Millionaire Under The Mistletoe

She already missed the cramped terrace house and the merry music Flo played in the evenings. She longed for the funny, bent Christmas tree Adrian had salvaged after a Boxing Day party a couple of years ago.

Why the hell had she agreed to come? Because of an inexplicable yearning to see the place Callum called home. And, to a lesser extent, for the cash incentive he’d offered.

Because they needed the money.

Miranda gave a silent sigh. It always came back to money. A predicament he had put her family into. If she didn’t maintain that belief, she might go mad. And while she wouldn’t accept his charity, she was going to use every commission, every lead he offered, to get herself out of this financial quagmire.

At least she hadn’t given in to her urge to unload the burden of Adrian being blackmailed. Judging by Callum’s black-and-white statement about accountability, he would expect Adrian to face charges.

Callum was a rigid autocrat who gave no quarter. There was no doubt that he would have her brother convicted of using the car without permission.

Adrian’s concern about spending Christmas in jail was too real to dismiss.

Nine

They rounded a bend and unexpectedly Fairwinds rose up against the sky ahead of them. Fingers of winter sunlight pressed through the cloud to caress the rugged blocks of hewn stone, and the mullioned windows winked in the brightening light.

“It’s exquisite,” Miranda breathed softly. The house was more beautiful than the spread in Country Life had promised.

“Every time I come home, it takes my breath away.” Callum’s voice was full of pride.

The Daimler rolled to a stop in the cobbled forecourt. Instantly the heavy wooden front door swung open, and a crowd poured down the stone stairs behind two black, barking Labradors.

Before Callum could come round to her door, Miranda was already out of the car.

Callum reached the dogs first. “Mojo, Moxie, be quiet!”

The pair of dogs stopped barking and came forward to sniff Miranda. She stood still, giving them a chance to become accustomed to her scent.

“Don’t be afraid. They don’t bite.” A woman with an elegant silver-gray bob smiled warmly at her. “I’m Pauline, Callum’s mother.”

The rest of the group separated themselves into his father, Robin; two of Callum’s brothers, Fraser and Jack; Jack’s girlfriend, Lindsey; and the housekeeper.

Once Miranda had gotten everyone’s names sorted out and their luggage had been brought in, Pauline showed her upstairs to a lovely guest bedroom decorated in shades of pale blue and lilac with views over the home paddocks to the park beyond.

“There are towels as well as a range of toiletries in the en suite if you’d like to freshen up.” Pauline opened a door. “If you need anything more just sing out. With the exception of Hunter, who’s coming later, the whole family is here now. I’m so pleased you came with Callum. Hunter’s also bringing a girl he’s recently met.”

Of course Pauline didn’t know that more guests would be arriving on Saturday for her surprise birthday party.

It discomfited Miranda to realize that Pauline truly believed she was Callum’s girlfriend. What she had thought a deception only for the benefit of the Harrises was clearly not the case. All the brothers seemed to be bringing dates home for Christmas.

Except apparently for Fraser, which prompted her to say, “I don’t remember meeting Fraser’s girlfriend.”

“He didn’t bring one. There doesn’t seem to be anyone special in his life right now-or at least not one he’s telling his mother about.” Pauline smiled at her. “My sons keep us in the dark. We’d actually thought Callum was about to-”

The older woman looked suddenly flustered. “What am I saying? I talk too much.”

So Callum’s parents had known about Petra-that Callum was going to propose to her.

Before Miranda could say anything, Pauline said, “I suppose you’ll think I’m a nosy mother when I say this, but I hope you don’t mind that I put you in separate rooms. I’m still a little old-fashioned that way. I like to know a couple is committed to each other before they fall into bed together. My upbringing,” she explained.

Miranda felt herself flush hectically. What would this sweet woman think if she had any idea of the wild no- strings night Miranda had spent with her youngest son? There’d been no thought about commitment, only stark pleasure on the spur of the moment. She’d hated Callum-but he’d ignited a fierce blaze in her that had scorched them both without thought of tomorrow.

For sure his mother wouldn’t approve.

Although Miranda feared she could hardly claim to hate Callum any longer. “Callum and I are still getting to know each other,” she said, before her mother imagined the peal of wedding bells. “Our connection started with business.”

Connection? What a word to choose. She groaned inwardly at the image it conjured up.

“And Callum said you’re a chef?”

Miranda nodded. “I’m helping with tomorrow’s catering.” While Callum’s mother was still in the dark about the birthday party planned for Saturday, the brothers had told her that Miranda would be preparing Christmas lunch to explain her calls to Millie, the housekeeper, and the tons of supplies she’d brought. Millie had already been given Christmas Day off.

“Thank you. It will be wonderful to have you here for Christmas, Miranda.”

Miranda smiled uncomfortably at Pauline’s warm words, all too conscious that she’d come to Fairwinds under false pretenses.

Under the guise of playing Monopoly, Miranda spent the next two hours closeted in the study downstairs with Callum, Fraser, Jack and Lindsey, coordinating the arrangements for Pauline’s party. Three women would be coming up from the village to help with the preparation, do all the serving and clean up afterward.

Robin had been co-opted to keep Pauline occupied, but Pauline still managed to wander in from time to time to check whether they needed anything-causing Miranda to hastily cover her notes while everyone else frantically shuffled Monopoly money and moved houses around the board that was spread out on the card table.

When Hunter arrived with a tall redhead he introduced as Anna, he handed Callum a large, white envelope. “The documents you requested.”

A look passed between the two brothers. Miranda tensed. What was going on? A shiver feathered down her spine.

The meeting broke up when Pauline came to remind them that they would need to eat soon to give enough time to make the Christmas Eve carols in the nearby village. Everyone dived for the doors to ready themselves for dinner, but Callum caught Miranda’s arm, restraining her from following the others.

“I have something for you.” He handed her the envelope Hunter had brought. “I called Hunter from the inn and asked him to bring this.”

She knew from the set of his jaw she wouldn’t like whatever that envelope contained.

“Open it.”

For a brief second she contemplated refusing and shoving it back at him, unopened. But curiosity got the better of her.

She lifted the flap and drew out the sheaf of papers stapled in the top corner. Her heartbeat accelerated. “What is this?”

“It’s a copy of your father’s confession-the original is in the police file. He signed it. I know I said earlier I wouldn’t raise this again, but it’s clear we’ve been talking at cross-purposes for some time.”

No triumph glowed on Callum’s face in the deathly silence that followed. Instead deep lines of concern cut into his forehead.

Miranda dropped into the chair beside the table where they’d plotted his mother’s surprise. All the lighthearted camaraderie of earlier had evaporated, leaving her drained.