“A fight? No, we weren’t having a fight.” Alix scooped her up. Soft curls brushed against her cheek. “We were chatting...in loud voices.”

Holly buried her head in her shoulder. “You sounded fierce.”

“Gosh, no. I’m never fierce. Now, what are you doing out of bed? Let’s go and tuck you in again.”

“You should kiss and make up.”

She glanced briefly at Zac and saw laughter. In other circumstances, with a different person, she might have laughed, too, and in that moment she realized that keeping her promise to Christy that they’d be civil was going to be tough.

“No need for that, because we weren’t fighting. Now, back to bed.”

“I want Zac to carry me.” Holly thrust out her arms so suddenly Alix would have lost her balance if Zac hadn’t shot out a hand and steadied her.

“Okay, I’ve got you.” He scooped the child from her, settling her comfortably on one arm.

“Will you read me a story?”

He gave her a serious look. “Haven’t you already had two stories? I don’t want to make your mummy angry.”

“Mummy is never angry.” Holly leaned her head on his shoulder. “I love you, Uncle Zac. When I grow up I’m going to marry you.”

No judge of character, Alix thought savagely, but to give him his due Zac handled that unrestrained declaration of love with the appropriate level of seriousness.

“I love you, too, science girl. Are you ready to go back to your research station?” He swung her into the air, and Holly giggled.

“Can we go there on a rocket? Three—”

“Two, one!” Zac strode out of the room making rocket noises, and Holly gestured to Alix to follow.

She clomped up the stairs after them. The fact that he was good with Holly didn’t change her feelings toward him.

She stepped into Holly’s bedroom and found herself pressed against Zac’s back.

“Sorry.” She felt breathless. “Not a lot of room in here.”

The place was too small. Too dark. The only light came from the luminous stars on her ceiling and the swirl of color from the night-light.

Zac tucked Holly into bed, and she snuggled into the pillow, choosing a stuffed reindeer as her favored companion.

“Have you ever seen a reindeer, Uncle Zac?”

“Yes. I saw reindeer on one of my trips to the Arctic.”

“Will you take me to see reindeer in Lapland?”

“I will. It’s a promise.” He tucked the reindeer into the bed next to her. “Now, get some sleep. You’ll need all your energy for the trip.”

“Will you stay until I fall asleep?”

“Yes.”

“And you, Aunty Alix?”

“Well, you don’t need both—”

“Please.”

“Sure thing.” She squashed herself against the wall, but Holly patted the bed.

“I want you to sit here.”

It was quicker to do it rather than argue, so she sat stiffly, her leg pressed against the hard length of Zac’s thigh. Did he feel as awkward about it as she did?