long. Not many women travel alone this time of year. Someone will report you missing.”
The thought of other islands gave her a little hope, but in her gut she felt she’d only been on St. Alicia. Some shadow of the past flirted with her consciousness enough to make her certain of that. The same shadow offered comfort in the form of almost memories of someone, somewhere, caring about her. Despite the fact that no one was looking for her, she wasn’t convinced she was completely alone. Then the rest of what he’d said sank in.
“What do you mean by ‘this time of year’?”
“Christmas is in less than two weeks,” he said.
She felt her mouth drop open, and she closed it. “You’re kidding.”
“No.”
Christmas? Without family? It was too horrible to consider. “I had no idea.”
“If you’ve lost your memory, that makes sense.”
She wasn’t sure if he was simply making conversation or getting in a dig, and she decided not to try to figure it out. “I sure couldn’t tell from your house.”
He frowned, dark eyebrows pulling together. “What do you mean?”
She shrugged. “Judging from the lack of decorations, it could be mid-April. What about wreaths and a tree? Maybe even some presents?”
“I don’t bother with that kind of thing.”
How sad, she thought. Even though he thought the worst of her and had flat-out told her so to her face, she couldn’t escape the wave of compassion that swept through her. How could someone not bother with the holidays? They were a time for sharing. But Jarrett was the kind of man who probably shared as easily as he trusted.
She looked at him. That handsome face and tempting masculine body all wrapped around a cynical heart and a soul of ice. The beautiful package was a waste.
“It’s not just you anymore,” she said. “You have Anna Jane to think about. Jarrett, she needs this Christmas. Despite her mother’s death, or maybe because of it, she has to know that her world is still going to go on. Being without her mother is going to make this Christmas awful for her, and you have to be prepared for that. She needs you to be there for her.”
His gaze narrowed. “What makes you an expert?”
She paused. “I’m not sure, but I know what I’m talking about.” Did he think she was making this up, too? “No matter what you think of me, please don’t discount what I’ve said. I don’t mean to be rude or anything, although based on what you said to me last night, I suppose I have the right, but you don’t know your niece very well. She hasn’t been here that long and she needs you to spend time with her. Only a very lonely child would go to all the trouble to send a note in a bottle.”
“I don’t dispute the fact that this has been difficult for Anna Jane.”
And for you, too, she thought suddenly. Losing his sister and inheriting a child would have upset even someone as contained and controlled as this man.
“How well do you know her?” she asked.
“I’ve met her a few times.”
“But no regular contact?”
“No.”
Ariel sighed. “That’s tough for both of you.” She scooted forward, leaning toward him. “Jarrett, she’s just a scared little girl. Right now she needs stability and love more than anything.”
“Again, I ask what makes you an expert?”
“I don’t know. But I’m as sure of this as I am—” She stopped in midsentence. “Well, I’m just sure.”
He didn’t want to believe her. She could see the battle being waged inside him. He didn’t like or trust her, yet he recognized the truth of her words and couldn’t bring himself to discount her. At least she had to give him credit for caring about his niece.
Who was he, this dark, mysterious man who didn’t know how to talk to a little girl? What events had made him so aloof and forced him to live in this place so far from the mainstream of life? Why was she foolish enough to be attracted to someone who wanted nothing to do with her?
“I’m going to
The thought of other islands gave her a little hope, but in her gut she felt she’d only been on St. Alicia. Some shadow of the past flirted with her consciousness enough to make her certain of that. The same shadow offered comfort in the form of almost memories of someone, somewhere, caring about her. Despite the fact that no one was looking for her, she wasn’t convinced she was completely alone. Then the rest of what he’d said sank in.
“What do you mean by ‘this time of year’?”
“Christmas is in less than two weeks,” he said.
She felt her mouth drop open, and she closed it. “You’re kidding.”
“No.”
Christmas? Without family? It was too horrible to consider. “I had no idea.”
“If you’ve lost your memory, that makes sense.”
She wasn’t sure if he was simply making conversation or getting in a dig, and she decided not to try to figure it out. “I sure couldn’t tell from your house.”
He frowned, dark eyebrows pulling together. “What do you mean?”
She shrugged. “Judging from the lack of decorations, it could be mid-April. What about wreaths and a tree? Maybe even some presents?”
“I don’t bother with that kind of thing.”
How sad, she thought. Even though he thought the worst of her and had flat-out told her so to her face, she couldn’t escape the wave of compassion that swept through her. How could someone not bother with the holidays? They were a time for sharing. But Jarrett was the kind of man who probably shared as easily as he trusted.
She looked at him. That handsome face and tempting masculine body all wrapped around a cynical heart and a soul of ice. The beautiful package was a waste.
“It’s not just you anymore,” she said. “You have Anna Jane to think about. Jarrett, she needs this Christmas. Despite her mother’s death, or maybe because of it, she has to know that her world is still going to go on. Being without her mother is going to make this Christmas awful for her, and you have to be prepared for that. She needs you to be there for her.”
His gaze narrowed. “What makes you an expert?”
She paused. “I’m not sure, but I know what I’m talking about.” Did he think she was making this up, too? “No matter what you think of me, please don’t discount what I’ve said. I don’t mean to be rude or anything, although based on what you said to me last night, I suppose I have the right, but you don’t know your niece very well. She hasn’t been here that long and she needs you to spend time with her. Only a very lonely child would go to all the trouble to send a note in a bottle.”
“I don’t dispute the fact that this has been difficult for Anna Jane.”
And for you, too, she thought suddenly. Losing his sister and inheriting a child would have upset even someone as contained and controlled as this man.
“How well do you know her?” she asked.
“I’ve met her a few times.”
“But no regular contact?”
“No.”
Ariel sighed. “That’s tough for both of you.” She scooted forward, leaning toward him. “Jarrett, she’s just a scared little girl. Right now she needs stability and love more than anything.”
“Again, I ask what makes you an expert?”
“I don’t know. But I’m as sure of this as I am—” She stopped in midsentence. “Well, I’m just sure.”
He didn’t want to believe her. She could see the battle being waged inside him. He didn’t like or trust her, yet he recognized the truth of her words and couldn’t bring himself to discount her. At least she had to give him credit for caring about his niece.
Who was he, this dark, mysterious man who didn’t know how to talk to a little girl? What events had made him so aloof and forced him to live in this place so far from the mainstream of life? Why was she foolish enough to be attracted to someone who wanted nothing to do with her?
“I’m going to
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