The Yuletide Engagement & A Yuletide Seduction Read Online Free Page A

why—?”
    â€œHe told everyone at the office that he was the one to end it,” Ellie recalled disgustedly. “And when he was seen with someone else only a few days later…!” She shook her head. “If I had tried to contradict his story then I would have just looked like ‘a woman scorned’,” she reasoned heavily.
    â€œHmm. Just out of interest—why did you stop seeing him?” Patrick asked interestedly.
    â€œBecause—” She drew in a deep breath, shaking her head. “I think that also comes under the heading of ‘Private’,” she told him stiffly.
    â€œOkay,” he conceded reluctantly. “But if you aren’t bothered by his engagement…?”
    â€œI’m really not,” she insisted firmly. “At least, only so far as… I have to work with all these people, Patrick.”She grimaced. “Gareth informed me a couple of hours ago about the engagement announcement.”
    â€œBig of him,” Patrick bit out scathingly.
    It had been more out of spite, actually, but she was way past caring about anything Gareth did or said to her. “If I turn up alone on Friday evening and the announcement is made—”
    â€œAll your work colleagues are going to end up feeling sorry for you,” Patrick acknowledged hardly.
    Her eyes flashed deeply blue. “Yes!” And the pity of people she worked with on a daily basis—even misplaced pity—was something she just couldn’t bear to think about.
    Even if it meant coming to this man and admitting she had made a mistake in so arbitrarily refusing his offer to act as her escort at the dinner!
    â€œIf you agree—if you’re still willing—it will be a purely business arrangement if you consent to accompany me on Friday evening,” she told him coolly. “I will, of course, be paying any expenses you may incur—including the petrol to get us there, any drinks we have to buy, the—”
    â€œStop right there, Ellie,” Patrick cut in firmly. “When I take a woman out for the evening I do the paying. Okay?”
    â€œNo, it is not okay,” she came back, just as determinedly. “I’m taking you out. That means I pay. What do you mean, no?” She frowned as he shook his head.
    â€œI’ll only agree to go if I take you. Otherwise the deal is off, Ellie,” he added decisively.
    â€œBut this isn’t one of your business deals—” she broke off as she realised she had been the one to say Friday evening was to be treated on a businesslike footing.
    Patrick laughed softly. “Ellie, isn’t the important thing here to show this Gareth that you’re more than capable of attracting a man other than him? Which, of course, you obviously are,” he continued, his grey gaze sweeping over her with slow appreciation.
    Ellie was dressed in one of the suits she wore to work, a fitted black one today, teamed with a blue blouse. Slightly damp from the snow still falling outside!
    Ellie was under no illusions as regarded her looks; at best they could be called pleasant. She was neither fat nor too thin, and her hair—her one good feature as far as she was concerned—was always kept clean and well-styled. Her eyes were a clear blue, her lashes thick and dark, her skin smooth and creamy, but other than that her features were nondescript.
    Which was why, when Gareth had joined the company six months ago—a blond Adonis with warm blue eyes and a charm that drew women to him like bees around honey—Ellie had been completely bowled over by his marked interest in her.
    But she had definitely learnt her lesson where that sort of flattery and attention were concerned, which was why she knew that Patrick McGrath was just being polite now.
    He was watching her with narrowed eyes. “How long is it since the two of you broke up?”
    â€œWhat does that have to do with anything?” she