Read Online White-Hot Christmas by Serenity Woods - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Serenity Woods
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knew, she would say Bree appeared lonely and desperate to come home.
She’d been unable to lie, knowing if she did so, it would only drag out the misery. “Bree’s fine, Mum,” she’d said. “She loves it here and she’s happy. I’m sorry.” The irony of apologising for her sister’s happiness hadn’t escaped her, but Susan didn’t notice and burst into tears, and Merle spent an exhausting half an hour trying to comfort her. But at least the phone call was done for the day and she’d promised she would ring in the evening on their Boxing Day, and she would make sure Bree was there this time. She’d have to bully Bree to the phone. Bree didn’t feel half as much guilt as she did, and always got exasperated when she knew her mother was demanding to talk to her.
Finishing their coffee and muffins, they went back to Bree’s house to get ready for the party. Merle looked through her clothes, wondering what to wear. It was a lot warmer in the Northland than she’d expected, and the T-shirts she’d brought seemed too warm in the sultry, humid weather. Eventually she chose a dark pink camisole and a beautiful, long multicolour skirt she adored but was also cool. It was too hot for underwear, and she left off her bra and panties. Luckily Neon wasn’t going to be there, or Lord knew what he would think. Bree had already assured her he was going to his folks’ for Christmas Eve.
They arrived at around six at Jake’s parents’ house, a stunning four-bedroom house in the middle of nowhere, or so it seemed to Merle, used to terraced and semidetached houses with about an inch of garden, where you could hear the neighbours shouting or having sex through the walls. Several acres of paddocks and bamboo trees surrounded the house, with bush to the south, and the only sounds she could hear were the tuis in the trees and the rush of the river at the bottom.
Jake introduced her to his parents and the rest of his family. Everyone was friendly and laid back. Merle wandered through the spacious living room and out the large sliding doors to the deck, humming to the Christmas songs playing. How wonderful to live in a place like this. A couple of bright-coloured parrots Bree had told her were called rosellas flew past her into the bush. She loved England, but there was something special about this country. She could see why Bree had fallen in love with it.
She paused on the deck. There were more people outside, relaxing on the loungers, some playing with the kids on the lawn, others working on the smoking barbecue. A few looked over and nodded hello, and she smiled.
Her gaze alighted on a figure lying on one of the loungers, and her heart seemed to shudder to a stop. She stared at Neon, who lay stretched out with his hands behind his head, wearing dark glasses and a brilliantly white short-sleeved shirt that made him look incredibly tanned, with dark blue shorts, barefoot as usual. Of course she couldn’t see what he was looking at with his sunglasses on. Had he seen her? She turned and went straight back inside, heart pounding, walking through the house until she found Bree.
“You told me he wouldn’t be here.”
Bree studied her. Clearly she knew exactly who Merle was referring to. “I lied. Now chill out and go and get a drink.”
Merle glared at her, but Bree walked off to talk to Jake’s mum. Merle went over to the table where bottles of wine, beers and an assortment of alcohol-free drinks were scattered and started pouring herself a glass of Sauvignon. Shit, shit, shit . Her hand shook, slopping some of the wine over the side. Damn Bree and her stupid bet.
She felt a presence behind her and closed her eyes, not looking around, knowing who it was likely to be.
“Why don’t you let me do that for you?” His deep voice sounded amused. He took the bottle from her hand. “Seems a shame to waste it.” She heaved a sigh as he pressed against her back, leaning over to pour the rest of the glass. His voice, when
She’d been unable to lie, knowing if she did so, it would only drag out the misery. “Bree’s fine, Mum,” she’d said. “She loves it here and she’s happy. I’m sorry.” The irony of apologising for her sister’s happiness hadn’t escaped her, but Susan didn’t notice and burst into tears, and Merle spent an exhausting half an hour trying to comfort her. But at least the phone call was done for the day and she’d promised she would ring in the evening on their Boxing Day, and she would make sure Bree was there this time. She’d have to bully Bree to the phone. Bree didn’t feel half as much guilt as she did, and always got exasperated when she knew her mother was demanding to talk to her.
Finishing their coffee and muffins, they went back to Bree’s house to get ready for the party. Merle looked through her clothes, wondering what to wear. It was a lot warmer in the Northland than she’d expected, and the T-shirts she’d brought seemed too warm in the sultry, humid weather. Eventually she chose a dark pink camisole and a beautiful, long multicolour skirt she adored but was also cool. It was too hot for underwear, and she left off her bra and panties. Luckily Neon wasn’t going to be there, or Lord knew what he would think. Bree had already assured her he was going to his folks’ for Christmas Eve.
They arrived at around six at Jake’s parents’ house, a stunning four-bedroom house in the middle of nowhere, or so it seemed to Merle, used to terraced and semidetached houses with about an inch of garden, where you could hear the neighbours shouting or having sex through the walls. Several acres of paddocks and bamboo trees surrounded the house, with bush to the south, and the only sounds she could hear were the tuis in the trees and the rush of the river at the bottom.
Jake introduced her to his parents and the rest of his family. Everyone was friendly and laid back. Merle wandered through the spacious living room and out the large sliding doors to the deck, humming to the Christmas songs playing. How wonderful to live in a place like this. A couple of bright-coloured parrots Bree had told her were called rosellas flew past her into the bush. She loved England, but there was something special about this country. She could see why Bree had fallen in love with it.
She paused on the deck. There were more people outside, relaxing on the loungers, some playing with the kids on the lawn, others working on the smoking barbecue. A few looked over and nodded hello, and she smiled.
Her gaze alighted on a figure lying on one of the loungers, and her heart seemed to shudder to a stop. She stared at Neon, who lay stretched out with his hands behind his head, wearing dark glasses and a brilliantly white short-sleeved shirt that made him look incredibly tanned, with dark blue shorts, barefoot as usual. Of course she couldn’t see what he was looking at with his sunglasses on. Had he seen her? She turned and went straight back inside, heart pounding, walking through the house until she found Bree.
“You told me he wouldn’t be here.”
Bree studied her. Clearly she knew exactly who Merle was referring to. “I lied. Now chill out and go and get a drink.”
Merle glared at her, but Bree walked off to talk to Jake’s mum. Merle went over to the table where bottles of wine, beers and an assortment of alcohol-free drinks were scattered and started pouring herself a glass of Sauvignon. Shit, shit, shit . Her hand shook, slopping some of the wine over the side. Damn Bree and her stupid bet.
She felt a presence behind her and closed her eyes, not looking around, knowing who it was likely to be.
“Why don’t you let me do that for you?” His deep voice sounded amused. He took the bottle from her hand. “Seems a shame to waste it.” She heaved a sigh as he pressed against her back, leaning over to pour the rest of the glass. His voice, when
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