Wild Holiday Nights: Holiday RushPlaying GamesAll Night Long

by Samantha Hunter

  Evidently Evelyn didn’t know about the new receptionist, Carly thought, and watched Lila scan the room, looking pissed. Nope, his assistant couldn’t find him either. And Carly would bet Lila had a good idea she had some competition.

  Jack joined them, dinner in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. “Where’s your plate?”

  “Looks as if you have enough for both of us.”

  “I’m not sharing.” He leaned against Carly. “Unless there’s a kiss in it for me.”

  Evelyn beamed at them. “So cute,” she muttered and wandered over to the other desserts.

  Carly rolled her eyes at him. And ignored her speeding pulse just thinking there might be another kiss.

  “I’m serious,” he said. “You should grab something—”

  “Jacko, wait—” It was Norm hurrying toward them. He signaled to the DJ, and the music stopped.

  Jack glanced at her as if whatever was about to happen was somehow her fault.

  “Somebody get me a glass of champagne,” Norm barked over his shoulder as he parked himself in front of them. “And one for Carly.”

  She started to object but felt a sudden wave of tension coming from Jack.

  “What are you doing, Norm?” he asked, his voice tight, his face darkening.

  Someone handed a flute to Norm, then put one in Carly’s hand. The grim expression on Jack’s face made her feel like a traitor just for accepting the champagne.

  He swore under his breath. “Let’s go.”

  “Now, hold on. This will only take a minute.” Norm blocked their way. “I want to do this before your old man shows up.”

  “I know what you’re doing, and while I appreciate the sentiment...but don’t.”

  “Everybody, listen up,” Norm bellowed and the murmurs quieted. Over a hundred people were staring at the big man and Jack. “This has been some party, hasn’t it?”

  Applause, whistles, nods all around.

  “And we all know who we have to thank for it, don’t we?” The man put his arm around Jack’s shoulders.

  “Goddamn it, Norm,” he mumbled low and frustrated.

  “Hell, I’m not just talking about him going all out with the crab, prime rib and things I can’t pronounce,” Norm continued, getting a few chuckles and ignoring Jack’s obvious unease. “We couldn’t ask for a better boss. He looks out for the little guys. I’m a shop steward and I probably shouldn’t be saying this—”

  “Then don’t,” Jack muttered.

  Norm grinned and squeezed his shoulder. “I know what I’m talking about when I tell you this man never cuts corners when it comes to safety and he’s always fought to make sure we all made a living wage. Jack’s a chip off the old block. I’m referring to his grandfather, may God rest Eldon’s soul. And his great-granddad from what I’ve heard. So how about we raise a glass to our boss...”

  The crowd’s enthusiastic response drowned out anything else Norm had to say. Carly perfunctorily lifted her flute along with everyone else but she was preoccupied with the emotion Jack was trying to hide. He kept shaking his head, forcing brief smiles, avoiding eye contact. Including hers.

  It didn’t matter. She could still see the pain in his face. The devastation. The guilt that was eating at him. She couldn’t begin to imagine how horrible he felt standing in front of all these people. She didn’t want to feel sorry for him. This was partly his doing. He’d had plenty of time to bow out before zero hour. If he had, she’d be on a bus home right now. But then, she’d never have seen Jack again.

  “Hey,” she said loud enough for Norm to hear. “Can we go eat before the food gets cold?”

  Jack met her eyes, surprise and gratitude easing away the pain. Neither of them could seem to look away.

  “Speech!” a man at the back shouted.

  “Speech!” someone in front echoed, before the word became a roaring anthem.

  Norm held up a hand. “Everybody shut up so he can talk.”

  Jack gave her a wry smile before turning to the crowd. “Thank you,” he said. “I wish I’d fed you hot dogs.”

  Everyone laughed.

  He said something privately to Norm, then Jack motioned to the stairs. Carly led the way. The music resumed, and thankfully no one tried to stop them. It wasn’t until they were alone in his office that she remembered she was supposed to be hunting down his father.

  She watched Jack set the plate of food and the drink he hadn’t touched on his desk. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I know that was hard.”

  “No one to blame but myself.” He pulled out his desk chair. “Here. Go ahead and eat. If it’s too cold we have a microwave up here.” He frowned. “Somewhere.”

  She was still annoyed with him. He’d been a jackass and might cost her Christmas at home. At the same time she felt badly for him. God knew she had her share of regrets. Had done things she’d wished she could take back.

  “Eat,” he said. “You need something to soak up that booze you’ve been mainlining.”

  “Me?”

  “I don’t want to find you dancing naked on the buffet table.”

  She choked out a laugh. “I’m not that tipsy.”

  “Now, if you wanted to use my desk for a private show I wouldn’t object.”

  “How generous. I’ll be sure to file that one away.”

  With a wicked smile he came around his desk and took her hand. He only drew her to his chair, but still... Way to give her a cardio workout. Jeez.

  “This is your plate,” she said, then scooped up a stuffed cherry tomato when her stomach growled.

  “We’ll share it. How’s that?”

  Way too intimate, but she was starving.

  And she had questions. One in particular, and she needed him relaxed. With his guard down and concentrating on the food, she might get a truthful answer.

  Jack dragged a club chair closer to the desk. He sat down opposite her and gave her a lazy smile, the kind that had probably snagged him the title of Chicago’s second most eligible bachelor.

  Carly smiled back, letting the moment breathe before she pounced. “How do you know Ryan Dunn?” she asked, watching for Jack to flinch.

  7

  HE DIDN’T EVEN BLINK. Instead he gave her a funny look. “See what I mean about the booze? Didn’t he send you?”

  “I meant before this. Did you know him?”

  “Not really. We both went to Yale. I was a year behind and we never interacted. It’s clear he doesn’t remember me.”

  “Yet you remember him.”

  “He was kind of a—” Jack gave in to a faint smile. “Memorable. Look in that top right drawer, would you? I might have an extra fork in there.”

  “Ryan has his good points.” She found wrapped plastic utensils and a silver fork mixed in with the paper clips. Ewww. She gave him the flatware from downstairs and kept the plastic for herself. “Like sending me here. He was doing me a favor.”

  Jack leaned back and gave her a slow, considering look. “Get out—” His eyes narrowed. “You asked to come?”

  “Yep. Just to see you.” She held in a laugh for as long as she could. Then lost it the second she saw that he realized she was teasing.

  His shock faded to annoyance. “All right,” he muttered, shaking his head.

  “This case we have, it’s a mess, and now we’re looking for something the prosecutor buried. We go back to court right after Christmas so it’s been crazy. I’m supposed to be on vacation. But I’ve been working nonstop along with the other paralegals. Ryan told everyone to cancel their holiday plans until we find it.”

  “So sending you here gave him a reason to pull you off the case and still make it home.”

  “Exactly.”

  “I see. So you should be thanking me.”

/>   “I’ll thank you to hand me a signed contract.”

  “You’re supposed to be on vacation so Ryan’s not really doing you a solid.”

  Of course Jack had a point. She’d thought the same thing. Not that she’d admit it. “Have you ever worked in a law office?”

  “Does the ACLU count?”

  That stopped her for a moment. “Well, you must’ve worked long hours sometimes.”

  “Many times.” He wiped his fork off with the linen napkin. “Now at least I understand why you’re cranky.”

  “I don’t give a crap about working long hours. I do it all the time between my job and law school.” She paused, pleased to see she’d surprised him again. “I’m not cranky. I’m disappointed that you’ve reneged on the deal.”

  He didn’t even blink. “Law school, huh? Night classes?”

  She nodded. “Now, can we get back to business?”

  “You hoping to work for Abbott and Flynn?”

  “Yes.” She hated the doubt she saw in his eyes. Did he think she didn’t have the right stuff for a firm like Abbott and Flynn? Or was he being a snob about night school? Screw him. Not everyone could afford Yale. She was a great paralegal and she’d be a great attorney.

  “How much longer do you have?”

  “I’m done in six months.”

  “That’s tough. Working days, school at night. Good for you.” He cut off a bite of meat and chewed thoughtfully. “Abbott and Flynn doesn’t deserve you. They promise you anything yet?”

  “I haven’t really said much. Except to Ryan.” She was still recovering from his reaction. Abbott and Flynn didn’t deserve her? “Quit trying to butter me up. I want that contract in my hands before midnight. Signed. Understood?”

  “Did Ryan say he’d help you with the partners when the time came?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  “You’re right. It’s not.” Jack smiled. “Did he?” He waited for her to answer, and when she stayed silent, he said, “Don’t trust him, Carly. The guy’s a weasel.”

  “I thought you didn’t know Ryan.”

  “You forget, I was in negotiations with him for months. I don’t like the way he does business. Abbott, either. Only difference with him is the pearly whites are showing while he goes for the jugular.”

  She felt her defenses spring up. “I’ve heard our criminal and divorce teams can be somewhat ruthless but—”

  “Somewhat?”

  “But,” she repeated, annoyed with his condescending tone. “Their reputations are sterling. They operate within the law.”

  “Look, I’m not trying to cast aspersions on your firm.”

  “Could’ve fooled me.”

  “This is personal, between you and me,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m just asking you to be careful. Of Ryan. He can lie right to your face and you won’t see it coming.”

  “No? And what? You know this because we’ve become so well acquainted in the last...” She glanced at her watch. Oh, God. “Four hours?”

  “Well, I can already tell you’re a terrible liar.”

  “Really?” She lifted her chin, pretending he’d just struck out. Unfortunately, he was right. “How would you know?”

  Jack looked at her with that damnable expression of amusement he had down to a science. “Who’s Brent?” he asked. “Your brother?”

  “No. I told you—” She could feel her face heating. “Would I lie about someone being deployed? You think I could be that despicable?”

  “Poor guy probably is being deployed. I’m not questioning that. Who is he?”

  “Not my brother.”

  Jack grinned. “A cousin?”

  “Shut up.” She speared another cherry tomato with her plastic fork and stuffed it into her mouth to give herself a chance to think. After chewing it to death and swallowing, she said, “I may have stretched the truth a little.”

  “There you go. Already on your way to being a good lawyer.”

  She sighed. “Brent used to be my boyfriend, okay? In high school.”

  “Ah. You gave him the old heave-ho and now you’re feeling guilty because he’s being shipped off.”

  “Wrong. He dumped me.”

  Jack leaned back with a frown. “Fool.” He looked adorably indignant. Even if he was just kidding around.

  “I really do want to spend Christmas with my folks. It’s been three years since I’ve had the time and money to get there. And yes, I wanted to see Brent. I knew he’d be in town on Christmas Eve. The neighborhood is giving him a send-off party tomorrow night.”

  “Very admirable that you want to see him.”

  “Nothing admirable about it. He dumped me to marry Loretta Parsons. She was the hottest girl in school, whose father also happened to own the largest factory in town. Most of the other fathers worked there, including mine.” She shrugged. “I heard Loretta isn’t looking so hot these days and her father went bankrupt and...”

  “You wanted to show old Brent what he missed out on.” Jack let out a laugh. “Good for you.”

  “Don’t laugh at that. It isn’t funny. I’m a pathetic human being. That’s why I’m stranded here. It’s karma.”

  “You aren’t stranded.” Laughter still gleamed in his eyes. “Oh, yeah, and you’re not pathetic either.”

  Rubbing her left temple, she tamped down a smile. “Really I just wanted Brent to see that I’m making something of myself. It would’ve been sweeter if I was already out of school but having only six months to go is pretty awesome. For my neighborhood, anyway. It’s a steel town. Very blue-collar. Expectations aren’t high.”

  “The guy sounds like an opportunist. Better that you got rid of him, right?”

  “Oh, yeah, I wasn’t that crazy about him, anyway. It’s just stupid pride.” She met Jack’s watchful eyes. What the hell was she doing telling him all this? She heard a muffled buzzing noise and straightened. “Is that your phone? Maybe it’s your father.”

  “That’s not me.” He glanced at her things on the couch. “You sure that’s not you?”

  “Oh, jeez.” She got to her feet and hurried over. Her phone was buried under her bag and coat, and the generic ringtone meant it could finally be Mavis. It sure wasn’t Ryan, the jerk.

  Carly stared at the text. According to Mavis, Ryan had left the office hours ago to attend a friend’s party.

  Anger flared inside her. Irrational, maybe. It wasn’t as if his waiting around the office would help her any. But he should’ve answered her texts. If Jack refused to sign the contract, there was nothing she could do. She had no reason to stay in Chicago. But Ryan had to give her the green light so she could catch a flight home.

  The thought made her uneasy.

  Was Ryan deliberately avoiding her? Was he hoping he could somehow pin this mess on her?

  Or was she being paranoid because of Jack’s warning?

  “Are you okay?”

  She looked over at Jack. “Yeah. Fine.” She wondered if she should push him for more information on Ryan. She could tell he was holding back. And while she admired his restraint, she didn’t want to be flying without a compass.

  “You don’t look fine.”

  She turned away from his speculative gaze. “It’s snowing. Kind of hard. Should I be worried about the airport closing?”

  Jack snorted. “We’re tough here in Chicago. Not like you wussy New Yorkers.”

  Carly laughed. “Wussy? I don’t think that’s a common perception of us.”

  “You’re not a true New Yorker. You’re a transplant. And too nice.”

  “Um, not really.”

  Carly watched Jack’s mouth curve into a smile as he pushed to his feet. The kind of roguish smile that made her hold her breath and take two steps back.
/>   * * *

  SECONDS BEFORE JACK was about to kiss her, her phone startled them. Cursing his luck, he moved to the window to watch the snow come down as she answered the call.

  “Mom? It’s late. Anything wrong?” Apparently she didn’t care that he could hear her because she stayed put. “No, I’m in Chicago. It’s snowing here, too, but not that much.” She laughed softly. “No, I flew. The trip was unexpected. It’s business.” Carly sighed. “Of course it’s safe, Mom. Planes fly in snow all the time.”

  Jack wanted to look at her. He’d bet anything she was smiling while she reassured her mother. But he stayed focused on the falling snow against the black sky and the distant downtown lights. As a kid he’d loved sneaking up to the rooftop to watch the snow fall. Back then he could see more of the skyline.

  “I hope first thing in the morning,” she said, something Jack absorbed with mixed feelings.

  He had no right to want her to stay longer. Hell, it was the holidays and she had a life. She had a family who wanted her with them.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll still make it. And yes, I’ll be careful. Get some sleep.” Carly paused, and laughed. “I figured as much. Tell Dad to have a hot toddy. Oh, what the heck—you, too, it’s almost Christmas.” She laughed again at something her mom said. “I love you, too. Yes, I promise. But I really have to go now.”

  She moved closer, but it was hard to look at her. Overhearing her conversation made him feel like shit. Even though this whole thing was on Ryan. No, that wasn’t fair. Jack was equally to blame.

  “My mom’s never flown before so she gets nervous. My dad, too.” She almost sounded apologetic. “As soon as he found out I was in Chicago he switched to the weather channel.”

  “That’s nice.”

  “I know,” she said, sighing and looking up at the sky. “I say I’m from Pittsburgh but actually I grew up in a small town outside the city. So did my parents, except they rarely leave the neighborhood.”

  “I wasn’t being snide. I think it’s nice that they worry about you.”