The Yuletide Engagement & A Yuletide Seduction by Carole Mortimer

assured Gareth hardly.
    â€œOf 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—
    â€œDon’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 dealwith. “I think Gareth could be a very dangerous man,” she said slowly.
    â€œNot 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.”
    â€œSomehow I doubt that,” she scorned disbelievingly.
    â€œOh, 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”…?
    â€œDo you remember George mentioning a party earlier?” he reminded her.
    â€œTomorrow.” Ellie nodded slowly, eyeing him warily.
    As far as she was concerned this evening was a one-off 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—”
    â€œNo,” Ellie cut in firmly, at the same time shaking her head in protest. “The answer is no, Patrick,” she insisted determinedly as his expression turned cajoling. “As far as I’ve been able to ascertain you accompanied me this evening under false pretences,” she told him accusingly. “Admittedly you were doing me a favour, but as