Page 103 of The Christmas Highland Lodge

I began to move off again, when he reached out one hand and caught my wrist. My eyes shot from Blake’s fingers searing into my skin to his softening expression. I had never seen him look like that before.

He glanced down at my wrist, his fingers furled around it. ‘I’ve spent enough time on my own, brooding.’

My breathing raced. I tried to steady it and failed. What was he trying to say? I gazed into his intent, dark eyes. ‘What do you mean?’

Blake took a step even closer to me. I could make out traces of hazel in his eyes and the sexy tilt of his lips.

‘I had it all planned out – or at least I thought I did. Get away from Edinburgh and the ghosts of Amy and my mother. I thought I would start again here in Craig Brae. Somewhere quiet and new.’ He gestured around at the stunning vista. ‘I’d researched a few places and the fact that I’d never been up here climbing before and its scenery and the tranquillity – well, the idea of it seduced me.’

The way Blake pronounced the word ‘seduced’ sent a frisson of excitement tripping up my spine.

I had a stiff, silent word with myself to get a grip.

Blake let out a sigh and scratched his dark beard. ‘Everything in my life seemed to be finally falling into place. I was starting my own business and was beginning to think I could settle here and find some peace and equilibrium until…’

‘Until what?’

His mouth twitched at the corners. ‘Until the Styleses decided to employ Craig Brae’s answer to the Christmas fairy.’

I blinked up at him as he towered over me. ‘Me, you mean.’

‘Well, I’m not talking about Mrs Crill, although I’m sure she’s a very nice woman.’

There was a loaded silence. My chest gave a tiny fizz. ‘What are you trying to say, Blake?’

‘You were so dynamic and enthusiastic about the cabins, especially giving them their Christmas makeover.’ Blake rolled his eyes and flashed me that grin of his, which made my legs melt. ‘You were also a real champion of the area, what with helping out your local school and roping me in to becoming Santa.’

He let out a resigned sigh. ‘I was determined to do my best to put a spanner in the works about your plans. The last thing I wanted was to be surrounded by or get dragged into anything remotely festive. I was trying to put all those painful memories behind me.’

My eyes searched his. Was Blake saying what I think he was? ‘And then what happened? What changed?’

The breath stilled in my throat as Blake raised one hand and traced it down the side of my face. ‘I told myself over and over that I felt nothing for you. You were just a pain-in-the-arse colleague, with a Christmas obsession.’

‘Gee thanks!’

‘But it didn’t work. I thought you were so lovely that first day I came into Christmas Crackers, but the more I saw of you and the more I got to know you… When you were dancing around in the woods, eating snowflakes; all the help and support you gave me at the Christmas market; your enthusiasm in helping me put up decorations at Rock Solid Ramblings; the passionate way you stood up to me and faced me down about the cabins at the meetings, not to mention how worried you were when I was missing up Ben Linn…’

‘I was worried sick,’ I murmured.

Blake’s mouth inched closer to mine. ‘Yes. I know you were. You gave me a right rollocking.’ There was that cheeky grin again. ‘You punched me so hard on the arm, I thought you might have broken something.’

‘What a big, tough, macho man like you?’

‘It was rather sexy, actually.’

I swallowed, hypnotised.

‘I had no idea how kind and genuine you are. You’re like this gorgeous Christmas pixie.’

‘I don’t know whether to be pleased or offended.’

Blake rolled his eyes. ‘Please don’t interrupt me while I’m being all romantic. I’m trying to concentrate here.’

He brushed away a loose hair from my cheek. ‘It has taken this knuckle head of mine a bit of time to realise that I’m falling for you.’

A rush of breath escaped from my chest. My eyes greedily took in every part of him, even his thick black beard. I thought my heart was going to explode.

His gaze lingered on my lips. Oh God. I wanted to taste him so much, it was almost painful.