“Yes, why?”
Kaylee touched Jo’s cheek. “You’re crying.”
Shocked, she wiped the tears away. “Oh, God. I don’t know what’s come over me.”
Kaylee didn’t press the subject as she stifled a yawn just as Evan joined them, carrying their stockings. Jo gave them the couch and went to find Gloria to see if she could help. Gloria was in the kitchen with her father and Sage. To say the woman glowed was an understatement. She was alight with energy and excitement as she flitted about the kitchen, pulling stuff out of the oven, arranging everything on beautiful platters and laughing with her father and the other woman.
“Can I give you a hand?” Jolie asked from the door.
Gloria glanced up and Jo could tell she was about to wave her off but she said, “I insist.”
With a shrug, Gloria said, “Okay, why don’t you take these platters out to the table.”
After carrying out dishes of fruit, baked goods, pancakes with bacon and eggs and toast—another delicious feast—everyone sat down to eat like one huge, happy family.
The only thing missing was Thaddeus.
He still hadn’t arrived by the time they were all seated in the great room, Dillon passing out the presents.
“A tradition in my family is to take turns opening gifts,” Evan said.
“Oh, no! That’ll take forever.” Zak threw his head back in agony.
“Why don’t we let Zak open all of his presents first, then the rest of us can take turns?” Jolie suggested.
“Good idea,” Dillon said.
The boy didn’t even wait for his father’s approval. He tore into the gifts, paper flying. Lego, a remote-controlled car, a Star Wars light saber, a cap and mittens—which got tossed aside as “boring”—a puzzle, some books—one of which was from Jolie, whom he grudgingly thanked—and finally, the highlight of the day was an iPod. Zak danced across the floor, his arm raised, shouting, “Thank you!” to Santa as if Jolly Old St. Nick could hear.
Simon ruffled his son’s hair, smiling.
After cleaning up Zak’s wrappings, the adults went around in a circle, opening gifts. Jolie had never received so many. She felt giddy and guilty all at the same time. Christmas wasn’t supposed to be about the gifts, but she had to admit, exchanging presents was really fun. She’d loved shopping for everyone—even if Zak wasn’t thrilled about his book. But opening up her gifts was just as exciting.
A knitted cap, scarf and gloves from Sage and Andy.
Some special soaps and bath products from Kaylee and Evan.
A beautiful picture frame from Gloria and Dillon.
She even received a pretty turquoise necklace from Dillon’s mom.
Just when it appeared as if all the gifts had been opened—except for a small pile for Thad and Curtis—Gloria rushed off, calling over her shoulder, “There’s one more. Just hold on.” She returned a minute later, holding a small, narrow package and passed it to Dillon.
“What’s this?” Dillon asked as he unwrapped the box and lifted the lid. With a frown, he withdrew a cigar. “I don’t smoke.”
“It’s not for smoking, silly. It’s a symbol.”
“Of what?”
“Of the fact that you’re going to be a daddy.”
Dillon blinked, as if unable to comprehend what Gloria was saying.
“I’m three months. It’s official.”
All of a sudden, Dillon let out a whoop and picked Gloria up, swinging her around.
Gloria and Dillon’s family—Colton and Catherine, Sage and Andy—all got up, taking turns hugging and congratulating the couple.
Everyone was so taken with the news that Jolie didn’t hear the footsteps coming from down the hall until they were right behind her. She turned eagerly. It was only Curtis.
Alone.
Jo craned her neck, but there was no one else there. While this was probably the most wonderful, magical Christmas morning of her life, there was one thing missing.
Thad.
* * *
HE HADN’T BEEN avoiding the big house. Okay, maybe he had. But after playing hooky yesterday, he really did owe it to Curtis to take care of chores today. There was a bit of fence that needed fixing and a few other jobs. Not that they couldn’t have waited, but...
Hell, who was he trying to kid? He’d been avoiding Jolie, been given express orders to stay away, and this time he was in agreement. Sort of. Things had heated up way too fast with that woman. Somehow, in the span of only a few days, she’d gotten under his skin. What kept him away was the notion that if Ms. Duval could have such an effect on him in only a few days, how would he feel after another week?
It was time to cool things down a bit, and the best way to do that was to steer clear, because if experience was any guide, all it took was being in her proximity and all logic flew out the window.
Dammit, it wasn’t just that he didn’t do long term and it wasn’t that they came from completely different worlds. He had to keep things casual for legitimate reasons. His safety and hers.
Yet even now, Thad’s fingers twitched with the thought of her soft, satiny skin. His mouth watered at the memory of the taste of her.
Jesus.
Apparently avoiding the woman did fuck all to get her out of his system.
Thad was just finishing up in the stable when Dillon came out, grinning like a fool.
“What’s got into you?” he asked, feeling edgy.
“Only the fact that I’m going to be a daddy.”
Thad stared for a second and then clapped the man on the back in a manly hug. Dillon was more of a friend than a boss. Shit. There was going to be a little Dillon running around. Or maybe a fiery little Gloria. Would he be here to see that?
“And the mother of my unborn child has got it into her head that we’re going to go on a hayride in that big sleigh that hasn’t been used in over a decade.”
“Don’t you worry. I’ll take care of it,” Thad told him. “You get back in there and enjoy the festivities.”
“Honestly?” Dillon said, glancing back at the lit-up house. “I’d rather be out here right now. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice, but...”
“But what?”
“I need a little fresh air, that’s all.”
“Why do you think I’ve been out here all day?”
It was true, sort of. When you were used to being outside all day, sitting around in a house could drive you stir-crazy. But that’s not why he was out here. Not that Dillon needed to know that.
In silence, they hitched up Starlight and Buckshot, their two Clydesdales, to the sleigh. The horses pulled it to the front of the barn so the men could load a bunch of hay bales onto it for people to sit.
“You’ve been missed inside today,” Dillon said, breaking the silence of the last half hour.
“That so?”
“Jolie’s been watching the door like a hawk.”
Shit.
“You avoiding her?”
Without looking up from what he was doing, Thad said, “I’m just following the advice of your little wife.”
“My little wife isn’t always right, you know.”
He glanced Dillon’s way.
“But don’t tell her I said that.”
The men chuckled. “So what is it exactly that you are saying?”
“I’m saying you should do whatever you like. As long as it’s legal.”
Thad averted his gaze. “You’re the boss.”
Once the sleigh was ready, Dillon went back inside to mobilize the guests. Jolie was one of the first ones out. She was wearing a red scarf and cap that matched the rosiness in her cheeks. And lips.
Lord, she was a sight for sore eyes, even more lovely in person than in memory, which made her too damned dangerous.
“You want to sit up here?” Thad called, patting the seat beside him at the front of the sleigh. “It’s the best seat in the house.”
“Thanks.”
He gave her a hand and pulled her up, tucking a big woolen blanket around her legs once she was seated. While they waited for everyone else, Jolie asked the question that Thad knew was coming.
“Where were you all day?”
“Chores.”
She was quiet for a while. Then, “I thought you were avoiding me.” She turned to him. “Were you?”
“No,” he lied. “I owed it to Curtis to give him the day off after disappearing yesterday.”
She nodded like that made sense, but her expression remained blank, as if she didn’t quite believe him, which she shouldn’t.
That was the last chance they had to talk before everyone else piled onto the sleigh, laughing and chatting. As Thad drove them around the pond they sang “Jingle Bells” at the top of their lungs. After the second time around, Thad pulled the sleigh up to the back of the house.
“One more time!” Zak shouted, but everyone else had had enough and climbed down to go back into the house.
Jolie waited for them to leave. “You coming in for hot chocolate?” she asked.
He did not allow himself to glance at her mouth.
“Naw. Best get back.”
She frowned. Worse, she wet her lips. It was impossible to avoid looking at her.
Temptress.
“Okay.” She started toward the house, then stopped.
He pretended he didn’t notice.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” It was a question.
“I’ll see you when I see you.”
* * *
INSTEAD OF HOT CHOCOLATE, Jolie went back to her room. She was not hurt. She was not let down. If Thad was blowing her off, so be it; it didn’t matter to her. This was a fling. Nothing else.
Sinking onto the bed, Jo rubbed the spot between her brows. The only problem was, she did feel hurt. She did feel let down and she didn’t know what to do about it. Removing her phone from her pocket, she discovered she’d missed a couple messages from home while out on the sleigh, and now she realized that she’d completely forgotten the time change back home. Her mother would already have left for work.
Going to sit down at the small desk, she called home anyway, speaking to her father for a few minutes, her journal open so she could doodle while she asked about the meal, about work, about whether they had plans for the New Year.
“Dad?” Jolie said before her dad passed the phone to her brother.
“Yes?”
“Merry Christmas.”
He paused and then replied, “Merry Christmas to you, too.”
For some reason, that simple sentence brought tears to her eyes. She managed to keep it all in check when her brother came on, distracting herself by writing Thad’s name down on the journal page.
What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he pushing her away? She wasn’t stupid; he’d purposefully been steering clear of her today. And then on the hayride, he’d barely spoken to her. She drew a question mark beside his name.
“So, Mom says you’re working on a big story. Organized crime or something?”
“Yes.” At this point it was just easier to keep up the facade than to try to come clean.
“Who does it involve?”
“I can’t say. I’m sure you understand.” Please let this conversation be over. She already felt bad enough.
“Do you need any contacts? You know I’m prosecuting a case right now.”
“I heard.”
Jolie absently circled Thad’s name, her mind still on feeling ditched instead of listening to her brother.
“I can give you the name of someone to talk to at the FBI.”
“Okay,” Jolie said, hoping that by agreeing they could get past this topic. She wrote down the name and email in her journal as well as a website link for the FBI’s organized crime page. Why she did it, she couldn’t really say other than she was so far entrenched in the lie that it had almost become real—sort of like her claim that she could have a no-strings-attached affair.
Jolie heard voices outside of her door and her stomach flipped in the hopes it might be Thad.
“Listen, Jake, I’ve got to go.”
“Okay. If you need help, just let me know.” He paused. “I’m proud of you.”
The phone clicked before she had the chance to reply.
12
The best souvenirs can’t be bought in a store because they are not things, they are experiences.
Jo Duval
THE VOICES OUTSIDE turned out to be Evan and Kaylee, not Thad. Disappointed, Jolie sat down to write in her journal but for the first time this trip, the words didn’t flow. She gave up after ten minutes of flipping her pen against the blank page. So, she opened her laptop and uploaded the pictures into a file, drumming her fingers while she waited, trying to figure out what she’d done wrong. That’s when her gaze landed on the package that was still sitting on her desk. When Thad had declined to come in for hot chocolate after the sleigh ride, she’d pulled the package from under the tree and brought it back to her room.
Well, at the very least, she had a legitimate reason to go on over to the bunkhouse and knock on his door.
Pulling on her parka and hat, Jolie tiptoed to the front door because she heard voices still coming from the great room and she didn’t feel much like explaining where she was going.
“Where you going?”
Jolie spun around from zipping up her boots to find Gloria standing there, a mug of tea in hand.
She lifted the gift and said, “I didn’t have a chance to give this to Thad. I thought he might appreciate it, seeing as he missed all the Christmas fun.”
Gloria’s lips worked as if she was at war with herself, one part of her wanting to say something while another part told her to stay quiet. The first part won.
“He’s a gigolo,” she blurted.
“A what?”
“A Don Juan, a rake, a rogue...a player. Whatever you want to call a guy who is a man whore, that’s Thad.”
“A man whore?”
Gloria nodded. Then she came closer and grasped Jolie’s hand. “I’m sorry. I know you like him, and I wanted to say something from the start, but he always interrupts me. I don’t mean to be the one to burst your bubble, but...”
Jolie laughed. She couldn’t help it. The names were just too hilarious. Man whore in particular.
“What’s so funny?”
“Why does everyone assume I want to marry Thad? God. All I want is a bit of fun. Don Juan loving, Louisiana-style, sounds divine, if you ask me.”
“Really?” Gloria asked.
“Of course.”
“Shit.”
“What?”
“I kind of told Thad—no, ordered him—to stay away today.”
Jolie quirked a brow. “You did?”
“Maybe?” Suddenly Gloria burst into tears. Jolie had no idea why or what to do, so she wrapped her arms around her and patted her awkwardly until the redhead pulled away, blotting
her eyes.
“Oh, my God! I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m so emotional.”
“Could it be because you’re pregnant?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been pregnant before.” She took Jo’s hands. “Anyway, I’m really sorry for interfering. I shouldn’t have done that and—” Tears erupted again.
Dillon appeared—thank God—and led a blubbering Gloria away.
“Is this what pregnancy’s like? Uncontrollable crying?” Gloria smacked Dillon on the arm. “What have you done to me?”
Jo opened and shut the door before she had a chance to hear Dillon’s reply. Gloria had told him to stay away. Now it all made sense. With her head held high, she crossed the yard, rounded the barns until the bunkhouse was in sight.
When she heard the dogs approaching, she almost turned around. But they came at her calmly, Sue in the lead, followed closely by Humper. With his tongue lolling, he looked like he was wearing a big old goofy smile.
“Hey, you guys,” Jolie said, patting Sue on the head with her mitten.
The animals escorted Jolie right to Thad’s door and he opened it before she had a chance to knock.
“Ms. Jolie. What are you doing here?”
“Seeing as you’ve been absent from Christmas, I thought I’d drop by and give you your gift.” Reaching into her jacket, she pulled out the wrapped package and handed it to him.
“You shouldn’t have. I didn’t get you anything.”
“You didn’t need to.” She shrugged and stomped her feet because it was cold out, but apparently she wasn’t getting an invitation inside. Yet.
“Well, thank you.” He held up the gift. “That was very thoughtful.” He went to shut the door and Jo shoved her foot in the way.
“Whatcha doing, Jolie?”
“Open the gift.”
Thad unwrapped the package. It was a leather journal—a near replica of hers—and a pen.
“It’s for your stories. You should write them down.”
“Thank you. That’s real nice.”
“You’ve been avoiding me.” Jo pressed on before he could try to shut the door again.
A Christmas Seduction Page 12
