the past and she intended to enjoy the here and now.
'Coatroom's this way,' Colin said, oblivious to her inner turmoil.
And Rina intended to keep it that way. She accompanied him to where a woman dressed as one of Santa's elves sat taking coats and handing out numbers, and she checked her wool coat.
'Isn't this place something?' he asked.
She hoped he wasn't as impressed as he sounded. 'Beautiful, but too…everything,' she said, unwilling to put her feelings into words.
'Yeah. I couldn't see myself growing up in a place like this.' He glanced around and shuddered. 'Too many damn things to break.'
She laughed, relieved he wasn't comfortable, either. 'Why can I see you throwing a ball in the house and getting grounded?'
He leaned over and whispered in her ear. 'Because I'm a bad boy?'
His voice was deep, his breath warm, and a rush of air trickled over her skin and her stomach fluttered, settling low with damp heat.
'I like bad boys,' she murmured, and his gaze dilated with desire. Then, because they were in public, she stepped back and looked around her. 'This isn't a place to raise kids, that's for sure.'
'Kids, huh?'
As soon as the words escaped, she'd wanted to snatch them back, the notion too intimate to discuss with the man who made her libido jump. Who had her thinking illicit thoughts, like what it would feel like to run her hands through his windblown hair and warm her chilled body by cuddling naked with him. And when those blue eyes stared into hers, she had a hunch he saw the feelings and heard the thoughts she'd imagined but hadn't spoken aloud.
She shrugged, trying to keep things light. 'What can I say? This place doesn't exactly inspire the image of hearth and home.'
Rina wasn't sure if she'd ever remarry, let alone have children, and considering her current fear of emotional involvement, the prospect seemed unlikely. But Jake and Brianne planned for kids and Rina wanted to be an aunt who had sleepovers and provided fun and a safe haven, not a place where they had to tiptoe and be quiet for fear of breaking something.
She glanced around once more, taking in the Christmas decorations. An exquisite tree sat in the corner and red satin bows covered the circular staircase. Her New York apartment had once been wrapped in similar red satin, she thought, remembering. A professional Robert had hired chose the holiday decorations for the penthouse. To make her life easier, he'd said. In order to impress friends and clients, she'd thought. And Rina had missed the down-to- earth Christmases she'd shared with her family.
'Take a look,' Colin said, pointing to the elves in green serving hors d'oeuvres.
Rina laughed, her mood lightening. 'The party theme seems more down-to-earth than the decor or the furnishings, if that makes any sense.'
'That's because the caterer is as down-to-earth as you can get. Emma's granddaughter-in-law owns a company called Pot Luck. That's how they met, and she's been doing the parties here ever since. They've been together ever since, too.'
'Sounds as if you like her,' Rina said.
He nodded. 'I do. Cat's special.'
'I see.' She didn't like hearing him gush about another woman's charms, not one bit. Not even if said woman was married to his friend.
'Do you? Actually, Catherine Montgomery is very much like you.' A smile twitched at his lips, but before he could say more, Emma padded up to them in her gown and ballet-type slippers at a near run. Considering the gleaming marble floors, Emma possessed amazing agility for a woman her age.
'There you are! And not a minute too soon. I need you to hide me,' Emma said.
'Excuse me?' Rina couldn't have heard right.
'Hide me. I'm being followed by a lecher.'
Colin rolled his eyes and laughed.
'Gran, you get back here,' a male voice called as a good-looking man with dark hair joined their growing group.
'Hey, Logan,' Colin said.
'Logan, Emma's grandson?' Rina asked. Though now that she studied him, she recognized him from the photos on Emma's desk.
'The one and only. Who's this pretty lady?' he asked Colin, but his gaze remained locked on Rina.
Heat rushed to her cheeks at his compliment and her newly acquired professional instincts rushed into high gear. Logan Montgomery had manners and a wedding ring on his hand. Still, Rina couldn't discount the approval in his gaze when he studied her. She'd seen the same admiration in the eyes of the parking attendant when he'd helped her out of Colin's car. Attitude plus appearance equaled attention, Rina thought, and made a mental note to mention the dual impact in her next column.
Before her manners deserted her, she turned back to the people surrounding her. 'I'm Rina Lowell.'
'I've heard so much about you.' Logan took her hand. 'Gran here adores you and I can see why.'
'Why, thank you, Mr. Montgomery.' She fluttered her lashes at Logan and graced him with a smile.
'You're quite welcome.'
'And you're quite married,' Colin muttered and not so discreetly slid his grasp to her hand, disengaging Logan's grip and marking his territory.
She tried to tug her hand free but he held on fast. 'I didn't know you were the jealous type,' she said under her breath, suddenly enjoying his possessiveness.
'I didn't know that about him, either.' Logan laughed.
And though Rina recognized good-natured ribbing between friends, she had the unexpected urge to protect Colin from any jokes directed his way. 'I've heard so much about you from Emma, too. Where's Catherine? I've been looking forward to meeting her.'
'Her company, Pot Luck, is catering this party.' Pride filled his voice, and it was obvious no woman could compete for Logan Montgomery's affection except his wife. 'She's going crazy keeping things running smoothly, but as soon as she comes out of the kitchen, I'll bring her by.'
'Please do.' It was a lucky woman who had not just her husband's love but his approval to do or be anything she wanted. Catherine had both, and even without knowing the other woman, Rina was glad.
'As for you, Gran…' Logan turned to his grandmother.
'I'd hoped you'd forgotten all about me,' Emma said, a wistful note in her voice.
'Stan Blecher wants to take you to the Boston Pops and you can't keep running off and ignoring the man. He's a federal court judge, and much as I don't get swayed by status, you can't be rude. You'll dig a hole for the Judge and for yourself,' he said pointedly.
Rina sensed the friction and undercurrents between grandmother and grandson but wasn't sure of the cause. As if sensing her unasked question, Colin leaned in closer. 'Emma has problems with her son. Logan asked me to get Emma a job with the paper so that the Judge wouldn't put her in a retirement home,' he whispered.
'You got Emma a job?' Rina asked, surprised by the news.
'He did it as a favor. Because my son's a stuffed shirt.' Emma sniffed, her regal nose in the air, yet her caring tone proved she loved her only child anyway. 'But his colleague's a lecher.'
Logan shook his head. 'Not accurate, Gran. His last name's Blecher and you're just being rude. Now come back inside before Dad gets wind of this.'
'Oh, all right. But I'm going to redirect his attention, of that you can be sure.' Emma placed her weathered hand on Rina's cheek. 'I'm so glad you're here. We'll talk later.' She sashayed away with grace, her dress trailing on the floor behind her.
'I should go watch out for her,' Logan muttered. 'I'll find Cat and we'll meet up again soon,' he promised Rina, then disappeared into the crowd.
Rina smiled. 'I love Emma and Logan's family dynamics. And as for your connection to them, I didn't know you'd gotten Emma her position at the paper.' She met his gaze, knowing it was impossible to hide the respect she'd just gained for him and not caring if he saw.
