Christmas Down Under: Six Sexy New Zealand & Australian Christmas Romances

by Rosalind James

  Jilly relaxed as her laugh bubbled up. “I didn’t know you worked at the Federal Bank.”

  He laughed with her. “I didn’t after that. She told him I’d approached her!”

  A serious note crept into her voice. “I worked there for a while too. It was an office romance that brought me undone too.”

  Dominic lifted his beer in the air. “Merry Christmas, Jilly. Here’s to no office romances.”

  She lifted her beer and clinked the glass against his, ignoring the pang of regret that lanced through her.

  Dominic reached down to a bag on the floor. “I almost forgot. I brought some dinner. Courtesy of the service station.” He pulled out a tin of smoked oysters, and some crackers and cheese. “I was going to suggest maybe cooking some steaks on the barbie, but the weather’s put a stop to that.”

  Jilly uncurled her legs from beneath her bottom and stood before disappearing into the kitchen. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  The smile that crossed Dominic’s face when she put the plum pudding and custard in the middle of the table made the wait in the supermarket car park well worth it.

  Thanks, Ethel.

  “Merry Christmas to you too.”

  She sat back down and picked up her beer and watched as he traced his fingers over a scratch in the middle of the table. She leaned forward; DSP was scratched into the wood.

  “So you spent time here when you were growing up?” Jilly watched as his fingers moved across to another scratch. “Family house, you said?”

  He looked up and held her eyes with his. “More than that. After my parents died I grew up here at my grandparents’ house. The one up the road where I’m staying. This one was Aunty Vi’s.” He jerked his head to the side. “Lived there till I left for uni.”

  “You?” Jilly pointed to the other initials near his. “Sisters and brothers?

  “No, just me and my cousins.” He picked up the oysters and peeled back the lid. “Two of them lived here and the other cousins who lived in Brisbane used to come and visit once a year. Christmas here was a busy and noisy time.”

  “Where are they all now?”

  “Mostly scattered all over the world. And my grandparents passed on.”

  “I just lost my Dad.” The words were out before she could think.

  “So that’s why you took some time off?”

  She nodded mutely as the grief resurfaced.

  “You should have taken longer.” The kindness in his voice almost brought her undone and Jilly swallowed and changed the subject.

  “It was what? Three days?” His gaze was fixed on her and she dropped her lashes and ran her finger around the rim of the bottle.

  “Yeah, it was long enough. It’s okay. But I might need the odd day to sort out the estate when we go back.” Jilly sat back in her chair as he arranged the oysters next to the crackers and then passed the plate to her. “Thank you. And here I was thinking you were a city boy. Private school, old boys’ network and all that.”

  He looked at her quizzically over his beer.

  “Shouldn’t make assumptions, should I?” She lifted her beer and closed her eyes as the cool liquid slid down her throat.

  “What about you?”

  “Guilty,” she said. “Private school, uni and Dad’s old boys’ network got me the job at the bank.”

  “Everything you thought I was,” he said with a quizzical look.

  She nodded guiltily.

  A comfortable silence settled between them and they sat back watching the storm come in over the sea. Jilly glanced at Dominic as he tipped his beer back and drank. He was wearing a shirt with the sleeves cut out. When he lifted his beer to his mouth, the muscles in his upper arm moved and Jilly couldn’t help staring.

  For someone who spends all day in the office he looks pretty damn good.

  A shaft of raw desire ran through her and she forced herself to look away, but not before she caught his gaze. Sweat dampened her brow and the skinny tank top she’d changed into after her shower clung to her chest. She looked down dismayed to see her nipples hard beneath the shirt. Lifting her eyes, a hot wave ran through her; Dominic’s eyes were at the same spot. She focused her attention on his lips. She’d never noticed how lush and kissable they were. Jilly averted her eyes as she let out a shaky breath. For a moment, she’d thought he was going to lean over and kiss her.

  And it wouldn’t have been unwelcome. Tension hovered in the air until he reached over and put his hand on top of hers on the table.

  “Jilly…” The moment was broken as a sudden wind roared in from the ocean, accompanied by a loud crack of thunder. The hammock chair began to rock back and forth creaking loudly, and the shower door blew shut and the bolt slid across. The tension dissipated in a moment. They looked at each other and smiled.

  “See, these things happen.” Dominic stood and walked over to the shower and opened the lock. “All you need now is to find the person who mowed the lawn and I’m out of trouble.” Those sexy lips opened in a wide grin and his white teeth flashed in the dimness that had descended as the black clouds raced in.

  “I’ll have to be more careful from now on.” Jilly stood and walked across to the railing where he was leaning looking out to the storm. “I’m sorry. I do seem to be blaming you for everything that goes wrong.” A low chuckle reached her and she turned around with a frown. “What was that?”

  “What?” Dominic looked around.

  “That noise. Did you laugh?’ The hair on Jilly’s neck stood to attention again—as did her nipples. Not that they’d ever gone down. She rubbed her arms, making out she was cold, nothing to do with this sexual attraction that was consuming her. As she let her gaze move up past those bare arms to his sexy lips, she wondered how the hell she’d ever work next to him without combusting into a haze of lust.

  He was just too damned good looking.

  “Are you scared here by yourself?” Dominic leaned in closer to her and she got a whiff of surf, and sand, and sweaty man. She couldn’t help taking a deep breath and inhaling the manly essence.

  “No, why would you ask that?”

  He shrugged. “It’s pretty lonely out here. For a city girl.”

  “I’m fine. I’m enjoying the quiet.” Jilly wasn’t going to let him know how unsettled she was. It was only the storm that was bothering her. Not him or the spooky feeling that wouldn’t go away. The old cottage took on a sinister air as more lightning flashed in from the sea.

  “So are you still up for a surf in the morning?” Dominic pointed to the board propped up against the wall. “I found my old kneeboard in the shed. It’s all waxed and ready to go.”

  “Will the weather be okay?”

  “Guaranteed. This is just a summer storm.” Like the tumultuous feelings that were coursing through her as the touch of his hand warmed her skin. Her body was reacting to him with surprising heat. She lifted her drink and drained the beer, welcoming the fizz that coursed through her blood.

  “For sure.”

  Another chuckle came from the dark and despite the heat of Dominic’s body beside hers, goose bumps rose on her skin.

  “What was that?”

  “Just the wind. Don’t be nervous.” His arm went around her and he squeezed her shoulder and Jilly put aside her jumpiness.

  Grow up, she chastised herself. He was right; this was a very different place to her apartment in Manly where there were people around day and night.

  She swallowed as he kept his arm there; he was flirting with her and she didn’t mind one bit. They weren’t at work now; it was a vacation. Maybe she could put her rules aside for a day or two.

  “I hope the weather’s okay for our surf tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.” She shivered as the wind whipped around the verandah. “Do you want to come inside before this rain hits.”

  The cold breeze chilled her skin as Dominic stepped away. “It’s time I went home.” He’d put a barrier up suddenly. And his expression was back to that of Dominic the boss. Was
she giving out vibes he didn’t like?

  Jilly shrugged as she took a step back. Literally and emotionally. “What about the plum pudding?”

  “Let’s save it for after our surf tomorrow. You think I work you hard in the office, you ain’t seen nothing yet. We’ll get you working those waves.” The distance had left his voice but he moved towards the steps.

  “Thanks for the beer. Do you want to take the rest back with you?”

  “Nah.” He waved dismissively. “Put them in your fridge. New Year’s Eve is coming up.”

  “So what time in the morning?” She kept her voice casual not wanting him to see her disappointment.

  “Sunrise too early? Meet me on the beach.”

  Jilly nodded and with a final wave, Dominic disappeared into the darkness and emptiness surrounded her.

  Chapter Nine

  Boxing Day

  Despite the unsettled feeling that wouldn’t leave her as she sat on the lounge and read after a light dinner, Jilly slept well. Before she went to bed, she double checked the locks on the window and the doors, and left a light on in the kitchen. There was nothing she could do about the thin piece of lattice in the kitchen that shook in the wind. She still couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her, which she knew was stupid, because there was no one anywhere close by.

  Apart from Dominic. But one minute, he’d been up close and personal and then he’d withdrawn into himself and left in a matter of minutes.

  The alarm on her iPhone roused her at 4.30 a.m. and she stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes, and reached for the kettle. Her hand froze on the tap as she looked up at the back door. Unlocked and wide open. And not only that, the surfboard that Dominic had left outside on the verandah was lying along the sofa, the cotton draw string bag that had encased it, lay scrunched on the rose-covered mat.

  Jilly backed away and looked around.

  “What the fuck?” Her hands shook as she shut the back door and flicked the lock over. She’d forget about the cup of tea; just get changed and head to the beach.

  Get out of this house. Forget about what Dominic said about it not being safe, being in here was beginning to creep her out a little.

  The first rosy glimmers of dawn were streaking the sky with a soft apricot when she stepped outside, the board tucked beneath her arm. A warm wind puffed in off the hills this morning and everything was washed clean from the storm last night. The wind must have blown the door opened, she reasoned to herself. And she must have carried the board inside when she was half-asleep and forgotten that she had. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to have herself spooked and head home early, which she really didn’t want to do. Sydney would be hot and busy and she’d probably end up at work if she went home early.

  Dominic tried to tell you not to stay here, a little voice nagged within her.

  He was waiting for her on the beach, his strong, muscular lines silhouetted by the rising sun behind him. The wet sand was smooth and shining, clear of footprints, as Jilly followed him to the water’s edge.

  “Sleep okay?” His eyes were hooded.

  “Like a baby.” Well, I did.

  “Good. Surf’s great. You ready?” Dominic waited for Jilly to catch him up and they walked out into the water together until they were waist deep. They waited for a break in the waves. When the last wave of the set broke and passed them with the white frothy foam bubbling around them, Dominic slid onto his board and lay on his stomach, and began to paddle out into the deeper water. Anticipation filled Jilly as she waited for the next wave to pass. The rough wax on the board crumbled beneath her fingers as she gripped the sides with both hands and slid onto the length of the board. Before she could find her centre of balance, her bare stomach slid along the slippery board and she held on tight as the board slid away.

  It was too late. The board bucked beneath her as the oncoming wave lifted the front of it and Jilly slipped off. She wasn’t quick enough and gasped, copping a mouthful of salt water as she went under the small wave that broke over her, and then carried the kneeboard into the shore.

  It was a tossup whether embarrassment or temper won out, and she let her temper build. That was the final straw. What the hell was Dominic playing at? Coughing and spluttering, she marched back through the shallows—as much as one could march in knee-deep water and stood at the edge of the sand, her arms folded as she waited for him to catch the next wave into shore.

  Of course he did it gracefully, staying on the board until he was in knee-deep water.

  “Are you okay? What happened?” He tossed his head back and his hair stuck to his neck. He reached up and brushed the long strands from his eyes.

  Jilly glared up at him. “Just what is your problem? Do you really have to go to these extremes to get me to move out of your precious cottage? I suppose it was you who came back and left the door open last night when you brought the board inside, too?” Her words ran together as rage filled her chest.

  The water splashed around Dominic’s legs as he strode from the water. His mouth was tight and his eyes were flashing as he put his board down carefully on the sand and turned to her.

  “Would you like to tell me exactly how it’s my fault that you fell off your board? I thought you said you could surf?”

  Jilly let her temper burn ever hotter. She didn’t have red hair for nothing. She picked up the board and shoved it at him “When did you do that? In the middle of the night when I was asleep? You really do have a problem, don’t you?”

  Socialising and being pleasant to her boss was no longer an option after this prank. How the hell she was going to take him seriously enough to work with from now on was something she’d worry about when she went back to Sydney.

  “I need this break and I’m not going to let you, or anyone else ruin it for me!”

  She turned away, intending to leave him there, but stopped when Dominic reached out and held her arm. He held her firmly and took her board with his free hand. She saw the exact moment that he realised what she was upset about.

  “Bloody hell,” he said.

  “Is that all you’ve got to say?” Jilly pulled her arm away and folded her arms. “Why on earth would you put soap on my board instead of wax?”

  He put the board down on the ground and turned to her, his other hand holding her shoulder lightly. “I didn’t.” His eyes narrowed as he stared down at her. “And what was that you said about the door being open?”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m going to go back, have a shower—and leave the door propped open while I have it—and have a peaceful day away from you.” She lifted her chin and held his gaze with hers. “So, are you going to let me go?”

  Damn him. No matter how angry she was, Jilly had to admit how he really was irresistible. In a suit he’d looked fine, but standing in front of her, sun drenched muscles, golden-chested and dripping with salt water, he was ridiculously handsome. Like some Greek god or something. She couldn’t bear to think how much better he’d look without anything on at all. She blinked as she tried to clear the picture and the stupid comparisons from her mind. What the heck was wrong with her?

  His chuckle was husky as he looked down at her. “I’m so sorry. I should have checked the board better.” He reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m really sorry. I’ll stay out and you can have my board. I’ll go home and get some wax.”

  Jilly shook her head, bemused as his eyes held hers. His touch was sending trembles down her back. “So who soaped the board?”

  Dominic stared down at her, his expression unreadable. “My cousin used to do it for a lark. He was the world’s biggest practical joker.”

  Jilly picked up the sadness in Dominic’s voice. “Was?” she asked quietly.

  He lifted his gaze and pointed to the rocks on the point to the south. “Derro drowned on the point the day after his eighteenth birthday.”

  Chapter Ten

  Jilly’s lips parted in sympathy as Dominic told her about Derro. He�
��d not spoken of the tragedy for years and his voice caught as he told her of waiting on the beach that afternoon; waiting hopelessly for Derro to reappear after he’d slipped beneath the water. But he hadn’t.

  “Luckily I had my phone and I called triple zero. The guys from the surf club were here on the jet ski within minutes.” He shook his head and lifted his gaze to the horizon. “It took two days for his body to wash up. His sister, Margaret found him. It was a pretty tough time for the family.”

  Jilly reached over and squeezed his hand. Dominic curled his fingers around hers and didn’t let go.

  They sat on the sand together as the sun climbed quickly in the morning sky. He didn’t tell her what was in his head, or a feeling within his heart; he had no proof and he didn’t want to sound crazy.

  “This is the first time I’ve had that board out since then, and he obviously had the last laugh. I suppose the soap dried up and as soon as it hit the water, it got slippery.”

  Last night he’d pulled back when she’d mentioned going inside. He knew she was attracted to him and he’d run. It was all too complicated; being her boss and the crazy situation at the beach cottage that he still couldn’t get a handle on.

  The sun caught her beautiful green eyes as she turned to him. His confusion dissipated like the spray above the waves as she steadily held his gaze. Instead of pulling away as he expected, she reached up and cupped his jaw in her hand.

  “Forget about the board. Falling off didn’t hurt me. I’m sorry about your cousin. It must have been so hard for you.”

  Dominic let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulders. He didn’t want her to move away. Her bare thigh was pressed up against his and what he wanted was only a breath away. He dipped his head, closed his eyes and lowered his mouth to hers.

  Maybe it was a kiss returned because she felt sorry for him—maybe not. All he knew was that her lips were sweet beneath his and he explored her mouth gently. She sighed his name and her breath whispered against his lips. Jilly reached up and her fingers tangled in his wet hair as she pulled him closer. There was more than sympathy in her response. He groaned against her mouth and pushed her gently back on the sand.