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Because why not? Fate liked to destroy her life every now and again, especially during Christmas. Parents taking extended cruises. Boyfriends kissing other women on Christmas Eve. Hot men finding her asleep in their beds.
“Claire, you must have been terrified,” Tasha said. “I’m so sorry about all this.”
Claire blinked, looking up from her daze as all three pairs of eyes settled on her.
“I had no idea Liam was coming home, or I would’ve never put you in here.” Tasha sent her son another warm smile.
“Oh, it’s no big deal,” Claire lied, slipping another look at Liam as her head pounded.
“Liam,” Melody piped in then, “this is my friend, Claire Frost.”
Liam’s eyes settled on Claire, the weight of his gaze painting heat across her cheeks. Would he admit that they’d run into each other at the airport and that he’d been a total jerk?
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he responded, answering her question. Then he paused, narrowing his eyes just a fraction. “You’re from the States, I assume?”
The corner of his lip lifted, and indignation burned in her belly. He was referring to their interaction at the airport. Why else would he be watching her with such pleasure? Clearly, he’d found the upper hand with her, dropping his anger from before and replacing it with arrogant amusement at seeing her discomfort.
She had a mind to tell Tasha and Melody that Liam had been a straight-up piece of work, but she hardly wanted to relive that experience again, especially in front of him. More than that, she wouldn’t want to hurt Tasha’s feelings by revealing what a jerk he had been.
Anyway, would Tasha and Melody even believe her, what with this clear golden boy standing in front of them?
“Don’t you remember me saying that Melody was bringing a friend with her, Liam?” Tasha asked.
“It must have slipped my mind,” he responded. He gave Claire one last searching look, then smiled at his mother. “I was planning on staying with you for Christmas, but since you have a full house already…”
He said nothing more as his mother shook her head, her brow furrowed. “Oh, no. No, you have to stay here. We’ve plenty of room still.”
Melody pointed her thumb behind her shoulder. “Claire and I can totally share a room. We don’t mind, do we, Claire?”
Again, all eyes settled on Claire. No, she didn’t mind sharing a room with Melody. After all, they had for four years in college. But sharing a house with this arrogant Englishman? She’d rather hop out of the window and hitchhike her way back to Heathrow.
But what did it matter? She wouldn’t be staying there for much longer anyway. She was pretty sure she’d be dead from humiliation by morning.
“Oh, no,” Tasha protested. “I already promised this room to Claire.” She turned toward her son. “You can sleep in the sitting room instead. And don’t you dare protest. I’m not letting you find a way out of staying here. Not while I finally have the chance to spend Christmas with you.”
Liam’s amusement vanished, no doubt at the thought of sleeping in the sitting room. Claire had a mind to accept Tasha’s offer, but the thought of remaining in this guy’s room for the duration of her trip was about as repulsive as the thought of drinking fat.
“No, that’s all right. I can stay with Melody,” she finally responded.
Tasha hesitated. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
But Claire insisted. At least she thought she did. Her mind was as hazy as a winter’s morn in the city. “I’d prefer staying with Melody anyway.”
Melody nodded in agreement, and Liam’s eyes flitted to Claire’s before he smiled at his mother. “If our guests are happy with the arrangements, of course I’ll stay.”
“More than happy,” Melody piped in.
Finally, Tasha relented. “Well, if you’re all sure.”
Liam looked to Claire once again. “Done.”
Claire swallowed. How she wished to duck under her covers and believe this was all just some horrifying nightmare.
“Claire?”
She blinked at Melody.
“Are you going to come with me, or are you just going to chill in Liam’s bed all night?”
