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

by Rosalind James

  Dangerous! Pfft. The only dangerous things she’d come across so far were one Daddy Long Legs spider…and an altogether too sexy boss.

  She shook her head at Dominic being here in this small town. Was it a coincidence? He would have been the last person she’d ever expect to run into in a small beachside village like this. If she’d known the cottage belonged to his family, she wouldn’t have rented it. But she had and she was here to stay. Sitting up, Jilly stretched her arms high and looked around. Sunlight was pouring in through the lacy, white nylon curtains at the bedroom window. The storm had died out as she’d drifted off to sleep, snug in the soft bed. The timber walls were painted a soft yellow and the brightness of the room buoyed her mood.

  She slid her legs over the side of the bed onto the bare slatted-timber floor. The worn boards were smooth beneath her bare feet as she headed outside to have a wash. A light breakfast, slip into her bikini and sarong, and then hit the beach. A relaxing day of reading and chilling out beckoned her.

  Time to face her grief and move on. That’s what Dad would have wanted her to do. He would have been pleased to know that she’d chosen to spend Christmas here; he could never understand her trips to Bali, Vanuatu and other overseas tropical destinations.

  ‘Look in your own backyard, sweetheart. Our beaches are the best in the world.’

  Doing what she knew Dad would have approved of, eased her grief a little. She focused on the happy memories of him teaching her to surf at Narrabeen in the days before life got too hectic to enjoy. When Mum had been alive and they had been a family.

  Tears threatened as she headed for the outside loo. She’d let herself have a good cry one night, and then move on. It was extra tough this year because it was Christmas and she had no family left.

  After she’d washed, Jilly stood at the lounge window and had a quick snack of fruit and another full cream strawberry milk—sorry hips—she’d go for a long walk later. The sea air had kicked in and she was hungrier than usual. If she stood on her tiptoes, she could just catch a glimpse of the deep blue water through the she-oaks fringing the sand across the road. Last night’s storm had washed everything clean; she pushed the window up and drew in a deep breath of salt-laden air. Peace stole over her and Jilly couldn’t help the big grin that crossed her face.

  Eight whole days of solitude and bliss ahead—no frantic trading and no emails that must be acted upon immediately.

  She put her dishes in the pink porcelain kitchen sink. But although tired and dated, everything in the place was in good condition and clean. She shook her head remembering Dominic’s agitation last night. He was worrying about nothing; the cottage was old, but fine. She smiled; it was retro in an original sort of way. He could sort out the rental issue with his family; it wasn’t her problem.

  As she pulled up the bedcovers, something slid from the end of the bed and Jilly bent to pick it up. She held the unfamiliar plastic bag in her hand and frowned as she turned it over in her hands. She was sure it hadn’t been on the bed last night. She opened the bag, and peered into it and her frown deepened. The shorts, T-shirt and towel, and undies which she’d assumed had blown off the verandah last night were folded neatly inside.

  What the…

  After Dominic had left, she had gone outside with her torch and searched around the long grass and beneath the low verandah but there’d been no sign of her clothes. How the hell did they get into a bag and onto her bed through the night? She put the bag aside and folded her arms, her temper building.

  What the hell was he playing at? How dare he come into the cottage while I was sleeping? The cottage belonged to his family; he must have another key.

  Well, she’d be paying Mr Smythe-Phillips a visit and telling him to stay away from her. While she was on vacation she didn’t have to kowtow to his imperious demands.

  ##

  Jilly detoured via the cottage up the road on her way to the beach. Slipping her beach bag over her shoulder, she passed Dominic’s silver Audi. It was parked in a small lean-to on the side of the cottage. She climbed the stairs identical to the ones at her cottage, took a deep breath and pounded on the front door. The cottage was the same design as the one she was staying in. Same colour paint peeling from the exterior weatherboards and a small bathroom on the far end of the verandah. Her legs were trembling as she practised her prepared speech. She cleared her throat.

  Stay right away from the cottage and from me. The shakiness in her legs, and the funny curling feeling in the pit of her stomach had nothing to do with the anticipation of seeing him again. No way.

  Jilly dug deep to bring back the anger that had coursed through her when she had realised that he had been in her bedroom while she was sleeping.

  Ergh. Forget the anticipation that was skittering through her. It was almost creepy; Dominic had certainly conned them at the bank with his gentle and polite manner.

  All was silent inside the house, and she pounded on the door again. Perversely, she hoped he was sleeping and she pounded harder, hoping she’d wake him up. But after a third go of trying to raise the dead with her curled fist on the timber door, all remained silent. Jilly stood there for a moment, biting her lip, before she shrugged and turned away to walk to the beach.

  He’d keep till later.

  She drew in a gasp of delight as she stepped through the row of she-oaks fringing the sand. Sapphire blue water filled her vision for as far as she could see and the morning sun sparkled on the water. Snowy-white cumulo-nimbus clouds sat low above the far horizon in the distance, the same colour as the foam on the breaking waves that rolled into the beach. The long, lazy swells rolling in across the Pacific steepened and broke into gentle waves as the ocean floor bottomed out, before they pushed up the white sandy shore.

  Dad was right. This was one of the most beautiful beaches she’d ever seen. And it was almost deserted.

  Far away in the distance, a couple walked ahead of a dog frolicking in the shallows. The rest of the beach was clear, with not another soul in sight. Jilly scanned the sand looking for a spot to settle in for the morning. She’d lathered herself in sunscreen after she’d slipped into her white bikini and had a wide-brimmed hat to protect her face. Her Kindle was charged and she’d packed two bottles of cold water in her beach bag. She spread her towel on the sand and glanced up as a movement in the water caught her eye. A lone surfer was surfing the point a little to the north. Jilly straightened and put her hand to her eyes with an envious sigh. Rising gracefully to his feet he turned when his board picked up the front of the wave. He glided effortlessly through the translucent water, so clear she could see the back of the board as he gained speed down the face of the wave. She held her breath as the wave curled over him and he disappeared into the tube for a few seconds before shooting out triumphantly from the right hand break.

  Clapping her hands, Jilly smiled as he turned and paddled back to catch the next wave. It had been a long time since Dad had taught her to surf; she’d spent a lot of time on a board at Narrabeen when she was in her teens. She had never forgotten the power of pushing her board across and down the face of the wave at the same time; the adrenaline rush of the speed combined with the thrill of the movement. Being at one with nature—feeling the air, hearing the whoosh and suck of the wave as water sprayed around you, there was nothing like it.

  Lately life had passed her by and she’d been focused on work and Dad’s health, and she’d taken little time for herself.

  A good New Year’s resolution. Jilly time 2016!

  By the time the surfer caught the next wave she’d settled on her towel and pushed the sand into a mound behind her back to lean on as she read. She narrowed her eyes as the wave pushed him closer to the section of the beach where she was sitting. With a groan, she looked away and picked up her Kindle; she should have known it was Dominic.

  But as much as she tried to focus on her book, she couldn’t stop looking up and watching as he caught wave after wave in a show of effortless manoeuvres. Finally
she gave up and laced her fingers behind the back of her head and gave in to sheer admiration. Who would ever have known that the staid boss of the SAB could carve up a wave like that? He was an absolute pro, as good as any she’d watched. A couple of times, Jilly caught her breath as his board teetered on the edge of the wave before he turned and sliced across the face of it. Finally, he caught a wave and paddled to the shore.

  She pulled her hat low over her face, quickly picked up her Kindle and rolled over onto her stomach as he walked up the beach. Hopefully he wouldn’t notice her on the way back.

  Five minutes later, cold water splashed onto the backs of her legs; her hope had been futile. She rolled over and leaned back on her elbows, squinting up into the bright sunshine.

  “Morning, Jilly.” Dominic rested his board on the sand and Jilly looked away as he squatted beside her, that golden-tanned chest way too close for her comfort.

  “Good morning.” She looked away from that magnificent expanse of bare skin, pleased that her sunglasses hid her expression. She pointed to the surf as the next wave crashed onto the beach.

  “Pretty impressive surfing.”

  “You sound surprised.” Dominic tipped his head to the side, obviously to clear the water from his ears. Jilly looked up at him as water droplets flew from his wet curls. His eyelashes were salt-encrusted and his blue eyes were alight with the smile that crossed his face as he stared back at her. His face was tanned, contrasting with the white zinc cream smeared on his nose. He could have passed for an eighteen-year-old; his grin was cheeky and he looked relaxed and happy.

  “I am. It’s the last thing I expected to see you doing,” she said honestly trying to keep her eyes from his muscled chest. “I’m used to you sitting at a desk in a suit firing orders at me.” She flicked a hand towards his board. “Doesn’t suit the corporate image I had.” Although that image had shimmied away last night when she’d seen him in his board shorts at the service station.

  “You should try it sometime. Nothing like it.” He stared out at the sea. “I grew up here and the surf was my life before I left for uni.”

  Surprise ran through Jilly. She’d always thought he’s come from the north shore of Sydney. Silver spoon and all that.

  “I know. I love it too.” Jilly couldn’t help smiling back. “I surfed at Narrabeen when I was at high school.”

  Dominic grinned at her and her heart did a little flip flop in her chest. She put her hand to her mouth pretending to yawn, forgetting all of her previous thoughts of his strange behaviour. The top of his wetsuit had been pulled down and she stared at the glistening water drops on his chest. Despite the bright sun, she could see the frown that suddenly marred his high forehead.

  “Did you sleep well?” His tone was probing and his words jerked her out of that silly adolescent mooning.

  “I did. Unfortunately.” She killed the smile as it all came flooding back and stared. “And apparently I slept a little too deeply.”

  “Why?” His voice was cautious. “What do you mean by that?”

  “Look, I’ve calmed down a bit now.” How to put this politely but make her point very clear? “I went to your cottage to see you on the way here and I was pretty angry.”

  “Because?”

  “Because I don’t appreciate you just letting yourself into my cottage whenever you feel like it. I don’t care if the place belongs to your family. If it happens again, I’ll—”

  “Whoa. Just wait one minute. You think I was there while you were asleep? That’s sick. No way did I—or would I ever do that.”

  His expression and the horrified indignation in his tone convinced her immediately he was telling the truth.

  “Well, who else would put my clothes into a plastic bag and leave them on the end of my bed? Do you provide a maid service in your holiday rentals?” Her tone was sarcastic but she wanted an answer. If he hadn’t put them there, who had?

  “Trust me.” Dominic stared at her and his voice was soft. He balanced on the balls of his feet and looked away from her out to the sea as he ran his hand through his hair. “I believe you, but I just want you to know that I did not—and would not—come into your cottage uninvited. It wasn’t me. My cousin Margaret has a key. Maybe she found them?”

  Jilly pushed herself to her feet and brushed the loose sand from her legs. He’d been too close for her comfort in the sand beside her. “Okay, if you say so, I guess I’ll take your word for it.”

  He stood and she tipped her head to the side and looked at him curiously. Even though he had denied it and she had no reason not to believe him, he still looked ill at ease.

  “Okay, if it wasn’t your cousin, maybe I just had a memory lapse or something.” She reached out to touch his arm in an attempt to lighten the tension. “I’ve had a tough few days and I’m pretty tired. I really needed this break. My boss works me very hard, you know.” She let a tentative smile cross her face. He looked so concerned she felt bad.

  “Thank you.” Dominic straightened his shoulders and Jilly had to tip her head back to keep eye contact. “Have you given any more thought about moving to a motel?”

  Jilly put her hands on her hips and jutted her chin out as any sympathy fled.

  “No.”

  Chapter Six

  Dominic looked down at the woman staring at him. He knew very well how hard Jilly Henderson worked, and he was just sorry that the chances of her having a restful Christmas in that cottage were slim. He stared down at her beautiful green eyes as they locked with his. A man could drown in them. He’d not been immune to her at the office, but he had tried to ignore it. Even though she was quiet and professional in her dealings with him, he’d often heard her laughter coming from the morning tea room as she’d chatted to the other staff. But she’d always kept a barrier up between them and it had rankled, even though avoiding office romances was a policy he’d stuck to religiously as he’d climbed the corporate pole. Too many issues in the business world were generated by office relationships after a fling. Friday night staff drinks were notorious for beginning relationships between staff that were committed elsewhere.

  And it always happened at this time of the year; another reason to avoid the Christmas drinks that seemed to be on every night from the first of December until the big office party when there was inevitably a tale of woe. Staff turnover from the Christmas party fallout was a given every year.

  But not for him.

  “Earth to Dominic.” Jilly’s familiar voice washed over him. He ignored the little jolt that headed for his groin, but was thankful that he was wearing board shorts over his budgie smugglers. The budgie had already given a little chirp when Jilly’s hand had touched his arm a moment ago.

  “Sorry. You had me back in the office for a while there. And yes, I do know how hard you work.” He wasn’t going to mention someone being in in her cottage—if she was prepared to put it down to a memory lapse, he wasn’t going to discourage it. But he was going to do his damnedest to make sure it didn’t happen again.

  If I had a fucking clue how to, that is.

  “So seeing your boss is such a hard taskmaster, he needs to make sure you have a great holiday. How would you like to come for a surf with me in the morning?” Dominic couldn’t take his eyes off Jilly when her face broke into a wide smile. She was drop dead gorgeous. And if he kept his eyes on her face, his gaze wasn’t tempted to stray to the luscious curves packaged in that white bikini.

  “Oh, yes please! That’d be awesome. Do you have a spare board?”

  “I do, but I’m pretty sure we’ll find a smaller one to suit you in the shed at the back of your cottage. It shouldn’t be locked. I’ll come down and have a look this afternoon if that’s okay?” He waited for her nod. After last night’s antics, he wasn’t going to go near the place and give her any reason to doubt him. As far as he knew all his and Derro’s boards had been there for years. He was the only one of all the cousins who ever came back to the coast. Except for his cousin Margaret; she’d never moved
away. The rest of them were scattered far and wide over the world in a variety of careers. One thing he could say about the Smythe-Phillips; they were high achievers.

  Except for Derro, but maybe he’d known what his life was going to hold for him.

  Dominic gazed out over the ocean; Derro had never had a career goal. Surfing had been his life and it had caused his death before he was twenty. His ashes had been scattered to the wind on this very beach ten years ago. Guilt ran through him; he hadn’t caught up with Margaret for years. She’d been the older, crazy cousin as they’d grown up and run wild at their grandparents’ beach cottages and Derro’s death had tipped her into eccentricity. When he’d last seen her, he’d been shocked at how she’d aged.

  Despite the sadness that came with being here, Dominic had looked forward to coming home. This was the place he could be himself and not the corporate suit that he’d become. He had planned to use this week as a time to reconsider his future. His life was not what he wanted for himself, even if he was making a success of it. Maybe it was time for a change; a sea change. Even after two nights away from Sydney peace was stealing through his bones. But he certainly didn’t need the complication of anyone in that cottage and the problems it could bring. That person was now staring up at him with a strange expression on her face.

  Jilly reached out again and touched his arm gently. “Dominic?”

  “Yes?” He gave his head a gentle shake. She had a terrible effect on him; his thoughts were all over the place.

  “Merry Christmas.”

  “Oh. I forgot. And to you too.” A chuckle accompanied his words. “How about when I come over I’ll bring a couple of beers and we can sit on your porch and watch the storm after we dig out a board for you?” He’d had no intention of saying that and his words surprised him. At least if he was there, he could keep her safe. Not that he thought she could really come to any harm. After all what could—

  “Storm?” Jilly frowned at him and lifted her eyes to the clear blue sky.