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smiled. “She’s changed.”
    There was no way to explain Mrs. Montgomery-Wells. Best to simply pretend complete and utter ignorance. She usually did that very well. “As have we all.” She shrugged. “It’s been eleven years since you were last in this house, after all. People change, but life goes on. I daresay, nothing is as it used to be.”
    He laughed.
    She narrowed her gaze. “What do you find so amusing?”
    â€œI met your sister as well.”
    â€œBeryl?” she said hopefully.
    â€œNo, Delilah.”
    She winced. “Oh.”
    â€œWhat is going on here, Camille?”
    â€œChristmas?”
    His brow rose.
    â€œIt’s complicated, Grayson, and it’s none of your concern.” She huffed. “Now, if you would be so good as to take your leave.” She gestured at the door. “I would be most appreciative.”
    â€œOh, I think not.” He sauntered, sauntered, over to the fireplace, crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the mantel in a most arrogant manner. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    She widened her eyes. “Why not?”
    â€œNot until you tell me what’s afoot here.”
    â€œWhy do you want to know?” She mimicked his stance, folding her arms over her chest. “This has nothing to do with you. This is none of your concern whatsoever. Indeed, nothing having to do with this household or its respective members has been your concern for, oh, more than eleven years now.”
    For a long moment, he stared at her in silence.
    â€œIf you have something to say, do be so good as to simply say it. Then”—she jerked her head toward the door—“get out. Or better yet, get out now!”
    His tone was cool, calm and entirely too reasonable. It was most infuriating. “The last time I was here—”
    â€œNo, no! I don’t want to hear it!” She clapped her hands over her ears and squeezed her eyes closed tight. “I didn’t want to hear it then. I don’t want to hear it now!”
    â€œCamille—”
    Damnation, she could still hear him. “I’m not listening! Go away!”
    He didn’t respond. With her hands over her ears and her eyes shut, she couldn’t tell if he was still here or if he’d left the room. With any luck at all, he was gone. She counted to ten slowly, then opened her eyes and groaned.
    â€œYou’re still here.”
    â€œI said I wasn’t leaving.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause I am fairly certain you need my help,” he said simply.
    She stared in disbelief. “I need what?”
    â€œMy help.”
    â€œMy God.” She nearly choked on the words. “You are as stubborn and arrogant as you always were.”
    â€œCome now, I was never arrogant.”
    â€œNo?” It was her turn to raise a brow.
    â€œAdmittedly, there might have been a moment now and then—”
    â€œA moment? Hah!”
    â€œI don’t remember—”
    â€œI can name any number of examples of your arrogance in the past, if I were so inclined, but I’m not.” Her voice rose. “Because that would take a great deal of time and I want you to leave!”
    He ignored her. “What have you gotten yourself into, Camille?”
    â€œYou can’t simply appear in my life after all these years without a word and insist on . . . on . . . rescuing me!”
    â€œIs it that bad?” His brow furrowed. “Do you need rescue?”
    â€œNo, no, everything is going quite well.” The lie flowed easily from her lips. “Better even than I had expected.”
    â€œNot to my observation,” he said wryly.
    â€œYou’re not leaving, are you?”
    He shook his head.
    She studied him closely. “If I tell you, will you leave?”
    â€œIf you tell me, I will consider leaving.”
    â€œThat’s something, at any rate. Very well, then.” She threw