Page 60 of The Naughty Or Nice Clause

“Coming right up. I’ll have it brought to you,” June said, looking towards Lyla, and she knew her retreat was exposed.

Lou was coming towards her.Has he told her what I did?She glanced at the other patrons, not looking forward to being scolded in public – especially not in a place where everyone looked after each other. Her misdeed would certainly mark her for life.Not that I’ll be in Yule much longer.

“I see you have the power to anger my brother even more than I do. He’s been at the workshop since before dawn. I think we’ll have enough Dust for the next two Christmases,” Lou said, pulling up her chair beside Lyla. She was relieved for the honest conversation opener; she didn’t think she could handle chitchat.

“We tend to bring out the worst in each other,” she admitted, because it was true.

Lou eyed the black forest gateau in front of Lyla. “Are you going to eat that? They were sold out at the counter. With this hangover, I’m dying for a slice.”

Lyla shook her head. She didn’t even have the energy to think about her own hangover.I deserve to suffer.

“Go ahead. This would be my third slice anyway,” she admitted, forcing herself to smile as she pushed the plate over to Lou.

“So you’re the cake thief. How long have you been here?” Lou asked, digging in. Their conversation was interrupted by June bringing over Lou’s order.

“Glad you finally arrived. She’s been waiting for hours,” June said, reprimanding Lou as she placed the coffee on the table.

“Have you really been here for hours?” Lou raised an eyebrow when June had left.

“Long enough to consume about three coffees –two decaf, I’m not insane – breakfast, and two slices of cake,” she tallied.

“Impressive. Sounds like you’re hiding?” Lou said, taking a sip of her coffee. The sweet smell made Lyla wish for another cup, but she didn’t think her nervous system would thank her.

“More like waiting. Mason said he comes here for lunch,” she admitted, hoping he would come through the door when the bell chimed. Then again, she didn’t really fancy his sister being there for everything they had to say to each other.

“Are you going to tell me what happened? You’ve seen me half-naked, so we’re practically sisters,” Lou joked.

The memory of helping her get dressed for the gala and the thought of losing her friendship only made Lyla sadder.

“I… did something unforgivable. I tried to take it back. I never even did it, but I thought about it. Mason found out. It’s a mess.” She gripped her hair by the roots in frustration.

“How cryptic. But since you’ve been stuck here for the last ten days, how bad could it have been?” Lou asked, eager for more information.

Lyla couldn’t bring herself to tell her more. Lou gave her a penetrating look.

“So, it was bad.” She put down the fork, giving Lyla her full attention. “Are you going to talk to him? When you do see him?”

“I think I’m the last person he wants to talk to. Coming back was hard enough for him. When I agreed to come, I thought I was making it easier for him. Instead, I made it so much worse,” she said, thinking she should have closed the door on him the day after the fire.

“It was hard for him? He didn’t seem that bothered.”

“Like you wouldn’t believe. When he got your letter, he got exceptionally drunk and I had to bring him home – without any shoes, I might add. Before then we barely spoke to each other except to yell…” Lyla froze, realising she had revealed their secret. She sat in silence, waiting for Lou to speak.

Lou squeezed her hand, a silent way of saying it was okay, and Lyla let out a grateful breath.

“Don’t worry. I knew the first time we had breakfast together that you weren’t a couple. Though I thought there was serious potential when he went after you and brought you to the cabin.”

“Sorry if we’ve upset you, or your family, by lying. I should never have come. I should never have let him talk me into it. Things were hostile but functioning before, and now I just don’t know…”

“Are you serious? You made a miserable Christmas so much better. Distraction is the kindest thing you could have done for my brother – for Mum. She’s been so busy thinking about you two, she’s had a much-needed break from her grief. I worry about what will happen when the season ends, which is why I was hoping Mason would stay.”

“I don’t know what he’ll do now. He said he would stay last night, I hope what happened between us won’t change his mind. He seems so much happier here than he did back in the city.”

“His happiness has more to do with who he’s with than where he is. Of that, I can assure you…” Lou hesitated, taking another sip of coffee. “But, as the eldest in the family, I do have to ask. If you could stay here, would you? Being with a Klaus is a lifetime commitment. You even being here is breaking our laws. I didn’t say anything because I saw how close you were getting. He even brought you before everyone in the council, and to the gala. For an outsider, you must realise how important that is to us. If you could patch things up, could you see yourself staying here? Becoming one of us?”

Lyla could see the stress in Lou’s eyes and the worry their situation had caused her, which only furthered her guilt, because she didn’t know how to answer her.

“I don’t know,” she admitted.

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