The Mistletoe Affair

* * * *

Jared placed the extension ladder from the garage against the side of the house. “How's it going with your dad?” he asked Matt, who stood staring up at him as he stepped onto the first rung.

“He took me for pizza and a movie after church.'

Jared nodded and moved up another step, hooking his work belt around his waist as he climbed. “Did you have a good time?'

He nodded. “Uh-huh.'

“Sounds like he's trying to be a good dad.'

He waited for some affirmation, and when it failed to come, Jared descended the ladder. Bending to Matt's level, Jared saw the same sad look he'd seen the first time he'd met the boy. “Hey, you okay? Anything I can help with?'

“I got money for helping Mom. Will you take me shopping?'

“I'll have to check with your mom first. If it's okay with her, I will. You going to buy a present for your dad, too?'

“Do I gotta?'

“I think you might feel bad, him getting you one, and you not having one for him.'

Matt glanced at the ground. “If I gotta, I will.'

Jared nodded. “I think you should.'

Staring at him, the boy looked deep in thought.

His soft, “Okay,” almost tore Jared's heart out.

“Jared, you going back on Grace's roof?” his friend Thomas yelled from the sidewalk.

“She's got a roof leak.'

“Be careful up there.'

“Sure thing.” Jared waved as Thomas walked by.

Matt touched his arm and frowned. “You think Santa's too old?'

“What makes you ask that?'

“He's mixed up. My mom's supposed to get a date for Christmas. All she's done is be with Dad. I told Santa I wanted a new dad.” He peeked up. “You think he's got mixed up?'

Jared fought a grin. “I think you'll have to trust him for a little while longer, pal. He's working on it.'

He folded his arms. “You sure?'

“I give you my word, he's working really hard on getting that date.” And now that he knows you're worried, he'll work harder.

* * * *

An hour later, Katherine removed the last batch of cookies from the oven. She lifted the cookies with an egg turner, laid them on a rack to cool, opened the back door and yelled, “They're done.'

Jared and Matt stood on the doorstep, Jared's hand outstretched to turn the knob. Both winced at the loud call.

“Perfect. We finished repairing the roof,” Jared yelled back, while Matt followed him into the kitchen like a shadow. They washed their hands at the sink again. In a normal tone he continued, “You had some storm damage, loose shingles.'

“I know. That's what I fell on the other day.” She shook her head. “You had your mind made up that I had vertigo. Sorry about yelling at you when you were so close.'

He half-turned, his hands rising in a pose of self-defense. “Okay, okay. Truce. I want to eat those cookies-not dodge them.'

“We got to decorate,” Matt said, grabbing candy and green icing. He spread it on top of his cookie Christmas tree, and leaned over to Jared. “Remember, do ‘em and eat fast.'

Jared popped a freshly decorated wreath into his mouth. He took a deep breath. “Nothing smells better than this kitchen.” He glanced over at Katherine and winked. “Well, I stand corrected. I can think of one thing that beats it, hands down.'

“What?” Matt asked.

Her face heated as she immediately chimed in. “Chocolate.'

“Quick recovery,” Jared said with a chuckle.

“Anyone for chocolate milk?” she asked, passing out glasses and filling them.

Her gaze moved to Jared. He took a sip of milk. “I can't go a day without it,” he teased, invoking her unintentional double entendre from last night. “Matt asked me to take him Christmas shopping. We'll go to the local mall. Is that okay?” he asked, setting the glass down.

Matt pushed his nose between them and peered up at her. “I gotta get something for Dad, so can Jared take me, please?” He steepled his hands into a pretty-please.

She nodded her head. “Yes.'

Matt started to chatter about all the presents he wanted for Christmas. Katherine glanced at Jared and found him watching her with that close scrutiny that should make her want to throttle him, but instead sent little fissures of warmth across her belly. In an effort to avoid his gaze, she looked down at her watch, surprised to find another two hours had passed. She hadn't even noticed the time passing. Disconcerted, she lifted her head to find Jared still watching her. “Did everyone get enough cookies?'

“Thanks. I've had plenty,” Jared said.

“Me, too.” Matt said. He yammered on in the background, squishing jellied candy into small, flat pancakes between his fingertips, which looked like they'd been dyed bright shades of red and green.

“I'll leave a dozen out to eat later on.” She filled plastic containers with the remainder and placed them into the freezer. She tossed another glance at Jared. “Matt, please wash your hands upstairs and pick out a story for me to read to you. I'll be up in a few minutes to run your bath.'

She turned to Jared as she finished drying her hands after Matt sped up the stairs. “He has ten dollars to shop with. I hope you don't mind keeping up with what he spends. I'll reimburse you.

“That won't be necessary. This is something I want to do for Matt. It has nothing to do with you.'

About to argue, she shrugged instead. She couldn't argue with every man she encountered over every little thing. “Have it your way. Thanks. I wrote down a few small items to consider for my mother and included the sizes.” She handed him the paper. His hand touched hers, his thumb playing havoc with her concentration as it gently rubbed back and forth across her index finger.

“What do you want for Christmas, Katherine?'

She pulled her hand back, annoyed to find it trembling. “Nothing special. Anything Matt picks out will be great.” She picked up a pen and paper. “I'll write my glove and belt sizes down.'

He shook his head, his eyes darkening. “I know your size-top to bottom.'

A chill danced up her spine. Her breathing quickened as she felt the sensual pull of her awareness of him. The pen clattered to the floor. Jared retrieved it for her.

“Tell Matt I'll pick him up tomorrow morning around nine, if that's okay.” He winked and sneaked another cookie before heading for the door.

“That's fine.” She watched him leave, her palm pressed against the countertop for support, her knees trembling. She slid down onto a stool, picked up a dishtowel and twisted it in her hands. She stared at the chaos of frosting and candy on the table, seeing nothing but Jared's slow smile.

Five minutes later, she heard a car pull into the driveway. She peeked out the window and recognized Paul's Porsche. He removed the tarp from his trunk and covered his ‘baby'.

Well, he finally found his way back.

“Who was that man leaving the house as I drove up?” Paul asked entering the kitchen.

“Jared Randall.'

He froze, holding his car keys in mid-air. “What was he doing here?'

She threw the twisted towel on the table. “Fixing a roof leak.” Trying to change the subject and hopefully avoid another fight, she asked with a teasing tone, “Did you get lost?'