Miracle Under The Mistletoe (The Foster Brothers #1)

by Tracy Madison

  A breath wheezed out of her chest when he ran his thumb over her cheek. When he laced his fingers into her hair and tugged her head toward him. She felt the heat of him as his face neared hers, and her entire body thrummed with energy. Why did her body crave him so?

  His lips grazed her forehead in a sweet, quick kiss before moving to the tip of her nose. He kissed her there, too. Her knees weakened to the consistency of butter, and she had to push her back against the porch railing to stay upright. She waited breathlessly for their lips to meet, but instead, he dropped his hold on her and moved away.

  “There,” he said gruffly. “Consider your debt paid in full.”

  She blinked open her eyes in stunned disbelief. “That’s it? That was the kiss I waited all day for?” Oh, crap. She hadn’t actually meant waited. More like worried about.

  “Whenever you want a real kiss, sweetheart, all you have to do is ask.”

  “Right. Well, that won’t be happening.” He’d kissed her nose, for goodness’ sake. Her nose! “You know, I just figured you’d…um…take full advantage.”

  “You figured wrong. The next time we kiss, it will mean something, Olly.”

  “Uh-huh. Okay, then.” God, since when had she become such a bumbling fool around him? She blinked in an effort to find her balance, to shield herself in the way she had for the past several years, but found she was too flustered. “I’m…um… Just let me find my key.”

  “I have mine right here.” Reaching over, he slid the key in and pushed the door open. “Thank you for today, Olly. It meant a lot to me.”

  “It was fun!” A shiver stole over her.

  “You’re cold. Go inside and take one of those bubble baths you love so much.” With that, he turned on his heel and headed for his truck. “Oh, and our next date is Thursday,” he called over his shoulder. “Say around noon.”

  She didn’t respond. Couldn’t, really, what with so many bewildering thoughts clouding her head. He tooted his horn lightly as he backed out of her driveway. And then he was gone. Numb, confused and, yes, disappointed—though, she couldn’t say why—Olivia let herself in and locked the door. Jasper was waiting for her, hungry for attention and food.

  “I know, I know. I left you alone for too long. You can blame Grady for that one.” She bent at the knees to pick the cat up. Rubbing her chin against the top of his furry head, she whispered, “You’re the only guy I need. You never ask more of me than I can give, and you keep my feet warm at night. Why, Jasper, I think you just might be the perfect male.”

  He meowed, as if in agreement, and then pounced out of her arms and raced to the laundry room, which was where she kept his food. Knowing there’d be no peace until she filled his bowl, she fed him, gave him fresh water and then took the stairs to her bedroom.

  It was nearing seven o’clock, but it might as well have been midnight. Her face felt chapped from the hours spent outside, her muscles were tight and knotted from stress and an overabundance of emotions, and her heart ached with a heaviness she couldn’t identify.

  “Just tired,” she mumbled, heading for the bathroom. She’d take a hot bath, as Grady had suggested, and then go to bed early with a book.

  It wasn’t until she was up to her chin in bubbles that she finally comprehended Grady’s parting statement about their next date. “Oh, hell, no!” Thursday was Thanksgiving.

  He expected her to spend Thanksgiving with him…with his family? That holiday of all holidays? Impossible. “No, no, no,” she said, sinking deeper into the tub. She hadn’t celebrated Thanksgiving or Christmas since Cody’s death. Everyone around her understood her reticence over Christmas, but no one seemed to get that Thanksgiving was almost more painful.

  How could it not be when the last Thanksgiving she’d spent with her family had been the happiest of her life? Then, she’d had plenty to be thankful for: a good marriage, a healthy and happy child, the possibility of a second child and a love she was sure would last forever.

  But without Cody, she had nothing to be thankful for. All she had left were memories.

  Her plan for this Thanksgiving had been the same as the last two: spaghetti, red wine and an action movie marathon at Samantha’s. She sat up so fast that water splashed over the side of the tub. She had plans already! Grady couldn’t possibly expect her to cancel at his whim, could he? That would be unfair to Samantha.

  She would call him first thing in the morning. Surely, he’d agree to another day for their second date. But then, she recalled the Grady she was dealing with. Maybe he would let her off the hook, but he’d probably insist on another four dates and an additional six weeks—or something else equally as ludicrous.

  Oh, hell, indeed. Thanksgiving. With her in-laws. In a house that had held many a happy family gathering. Memories: they were going to be her undoing, one way or another. She was sure of it.

  “Damn you, Grady.”

  Chapter Six

  Samantha Hagen was a petite blonde with jade-green eyes, a Cupid’s-bow mouth and a sultry, come-hither voice that tended to stop men in their tracks. She was a barracuda in the courtroom, but as a friend they didn’t come any better.

  She was also single, mostly because of her horrible luck with the opposite sex. Some men couldn’t handle her brains. Others couldn’t deal with the fact that she earned more money than they did. And then there were the guys who appreciated her intelligence, had great careers, but couldn’t seem to get a grip on dating a woman who looked like Samantha.

  Of course, that was how Samantha explained her single status. Olivia thought there was a lot more to it, but she didn’t pry. That road went two ways.

  “Everything is going to be fine, Iris,” Samantha said into the phone. She smiled at Olivia and gestured for her to sit. “I understand you’re anxious. Let me explain the process again.”

  Olivia slid into a chair to wait. It was Monday afternoon. Samantha’s office was a twenty-minute drive from where Olivia worked, so she had to take an extended lunch break for this meeting. Likely, she’d have to stay late to make up the time, but this was important.

  Grady, naturally, had refused to bend on his Thanksgiving Day date, so she had to cancel with Samantha. That wasn’t the only reason Olivia needed to talk to Sam, though. She also wanted her to draw up the divorce papers, so when the six weeks were up, Olivia would have them ready to go. That is, if her friend had decided to represent her.

  “Iris? I’m sorry, but my next appointment is here. May I call you back in an hour or so?” Samantha jotted herself a note. “Yes. One hour.” Hanging up the phone, she took a large gulp of water before saying, “Some days, I feel all I do is talk, talk, talk. Most days, I wonder if half of what I say is even getting through.”

  “I’ve often thought you’re as much a counselor as you are an attorney,” Olivia said. “And people tend to tune out what they don’t want to hear.”

  “Yes! That’s it exactly.” Samantha twisted the cap onto the water bottle. “The negativity wears me down. I suppose I should be used to it by now.”

  “I think your clients are very smart for choosing you.”

  Samantha chuckled. “I recognize kissing up when I hear it. And yes, I’ve talked to Grady. He’s fine with my representing you.”

  “Okay, good.” Olivia suddenly felt ten pounds lighter. “What about you? Are you comfortable acting as my attorney?”

  “Well, we need to have a conversation about that,” Sam admitted.

  Uh-oh. This didn’t sound promising. “Look. If you’re uncomfortable, I get that. Your friendship means more to me than anything else.”

  “That isn’t what I said, Olivia.” Sam stood, rounded her desk and took the seat next to Olivia. “But, hon, I have to be honest. I wonder if you’re as sure about this course of action as you say you are. It’s a huge step and you and Grady—” She shook her head as if to gather her thoughts. “I’ve never seen two people as happy together as you two were.”

  “You’re right. We were happy. But Sam, I ca
n’t keep having this conversation. Everyone asks me if I’m sure. Everyone reminds me of how we used to be.” Olivia sighed. “I’m trying to look forward.”

  “But are you sure?”

  “Do you ask all of your clients that question?”

  “Actually, I do.” Samantha reached out, as if she were going to touch Olivia, but pulled back. “I admit that I’m personally invested in your well-being. You’re like a sister to me. But if you can’t give me a straight answer, then I won’t be able to represent you.”

  “I’m sure, Sam.” Olivia spoke firmly, with as much conviction as she could find. The pressure on her heart increased. “I promise you that this is the right decision for me.”

  Disappointment flashed over Sam’s face, but she nodded. “Then I guess you’ve hired yourself a lawyer.”

  Another ten pounds disappeared. “Thank you,” Olivia said.

  “So, we should set up a meeting for late December or early January.” Sam returned to her desk. Staring at her computer monitor, she said, “I have a lot going on at the end of December, so let’s plan for early January? That will give you time to settle the details with Grady. Then, it’s just a matter of going over what you’ve agreed to, and I’ll be able to get the papers ready for your signatures.”

  “What? No. I want you to do that now. That’s one of the reasons I’m here.”

  “But you promised Grady you’d hold off for six weeks,” Sam pointed out. “It’s only been one, which leaves another five weeks before you can officially begin the process.”

  “I told him I’d hold off, yes. I never said I wouldn’t prepare.” Olivia tried to keep her frustration from showing. “He’s already talked to some crackpot attorney, remember?”

  “Oh, I doubt she…he—whatever—is a crackpot.” A tinge of pink colored Samantha’s cheeks. “I’m sure the advice Grady received was…um…well thought out. And with the best intentions. Only the best.”

  Narrowing her eyes, Olivia said, “Oh, come on! Telling Grady he should move back into the house? That’s—” She broke off. “Wait a minute. I don’t care who his attorney is. That isn’t why I’m here. All I’m asking is for you to get everything ready—whatever that entails—so when the time comes, I can officially get the ball moving.”

  Sam’s shoulders firmed. “What, exactly, did you agree to? Because I think you’re walking a fine line here, Olivia.”

  “All I promised is I would ‘put off all talk of divorce’ for six weeks and four dates. I don’t see how having the papers ready to go when that time frame is up is walking a fine line.”

  “Well, you’re wrong. We are talking. And the topic is divorce, right?”

  “With you. I’m not talking about it with him.”

  “Definitely a fine line.” Samantha slid a pad of paper in front of her and grabbed a pen. “But I suppose you’re standing on the right side of that line, so I can’t really argue. Please tell me you’ve had some type of discussion with Grady regarding your joint property?”

  “Yep. He said I could have anything I wanted.”

  Sam scrawled something on the pad. “And what is it you want?”

  “The house and the cat. That’s it. But I want to buy out his portion of the equity in the house. That’s only fair.”

  Sam made another note. “What about his business? You used to keep the financials for Foster’s Auto Concepts, and you helped him get the business up and running. You’re certainly entitled to a portion of the company.”

  “I’m not interested in that,” Olivia was quick to say. “That’s his. All his, Sam.”

  “It really isn’t. Your involvement in Foster’s Auto Concepts was substantial. You worked side by side with Grady for years, Olivia.” Samantha chewed her bottom lip. “With any other client, I would push hard for this. You could receive a tidy lump sum to remove all further claims to the business, or you could keep your claim and receive a percentage of the profits each year.”

  “No.” She shook her head vehemently. “I will not take any part of Grady’s company. Not now, not ever.” She’d already taken enough from him.

  Sam’s mouth wiggled in a tiny smile. “Hmm. If that’s the case, then I don’t think we should offer payment for the house. You keep the house, he keeps the business.”

  “No,” Olivia said again. “When this is over, I want to feel that the house is really mine. And I won’t unless I buy out his interest.”

  “He probably won’t accept money from you.”

  “You’ll have to convince him, then. Or his attorney. But this is the way it has to be, Sam. At the end of this, I need to know that I’ve done right by Grady. As much as I can, anyway.” Olivia dug in her purse for the packet of papers she’d brought with her. When she found them, she pushed the envelope they were encased in across the desk to Samantha. “I had the house appraised six months ago, when I thought about selling it. Here are the documents, along with information about our mortgage.”

  Sam picked up the envelope but didn’t open it. “Basically, this will be as simple as it gets, then. I’ll figure out an appropriate offer, draw up the papers, and once each of you signs, that will be that. Other than the waiting period.” She leveled her gaze with Olivia’s. “You might change your mind. What if you regret this decision down the road?”

  “I won’t.” A lie? Maybe. But Olivia already had regrets that ran much deeper than going through with a divorce. She needed this. Grady, even though he couldn’t see that yet, needed it, too. She was doing this for both of them. “Really.”

  With a shrug, Sam ripped off the paper she’d written on, paper-clipped it to the envelope, and slid both into an empty file folder. “I’ll have something to show you within a few weeks. Maybe more, but definitely before Christmas.”

  “That’s it? Really?”

  “If what you’ve told me is true, then yes. But don’t expect the emotional process to be as easy as the legal process. You might find this much more difficult than you think.”

  Well, she already knew that. “It won’t be any more difficult than anything we’ve already gone through.”

  Samantha’s eyes softened. “I know.” And, because she was such a terrific friend, she didn’t expand. “So, I think that’s it? Do you have time for a quick lunch?”

  “Unfortunately, no. I need to get back to work. But—and I’m so sorry about this—I have to cancel our plans for Thanksgiving. Apparently, Grady has decided that we should spend the holiday together for our second date.”

  She expected Sam to appear shocked. Or disappointed, at least. Instead, she nodded. “That’s right. He told me.”

  Okay, that was a surprise. “How often have you guys talked lately? When we went to dinner the other night—thanks for that, by the way—he mentioned he hadn’t spoken to you for a while.”

  Another shrug. “A few times, I guess. Grady felt bad and wanted to make sure I wouldn’t be alone for Thanksgiving, so he ran his idea by me.”

  Gee, yet another surprise. “So you’ve known about this for how long?”

  “Last week. Monday, I believe. But he asked me not to tell you until he had a chance to run it by his folks.” Samantha’s complexion paled. “I shouldn’t have said that. See? This is why I was worried about representing you. I love both of you, Olivia. And yes, our friendship is closer than my friendship with Grady, but I feel loyal to him, too.”

  One breath, then two. “It’s okay. I’m not angry, Sam. I was just shocked to realize that you’ve known about his Thanksgiving idea for longer than I have. That you didn’t tell me right away.” She smiled to soften her words. “But I understand the tough position you’re in, so we’re fine.”

  Relief washed over Sam’s face. “Good. Besides, Grady also invited me to Thanksgiving at his parents. I was going to say no, but if you want—”

  “I want! Absolutely. Please be there. You’ll make the day so much easier if you’re there.”

  “Then I’ll accept his invitation,” Samantha said without missing a b
eat. “And I’m not letting you off the hook, either. I look forward to our annual action movie marathon, and I had some great flicks lined up for this year.”

  “Of course. Name the day and I’ll be there.”

  Suddenly, the prospect of spending Turkey Day with Grady and her in-laws wasn’t nearly as terrifying as it was before. Thank God for Samantha.

  John Foster opened the door with a delighted smile and a twinkle in his ocean-blue eyes. His boys may have gotten their mother’s eyes, but their height, bone structure and everything else came from their dad. Olivia smiled in return. Something about her father-in-law always brought out her good side. He had this wondrous skill for making people feel at ease.

  “Happy Thanksgiving, John.”

  “It does the heart good to see you, Olivia.” John pulled her into one of his trademark bear hugs. She had to shift the container of cookies she held so they wouldn’t get crushed. Oh, jeez, he smelled the same. Like coffee and peppermint. “I’ve missed you,” he said.

  “I’ve missed you, too,” she said as they separated. And she had, even if she hadn’t realized how much until exactly that second. “You’re looking good.” His hair, which he wore cut close to his head, had whitened to the color of a fresh snow. It suited him. Beyond that, he looked happier than she remembered. Less stressed. “Retirement must agree with you?”

  “It does,” he agreed, motioning for her to enter. “Come in, come in. It’s a gorgeous-looking day out there, but a mite too cold for my taste.” Cocking his head to the side, he glanced over her shoulder. “Where’s that son of mine?”

  “Oh. I’m sure he’ll be along shortly.” Olivia had woken up edgy and distracted, so she’d decided to drive herself to Thanksgiving. She’d called Grady to tell him, but he hadn’t answered. So she left him a sticky note stuck to her door, which would probably annoy him. But, hey, it wasn’t like she reneged on their deal. She was here, wasn’t she?

  Besides which, driving herself made her feel more in control. Even if she wasn’t. And knowing it would bug him made her feel better, even if that was a little petty.