Read Online Christmas with the Boss by Annie Seaton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Annie Seaton
Ads: Link
surrounded her.
Chapter Nine
Boxing Day
Despite the unsettled feeling that wouldn’t leave her as she sat on
the lounge and read after a light dinner, Jilly slept well. Before she went to
bed, she double checked the locks on the window and the doors, and left a light
on in the kitchen. There was nothing she could do about the thin piece of
lattice in the kitchen that shook in the wind. She still couldn’t shake the
feeling that someone was watching her, which she knew was stupid, because there
was no one within cooee.
Apart from Dominic. But one minute, he’d been up close and personal
and then he’d withdrawn into himself and left in a matter of minutes.
The alarm on her iPhone roused her at 4.30 a.m. and she stumbled into
the kitchen, rubbing her eyes, and reached for the kettle. Her hand froze on
the tap as she looked up at the back door. Unlocked and wide open. And
not only that, the surfboard that Dominic had left outside on the verandah was
lying along the sofa, the cotton draw string bag that had encased it, lay
scrunched on the rose-covered mat.
Jilly backed away and looked around.
“What the fuck?” Her hands shook as she shut the back door and
flicked the lock over. She’d forget about the cup of tea; just get changed and
head to the beach.
Get out of this house. Forget about what Dominic said about it not
being safe, being in here was beginning to creep her out a little.
The first rosy glimmers of dawn were streaking the sky with a soft
apricot when she stepped outside, the board tucked beneath her arm. A warm wind
puffed in off the hills this morning and everything was washed clean from the
storm last night. The wind must have blown the door opened, she reasoned to
herself. And she must have carried the board inside when she was half-asleep
and forgotten that she had. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to have
herself spooked and head home early, which she really didn’t want to do. Sydney
would be hot and busy and she’d probably end up at work if she went home early.
Dominic tried to tell you not to stay here, a little voice nagged
within her.
He was waiting for her on the beach, his strong, muscular lines
silhouetted by the rising sun behind him. The wet sand was smooth and shining,
clear of footprints, as Jilly followed him to the water’s edge.
“Sleep okay?” His eyes were hooded.
“Like a baby.” Well, I did.
“Good. Surf’s great. You ready?” Dominic waited for Jilly to catch
him up and they walked out into the water together until they were waist deep.
They waited for a break in the waves. When the last wave of the set broke and
passed them with the white frothy foam bubbling around them, Dominic slid onto
his board and lay on his stomach, and began to paddle out into the deeper
water. Anticipation filled Jilly as she waited for the next wave to pass. The
rough wax on the board crumbled beneath her fingers as she gripped the sides
with both hands and slid onto the length of the board. Before she could find
her centre of balance, her bare stomach slid along the slippery board and she
held on tight as the board slid away.
It was too late. The board bucked beneath her as the oncoming wave
lifted the front of it and Jilly slipped off. She wasn’t quick enough and
gasped, copping a mouthful of salt water as she went under the small wave that
broke over her, and then carried the kneeboard into the shore.
It was a tossup whether embarrassment or temper won out, and she let
her temper build. That was the final straw. What the hell was Dominic playing
at? Coughing and spluttering, she marched back through the shallows—as much as
one could march in knee-deep water and stood at the edge of the sand, her arms
folded as she waited for him to catch the next wave into shore.
Of course he did it gracefully, staying
on the board until he was in knee-deep water.
“Are you okay? What happened?” He tossed his head back and his hair
stuck to his neck. He reached up and
Chapter Nine
Boxing Day
Despite the unsettled feeling that wouldn’t leave her as she sat on
the lounge and read after a light dinner, Jilly slept well. Before she went to
bed, she double checked the locks on the window and the doors, and left a light
on in the kitchen. There was nothing she could do about the thin piece of
lattice in the kitchen that shook in the wind. She still couldn’t shake the
feeling that someone was watching her, which she knew was stupid, because there
was no one within cooee.
Apart from Dominic. But one minute, he’d been up close and personal
and then he’d withdrawn into himself and left in a matter of minutes.
The alarm on her iPhone roused her at 4.30 a.m. and she stumbled into
the kitchen, rubbing her eyes, and reached for the kettle. Her hand froze on
the tap as she looked up at the back door. Unlocked and wide open. And
not only that, the surfboard that Dominic had left outside on the verandah was
lying along the sofa, the cotton draw string bag that had encased it, lay
scrunched on the rose-covered mat.
Jilly backed away and looked around.
“What the fuck?” Her hands shook as she shut the back door and
flicked the lock over. She’d forget about the cup of tea; just get changed and
head to the beach.
Get out of this house. Forget about what Dominic said about it not
being safe, being in here was beginning to creep her out a little.
The first rosy glimmers of dawn were streaking the sky with a soft
apricot when she stepped outside, the board tucked beneath her arm. A warm wind
puffed in off the hills this morning and everything was washed clean from the
storm last night. The wind must have blown the door opened, she reasoned to
herself. And she must have carried the board inside when she was half-asleep
and forgotten that she had. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to have
herself spooked and head home early, which she really didn’t want to do. Sydney
would be hot and busy and she’d probably end up at work if she went home early.
Dominic tried to tell you not to stay here, a little voice nagged
within her.
He was waiting for her on the beach, his strong, muscular lines
silhouetted by the rising sun behind him. The wet sand was smooth and shining,
clear of footprints, as Jilly followed him to the water’s edge.
“Sleep okay?” His eyes were hooded.
“Like a baby.” Well, I did.
“Good. Surf’s great. You ready?” Dominic waited for Jilly to catch
him up and they walked out into the water together until they were waist deep.
They waited for a break in the waves. When the last wave of the set broke and
passed them with the white frothy foam bubbling around them, Dominic slid onto
his board and lay on his stomach, and began to paddle out into the deeper
water. Anticipation filled Jilly as she waited for the next wave to pass. The
rough wax on the board crumbled beneath her fingers as she gripped the sides
with both hands and slid onto the length of the board. Before she could find
her centre of balance, her bare stomach slid along the slippery board and she
held on tight as the board slid away.
It was too late. The board bucked beneath her as the oncoming wave
lifted the front of it and Jilly slipped off. She wasn’t quick enough and
gasped, copping a mouthful of salt water as she went under the small wave that
broke over her, and then carried the kneeboard into the shore.
It was a tossup whether embarrassment or temper won out, and she let
her temper build. That was the final straw. What the hell was Dominic playing
at? Coughing and spluttering, she marched back through the shallows—as much as
one could march in knee-deep water and stood at the edge of the sand, her arms
folded as she waited for him to catch the next wave into shore.
Of course he did it gracefully, staying
on the board until he was in knee-deep water.
“Are you okay? What happened?” He tossed his head back and his hair
stuck to his neck. He reached up and
Similar Books
