Blame It On Christmas (Southern Secrets Series Book 1)

by Janice Maynard

  Being glamorous hurt.

  At last, J.B. was the one to call a halt. He brushed a strand of hair from her hot cheek. “How about a drink?” The words were commonplace. The look in his eyes, anything but.

  She nodded, flushed with a confusing mixture of excitement and dread. Whatever happened tonight was up to her. No matter how many times she told herself she had to stay away from J.B., the truth was far simpler.

  He was her kryptonite.

  She wanted him.

  Hand in hand, they ascended the stairs to their intimate table for two. Dessert menus appeared. She downed two glasses of ice water. Her wineglass was refilled, as if by magic.

  When their caramel-laced bread pudding arrived, Mazie shook her head. “I don’t think I can. I’m stuffed.”

  J.B.’s heavy-lidded gaze never left her face. “A taste at least,” he coaxed. He scooped up a bite. It was covered in whipped cream.

  Mazie opened her mouth automatically when he held out the spoon. Her thighs clenched beneath the table. “Yum,” she mumbled, chewing and swallowing.

  The man was a devil. She wanted to strip him out of that tux and do naughty things to his body.

  His slight smile told her he knew exactly what thoughts were running through her head. Without warning, he leaned forward and kissed the edge of her mouth, his tongue delicately swiping a residue of sweet cream. “You taste delectable.”

  “Stop,” she said, breathing hard. “People are watching.”

  “It was barely a kiss. Don’t worry. No one can see.”

  She realized he was right. The restaurant lights had been dimmed. A trio of short red candles flickered on their table. With the antique privacy screens and artfully placed foliage, Mazie and J.B. were in a world of their own.

  The waiter still stopped by, of course, but not as often now that dinner was almost done.

  She sipped her wine, awash in a haze of incredulity. Not only was she enjoying herself, but she was spending time with J.B., and she didn’t want to kill him. That was progress, right?

  Fortunately for her emotional equilibrium, he didn’t try to feed her any more dessert. She ate another couple of bites and left it to him to finish. The man was tall and athletic. He could afford the calories.

  While they were dancing, J.B. had left his cell phone on the table, silenced of course. Suddenly, it vibrated. He glanced at it automatically, and before he could say anything, another call came in from the same number.

  “It’s my sister Leila,” he said. “She never calls this time of day. Will you excuse me, Mazie?”

  “Of course.”

  As he stood, the phone buzzed a third time.

  Something told her it wasn’t good news. As she watched, J.B. hurried down the stairs and out the front door where he could talk in private. Though she was at the window, she couldn’t see him on the street.

  Less than five minutes later, he returned, his face white beneath his tan. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “But I have to go. It’s my mother.” He swallowed hard. “She’s had a massive heart attack. They don’t know the damage yet. She may have to have surgery tonight.”

  Mazie’s eyes widened. J.B.’s family was close. The matriarch was beloved. “Go,” she said, waving her hand at him. “I’ll take care of the bill and grab a taxi. Go. Hurry.” She lifted a hand and summoned the waiter.

  J.B. hesitated, his usual expression robbed of its suave confidence. “I hate to leave you.”

  She jumped off the emotional deep end. “I could come with you.” Even strong men needed support occasionally.

  The waiter handed over the check. J.B. pulled out his credit card. When the man walked away, J.B. looked at her and sighed. “I’d like that. If you’re sure you want to.”

  Were both of them thinking about what they were giving up tonight? “Will it seem odd to your family if I show up with you?”

  “You know them all. Nobody will notice.”

  That was debatable.

  The waiter dropped off the bill. J.B. scribbled his name and pocketed his credit card. And they were done.

  The valet brought the car in record time. J.B. handed over another generous tip and tucked Mazie into the front seat.

  She was hardly dressed for a hospital visit. Neither was he.

  J.B. drove the maze of downtown streets with a reckless intensity that was only slightly alarming. At the hospital, he screeched into a parking spot in the emergency room lot and hopped out, pausing to help Mazie.

  “I can wait in the car,” she said, feeling conspicuous in her fancy dress.

  He gripped her wrist. “I want you to come.”

  Once they were inside, it was only a matter of moments until a nurse directed them to the appropriate cubicle. The heart surgeon had just arrived to talk to the family. They were standing in the hall, though Mazie could see J.B.’s mother through the partially open door. The older woman was hooked up to a multitude of machines.

  Most families would probably be scolded for having too many visitors. Since the Vaughans had outfitted an entire pediatric wing in recent years, they were VIPs.

  The man’s face was grave. “Mrs. Vaughan suffered a very dangerous cardiac event. She is weak and not entirely stable. I don’t think we should wait until morning for the surgery.”

  Mazie recognized J.B.’s father and his two sisters, Leila and Alana. As children, Mazie and Jonathan and Hartley had spent large amounts of time at the Vaughan home. But it had been years since she had been close to them as a friend.

  Both of J.B.’s sisters had red-rimmed eyes. His father looked exhausted and stressed. Mr. Vaughan nodded. “We’re in your hands, Dr. Pritchard. Tell us what to do.”

  The doctor made a note on his clipboard. “She’s been asking for her son.” He looked at J.B. “Once you’ve had a chance to spend a few minutes with her, we’ll prep her for surgery.” He paused, grimacing. “I don’t want to alarm you unnecessarily, but I need you to know that the surgery carries significant risk. Without it, she’ll suffer another heart attack, possibly fatal. So we don’t really have a choice.”

  Mr. Vaughan spoke up, his eyes sunken and underscored with shadows. “You’re saying that her other health conditions make it complicated.”

  The doctor nodded. “Yes. Her autoimmune disease and the high blood pressure are problematic.” He looked at all of them. “We need her to fight and to believe she is going to be okay. So no crying, no drama.”

  J.B.’s expression was grim, his jaw taut. “Understood.”

  “If you’ll excuse me,” the doctor said, “I’ll go make sure the OR is being prepped. Once the surgery begins, we’ll keep you posted in the surgical waiting lounge.” With a brief nod, he disappeared down the hall.

  J.B. squared his shoulders. “I’ll talk to her,” he said.

  His father hugged him tightly. “We can’t lose her, son. She’s the center of this family. She’s our rock.”

  “I know, Dad. I know.”

  J.B. shot Mazie a look she couldn’t read. He hugged his sisters. Then he stepped through the door. “Hey, Mom. What’s this I hear about you scaring Dad? That’s not nice.”

  The four people left standing in the hallway strained to hear.

  Mrs. Vaughan’s expression brightened when she saw her firstborn. “Don’t you look handsome. A date tonight?”

  “Yes, Mama.”

  “That’s nice.”

  Tears stung Mazie’s eyes when J.B. perched on the edge of the bed and carefully took his mother’s hand in both of his. He kissed her fingers. “You gave us a scare, but you’re going to be fine.”

  His mother’s wrinkled nose and half frown told Mazie that the woman was well aware of her situation.

  “I want you to promise me something, sweetheart.” Her voice was hoarse and weak.

  J.B. nodded. “Whatever you need, Mom. Y
ou name it.”

  “If anything happens to me, I want you to take care of your dad and your sisters. They will depend on you, J.B.”

  Leila moaned and burst into tears, though she muffled her sobs and moved away from the door. Alana curled an arm around her father’s waist.

  Mazie’s eyes were damp, as well.

  Through the door, she saw J.B. lean down and kiss his mother’s cheek. “We’re not going to talk like that. I have a surprise for you. I was going to wait until Christmas to tell everybody, but you should know tonight. I’ve asked Mazie Tarleton to marry me. We’re engaged. And the good Lord willing, she and I won’t wait too long to get started on those grandchildren you’ve always wanted.”

  Mrs. Vaughan’s face lit up, and a tear rolled down her cheek. “Really, son? Oh, that’s wonderful.”

  Mazie was stunned for thirty seconds until she realized what J.B. was doing. He was giving his mother a reason to fight, a reason to live. Mazie expected the three Vaughans in the hallway to give her the third degree, but they were too focused on what was happening in the emergency room cubicle.

  She sucked in a sharp breath. For a moment, J.B.’s playacting hit a nerve. If she really hated the man, why did his pretend words reach deep inside her and squeeze her heart?

  Mrs. Vaughan peered around her son. “Is she here, J.B.? I haven’t seen her in ages.”

  J.B. looked over his shoulder, his gaze clashing with Mazie’s. She nodded slowly, alarmed by how appealing it was to play this unexpected role. Had she honestly blinded herself to the truth so completely? Did she want to be J.B.’s fiancée, even as part of a benevolent lie?

  Heaven help her. It felt wrong, but what could she do?

  Mr. Vaughan and the two girls stepped aside. Mazie smoothed her skirt. She was still holding her small evening purse. She passed it off to Alana and eased the door open. “I’m here, Mrs. Vaughan.”

  J.B.’s mother held out her hand. “Come sit where I can look at you. And call me Jane. Oh, honey, you’re stunning. That dress makes you look like a model. I know your mother would be so proud.”

  J.B. stood up so Mazie could take his place. She sat down on the bed gingerly, not wanting to disturb any of the medical equipment. “I haven’t seen you in forever, Mrs. Vaughan. Jane, I mean. I’m so sorry you’ve been ill.”

  Jane Vaughan beamed, her hand touching the soft velvet of Mazie’s skirt. “I couldn’t be happier,” she said. “Let me see the ring.” She reached for Mazie’s left hand.

  Mazie curled her fingers defensively. “J.B. wanted me to help pick out the ring. So we don’t have it yet.”

  J.B. moved closer. He rested a hand on Mazie’s shoulder. His fingers were warm on the bare skin at the curve of her neck. “I won’t make her wait long, Mom. This just happened.”

  “I see.”

  For a moment it seemed as though J.B.’s mother saw through their subterfuge. But her smile didn’t waver.

  J.B. hugged Mazie and then leaned down to brush his lips across his mother’s brow. “When you’re on the mend, we’d like your help with wedding plans.”

  “Oh, yes,” Mazie said. “You know all the venues in Charleston and all the best vendors. I’ll need all the backup I can get.”

  Jane was misty-eyed. She gripped her son’s hand...and Mazie’s. “I wouldn’t miss this wedding for the world.”

  J.B. chuckled. “Consider it good practice for when Leila and Alana tie the knot.”

  Mazie stood, keenly aware of the warmth of J.B.’s big frame at her back. “I’ll let you rest now.”

  J.B. nodded. “I love you, Mama. And I’ll be here during the surgery. We all will. Don’t be afraid.”

  Jane smiled weakly, obviously tired out by the conversation. “I’m not scared. Your father and I have lived a good life. If it’s my time to go, don’t let him be sad.”

  Mazie leaned down and kissed her cheek, realizing how much she had missed having a maternal role model as she reached adulthood. “You can’t go,” she said firmly. “We all need you.”

  As she slipped out of the room, the others came in to say their last words of encouragement. The nurse arrived with pre-op sedation.

  Mazie leaned against the wall in the hallway and said a prayer for Jane’s safety.

  When J.B. exited the room, he eyed her warily. Unspoken feelings simmered between them.

  She shook her head in bemusement. “You always did think fast on your feet.” It wasn’t really a compliment.

  He scraped his hands through his hair. “I don’t mean to make light of marriage, but I wanted her to have a reason to fight.”

  “Of course you did. But the rest of your family?”

  “Let’s keep the truth to ourselves for now. Explaining the ruse is unnecessary. They have enough on their plate.”

  This lie might keep her tied to him indefinitely. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. “I’m going to call a cab,” she said quietly.

  “I’ll drive you home.”

  “No. You need to be here. I’ll be fine.” The J.B. she knew had disappeared. In his place, she saw a man who was worried and trying not to show it.

  She was getting in too deep. She didn’t want to admire him or feel sympathy for him. Her years-long antipathy was the only thing protecting her from doing something stupid.

  No one would blame her if she ran far and fast. Getting too close to J.B. threatened her hard-won composure.

  For a decade and more she had convinced herself that she didn’t even like the man. How could her feelings have changed so radically? Her heart pounded. Walk away, Mazie. Walk away. Despite her best intentions, emotionally charged words tumbled from her lips. Words that said her heart was far more involved than she was prepared to admit. “Would you like to me to come back after I change clothes?”

  Nine

  J.B. looked stunned. Somehow the lie he had spouted was changing everything. This felt intimate. Emotionally charged. She found herself offering help and comfort as if she were a real fiancée.

  He nodded slowly, his gaze unguarded for a surprising moment. “Yes, please.”

  “Do you want me to go by your place and bring you something else to wear?” She knew where he lived. She and Jonathan and Hartley had been to parties there. It was a fabulous home overlooking the Battery.

  “You don’t mind?” He seemed to be weighing his words as if afraid of spooking her.

  “Not at all. I’ll call Jonathan and tell him what’s going on so Dad won’t worry.”

  He nodded. “I’ll text you the alarm code and what to grab for me.” When he handed her his keys and their fingers brushed, his touch burned. “Do you feel comfortable driving the SUV?” he asked.

  “Not entirely, but I’ll take it slow. It’s late. There won’t be much traffic.”

  He cupped her chin in his hand. “Thanks, Mazie. I never expected the evening to end this way.”

  He kissed her softly. At first, it was a kiss of gratitude...of kinship. But in a flash it went somewhere far darker. It seduced her, cajoled her and made her heart beat faster.

  His lips were firm and demanding, his smothered groan telling her that the reluctant connection between them, the one neither of them really wanted or needed, was not easy to eradicate.

  This wasn’t how they had anticipated the evening would end.

  She pulled away. “I should go.”

  Having J.B. look at her this way was alarming and disconcerting. They had moved from a romantic, flirtatious evening to something far more real.

  He nodded, his gaze heavy with emotions she couldn’t decipher. “Be careful. And call me if you have any problems.”

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” She touched his hand. “She’ll pull through, J.B. She’s a strong woman.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  * * *

  Back at
home, Mazie peeled out of the velvet dress with a wistful sigh. After changing into soft jeans and a lemon-yellow cotton sweater, she grabbed a canvas tote and stuffed it with water and snacks. There was no telling how long she would be with J.B. during his vigil.

  Entering his home a short while later gave her an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach. Though they had known each other for years, they were not on intimate terms. Or at least they hadn’t been until the episode in the bank vault.

  She walked through the elegant living room and dining room and climbed the stairs to the upper floor. J.B.’s bedroom commanded the best view in the house, not that she could see anything at this hour.

  Though she had already accessed his text for the alarm code, now she checked again, making note of the items he wanted and where to find them. Pants, shirt, socks. A sweater. Casual shoes. A clean pair of boxers. Her cheeks heated. It was a good thing there was no one around to see her reaction.

  In his closet she found the leather carry-all he had requested. She stuffed everything into it and took one last look at his text. These few items would hold him until he could come back home. A man didn’t need to spend the night wearing a tux, even if it was hand-tailored just for him.

  She stood in the center of his bedroom for a moment, making sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. It was impossible not to look at his massive king-size bed. The wood was dark and heavy, the comforter crimson damask. How many women had J.B. entertained in this luxurious space?

  Not her business. Not at all.

  Ignoring her hot cheeks, she ran back downstairs, reset the alarm and scooted out the front door. This time, driving the huge SUV was not quite so intimidating.

  When she made it back to the hospital, it was the middle of the night. The surgical waiting room was deserted except for the four Vaughans. J.B.’s two sisters were asleep, curled awkwardly on a duo of love seats. Mr. Vaughan was dozing also.

  J.B. paced restlessly, looking darkly handsome despite his fatigue.

  He greeted her quietly. “That was fast.”

  “There’s no traffic at this hour.” She held out the leather satchel. “Here you go. I know you must be ready to get out of that tux.”