Cinderella's Christmas Secret - Sharon Kendrick Page 0,17

that. But no. He had climbed out of bed, all glorious and glowing and naked, when the dawn light had been nothing but a glimmer on the horizon. She must have slipped back into sleep because the next time her eyelids had fluttered open, he had been fully dressed and maybe she should have guessed what was coming from the terse tone of his words.

‘I’d better go.’

‘Oh. Must you?’ Her voice had been little more than a murmur, but afterwards she wondered if she’d sounded a little needy.

‘I’m afraid I must. I’ve called my chauffeur to come and pick me up. I have a meeting.’

She remembered thinking it was very early to be having a meeting and then, drugged with satiation and satisfaction, she had fallen into a deep sleep and when she’d woken up, he had gone.

It had taken nearly a week for her to realise Maximo wasn’t going to contact her again. He had told her he wouldn’t but hadn’t there been a stupid glimmer of hope which had taken up stubborn residence in her mind and made her hope he might change his mind? But there had been no phone call. No flowers. No unexpected dropping in at the estate agency to ask whether she might happen to be free for lunch—and of course she would have said yes, because her daily home-made sandwich, which reposed at the bottom of the office fridge, could easily be eaten another day.

But Maximo had done none of these things. The purchase of his castle was now complete and everyone in the town was breathlessly waiting for the refurbishment to begin, when he would turn it into the most talked about hotel in Devon to add to his prestigious group. She assumed that was why he was here today. She’d heard he was having high-powered meetings in the nearby city of Exeter and so, when Janette had left the office to have her nails painted, Hollie had hunted around for the tycoon’s telephone number and had sent him a text, asking if she could see him.

His answer hadn’t exactly boosted her confidence, or her resolve. It had been blunt and to the point. Some people might even have called it rude.

I’m very busy.

She wished she could have told him to take a running jump, but that was exactly what he would like her to do, she reminded herself bitterly. Her finger had been shaking with rage and she had wasted time correcting several typos as she had furiously tapped out a response.

I’m sure you are, but I need to see you.

She’d been forced to wait for a whole hour before the reluctant reply had come winging back.

I can give you half an hour at six p.m. Where?

That had made her hesitate. Neutral territory would be best. But she couldn’t risk any kind of scene, not in a town this small where people would talk. And so even though uncomfortable memories of last time he had visited her cottage wouldn’t seem to leave her alone, Hollie forced herself to reply.

Can you come to my cottage? I assume you remember where it is?

And the terse rejoinder.

I’ll see you there.

It seemed insane to think about it now, but she’d actually made some biscuits in preparation for his visit, which were currently sitting on her best china plate in the kitchen. She’d told herself it was more to give herself something to do, rather than pacing the floor as she waited for the smooth purr of his limousine. But the insane truth was that she was making shortbread because she knew he liked it.

It was pathetic, really. Did she honestly imagine that the sugary cookie was going to make him smile and tell her everything was going to be okay, and he was fine with the fact that she was carrying his baby after what was only ever supposed to be a one-night stand?

She turned away from the window and glanced around the small sitting room, her gaze coming to rest on the miniature Christmas tree she’d forced herself to decorate, even though she hadn’t been feeling remotely festive at the time. Its rainbow lights were pretty and the little baubles she’d crafted herself usually filled her heart with seasonal joy as she dangled them from the pine branches. But she had been so bogged down by a feeling of dread at what she was about to do that not even holiday decorations had been able to lighten her mood.

She heard the sound of a