Page 37 of Twelve Nights of Nights of Christmas

If there was one thing designed to kill his libido, it was a woman who dreamed of happy endings.

‘So that you can sleep off the champagne.’

‘Wait—’ Slightly breathless, she pressed her lips against his throat. ‘I want the tree. Will you buy me the tree?’

Rio stilled. ‘You want me to buy every present on the tree?’

‘No, I want you to buy me the tree. I don’t think I can stand the thought of Christmas without a tree. It’s like having chocolate cake with no chocolate.’ Still clutching the pink box, she snuggled against him, her voice coaxing. ‘That tree would look fantastic in the Penthouse. It’s even bigger than the one I decorated.’

The one he’d had removed.

‘I don’t want a tree.’

‘Why not? I know you prefer to work over Christmas, but it isn’t going to stop you working just because there’s a tree in the room. It cheers everything up.’

‘It doesn’t cheer me up.’

She frowned. ‘So it wasn’t my decorations in particular that you didn’t like. It’s Christmas trees in general. Why? You’re never too old to enjoy Christmas. Having a tree will give you happy memories.’

Rio put her down so suddenly she staggered. ‘I don’t have any happy memories of Christmas.’

It was the stricken look in her eyes that made him realise just how harshly he’d spoken. ‘I…I’m sorry,’ she stammered. ‘I didn’t mean—’

‘Forget it. Let’s get out of here.’

CHAPTER SIX

I don’t have any happy memories of Christmas.

Evie sat in the middle of the enormous bed, those words reverberating around her head. She’d put her foot in it, but knowing that didn’t stop her wondering and asking herself endless questions.

Why didn’t he have happy memories of Christmas?

She turned her head and looked towards the double doors that lay between her and the sitting room. They remained firmly closed.

What was he doing? Had he gone to sleep in the second bedroom?

They’d driven home without speaking, Evie silenced by that one revealing phrase and Rio communicating nothing. For once, his BlackBerry was silent and he’d simply stared out of the window at the snowy streets, his handsome face an expressionless mask.

But he was feeling, she knew that.

Not just feeling—hurting.

Knowing that she was risking another rejection, Evie slid off the bed and opened the doors quietly, afraid to disturb him if he was sleeping.

The huge living room was in darkness. The flames of the fire had almost flickered to nothing and all the lights had been extinguished.

He wasn’t there.

She was overreacting. He’d obviously chosen to sleep in the second bedroom.

Evie was about to turn and go back to bed when she noticed a ghostly green glow in the corner of the room and realised that it was the laptop screen.

As her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, she saw that Rio was seated at the table.

‘It’s four in the morning,’ she murmured. ‘You should get some sleep.’

‘I’m not tired.’ His voice was barely audible. ‘Go back to bed, Evie. Sleep it off.’