A Villain for Christmas (The Holyoake Christmas Series, Book 2)

Shameless Lampshading

After the singing and then some pudding, the evening was nothing but a series of unfortunate - for Billie - events. First, the twins started falling asleep in random spots around the sitting room; and Clem and Rhys took them upstairs to a guest bedroom. He and Viola started getting ready to leave, their triplets were at Sam Holyoake's. Ulla and Oliver joined them; they couldn't stay for long, they'd left their child with a sitter for the first time. Since Lily needed to be taken home as well, there was no more room in the car. Billie picked up her mobile to call herself a cab, which was met with an outburst of protests. Dair was the only one who didn't reject the idea outright, but he insisted on paying for her ride. Rhys started saying he'd come back and drive Billie home. The vicar said he'd walk so Billie could take his spot. Billie was getting a strong 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' vibe from her situation.

And then Nana Holyoake postulated that Billie was staying over in a guest bedroom; and suddenly everyone was saying cordial goodbyes. Jackets rustled, doors banged; and suddenly everyone but Billie, Dair, Clem, and Nana, was gone.

Nana left Clem to look after Billie, kissed everyone's cheeks, and ascended to the first floor with dignity. Clem explained to Billie that accidental plus-ones at the cottage were no rarity; and that Billie would find anything she might need, including pyjamas and a new toothbrush, in the closet or in the ensuite of the second guest bedroom. Something in the writer's tone felt off, but she had to hurry upstairs to check on her children, so Billie had no choice but to accept it and to head to the kitchen to join Dair for the washing up they'd been tasked with. The man was meticulously loading the dishwasher. Billie helped as much as she could.

When she stifled her fifth jaw-breaking yawn, he chuckled.

"Why d-don't you go to bed, cara? I'll finish here, and then head to the Hall."

"No, no, that's not fair," Billie mumbled. "I will– I'll get the rest of the cups from–"

She wobbled, and Dair's palm lay on her shoulder steadying her. Billie rocked forward and bumped her forehead into him.

"C'mon, polpetta, time for some kip," he said tenderly.

Billie made a protesting noise and wrapped her arms around him. Obviously, she was simply trying to make sure that he'd let her stay! It had nothing to do with the heat as if radiating from him, and how he smelled of satsumas and humbugs!

"Aren't you quite a coccolona all of a sudden?" His palm lay on the back of her neck; the other one on her shoulder blades; and he started walking her backwards. "Alright, let's just come here," he murmured, manoeuvring her.

Something - the sofa, as it turned out - cut her under her knees, and Billie heavily dropped her backside on it.

"How about you stay here for a bit, polpetta?"

"But just for a bit, yeah?" Billie slurred - and slumped sideways.

***

"Billie, amore, you can't sleep on the sofa." Dair's smoky baritone teased her ear; and Billie smiled, half in her sleep.

'Rush onward with uninterrupted sweep; A voice out of the silence of the deep, / A sound mysteriously multiplied / As of a cataract from the mountain's side.'

"Cara, can you get up, or would you like me to carry you?"

Billie didn't find out what her presently somnambulating self answered - but soon she was flying; and then she sank into a cloud of fresh, pleasantly cool sheets.

***

And then she was sharply awake, her heart thrashing in her throat - and she shot up, like a wind-up tin chicken toy.