The Mistletoe Affair

Where are you?

His eyes searched the shoulder of the road. Cars honked angrily and sped around him, but he maintained the same slow, steady speed, not wanting to miss any clue that might lead him to Katherine's whereabouts. The glare from the lights of oncoming traffic made it more difficult to focus.

Are you all right?

He gripped the steering wheel and stared out the window. The road seemed to go on forever.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw someone in a coat hobbling on the grassy shoulder less than a hundred feet from him. His heart began to thud as he drew nearer. The woman's jet-black hair tumbled in disarray; dark curls blew wildly in the wind.

“Katherine,” he whispered under his breath. He pulled to the shoulder, traveled a few more feet and braked to a stop. Dashing from the car, he ran toward her.

The fear in her eyes when she glanced up stopped him. One of her heels had been broken off.

“It's me, sweetheart. Jared.'

The fear in her eyes quickly dissipated.

He reached her side and drew her against him. She shivered against his body.

He enfolded her in his arms. She felt like ice. He picked her up and carried her toward the car. He settled her in the passenger's side, took his coat off and wrapped it around her. Climbing behind the wheel, he started the car and turned the heater full blast. Her hands felt icy cold. He began rubbing them vigorously finally blowing on them. His mouth closed on her fingertips. She pulled her hands back and laid them in her lap.

He couldn't resist the need to touch her, make sure she wasn't hurt. Reaching out, he began massaging her arms, shoulders and back. “Did Paul… hurt you?'

She laughed, but the sound contained no mirth. “He didn't hurt me. He tried to kiss me. I hurt him. He's wearing my self-defense moves all over his body. Two courses worth.'

Jared sighed with relief. He silently thanked whoever taught those classes. If Paul had hurt her, he'd have gone after him and ripped him apart with his bare hands.

“I can put a little hurt on him, too, so he'll leave you alone,” he suggested.

She shook her head. “I keep trying to tell you, I don't need you to rescue me. I'm a responsible adult and I want to take care of my own problems.'

“But you're glad I drove up tonight?'

She glanced at him, a reluctant smile formed on her lips. “Yes. I thought Matt and Grace would be worried sick.'

“They were, but I told them I'd find you.'

“Thanks. All they need to know is I had car trouble and Paul tried to help. He'll get the part back on my car first thing tomorrow morning.'

Jared shook his head. “Paul dismantled your car?'

“He wanted to get me alone and talk.” Another bitter laugh tore from her throat. “Do you know what that despicable, two-timing jerk told me?'

Jared thought about Carl's pictures in the glove compartment. “About Ann Young?'

Her eyes narrowed. “Who's Ann Young?'

He swallowed hard. She's going to be mad at me again.

Jared explained about seeing Paul with the other woman and hiring his friend, Carl, to investigate.

She folded her arms, took a deep breath and exhaled audibly. “I thought we were friends.'

“We are,” he said.

“Really? You knew about Paul before we went to your office dance and you didn't tell me?” Her hands flew up. “Let me guess. It's a guy thing!” She gave him a disgusting glare.

“It isn't a guy thing. No way in hell would I protect that slimeball. I didn't think it was my place to tell you about it. I wasn't even sure if you'd believe me.'

“Do you have proof?'

“Carl took some photos.” He pointed to the glove compartment.

“Paul doesn't know about these?'

“No.'

She grew silent and snatched the handle on the glove compartment. It fell open. She retrieved the envelope and slammed it shut again. “I've earned these.'

“Don't do this to yourself.” He put his hand on the envelope. “I never wanted you to see these.'

Her lips tightened to a slit. “Can I have them or not?'

He removed his hand from the envelope.

“I'm sorry you found out this way.” He turned the heater off and moved closer to her.

“I hate secrets, Jared.” She shook her head. “I lived too many years with a man who lied and kept secrets from me.” Tears glistened on her lashes.

Her slim shoulders shook.

“Oh, Katherine, please don't cry.” He pulled her to him.

As if that one act of kindness opened a dam, her body was racked with sobs. He bent his head and placed a kiss on top of her hair. Tenderly holding her, he let her cry, wishing he could take away every hurtful thing that had ever touched her heart.

“You want to know the funny part?” She sniffed and Jared reached for tissues and gave them to her, releasing her from his embrace for only a heartbeat.

“I want to hear anything you want to talk about,” he whispered near her ear.

“Paul was convinced you and I had slept together. Isn't that a laugh?'

He felt her tense up and rubbed the muscles in her back. “You're a very beautiful, desirable woman, who-'

She interrupted him. “Is a terrific mother and will do anything to make sure Matt's happy.” She pushed away from him and sniffed again, offering him a rueful smile. “This has been one helluva Christmas so far.'

He stared at her hurt, determined smile and felt a moment of despair. She was going to leave him. Classify him as “one of them,” take Matt, and leave. If he didn't explain, it would all be over before it started.

He slammed the heel of his hand against the steering wheel and drew a deep, frustrated breath. “About the other night, I'd like to explain more-'

A sudden tapping on the window made them jump. A policeman stood beside the car, tapping his flashlight against the glass. Jared rolled the window down.

“Let's move along.” The officer shined the beam into the car. He focused the light on Jared and snickered. “Mr. Randall, what's wrong? They run out of rooms at the nearest hotel?'

He grimaced at Katherine's shocked and hurt expression. He'd never wanted a woman like he wanted Katherine, but he'd never settle for a cheap, one-night stand in some damn hotel. Not with Katherine. He'd never take advantage of her loneliness and seduce her. He wanted to comfort her, protect her, cherish her… love her.

Why'd it have to be Sergeant Sinclair who stopped? He had to have recognized Jared's car. He was the one who blabbed to Carl every time Jared breathed wrong. Carl probably asked him to watch out for him because of Paul. Carl and Sergeant Sinclair were partners on the police force until Carl retired and became a private detective. And Jared's foster father. He groaned again.

Katherine hiccupped and wiped her face with tissues.

Sergeant Sinclair shined the flashlight beam on her. “You all right in there, young lady?'

She angled Jared a venomous glare and faced the police officer. “Yes, I am. I was just bawling about the troubles I've had this Christmas, but things are bound to get better.” She smiled faintly. “They can't possibly get any worse.'

Chapter Twelve

Katherine sat, clothed in the darkness of her bedroom. She bit her bottom lip so hard she tasted blood. Sunrise