“Matt, what's wrong?” Katherine asked softly. She entered his bedroom and saw the sad look on his face. He raised his head. “You're always the first to the table. Don't you feel well?” She walked to his bed and plopped down on the corner. Lifting her hand, she felt his forehead and cheeks. “You don't have a fever. Thank goodness."
Tiny worry lines crept between his eyes. “You don't think I'm too much of a baby, do you?” he asked and fell back onto the pillow.
Katherine lay down beside him and pulled him into her arms. “Never.” He nestled against her shoulder. “You're growing up too fast to suit me."
“I read some, but not all the big words. It's time you stopped reading to me. I can do it myself.” She glanced down at him and his chin quivered.
She pulled him closer. “You're a big boy. If you want to read to me and let me help you with the hard words, I will. But I enjoy the sound effects, don't you?"
“You don't think they're childish?"
“Childish? Where did you hear that word?"
“Last night when Dad read to me. You still think of me as your baby, but I need to grow up."
“Your dad said that, too?"
Matt nodded.
Katherine took a deep breath and forced her rising temper down. Nothing irritated her more than to hear adults say, “Grow up,” to a child. They grew up all too quickly, and parents were left with an empty house and memories. She'd learned that bit of wisdom from her mother bawling her eyes out when Katherine left for college.
She moved Matt to the side of her, sat up and leaned over to look him straight in the eyes. “Here's how it is between you and me. I'll always be your mom, and you'll always be my baby, even when you're grown and have a family of your own. There's nothing wrong with the word baby. It means you're my child and very special to me.” She swallowed hard. “If childish means having pillow fights, sleepovers, making s'mores late at night, eating popcorn in bed, and watching videos together-sounds perfect to me."
He smiled up at her. “Me, too."
She lay back down and his head dropped back onto her shoulder. “What else did your dad say?"
“We'll be living with him soon."
She clenched her jaw. “He shouldn't have said that. You and me, we're the Two-Musketeers. It's important for you to see your dad, but that doesn't automatically mean we're going to live with him again.” She chewed the inside of her cheek. “Are you okay with that?"
He reached around her neck and hugged her. “Yes."
“Are you sure?” she asked rubbing his back.
“I'm sure,” he whispered.
Katherine sighed, relieved her decision to discourage Paul would not hurt Matt. “We're going to have the best Christmas."
He nodded.
She tickled him and he giggled. “It's Tuesday and you know what happens tonight."
“Tree-trimming!” He rolled away from her and jumped from the bed. “I gotta eat my breakfast, hurry and dress, and find Mr. Randall. We're wrapping presents, and we're gonna put ‘em under the tree after it's decorated tonight."
She laid out Matt's clothes. “Sounds positively childish to me,” she teased, hoping the negative word now held a positive spin.
He reached his hand out with an ‘all right with the world’ grin. “Come on, Mom. We got a lot of fun things to do today."
That night, Katherine faced a full-length mirror and slid her stocking feet into red suede heels. She liked dressing up for the party in her sleigh scene sweater. The slit up the back of her skirt revealed cheerful green Christmas trees on the pleats when she walked.
A light rap on the door interrupted her thoughts. “Come in."
Matt entered, sporting navy blue pants and a snowman sweater. He walked around her, looking at her outfit and nodding, his chin thrust out in a distinctly adult-and charming-manner. “I agree with Mr. Randall."
“About what?” she asked, putting on her earrings. Turning, she adjusted the red ribbon running through her French braid.
“You're beautiful."
Her hand froze, leaving the tube of lipstick hovering an inch above her lips. She turned and looked down at him. “That's one of the nicest things you've ever said to me.” She finished applying her lipstick, trying to keep the tremor out of her hand. “Mr. Randall said I'm beautiful?"
Matt nodded. “Sure did.” He toed the carpet with his boots. “Where's Dad?"
“He went to the filling station for ice. The sodas are iced down in the cooler, but we needed a couple more bags."
“Oh.” He paused. “Can I have a cookie?"
“Of course. They're on a tray in the entryway."
Katherine followed Matt down the stairs to finish last minute decorations, hoping the house would be big enough tonight for Paul and Jared to coexist peacefully. Her mother and she had taken steps to ensure it, but that didn't guarantee their plan would work. Both men needed to cooperate.
She passed under a brightly-lit swag of garland taped above the archway and entered the living room. Pausing, she turned in a full circle and inhaled the pungent scent of evergreen, cranberry candles and fresh pine. Smells that uniquely said Christmas.
Dropping her gaze from the decorated mantle, her thoughts returned to the two men who needed to cooperate for the night to go well, neither of whom seemed like team players.
Well, she decided heading toward the kitchen where she could hear her mother's voice, she would simply have to talk to Jared. First, about her plans to keep peace tonight. About his irksome need to rescue her. Letting him know she did not require his help might ease some of the tension. She hoped Jared would listen.
Seven right on the dot. Jared parked his Lexus in front of Grace's house. He grabbed the pie from the passenger's seat, walked to the entrance, and rang the doorbell.
“Coming,” Katherine shouted as the door swung open. Off-key voices sung the refrains of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as the stereo played softly in the background. Laughter and snippets of conversations drifted out into a magical night adorned with blinking candy-cane lights.
His heart sputtered an extra beat.
“Hi. Come on in,” she said with a cheerful smile. She reached and grabbed the dessert from his hands. “If it's something chocolate, I've got first dibs on it-two servings."
He forgot to breathe.
Her long dangling snowflake earrings flashed, drawing his undivided attention to her lush red mouth. He loved red-in any shade-especially her fire engine, hot red lips. “It's a pie,” he croaked. He came to his senses and found her hand on his elbow steering him into the house.
“I think you know everyone,” she said, pointing to the sea of neighbors. A few people turned and shouted, waving hello. Some raised glasses and whistled between their teeth to get his attention. He reciprocated the cheerful greetings with a slightly distracted smile and wave, still disconcerted by his first glimpse of Katherine tonight. She was absolutely stunning, glowing with Christmas cheer, and practically irresistible.
This thought returned his attention to the moment and he scanned the crowd, searching the faces, but he didn't see lover-boy, Paul. Good. He did see Grace, who winked at him, or maybe at Katherine, who still stood beside him, hand extended to take his coat. Smiling down at her, he began shrugging out of it. He turned and winked back at Grace. Thomas stood beside her, a miserable look on his face.
About the time his gaze traversed the faces again, he noticed Grace streak from the room like vapor.
Katherine touched him on the arm and he looked into a teasing jade pool. “You trying for a new fashion statement? I've heard of one shoe on and one shoe off, but never one sleeve."
He glanced down and stood half-in, half-out of his coat. One side dragged the floor. “Think it'll catch on?” he asked, arching a brow and removing the other side. “Just show me where to put it. I wouldn't want you to drop my pie."
Turning, she crooked her little finger and motioned. “Follow me into the bedroom."
Bedroom! Taking a steadying breath, he clutched the coat and trudged along behind her. He willed the rising heat to recede as her hips swayed in front of him.
From the bedroom doorway, he tossed his coat on the pile before he and Katherine turned to thread their way to the buffet table.
She removed his chocolate delight and shoved the empty box under the table. The pie wound up in the middle of dessert heaven. It's a wonder the table didn't buckle from the calories in that section alone, he thought. “You expecting a famine?"
She chuckled. “If it comes, we're certainly prepared.” Her eyes glanced his way. “I like your shirt and Santa tie. You look good in that deep shade of green."
He reached out and flicked one of her snowflake earrings. “As long as we're throwing compliments around, your outfit's pretty spectacular. You look tempting as sin in red."
“You gotta watch out about sin,” Reverend Whittaker remarked with a wink and a smile as he walked by.
Color crept up Katherine's neck until her face matched her sweater. She punched him in the ribs. “I swear, I can't take you anywhere in public."
He moved closer, smiling as her eyes widened, all dewy and innocent. “I'm at my best when I'm not in public."
Not missing a heartbeat, she shook her head and slid her hand through the crook of his arm. With her best Texas drawl, she said, “We'll have to work on your manners,” and escorted him from the dining room to the living room.
He chuckled. “I'm willing."
Every nook and corner held boxes of decorations for the tree. He envied Katherine, growing up surrounded with all these family traditions and so much love. She stayed close to his side and made him feel right at home.
“I like the fireplace.” He pointed to a wreath hanging on the wall. Directly below that, trains and lighted Swiss chalets nestled in cotton matting on the mantel. Poinsettias rimmed the outer border of the white marble floor. The scent of oak filled the room from a wood fire burning behind a mesh screen.
“I hope you don't mind, but I promised the kids you'd help them make strings for the tree,” she said, releasing his arm and angling him a sideways glance. She was smiling.
He dragged his gaze from the crimson curve of her lips. “Strings?"
She laughed. “You'll see.” Taking his arm again, she led him up the stairs and into a large carpeted game room. Card tables containing bowls of popcorn and fresh cranberries lined the floor. Seven noisy boys and girls inhabited various chairs around the tables.
Matt looked up from the cluster of chattering children. Seeing them, a grin stretched out from ear to ear. His hand shot up, waving wildly. “Mr. Randall! I saved you a place.” He patted the empty chair beside him. Glancing over at his mother with a tolerant smile, he tried to allay her concern by saying, “Don't worry, Mom. I'll show him what to do."
Jared sat down amid the circle of bright-eyed children and warily picked up a large, rounded needle with a long trailing length of string. He cast an even more wary glance at the eager faces staring back at him. What was he supposed to do?
Matt was as good as his word, although Jared never would have dreamed it. Within five seconds, he was threading popcorn and cranberries onto strings like an old hand.
“There are baby wipes on the table in case you need them,” Katherine said behind him. Turning toward her, she pointed to an innocent-looking powder blue box sitting three feet away. His smile fled. Baby wipes! What had he gotten himself into?
“If you want, we can make a paper chain, too.” Matt pointed to a stash of red and green construction paper, and other supplies. Jared looked at the pile. Last time he made a paper chain, he was in second grade.
She placed her hand on his shoulder. The light touch made his blood surge through his veins. “I've got to go, Counselor. I promise not to leave you upstairs all night.” She leaned and whispered, her breath lightly stirring the hair on his head, “I'd like to talk to you about something personal later on."
He stabbed his palm with the needle and fought an ‘Ouch'. Staring at his thick fingers, he fumbled for the delicate berries and slender string. “Fine."
Get a grip, or you'll embarrass yourself.
“I've got to run help Mom play hostess. Think you can manage to hold the fort down here?"
“I'll help him,” Matt said.
Jared grabbed the five mandatory popcorn kernels to two cranberries and waved them at her. “I'm in good hands.” When he craned his neck around to look at her, she moistened her lips with her tongue. He let out a pent up breath. “Go do your hostess thing."
She turned on the soles of her heels and strolled seductively across the carpet. Her hips kept rhythm to “Jingle Bell Rock” as she moved toward the stairs. His appreciative gaze followed Katherine.
Where's a cold shower when you need one? Man, and I'm here with the tiny tikes, better get a grip on things or have to explain the tent in his lap.
Matt touched his arm and handed him a cranberry. “You still think my mom's beautiful?"
“Yes."
“I told her you did.” Matt beamed.
Jared squashed the cranberry between his fingers and reached for the baby wipes.
Twenty minutes later, each table proudly held two cranberry and popcorn chains and one paper chain with glow-in-the-dark stickers ready for hanging. Jared had used one entire box of baby wipes and managed to keep all ten fingers of each child free of stains. Keeping everyone from eating all the popcorn had turned into a first class battle, but he'd succeeded.
He looked up just as Katherine stuck her head around the corner. She gave him an innocent smile and walked toward him. Her sweater hugged her sweet body. The sleigh appliqué moved when her breasts bounced ever so slightly. He rubbed the back of his neck.
Where's a bucket of ice when you need one?
She stopped in front of the table, her back to him and glanced around. All he could see was her firm butt and shapely legs. “Wow! Everything looks great."
Sure does.
“Everyone accomplished a lot,” she said, turning to him.
Before she could disappear again into the crowd of festive partygoers, he cleared his throat and tried to think of something to say. “If you still want to go horseback riding, how about Thursday? We could head out bright and early, around eight. We'd be gone most of the day."
Matt steepled his hands and offered up an angelic smile to his mother. Jared considered doing the same, but decided the ploy was too obvious.
“Sounds good,” she said hesitantly. Her lips formed a smile, but he sensed another emotion as he watched her. He saw doubt-or was it fear-in her eyes?
She worried her lower lip. “Thanks for the invitation.” Turning, she looked away, raised her hand and pointed to the hallway. “We'll move the chains to Matt's bed. Parents are fixing plates for the children to eat in here. The adults can eat wherever they find a place to sit."
After cleaning up the children's tables, they headed toward the stairs. “Where's Paul?” he asked, expecting to run into his scowling face sooner or later.
Her jade eyes glanced at him and lit with mischief. “Want me to tell him you miss him?"
“Hell no,” he replied in a mock whisper.
Midway down the stairs, she stopped and turned to him. “Believe me, Paul doesn't miss you either. My mother and I worked it all out for the party. She's escorting Paul around the party, and I'm escorting you. The stairs we're on are for you to use. The back stairs leading up from the kitchen are Paul's.
He rubbed his forehead and stared at her. “Let me see if I understand. You and Grace have divided the house up, kind of like war zones."
Her eyebrows narrowed. “Don't look at me like I've lost my mind. This thing will work. We're not taking any chances with you two acting like male bulls."
He fought a laugh. “What happens if the two male bulls end up in the same room? I mean, you only have one Christmas tree to decorate."
“Like I said, Grace is escorting Paul. We talked to him and he's to behave, or he'll be cutting his visit short and leaving Houston right away."
Jared smiled faintly. No wonder Thomas looked so sour. Grace is ignoring him tonight.
“And you're escorting me?"
“Exactly."
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Katherine, I appreciate the company, but I don't need you to protect me from anyone. I'm a big boy."
Her lips parted and rounded into a kissable ‘O'. “Protect you? Jared, please,” she said dryly. “Look at your arms, and… and your shoulders… and your, your…” Her voice trailed off as her gaze followed her words down his body. She jerked her gaze up to meet his. “I just don't want any confrontations at my mom's Christmas party. Understand?"
Jared nodded, desperately trying not to grin and removed his hands from her shoulders. “Understood."
She started down the stairs again only to halt two steps down. He did, too, eyeing her as she scowled at him. “And leave Paul alone tonight."
He frowned. “You're protecting Paul?"
“Hell no,” she whispered. “I want Matt to have a good time and Paul to have time with his son.” He saw the desperation in her eyes. “I'm walking a tight rope here. Cut me some slack, please."
Katherine probably didn't realize she held onto his waist. His libido sure did.
“Nice to know it's not all a bed of roses when Paul comes to the house. Remember, my offer to help still stands."
Her chin lifted. “And I told you, I don't need your help.” She folded her arms. “I've got this problem covered."
“I've noticed. So, Paul is a problem?"
She blushed and checked her watch. “Grace and Paul should have their plates fixed. They'll be eating up here with Matt."
His jaw dropped. “You're timing us, too!” He crossed his arms and leaned back against the handrail. “What war zone are you and I eating in?"
They sat on oversized cushions around the fireplace and ate from plates balanced on their legs. Katherine peered at Jared over a glass. “You feel better about the arrangement my mother and I worked out?” She took a sip of tea and set the glass down.
He finished a large bite of chocolate pie. “Most of it. One part makes me mad as hell though."
Katherine rolled her eyes and stared up at the crown molding along the ceiling. “Am I suppose to guess what part you hate?"
His fork waved enticingly below her nose. “It's the last bite. You want it?"
Without hesitation, her mouth opened and closed around the pie. His lips curved upward as he withdrew the plastic fork and set it on his paper plate. The dimple in his cheek seduced her into staring at his mouth. Such a strong, inviting mouth.
“Tell me why you're escorting me and Grace is escorting Paul and not the other way around."
She forced her shoulders back and sat up straight. “You don't want to be with me?"
He gave her an arched glance. “You know better than that. Stop avoiding answering me."
“I wanted to discourage Paul,” she whispered. The words sounded worse when she said them aloud.
He crossed his arms. “That's the part I hate like hell."
She jerked to her feet. “What have you got to be mad about? You aren't the one jumping through hoops.” Swinging away, she snatched dirty plates and wads of napkins from tables, from mantles, from people's hands, and stalked into the empty kitchen. He followed close behind her. Neither of them hearing slight sniggers and giggles behind them.
Jared threw a stack of used cups into a garbage bag, holding it open for Katherine. She glared at him as she shoved the pile of trash in. He took a twist tie from the counter and sealed the bag.
“I'll tell you why I'm mad.” He moved toward her. She backed up flush against the refrigerator.
With his hands on either side of her, he leaned into her. His breath fanned her cheeks. “Men don't like to hear a woman's with them because of another man. Makes the man she's with feel used."
“I found her!” Matt yelled as he burst into the kitchen.
They jumped apart, but not before Katherine saw the hurt in Jared's eyes. Hurt she'd put there. A lump swelled in her throat.
Matt ran to her and handed her a box. “Grandma says it's time for you to come put the angel on the tree before anything else goes on."
Katherine mouthed the words, “I'm sorry,” as she laced her fingers into Jared's. “We'll talk later.” She wanted to try and make it up to him in some way. He didn't resist her urging him forward. She gazed up into his deep blue eyes. “Mother asked me to put the angel on the tree. Will you help?"
Jared shrugged, reached and took the box from her. “Of course."
Matt grabbed her other hand and they walked together from the kitchen into the living room.
Jared stood in front of the ladder. “That thing won't do us any good. It's too small for this big tree."
With “O Come All Ye Faithful” playing softly in the background, Jared carefully removed the angel from the box. His gaze moved from the porcelain figurine to Katherine. “I don't want my big hands to break anything. You hold onto her, and I'll lift you up so you can put her on the tree."
She reached out and took the angel. “You're going to lift me way up there?” Her gaze moved the full length of the tree and she chewed on her bottom lip.
“Trust me, Katherine."
She realized that she did trust Jared, so she stepped forward with her arms lifted. Katherine held their special angel aloft with both hands. Jared stood behind her and placed his hands on her waist. He hoisted her above him and moved her within easy reach of her goal.
His warm hands splayed around her waist. She shuddered as his large palms rested on the top of her hips and inched her upward. Maybe this man could support her.
She carefully placed the figurine on the top branch and stopped to adjust the angel's beautiful gown. She paused a moment to savor the warm sensation of Jared holding her.
“Okay, you can let me down,” Katherine whispered.
Ever so gently, Jared lowered her to the floor. They backed away from the tree, Katherine's body humming with a strange, new feeling. She stayed at his side. Her mother moved forward, bent and plugged the cord into the socket. The angel glowed with a warm light of Christmas hope.
“Look up!” her mother suggested.
Directly above their heads, a large clump of mistletoe dangled from the ceiling.
The room filled with hoots of laughter, and catcalls, except for Paul. He glared disapproving daggers at both of them.
Her gaze flew to her mother, who wore a satisfied expression. Katherine's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Go for it,” someone from the crowd called out.
“It's a tradition,” Reverend Whittaker murmured. “Can't break from tradition."
Her still-narrowed gaze scanned the throng. Her matchmaking mother had put that mistletoe up here and asked her to put the angel on the tree. They're all in on getting me and Jared to kiss.
She glanced at Jared, who didn't seem to mind the situation at all. In fact, from the glint in his eyes, he thoroughly enjoyed it. A hint of his tantalizing cologne fogged her thinking. His eyes said, ‘I'm going to kiss you.’ Her mind warned, ‘Don't kiss him back. Not here.'
Her body shuddered when Jared bent slightly and claimed her mouth. His lips moved over hers tentatively, his tongue entreated her to open, refusing any answer but yes. When she opened to him, he slanted his mouth and deepened the kiss. Her tongue darted to find his and she tasted chocolate delight. She dipped her tongue to taste him again. Her legs weakened and she slipped her arms around his waist for support. He held her secure, lifted his mouth, delivered a light parting kiss on her lower lip and drew back. She gazed into eyes dark with desire and stepped out of his embrace.
“Way to go. Now, that's how you kiss a woman,” someone yelled.
Paul muttered a curse word and stormed out the front door.
“That should discourage your ex,” Jared whispered.
Heat flooded her face. She raced to the empty kitchen. Jared followed close behind her. After the door closed, her hands flew to her hips. “You kissed me like that to discourage Paul?"
He moved to put his weight against the door, blocking any entry. “No, that's why you kissed me like that."
Her foot tapped a staccato beat on the tile. “I did not kiss you like that to discourage Paul.” She stared at the ceiling, the floor, anywhere but his eyes. “I couldn't help myself."
The corner of his lip turned up. “That's the first honest emotion you've shared with me. To be equally honest,” he said, the other corner of his mouth turning up in a disarming grin, “I couldn't help myself either."
She licked her dry lips. “Oh."
He blew out a deep breath. “What's this personal thing you wanted to talk to me about?"
She hesitated and bit her lip. “My mother feels you have a need to… rescue me all the time. It has to stop. I'm capable of handling my own problems."
“Sweetheart, I'm the one who needs rescuing. You haven't the foggiest idea how you stir up a man, and suddenly drop him in the middle of an Arctic climate."
She ran the tip of her tongue over her lips.
Seeing that pink tongue glancing over those pouting lips, he groaned. “I'm going to get Matt's presents.” He turned, put his hand on the door and stopped. Coming back into the room, he leaned by her ear and spoke in a rough whisper. “And if you don't stop doing those kinds of things with your tongue, I'm going to kiss you again. Hard."
“I had a good time at the party. The tree looks so great. I like Harry Potter, Mom,” Matt said with a yawn as he lay in bed. “I read good, don't I?"
She rubbed his forehead. “Yes, you do, but you need to go to sleep. You've had a full day."
He closed his book and handed it to her. “I thought about it. When I go to school, I don't want to live in a castle."
Paul again? She clenched her fists. The only castle she knew about was Castle Academy, a boarding school. No way in hell that would happen. “Did your dad talk to you about living at Castle when you shared dinner? Did your grandma hear him, too?"
“Grandma went to the bathroom. I don't think I'd like living in a castle. I wanna stay with you."
She ruffled his hair, pulled his covers up and kissed him good night. “The only castle you'll ever live in is in your imagination.” He smiled and closed his eyes.
Turning to stare out the window, she sat slumped on the side of Matt's bed, her hands pressed against her cheeks, trying to fight her anger. Whatever Paul was interested in, it was obviously not having his family back. Not if he wanted to send Matt away to boarding school.
After Christmas, though, she might just send Paul away. Back to one of the bubble-headed blondes he preferred. Preferably, one who resided in Alaska.
She left Matt's room and went to unplug the Christmas tree lights. Looking up at the top, she smiled as her mind relived the sensations of Jared's hands on her body. Her lips tingled remembering his heart-stopping kiss and her heated response. “We couldn't help ourselves,” she whispered, bending and unplugging the cord.