy waiting for his mum to head back in, Lyla reached up over his shoulder and pulled the branch down slowly over him. Once the door closed and he glanced down at her, she greeted him with a wink. His confusion only furthering her joy, she let go of the branch. It snapped back, coating him in fresh, powdery snow, doing much more damage than a single snowball.

Stifling her laugh, Lyla slipped out from between him and the house and scurried back inside before he could get his revenge.

Chapter Eight

LYLA HAD BARELY taken off her Wellingtons when Mrs Klaus came down the stairs with a dressing gown over her dress.

“Is everything alright? I heard a shout!”

Lyla shook her head, waiting for Klaus to come through the door. He didn’t. “Sorry we disturbed you,” she said breathlessly, “we were playing a game.”

“Ah to be young and in love,” Mrs Klaus teased, rubbing her hands together as the open door let the cold into the house.

Lyla laughed it off. The concept of Klaus and love in the same sentence stirred a discomfort in her she couldn’t quite name. She wondered what was keeping him outside.

“Are you feeling better?” she dared to ask. She must have been outside for about an hour, so she hoped Mrs Klaus had got some time to herself.

“Much. Nothing a power nap can’t cure. I swear by them. The season has been overwhelming, that’s all, and we weren’t expecting a new bride. Not that I’m not happy to have you… but it’s bittersweet that Henry – Mr Klaus – couldn’t meet you himself. He would have been overjoyed to know Mason was happy with someone.”

Unable to prevent herself, Lyla wrapped her arms around his mum. She couldn’t lie, but she could comfort.

“Sorry,” she said, “you looked like you needed a hug. It would have been an honour to meet him.” Mrs Klaus squeezed her tight. “With a nap and hug, I think you can take over the world,” Lyla added, releasing her.

Mrs Klaus laughed. “What a fine world it would be if everyone thought that way. Would you care for a hot chocolate? Or I have some coffee? My nerves are a little unsettled for the stuff – Henry was always the coffee drinker. I’m sure you’d love a cup, since Ireland is nine hours ahead of us.”

Nine hours ahead? It would already be afternoon back home.Hopefully it won’t take too long for me to adjust.

“I’d love a hot chocolate too. I understand being overwhelmed – this trip certainly has been a lot, and I don’t think caffeine will help,” Lyla said, and took a seat on the couch.

The soft cushions cradled her body like a duvet, and she could have fallen asleep then and there in front of the roaring fireplace. But it wasn’t long before Mrs Klaus returned with two mugs. She handed Lyla a mug with a gingerbread man on the front and a candy cane handle.

“Would you like a little brandy in it? Warms the soul,” she said, taking a bottle out from behind a book on the shelf. Lyla remembered that Klaus had the same brand in his apartment.

I can’t believe I’m having hot chocolate with Mrs Klaus.

“No, I’m fine, thank you. I think I have a hard time believing this is all really happening without getting drink involved,” Lyla joked, not pointing out that it was the early morning. “I mean, the trip was so impromptu, and K— Mason hasn’t said much about where he’s from, or about his family. I didn’t even know he had a sister until the letter arrived.” She scolded herself internally for tripping up over his name again.From now on, he is Mason!

“I doubt he’s been very open. He’s the secretive one in the family – you’d never know what he’s thinking, but he has a good heart. There’s only so much he could reveal, given that our family is more legend in your world than fact. If he had told you without bringing you, I’m sure you’d have thought he belonged in a padded room,” Mrs Klaus said, putting the bottle back after adding a generous measure to her mug.

“You’re probably right. I know his last name is Klaus, but he’s such a Scrooge in the office – I never would have guessed the truth.” The warmth of the mug was finally returning the feeling to Lyla’s hands.

“It’s a big responsibility to be born with. Henry and he argued a lot, and when he decided to leave, it was heartbreaking. Not just for us, but it worried many of our workers, as it made their future uncertain.”

“Still, being kept in the dark is not all that fun,” Lyla said, taking a sip of the richest hot chocolate she’d ever tasted. “This is so good I think I’m ruined for life.”

“I do wish he had told you something. Once you were engaged, he could have told you, but our laws are strict about outsiders. I was an outsider myself, and it was quite a shock, but I had the choice. Mason should have done the same for you before bringing you into the family.” She didn’t sound angry, but there was hurt in her voice.

“He probably thought because I come from such a small family – it’s only me and my dad – that I would be happy to discover a big family was here.” Lyla wasn’t entirely sure why she was defending him, but she didn’t want any more strain on his relationship with his mother, and she certainly didn’t want to be the cause of it.

“Lord knows what goes through that man’s head. I didn’t know when he was a young lad, and I still don’t!”

Lyla saw an opportunity. “Is there any way I can send a message home to my dad? I didn’t bring my phone or laptop, and I didn’t get a chance to tell him I was leaving,” she said, though she was pretty sure her father wouldn’t notice, since he was on his honeymoon.

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