The Mistletoe Affair

by Judith Gilbert

  Her jaw muscles ached from clenching them so tightly as she marched toward the ladies room. She fought to control her temper and not make a worse scene. At least not in public. Matt didn't need to see his mother and father fighting. But when they were alone, if it took a battle for Paul to treat Matt better, he would find himself in the fight of his life. But this wasn't the time or place for that battle.

  What a mess, but she couldn't think of a solution that didn't involve hurting her mother or Matt. How could she possibly explain to her mother that she'd lied originally because she felt ashamed at how badly her marriage turned out? Maybe if she'd been a more experienced lover, she could have kept Paul happy and saved their marriage. In the beginning, she wanted to keep the circumstances of their divorce private. Later, when her dad took ill, it grew impossible to tell the truth. And the night before, when she'd nodded in agreement with her mother, Katherine had perpetuated the lies.

  She walked past Jared and saw the look of concern on his face. “Katherine, baby,” he murmured, but she just put up her hand in a silent beg for a moment, thankful he didn't try to touch her. She needed solitude right now, time to cool off, time to think so she could deal with Paul dropping in on her without any warning.

  * * * *

  Jared sat with Matt waiting for Grace to return from talking to Thomas Hughes. From the angry expression on Thomas’ face, they were having a heated argument about something, too. The disagreeable frown and silence of his friend said Thomas had lost the battle. What are they fighting about?

  Matt tugged on Jared's arm, motioning him nearer. “Make my dad go away,” he whispered.

  Jared's opened his mouth, but closed it, hating the reply he needed to give. He shook his head. “I can't."

  “You're bigger. Why can't you?” Matt asked with wide innocent eyes.

  More than anything, he didn't want to disappoint Matt. How could he make the boy understand that he'd asked for the impossible? “I guess you're mad at your dad right now and that's understandable. It's okay to feel that way. But I think he's here to make it up to both of you. I can't interfere with his trying. It wouldn't be right for me to come between your parents."

  Matt tilted his head to one side. “Why?” he asked again.

  “Don't you miss your dad?” Jared paused, remembering the hurt and loneliness he felt when his father abandoned him. When he failed to get a reply from Matt, Jared continued, “He's here. Don't you want to find out why he's here?” Knowing he was going to kick himself later, he pressed on when Matt still didn't respond. “Will you at least give him a chance to make it up to you?"

  His little eyebrows shot up. “Does this mean I can't learn to sit on your horses?"

  Jared smiled and ruffled Matt's hair. “Of course not. We'll always be pals. I'll call your mom, we'll go horseback riding like we planned. If your dad wants to come along, he's welcome."

  Matt bowed his head, staring at his dress shoes.

  Jared lifted Matt's chin, finding confusion lurking in his green eyes-eyes mirroring Katherine's shock and confusion on the dance floor. “Matt, you can always come to me if you have any problem. Will you at least promise to give him a chance to make it up to you?"

  Matt placed his hand in Jared's. He felt humbled by the trust and determination he saw on his little face. “I promise. Will you stay until we go to Grandma's?"

  “I'm not going anywhere, pal."

  * * * *

  Grace returned to her grandson's side. She glanced over her shoulder at Thomas, his nostrils flared, and he looked away from her. Jared noted the ashen, worried look on her face when she sat across from him and Matt.

  A few minutes later, Katherine headed back and Paul stepped from the corner of the room, obviously waiting for her to return from the bathroom. He caught up with her, and his arm went possessively around her waist.

  Jared's muscles tightened between his shoulder blades.

  Paul stood beside Matt and made an awkward attempt to rumple his son's hair. “Hello, Matt."

  Matt combed his fingers through his hair, putting the disarrayed strands back in place.

  “I'm sorry I didn't make it last Christmas, but I'm here now."

  Matt smiled warily though he still kept silent. He leaned toward Jared in a silent plea for support that Jared gave freely.

  Jared's hand fisted when Paul's hand wrapped around Katherine's waist and pulled her to him. Her ex ignored the frown she shot his way. She quickly removed his hand, sidestepped and took a seat.

  “Paul Cahill, I'd like you to meet Jared Randall,” Katherine said. Jared noticed Paul's cool assessment and quick dismissal. Maybe someone should remind the jerk that they're divorced. Or was Paul that sure of himself with Katherine? How the hell could he be? Neither Katherine nor Matt seemed pleased to see him. Jared inhaled deeply, forcing himself to relax. If anyone told the ex to take a hike, it had to be Katherine.

  Paul turned and hugged Katherine's mother. “Grace, it's good to see you."

  “I'm glad you came. Katherine hoped you'd make it."

  Jared studied Katherine's face. She nibbled on her lower lip. He'd bet his law practice she never said any such thing, not if he read the signs correctly.

  Paul's smiling gray eyes sought Katherine's worried green ones. “Well, that's good to know,” he said, sitting beside Katherine and leaning closer.

  Crossing his arms, Jared waited for a denial that never surfaced. His gaze roamed between Katherine, Paul and Grace.

  “I didn't have a chance to make hotel reservations. I hope to find a place near the house so I can spend more time with Matt,” Paul said.

  “Katherine, don't you think it might be easier if Paul stayed at the house with us?” her mother asked. “That way it would give the three of you more of a chance to talk."

  Jared gritted his teeth as the vein in Katherine's neck jumped. Her face paled again. She quickly pushed her hands beneath the table, but not before he spotted a slight tremble.

  Katherine smiled faintly. “Paul and I will decide that a little later.” She turned to Matt. “Tonight your dad can tuck you in and read you a bedtime story."

  Her mother leaned over to whisper to Paul, but everyone at the table clearly overheard her comment. “I hope you realize Katherine hasn't had any boyfriends since you two divorced. She's been waiting for your return."

  Katherine gasped, blushed redder than an over-ripe tomato and fell silent.

  Jared's jaw dropped. Damn. He couldn't believe Grace had blurted something like that out. Especially since Grace had carefully watched Paul and Katherine during their dance. Hell, Grace had seen the same things Jared had, and the look she gave Paul when he looked elsewhere bordered on raw contempt. And no one could miss the deep concern in her eyes for Katherine.

  What the hell's really going on?

  Standing and strutting like the only rooster in a hen house, Paul grabbed a yawning Matt and lifted him into his arms. “I think we better get you home, young man. I'll take him to your car, Katherine.” He strolled forward, calling over his shoulder, but not stopping. “Do you need help, Grace?"

  Grace stood and moved from the table. “Of course not."

  A sleepy Matt waved goodbye to Jared from where he hung over Paul's shoulder. Jared smiled in reply, and angled a level look on Paul, who turned. Jared held his challenging gaze a moment, not moving, then Paul shrugged and flicked his hand, impatiently gesturing to Katherine.

  Turning his head, Jared found her eyes waiting for him. “Goodnight,” she whispered. He noticed that Katherine kept a heap of distance between herself and Paul as they moved toward the exit.

  Remaining seated, Jared rubbed his hand across his forehead. Everything that had happened tonight worried him. So many things seemed phony. Things that made absolutely no sense. The disconnection between Grace's declaration that Katherine had been waiting for Paul, and her apparent distress when with him. Why hadn't she contradicted Grace's statement, which appeared to be a lie?

  As an attorn
ey, he'd learned that things were never what they seemed. He'd been taught not to jump to conclusions. However, he was doing just that. He'd seen some pretty sorry excuses for husbands. Had he met one tonight?

  He didn't like the way Grace had thrown Paul and Katherine together, especially since she had previously seemed so determined to make a match between Katherine and himself. The way Paul took things for granted-overstepping his boundaries and putting Katherine in a bad spot-grated across Jared's nerves like sandpaper. She couldn't haul off and slug him in front of her mother and Matt. He smiled. Hell, neither could he, unless he wanted to appear like some caveman protecting his woman. Katherine wasn't his woman-but she wasn't Paul's woman either, he reminded himself.

  Shaking his head, Jared headed for the door, stopping to congratulate Mrs. Taylor again and say his farewells along the way. Continuing to walk through the parking lot, he realized that this whole situation left him with an uneasy feeling about Matt and Katherine. He didn't want them to be hurt by anyone-including himself.

  The blast from a car alarm jerked him. He glared down at the door of the car he had tried to shove his key into. Bright red, flashy. Not his. Damn. Cramming his fingers through his hair, he turned on his heels in frustration and walked to the next row. He breathed deeply and exhaled.

  “Great,” he muttered. He located his sedate, silver Lexus, got behind the wheel and drove home. How could he allow Katherine's situation to distract and disturb him like this? If the events of tonight don't prove Katherine is trouble, nothing will.

  After arriving home and preparing for bed, he reached a solution. “From now on, I'm going to forget Katherine Cahill even exists,” he muttered. He turned the light out and fell into bed. “My life had some semblance of normalcy, until I carried her off that damn roof.” He just hoped he didn't dream about her again. That kissable mouth-

  Jared reached for Katherine in the middle of the night. His Katherine.

  She sighed his name, as desperate for him as he was for her.

  He kissed the base of her throat, his tongue laving the tender flesh. “You taste so good, sweetheart."

  He cupped her breasts, allowing their lush weight to fill his hands, his thumbs flicking over her tight, beaded nipples.

  “Jared,” she moaned. “Please."

  “Please what?” he teased, lowering his head to suck one taut nipple, his tongue rasping across the tip until she arched toward him.

  Moving so he could see the love in her eyes, he tweaked her nipples, gently tugging, extending them and rasping his thumbnails across the tips to heighten their sensitivity.

  He felt her tremble against him.

  “I need you so much,” she whispered.

  “I know, sweetheart."

  He lowered his head, claiming her mouth in a kiss that rocked him with need when she sucked on his bottom lip.

  The blast of an alarm clock filled the bedroom.

  Jared bolted upright, his eyes searching but finding no one. The dream had seemed so real. He let out a slow frustrated groan, drawing a slow, deep breath to steady himself.

  Damn, that confusing, irritating woman. Why couldn't he get her out of his mind?

  * * * *

  “Thanks for letting me stay here, Katherine.” Paul opened the car door and helped Matt and Grace from the back seat.

  Praying she wouldn't regret the decision, Katherine glanced at Paul. More than anything she wanted him to develop a good relationship with their son. And if Paul was up to something, she intended to find out exactly what it was. “I'm hoping it will give you more time with Matt."

  “It will. Thanks, again,” Paul said, staying to retrieve his suitcase from the car.

  Katherine held Matt's hand while she and her mother made their way to the porch. “Looks like you're going to finally get your wish,” her mother whispered as they entered the house.

  Discarding their coats, they headed to the living room and Matt dropped onto the couch. Katherine's forehead creased. She turned to her mother. “What wish?"

  “That Paul would come back into your life."

  Feeling like she'd rubbed a magic lamp and asked for the wrong wish, she started to tell her mother the truth. “We really need to talk."

  “Not tonight.” Her mother stifled a yawn. “He'll be here a few weeks.” She winked. “Make good use of the time, dear. I'll look after Matt while Paul's here so you can be alone, talk and patch up your relationship."

  Patch up her relationship? She'd need a patch the size of the Goodyear blimp. Recalling how shocked she'd been when Paul confessed he had married her only to please his parents, she now stood on the brink of boarding the same Titanic-trying to please her mother. She grabbed her only lifeboat. “Paul's here to make everything up to Matt. His interest in me died a long time ago."

  Her mother shook her head and patted Katherine's hand. “I wouldn't be so sure of that, dear. That's not what his eyes keep saying when he looks at you."

  The front door opened and she heard Paul stop to hang up his coat. There wasn't time to correct years of half-truths and falsehoods, but she had to start laying the groundwork. Katherine swallowed hard. “Mom, I haven't exactly been honest-"

  Before Katherine could say another word, Paul entered the living room and dropped down beside Matt.

  “I hope you'll excuse me, but I'm really tired. I'm going to bed.” Her mother sighed. “I'm sure Katherine and Matt will be happy to entertain you.” She kissed Matt goodnight and waved over her shoulder.

  Katherine stared after her. This can't be happening, she thought, as she heard her mother's cautious gait on the stairs. Her mother didn't seem to care what man she threw her at. First Jared, now Paul. She turned to find Paul standing at the window admiring the tree.

  “Matt, that's the best Christmas tree we've ever had,” Paul said.

  Matt sat on the floor looking up at his dad. Katherine saw Matt studying hard, trying to understand the sudden praise and attention he'd received from his father. “It's silver."

  “I noticed."

  Matt stroked a branch. “It's naked now, but we're having a party to dress it."

  “Sounds like fun.” Paul tousled his son's hair and turned from the smile beginning to stretch across Matt's face. Paul's gaze moved over Katherine's body in a slow, blatantly sexual tour. “You look great."

  She lifted her chin, irritated by his perusal but smiled, trying to keep the atmosphere friendly around Matt.

  “Did you see Santa's runway lights? Mr. Randall did ‘em for Mom. I was an ‘official helper'."

  Paul angled his head to the side and tossed a cursory glance at Matt. “I saw them. Very impressive."

  Matt opened his mouth again, giggling a little.

  She realized in horror that the whole embarrassing story of how she'd met Jared might come tumbling out of Matt's mouth and took matters into her own hands. “I think everyone is tired, Matt. Grandma's already called it a night. Why don't you get your pajamas on, while I show your dad to the guest bedroom?"

  Matt reached for her hand and pulled her down to his level. “Mom, I want you to read my story,” he whispered. “You do lots of sounds and make it fun."

  Katherine knelt and moved closer, wrapping her arm around his waist. “I think it would make your dad feel special if you let him read to you while he's here,” she whispered back. “Ask him to add sound effects when he reads. I bet he'll do it for you.” She tickled Matt's belly.

  He giggled and nodded. “I love you, Mom."

  “And I love you, too, you little rascal.” Smiling she stood, said goodnight to him and watched him climb the stairs.

  Raising his hand, Paul touched her face. She took a step backwards. “I'll see to Matt while you get ready for bed,” Paul said.

  Retrieving his suitcase from the foyer, he followed her up the stairs into the guest bedroom. Flipping the light switch, she quickly retrieved an extra cover from the closet and placed it on the king-sized bed.

  Touching the blanket, he shook h
is head. “You're the one who always got cold at night. Remember how I used to warm you up?” His eyes darkened, and he moved toward her. “I always thought you used that as a ploy for extra sex."

  “Matt should have his pajamas on by now. He hasn't gotten the hang of which button goes in which hole yet."

  “You keep ignoring me or changing the subject. I still intend talking to you, Katherine."

  Glaring at him, she snapped, “I know. And I want to talk to you about Matt, but not tonight."

  “Only about Matt?” he asked.

  “That's all we have between us now."

  Looking away from Paul, her gaze traveled around the room, noting the familiar rich brown leathers and distressed wood furnishings. She inhaled and exhaled audibly. “Matt will show you where I left off on the story we started. I better warn you, he expects you to do sound effects with the reading, so good luck."

  “You're kidding."

  She shook her head. “Nope."

  He grumbled and left to entertain Matt.

  Back in her room, Katherine took a bubble bath, trying to shake the tension that flooded her entire body. The lavender scented bubbles hugged her body, and steam fogged the mirrors. She crossed her arms. Mistrust kept gnawing at her. Why had he suddenly shown up? If he came back into their lives, would he treat Matt better? She threw the loofah on the side of the tub. He damned well better not disappoint their son again.

  Stepping out of the Jacuzzi and onto the mat, she dried, splashed with moisturizer and finished preparing for bed. She walked barefoot across the carpet and turned back the comforter.

  Footfalls sounded behind her. She spun around to find Paul staring at her. He had discarded his jacket and tie. The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up to his elbows. He leaned against the doorframe, looking like he'd stepped off a GQ photo-shoot. His steel-gray eyes she'd once found warm and inviting now seemed cold, calculating.