Page 27 of The Secret Holiday Kiss

‘Do you want a drink? Come through to the living room: I’m sure Harry would love to see you.’

‘What are you doing with my house?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I just had a chat with Winnie. She said she wants to use you for the interior design, said I should give you a tour so you can get started on your proposal.’

Daisy flushed with pleasure. Winnie had loved her initial ideas, but she had also jumped to conclusions. ‘I did talk to her about it,’ she admitted. ‘I said that I would have a look around, draw up a proposal for her and Mary – for free. She has no obligation to take my ideas forward. I’m not going to be here when the house is finished anyway.’

‘She seems fairly certain you’re doing it,’ he gritted out.

‘Do you want to come and sit down?’ she asked. ‘Have a hot chocolate? We’ve got marshmallows. You can talk to Harry while I make it, stay away from the dogs.’

He stared at her for another second, then seemed to deflate in front of her. ‘I’m sorry,’ he muttered. ‘No, I have to get back to site. I didn’t … when Winnie told me what you were doing, it wound me all the way up, so I stormed over here.’

‘You think I’m stepping on your toes?’ She bit her lip, because she had definitely done that, and maybe it was partly to wind him up.

‘A bit,’ he admitted. ‘I don’t know you. You’ve turned up here, asked a tonne of questions about the build, and I …’

‘You think I’m a spy?’ She raised her eyebrows, and Avery laughed, the tension between them breaking.

He put a hand over his eyes and groaned. ‘I’m being an idiot. A rude idiot. Throw me out.’

‘Do you want me to let the dogs out?’

He looked alarmed. ‘I don’t deserve that level of punishment.’

‘Agreed.’ She smiled. ‘Before you head off, I want you to know that the reason I’m sticking my nose into your project is because it’s beautiful, and I was just … struck by it. Even though it’s only the bare bones. I can’t help it when I see a building like that, so I spoke to Winnie; I overstepped. But it’s helping me to feel like me again.’ She shrugged. ‘I won’t stomp on your toes again, I promise.’

‘Why did you stop feeling like you?’ His voice had gone low and gravelly, and Daisy felt it all the way to her toes.

‘It’s a long, boring story that is tragic only to me.’

‘Fair enough. But if you want an ear from someone who won’t judge, a chance to get stuff off your chest, then I’m available to listen.’

‘Even though I’m sabotaging your project?’

‘I overreacted.’ He frowned. ‘I shouldn’t have turned up here like this.’

Daisy shook her head. ‘You’ve brightened my afternoon.’

‘I have?’

She hesitated, then realized she couldn’t give up baiting him completely. It was too much fun. ‘I haven’t seen a big strong man like you terrified of some gorgeous, good-natured dogs before.’ She thought of her mysterious gift. ‘If it was a hell hound, that would be different.’

Avery folded his arms, the movement somehow entirely distracting. ‘You think I’m a big, strong man?’

‘Who is scared of cute dogs.’ She would not let him ruffle her.

‘They’re called Darkness and Terror.’

‘Because my brother used to be a sarcastic grump, not because the names reflect their personalities.’

‘Also, you don’t know there aren’t hell hounds around here. Your estate is pretty remote.’

‘My brother’s, now. And I know there aren’t hell hounds around here because hell hounds don’t exist.’

Avery shrugged. ‘I’m sure Harry would share it with you.’