Dawn Temple - Moonlight and Mistletoe

“Are you out of your mind?” Kyle emphasized his disbelief by banging his fist on the printout lying on his desk. “You can’t blindside her like that. You promised her a reasonable period to review the documents with her lawyer, and if you force the issue prematurely, she’s likely to balk and refuse to cooperate.” Which, technically, she was already trying to do, but since he’d hadn’t completely reviewed the document and wasn’t ready to discuss it with anyone, he justified keeping his comments hypothetical.

“ I didn’t promise that little bitch anything, Anderson. She probably batted her eyes at you and drawled that sweet southern accent and you couldn’t give in fast enough. I’m just lucky you didn’t change the terms of the agreement without my approval.”

That was taking things too far. Hinting that Kyle had been swayed by Shayna was one thing-hell, it was exactly what had happened. But insinuating that he’d obliterate all ethical standards? That was more than Kyle was willing to take from this arrogant blowhard.

Later that evening as he rushed through the nearly empty Knoxville airport terminal, Kyle finally faced facts. He was in big trouble here. This morning, during his meeting with Walker, he’d skated the ethical lines, his actions and responses balanced precariously on the edge of right versus wrong.

Nothing he’d done or said could be considered, on its own merit, to be a breach of attorney-client privilege. He hadn’t given anything other than sound, legal reasons why sending a production crew to film Shayna at the Noel Festival Parade wasn’t a smart move. She was guaranteed to freak out, and would, more than likely, halt any and all negotiations, especially if, as Kyle suspected, Patty Hoyt turned out to be Walker’s source for Land’s Cross social news.

His carefully worded arguments and suggestions hadn’t impacted Walker’s decision to send a crew. Worse yet, the man was still considering making a cameo appearance. Kyle had done his best to convince his client that his presence would stir up too many questions. Thomas has seconded Kyle’s argument, but he wasn’t sure Walker had chosen to listen.

Apparently, no one was taking his advice these days.

What the devil was Shayna thinking? Walker would not react well to her refusal to cooperate. In the back of his mind, he’d expected Shayna’s attorney to urge her to ask for more money, maybe pass on the live television program. But declining the entire offer? That just didn’t make any sense. Walker was going to persecute her for this.

Unless he could get to her first and make her see reason.

He skidded to a stop in front of the long row of darkened car rental counters. Damn. He’d forgotten to prearrange a vehicle, which meant he’d have to hope there was a cabbie still on duty somewhere in the area willing to drive him out to Land’s Cross. Since he’d taken the red-eye out of LAX, it was barely two a.m. here in Tennessee.

Fate must have been working on his side, because when he hit the passenger pickup area he found one cab, its driver sound asleep behind the wheel. After a stiff negotiation-and some serious pleading-he had a ride to Land’s Cross.

Kyle spent that dark, quiet hour trying to come up with an excuse for his silent exit Tuesday morning. Any sane man knew better than to walk away from a well-loved woman without a word, especially if you ever wanted her to speak to you again.

Kyle desperately wanted much more than just conversation from Shayna. He flat out wanted her. Which was why he was jacking with his career and jeopardizing his future.

While flying out to Tennessee without his client’s approval wasn’t enough to get him disbarred, his actions once he got to town very easily could be. It all came down to Walker. If his client pursued actions designed to harm Shayna, Kyle wouldn’t be able to stand silently by. And stepping in would be akin to stepping down. The next twelve hours would either make or break his career. So why the hell was he more concerned with Shayna’s reaction to his unsanctioned return to Land’s Cross than Walker’s?

The setting was soft-focused and beautiful-a gently flowing creek provided the background music and wildflowers carpeted the large open field. Kyle, wearing nothing but her best bathroom towel, laid her out on the bed of sweetly scented flowers. Love shone from his crystal-blue eyes. He smiled at her, that adorable dimple creasing his left cheek.

“Shayna, I have something very important to tell you,” he whispered, that deep voice she loved vibrating within her own heart.

Sure he meant to offer the proposal of her dreams, she was all trembling inside. “Yes!” sat on the tip of her tongue, just waiting to be unleashed.

Then Brinks woke her when he sat up, howled for all he was worth and took off downstairs. She slowly opened her eyes, staring up into the darkness. Darn dog. Couldn’t he have waited another two minutes?

She started to throw off the covers, but the ringing of the phone stilled her movements. Middle-of-the-night calls were rarely good. She’d left the phone by her bed, hoping Kyle would return the message she’d eventually had no choice but to leave. But would he really call this late? Or had there been an emergency elsewhere?

Deep woofs continued to echo up the stairs. “Hang on,” she called to Brinks as she rolled over and snagged the phone. “Hello?”

“Shayna?”

The connection was a bit staticky but there was no mistaking that warm, deep voice she loved so much. “Kyle? What time is it?”

“Too early. I’m sorry, but I was afraid you’d be scared.”

Her eyes flicked to the bedside clock-3:27 a.m. “Why?”

“The barking.”

The barking? She pushed herself up awkwardly with her elbows and tried to shake the sleep from her brain. “How did you know about that?”

“Brinks is barking at me.”

That woke her up. “Where are you?”

“Your front porch.”

With a complete lack of self-control that would have embarrassed her had she been fully awake, Shayna slammed the phone shut and jumped out of bed, propelling herself downstairs at breakneck speed. There was no light, but she made her way to the door by habit and yanked it open.

Seeing him on the porch, that familiar black wool coat flapping, snapped some sense back into her. What was she thinking, rushing down here like some heartsick ninny? This man, who’d made fabulous, wonderful, awesome love to her then silently slipped out of her bed, hadn’t so much as said boo to her for four days. She couldn’t just roll over like Brinks and show him her belly.

At least not until she gave him a moment to apologize.

She backpedaled into the den. “Come in,” she directed, grabbing an afghan off the sofa and tossing it around her shoulders.

She turned and found him squatting, petting Brinks, who, as predicted, lay there, paws up, belly exposed. Way to stay strong, dog, she thought as she flipped on the lamp. “Kyle?”

He looked up, and the longing in his eyes-like a shipwrecked man who’d just spotted a rescue boat on the horizon-nearly knocked her on her rump. He stood and took several slow steps in her direction, a multitude of thoughts flashing across his expression, none sticking long enough for her to get a handle on. “I shouldn’t be here, but I couldn’t stay away.”

The combination of anguish and sincerity in his voice did her in. Her heart flopped over and gave itself completely, irrevocably, to him.

He came to her and ran the backs of his fingers down her cheek. “I have something very important to tell you, and it couldn’t wait until daylight.”

The words were so like her dream, Shayna feared she’d pass out from anticipation. “Yes?”