The Queen's Impossible Boss (The Christmas Princess Swap, Book 2) Page 13

  ‘You see what I mean?’ Ellen laughed.

  ‘The wood store looks good.’ Alvaro reappeared sooner than Jade expected.

  ‘They’re good lads.’ Ellen nodded. ‘They did it in record time.’

  Alvaro washed his hands before checking the contents of the pantry and giving a satisfied nod. ‘I’ll get under way.’

  ‘He comes every year to help with the preparations.’ Ellen sighed to Jade, but pride was evident in her voice. ‘He makes the Christmas butter.’

  ‘The Christmas butter?’ Jade laughed as she glanced across the table at him. ‘Alvaro?’

  He shrugged as he reached for an apron. ‘It’s the best and, no, I won’t share the recipe. I have my own secret blend of nuts and spices.’

  ‘It is the best.’ Ellen nodded. ‘I’ll give him that.’

  Of course, it was. Because Alvaro was the world’s most competitive person in everything he attempted.

  ‘It doesn’t take long,’ he said gruffly.

  But Jade didn’t want Ellen thinking she was making him cut this visit short.

  ‘Can I help? Please let me help.’ She rubbed her hands together nervously. ‘Anything that doesn’t require skill, that is.’

  ‘You don’t cook, PJ?’ Ellen asked.

  ‘Not really,’ Jade mumbled apologetically.

  ‘I’m sure you do other things,’ the older woman said with that oddly brisk kindness. ‘Not everyone can excel at everything, like that overachiever there.’ She gave Alvaro a warm glare.

  Alvaro had been looking thoughtfully at Jade. ‘We can make a start on the potatoes for you, Nel. I know you hate peeling.’

  ‘What I hate is the arthritis I get when I try.’ Ellen grimaced. ‘So, yes, thank you. You ordered far too many, even for us.’

  Jade watched Alvaro gather equipment.

  ‘I’ll peel, you chop, okay?’ he said.

  ‘Sure.’ She was just relieved she didn’t have to stand there uselessly any more.

  An hour passed swiftly as they slipped into a natural rhythm. Jade listened to the banter between Ellen and Alvaro—each ridiculously quizzing the other. Alvaro visibly relaxed and teased more. Once the potato mountain was peeled, he moved on to his famous butter—chopping a massive pile of nuts and dried fruit.

  ‘Will you stay for lunch?’ Ellen asked.

  ‘You know we can’t stay this time,’ he said instantly.

  ‘This time?’ Ellen rolled her eyes and gruffly scolded him again. ‘You flit in and tear up the place getting everything done and the second it is, you’re gone. You never stay.’

  ‘And you know there’s always the next job to be done...’

  ‘It’s supposed to be a holiday,’ Ellen grumbled before she turned to Jade. ‘Come and admire my Christmas tree, PJ,’ she ordered. ‘So chef here can maintain the secrecy of his recipe.’

  ‘It won’t be long,’ Alvaro reminded them as Jade dutifully followed Ellen to the dining room.

  The tree was in one corner, but the room’s real draw were the two large rectangular tables. Set end to end, they took up almost the entire space. An assortment of chairs was stacked in the corner while heaped on the end of the nearest table were packets of table decorations, Christmas-themed plates and tinsel. The courier sticker was still on the packaging of one and the name on it caught Jade’s eye—Ellen Byrne.

  Jade stilled, surprised. Alvaro had taken Ellen’s surname? So for how long had they been in each other’s lives? When had they met? And in what way had Ellen saved him? It was obvious they were close, and yet...

  ‘You do this every year?’ Jade sought to relieve some of her less intrusive curiosity.

  ‘Yes, and Alvaro arrives every Eve to help.’ Ellen straightened. ‘It’s not enough that he pays for everything.’ Her expression tightened. ‘He’s always paying...’

  ‘You don’t like him to?’ Jade asked.

  ‘I wish he didn’t feel that he has to,’ Ellen muttered. ‘And so much. Look at that pile of decorations. What am I supposed to do with them all?’

  Jade chuckled. ‘People like being able to do things for those they love. I guess this is something he can do?’

  ‘He ought to understand that the Christmas butter is enough. But every year he sends more and stays less.’

  Jade had been surprised that he’d arrived seemingly empty-handed but of course he’d already provided the things—the food, the heating, the whole house. All those vital, practical things. But then he left. Jade couldn’t help wondering what it was that made him feel as if he couldn’t stay. Why didn’t he want to? Because it wasn’t for lack of welcome. Ellen obviously would like nothing more.

  ‘He doesn’t like to be a burden.’ Ellen sat in a chair at the table and softly offered her opinion on the questions Jade hadn’t even voiced. ‘He doesn’t understand that he never was that to me.’

  ‘What was he?’ Jade asked.

  ‘Everything.’

  Jade nodded. She could understand how that might be so. But then she heard Ellen draw a breath and she just knew a question was coming. A personal question she had no good answer to. So she got in first to avoid it. ‘There are a lot of decorations. Would you like me to see if I can do something with them?’

  Ellen took her measure for a long moment. Then she smiled. ‘Unlike Alvaro, I never say no to an offer of help. You go for it.’

  ‘Great. Then you go have a coffee with him.’ Jade smiled and looked back at the packets of printed paper plates. ‘And leave me to this. It’ll be fun.’

  It was fun—because there was an insane amount of Christmas decorations and Jade had never got to do Christmas decorations before. She set the chairs out, having seen the way footmen and maids prepared tables for formal receptions at the palace. She knew the sort of thing that was required. But this was better with all the whimsical little ornaments and snowy glitter to scatter everywhere.

  ‘Uh, Jade?’

  She looked up, suddenly self-conscious, and realised Alvaro was standing in the doorway, an odd expression in his eyes.

  ‘I just need a few more minutes,’ she said apologetically, glancing down at the table. She’d not realised how extraordinarily colourful she’d made it. ‘I’m not quite done yet...’

  Had she done an okay job? Or was this...too much?

  ‘Sure thing.’ He nodded slowly. ‘Come back to the kitchen when you’re done. It’s looking amazing.’

  But he wasn’t looking at the table when he said that.

  That betraying warmth scalded her cheeks and she looked back down at the paper serviettes. Truth was she’d started off slow purely to give Ellen time with Alvaro, but she’d truly lost track of time. It had been a bigger job than she’d realised.

  When she eventually went back to the kitchen she found Alvaro standing, his jacket already on, and teasingly tapping his watch.

  ‘Are you finally ready to leave?’ she teased and met his stare limpidly.

  ‘As if it’s my fault we’re leaving late?’

  As Jade walked ahead to the car she heard Alvaro’s soft query to the older woman.

  ‘You’re okay?’ he asked her.

  ‘I’m always okay. But I’m always better for seeing you.’

  Jade knew just how she felt.

  Alvaro couldn’t bear to look at Jade, yet couldn’t tear his gaze away—his damn body betrayed him every time. Her stunning hair hung in those half-curls down her back and that emerald jacket with its warm, woolly lining brought out the sparkle in her eyes and the roses in her cheeks. He wanted to grab the lapels, tug her close and taste her again. She looked like a fresh-baked treat—glitter-dusted by all those ludicrous decorations. He wanted to haul her to his hideaway and keep her all to himself like a selfish treasure-hoarding dragon.

  And, for just a few nights, he was going to.

  He got
into the car and waited for her to fasten her seat belt. At least the darkening sky was doing him a favour—he wouldn’t be able to see her as she sat beside him. Leaving Ellen’s almost two hours later than planned shouldn’t matter. He should be relieved to have less time completely alone with Jade and be pleased to have spent more time helping out Ellen. But Jade had had more time with Ellen too and her super-polite reticence had almost instantly melted, revealing her innate warmth and humour.

  ‘Thanks for being so patient with Ellen,’ he said gruffly.

  ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ Jade sounded surprised. ‘It was a privilege to meet her.’

  He found he couldn’t say anything to that. Ellen was the most important person in his life. But he was deeply private and protective towards her. So someone seeing, someone knowing? But Jade wasn’t just someone. And she was precious too. Even when he didn’t want her to be.

  ‘Did you think I would find it a chore?’ Her voice cooled.

  An ache bloomed in his chest. He’d not meant to offend her. ‘I figure you have to meet people all the time. It must get tiring.’

  ‘I might not find it naturally easy, but I do try.’

  Oh, she did. And whether she found it easy or not, she was good at it. She listened and set people at ease. ‘You were lovely with her.’ He forced himself to smile and lighten the mood. ‘But dressing the Christmas table, Jade?’

  ‘I thought you and Ellen might like some time to catch up without me.’

  Yeah, he’d suspected she’d fiddled about with those decorations as a stalling tactic so Ellen could talk with him longer—asking everything but those questions that really mattered. They both knew to avoid those. But Jade had wanted more time for them. Because Jade was very sweet.

  ‘You didn’t need to do that,’ he muttered, a little hoarse. ‘Ellen and I understand each other perfectly well.’

  ‘It was fun,’ she parried lightly.

  Yeah, she had enjoyed it. He’d seen that when he’d gone to find out what was taking her so long—he’d been unable to resist quietly spying on her. She’d taken such care and such sweet joy, becoming self-conscious only when she’d realised how long she’d taken. She’d joked about making origami animals from paper towels, but he’d seen the pleasure she’d found in setting out gaudy dollar-shop decorations and hanging tinsel as if she’d never touched it before. And she possibly hadn’t—not up close, not to play with herself. Even in their poorest moments Ellen had found a string of tinsel from somewhere and Alvaro never let her go without yards of it now. Ellen had struggled on her own for so long and he owed everything to her. And for once it was easier to talk about her rather than think about the other woman currently sitting beside him.

  ‘I’ve tried to get her into a new place,’ he said. ‘But she won’t move. I changed her appliances though. Haven’t heard the end of it. Her baking has suffered ever since, apparently.’

  Jade chuckled.

  ‘She’s useless at accepting help.’ He smiled fondly. ‘Fiercely independent, to the point of frustration. But she worked so hard for so long and never got ahead. It wasn’t her fault. There just weren’t the hours in the day and by the time she took me on, she was tired. In my early teens I realised that getting her out of that hand-to-mouth cycle was down to me. She was worn down from all those years working all those hours to support others. Her own family. Her mother. Her brother. Then me.’

  She should’ve had someone who’d helped her long before him. And he’d been part of the burden holding her down for too long already.

  ‘And you did that, right? She doesn’t have to work any more if she doesn’t want to.’

  She still did, of course. He nodded.

  ‘You keep her house maintained, you stock her pantry.’

  ‘She gives most of it away. She takes in all manner of waifs and strays and I worry she’ll get taken advantage of again.’

  ‘Again?’

  That ‘family’ of hers had more than taken advantage. They’d used her up, literally worn her out. It had only been when she’d taken Alvaro that she’d finally fully escaped them. When she’d seen what they’d done to him.

  ‘She gives too much,’ he said in vague explanation.

  ‘Is that possible?’

  ‘When it’s at your own expense—yes.’ It had cost Ellen—her youth, her time, her health, her own future.

  ‘So you only see her on Christmas Eve,’ she said softly. ‘You don’t go to her dinner on the day?’

  ‘I don’t want to add to her load. It’s really just another job for her, only this time the restaurant is at her home. I don’t understand why she still does it when she doesn’t have to. Why she wants all the work of cooking for a bunch of people she doesn’t really know. You’d think she’d want a break.’

  ‘Maybe she appreciates the break from the financial stress, sure. But perhaps there are other things she gets out of it? Being needed...caring for someone or something. That’s important to a lot of people.’

  ‘Not to me,’ he muttered. He refused to allow it to be. ‘I owe Ellen and I’ll always support her and I’ll support my employees. But beyond that?’

  He needed his space and his freedom. He glanced sideways and saw the pure scepticism on her face. ‘You don’t believe me?’

  ‘I don’t believe for a second that you don’t care.’

  ‘Well, you’re wrong.’ As he rejected her notion a bitter bubble formed right below his ribs and forced him to challenge her back. ‘Who do you care for?’

  ‘My country.’

  His lips twisted. ‘One person’s not enough for you? You need a whole nation?’

  ‘Apparently,’ she answered lightly.

  ‘You and Ellen,’ he murmured softly. ‘She won’t say no either. Does all things for all people. She won’t give up on someone no matter what, and she’ll forgive almost anything.’

  ‘Do you forgive?’

  That bitter bubble burst, sending that acid through every cell. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘I think you forgave Juno’s mistake.’

  He grunted dismissively. ‘I’m not talking that kind of thing. That was nothing.’

  ‘What kind of thing can’t you forgive, Alvaro?’

  He glanced at her. She’d swivelled in her seat and was studying him too closely. And as he saw the seeking emotion in her eyes he blanched inwardly. He could never tell her all of it. He could never tell anyone. This whole conversation had to be over.

  ‘You should rest, we have quite a drive yet.’ He pressed the sound system on the car and sleigh bells rang out.

  Thankfully, she took his cue. ‘Christmas music?’

  ‘Uh-huh. Cheesy Christmas music. That’s what we’re doing here, right? Christmas.’

  ‘So you’re not working tomorrow?’ she asked.

  ‘Guess not.’ He swallowed.

  He didn’t want to think about tomorrow. Or yesterday. Or any time ever. He’d give anything to distract himself from her right now. Because having her here with him, wanting her to like where they were going...holding onto her company longer than he should... It all mattered. And he really, really didn’t want it to matter.

  A couple of hours later she saw it and broke the silence.

  ‘Is that a lighthouse?’ She sat upright in her seat and stared hard at the building they were heading towards.

  He nodded. ‘Reactivated after it was restored a few years ago,’ he said, glad to focus on something that wasn’t personal. ‘There are a few private towers along the coastline here—this is one of them. It’s not neon, but it is a flashing light. A pretty big one.’

  ‘Is it yours?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘That’s amazing.’ Her face lit up before the lamplight even got to it.

  But that bitterness swirling inside him had lodged deep. ‘You’re not just finding some
thing positive to say?’

  ‘No! Alvaro, this is the coolest thing ever.’ She looked back at him and all the light a man could ever want shone in her eyes. ‘It’s beautiful.’

  ‘It is not a palace, Jade.’ He half laughed. But her excitement broke through and pleased him an inordinate amount.

  ‘I don’t need a palace. I’ve spent too long in one of those already.’

  And she would be going back to it soon. At least she wasn’t going to marry some unworthy aristocrat now. But he half wished she were—that would make her completely forbidden again.

  He gripped the wheel, glad of the cover of darkness.

  ‘It’s beautiful,’ she muttered again softly, leaning forward to see better as he drove down the narrow private road. His road. And for the first time, he wasn’t travelling it alone.

  The beacon guided him. It had always been a source of peace—like a sanctuary. And it had been gut instinct to bring her with him—that undeniable certainty that she shouldn’t be alone this Christmas. Even though he had little to offer her really. But to make up for that, he’d arranged a couple of Christmassy things that he couldn’t face right now.

  But the reason why he couldn’t face them was the truth he needed to avoid even more.

  He couldn’t bear to think any more. Or talk. Or do anything other than survive. Because as he parked the car, finally home, he was barely hanging onto his self-control.

  Jade walked to the lighthouse cottage beside him, aware of a terrible tension within him and not understanding why it had suddenly sprung. In silence he swiftly unlocked the door and ushered her in. Aside from the beaming beacon itself, the only other light was from the Christmas tree at the end of the short hallway, so she still couldn’t see his face properly. She really needed to see him. But before she could say anything, he caught her hand.

  ‘Come up to the tower,’ he muttered.

  She followed him up the curling staircase that had been tucked to the left of the door. Around and around she climbed higher, her pulse rising too with every step. It was narrow up there, but—

  ‘This is incredible,’ she breathed as she took in the bright lamplight and the darkened, wide windows.