AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her stomach gave the obligatory necessary rumble. She’d been so busy trying not to burn things she’d forgotten about eating since breakfast.
She pushed a bit of hair off her face. “I think I’ll go and freshen up first. Can you keep an eye on the turkey? In twenty minutes time the oven should go off and we need to bring it out to rest.”
“What on earth does that mean?”
She shook her head as she walked past. “I have absolutely no idea. Just make sure the wine’s chilled by the time I’m back.”
It only took ten minutes to change out of her fluffy jumper and jeans, have a quick wash and freshen up her makeup. She had one thing left she could wear – a black dress she’d saved for filming. It hadn’t been appropriate for first thing this morning, but they were heading towards Christmas lunch, it was certainly appropriate now. It was pretty with black lace across the shoulders and arms. Not too over the top. At least she’d looked as if she’d make an effort to match him.
She walked back along the corridor. A few of the doors were open instead of being tightly closed. She gave a half-smile. Had the ghosts been at work? She didn’t think so. She felt so much more comfortable now.
This was a beautiful, historic house. It had been neglected for far too long. It was time to put that to rights. It was time to talk to Andrew.
Talking about the house might mean they didn’t talk about anything else. It might mean they avoided the growing attraction between them. But the truth was, she really didn’t want to do that.
In a few days they’d both be back in London. Would Andrew Campbell in London be different to the Andrew Campbell she’d got to know at Garnock Hall?
No matter how professional she tried to keep things, or how much she tried to stay at arm’s length, it was becoming harder and harder. Being around Andrew felt so right. She’d never felt like this around Rod. Never felt so in tune with someone before.
She pulled her dress down a little and hurried to the top of the stairs. She reached out and touched the portrait of Elizabeth Campbell in her stiff pink dress. “This should be a happy place, Elizabeth. I’m hoping to help make it that way.”
The lentil soup was sitting on the table with some bread and a glass of wine. She sat opposite Andrew and he lifted the glass. “To Christmas at Garnock Hall. Merry Christmas, Juliette.”
She clinked glasses with him. She couldn’t break eye contact with those warm green eyes. “Merry Christmas, Andrew. Thank you for sharing Garnock Hall with me.”
He picked up his spoon. “So, honestly, what do you think of the place?”
She lifted up a spoonful of soup, letting it cool a few seconds before finally trying it. It was perfect. Like every homemade soup her gran had ever made for her. “Wow, Andrew. You could win a prize for this soup. You’re obviously a man of hidden talents.”
His eyebrows rose and the smile he gave her in return was decidedly wicked.
She took a deep breath. It was time to get things out there. It was just the two of them. “I love Garnock Hall. At first glance it’s quite a brooding place.”
“Brooding? I’ve never heard it called that.”
She shrugged. “What word would you like? Imposing? Ominous? It’s all of those things. The gothic architecture is quite overwhelming. Film crews would love it. You must know that.”
He nodded slowly. He was watching her. Watching her eat. It could have felt intimidating, instead it felt quite sexy. She waved her spoon at him. “Once you get inside here, the whole place is just overwhelming. There’s so much potential here. So much you could do with this place.” She sat her spoon down again. “Garnock Hall shouldn’t be empty, Andrew. It should be filled with people, filled with life. It needs it. It deserves it.”
His eyes met hers and he gave a slow, silent nod. “You could be right. But I’ve no idea what do with the place.”
“Why don’t you look into some of the suggestions I gave you earlier. One of the US TV channels has just put out location calls for a period drama set in the UK. Darnbridge Abbey, I think they’re calling it. Garnock Hall could be perfect. Think of the night time location shots – they would be spectacular – and the staircase in the house, and the kitchen would be perfect.”
A smile started to appear on his face. “You could be right. I saw that call for location possibilities. It just hadn’t even occurred to me that Garnock Hall could be suitable. But you’re right. The roof repairs will be enormous. Allowing filming here could pay for that alone. It might even allow me to refurbish some of the other rooms.”
“And what about weddings, have you thought about that?”
“You really think anyone would want to get married here?”
She held out her hands. “This place is gorgeous. It has so much character.” She leaned forward, “And think about the privacy aspect. You have all these grounds. Room for a marquee. Plenty of parking and enough rooms for lots of guests.”
He raised his eyebrows, “Rooms that are dusty, likely a bit dirty and haven’t been aired in years.”
“Nothing that isn’t manageable.”
He looked deep in thought as he lifted their soup bowls from the table and carried them over to the sink.
The turkey was sitting on the worktop and the potatoes were in the oven. “How about we have dinner through in the dining room where the Christmas tree is? Make it more festive.”
She opened the drawers and lifted out some silver cutlery, napkins and plate settings. “That sounds perfect. Let me put these on the table before we take the turkey through.”
It only took five minutes to finish the gravy on the stove top and put the vegetables into serving dishes.
She switched on the tree lights and left the curtains open. Andrew carried the turkey through and set it on the table. “It’s perfect, Andrew. I can’t believe we actually managed to make a Christmas dinner between us.”
“We’re a good team. A good partnership.”
She felt little tingles shoot down her spine. His green eyes were fixed on hers. “Yes. We are.”
Neither of them had sat down. She didn’t want to. No matter how good the food looked on the table, her mind was in other places.
“I’ve really enjoyed being here, Andrew. I’ve liked the chance to get to know you too. To find out more about you, and your family.”
“I’ve liked having you here too.” His voice was husky. His brain was obviously going the same places that hers was. He paused for a second, “Juliette, would you consider coming back?”
“Will you ask me?” It was like ping pong in a kiddie’s playground.
“If I did, would you say yes?”
Back and forth. Back and forth. Her heart was thudding against her chest. Her breathing quickening. “I would.”
And then he moved, covering the space so quickly between them that she barely had time to think. Because he was there, pulling her hard against him, his lips devouring hers. It took her breath away. She’d only waited a few days for this but it felt like forever.
The anticipation, the expectation was nothing compared to the final event.
Her hands threaded through his hair, willing him closer to her as her hips pressed hard against his. His hands were pressed firmly on her backside, anchoring him against her. He was just as determined that nothing should get between them.
The intensity of the kiss didn’t change as he turned around and lifted her up on the table. Her legs wound around his waist, ignoring the fact her dress was riding up. There was no one else to see them. There was no one to see the passion between them.
She pulled her hands from his hair and ran them across the hard planes of his chest. She didn’t hesitate. Her fingers found the buttons on his shirt and she quickly undid them, sliding her hands underneath the warm cotton.
It had only been a few days, but waiting had felt like an eternity. She heard his sharp intake of breath as her fingers slid across his skin and hovered above his waistband.
His hand was edging unde
r her dress. Dinner was forgotten. Completely forgotten.
He pulled back a little. “Juliette, would you like to go upstairs?” he whispered in her ear as his hand took hers.
She smiled. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Chapter Eleven
‡
Night had fallen while they’d been distracted. The curtains were open in Andrew’s room, leaving a pitch-black sky with a few twinkling stars.
Her head was resting on his shoulder, her hand on his chest. Things couldn’t be more perfect.
His stomach growled loudly, reminding them both they’d missed dinner. He laughed. “I think I still have a turkey to carve.”
She lifted her head, her blonde curls falling in front of her face. “I’ve always liked cold Christmas dinner. There’s something so good about it.”
He sat up and handed her his dressing gown to wrap around her. The temperature had fallen in the house again. “I guess I’m going to have to do something about the heating if other people are going to stay here.” He grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head.
“I guess you are.” She was staring at the door, as if she was thinking about something else.
“What is it?”
Her stomach rumbled loudly and she laughed. “Oh. Sorry. I hate to say it, Andrew. But I’m starving.”
He held out his hand. “How would like to have Christmas dinner wearing only a guy’s dressing gown?”
She smiled as she stood. Her toes weren’t quite as cold as before. Just the way he was smiling at her was keeping her warm. “I think that’s something I haven’t tried before. I’m always open to trying something new.”
He led her down the corridor towards the stairs, her heart thumping the whole way.
