Snowy Christmas by Helen Scott Taylor Read Free Book Online Page B

stubborn scowl, but it didn't stop her
from grabbing a second pot of chocolate.
    "What's your favorite of these desserts,
Owen?" Emily asked. He hadn't taken a bite yet, just stared
longingly at the display.
    "Crumble and custard. Can I take one home for
dinner? I'd better not eat it now. Jennifer says I'm eating too
much sugar. She's banned my chocolate chip cookies."
    Marcus chuckled. "That's the advantage of not
having a wife. I can eat as much as I want of anything." Marcus put
his arm around Emily's shoulders. "With Emily, I have all the
advantages of having a wife without having one."
    An awkward silence filled the room as
everyone paused, spoons halfway to their mouths, and stared at
Emily in surprise.
    She was rather surprised herself. Marcus
obviously didn't mean to, but he'd made their relationship sound
more intimate than it was, and she should set the record straight.
As she pondered how to phrase her response, Paddy moved things on
by jumping up at the table with his front paws and slurping a crème
brûlée.
    "Paddy. Naughty boy," Chloe shouted. "Get
down."
    "I guess that's why the environmental health
officer told us not to allow the dogs in the kitchen," Vicky said,
amusement in her voice.
    Paddy circled the table and tried for a
crumble and custard at the other end. Owen grabbed his collar and
snapped on his leash. "Oh no, you don't. Time for us to go, I
think. Chloe just wants to ask you something before we leave."
    "Auntie Vicky, can I be a waitress at the
wedding this weekend to earn some pocket money to buy Christmas
presents?"
    Vicky glanced at Emily, eyebrows raised. "I
don't see why not."
    "I'm sure Chloe will make a great waitress."
To be consulted by Vicky gave Emily a lump in her throat. In only
two weeks, she already felt so much a part of the team at Rosemoor
Hall. She loved this place and the people, and it was great to know
they valued her opinion.
    "Thank you." Chloe hugged Vicky, and then
wrapped her arms around Emily to hug her too.
    Emily smiled and hugged the skinny teen back.
This made her feel almost part of the family. She glanced at Marcus
as he scoffed a second sticky toffee pudding, and a burst of
affection squeezed her chest.
    It was too late to stop from falling in love
with her boss. She'd already fallen.

Chapter
Eight
    Marcus let Peggy out the back door and was about to
put on his Wellington boots when he wondered if Emily and Snow
White would like to join them for a turn around the lawn under the
stars before dinner.
    No matter what he was doing, Emily stayed on
his mind. He'd tried to keep a professional distance this week, be
more like an employer. But it was no good—he loved Emily's company.
Every new day he spent with her, the feeling grew that he wanted
them to be more than employer and employee, and more than
friends.
    He padded up the corridor in his socks and
paused in the kitchen doorway. Emily wiped her finger around the
inside of a crème brûlée pot. He expected her to put it in her
mouth—rather hoped that she would, actually.
    Instead she bent and offered the creamy
finger to Snow White to lick.
    "Caught you," Marcus said in a mock stern
voice.
    Emily jumped visibly and he laughed.
    "Oh, Marcus." She pressed a hand over her
heart. "Snowy has been so good today. I wanted to give her a taste.
You don't mind, do you?"
    "Of course not." Marcus didn't confide that
he regularly let Peggy lick his plates and bowls before he put them
in the dishwasher. It saved having to rinse them off.
    "I'm going for a quick walk with Pegs. Do you
want to come?"
    "I've just about finished up here, so that'll
be nice. Snowy needs a trip outside."
    Marcus propped a shoulder on the door frame
while Emily put the last couple of dishes in the washer. Then she
took off her apron and hung it on a hook.
    There was something incredibly sexy about the
way she untied the apron and slipped it off over her head. He
looked down and rubbed the back of his neck. He had it bad if he
found an apron