Okay, now she was going over the line. “Really.”
“You tell yourself you need to know what went wrong with your marriage, when actually you just need to be safe.”
She spoke the words with complete conviction, and the only way he could think to dispute them was to take action in the most dangerous way he could imagine. So he kissed her right there in the middle of the living room, slipping his hand up the back of her sweater and splaying his fingers against her back. It felt warm and fragile against his palm.
For just an instant she resisted, then she leaned into him, coming alive with a fire that belied her earlier denial of attraction to him.
With a bang, the front door burst open, and before they could draw apart, Taylor, Blaine and Mel had surrounded them.
“Mom,” Taylor said, his eyebrows practically disappearing into his hair. “Why are you hanging from Cole’s neck?”
Cole couldn’t wait to hear her answer to that one.
CHAPTER NINE
KARA WAS HOT from head to toe. Her cheeks flamed, her ears burned, the tips of her breasts were tight, and her feet felt as though they dangled above the fires of hell. She hadn’t even realized she was “hanging from Cole’s neck,” as her son had so bluntly phrased it.
Cole set her on her feet and she avoided his eyes as she turned to her son, pretending to be quite at ease with what he’d seen. “Mistletoe goes up next,” she said. “We were just practicing.”
Taylor looked doubtful. “Where is it?”
“Uh…” Instinctively, she glanced up, but all she could see was a light fixture and fan.
“In the refrigerator,” Cole replied gamely. “Aunt Shirley brought some and told me to keep it in there until I put it up.”
Taylor frowned, apparently still undecided about whether he believed them. “It’s gotta be up before you start kissing people.”
“It can be anywhere,” Blaine corrected. “It even works if you hold it over your head.”
“But it’s in the fridge,” Taylor argued.
“I don’t have a hook for it yet,” Cole said. “We couldn’t very well stand in the fridge to try it out.”
He turned his back on the boys and grinned at Kara with a wickedness that made her cheeks feel even warmer.
“Nice to know it works, though. Let me get your bowl for you,” he said.
“We’re leaving?” Taylor complained. “How come? The tree isn’t all up! Is Cole coming home with us to put up the reindeer? Blaine was gonna show me his Air Athletes battle station!”
“I have some things to do for class tomorrow,” Kara told him. She got his jacket and helped him into it. When he resisted, she put one of his arms in a sleeve. “Cole can finish the tree himself, and he has things to do, too. We’ll figure out how to put up the reindeer. Blaine can come home with us, if it’s okay with his mom.”
Taylor was momentarily torn between happiness at her suggestion and disappointment at having to leave. “Mo-om,” he whined.
Kara was surprised that having a friend over didn’t compensate for leaving a little early. Cole Winslow was powerful stuff.
“I thought we were gonna be here all day,” Taylor grumbled. “I thought we were gonna finish the tree. Blaine’s mom said he could stay and help till it was done.”
“I…miscalculated,” Kara said lamely. “I forgot I had to print up carol books for tomorrow. We have our first gig after lunch.”
“I bet you’re just making that up.” Taylor folded his arms in a pout. He looked accusingly at Cole. “Did you say something to make her mad?”
“I think I might have,” Cole said, handing Kara the bowl and glancing her way with an accusing frown of his own. He put a hand on the shoulder of each boy and walked them to the door. “I’ll be more careful next time. And I’ll be over to put up the reindeer. Blaine, go ask your mom if you can go with Taylor and Mrs. Abbott. Tell her I can vouch for them.”
Blaine and Taylor ran off together.
“I’ve got a ladder. I’ll handle the reindeer.” Kara managed to sound firm as she stepped outside, but she’d lost her angry steam the moment he’d pulled her into his arms. She could still feel his strong, warm hands on her back, and she shivered involuntarily. “Thank you for your hospitality,” she said with cool politeness, but her voice was raspy.
“You’re welcome,” he replied, sounding amused at the discomfort she was trying so hard to hide. “Thank you for the kiss.”
“I didn’t give it. You took it.”
“Kara, be honest,” he chided gently.
“Okay,” she agreed reluctantly. “I was a willing participant. And I enjoyed it. But I already admitted I’m attracted to you.”
“I’m flattered,” he said as he walked her to the car, “because I’m wild about you. And please don’t accuse me of not having the heart for a relationship, when all I want to do is make sure we know what we’re doing.”
Kara unlocked the passenger door and yanked it open. Just once she’d like a man to be so wild about her that he threw caution to the wind and risked everything for her.
But then, that was how Danny operated. Not with her, of course, but his reckless action seldom had a good outcome.
So, what did she want?
She had to admit she didn’t know. Her brain was a muddle of hopeful expectations and scary memories.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked. “You look grumpy.”
She forced a smile when the boys came running out of Blaine’s house, talking and laughing. A pretty red-haired woman in green slacks and a green-and-beige sweater followed them. She looked like a model in a Ralph Lauren ad.
“Hi!” she said warmly, hand extended as she walked around the car toward Kara. “I’m Cindy Hobson. Blaine says you’ve invited him over. Hi, Cole.”
Kara shook hands, explaining that she and Taylor had come to help Cole put up his tree, but now she had to go home to prepare for her choir’s first paying concert. She purposely avoided looking at Cole.
“But Cole never has a tree.” Cindy sounded shocked.
“So I’ve heard, but we thought he should.”
“I see. Well, if you’re sure Blaine won’t be in your way.”
“I’m sure. And I’ll bring him home after dinner, if that’s okay with you.”
“Sounds perfect. My husband’s golfing, so while he and Blaine are both gone, I can get their presents wrapped. I’d be happy to return the favor for you some evening.”
“I may just take you up on that,” Kara told her. “I’ll have Blaine back by seven-thirty.”
“Be good, honey,” Cindy cautioned her son as he and Taylor scrambled into the car. “Help with the dishes.” She blew Blaine a kiss, then started back to the house. Halfway up the walk, she turned to grin at Cole. “A tree, huh? No grinch this year?”
“I’m never a grinch,” Cole said, pretending she’d hurt his feelings.
“Scrooge, then.”
“’Bye, Cindy.”
She laughed. “’Bye, Cole,” she called as she hurried up the walk.
“It’s amazing,” Cole said, opening Kara’s door for her, “that a simple Christmas tree is the source of so much speculation.”
“That’s because Christmas trees aren’t simple,” Kara told him. “They’re a symbol of the season and a mirror of your personality.”
“But you and Taylor decorated my tree.”
“Aunt Shirley provided the stained glass cookies. Christmas trees can also reflect the people in our lives.”
He held the door as she climbed inside.
She needed desperately to leave. This conversation was leading places she didn’t want to go. And the fact that Cole looked as though he didn’t want her to leave made her hurry. “Don’t forget to get a tree-topper,” she reminded him, then tugged the door out of his hands. She was a little disappointed that he let her go so easily.
KARA WAS SURPRISED to find Loren Ford pulling out of her driveway as she drove up. She parked on the stre
et, but he stopped at the end of her drive and got out. Kara climbed out, too, wondering if something had gone wrong at the school.
“We’re going to go inside, Mom,” Taylor said. He and Blaine ran toward the house, making motor noises.
As Kara approached Loren, he reached into his open window and withdrew a pink poinsettia and a box of chocolates. He held them out to her.
“Hi!” he said cheerfully. “I thought I’d try one more time to see if you’ll change your mind about coming with me to the Christmas Ball.”
“Uh…”
“I thought the pink poinsettia was more you,” Loren said when she hesitated. “And the chocolates are Belgian—the best I could find.”
“Loren, that’s so thoughtful.” After Cole’s criticism of her parenting skills and her complete confusion about their relationship, flowers and candy were a welcome expression of affection.
“I’d love to go to the ball with you,” she said impulsively. Loren knew she regarded him as her boss and a friend. Besides, he’d be far easier on her heart than Cole.
Loren appeared momentarily shocked, then he said, “Great! We’ll have a wonderful time. Dinner first?”
“That would be nice.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty.” He left quickly, probably afraid she’d change her mind.
She returned his wave and pulled her car into the driveway. Almost immediately she began to second guess her decision.
But she shook off her doubt. It was just a dance, and her social life sure needed a boost.
AT 1:00 A.M., Cole sat on his living room floor, Mel beside him. All the lights were off except for those on the Christmas tree, and the colorful glow, reflected in the French doors, seemed to cast a magical spell. He tried to imagine how Kara would set the sight to music—Chopin, perhaps. Or maybe, more appropriately, a Christmas carol.
On the coffee table was an angel he’d bought after Kara had left with the boys. He’d intended to find a star for the top of the tree—the angel seemed too feminine for his house—but then he’d spotted this traditional angel with a banner stretched between her arms. It read Love, and musical notes were scattered across it. The music theme had reminded him of Kara, and it had no longer mattered if the angel was feminine or not. She was perfect.
“Special,” as Taylor had said.
Mel gave a low rumble, apparently in agreement.
Cole felt a moment’s trepidation as he realized that his feelings for Kara Abbott had become serious so fast. Any attempt to keep his distance was out of the question. Just thinking about her as he stared up at the tree she’d helped create made his pulse race. He chose to ignore the fact that she was mad at him.
But he couldn’t forget there was a child involved. Taylor had enough pain in his life. Cole didn’t want to add to it, which he would do if things went bad.
Still, he hadn’t felt this hopeful in a long time. So filled with…joy. He could just imagine what his buddies at the station would say if they heard that one. Joy. In his mind, he saw another angel holding a banner with the simple three-letter word.
“WOW.” BRAD STOOD in the middle of Cole’s living room the following morning, staring at the Christmas tree. “You never have a tree, and yet here I am, standing in front of…an honest-to-God Christmas tree.”
Cole had been trying to get his brother out the door for the past five minutes. But Brad continued to stare at the tree.
“Get over it, will you,” Cole said, grabbing his arm and pushing him toward the door. “It’s just a tree.”
It wasn’t, of course. Cole knew that. He’d been awake most of the night dealing with what it meant—and all the problems it presented.
“This is all because of that pretty little bird you plucked out of the trees, isn’t it. Hey! Don’t shove!”
“Then move it, will you? And let’s take your truck, since you’re parked behind me. We’ve got two hours until your shift starts, and Emily let me have you on the promise that I’d baby-sit this weekend so the two of you could go out to dinner. So you’d better do your part here.”
“Brad Junior’s a pleasure to spend time with. You’ll enjoy it.”
Cole had visions of the baby crying and his not knowing what to do, of diapers he wouldn’t know how to change. He wasn’t looking forward to baby-sitting, but he did have to get to know his nephew.
“Where are we going, anyway?” Brad asked, fastening his seat belt. “You asked for help with your roof.”
“Not my roof.”
“Whose roof?”
“Kara’s roof.”
“Ah.” Brad kept a straight face, but Cole knew he was holding back a smirk. “Loose shingles?”
“No.”
“Birds in the chimney?”
“No.”
At Cole’s direction, Brad turned onto the road that led the short distance to Kara’s.
Brad glanced his way in puzzlement. “I’ve run out of guesses.”
“Reindeer,” Cole replied tersely.
“I see.” Brad sounded smug.
“We’re going to put them up.”
“Well, I hope they don’t struggle, because if I arrive at the hospital with hoofprints on my face…”
“Someday I’m going to hit you so hard…” Cole threatened.
“You’ve been promising that for thirty years.”
“I’m closer to doing it than I’ve ever been.”
“Santa wouldn’t like it.”
“Santa isn’t here.”
“If we’re putting his reindeer on a rooftop, he’ll be along, I assure you.”
Cole pointed out Kara’s driveway. In the middle of the morning, the house and the neighborhood were quiet. He was hoping the reindeer would be in the garage. Taylor had said Kara had taken them down from a high shelf, but decided they were too heavy to try to put up herself.
When Cole tried the garage door, it was locked. He walked around it, found a small, high window and saw that the old-fashioned twist lock was open.
“Does Kara know you’re going to do this?” Brad asked suspiciously as Cole beckoned him to the window.
“We talked about it, then we argued. I thought I’d put them up to surprise her.”
Brad folded his arms over his chest. “We’re going to put decorations on a roof and you didn’t bring a ladder?”
“Kara’s got one in the garage.”
“This is breaking and entering.”
“Don’t tell me the law. This is…raising and entering.”
“If we end up in the slammer…”
“The neighborhood’s quiet as a tomb. There’s no one around to call the police. And Kara wouldn’t press charges anyway.”
“I thought you said you argued.”
“Don’t you and Emily argue?”
“Occasionally, but we’re married.”
“Enough of this conversation,” Cole said. “Now, give me a boost up.”
Brad locked his hands together and Cole stepped up to grab the sill. As soon as Cole had raised the window, Brad let go.
“Hey!” Cole yelled, clinging to the sill.
Somehow he managed to gain purchase with his feet against the side of the garage. Swinging one leg over, he climbed through the window and came down on an old door laid flat between a sink and an old stove. It must have been used as a shelf or table. A string dangled in his face and he reached up to pull it. Light from a bare bulb illuminated the old garage.
He spotted the reindeer instantly. They were made of plastic and trimmed in lights. If there’d been a full team of nine to begin with, there were now only four, their front legs drawn up in flight. Rudolph remained in the lead, however, a large red bulb for his nose.
Cole searched for a ladder. Kara had said she had one. He spotted it hanging sideways on hooks on the wall. To reach it, he had to pull a stack of boxes out of a dark corner. The ladder was halfway down when Cole felt something sharp stab the middle of his back. With a clatter, the ladder fell onto the pile of boxes.<
br />
“Don’t…move,” a deep, trembling voice said forcefully, “or you’ll spend the rest of your life in several pieces.”
Had he gotten the wrong house? Cole wondered, and started to turn around.
“I said don’t move!” the deep voice repeated, and Cole felt the sharp object push painfully against his spine. In the same instant, he recognized the voice.
Before he could say anything, shouts and a weird thumping noise sounded outside.
“I’ve got him!” Kara shouted toward the open window. “Did you call 911?”
More shouting and thumping came through the window.
“Kara, it’s me,” Cole said, taking his life in his hands and turning. Brad was apparently getting the bad end of something out there, and if Cole was going to save him, he had to move now. “Call off whoever’s out there beating up my brother. We came to put up your reindeer.”
Kara, in a green woolen dress and Christmas-wreath earrings, her hair long and loose and falling around her face in soft waves, stared at him first in shock, then in mounting dismay.
Cole wasn’t doing much better. It was hard for a seasoned cop to realize he’d been held captive by a woman with a butter knife.
He took the weapon from her, and to cover his own embarrassment, demanded, “What are you doing?”
“What are you doing?” Kara gasped. “My neighbor called to tell me someone was climbing through my garage window.”
“You came to investigate with a butter knife? Where’s your car, anyway? And why aren’t you at school?”
She blinked, as though unsure which question to deal with first. “Christmas vacation started today. Jared’s mother dropped me off to pick up a change of clothes. We’re going to set up a booth…Hey, wait a minute!” Temper ignited her eyes. “Where’s your truck? I heard noises, looked out and saw a completely strange vehicle. I figured someone knew I was gone all day and was about to steal from me!”
Blown Away Page 11
