A Mistletoe Proposal by Lucy Gordon Page A

want,’ she protested.
    â€˜That depends what they actually do want,’ Charlie pointed out. ‘If you keep your wants down to very few, it would be quite easy.’
    â€˜And what are his wants?’ she asked curiously.
    â€˜Him up there, you down here saying, “I obey, I obey!”’
    He said the last words in a mechanical voice of such fine comical effect that she couldn’t help laughing.
    â€˜You ought to have gone on the stage,’ she said.
    â€˜Yes, I used to think that might be nice, to stand up there in the spotlight, with the audience in the palm of my hand, knowing they were hanging on my every word.’
    â€˜Which means you’ve got a lot in common with Roscoe after all,’ she pointed out.
    â€˜Yes, I suppose I do. But I want to make them laugh and love me. He wants to make them cower and fear him. And, like I said, when he’s teamed up with Vanlen, he’ll have everything he wants in the world.’
    She was temped to agree, but illogically her sense of justice came to Roscoe’s defence. ‘Aren’t you being a bit unfair? What about the “other Roscoe” you told me about at The Diamond—the nicer one, with feelings?’
    â€˜You imagined that.’
    â€˜No, I didn’t. I remember every word you said.’
    â€˜All right, that Roscoe exists too, but only rarely. You’ll be dealing with the strong one, so never drop your guard.’
    â€˜Careful, Charlie, I don’t think you know him as well as you think you do.’
    He eyed her shrewdly. ‘So he’s still exerting his charm over you, is he? He can do that, if he thinks it’s worth it. But beware the day when you’re no further use to him.’
    This was probably good advice, she realised. She was about to ask Charlie to tell her more but he’d already tossed the subject aside to concentrate on something that interested him more.
    â€˜Wow! Get you!’ he said, his eyes caressing her from head to toe. ‘I know what you’re doing with that severe look,’ he went on. ‘But it doesn’t work. You’re still gorgeous. Aren’t you going to take that coat off?’
    It was hot in the building and she was glad to let him ease the thick garment from her shoulders. But he took advantage of the situation to slip an arm around her waist, so that she edged away, muttering, ‘Not here!’
    â€˜Here, there and everywhere,’ he persisted. ‘There’s nobody else around.’
    He managed to get both arms around her, resisting her attempts to escape. She groaned, exasperated by the silly boy who couldn’t understand that this wasn’t the time or the place.
    â€˜Someone’s coming,’ she said frantically. ‘Charlie, stop that.’
    He was reaching up to free her hair, sending it cascading in joyous beauty around her shoulders. He’d done this before, but that time had been in the privacy of his own home, with only his family there. Now it was in front of Roscoe’s door as it opened and a man emerged.
    He was thin, with a face that was so pleasant and humorous that at first she couldn’t believe this was the man she’d overheard. But his grinding voice was the same, asking, ‘Am I interrupting something?’
    â€˜Yes,’ Charlie said defensively. ‘You certainly are.’
    â€˜Sorry.’ Vanlen held up his hands and backed off.
    His glance at Pippa was appreciative and his look said all too plainly that he was a man of the world in these matters. She had met this attitude before and dealt with it too efficiently to be offended now, but she could cheerfully have throttled Charlie. Vanlen departed just as Roscoe appeared in the doorway, his eyes frosty as he regarded his brother.
    â€˜Is this fellow bothering you, Miss Jenson?’ he demanded. ‘If so, say the word and I’ll defenestrate him.’
    â€˜You will not,’ Charlie said,