His Christmas Eve Proposal. Carole Mortimer

would probably seem a little dramatic to anyone else, but she had come to know only too well the ruthlessness of her pursuer…

      In the last few minutes Hawk had watched all the different emotions as they’d flickered across the beauty of Rosie’s face. Emotions too fleeting for him to be able to fully comprehend. But he had registered her slight panic at his mention of buying Christmas presents. What was this woman hiding? Hawk wondered frowningly, as he continued to watch her anxious features.

      Because he was pretty sure from the way she avoided answering his direct questions that she was hiding something…

       CHAPTER FOUR

      ‘I’LL drive you to the mall, if you like,’ Hawk told her briskly. ‘You can shop for food while I go off in search of gifts for my family.’ Even as he made the suggestion he could see that it didn’t sit too well with Rosie Harrison. Her slender hands trembled slightly as she collected up their empty coffee mugs and put them in the dishwasher.

      At least he thought it was his suggestion that was making her tremble…

      It was difficult to tell what she was thinking or feeling when she continued to avoid his gaze!

      She shook her head. ‘I don’t think my father would approve of my putting you to any trouble on my behalf—’

      ‘It isn’t on your behalf if you’re going to be shopping for food for my family,’ Hawk reasoned. ‘Besides, I’m going into Calgary anyway,’ he added firmly, feeling a sudden determination, now that he could see her reluctance, to take her with him.

      How contrary was that?

      Very, Hawk acknowledged ruefully. But after years of being a public figure, of being pursued by some of the most beautiful women in the world, it was something of a novelty to find a woman who was so obviously reluctant to spend any more time in his company than she had to.

      That wasn’t conceit on his part either, only fact; his place on the Hollywood A-list made him an easy—and possibly useful—target for any woman who was trying to make it in the movie business.

      Besides, he might be able to get Rosie Harrison to open up a little more about herself if he spent some more time with her…

      She gave another small shake of her head, her glorious red hair shimmering like a living flame as she did so. ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea to just leave my father on his own when he isn’t well.’

      Considering Donald hadn’t been well several times during the last ten years—whether with other bouts of flu or stomach upsets—and had managed pretty well without the attendance of his daughter, Hawk didn’t think her being here this time was going to be of any relevance to the other man’s wellbeing or recovery!

      ‘Like all men, I know for a fact that Donald prefers to be on his own when he isn’t feeling well,’ Hawk assured her. ‘But I’ll go up and check on him while you get ready—explain what’s happening if he’s awake, if that makes you feel happier about going,’ he assured her.

      Rosie wasn’t fooled by Hawk’s lazily relaxed tone for a moment. She knew by the look of determination on his face that he wasn’t about to accept any of her arguments against going to Calgary with him. Much better to just give in gracefully.

      ‘I’ll only be five minutes,’ she told him reluctantly. ‘What?’ she prompted, when she saw his sceptical expression.

      ‘If you do only take five minutes to get ready to go out, then you’ll be the first woman of my acquaintance to do so!’ he explained wryly.

      Rosie gave him a narrow-eyed glare. ‘I can only assume that must be due to the type of woman you’re acquainted with!’

      ‘You’re probably right!’ Appreciative laughter glinted in his deep blue eyes as he gave a grin, his teeth white and even against his tanned skin. ‘I’ll go up and see Donald in a couple of minutes,’ he confirmed, his gaze slightly mocking.

      She hadn’t taken the complication of this dangerously attractive man’s presence here into account when she’d arranged to come to Canada so suddenly, Rosie acknowledged to herself as she hurried from the kitchen up to her father’s flat. If she had thought about it at all, she’d have believed the actor would be too busy with his own family to even notice her. And if her father hadn’t become suddenly ill, then he probably wouldn’t have done.

      All of which made absolutely no difference to the fact that he had noticed her, and that she was about to accompany him into Calgary in order to do his grocery shopping for him!

      What would she have been doing if she were in England now?

      Considering the time difference, she would most probably have been in bed. Although she doubted very much that she would have been asleep. Sleep seemed to be something that had eluded her more and more as her wedding day had approached and she’d realised what a mistake she was making.

      But it was a mistake she had now done something about, she reminded herself firmly. Before it had been too late.

      In fact, now that she thought about it, she didn’t even want to contemplate what would be happening now if she were still in the UK!

      She was going to take one day at a time, deal with one problem at a time—and what she had to concentrate on right now was getting ready in the five minutes she had assured Hawk that she would take!

      ‘I’m impressed,’ Hawk announced, as Rosie hurried down the stairs to join him at the front door—still with ten seconds of the allotted five minutes to spare!