Page 25 of A Winter Wish

“I know,” Lexie said, nodding serenely. “It’s impressive, a skill I’ve tried to keep hidden in case it turns me into a circus freak.”

“Very wise,” Theo said seriously. “No one will ever look at you the same if they know you have skills like that.”

Lexie felt her lips tugging, but refused to give in to the smile. A man selling flowers—yellow, of course—came up at that moment, trying to convince Theo to buy one. Lexie left him to it, returning to browsing the nearest stalls. If only she had a garden, then she could take some lemon plants back with her. Although, did they let you take plants on a plane? She could hear Theo trying to say no to the flowers, and then cave, a bit more easily than she’d expected him to.

She shook her head at him as the flower seller walked away. “You’d have thought you’d be better at avoiding all the tourist traps if you run a travel business.”

“Yeah. Well, your dad drilled into me the need to support local businesses as much as possible, to the extent that I’m a pushover, apparently.” He frowned down at the flower, then thrust it at her. “Here.”

“Oh. Thanks.” She took it, looking down at it as she twirled the long stem in her fingers. Tried to ignore the stupid little fizzle of pleasure in her stomach at being given a flower. Then she looked up at him again. “Look, I wanted to talk to you.”

He gestured, inviting her to carry on.

“About what you said before lunch.”

“Which part, exactly?” His voice was infuriatingly mild.

“The part where you said you didn’t want to sell the company.”

“Is that what I said? I thought I just referred to the fact that we’ve not actually had a conversation about it—that we haven’t, technically, agreed on anything yet.”

She shook her head, disbelieving—and the fizzle of pleasure evaporated. “I want to sell it. You know that.”

“OK. Noted.”

“Noted? Noted?” It reminded her of their little email exchange, and she felt her blood heat. “What is that supposed to mean?” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lucy glance over at them from a few stalls down.

Theo glanced that way too, then stepped in toward her. Close. So close that she had to tilt her head up to look at him, so that she could see the way the amber had flared in his otherwise dark eyes. That hint of sandalwood washed over her, mingling with the citrus all around them.

“Can I remind you,” he muttered in a rough undertone, “that we are supposed to be helping the guests have a good time? Not arguing in front of them.”

“I literally cannot believe you,” she hissed back. And to think she’d believed they might be finding their way to a more even footing around each other.

He cocked that stupid eyebrow.

“Fine,” she bit out, keeping her voice low. “I’ll find you later and we can talk about it then.”

“Right. You do that.”

She glared at him as she pulled back. Then she shoved the flower he’d given her back into his chest and walked away, leaving him to catch it.

Chapter Ten

In the end, Lexie didn’t see Theo properly again until the following evening. She’d gone to bed early the night before, tired after having a drink with Lucy in the bar. Even though he’d also been at the crêpe-making class, she’d been distracted by the actual activity of making said crêpes, getting covered in flour in the process, and although he’d glanced her way a few times, she hadn’t actually managed to advance the conversation at all. But maybe that was for the best. She needed to think about how to play it all, what to say. There was no point getting into a stalemate—and surely he couldn’t actually just refuse to sell the company? It would have to be a joint decision, as per the contract. Which was what she kept repeating to herself as she headed downstairs to the hotel lobby, ready to meet the group for the evening carnival celebration.

Nearly everyone was down in reception, coats already done up as they waited for the last stragglers. Mike and Theo were standing a bit apart, talking in low voices, Theo’s mouth pressed into a serious, considering line. Lexie bit her lip, wondering whether to join them or go and make small talk, but Mike saw her, broke off the conversation, and smiled, beckoning her over.

“How were the pancakes?” he asked as she approached.

“A lot of fun,” Lexie said, smiling at him and acknowledging Theo with barely a glance.

“You missed the daytime parade,” Mike said. “We went to see it the day before you got here. It was fabulous, acrobats and everything. But the nighttime extravaganza is the highlight, wouldn’t you say, Theo?”

“Sure.”

“Such a high recommendation—don’t contain your excitement just for me.”

He met her gaze. “Trust me, it’s not my excitement I struggle to contain around you.” She swore there was a challenge in the way he looked at her right now, and she only tore her gaze away when Mike spoke again.