Carole Mortimer - Mistletoe Magic

The christening on Sunday had been a completely private family and friends affair, but the photograph in this newspaper meant that at least one member of the press had found out about it. Not only had they found out about it, they had obviously hidden somewhere and taken a photograph of them all as they were leaving the church. The proud parents stood in the midst of Gideon, David and Molly, and all of them were named in the caption beneath the photograph…

‘Oh, no!’ Molly gasped her dismay, knowing exactly how much Sam was going to hate this.

Twelve years ago his life had been made a living hell because of his ex-fiancée and the lies she had told the press about him, to the extent that he had chosen to hide himself away here in the wilds of Yorkshire. His marriage to Crys almost two years ago had helped to soften his attitude, but certainly not to the extent that he would be happy to have his photograph plastered all over the newspapers. Or that of his newborn son…

‘Damn it,’ Gideon muttered grimly. ‘Why the hell can’t they leave them alone?’

‘Because it’s news.’ David shrugged philosophically. ‘I had the same problem when—when Cathy died six months ago.’ He shook his head. ‘If it’s news, they’ll print it; good or bad.’

‘This is definitely bad,’ Molly said heavily. ‘Especially now, when Crys and Sam are already so distracted over Peter.’ She frowned. ‘I think perhaps you had better lose that newspaper, Gideon,’ she advised worriedly. ‘Tell Crys, if she asks, that we weren’t able to find one.’

‘Don’t worry, I intend to,’ he assured her grimly. ‘I also intend finding out who gave them this story in the first place.’ He threw the newspaper down on the table in disgust.

‘Who gave it to them…?’ Molly repeated frowningly. ‘You think someone actually told them about the christening?’

‘Well, of course someone told them,’ he rasped disgustedly. ‘And after years of Sam keeping his whereabouts a secret, that damned newspaper has also stated if not the actual address then the exact location of this house.’

Molly could only stare at him, her cheeks white with dismay. After his experience with his ex-fiancée, Sam had good reason to value his privacy. Even more so since he had married Crys and they had baby Peter. As Molly had already said, this newspaper article could only be bad news.

‘But who would do such a thing?’ She shook her head dazedly.

‘Yes—who would do such a thing?’ Gideon grated coldly.

Molly looked up sharply, finding herself caught in the sudden glitter of that dark blue gaze.

He didn’t think—? Surely he didn’t believe that she had had anything to do with this outrage?

‘The new Bailey series, and the people starring in it, is mentioned several times in the accompanying article,’ Gideon bit out tersely.

Accusingly…?

But she would never… Could never…

Gideon could have no idea of the disruption that had occurred in her own and their parents’ lives twelve years ago, because of the vindictiveness of Sam’s ex-fiancée. The constant hounding by the press, her parents actually having to move house, Molly having to change schools in an attempt to shield her from all the adverse publicity. The new school was where she had met Crys and the two of them had become such good friends…

But that was Gideon’s real problem, wasn’t it? Crys… Molly was very fond of Crys herself, but Gideon seemed to care only about her, about protecting her…

‘I think I will come for that drive with you after all, David,’ she told him woodenly, deliberately keeping her gaze averted from Gideon. She sensed he was still looking at her. But she had to get out of here, or this time she really would have to hit him!

‘Great.’ David grinned his satisfaction with the arrangement. ‘And I shouldn’t worry too much about that newspaper, Gideon,’ he advised ruefully. ‘It’s Christmas; by the time the holidays are over everyone will have forgotten all about it.’

Molly wasn’t so sure about that, and she could see by the continued grimness of his expression that Gideon wasn’t convinced, either. But with it being Christmas Day tomorrow there really was nothing they could do about it now. And Gideon throwing out wild accusations—completely erroneous ones—certainly wasn’t going to help the situation! But, by the same token, neither was her reacting angrily to them…

Which was why it was better if Molly removed herself from his company for the moment. Better for Gideon, that was. For herself, Molly would have liked to set him straight over several matters. For Crys and Sam’s sake she would keep her own counsel. For the moment…

‘I certainly hope so.’ Gideon nodded abruptly.

‘Ready, Molly?’ David prompted lightly.

She was more than ready to remove herself from the odious Gideon’s company, not even bothering to say goodbye to him as she followed David out of the house.

Really, Gideon seemed to think she was to blame for everything that happened. Everything bad, that was.

But who could it have been who’d told the press about the christening? Because it certainly hadn’t been her!

‘Cheer up,’ David advised lightly after they had driven in silence for several minutes. ‘It may never happen!’

‘It already has happened,’ she returned gloomily. ‘Surely you must realise Gideon thinks I told the press about the christening?’

‘He doesn’t think that really,’ David assured her with a grin. ‘He’s only off with you because he likes you.’

‘You have to be joking!’ Molly spluttered.

‘I didn’t say he was happy about it,’ David accepted slowly. ‘But he does like you.’ He nodded with certainty. ‘And a little jealousy because you’ve come out with me this afternoon can’t be a bad thing!’

Molly shook her head in disbelief. ‘You’re being as ridiculous as Crys now,’ she dismissed disgustedly. ‘I don’t like Gideon.’ Even less so now. ‘And he doesn’t like me. End of story,’ she told David firmly.

‘Sure,’ he accepted unconvincingly.

‘I mean it, David.’ She gave him a warning glare. ‘The sooner Christmas is over and I can get as far away from Gideon as it’s possible to be, the better I shall like it.’

He gave her a brief narrow-eyed glance. ‘Methinks the lady doth protest too much…’

‘Will you just stop it?’ Molly’s hands were clenched tightly in her lap. ‘The man is absolutely loathsome!’ she stated determinedly, clearly remembering the accusation in his gaze earlier.

Except she couldn’t quite deny—to herself, at least—her completely nerve-tingling awareness of Gideon.

But just because she was physically aware of him that didn’t mean she had to like the man.

Of course it didn’t.

Except now she was protesting too much. Damn it. And most of all damn Gideon Webber.

‘I quite like him myself,’ David said slowly. ‘And he’s obviously very fond of Crys.’

‘Perhaps too fond,’ Molly snapped before she had time to guard her words, and at once felt stricken at having spoken quite so bluntly.

She liked David, would be working very closely with him in future months, but that was no reason to have voiced her inner suspicions concerning Gideon’s feelings towards Crys.

Her cheeks felt warm with embarrassed colour. ‘What I meant to say was—’

‘Forget it, Molly.’ David reached over and briefly squeezed her arm. ‘It’s an interesting concept, I grant you that,’ he added thoughtfully. ‘But not one I should put too much credence in, if I were you,’ he dismissed.

‘No,’ she accepted gratefully. She really would have to be more careful about making unguarded comments about Gideon. To anyone.