Page 83 of Christmas at the Castle
“No. We had a wonderful afternoon.” Too wonderful. He wanted more.
“That’s what she said, but she wouldn’t rat you out if you’d been awful to her.”
That surprised him. “Why not?”
“Because she wants to lessen my stress. Something she read in a book about being a bridesmaid.”
“You seem stressed out tonight.”
“I don’t want my brother hurting my friend.”
Defensiveness rose inside him. “I didn’t. We got along fine.” This probably wasn’t the time to tell Sophie he’d kissed Kat. There might never be a good time for that. “Kat enjoyed herself.”
“That’s what she told me. It’s just…”
“What?”
“She seems off. Like something is bothering her.”
“You naturally assumed that was me.”
“Based on your past—”
“We were kids back then. Today was fun.” He walked to his nightstand and picked up the snow globe. “If I’d been such a beast, do you think she would have given me this?”
Sophie’s mouth formed a perfect O. “That dog looks like Maximillian.”
He nodded. “Whatever’s bothering Kat has nothing to do with me.”
But he wondered what was wrong with her, and if there was anything he could do to help.
Sophie reached for the door handle. “Well, if you’re sure.”
“I am. See you at dinner.”
She opened the door. Gasped. Closed the door so only a crack of light from the hallway showed.
“What—?”
“Shhh.” She lowered her voice. “Jamie is at Kat’s door.”
Gill stood behind his sister. He hated to resort to eavesdropping, but he wanted to know what was going on.For Jamie’s sake, Gill rationalized, but he knew he was lying to himself. “Let me see.”
“Don’t open the door anymore or they’ll see us,” Sophie whispered.
Through the crack, Gill stared over the top of his sister’s head and watched the interaction in the hallway. Jamie used lots of hand motions as if he were excited. Kat laughed.
What was so funny? Had Jamie made a joke?
A vise tightened around Gill’s heart and squeezed out the last drops of blood. Kat looked so animated, so beautiful. And it was Jamie standing there, not Gill.
Had she forgotten about their wonderful day together?
His muscles coiled tight like springs. He glanced at the snow globe. “Can you hear them?”
“No.” Sophie kept her voice low. “But I hope Kat invites Jamie in for a little pre-dinner partying.”
Gill’s hands curled. “She better not.”
