The Mistletoe Affair

impossible to tell the truth. And the night before, when she'd nodded in agreement with her mother, Katherine had perpetuated the lies.

She walked past Jared and saw the look of concern on his face. “Katherine, baby,” he murmured, but she just put up her hand in a silent beg for a moment, thankful he didn't try to touch her. She needed solitude right now, time to cool off, time to think so she could deal with Paul dropping in on her without any warning.

* * * *

Jared sat with Matt waiting for Grace to return from talking to Thomas Hughes. From the angry expression on Thomas’ face, they were having a heated argument about something, too. The disagreeable frown and silence of his friend said Thomas had lost the battle. What are they fighting about?

Matt tugged on Jared's arm, motioning him nearer. “Make my dad go away,” he whispered.

Jared's opened his mouth, but closed it, hating the reply he needed to give. He shook his head. “I can't.'

“You're bigger. Why can't you?” Matt asked with wide innocent eyes.

More than anything, he didn't want to disappoint Matt. How could he make the boy understand that he'd asked for the impossible? “I guess you're mad at your dad right now and that's understandable. It's okay to feel that way. But I think he's here to make it up to both of you. I can't interfere with his trying. It wouldn't be right for me to come between your parents.'

Matt tilted his head to one side. “Why?” he asked again.

“Don't you miss your dad?” Jared paused, remembering the hurt and loneliness he felt when his father abandoned him. When he failed to get a reply from Matt, Jared continued, “He's here. Don't you want to find out why he's here?” Knowing he was going to kick himself later, he pressed on when Matt still didn't respond. “Will you at least give him a chance to make it up to you?'

His little eyebrows shot up. “Does this mean I can't learn to sit on your horses?'

Jared smiled and ruffled Matt's hair. “Of course not. We'll always be pals. I'll call your mom, we'll go horseback riding like we planned. If your dad wants to come along, he's welcome.'

Matt bowed his head, staring at his dress shoes.

Jared lifted Matt's chin, finding confusion lurking in his green eyes-eyes mirroring Katherine's shock and confusion on the dance floor. “Matt, you can always come to me if you have any problem. Will you at least promise to give him a chance to make it up to you?'

Matt placed his hand in Jared's. He felt humbled by the trust and determination he saw on his little face. “I promise. Will you stay until we go to Grandma's?'

“I'm not going anywhere, pal.'

* * * *

Grace returned to her grandson's side. She glanced over her shoulder at Thomas, his nostrils flared, and he looked away from her. Jared noted the ashen, worried look on her face when she sat across from him and Matt.

A few minutes later, Katherine headed back and Paul stepped from the corner of the room, obviously waiting for her to return from the bathroom. He caught up with her, and his arm went possessively around her waist.

Jared's muscles tightened between his shoulder blades.

Paul stood beside Matt and made an awkward attempt to rumple his son's hair. “Hello, Matt.'

Matt combed his fingers through his hair, putting the disarrayed strands back in place.

“I'm sorry I didn't make it last Christmas, but I'm here now.'

Matt smiled warily though he still kept silent. He leaned toward Jared in a silent plea for support that Jared gave freely.

Jared's hand fisted when Paul's hand wrapped around Katherine's waist and pulled her to him. Her ex ignored the frown she shot his way. She quickly removed his hand, sidestepped and took a seat.

“Paul Cahill, I'd like you to meet Jared Randall,” Katherine said. Jared noticed Paul's cool assessment and quick dismissal. Maybe someone should remind the jerk that they're divorced. Or was Paul that sure of himself with Katherine? How the hell could he be? Neither Katherine nor Matt seemed pleased to see him. Jared inhaled deeply, forcing himself to relax. If anyone told the ex to take a hike, it had to be Katherine.

Paul turned and hugged Katherine's mother. “Grace, it's good to see you.'

“I'm glad you came. Katherine hoped you'd make it.'

Jared studied Katherine's face. She nibbled on her lower lip. He'd bet his law practice she never said any such thing, not if he read the signs correctly.

Paul's smiling gray eyes sought Katherine's worried green ones. “Well, that's good to know,” he said, sitting beside Katherine and leaning closer.

Crossing his arms, Jared waited for a denial that never surfaced. His gaze roamed between Katherine, Paul and Grace.

“I didn't have a chance to make hotel reservations. I hope to find a place near the house so I can spend more time with Matt,” Paul said.

“Katherine, don't you think it might be easier if Paul stayed at the house with us?” her mother asked. “That way it would give the three of you more of a chance to talk.'

Jared gritted his teeth as the vein in Katherine's neck jumped. Her face paled again. She quickly pushed her hands beneath the table, but not before he spotted a slight tremble.

Katherine smiled faintly. “Paul and I will decide that a little later.” She turned to Matt. “Tonight your dad can tuck you in and read you a bedtime story.'

Her mother leaned over to whisper to Paul, but everyone at the table clearly overheard her comment. “I hope you realize Katherine hasn't had any boyfriends since you two divorced. She's been waiting for your return.'

Katherine gasped, blushed redder than an over-ripe tomato and fell silent.

Jared's jaw dropped. Damn. He couldn't believe Grace had blurted something like that out. Especially since Grace had carefully watched Paul and Katherine during their dance. Hell, Grace had seen the same things Jared had, and the look she gave Paul when he looked elsewhere bordered on raw contempt. And no one could miss the deep concern in her eyes for Katherine.

What the hell's really going on?

Standing and strutting like the only rooster in a hen house, Paul grabbed a yawning Matt and lifted him into his arms. “I think we better get you home, young man. I'll take him to your car, Katherine.” He strolled forward, calling over his shoulder, but not stopping. “Do you need help, Grace?'

Grace stood and moved from the table. “Of course not.'

A sleepy Matt waved goodbye to Jared from where he hung over Paul's shoulder. Jared smiled in reply, and angled a level look on Paul, who turned. Jared held his challenging gaze a moment, not moving, then Paul shrugged and flicked his hand, impatiently gesturing to Katherine.

Turning his head, Jared found her eyes waiting for him. “Goodnight,” she whispered. He noticed that Katherine kept a heap of distance between herself and Paul as they moved toward the exit.

Remaining seated, Jared rubbed his hand across his forehead. Everything that had happened tonight worried him. So many things seemed phony. Things that made absolutely no sense. The disconnection between Grace's declaration that Katherine had been waiting for Paul, and her apparent distress when with him. Why hadn't she contradicted Grace's statement, which appeared to be a lie?

As an attorney, he'd learned that things were never what they seemed. He'd been taught not to jump to conclusions. However, he was doing just that. He'd seen some pretty sorry excuses for husbands. Had he met one tonight?

He didn't like the way Grace had thrown Paul and Katherine together, especially since she had previously seemed so determined to make a match between Katherine and himself. The way Paul took things for granted- overstepping his boundaries and putting Katherine in a bad spot-grated across Jared's nerves like sandpaper. She couldn't haul off and slug him in front of her mother and Matt. He smiled. Hell, neither could he, unless he wanted to appear like some caveman protecting his woman. Katherine wasn't his woman-but she wasn't Paul's woman either,