The Mistletoe Affair

Paul's face grew red, and he snapped the pen he held in his hand. “Because of what you cost me when you left me!” he shouted. He leaning across the table, whispered, “You owe me, Katherine.'

I sure do. And I sure as hell will pay you back, in spades.

She glanced at him. Malcolm Cahill wasn't stupid. “Won't your father get suspicious?'

He shook his head. “No way. He doesn't think anyone knows he's retiring. He's ill, Katherine. I paid his doctor dearly for that confidential information.'

And Paul expected her to pay dearly to save her mother. “Give me a few days to make my decision.'

“No.” A look of triumph flashed in his eyes. “What you're going to do is tell me our wedding date.'

She craned her neck and glanced at the calendar, pushing the date forward as far as she dared. “Friday afternoon, December twenty-first.'

He reached in his pants pocket, retrieved the emerald pendant she'd rejected earlier and threw it on the table. “Wear it.” The corner of his mouth tilted up as he lifted the receiver. “My father's an early riser. The second thing you'll do is confirm we're getting remarried.'

He dialed the number and handed her the phone.

Katherine took a deep calming breath as it rang and her former father-in-law answered.

“Hello,” Malcolm said.

“It's Katherine, Malcolm.” Her voice sounded unsteady, her arm shook.

He laughed. “Katherine, what a pleasant surprise. My son tells me he's come to his senses, you've agreed to become his wife again.'

She coughed to clear the lump in her throat. “Yes, sir.'

“What day is the ceremony?'

“December twenty-first,” she whispered.

He chuckled. “Congratulations. I can't wait to see you and Matt after Christmas. You make sure that son of mine treats you right this time. If he doesn't, you let me know. Promise?'

Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the phone. “I intend doing just that.'

Stunned, she listened to the dial tone after Malcolm Cahill had hung up.

Paul snatched the receiver back. “When do you want us to break the good news to your mother and Matt?'

Us! Her jaw dropped open. Never. “I think it needs to come from me first.'

He studied her closely. “Maybe you're right. When?'

She needed to stall Paul until she could figure out how to diffuse his threat. “I-I need time. Mother won't believe it, if I don't break it to her gradually. I'll talk to Matt over the next couple of days.'

His chin lifted. “Don't stall, Katherine. It won't do you any good.'

“I'm not,” she lied. “You want people to believe we're in love.” The word almost choked her. “That takes time.'

He lifted the phone again and grinned. “Let's break the wonderful news to your lover.'

Her knees shook. She didn't want to tell Jared. If he suspected anything was wrong, he'd attempt a rescue and his Superman routine would make matters worse.

If her mother found out about the debt her father ran up during his illness, she'd be devastated. Katherine's eyes burned. He must have thought he could take out the loans to pay for his exorbitant medical expenses. When he got well, he would have time to take care of the mess. He would have done that without his wife ever knowing, too, because he wouldn't have wanted to worry her. Her dad had always taken care of her mom in that exasperating, charming, wonderful way. Yes, he'd always taken care of her mom, and at the end, it was the last thing he'd asked of his daughter.

I won't let you down, Dad.

Her eyes stung, but she fought back the tears. “I've told you that Jared and I aren't lovers,” she said, dragging her mind back to the receiver Paul held in front of her face.

“Yet,” he added. “You love that bastard. I saw the way you kissed him at the tree-trimming party. Even the walls can see you want him. It's in your eyes every time you look at him.'

Heat flooded her face. Paul's accusations made her feel like she'd been punched in the stomach. Did she love Jared or was it lust? How do you tell the difference? When their lips had met under the mistletoe, desire skyrocketed. Their kiss turned into a hunger so fierce they'd embarrassed themselves in front of everyone.

“You're thinking of that bastard,” Paul snarled.

She gnawed the inside of her mouth. He would touch her again when ice cubes were on the menu in hell.

He handed her the phone to dial. “You better sound convincing,” he warned.

It rang for an eternity.

“Hello,” Jared said.

She swallowed hard. “Hello,” she whispered back.

“Katherine, sweetheart.” He interrupted, plowing into her tear-filled pause, “Don't talk, please listen.'

She didn't want him hurt. Tell him now. “I don't want to hear anything you have to say-'

He interrupted her again. “I tried calling and this may be the last time I talk to you, please listen.'

The thought of never hearing from him again hurt. She paused.

“I've replayed the night I stopped us from making love a hundred times. It was torture for both of us, but I didn't want you to think I was like Paul. I told you I didn't want to hurt you, sweetheart. You'd have regretted making love with me later. I know you would.'

“What the hell's he saying?” Paul asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

She placed her hand over the mouthpiece. “Shhh. He's thanking me for going to the dance,” she whispered.

Jared grew quiet for a second.

“Until I replayed that night in my mind over and over, the timing of what I said never dawned on me. I stopped us after you'd exposed yourself to me emotionally.'

Katherine removed her hand from the mouthpiece and glanced down at the table, avoiding Paul's eyes. “It doesn't matter now. I have something to-'

He interrupted her. “It does matter, sweetheart. Your inexperience makes you more precious to me. It makes me more protective of you. I don't understand it, but I know hurting you would hurt me. You know how you'd do anything for Matt and your mother. That's how I feel about you. Did you hear me?'

She coughed. “Yes.'

Hurting Jared would hurt her, too. Right to her soul.

“I want us to stay close friends until we can sort out exactly how we feel about each other. I don't want to lose you or Matt's friendship. I'm trying not to do anything to louse that up. Understand?'

“Tell him, dammit.” Paul reached toward her.

She put her hand over the mouthpiece again. “Back off,” she warned, and turned so he couldn't snatch the phone from her.

Please, Lord. Let Jared understand what I'm really saying. Don't let him believe the lies I'm forced to speak right now.

She squeezed her eyes tight, fighting the tears welling up. “Understood. I agree, but I need to tell you some wonderful news. Paul and I have made up. We're getting remarried.'

“I don't believe you. Is Paul there in the room?'

She laughed. “It's true, I swear. No, my fiance isn't in the room.'

“How can you do this? Damn! He hasn't changed. You know that. He'll hurt you and Matt again. I'm coming over to talk some sense in your head.'

She rubbed her shoulder. What could she say? She glanced at Paul, who stood beside her now. He pulled the phone away from her ear.

“I want to hear what he's saying,” Paul whispered.

The room seemed to close in on her. Suffocate her. Smother her. She gasped for breath.

“No. Don't barge over here like Superman. Remember. Trust me. I know what I'm