A Christmas Kiss

by Celeste O. Norfleet

  “What word would that be, Nessa?” The deep voice came from her office doorway.

  June’s gaze shifted to find Benjamin leaning a broad shoulder against her doorjamb. His attention was centered on Nessa. His muscled arms were crossed over his broad chest, which was wrapped in a nickel-gray shirt. June’s eyes closed briefly in despair. Nessa would give him yet another reason to oppose her idea of the Christmas dinner dance. Her mind scrambled to mount a defense against their joint forces. She came up with . . . nothing. June folded her arms and prepared to wait them out.

  “Hello, Ben.” Nessa spun to face the center’s director. She appeared startled that they’d acquired an audience.

  “Are you threatening to disrupt our fund-raiser?” He sounded amused.

  June scowled. There was nothing humorous about this situation.

  Nessa sent her a scathing look over her shoulder before turning back to Benjamin. “If that’s what it takes to convince June that Trinity Falls isn’t the right home for her.”

  Benjamin glanced at June, who was standing behind her desk. Her bright white sweater emphasized the red flush in her copper cheeks. He couldn’t read her expression. But he didn’t need a psychic to guess she was ready to explode. He looked again to Nessa.

  “Do you really think you have that much influence in this town?” Benjamin would have found the idea amusing if he weren’t furious over the argument he’d overheard.

  “You’ve been gone a long time, Ben.” Nessa tried to look down her nose at him, which wasn’t easy for her with Benjamin slouching against June’s doorway. “Things have changed in Trinity Falls.”

  “Have people become more judgmental?” Benjamin shook his head. “That’s a shame. How did you get elected?”

  “Excuse me?” Nessa’s back became ramrod straight.

  “Did the town overlook your divorce? But then, you didn’t remain single for long, did you?” Benjamin forced a smile. “What’s that called, a whirlwind romance?”

  “How dare you?” Nessa’s face flamed.

  “Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, Nessa.” Benjamin straightened from the doorway. He allowed Nessa to see the anger he was restraining. “You’re not the only one with connections in this town. I’d recommend you not use the community center as a weapon in your petty squabbles.”

  “Petty squabbles?” Nessa pointed a finger behind her toward June. “Do you have any idea of her past?”

  “No and, apparently, neither do you.” Benjamin kept his eyes on the council president. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we have a lot of work to do.”

  “You’re siding with her against the people of your hometown?” Nessa dropped her arm.

  “Stop being so melodramatic, Nessa.” Benjamin stepped back, encouraging Nessa to leave. “June is a resident of Trinity Falls and she works for me.”

  “She’s a negative influence on this town and its residents.” Nessa seemed to be shaking with anger. “Ethel isn’t comfortable with her here.”

  “That’s for Ethel and June to deal with.” Benjamin extended his hand toward the hallway. “Good-bye, Nessa.”

  The council president sent one last glare in June’s direction before marching through the doorway. Benjamin made sure she’d disappeared down the hall before he entered June’s office.

  He still couldn’t read her expression. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” Her movements were stiff and jerky as she reclaimed her seat. “Is there something you needed?”

  Benjamin considered the tightness around June’s Cupid’s-bow lips and the strain beside her wide, overly bright eyes. She wasn’t fine. Nessa’s hate-filled words had shaken her. When Benjamin had heard the council president’s accusations and insults as he approached June’s office, he’d been overwhelmed by a wave of protectiveness for his deputy director and fund-raising manager. It had made him oblivious to everything else around him. All he could think about was getting to June’s side and deflecting Nessa’s attack.

  Now that he’d banished the council president, what should he do? He seemed to have two choices: talk or touch. The fact that his preference was to wrap her in his arms and ease the agitation in her eyes surprised him. Except for what he’d always feel for his children, he’d thought his experience with Aliyah had stripped all of the softer emotions from his heart.

  Benjamin approached June’s desk. “Do you want to talk about what just happened?”

  A silent breath lifted June’s chest and shoulders. “I’d rather not.”

  “Why does Nessa want you out of town?”

  “You should have asked her before you told her to leave.” June inclined her head. “Thank you for that, by the way.”

  Benjamin spent a moment or two fantasizing about June confiding in him. But it was only a fantasy. The stubborn angle of her chin warned him June had said everything she’d planned to say. He wasn’t getting anything more from her, at least not this afternoon.

  “I wanted to ask about Dita.” Benjamin nodded in the general direction of the recreation and program manager’s office.

  “What about her?”

  Faced with the moment of truth, Benjamin didn’t know how to articulate his concern. He massaged the back of his neck with his right hand as he scanned June’s office. It was surprisingly small. There wasn’t any room to pace. Benjamin noticed the scent of cinnamon and apples. His searching eyes landed on the unlit candle beside her computer.

  With nowhere to go, he sank onto her guest chair. “This is the second time she’s called me ‘dearie.’ Should I be concerned?”

  June’s soft, seductive laugh warmed the muscles in his lower abdomen. Tension drained from her full lips. Teasing lights replaced the strain in her tawny eyes. He’d done that somehow. The realization made him proud.

  “Dita’s not flirting with you, if that’s what you’re asking.” June propped her forearms on her desk and leaned forward. “She loves British television, particularly Sherlock and Doctor Who. She’s always quoting from those shows.”

  The laughter in her eyes once again mesmerized him. Benjamin was reluctant to leave her now. “Thanks for clearing that up. Is there anything else I should know about the staff?”

  June cocked her head as though considering his question and how she should respond. “Well, unless you have something nice to say about Cleveland’s football team, don’t mention them to Krista.”

  “A diehard fan, huh?” Benjamin pictured Krista Li, the childcare manager.

  “Oh, yes.” June grinned, taking more of Benjamin’s breath away.

  “So am I.”

  “Then the two of you could commiserate.”

  Benjamin winced. The truth hurt. “Anything else?”

  “Howard Atwell is a conspiracy theorist but really great at his job. I recommend you just smile and nod if you get trapped with him in the middle of one of his rants.”

  Benjamin frowned. “He’s our kitchen manager. Can we trust him to handle our food?”

  “Absolutely.” June waved away the concern. “He doesn’t think anyone is out to get him. Howard just believes the government is lying about the existence of aliens.”

  “That’s a relief.” Benjamin noticed the suppressed laughter in her eyes. A few chuckles escaped him. “I appreciate the insight.”

  “You’re welcome.” June shared his laughter. “We all have our quirks. But the important thing is that they’re all warm, wonderful people. And they’re all exceptional at their jobs. They’re the reason the center’s been able to stay open so long.”

  “They’ve been very welcoming to me.” Benjamin cocked his head. “What about you? Any quirks I should know about?”

  The shift was subtle, but Benjamin sensed a virtual wall going up between them. Why?

  June shook her head. Her smile never wavered. “I’m pretty boring.”

  “I find that hard to believe.” Benjamin stood. “Thanks again.”

  “Wait a minute. I have something for you.” Jun
e turned to the file cabinet beside her desk and pulled a large metal can from a drawer. “Take this. It’s lubricant for your chair. The squeaking must be driving you crazy.”

  “It is.” Benjamin met her eyes. “Thank you.”

  “Thanks again for defending me to Nessa.” June stood. “I know you’re not completely sold on the idea of the Christmas dinner dance.”

  “We’re a team.”

  A light flashed across June’s bright eyes. “I like that.”

  So do I. Too much.

  Benjamin inclined his head, then tore himself free of June’s spell before he was tempted to stay longer.

  What was it that drew him to her like the proverbial moth to a flame? He’d never before felt this irresistible pull to another person. Why now? He was just getting over the painful end of a long marriage. Why June? She worked for him. More importantly, could he still trust his instincts? Benjamin rubbed a hand over his face. He honestly didn’t know. He’d been with his ex-wife for twenty years, but her betrayal had caught him off guard. After that experience, could he ever trust anyone again, even himself?

  Chapter 4

  “Thanks again for coming to my office for this interview.” Darius sat with Benjamin at his conversation table in his office at The Trinity Falls Monitor’s building Friday morning.

  Benjamin squinted at the notes Darius continued to scrawl across his writing tablet. It was for the feature Darius wanted to do on him as the Guiding Light Community Center’s new director.

  It was a good thing the newspaper man had recorded their question-and-answer session. He didn’t think anyone—including Darius—would be able to read the reporter’s handwriting. Benjamin glanced at the recorder perched precariously on a stack of newspapers.

  “No problem. I wanted to see your new digs.” Benjamin looked around the spacious room that made his office look like a very large Jacuzzi.

  The walls were covered with special issue schedules and framed news clips. Competitor newspapers stood in stacks on the conversation table and personal photographs were arranged on his shelves. There were pictures of Peyton, Darius’s girlfriend, near Wishing Lake on Trinity Falls University’s campus; another of young Darius, Ean, and Quincy mugging for the camera after their high school football state championship win. Next to it was a photo of a young man who looked a lot like Darius posing with June. Was that June’s son? In another picture taken at the same event, Darius, Noah, and June stood with their arms around each other’s shoulders. They looked like a family. Benjamin felt a sting of envy. And perhaps jealousy?

  “The digs aren’t that new.” Darius leaned back on his chair and folded his arms behind his head. “I’ve been managing editor of the Monitor for more than ten months now.”

  “Do you like the new position?” Benjamin propped his right ankle onto his left knee.

  “I do.” Darius paused. “I miss the hard news. But I still have time to write personality profiles like this one I’m doing on you. Now, tell me, why are you really here?”

  Benjamin should have known Darius would see right through him. His childhood friend had always been good at reading people. He took a deep breath. The office smelled like newsprint and coffee. He preferred the cinnamon and apples that lingered in June’s office.

  “What can you tell me about June Cale?” He tried to appear nonchalant. But the truth was, as his attraction to his small-but-mighty deputy director grew, so did his need to know everything about her—and her relationship with Darius.

  Darius frowned. “What do you want to know?”

  “What was she doing in Sequoia before she moved to Trinity Falls?”

  “Don’t you have a copy of her resume?”

  “Why does Nessa have it out for her?”

  “You’ll have to ask Nessa.”

  Benjamin frowned. This was trickier than he’d considered. “Why did she decide to move to Trinity Falls rather than looking for a new job in Sequoia?”

  Darius looked amused. “These are all questions for June. Why are you asking me?”

  He tried another tactic. “You usually have some insight on situations like these.”

  “Are you trying to butter me up?”

  “Is it working?”

  “No.” Darius leaned back on his chair. It didn’t squeak.

  Benjamin’s gaze drifted back to the picture of Darius, June, and Noah. “What’s your relationship with her?”

  Darius arched a brow. “We’re very good friends, Ben. Nothing more, nothing less. I’m with Peyton, remember?”

  Benjamin had the distinct impression that Darius was laughing at him. “As her friend, aren’t you concerned about the way Nessa, Simon, and Ethel have been treating her?”

  “Of course. But June’s tough. She’s had to be. She’s also very attractive.” There was a message in his childhood friend’s dark gaze.

  Benjamin acknowledged the look, then inclined his head toward the photo of June and a young man that stood on the shelf above Darius’s desk. “Is that Noah, Simon’s son?”

  “Yes, that’s my little brother.” Darius’s expression softened.

  “Not so little. And he looks just like you.” The Knight genes were strong.

  “He’s not the only one who’d be upset if someone hurt June.”

  Benjamin nodded. Message sent and received, again. But was it necessary? “I’m not looking for a relationship, D. I just ended a twenty-year marriage.”

  “We don’t have to be looking for a relationship to find one.” Darius gave him the wry look of a man who’d been blindsided by love.

  “I think Cupid knows better than to take any potshots at me.” He’d make the little guy choke on his arrow. Benjamin stood. “Thanks for your time. Your insight was helpful.”

  “You’re welcome.” Darius rose. “Good luck with Nessa. And be careful with June.”

  “There’s no need to worry.” Benjamin turned to leave.

  If anything, Darius should ask June to be careful with him. Something about his fearless deputy director was breathing life into the pile of ashes that had once been his heart. What would she do with it if it ever fully healed?

  Simon cornered June the moment she stepped into Books & Bakery Friday afternoon.

  “We need to talk.” It was as though he’d been waiting for her. He took her arm and tugged her toward the nonfiction section of the store, which lay in the opposite direction from the crowded café.

  June shrugged off his hold. “Please don’t manhandle me. Just tell me what you want.”

  “I want you to leave.” Simon hissed the words.

  Didn’t anyone have a more original request for me? First Nessa, now Simon; Ethel hadn’t said as much, but her killer glares were strong cues.

  “That’s not going to happen.” June started to leave.

  Simon caught her arm again. She shifted her gaze from his hold on her elbow to his almost desperate expression.

  Simon dropped his hand. “I was on the verge of reconciling with Ethel before you showed up. Your being here is bringing . . . it . . . all back.”

  June crossed her arms. “I’ve never been married, but I’d think that cheating on your wife would fall under the heading of ‘problems to work through’ not ‘things to forget.’”

  “As you said, you’ve never been married.” Simon’s still-handsome features twisted into a scowl. “Why should I take advice from you?”

  “I’m not leaving Trinity Falls.” And the more people who told her to, the more determined she became to plant roots. Very deep ones.

  “How am I supposed to get my life back when you’re around as a constant reminder of why Ethel left me?” Simon threw up his arms.

  June looked around. Was it her imagination or were people moving closer, as though trying to better hear what she and Simon were talking about? She jerked her head toward the front of the shop and led Simon to the exit. The bell above the door chimed and a chill mid-November wind stole June’s breath as she led him away from Books & Bakery�
�s entrance.

  “Has Ethel actually forgiven you?” June stopped and faced Simon.

  He shrugged deeper into his army-green parka. “Not in so many words.”

  Translation: No. And June had a strong suspicion Ethel never would.

  “You should have a candid conversation with Ethel about whether the two of you can fix your marriage.” June held the collar of her wool winter coat closer to her neck. “You lied to me. And you lied to Ethel.”

  “I didn’t . . . I couldn’t . . .”

  “Now, instead of taking responsibility for your lies, you’re still pretending that none of this happened.”

  “I haven’t . . . I wouldn’t . . .”

  “I don’t harbor any ill will toward you.” Amazingly. “Because of you I have a wonderful son. But I understand why Ethel hates us. And I don’t blame her.”

  “Then leave.” Simon sounded as though he’d come to the end of his rope. “Stop giving me useless advice about my marriage and just leave.”

  June shook her head. “I’m not running. And you should stop hiding. Talk with your wife, Simon.”

  She left Simon on the sidewalk to stew in his frustration. As June re-entered the bookstore, patrons averted their eyes. How many of them had tried to get a glimpse of her and Simon outside? What did the good residents of Trinity Falls think they’d been talking about? June didn’t want to speculate. She couldn’t control their thoughts. She could only control her reaction, which would be no reaction at all. She squared her shoulders, raised her chin, and strode to the café.

  Minutes later, Doreen brought June’s lunch request: chicken vegetable soup, an apple, and ice water. “You seem tense. Is everything all right?”

  June found comfort in the other woman’s concern. “It will be, once Simon realizes I’m not leaving Trinity Falls. And, even if I did, he still couldn’t save his marriage.”

  Doreen poured herself a glass of ice water. “It would take a miracle to save Simon and Ethel’s marriage. Don’t waste your energy worrying about it. Simon has never known what he’s wanted.”