The Mistletoe Affair

he reminded himself.

Shaking his head, Jared headed for the door, stopping to congratulate Mrs. Taylor again and say his farewells along the way. Continuing to walk through the parking lot, he realized that this whole situation left him with an uneasy feeling about Matt and Katherine. He didn't want them to be hurt by anyone-including himself.

The blast from a car alarm jerked him. He glared down at the door of the car he had tried to shove his key into. Bright red, flashy. Not his. Damn. Cramming his fingers through his hair, he turned on his heels in frustration and walked to the next row. He breathed deeply and exhaled.

“Great,” he muttered. He located his sedate, silver Lexus, got behind the wheel and drove home. How could he allow Katherine's situation to distract and disturb him like this? If the events of tonight don't prove Katherine is trouble, nothing will.

After arriving home and preparing for bed, he reached a solution. “From now on, I'm going to forget Katherine Cahill even exists,” he muttered. He turned the light out and fell into bed. “My life had some semblance of normalcy, until I carried her off that damn roof.” He just hoped he didn't dream about her again. That kissable mouth-

Jared reached for Katherine in the middle of the night. His Katherine.

She sighed his name, as desperate for him as he was for her.

He kissed the base of her throat, his tongue laving the tender flesh. “You taste so good, sweetheart.'

He cupped her breasts, allowing their lush weight to fill his hands, his thumbs flicking over her tight, beaded nipples.

“Jared,” she moaned. “Please.'

“Please what?” he teased, lowering his head to suck one taut nipple, his tongue rasping across the tip until she arched toward him.

Moving so he could see the love in her eyes, he tweaked her nipples, gently tugging, extending them and rasping his thumbnails across the tips to heighten their sensitivity.

He felt her tremble against him.

“I need you so much,” she whispered.

“I know, sweetheart.'

He lowered his head, claiming her mouth in a kiss that rocked him with need when she sucked on his bottom lip.

The blast of an alarm clock filled the bedroom.

Jared bolted upright, his eyes searching but finding no one. The dream had seemed so real. He let out a slow frustrated groan, drawing a slow, deep breath to steady himself.

Damn, that confusing, irritating woman. Why couldn't he get her out of his mind?

* * * *

“Thanks for letting me stay here, Katherine.” Paul opened the car door and helped Matt and Grace from the back seat.

Praying she wouldn't regret the decision, Katherine glanced at Paul. More than anything she wanted him to develop a good relationship with their son. And if Paul was up to something, she intended to find out exactly what it was. “I'm hoping it will give you more time with Matt.'

“It will. Thanks, again,” Paul said, staying to retrieve his suitcase from the car.

Katherine held Matt's hand while she and her mother made their way to the porch. “Looks like you're going to finally get your wish,” her mother whispered as they entered the house.

Discarding their coats, they headed to the living room and Matt dropped onto the couch. Katherine's forehead creased. She turned to her mother. “What wish?'

“That Paul would come back into your life.'

Feeling like she'd rubbed a magic lamp and asked for the wrong wish, she started to tell her mother the truth. “We really need to talk.'

“Not tonight.” Her mother stifled a yawn. “He'll be here a few weeks.” She winked. “Make good use of the time, dear. I'll look after Matt while Paul's here so you can be alone, talk and patch up your relationship.'

Patch up her relationship? She'd need a patch the size of the Goodyear blimp. Recalling how shocked she'd been when Paul confessed he had married her only to please his parents, she now stood on the brink of boarding the same Titanic-trying to please her mother. She grabbed her only lifeboat. “Paul's here to make everything up to Matt. His interest in me died a long time ago.'

Her mother shook her head and patted Katherine's hand. “I wouldn't be so sure of that, dear. That's not what his eyes keep saying when he looks at you.'

The front door opened and she heard Paul stop to hang up his coat. There wasn't time to correct years of half- truths and falsehoods, but she had to start laying the groundwork. Katherine swallowed hard. “Mom, I haven't exactly been honest-'

Before Katherine could say another word, Paul entered the living room and dropped down beside Matt.

“I hope you'll excuse me, but I'm really tired. I'm going to bed.” Her mother sighed. “I'm sure Katherine and Matt will be happy to entertain you.” She kissed Matt goodnight and waved over her shoulder.

Katherine stared after her. This can't be happening, she thought, as she heard her mother's cautious gait on the stairs. Her mother didn't seem to care what man she threw her at. First Jared, now Paul. She turned to find Paul standing at the window admiring the tree.

“Matt, that's the best Christmas tree we've ever had,” Paul said.

Matt sat on the floor looking up at his dad. Katherine saw Matt studying hard, trying to understand the sudden praise and attention he'd received from his father. “It's silver.'

“I noticed.'

Matt stroked a branch. “It's naked now, but we're having a party to dress it.'

“Sounds like fun.” Paul tousled his son's hair and turned from the smile beginning to stretch across Matt's face. Paul's gaze moved over Katherine's body in a slow, blatantly sexual tour. “You look great.'

She lifted her chin, irritated by his perusal but smiled, trying to keep the atmosphere friendly around Matt.

“Did you see Santa's runway lights? Mr. Randall did ‘em for Mom. I was an ‘official helper'.'

Paul angled his head to the side and tossed a cursory glance at Matt. “I saw them. Very impressive.'

Matt opened his mouth again, giggling a little.

She realized in horror that the whole embarrassing story of how she'd met Jared might come tumbling out of Matt's mouth and took matters into her own hands. “I think everyone is tired, Matt. Grandma's already called it a night. Why don't you get your pajamas on, while I show your dad to the guest bedroom?'

Matt reached for her hand and pulled her down to his level. “Mom, I want you to read my story,” he whispered. “You do lots of sounds and make it fun.'

Katherine knelt and moved closer, wrapping her arm around his waist. “I think it would make your dad feel special if you let him read to you while he's here,” she whispered back. “Ask him to add sound effects when he reads. I bet he'll do it for you.” She tickled Matt's belly.

He giggled and nodded. “I love you, Mom.'

“And I love you, too, you little rascal.” Smiling she stood, said goodnight to him and watched him climb the stairs.

Raising his hand, Paul touched her face. She took a step backwards. “I'll see to Matt while you get ready for bed,” Paul said.

Retrieving his suitcase from the foyer, he followed her up the stairs into the guest bedroom. Flipping the light switch, she quickly retrieved an extra cover from the closet and placed it on the king-sized bed.

Touching the blanket, he shook his head. “You're the one who always got cold at night. Remember how I used to warm you up?” His eyes darkened, and he moved toward her. “I always thought you used that as a ploy for extra sex.'

“Matt should have his pajamas on by now. He hasn't gotten the hang of which button goes in which hole yet.'

“You keep ignoring me or changing the subject. I still intend talking to you, Katherine.'

Glaring at him, she snapped, “I know. And I want to talk to you about Matt, but not tonight.'

“Only about Matt?” he asked.