by Nina Singh
He knew those things would haunt him for a good long while once he returned to Seattle. He was hardly likely to meet anyone else like Carli Tynan. That’s why it made no sense that he was so damn attracted to her. Carli was nothing like the women he normally ran into. Most of the women he’d dated were practically carbon copies of each other. Wealthy, socialite types who could barely be bothered with much more than shopping for the next gala on their calendar.
He and Carli were from two different worlds. She had family, friends and a career she loved. Her Christmas party back in Boston showed she had the affection and respect of her colleagues.
Above all, she worked for his father, a man Justin wanted nothing to do with once this little project was over.
Yes, kissing her had been nothing less than foolish.
Finally, once slices were plated and drinks poured, Carli deigned to acknowledge him with a tight smile, albeit one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You didn’t have to spring for the pizza, Justin,” she told him in a clipped voice.
“It was the least I could do after your family’s been so gracious.”
“It was really not necessary.”
The exchange earned a shocked look from both her parents.
“That’s just rude,” Marnie admonished her, not holding back, like the younger sister that she was. “What she means to say is thank you.”
Justin studied Carli’s stern facial expression and the tight set of her jaw. Judging by her reaction since he’d first walked in, and the rigid set of her spine right now, she was far from thankful that he was here. In fact, she looked more than ready to toss him out on his behind.
* * *
Normally, Carli loved pizza from Diammatta’s. Their pies were the best this side of the state. Tonight however, she could hardly taste any flavor. In fact, she may as well have been eating cardboard. No fault could be placed on the cook. It had nothing to do with the food but had everything to do with the man sitting across from her at her parent’s kitchen table. She’d almost dropped in shock when she’d opened the door to find Perri standing there with him.
Her behavior bordered on being rude, she was well aware, barely having said more than a few words to him since he’d walked in. Luckily for her, both her younger sisters and parents were seasoned conversationalists.
But what was there for her to say? She could hardly make small talk, pretending that what had happened between them earlier today wasn’t foremost in her mind. Justin was thinking about it too. She could tell by the way she caught him looking at her, how his gaze lingered on her lips whenever she took a bite. How in the world was she supposed to try to eat?
When all she could think about was if she would ever be kissed that way again.
Forget the fact that she worked for the company Justin was heir to. Men like him didn’t fall for women like her. He was only in New England for a short-term project, one aspect of which she was desperately trying to get him to change his mind about. After that, he would be gone for good.
If she hadn’t been able to maintain a relationship with someone she’d known for years and who had grown up in the same town, how could she dare hope to interest someone as worldly as Justin Hammond?
Blessedly, an hour later the dishes were finally cleared and the table wiped down. Carli was more than ready to show Justin the door. But then her father did the unthinkable. He invited Justin to stay to watch the hockey game.
Leaving her with no choice but to join them.
It would look suspicious to her parents to try to get out of it. She never missed watching a game with her father while in town. Her dad already had a roaring fire started in the fireplace when they all made it into sitting room. Normally, she would have grabbed one of the sofa cushions and plopped herself down in front of the flames as they cheered and shouted at the TV. But there was no way she was going to enjoy either the fire or any of the ice action tonight.
If any of her family members sensed her discomfort, they didn’t show it.
At the end of the second period, she was more than ready to come up with an excuse and call it a night. But her father caught Justin staring at one of the framed sketches hanging on the wall.
Oh, no.
“Those make us proud of our girl’s talent,” her father boasted.
Justin raised an eyebrow in surprise. “One of your daughters drew that?”
Her father lifted his chin in a show of pride. “Sure did. That one sitting right there. The one who works for you.”
Carli tried not to groan out loud. She did not want to talk about her portrait sketches with Justin Hammond. Especially not tonight. Then her father made it even worse when he added, “It’s second-period intermission, Carli. Why don’t you show him the others that are hanging around the house?”
Justin turned to her expectedly. She had no choice but to stand up. He followed her down the corridor.
“This one is of my two younger sisters,” she said, pointing to a frame hanging near the kitchen hallway. It was a profile picture of Perri and Marnie about four years ago when they were thirteen or so.
She tried to move on, farther down the hallway where a portrait she’d drawn of her mother hung. But Justin stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“Carli, wait.”
She stopped in her tracks, but couldn’t look him in the eye.
“First of all, these are amazing,” he stated, motioning to the sketch on the wall. “I’m no expert but even to a novice it’s clear you have a real talent.”
She inhaled a deep breath, oddly touched by the compliment. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t heard before, but somehow coming from him... It just felt more.
“Thank you. It was just a hobby I had a while back.”
“You had?”
She shrugged. “I haven’t drawn in a while. I have my reasons.” Reasons she had no intention of getting into with him of all people.
As far as she was concerned, the last sketch she’d started would be her last one. The only one she’d ever torn to shreds.
Justin looked as if he was ready to question her further but apparently changed his mind. Must have been her closed expression.
“Second,” he began, “I know I should I apologize for what happened this morning. In the town square.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “But I’d be lying if I said I was sorry.”
Well, that was certainly a straightforward and honest statement. She had no idea what to make of it, however. What exactly did he mean? That mistakes happened? Did he even consider it a mistake?
“I think we should just move past it,” she blurted out, too tired and too frazzled to analyze any of it further. The truth was, she would welcome his kiss even now. As ridiculous as it was, part of her wished he would take her in his arms right here in the hallway.
“Move past it?”
She nodded with emphasis, though not entirely certain exactly what she was arguing for. “It was a fluke, right? We were both having fun and then things just took an unexpected turn. Nothing more.”
Justin stepped closer, so close she could see the hint of shadow that had appeared on his chin since this morning. The scent of his aftershave wafted to her nose, and she had to resist the urge to lean into him and take a deeper sniff.
“So you’d like to just forget it happened.”
Carli’s answer was interrupted when the front door swung open and Tammy walked in with Ray in tow.
“Aunt Carli. Mr. Justin,” Ray squealed when he saw them and made a beeline to where they both stood.
“Aunt Marnie texted that there was pizza. I love pizza!”
Carli took the interruption as a chance to catch her breath, thankful for her clueless nephew’s disruption. Things with Justin were getting just a tad too intense. She didn’t think she’d be able to give him
the same nonchalant response if he asked her about the kiss again.
“Did you guys save me any?” Ray asked with a hint of panic in his voice, as if it just occurred to him that there might not be any pizza left.
“Of course we did,” Carli reassured him. “Your favorite, extra cheese. Let’s go get you some.”
She reached for her nephew’s hand and started to lead him to the kitchen.
Justin cleared his throat. “I guess I should get going. I haven’t answered any emails all day, and it’s already eight o’clock.”
Ray stopped in his tracks and turned to him, clear disappointment etched in his small face. “Do you really have to go, Mr. Justin?”
Carli felt a little taken aback. Ray was clearly developing a fondness for him. In the span of two short days, Justin had already made an impression on the little boy. Her heart sank. It was no wonder. Besides Carli’s father and his own dad, Ray was surrounded mostly by women. Another man around was probably a real novelty for him. He was going to be heartbroken when Justin left. Add that to the list of casualties when Justin walked out of their lives for good in less than a week.
Justin leaned over to Ray’s height. “I’m afraid so.”
“Can you come over tomorrow? Aunt Carli and I are baking cookies.”
Carli groaned inwardly. She’d promised Ray on the phone they would make a batch of Christmas cookies, then spend part of the day decorating them.
Why did her family keep inviting Justin to events? First Perri, now Ray.
She couldn’t exactly rescind the invitation. Even if had just come from a four-year-old.
“I would,” Justin answered, “but I’m not much of a cook.”
“That’s okay. I can show you what to do. Please?” He gave Justin a big, toothless grin. “Me and Aunt Carli could teach you how.”
Justin looked up and met her eyes above her nephew’s head. “I’d like that,” he said. “I’d like that a lot.”
CHAPTER NINE
CARLI TOSSED AND TURNED. Her bedside clock said it was 12:30 a.m. This was the same bed she’d slept in as a teenager. Right in this very room. She was never uncomfortable here. Not even during all those years of dramatic teenage anguish. But tonight was a different story. She couldn’t find a comfortable position. And she couldn’t seem to fall asleep.
Her thoughts kept returning to the man about three blocks away at the Sailor’s Inn Bed and Breakfast. Was he fast asleep as was likely at this hour? Or was there a chance he was thinking about her?
He’d seemed genuinely interested in her artwork. But she wasn’t quite ready to talk about that yet.
She needed sleep. But it was no use. Huffing out a breath, Carli got out of bed and put on her slippers. She walked over to the window and lifted the blind. She could see the rooftop of the B and B from where she stood. From there, her imagination took over. She thought of Justin in his bed, under the covers. A man like him probably slept with only pajama bottoms. Or nothing at all.
She sucked in a breath at that thought and tried to force the image out of her head.
This was the closest she’d ever come to fantasizing about a real actual man in her life. Not even with ex-boyfriends had she done such a thing. But here she was, in the dead of night, unable to get Justin Hammond out of her mind. A curse escaped her lips on a whisper. Damn him for kissing her the way he did. And damn her for responding. What a mistake. She should have never gotten playful with him in the first place. Why, oh, why hadn’t she just said hello to her nephew and then walked away when she’d seen him in the town square? If only she could go back in time and stop herself from throwing that snowball.
It was such a ridiculous thing to wish for that she couldn’t help but laugh. To think, an ill-timed snowball fight had led to such turmoil within her. She would have happily gone on with her life, admiring Justin from afar. But now there was no turning back from the line she had crossed. And that’s exactly what she’d done—crossed a line.
Well, maybe there was no turning back time or rectifying the mistake she had made. But she could certainly vow to be more cautious in the future. From now on, for the week or so that she and Justin were in Westerson, she would be the utmost professional. She wasn’t one of those women to wallow in her mistakes, but she certainly made sure to learn from them.
Starting tomorrow morning, Justin would see nothing but the serious and accomplished career woman that she was. She’d make sure to steer the conversation toward business matters and details surrounding the store and its operations.
She just had to figure out how to do that exactly, while baking Christmas cookies with the man all day. Right. Easy-peasy. Carli sighed and walked over to the bookcase in the corner of her room. Plucking out one of her childhood favorites, she settled back onto the bed and opened the well-worn pages to one of her preferred chapters.
May as well read, she thought. There was no way she was going to fall asleep anytime soon.
* * *
The smell of newly baked muffins and freshly brewed coffee hit Justin as soon as he left his room. Betty was already pouring a cup when he reached the small dining room.
She handed it to him. “I heard you coming down the stairs,” she told him with a bright warm smile.
Justin blinked as he took the cup and uttered a heartfelt thanks. He couldn’t remember a time someone had listened for him in the morning just to have a cup of coffee ready. No doubt Betty was simply being an attentive innkeeper. Still, he felt oddly touched by the gesture.
She handed him a napkin as he sat down at one of the small linen-covered tables.
“I also baked more of those vanilla almond muffins that you liked so much,” she told him offhandedly.
Justin felt his mouth water at that bit of news. He was going to gain so much weight this week. “But I thought those were only made on Saturdays?”
“Normally. But you seemed to enjoy them so much. I wanted to make them for you again.”
Justin felt an odd sensation at the base of his throat. Perhaps Betty really was simply responding to the tastes of a paying customer. But this was a novel experience for him. The large chains and glamorous hotels he usually stayed in offered the utmost in glitz and luxury. But no one had ever gone out of their way to specifically make something just because he’d liked it.
Hell, no one would have even noted such a thing, even in one of the establishments where he was a regular, highly regarded guest. The notion left him with an unexpected sense of familiarity. “I know you must be busy, Betty, but do you have a minute or two to join me?”
She didn’t hesitate and pulled out a chair. “That would be lovely, thank you. It will give me an excuse to put off the myriad of items on my to-do list this morning.”
“Glad to oblige,” he said, and gave her a conspiratorial wink.
“And what are your plans for the day?” she asked him.
Justin grabbed one of the muffins and split it open. Aromatic steam arose from the center. “Unbelievably, I’ll be baking Christmas cookies.”
Her smile grew. “Why is that so unbelievable?”
He swallowed. “It’s nothing I’ve ever done before. Nor ever expected to do.”
Betty’s eyebrows drew together. “You’ve never baked Christmas cookies? Not even as a child?”
He wasn’t aware it was so unheard-of. The truth was, his mother hadn’t been the baking type. Heck, she hadn’t really been the mother type in any way. There were always baked goods and pastries laying around in the various kitchens he’d been in over the years, but he’d be hard-pressed to say where they’d come from.
“Well, I imagine the Hammonds had plenty of people on staff to bake for them. I guess it makes sense that you never did so yourself.”
Justin wasn’t going to get into the whole Christmas conversation and tell this
kindly woman that cookies were the last thing on his mind whenever the holidays came around. And then when he and his mother had left New England, it had just become another day.
Christmas celebrations were a family affair for most of the world. He had a brother, but he may as well have been an only child. And even the parent he’d grown up with had barely been around. Very different than the way Carli had grown up, for instance.
“So how’d you get corralled into it then?” Betty asked.
“A very persuasive four-year-old,” Justin answered, hardly believing it himself. It was difficult to say no to that little nephew of Carli’s.
She laughed at his answer. “I should have known. Ray can be quite persuasive when he wants something,” she said, echoing his thoughts.
“He certainly had my number.”
He didn’t tell her that there was more to it. Or about how he knew he’d be spending this Sunday alone otherwise. How he’d jumped at the chance to be able to spend it with Carli. Even doing something as mundane as baking cookies.
Betty somehow seemed to read his thoughts yet again. “Mmm-hmm. And tell me, was Ray the only reason you agreed to do this?”
He lifted an eyebrow in question, though he obviously knew what she was getting at. The woman was very perceptive, it appeared.
“I just thought I’d give it a try.”
She wasn’t falling for it. “I see. And it had nothing to do with the way you were looking at Carli Tynan yesterday morning, I suppose.”
Wow. Was everybody in this town so direct? He bit down on another piece of muffin as he tried to scramble for a way to respond.
“I’m sorry,” Betty began, sparing him. “It’s just that I’ve known that girl since she was knee-high. One of the sweetest, purest souls you’ll ever meet. She doesn’t deserve to have her heart broken.”
Again. Though unspoken, the word hung in the air as clear as day between them. Then the older woman suddenly stood up with a soft clap of her hands. “Oh, dear. I hadn’t realized how late it was getting. I really should get to those chores. Please excuse me.”
