“You could put it that way, I guess. She’s a big deal right now. The paparazzi have been in hot pursuit, and they’d love nothing more than to snap a picture of her injured face and sell it to the tabloids.”

Seth pictured Tia’s huge green eyes. Together with her dark coloring, they were spectacular. The second she’d met his gaze he’d realized that he was looking at something rare and beautiful.

“I’m providing her with some privacy so she can at least get through Christmas,” Maxi was saying. “The holidays are hard after a loss.”

Seth certainly understood that.

“And it’s nice of her to feed Kiki while I’m gone. My wife feels Kiki will be good for her, too, and I agree. They’ll provide each other with some companionship. It’s not like a bird cares that Tia’s no longer the beauty she was a month ago.”

Seth pinched the bridge of his nose as he imagined what she’d been through. “It would’ve been good to know what I was getting into.”

“I don’t see how it makes any difference to you,” Maxi said. “She’s staying in the guesthouse. You’re staying in the main house. I’d have you switch, so that she doesn’t have to come there to take care of Kiki, but you were excited to have my office for your work. There’s no space for what you do in the cottage. And it’s not as if I can move Kiki. I—”

“Of course not. I would never expect your pet to be put out of her home,” he broke in. “We’ll make it work. Don’t worry.”

“Except that I’m already a little worried. What happened between you two?”

Seth should’ve been more generous in his thoughts and assumptions, should’ve waited until he knew more before drawing so many conclusions. But he’d gotten so little sleep lately and was dreading the holidays so much, he’d taken his frustrations out on her. “I just...bumped into her and accidentally hurt her, and I feel bad about it.”

“You hurt her?”

Remembering the tears swimming in those incredible eyes made him want to kick himself. “Yeah, I thought... Never mind. It was a misunderstanding. But you forgot to let her know I was coming so...could you text her and tell her that...that I’m a friend and not as bad as she thinks? Let her know I feel terrible about our little accident.” It wasn’t actually an accident. He’d caused it. But he hated to own that. “Tell her I’d never purposely hurt her?”

“Okay. No problem. I got caught up and forgot about it, that’s all. I’ll do it right now.”