A sudden repeated pinging interrupted Katherine's thoughts. What the hell was causing that noise? Rushing to the window, she pushed the curtains aside and jumped when a barrage of pebbles bombarded the glass. She unlocked the window and pushed it open.
As she stared into the darkness, a figure strode forward. Blond hair, sprinkled with auburn gleamed in the moonlight. Speak of the devil, she smiled without thinking. “Jared, what are you doing down there?"
“Making an absolute fool of myself.” He dropped a handful of pebbles back into the flowerbed. “I need to talk to you.” Wiping his hands on his coat, he moved to the lamppost and pointed to the oak. “I'll climb up."
Her jaw dropped. “I hope you realize how absurd it is for a grown man to climb a fifteen foot tree to talk to a woman."
He chuckled. “Yeah. Well, I told you I was about to make a fool of myself."
Make a fool of himself? Over her? An unexpected smile tugged at the corners of her lips. First he's John Wayne, taking over putting the lights on the house, now he's Romeo. “Are you crazy?"
He cocked his head to one side. “That's the second time you've asked me that."
“I'm worried you'll fall."
The lamplight illuminated a wry smile. “Careful, someone might think you actually care what happens to this neck of mine."
“Who me?” Maybe she should let him try to climb up the side of the house, and fall and break his neck. It would serve him right. Whoa, he had shown exceptional prowess in climbing that roof yesterday, and if he made it up, neck intact, he'd be standing in the middle of her bedroom… sitting on her bed, while they talked. She swallowed hard, tugging at the hem of her nightshirt. “Hold on, I'll come down."
He held both hands up. “Oh, no, you don't. And that's not debatable, Katherine. I can't possibly catch you when you fall."
She laughed. “I have no intention of climbing out the window. Meet me at the back door. We can talk in the kitchen."
Realizing she was actually running to meet him like some adolescent schoolgirl, she slowed her pace. Determined not to act like other women, who fell all over him, she clamped down on her feelings, turned the teakettle on, unlocked the back door and waited for him.
A furrowed brow etched his forehead when he entered the kitchen. “I left my hammer in your garage."
She blinked in amazement. “What? You came here in the middle of the night for a hammer?"
Shifting his weight from one foot to another, he stared down at the floor. “It's a very important hammer."
She folded her arms and lifted an eyebrow. “Okay, Counselor, I'll bite. Why is it so important?"
His gaze rose to the table, as if mesmerized by the elephant shaped place mats. “It belonged to… Aunt Harriet."
“I see.” She leaned her backside against the sink; arms still crossed and fought an inner smile. The discomfort on his face when he looked up at her was so comical she couldn't resist baiting him a little while longer. After all the discomfort he had caused her on the roof, not to mention the dance floor, he seemed due a little himself. “Hammering something, is that all you're thinking about? Why couldn't it wait until morning?"
He stared at her blank-faced, but for the rosy blush creeping up, signaling the direction of his thoughts.
She moved closer, punctuating each question with her index finger in his muscular chest. “Your aunt never owned a hammer in her life, did she? Admit it. You simply felt worried about Matt and me. Isn't that the truth?” She shrugged. “Although for the life of me, I don't know why."
Sheepishly, he pulled the hammer from his pocket, laid it on the table and removed his coat. “I thought you wouldn't let me in to check on you."
His gaze roamed her body and his eyes darkened, obviously pleased with her baggy T-shirt that had seen better days. The sensual look he gave her made the toes on her bare feet curl with a pleasure she hadn't felt in ages.
He finally lifted his head and studied her face. “I can't help staring. It's the first time I've seen your shapely legs and sexy red toenails.” He whistled softly, his gaze traveling back down her body. “You shouldn't hide them-at least not around me."
Her face grew hot. No one had ever whistled at her.
His arm began to rise. He's going to touch me. Inside, the rational adult shouted ‘Stop him,’ but the passionate woman inside her whispered ‘Let him,” and it was the whisper she responded to.
He touched her face, ever so gently. His fingers gliding over her skin, as if he wanted to make sure she was real and safe. Heat drifted over her lips and cheeks, with each stroke he made. Wherever he lingered, her skin felt scorched. His gaze held hers. “I saw Paul's car parked in the drive and kept imagining all sorts of scenarios-all bad."
The teakettle screeched and they jumped. His hand dropped to his side, and they stepped away from each other. Alarmed at the depth of response he had aroused in her, she took a deep breath, inhaling his masculine scent that swirled around her, and offered him a place at the table.
Trying to hide her flushed face, she fumbled with the lid on the instant mocha, almost toppling the jar. She could feel his gaze on her as she prepared two mugs of coffee, set them down and seated herself across from him.
“Thanks,” he said. He inhaled the aroma and took a large gulp. “I'm addicted to chocolate."
“Me, too. Can't go a day without it."
They exchanged grins. His brow arched.
I can't believe I said, ‘I can't go a day without it'-not IT-I meant chocolate.
As if he read her thoughts, he said, “Relax. I knew what you meant."
She wrapped her hands around her cup. “What's the most chocolate you've eaten in one day?"
“An entire box of chocolate chip cookies.” He leaned back in his chair, leisurely crossing his long legs. “I had a particularly bad court case and couldn't stop eating them."
“Uh huh,” she said, moving her gaze down his relaxed length, stopping at his scuffed cowboy boots. She'd forgotten how enjoyable the simple act of sitting in a kitchen talking with a man could be-and how stimulating.
He took another gulp. “And you?"
“A huge tub of chocolate mint ice cream-my favorite stash. I was carrying Matt so I had a good excuse.” She sipped her coffee. “Not that I really needed one, but people don't understand how someone could love chocolate that much, do they?"
He shook his head. They grinned at one another again, and their smiles faded as his gaze captured and held hers.
She swallowed hard, noting his sober expression.
“Katherine, I grew concerned about you because of your reaction when Paul first arrived. I began to wonder if you and Matt should be in the same room with him."
Following a sip, she assured Jared his worries were unfounded. “Paul isn't the violent type."
“What type is he?"
Before she could answer, the harsh sound of Jared plunking his cup down caught her full attention. He rammed both hands through his hair and leaned forward, his elbows splayed across the table. She lifted her brow at his slightly crazed and very intense expression. If this is what he looked like when he argued a case before a jury, no wonder he'd always won. He'd frighten any opposition clear into the next state. “Earlier tonight when you frowned at Paul, he ignored you and did whatever he damned well pleased. Is he the type of man who respects a woman's right to say no?"
She nibbled at her lower lip, remembering when Paul put his arm around her waist and pulled her into him. “Paul isn't used to having women say ‘No'.” Her face heated. “And he doesn't say no to them either. That's the trouble. He doesn't believe in monogamy-even when he's married."
“Are you saying he ran around on you?"
She nodded.
He shook his head and cursed. “He's a fool. If he starts crowding you and you object, let me know."
She lifted her chin. “That won't be necessary. I can handle Paul. I did it once before, remember?"
His jaw muscles worked.
“It isn't your problem. It's mine. And that's not debatable, Jared Randall.” She tried to take some of the sting out of the words, “But I do thank you for at least being concerned. I just need to get through the holidays, that's all."
Thinking of the crowding that Paul had tried tonight, she didn't want any more trouble-from anyone. A little advanced planning and determination on her part would make sure that what happened with Paul didn't happen again. And Paul said he would abide by whatever boundaries she set, so the problem would not arise again.
Jared's deep-blue gaze clouded with concern and roamed her face. “One thing's still bothering me. Why did Grace blurt out all those lies about you and Paul?"
She looked up at the ceiling.
“Don't try and deny they were lies. I'm an attorney, remember? I pride myself in reading people's body language.” He smiled warmly. “And I read you like an open book."
“I felt forced to lie about why we divorced. Dad was too ill.” She returned her gaze to his when he took her hands. “After that, I felt ashamed and tried to keep it private. No one knows except Paul-and now you."
“Dammit, you don't have anything to be ashamed of.” He released her hands. “Does Grace like Paul?"
Her mouth rounded. “Why would you ask a thing like that?"
“The venomous looks Grace shot his way. Paul never saw them, but I did. Loud and clear."
Katherine shook her head, feeling like she'd taken the witness stand. “He's the only man my mother didn't fix me up with. Maybe that's why I fell for him. After she met him, she tried to talk me out of marrying so quickly. Mother warned me that he seemed self-centered."
“What's keeping you from telling Grace the truth now? Is part of it the fact you'd have to eat crow and admit Grace had been right about Paul?” he asked.
Guilt nagged her conscious. She hesitated, hating to admit it to herself. “Maybe,” she twisted a strand of hair around her finger. Butterflies swam upstream in her stomach. “I don't like your implications. I plan on telling her the truth."
“Uh huh,” he said, fixing her with a stare.
“Don't give me that I-don't-believe-you look, Counselor. I do plan on telling her-eventually.” She grew silent. “But now's a bad time. She's recovering from surgery and missing my father. Everything's happening too fast with Paul popping up out of nowhere like he did."
“Planning to do something and doing it isn't the same thing. You need to tell Grace everything right away. She has a right to know the truth. Despite the fact she's manipulative at times, she's really on your side."
Katherine nodded. Hell, she knew that.
“Paul doesn't act like a man who dropped by casually to see his son for Christmas. Otherwise, he'd have phoned you and arranged for a day and time he could pick Matt up. He's here to see you."
Inhaling and exhaling an exasperated breath, she answered, “I know. He says he's changed."
“Do you think he has?"
She shrugged. “Maybe, but it takes time to trust a person again-at least for me it does. I keep feeling guilty about Matt. He's been hurt so badly by this divorce. His father has cancelled so many visits and ignored him for so long."
“What if Paul has changed?” He took her hand in his again.
She sighed. “I need to bury the hatchet and be semi-friends with Paul, but I don't want him back in my bed, if that's what you are asking me. I'm going to do what's best for Matt in the long run. That's the only thing I know for sure."
He ran the pad of his thumb over her hand and leaned closer. “I want you to know I'm your friend.” He pointed to the hammer and a flash of humor flickered in his eyes. “I'm even willing to make a first class fool of myself."
Her breath caught at the innocent, boyish expression on his face. No wonder women find him irresistible. He's like a big, cuddly bear. “I think you'd better define what you mean by ‘friends', before I agree to anything concerning you and me.” She pulled her hand from his. Or, maybe he's really the sly, cunning, Big Bad Wolf.
He smiled a slow, blatantly sexual smile, but his head shook from side to side in all innocence. “There you go again-distrusting me and the degree of closeness and intimacy I mean for us to share. You think I go around ravishing and pillaging every beautiful woman I see? Scout's honor, I don't."
Crossing her arms, she stared at him. Not this one, you don't. “You were never a Scout in your life, were you?"
He chuckled. “No, but I dated a Girl Scout Den Leader. Does that count?” He laughed. “Lighten up. What are you so afraid of, Katherine?"
“Mr. Randall.” They spun around in their chairs to find a pajama-clad Matt ambling into the kitchen, rubbing sleep out of his eyes.
“What are you doing out of bed?” Katherine asked, relieved at the interruption.
“I got thirsty.” He stared at his bare feet.
Katherine stood, gathered Matt into her arms and poured him some water. She kissed him on the cheek. “Did you have another bad dream?"
“Uh huh,” he whispered. “Can I sit with Mr. Randall?"
What should she do about this growing attachment Matt continued to develop for Jared? If he thought he could get to the mother through the son, he'd better think again. She passed Matt to Jared, and he held Matt on his lap. She guessed it wouldn't hurt for them to hang around some until she and Matt returned to Sugar Land after Christmas.
“How about a bowl of chocolate mint ice cream, pal? I bet your mother has buckets of it stashed away."
“You know, I do have a tiny bit in the freezer.” Katherine prepared a double-decker serving for everyone, sat down at the table and watched. They remained silent except for an occasional spoon clanging against a bowl. Although they had just returned from a huge dinner a few hours ago, Matt and Jared inhaled their helpings. Men! And boys. Matt finished and looked sticky with ice cream puddles on his mouth, hands and arms. She took a wet rag and cleaned him up, smiling down at his sleepy face. “Time for you to go back to bed, young man."
“Can Mr. Randall tuck me in?"
Before Katherine could answer, Jared lifted her son into his arms and headed toward the stairs. She could hear Matt whispering as they went, “Will you check under my bed? There's a boogey man hiding there."
Jared turned and winked at Katherine. “I'll be back. Matt and me gotta seek and destroy a boogey man, so he can't ever come back and scare us."
Ten minutes later, and Katherine wondering at the banging she had heard, Jared sauntered back into the kitchen. “We had to exorcise the closets, too."
She looked into his penetrating blue eyes. That familiar pull drew her like a warm, familiar fire on a cold night. “Thanks for doing that for Matt, and please, tell me how you did it-he thinks I don't know how to find them all. It must be a guy thing."
“Glad to.” He explained using the hammer to bang on the bed and doorframes of his room. “See the bangs hurt the boogeyman's ears and he won't want to come back to an unwelcome place. Now for another problem, at the birthday party, Matt said he still wants to go horseback riding. I didn't want to disappoint him, so I told him spending time with his dad wouldn't stop him from going. I hope you don't mind. Paul's welcome to come, too."
She pictured Paul sneezing and galloping his way across open fields one day, parked in the doctor's office the next. She fought back a grin. “Paul's allergic to most animals. That's why Matt couldn't have the puppy he saw in a pet store."
“Did he ever get a puppy?"
She shook her head, feeling ashamed she hadn't remembered he'd wanted one until now. “Matt was two-years old. At that age, they seem to want everything they see, and he wanted this beautiful collie pup. He cried when Paul said no, and Matt forgot about it ten minutes after we left the store."
A devilish grin slowly grew on his mouth.
The same mischievous smile spread across her face. She laughed at the thought that leaped into her mind. “We can't give a puppy to Matt for Christmas. It wouldn't be fair to Paul."
“Why not? You're divorced, so Paul doesn't have to even get around the animal."
“But what if Matt wants to take the puppy with him when he visits his dad?” So many ‘What ifs’ hopped around her mind like hatching fleas. What if the puppy hairs on Matt bothered his dad?
Jared lifted his hands in surrender. “I didn't say I had all the answers. I'm giving you some reasons for doing it. Matt's almost six, I'm sure he'd appreciate the puppy even more now. It would teach him responsibility.” He winked. “Sure is tempting."
“Yes, but I better think about it some more."
He snapped his fingers. “I got it. When we go horseback riding, we could find out if Matt wants a puppy."
“Okay, I'll go that far, but I still need to think about it.” Conspiring with him like this would only increase her sense of girlishness whenever Jared was around. But she wasn't a girl anymore. The woman in her knew that. Despite her attempts to stifle it, she yawned.
Tugging her hand, he stood and headed for the door. She followed close behind him. He turned and looked down at her. “Your eyelids are drooping at half-mast, friend."
Without warning, he lowered his head and kissed her cheek. A butterfly kiss intended from one friend to another, but her breath caught. It had been too long since she'd felt anything for a man and she was in trouble, monumental trouble, or would that be ‘manument’ trouble, particularly around this ‘friend'. She almost sighed out loud. Standing half a foot away from him, her body swayed slightly toward him, and he pulled her up against his chest. His body heat pulsed into hers, and he folded his arms around her, firmly holding her in his warm embrace. Erotic visions of them lying between sheets danced through her mind.
If she had any illusions about what being friends with Jared would mean, they died with that innocent kiss. And she didn't believe any such thing as a harmless affair existed. Someone always got hurt. Crushed emotionally. That someone would be her, if she let it happen.
Handing his coat and hammer to him, she reminded herself that he wasn't a forever man, only a one-night-stand man. Her pride wouldn't let her give into that sexual pull. Making love meant more to her than a cheap, casual affair.
He stepped toward her. His breath lightly fanned her hair. “Sleep well, Katherine,” he murmured, releasing her.
At midnight, Jared walked home in the dark, his mind reeling. He could kick himself clear across Texas. Why had he gone to see her?
Hell. He swore he'd never get involved with another divorced woman. Not after what happened with Shannon. Then he met Katherine, and her son Matt-so much like himself-and he'd almost weakened, almost forgotten lessons learned and burned so deep in his heart he would never be free from the pain again.
The minute Katherine's ex stepped back into the picture on that dance floor, Jared should have said, “Adios, been there, done that,” and gotten the hell out of Dodge, for his own sanity.
He didn't want to hear Paul had claimed he'd changed.
He'd bet one of his big toes Paul had been the first man to make love to Katherine. And the last. But Jared had heard her faint gasp tonight and felt her lean toward him when he kissed her cheek, and friendship wasn't what he felt when he held her. Not by a long shot.
She was lonely and it showed. Couple that information with her desire to have Paul back in their son's life, giving Matt the love and attention he needed from his father, and it added up to one thing. Katherine remarrying Paul-and soon.
You're a fool-wanting someone you'll never have. Whoa, did he really want her? Hell yes, else why was he out here talking to himself.
Deep inside he wished things were different.