Holiday Affair by Annie Seaton Read Free Book Online

water on the table, as excited cries drifted in from the back garden.
    “Yes, I’m fine,” she said.
    “Uncle Dom’s here!” The roar of a large motorcycle coming up the driveway drowned out the excited squeals of the children.
    “Thanks, Melissa.” Lissy found herself with two babies unceremoniously dropped on her knees as the three sisters jumped up and ran out through the French doors to the driveway.
    Tessa ran through the living room like a young girl, her black curls tumbling from the ribbon. Tom reached over and took one of the babies from Lissy’s lap.
    “Sorry, Melissa, I did try to warn you about this mad lot, but they are in even finer form tonight with Dom coming home. Once Mama assures herself that he is really home and in one piece, things will settle down and we will probably have a relatively civilized meal.” There was a flurry of noise and movement as the children ran back inside, chattering with excitement, followed closely by the adults.
    “Uncle Dom, did you bring us any presents? Any shrunken heads?”
    Lissy looked at Tom and laughed. “Shrunken heads?”
    “It’s a common occurrence. I don’t know if I mentioned to you that Dom is the new professor in the history faculty.
    He’s been doing research in the South Pacific for the last two years and has come home to write up his thesis and do some lecturing in the undergraduate Pacific history course. He’s always sending gruesome bits and pieces to our nephews and they love it.”
    Lissy looked up at him, surprised. “Mrs. Mac, my landlady, was talking about him this morning. He’s moving into the other flat in the cottage. I didn’t realize he was your brother.”
    “Mama won’t be happy about that. I think she hoped he would stay at home for a while, although I can understand why he wants his own place. The noise level here tonight is normal and there wouldn’t be much chance of getting his thesis written.”
    Lissy stood up and shifted the baby to her hip, and small chubby hands reached out and grabbed a handful of her hair. Tom placed one hand gently on her neck as he untangled the baby’s hand from the bunch of curls he had pulled from her clip. Tom’s body blocked Lissy’s view of the newcomer and her heart almost stopped as she heard a familiar deep voice.
    “Tomas, a girlfriend and a baby? About time!” Tom turned around laughing as he grabbed his brother in a huge hug with lots of affectionate backslapping. “Girlfriend maybe, but this is Sophie’s third-born, you idiot.” Lissy turned in shock and her head spun as she looked up into familiar blue eyes. Dom’s attention shifted to Lissy, and the tight smile on his face sent a chill shivering down her spine as she struggled to keep a firm hold on the baby and fight the dizziness blurring her vision.
    She felt her nipples peak against her turtleneck sweater. How wonderful, and bizarre, to see him again, even though he looked so taken aback…even mad. She opened her mouth to say so, but was interrupted by Tom.
    “Dominic, this is Melissa McIntyre, a good friend of mine from the university. Melissa just told me that you’ll be working in her faculty.”
    Nick reached over and took Lissy’s free hand in his as she carefully juggled the baby on her hip. “What a coincidence,” he drawled. “Delighted to meet you, Melissa.”
    Lissy turned and handed the baby back to Sophie as Tessa came over and clapped her hands, inviting everyone to make their way out to dinner. The room began to clear as the family followed Nick outside; Lissy took the opportunity to dash to the bathroom.
    Wide-eyed, she raised trembling fingers to her cheeks as she looked into the mirror and saw the pallor under her tan. She pinched her cheeks before running cold water over her wrists.
    What was the probability of Nick— Nick from her holiday fling—being the new professor in her history faculty at the university? And the brother of her friend who had hinted at a future together tonight? And