Page 12 of Christmas Secrets

“That’s enough, Noe,” said Percival, putting the boy down.

“My name is Noel, not No,” he complained.

“No, it’s Noe,” said Percival.

“No, it’s not.”

“Oh, it’s Not? I thought it was Noe since there is No L in your name.” Percival reached out and ruffled the boy’s hair.

“That’s funny,” said Noel, sniffling and wiping his nose with the back of his hand. “Let’s play another game.”

“Mayhap later. Right now, I have a stair to fix.” Percival picked up the board and inspected it, taking it with him as he headed for the barn.

“Noel, go inside. It’s cold out and you’re already sniffling. I’ll be there soon,” Holly told him. “I’m going to help Percival fix the stair.”

“Huh?” Percival stopped and turned to look at her.

“I mean, Lord Percival,” she corrected herself, not wanting to make him upset again.

“I’ll start getting some ivy and juniper boughs together to make a wreath for the door.” Noel jumped over the broken step and ran into the house.

“You do that,” she mumbled, hurrying after Percival who had somehow already made it to the barn. God’s eyes, he had long legs and an even longer stride!

She followed him inside, stopping next to him. He was on his knees digging through an old trunk.

“What are you doing?”

“I thought there were some gardening tools in here somewhere.” He rummaged through some things in the trunk.

“You’re going to garden? In the snow?”

“Nay. My family has a nun and a girl named Hazel who keep up the grounds here since Imanie died. However, I don’t think they come in the winter. Oh, here we are.”

He stood up with a pair of shears in one hand, a hammer in the other.

“Garden shears? For what?” she asked with a giggle.

“For taking the nails out of the board. Which is your job, by the way.” He handed her the shears.

“All right,” she said, looking oddly at the shears, wondering just what he wanted her to do with them.

“Let me show you.” He put the board on a bench, using his foot to keep it still. The nails stuck up in the air. “These nails are no good. They’re bent. So, use the shears to snip them off flush to the board.”

“I’ve never done this before.”

“Like this.” He pulled her over to him, tucking her in up against his chest to get his arm around her. He placed his hand over hers to demonstrate. The feel of his hot skin touching hers sent a delightful shiver up her spine. “Grab, twist, and pull. It pops right off. See?”

She would have seen if she had been watching. Instead she was looking up at him, and once again their faces were very close.

“I see.” Her eyes drank him in, her gaze stopping at his mouth again as she looked at him over her shoulder.

“Do you,” he said. “Then you’ll see this as well.”

Before she could ask what he meant, he leaned over and kissed her right on the mouth. It surprised her, as well as the fact that he let the kiss linger.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “You wanted me to promise not to touch you,” he said in a deep, sexy voice. She turned to face him and he cradled her chin with his large hand.

“You don’t need to keep that promise.” She raised her chin slightly, inviting another kiss.