Chapter 14

"You're spoiling me rotten, you know," Shelby said as she sat cross-legged on a plush Persian carpet while Noel carefully combed the tangles from her wet hair.

"Yeah, but I'm having fun doing it." He paused while she took the last sip of her hot tea. As soon as she set the cup down, he resumed his task.

A tea tray had appeared on the table while they'd luxuriated in the tub. It had been a tight fit for two, but being snuggled up against Noel's broad chest and having him wash every inch of her skin had been wonderful. After the bath, they'd wrapped up in their robes and sprawled on the rug in front of the fire with the tea tray and gobbled down scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream - or so Noel had told her - before he'd picked up the comb and told her to turn around.

"So, are you going to see your mother for Christmas?"

She was so relaxed from the bath and the food and so soothed by his hands on her hair that she'd almost dozed off. As it was, it took her a minute to shake h