His Holiday Bride

by Elaine Overton

  Feeling a tug on his arm, he looked down to see Amber, her arm looped through his. “Did I tell you thank you for taking me shopping?”

  “You’re welcome. Although I do question your choice of sleeping attire,” he said with a frown.

  Amber laughed, knowing he was referring to the one pair of pajamas she’d bought. In truth, the abstract design, colored in with olive green and hot pink, was indeed ugly, but the plush material was so soft against her cheek she could not resist buying them. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she teased. “I think my new pj’s are quite stylish.”

  He huffed with pure skepticism. Noticing that the sun was high in the sky, Paul bent forward and pulled the stroller visor down over Joachim. In doing so, he noticed they were being followed. “Don’t look now, but I think we’re being tailed.”

  Of course, being told not to look, Amber looked over her shoulder, and laughed to see the staunch little seagull waddling along behind. “Where did he come from?”

  “We’re not too far from the ocean, you know. Orange County has over forty miles of coastline, and some of the best beaches in the world.” He gestured to the tall, stately trees that lined both sides of the avenue. “Haven’t you noticed how green everything is around here?”

  “Not really.” Amber bit her lip. “Just how…suburban everything is.”

  Paul chuckled, and shook his head.

  Amber had a feeling that his humor was at her expense. “What?”

  “You say suburban like it’s something foul.”

  “No, it’s just not my thing, I’m a city girl. And granted, I know little about you, but you just don’t seem like the picket fence type. I would think a man like you would be bored to death living out here.”

  “After living in a war zone, I’m satisfied with boredom.”

  Amber tilted her head and gave him a strange look. She had almost forgotten that Paul and Luther had served together in the military. “What was it like?” she asked, needing to know what could bring such a melancholy expression over his handsome face.

  Paul smiled. “It’s nothing I would ever want to share with a beautiful young woman.” Just then, their forgotten feathery escort balked and flapped his wings, almost as if to regain their attention.

  Amber, unsure if the bird was becoming violent, moved to position her body between the animal and the stroller. “Why do you think he’s following us?” she asked, baffled by the bird’s strange behavior.

  As Paul shooed at it with his hands, the bird scurried out of reach, and then caught up with them again. This continued for several feet, and Paul was becoming more and more frustrated by the minute…and Amber’s taunting laughter was not helping.

  “Paul, you’re frightening him.” She laughed.

  Paul glanced around at the people who’d stopped to watched the show of man versus bird. “Get out of here!” He fanned his arms, but the bird continued to follow.

  Remembering something, Amber stopped the stroller and dug in to her purse. She came out with a little bag that said Cookie Factory on the front. In the bag was the remains of a half-eaten, oversized chocolate chip cookie she’d bought at the mall. She crumbled it up and sprinkled the crumbs on the ground between them and the bird.

  When they begin to walk away, this time the bird did not follow, as he was too intent on his treasure. Almost instantly, the little seagull was joined by at least a dozen other birds, everything from pigeons to sparrows fighting to devour the crumbs.

  Paul glanced back over his shoulder. “There’s your answer.”

  “My answer to what?” Amber glanced back, surprised by the number of birds that had appeared out of nowhere.

  “Why he was following us. He knows a soft touch when he sees one.”

  A short while later, they pulled into the middle slot of Paul’s three-car garage.

  “Thank you for today,” Amber said, before yawning and stretching. She’d fallen asleep on the way back from the street fair.

  “Will you stop thanking me?” Paul said, turning the engine off. “I enjoyed it as much as you. Between work and Joachim, I don’t get a lot of time for street fairs and window-shopping.”

  Amber ran her hand over the leather interior of the SUV. “Now, this is more like it. Much better than your other little mutt of a car.”

  Paul frowned. “You know, Amber, that attitude is the reason you’ve found yourself stranded here. You’re too caught up in what a man has and not who he is. You follow someone like Dashuan Kennedy across the country because you’re impressed by his money and fame, and look what that got you.”

  Amber sat straight up in the seat, the feeling of contentment she’d been experiencing all day gone. “Who the hell do you think you are? You don’t know enough about me to make any kind of judgments. Not that I owe you any explanation, but for your information, I couldn’t care less about Dashuan’s money or fame. I came here with him because I thought he cared about me.”

  She leaned forward across the console, her eyes narrowing on his face. As ticked off as he was, it still took Paul’s full concentration to ignore the fact that her movement had parted her blouse, exposing a small glimpse of tempting cleavage.

  “And before you get too high and mighty, let me remind you of that look in your eyes last night when you burst into my room. You think I don’t know what men see when they look at me?” She sneered, seeing the slight doubt that flashed across his face. “Tell me something, Paul, while your eyes were taking in every inch of my body, were you thinking about a deep and meaningful relationship?”

  Unable to resist her provocative smell, Paul reacted without thought. Reaching across the seat he grabbed her collar and pulled her closer. “No, beautiful girl, I was thinking about this.” His mouth descended on hers, devouring her with such intensity he took her breath away.

  Amber struggled to get free, not because his soft lips weren’t wonderful, as this kiss was the sweetest thing she had ever tasted, but because of the sheer power of his hold, she couldn’t breathe.

  Feeling her resistance, Paul tilted his mouth at a different angle, and although he still wouldn’t release her or allow her to break their connection, she could breathe once again.

  Finally, he began to pull away from her. Then, as if having second thoughts, he pulled her close once more and kissed her again. His warm tongue feathering over her bottom lip was pure torture. Then he released her.

  Amber blew out long, slow breath.

  Paul balled his fist, as he struggled to slow his racing heartbeat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” He glanced at her. “I guess I just confirmed everything you said.”

  A stiff silence fell over the pair. A few minutes passed before Amber broke it.

  “I truly thought Dashuan cared for me.”

  Paul could hear the sadness and disappointment in her words.

  “I had even hoped he would learn to love me. Not because I wanted his money.” She smiled. “Don’t get me wrong. The fact that he was rich and famous wasn’t a bad thing. It’s just I thought I had found a man I could have something solid with. Know what I mean?”

  Paul’s mouth twisted as Michelle’s pretty face flashed before his eyes. “Yes, I know what you mean.” He reached across the seat and took her hand in his. He needed to touch her. The kiss had awakened his desire and in no way satisfied the craving to feel every part of her. “But, Amber, you had to know what kind of man he is.”

  She arched her eyebrow in surprise, and Paul laughed.

  “Okay, maybe not exactly what kind of man he is. What I mean is, the celebrity type. You deserve to be more than some basketball player’s piece of—”

  “Hold it right there!” She shook her finger in his face. “I’m not some kind of sports groupie. You make it sound like I go chasing after every man who winks at me.”

  Paul stared at her, a glint of humor appearing in his eyes, and a slow smile came across his face. “Look at us. Why can’t we be together for more than five minute
s without going for each other’s throats?”

  Her mouth twisted. “That’s because you’re irksome.”

  His eyes widened in surprise. “Well, thank you for clearing up that little mystery.”

  Amber was unable to stop the smile that came across her face.

  He started to open his door to get out, and noticed a car passing on the street. He stood and watched as a black Mustang went to the end of the block and then turned the corner. He wouldn’t have noticed the car, except that he was certain he’d seen that exact same car pass two other times, just while they’d been sitting there in the driveway.

  Amber opened the back door and was unbuckling Joachim’s car seat when she noticed Paul’s intense expression. She looked toward the now empty street. “What’s wrong?”

  He frowned. “Probably, nothing.” He glanced at Amber and noticed how she was scrutinizing his face. He forced his features to relax and even tried to smile. There was no use alarming her. After all, for all he knew it could just be someone who was lost. But in his gut, he felt it was something more. The rental car company sticker on the bumper increased his concern.

  It could just be a lost tourist. Or an angry basketball player looking for the one person who could ruin his career. Either way, Paul made a mental note to be more watchful.

  Chapter 10

  As they entered the house, Paul could hear the phone ringing. He went into the kitchen and grabbed the cordless phone off the counter.

  “Paul? It’s Rosalie.”

  “Hi, Rosalie, is everything okay with Enrique?” He leaned a shoulder against the wall, watching as Amber removed Joachim’s hat and jacket.

  “Oh, yes, he is recovering well. In fact, I feel confident I can leave him for a few hours every day now.”

  He watched as Amber lifted the baby over her head. Joachim squealed in delight, reaching for her face as he was brought closer to her. She kissed his soft cheek and settled him in his playpen.

  “There’s no hurry to return, Rosalie. Joachim and I are doing just fine. You take as long as you like. Besides, it’s not safe leaving Enrique alone for hours every day.”

  Just then Amber stretched her slender body, giving Paul a perfect silhouette view of her shapely outline. No wonder she was sleepy, he thought, remembering her appearance in the kitchen in the early morning hours. He never did find out what she was doing up at that time of the night.

  She yawned and pointed toward her bedroom, before waving and heading up the stairs. Paul watched her go.

  “Are you sure, Paul? I know Joachim can be a handful, especially with you trying to work from home.”

  “No, really, Rosalie. It’s fine. In fact, I’m enjoying our time together.”

  “Well, okay, then, and thank you, Paul.”

  After he hung up the phone, he walked over to the playpen and found his son curled on his side sleeping soundly. He’d fallen asleep as soon as Amber put him down. He noticed the soft blue blanket across him and titled his head in confusion.

  When did she do that? he wondered.

  While you were lusting over her body, his libido answered.

  He scratched his chin, amazed that he could be so distracted. Then he chuckled to himself when he remembered that he was supposed to be a surveillance expert.

  He headed to his office, deciding that with both members of his household asleep, there was no better time to get some work done.

  Amber couldn’t asleep. She was lying across the bed, staring at the ceiling remembering the kiss Paul had given her in the car.

  She smiled to herself as she recounted how he’d tried to release her and then pulled her back. Her smile turned to a full grin. He couldn’t have stopped himself if he wanted to!

  There was something so savagely satisfying in knowing that she could have that effect on a man as controlled as Paul Gutierrez. It was redeeming, it was validating. And she now knew with absolute certainty that Dashuan Kennedy was the exception—not the rule.

  She still had all of her feminine allure, and she wanted to turn every ounce of that charm loose on Paul. But there were a couple of complications to that plan. The first and greatest being that he already thought she was the kind of woman who used her sexuality to manipulate men. Which was probably true, but Paul was not a man who would be easily manipulated. The second complication was Amber’s uncertainty as to what she wanted. She was wise enough to understand that she was swimming in new depths.

  At the most, all she could offer Paul was a fling, considering she only planned to stay a few days. But would that be enough? She knew in her heart that there was no way she could treat Paul like every other man she’d ever dated, because Paul was not like any man she’d ever known.

  And what about little Joachim? She already adored him. If she got involved with his father would she be able to just pack up and leave them both when the time came?

  She turned on her side and released a defeated sigh. Who was she kidding? Paul Gutierrez would never agree to a casual fling. He was controlling and possessive to his core. Not to mention, stuffy and uptight. And she was just not cut out for the role of wife and mother. No, she decided, it was better to just leave things as they were.

  Later than evening, Amber was just pulling her roast from the oven, when Paul appeared in the kitchen doorway.

  “Hmm, something smells wonderful.” He let his nose lead him to the stove.

  “Since chili is all you do, I thought I better take control of the situation.”

  “Hey, I don’t just do chili. I do great chili,” he said, lifting the lid off one of the pots on the stove top to find seasoned pasta inside.

  “You won’t get any argument from me, but I like variety.” She tilted her head and smiled. “What about you?”

  Paul studied her pretty face, realizing there was some kind of hidden meaning in her words, but was unsure as to what it was. “No, I can be happy being served the same dish every night, as long as it’s something I love.”

  “But don’t you think it might be fun to mix it up now and again, try something new?” Her eyes slid over his long form. “A sample. You know, just to see what it tastes like.”

  Paul twisted his mouth, her vague references becoming clearer. “But what if I like what I…sample?” His dark eyes bore into hers. “What if I decide to make that my everyday meal?”

  Her eyes widened. “Well, you can’t!” Amber felt like a hare caught in a trap. The man was too intelligent by far. She’d hoped to learn a little of his attitude about life in general, by asking the most innocuous questions imaginable, but he’d already figured out what she wanted to know, and was giving the exact answer she’d expected. “I mean, a sample is just that, a sample. You can’t make it an everyday dish.”

  Paul leaned against the counter, folding his arms across his chest. “Why not?”

  Amber turned away from the stove, unable to take the scrutiny of those eyes. What could she tell him? That she could never be an everyday dish, that all she’d ever been was a lifetime of samples?

  Just then, the baby swing Joachim was in stopped moving, and he begin to squirm and whimper. Amber went to him and rewound the swing. Once it was back in motion, Joachim turned his attention back to the tray of toys in front of him.

  “Answer me, Amber.” Paul spoke from behind her. “Why? How do you know what it can be until you try it?”

  Feeling cornered, and regretting that she was the one who started this conversation, she turned her frustration on Paul. She swung around to face him. “Because! That’s just the way it is with some foods!”

  Paul smiled and ran the back of his hand along her cheek. “Angel, we stopped talking about food a long time ago.”

  She brushed his hand aside. “Just forget it. I’m sorry I even brought it up.” She moved around him and returned to the stove. “Dinner will be ready in a moment.”

  He walked up to the other side of the counter to face her. “I’m not sorry you brought it up. I’m not good at games, Amber, so I’ll jus
t be blunt. I want you. And I think you want me. But I don’t do casual, and you don’t do long-term. So where does that leave us?”

  “Nowhere.” She turned off the pasta.

  He leaned forward. “You sell yourself short, Amber. You’re a beautiful young woman, and you deserve to be treated better than a late night…snack.”

  “Maybe that is all I want.”

  He made a huffing noise. “Right. You think I don’t see how you look at Joachim? Some part of you wants more whether you realize it or not.”

  “Just forget I said anything. Let’s eat.”

  Paul studied her face a few seconds more, before circling the counter to take plates out of an overhead cabinet. When he turned back around, Amber was standing in front of him. She reached up, standing on her tiptoes to place her arms around his neck.

  When her soft mouth covered his, Paul felt the fire take hold of his insides. He almost dropped the plates trying to find the countertop to set them on.

  Wrapping his arms around her slender body, he pressed her against his form, reveling in every inch of her soft, willing body.

  Without warning, she released his neck and stepped back from him. “Make love to me, Paul,” she whispered.

  In that moment, he almost hated her. The witch was trying to use his own lust against him. His dark eyes narrowed to slits of coal. “You’re welcome to come into my bed anytime, Amber. But when you do—” he cupped her chin in his hand “—plan on staying.”

  “And if I don’t want to?”

  “That’s not an option.”

  He released her and picked up the plates again. After placing them on the table, he came back for the food.

  Amber stood by and watched him prepare the dinner table. She could feel the anger radiating off of him in waves. And she did not know him well enough to gauge how far he could be pushed before he began to push back.

  She bit her lip, watching the muscles in his upper body flex with each movement. She wanted him so badly, she could almost feel his hands on her body. Touching her, exploring her. She shook off the dangerous thoughts before she did something stupid—like agreed to his terms.