The Mistletoe Affair

better.

Furious, embarrassed, and knowing she could not spend all day suspended like this with her eyes glued shut, she ripped them open and glared into the laughing cobalt eyes watching her. To her utter shame, her nipples hardened into points and her face flushed hot. “Let go of my bra… you manhandling chauvinist.'

“Manhandling chauvinist?” His jaw muscles worked fighting a grin. “Well, if that isn't gratitude for you. I'm not the one that fell on her backside and almost rolled off a two-story house.'

She gasped, as her breasts swelled against his palm.

“Are you in pain?” he asked. “I'm trying not to hurt you.'

Blushing, she shook her head. “Please, let go.'

“Do you know what will happen if I do?'

At this embarrassing moment, she didn't care what might happen. She prayed he'd drop her.

He breathed deeply, reached under her arms and pulled her to him. “Upsie Daisy.'

“I'm not Daisy.” Safe again, yet not safe at all, her body lay on top of his in a wicked pose. Her legs hugged his firm thighs.

Once he relaxed his grip on her, she jerked and rolled to the side of him, her arm sprawled across his waist for safety. With her hip pressed against the hard, grainy shingles, she raised her head and gave him a look that would have withered a saint.

He rolled his blue eyes. “That does it. I've tried to reason with you, but it isn't working. I don't care if your mother doesn't want you to know she called me, too. She said you have vertigo and have no business on this roof, so I'm carrying you off right now.” Prying her fingers from his belt, he stood and tossed her over his shoulder like a rolled up carpet.

All the breath rushed from her lungs. Vertigo? I don't have vertigo! Can't this arrogant gorilla see my mother's matchmaking? Why couldn't he mind his own business? What must the neighbors be thinking?

She remembered where he'd touched her, and her face grew hot. A series of tingles raced up her thighs as his hands held her firmly against him. Why did her traitorous body shame her and respond to his manhandling? Mortified, she kicked her feet.

“Hold still.” He swatted her wriggling behind. “Stop squirming before we both fall.'

Upside down, she had a close up view of his tight buns as he purposefully strode across the roof and climbed down the ladder. She stared at the compelling sight; her anger mounting with each agile move he made. By the time he touched her feet to the ground, her temper flared out of control.

She smoothed her shirt, crossed her arms and stared up at him. His six-foot-plus frame dwarfed her five-foot- four body. “I couldn't let you fall, but I'm sorry if I offended you on the roof.” His eyes widened. “Lord, looks like Mrs. Taylor's taking shots of us.'

Shots! Stunned, she spun and a flashbulb exploded in her face, temporarily blinding her. Bright red dots floated like dust moats in her eyes. She knew it-Candid Camera.

The eyes that had stared at her through the blinds now had a body to go with them. A fragile, white-haired lady with support hose ringing her ankles stood in front of them.

Jared introduced Katherine to her mother's new neighbor, Mrs. Taylor. “She does articles for our local newsletter,” he explained.

Katherine imagined a still-frame of her large, round butt, flopped over Jared's beefcake shoulder. Or maybe stills of him spanking her rear-end.

“Thank goodness Jared stayed on that roof like he promised. I almost fainted, but I got some nice pictures of the rescue.” Mrs. Taylor winked. “Isn't he a sweetheart?'

Katherine glanced up at him and returned his gaze. “Oh, he's something else all right.” Ha!

He chuckled.

“You must be here visitin’ your mama. Once she's completely recovered, I'm writing a human-interest article on her fall and the operation to put a pin in her hip. Tell her I said hello.” Mrs. Taylor shoved her mini-camera into her dress pocket and shuffled along the walkway. “Nice to meet you, Katherine. I gotta get these developed. See ya.'

Jared turned to Katherine and extended his hand.

“What?” she asked staring at his large open palm.

“Give me the clips so I can get this done.'

She shook her head in amazement. The man didn't know when to quit. She felt perfectly capable of doing it herself and if she needed help, she certainly wouldn't choose him. “You don't seriously believe I'd do that?” She withdrew the clips and teasingly held them in her hand, waving them like a red flag before a bull. “I do not have vertigo. I'll put the clips and lights up myself and prove it.'

“Uh huh.” He stood there giving her an I-know-you're-lying stare.

Suddenly, without warning, he yanked the clips from her hand.

Surprised, she jumped back and bumped the ladder. It slid across the eaves, making a beeline for the ground. Quick as the thunderstorms that sprouted on the Texas skyline, Jared grabbed for the ladder. She spun to help and her elbow collided with his nose, making a muffled thud.

He grunted, shoved the ladder up against the house and glanced over his shoulder at her.

She gave him another withering look. Her eyes flew wide, and her stomach churned when her gaze dropped below the level of his sardonic eyes.

Drops of blood dripped from his nose.

Her heart pounded. She'd never hurt another human being in her life. “Oh, my God.” Eyes burning with remorse, she lifted her hand and reached toward his face. “Let me help.'

“No, it's okay.” He held her hand still and wiped at the drops with his fingers. “It kind of matches my red shirt.” He winced, stroking her hand with his thumb.

“I'm so sorry,” she whispered.

“Relax, it's no big deal. I've had worse injuries on the football field.'

Tears stung her eyes and escaped onto her cheeks. “What's wrong with me? You thought you were helping. Oh, hell, you were helping, but when you said my mother called you, I went postal.'

“What did you do to my Mom?” Matt demanded from the sidewalk. “Mom, did ya sock him? Want me ta sock him, too?” He placed his hands on his hips, stood with his legs in a wide stance and wore a fierce expression.

Katherine smiled with pride at her pint-size hero. Her gaze dropped further. Her eyes widened, and her face heated from chin to brow with embarrassment.

There stood her five-year-old son and his friend Jimmy wearing Super Maxi-pads taped to their knees.

This can't be happening!

“Neat, huh?” Matt followed her gaze down and grinned. “We couldn't find our kneepads, so we borrowed yours.'

Her hands flew to her hips. “Matthew Everett Cahill, we need to have a serious talk, young man.'

Matt turned his head slightly and looked at Jared. “Uh oh. She used my whole name. I'm in big trouble.” His little eyebrows shot up. “I should a asked to borrow ‘em, right?'

“From what I know about women, Matt, you'd have been in trouble either way you jumped on this one.'

The trickle of blood from Jared's nose suddenly turned into a small stream. He shoved the back of his hand under his nose and knelt beside Matt. “You want to let me have one of those?'

Katherine wished an earthquake would erupt underneath her feet, open the ground and swallow her whole. Her jaw sagged, as Matt nodded and extended his knee.

Jared reached down, took a small knife from his pocket, cut the tape and extracted a Super Maxi-pad. He held it under his nose and paraded down the walk waving over his shoulder.

Katherine squinted against the afternoon light, peering after him. Was he still smiling?

“I'll be back soon as I put some ice on this and clean up. Don't you climb that ladder.'

Her surprised squint turned to a scowl. Who the hell did he think he was-John Wayne?

“Matt, you're my ‘official helper'. Don't let your mom get hurt while I'm gone,” he yelled from the curb.