She hadn’t been oblivious to the plentiful stares that came in his direction from women and men of all ages at the function tonight. He had that allure about him, made all the more captivating because he carried on as if he was completely oblivious to the attention he garnered. And, given the news she’d unwittingly drawn out of him regarding his marital status, it sounded as though he had good reason to be uninterested in other women. She wondered how long it was since he’d been widowed, but she didn’t want to pry.
“Tonight went well, don’t you think?” she said as they went over to her sitting room.
She curled up with her feet tucked underneath her on the couch and sipped her cocoa.
“It did. I understand from the treasurer that there were several pledges of ongoing support for the housing initiative. It’s good to see money coming back into the community and giving people a helping hand.”
A thought occurred to Kristin. “Would you be interested in visiting the latest development? I’m heading out there tomorrow for a cost management meeting with the building supervisor. Since you’ll be handling the legal affairs for the foundation it might be a good opportunity for you to get an overview of what’s happening on the ground.”
“Let me check my calendar.” He extracted his phone from his breast pocket, tapped the screen a few times and frowned. “No, it looks as though I’ll be tied up all day.”
Kristin told herself she felt relieved, and reminded herself that she shouldn’t be seeking to spend more time with Jackson anyway. Even so, an unwarranted sense of disappointment pulled at her.
“No problem. Some other time, perhaps.”
He nodded and took a long swig of his cocoa before putting his mug on the table and rising to his feet.
“I need to be on my way,” he said abruptly. “No need to get up. I’ll see myself out.”
“No, no. I’ll see you out,” she protested, feeling another unreasonable pang of disappointment that he was leaving already.
She leaned forward and put her still half-full mug on the coffee table, and got her feet out from under her. But somewhere along the line, her feet tangled up in the hem of her dress, and despite her normally excellent sense of balance, she started to pitch forward. Jackson moved swiftly, catching her in his arms before she landed face-first onto the carpet. She did, however, end up chest-first against the solid wall of his body.
Her breasts crushed against him and his arms wrapped tight around her body. Through the satin of her gown, she felt the imprint of his fingers, the heat of his palms against her back. And, darn, she liked it. Her entire body flared in response, and she put her hands against the lapels of his jacket and started to push herself away. But the hands at her back didn’t budge.
Kristin looked up into Jackson’s fiercely glittering blue eyes, shocked by what she saw there. Passion. Heat. Disgust. All of those emotions warred for supremacy in the short time she stared into his eyes. And then she felt his hands move. Not away from her, but lower, to her buttocks.
A groan ripped from Jackson’s throat before he bent his face to hers and captured her lips. Shock coursed through her body at the long-missed and all too familiar touch of his mouth on hers. Shock and desire and a need to kiss him with all the pent-up frustration and sorrow she’d borne alone for far too long. He tasted of cocoa and the delicious tang that was innately his.
Jack’s grip on her tightened as he pulled her lower body closer. The sensation of his arousal against her made her gasp as pleasure arrowed through her at the intimate touch. His kiss deepened, his tongue tasting her, sweeping her lips. His teeth grazed her lower lip as he pulled it into his mouth and sucked on the plump flesh.
This was everything she remembered and more. So much more. This wasn’t the eager embrace of a boy; it was the demand of a man who knew what he wanted and just how much he was prepared to give to get it. A sense of desperation filled her, making her want to get closer, to feel more of him. To be rid of the trappings of civilized company and the formalities of the evening they’d spent together. To give in to the basic need they’d always aroused in each other.
And then, in an instant, it was over. Jackson shifted his hands to her upper arms and gently but deliberately pushed her away. She felt the loss of his physical imprint against her body like the loss of a limb.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said grimly, stepping farther away from her and pushing a hand through his hair.
“We shouldn’t have done that. But we did,” she answered in a voice equally devoid of emotion. “But we’re grown-ups. It doesn’t have to mean anything. In fact, it doesn’t mean anything.”
He shot her a look that told her just how unconvincing she sounded. “You really believe what you just said? That it meant nothing?”
“It can’t mean anything,” she said firmly. “Can it?”
He stared at her in silence for a full twenty seconds before shaking his head slowly.
“No, it can’t.”
“And it doesn’t have to make anything awkward. We’ve got it out of our system, right? It’s not going to happen again.”
“No. It is not.” He said the words emphatically and his voice was filled with self-loathing. “I’m sorry.”
“Jack, there’s nothing to apologize for.”
Kristin went to place a hand on his arm in reassurance but he took another step away.
“Good night,” he said and stalked to the door.
She stayed rooted to the spot. Still in a state of disbelief at what had just happened between them. Her front door closed with a sharp click, and she sank onto the couch and tried to analyze why she felt so lost at his going. She’d told the truth when she said their kiss hadn’t meant anything, hadn’t she? Then why did she feel like she needed to hold herself back from racing to her door and down the hallway outside her apartment and begging him to return?
Eleven
At his desk the next morning, Jackson made notes automatically as the woman seated opposite him listed the litany of her husband’s failings and why she was divorcing him. By the time she was done, and he escorted her to the door, he knew no amount of caffeine would fix the day ahead of him.
Last night had been a disaster from the moment he’d set eyes on Kristin. Keeping his hands off her should have been a simple matter of reminding himself what his purpose was in her life now and none of that purpose included kissing her like a man starved of, well, everything. He’d told himself that dancing with her at the charity gala was the worst thing he’d have to endure that night. The very fact he’d managed to hold her so lightly in his arms as they took their turn around the dance floor spoke volumes as to his restraint. So where was that restraint when it was time to leave her apartment after sharing cocoa with her? Why the hell had he given in to temptation and kissed her?
Sure, she’d literally fallen into his arms. Sure, she’d fit perfectly against his body the way she always had. But he hadn’t needed to act on it. He was better than that, stronger than that, wasn’t he? The entire night had been an exercise in torment as he battled the bittersweet memories of the times he’d attended similar functions with Annie and the last time he’d danced with her, and equally potent reminiscences of the last time he and Kristin had been together before his parents had died.
None of that gave him the right to allow impulse to overrule reason. And then there was Kristin’s ability to diminish what they’d done with a select few words. Nothing. It had meant nothing to her. And dammit if that didn’t piss him off. It shouldn’t, obviously, but it did. And he hadn’t been able to get her to budge from his thoughts since.
The girl from the front desk hailed him as he walked by.
“Another delivery for you,” she said as she handed over the packet.
Jackson flipped it over. No name, and again a mailing office was used as the return address. He returned to his office and tore open the bag
. Inside was a DNA report for an unnamed female and a printed note.
Dear Mr. Jones,
This report has been done at an independent laboratory to help establish my connection to the Richmond family. I trust you will be able to compare my results with those of my siblings and that this will expedite the matter of the payment of what is due to me.
The note was unsigned.
Jackson composed another email to the claimant, stating he’d received the couriered DNA report and that it would take time to gather and then compare results. He was surprised to get an immediate reply.
The results are already in the Richmond family’s possession. Last year they were all tested to prove Logan Parker was indeed the missing son. It shouldn’t take you too long to compare the information already on hand with my own. My deadline stands.
Jackson leaned back in his chair and drummed the fingers of one hand on the desk. There was a knock at his door.
“Come in,” he called.
Hector Ramirez entered and closed the door behind him. Jackson assessed the man’s appearance quickly and found little to suggest that he had been unwell.
“That was a swift recovery,” he commented as he gestured for Hector to take a seat.
“Ah, the power of love,” Hector said enigmatically. “A great restorative to whatever ails a man. I take it last night went well?”
For a second, Jackson felt uncomfortable, but then he reminded himself that Hector was only expecting a report on the charity event. He filled his old friend in on the evening.
“And then you saw Kristin home?” Hector pressed.
“I did.”
“And that was that.”
Now Jackson knew something was up. “Hector, are you trying to matchmake?”
A ruddy flush of color stained the older man’s cheeks. “I’m sorry, my friend. Guilty as charged. My partner in crime and soon-to-be partner in life sent me in here this morning for details because Kristin isn’t taking any calls today.”
Jackson filed the latter comment away for further examination and responded to Hector’s admission of guilt with a shake of his head.
“Hector, you have my utmost respect, but it’s too soon for me to be thinking about a new relationship. In fact, I don’t know if I’ll ever want to be with another person again. Losing Annie...”
His voice trailed off as his throat choked up and words failed him. But Hector wasn’t to be deterred.
“Nancy told me that you and Kristin used to be an item. I guess we just thought that maybe the flame could be rekindled. Now we’ve found our own happiness, we just want the same for those we love. You can’t blame us for that.”
Jack barked a short laugh. So Kristin had told her mother about them? He wondered how much information she’d disclosed. He knew she hadn’t told her family anything about their relationship while they were going out. Back then, she’d been insistent about keeping things under wraps so her father wouldn’t know that she was cheating on her promise to him not to have a boyfriend while she was in college. That had been fine with him. He hadn’t wanted to add his family to the mix, either. They’d agreed, though, that after graduation they’d meet each other’s family as they stepped out into their new life together. But then his family had ceased to exist and so had their relationship.
“I’d be grateful if you and Nancy would not try to interfere with Kristin and me,” Jackson said in all seriousness.
“So there is hope?”
“No, there is no hope of rekindling anything. It’s all water under the bridge. I take it as a win that we can at least work in a civil fashion with each other.”
“So you broke her heart, then. I thought as much,” Hector said with a wise expression in his eyes.
Jackson had no words. He had broken Kristin’s heart. But even if he hadn’t, would he want to pursue a relationship with her now? Like he’d said, the past couldn’t be undone. He’d moved on, as had she.
“You know, Annie and I talked often, even up until the week before she passed away. It worried her that she was leaving you alone,” Hector continued, filling the silence that had fallen between them. “She didn’t want you to wallow after her death.”
Jackson felt a prick of anger at his friend’s words. “Wallow?” he said coldly.
Hector cocked his head to one side and looked at Jackson carefully. “Yes, that was the term she used and, no offense intended, I believe that is what you have been doing.”
“Hector, as I said, it’s too early for me to consider falling in love again, if ever. You can hardly talk. It’s been fifteen years since your Mona passed. You didn’t exactly rush into things again.”
“But I was not alone. I have my children and now, to my greatest delight, I have another woman whom I love with all my heart. You are still young—you deserve a family, my friend. I only want what is best for you.”
He pushed away the flare of hope that kindled deep inside at the thought of having a child with Kristin. Once upon a time, it had been his deepest wish to create a family with her, but no matter his confused feelings about her now, a family with Kristin was not in the cards.
“Thank you, but I’m not ready for any of that. I went into marriage with Annie with my eyes wide open and a sure knowledge that we wouldn’t have a family together even if we wanted one. I can’t imagine wanting that with anyone else. Now, can we discuss some business?”
“Certainly, it’s what I’m here for after all. No more of this social chitchat,” Hector said with a teasing glint in his eyes.
And they did get down to business, but all through it, Jackson couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that Annie had obviously discussed him with Hector in the lead-up to her death. But she hadn’t left him completely alone. She’d left him with full responsibility for Ben’s care, and he’d promised that come what may he’d be there for him. No matter what. And that meant not clouding his emotions with anyone else. Already his work had gotten in the way last night and Jack promised himself that would not happen again. He would not let Annie down or sully her memory by reneging on his promise to her to always be there for her son. There was no room in his life for another person, especially not Kristin Richmond, whatever his subconscious kept telling him.
* * *
Jackson entered the offices of Richmond Developments the following Monday morning, with his agenda for the meeting at the forefront of his mind. The fact he was seeing Kristin again had nothing to do with his brisk pace, he told himself as he followed one of the receptionists to the meeting room that had been set aside for them. Nor did it have anything to do with not being able to get thoughts of her to budge from his mind ever since his conversation with Hector. Who the hell are you kidding? a little voice in the back of his mind jeered as he entered the room and instantly looked for her.
He was pleased to note that Logan and Keaton were already there, with Honor and Tami arriving soon behind him. Next were Hector and Nancy. Which only left Kristin still to arrive.
“Shall I start the video link with the others?” Keaton said as they all took seats around the table, which faced a large TV screen at the end of the room.
“Sure,” Jackson said. “We’ll wait five more minutes for Kristin, but then we’ll have to commence. I have another appointment at my office in an hour.”
“Perhaps I should go and find her,” Nancy said, rising from her chair.
“No need, Mom,” Kristin said as she breezed into the meeting room. “Sorry I’m a little late.”
Jackson noted that she walked past the first empty chair in the room, next to his own, and went and sat between her mom and Logan. Had she deliberately arrived late so she wouldn’t have to risk being alone with him? He firmed his lips. That was fine. He could live with that. In fact, it was what he wanted, wasn’t it? A professional relationship. That was all.
But even though he belabored th
e point in his thoughts, he couldn’t help but let his gaze rake her body. She’d worn her lustrous blond hair loose today, and her makeup was minimal compared to the femme fatale look she’d worn to their dinner together or the glamour she’d exuded for the gala. She was beautiful, no matter how she presented herself, and the carefully cut red suit she wore today screamed corporate chic. The fine wool two-piece fitted her perfectly and accentuated the swell of her breasts beneath a cream-colored lace-edged camisole. The jacket nipped in securely at the narrow curve of her waist.
He realized he was staring and looked away, but not before he’d noted the slightly smug smile on Hector’s face. It didn’t make any difference, he thought defiantly. A man would have to be completely blind not to find Kristin Richmond thoroughly appealing, and he most definitely was not blind. He was also not interested. Sure you’re not, that little voice interrupted again. Okay, fine, if he were totally honest with himself, he’d never stopped being interested in Kristin. But being interested was different from taking things further, and right now he had work to do.
The heirs from the Virginia-based family came on screen, seated in a similar meeting room as the Seattle Richmonds. Not for the first time, Jackson wondered about the man who’d set up mirror lives on two different coasts. How on earth had he juggled everything and expected to get away with it? Then again, he had gotten away with it for over thirty years. Anyway, that wasn’t his concern right now. He called the meeting to order and explained about the forensic assessment of the photographs.
What Happens at Christmas… Page 10