The Mistletoe Affair

She stopped in front of the table, her back to him and glanced around. All he could see was her firm butt and shapely legs. “Wow! Everything looks great.'

Sure does.

“Everyone accomplished a lot,” she said, turning to him.

Before she could disappear again into the crowd of festive partygoers, he cleared his throat and tried to think of something to say. “If you still want to go horseback riding, how about Thursday? We could head out bright and early, around eight. We'd be gone most of the day.'

Matt steepled his hands and offered up an angelic smile to his mother. Jared considered doing the same, but decided the ploy was too obvious.

“Sounds good,” she said hesitantly. Her lips formed a smile, but he sensed another emotion as he watched her. He saw doubt-or was it fear-in her eyes?

She worried her lower lip. “Thanks for the invitation.” Turning, she looked away, raised her hand and pointed to the hallway. “We'll move the chains to Matt's bed. Parents are fixing plates for the children to eat in here. The adults can eat wherever they find a place to sit.'

After cleaning up the children's tables, they headed toward the stairs. “Where's Paul?” he asked, expecting to run into his scowling face sooner or later.

Her jade eyes glanced at him and lit with mischief. “Want me to tell him you miss him?'

“Hell no,” he replied in a mock whisper.

Midway down the stairs, she stopped and turned to him. “Believe me, Paul doesn't miss you either. My mother and I worked it all out for the party. She's escorting Paul around the party, and I'm escorting you. The stairs we're on are for you to use. The back stairs leading up from the kitchen are Paul's.

He rubbed his forehead and stared at her. “Let me see if I understand. You and Grace have divided the house up, kind of like war zones.'

Her eyebrows narrowed. “Don't look at me like I've lost my mind. This thing will work. We're not taking any chances with you two acting like male bulls.'

He fought a laugh. “What happens if the two male bulls end up in the same room? I mean, you only have one Christmas tree to decorate.'

“Like I said, Grace is escorting Paul. We talked to him and he's to behave, or he'll be cutting his visit short and leaving Houston right away.'

Jared smiled faintly. No wonder Thomas looked so sour. Grace is ignoring him tonight.

“And you're escorting me?'

“Exactly.'

He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Katherine, I appreciate the company, but I don't need you to protect me from anyone. I'm a big boy.'

Her lips parted and rounded into a kissable ‘O'. “Protect you? Jared, please,” she said dryly. “Look at your arms, and… and your shoulders… and your, your…” Her voice trailed off as her gaze followed her words down his body. She jerked her gaze up to meet his. “I just don't want any confrontations at my mom's Christmas party. Understand?'

Jared nodded, desperately trying not to grin and removed his hands from her shoulders. “Understood.'

She started down the stairs again only to halt two steps down. He did, too, eyeing her as she scowled at him. “And leave Paul alone tonight.'

He frowned. “You're protecting Paul?'

“Hell no,” she whispered. “I want Matt to have a good time and Paul to have time with his son.” He saw the desperation in her eyes. “I'm walking a tight rope here. Cut me some slack, please.'

Katherine probably didn't realize she held onto his waist. His libido sure did.

“Nice to know it's not all a bed of roses when Paul comes to the house. Remember, my offer to help still stands.'

Her chin lifted. “And I told you, I don't need your help.” She folded her arms. “I've got this problem covered.'

“I've noticed. So, Paul is a problem?'

She blushed and checked her watch. “Grace and Paul should have their plates fixed. They'll be eating up here with Matt.'

His jaw dropped. “You're timing us, too!” He crossed his arms and leaned back against the handrail. “What war zone are you and I eating in?'

* * * *

They sat on oversized cushions around the fireplace and ate from plates balanced on their legs. Katherine peered at Jared over a glass. “You feel better about the arrangement my mother and I worked out?” She took a sip of tea and set the glass down.

He finished a large bite of chocolate pie. “Most of it. One part makes me mad as hell though.'

Katherine rolled her eyes and stared up at the crown molding along the ceiling. “Am I suppose to guess what part you hate?'

His fork waved enticingly below her nose. “It's the last bite. You want it?'

Without hesitation, her mouth opened and closed around the pie. His lips curved upward as he withdrew the plastic fork and set it on his paper plate. The dimple in his cheek seduced her into staring at his mouth. Such a strong, inviting mouth.

“Tell me why you're escorting me and Grace is escorting Paul and not the other way around.'

She forced her shoulders back and sat up straight. “You don't want to be with me?'

He gave her an arched glance. “You know better than that. Stop avoiding answering me.'

“I wanted to discourage Paul,” she whispered. The words sounded worse when she said them aloud.

He crossed his arms. “That's the part I hate like hell.'

She jerked to her feet. “What have you got to be mad about? You aren't the one jumping through hoops.” Swinging away, she snatched dirty plates and wads of napkins from tables, from mantles, from people's hands, and stalked into the empty kitchen. He followed close behind her. Neither of them hearing slight sniggers and giggles behind them.

Jared threw a stack of used cups into a garbage bag, holding it open for Katherine. She glared at him as she shoved the pile of trash in. He took a twist tie from the counter and sealed the bag.

“I'll tell you why I'm mad.” He moved toward her. She backed up flush against the refrigerator.

With his hands on either side of her, he leaned into her. His breath fanned her cheeks. “Men don't like to hear a woman's with them because of another man. Makes the man she's with feel used.'

“I found her!” Matt yelled as he burst into the kitchen.

They jumped apart, but not before Katherine saw the hurt in Jared's eyes. Hurt she'd put there. A lump swelled in her throat.

Matt ran to her and handed her a box. “Grandma says it's time for you to come put the angel on the tree before anything else goes on.'

Katherine mouthed the words, “I'm sorry,” as she laced her fingers into Jared's. “We'll talk later.” She wanted to try and make it up to him in some way. He didn't resist her urging him forward. She gazed up into his deep blue eyes. “Mother asked me to put the angel on the tree. Will you help?'

Jared shrugged, reached and took the box from her. “Of course.'

Matt grabbed her other hand and they walked together from the kitchen into the living room.

Jared stood in front of the ladder. “That thing won't do us any good. It's too small for this big tree.'

With “O Come All Ye Faithful” playing softly in the background, Jared carefully removed the angel from the box. His gaze moved from the porcelain figurine to Katherine. “I don't want my big hands to break anything. You hold onto her, and I'll lift you up so you can put her on the tree.'

She reached out and took the angel. “You're going to lift me way up there?” Her gaze moved the full length of the tree and she chewed on her bottom lip.