For Christmas, Forever: The Yuletide Engagement / The Doctor's Christmas Bride / Snowbound Reunion. Barbara McMahon

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      ‘That she is,’ Patrick acknowledged evenly. ‘I would hate to see her hurt in any way,’ he added softly, a dangerous stillness surrounding him.

      Ellie was watching Gareth as Patrick made this remark. The handsome face remained pleasantly smiling, but there was a certain wariness in the younger man’s eyes.

      She wasn’t sure it was absolutely wise for Patrick to challenge the other man, even in this mild way—not when his cousin’s happiness was at stake. But, as she was quickly learning, Patrick really did like to do things his own way.

      Gareth gave an inclination of his head. ‘We really should be getting back; George is going to announce our engagement as soon as the coffee has been served.’

      ‘So I believe,’ Patrick rasped, once again holding tightly to Ellie’s arm as he felt her stiffen. ‘You go ahead,’ he encouraged the other man. ‘I just want to—have a few minutes alone with Ellie,’ he drawled dryly.

      ‘I was just telling Ellie that she’s a bit of a dark horse,’ Gareth drawled teasingly. ‘Who knows, Ellie? We may even be related to each other one day!’ he added mockingly.

      How Ellie wanted to smack that confident smile off his handsome face!

      But instead she felt cold common sense come over her as she answered him. ‘Somehow I doubt that very much,’ she told him scathingly.

      ‘I do hope your intentions are honourable, Patrick.’ Gareth’s smile didn’t reach the hard glitter of his eyes. ‘I should warn you George is extremely fond of Ellie—treats her almost like another daughter. He will not be happy if he thinks you’re trifling with her affections!’

      She really would hit him in a minute, common sense notwithstanding!

      George Delacorte was fond of her, and had taken her slightly under his parental wing after her parents had died. Which was what made this situation so difficult now; she would hate any inaction on her part to contribute to the unhappiness of George’s only child. But at the same time, as Patrick had already pointed out, what could any of them do about it?

      Patrick gave a confident smile as he released Ellie’s arm and put his own arm about the slenderness of her waist. ‘I don’t think Ellie was referring to our own relationship when she cast doubt on the two of you ever being related,’ he assured the other man derisively.

      Gareth’s gaze narrowed assessingly on the older man. ‘I really wouldn’t pay too much attention to secondhand opinions, if I were you, Patrick—especially when those opinions are biased, as Ellie’s undoubtedly are,’ he added, with a pitying glance in her direction.

      Ellie would have hit him then, if Patrick’s hand hadn’t moved from her waist to take a firm grip of her arm once more. Gareth was making her sound like some twisted, lovesick, scorned woman, out to hurt him in any way that she could!

      ‘I make a point of always forming my own opinions concerning other people,’ Patrick told the other man smoothly. ‘Which is why I’m here with Ellie this evening,’ he added softly.

      Gareth nodded. ‘I know how much Ellie hated the thought of coming here on her own tonight.’

      Why, the condescending—

      ‘I can assure you, that was never an option,’ Patrick told the other man derisively, turning to smile at Ellie, the hard glitter in his eyes telling her of his own—controlled—anger. ‘There are plenty of other men who would willingly have taken my place tonight,’ he assured Gareth hardly.

      ‘Of course,’ Gareth agreed sceptically. ‘Well, I really should be getting back,’ he added lightly. ‘It wouldn’t do for one half of the engaged couple not to be in the room when the announcement is made, now, would it?’ He smiled before walking confidently back into the restaurant.

      Ellie let out a deep breath, unaware until that moment that she had actually been holding it. The last few minutes had told her that Gareth was even more dangerous than she had thought he was. His vindictiveness where she was concerned was more than obvious—to the point that he had deliberately tried to belittle her in front of Patrick, to make her sound like a—

      ‘Don’t let him get to you, Ellie.’ Patrick was looking down at her concernedly. ‘He only behaved in the way he did because he’s still not quite sure how much you’ve told me about him,’ he added hardly.

      Her main emotion at this moment was embarrassment. That she had been fooled by Gareth in the first place. That Patrick knew she had been fooled by him!

      Because Patrick’s opinion was important to her. And that had nothing to do with that pride she had been so desperately trying to hang onto for the last six weeks and everything to do with the fact that she did not want Patrick to think of her as some poor, wounded woman, still in love with Gareth Davies.

      Which, in turn, led her to wonder why Patrick’s opinion of her was so important…

      She gave a dismissive shake of her head; she couldn’t think about that right now—had other things to deal with. ‘I think Gareth could be a very dangerous man,’ she said slowly.

      ‘Not dangerous,’ Patrick dismissed confidently. ‘Irritating, yes. Extremely so as far as George is concerned. But I was watching Gareth Davies through dinner—and whenever he thought no one else was taking any notice he was watching you. The fact that he saw you go out of the room and followed you shows that he isn’t quite as confident of the situation as he would like us to think he is,’ he added shrewdly.

      Ellie eyed him uncertainly. ‘He isn’t?’ Gareth had seemed extremely confident to her! She hadn’t been aware of the other man watching her as they all ate dinner either. But obviously Patrick had…

      Patrick gave a slow shake of his head. ‘You obviously bother Gareth Davies very much.’

      ‘Somehow I doubt that,’ she scorned disbelievingly.

      ‘Oh, yes, you bother him, Ellie. At least, your being with me, Sarah’s cousin, bothers him,’ Patrick muttered, obviously deep in thought. ‘In fact, we may not have to do anything other than produce you on a regular basis,’ he added shrewdly.

      Her eyes widened. ‘What do you mean?’

      Patrick grinned. ‘You have him rattled, Ellie!’ he said with satisfaction. ‘All we have to do is keep up the pressure.’

      Ellie wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that! In exactly what way was Patrick proposing they ‘keep up the pressure’…?

      ‘Do you remember George mentioning a party earlier?’ he reminded her.

      ‘Tomorrow,’ Ellie nodded slowly, eyeing him warily.

      As far as she was concerned this evening was a oneoff situation. Especially as it had turned out to be so much more complicated than she could ever have realised.

      But Patrick seemed to have other ideas…

      He nodded. ‘The official engagement party.’ He grimaced. ‘I think it would be a good idea if you were to—’

      ‘No,’ Ellie cut in firmly, at the same time shaking her head in protest. ‘The СКАЧАТЬ