Judith Gilbert: The Mistletoe Affair

She glanced down to find Matt gazing at her. He looked down at the dirt covering his hands, which happened to be where her grim stare ended. Matt backed up a step and placed his little hand in Jared's huge one. “We gotta go wash after we've been outside, or Mom will get mad.” He led Jared down the carpeted hall.

Her face still burned from embarrassment when they returned. Matt led Jared to stand in front of her for an ‘official hand inspection'. She had her dad to thank for the predicament she found herself in right now. He always laughed and obediently stood behind Matt to set an example for his grandson. Her throat went dry at the mischief in Jared's eyes and the thought of touching and feeling the warmth of his skin.

“Smells good in here,” Jared remarked innocently, holding his hands out.

Oh my stars!

Jared wore black denim, a rich-chocolate shirt and smelled of mint soap from washing up. Katherine didn't touch the broad hands he extended. His long, thick fingers made her thoughts turn to distinctly unwelcomed ideas. She studied them with reluctant interest. At least on his hands his skin had a tan. A fleeting thought of where else he might be tanned made her blush and pronounce them clean.

He regarded her with amusement and whispered, “Chicken,” before he moved aside for Matt to have his turn.

She glanced to the side. Her mother winked at Katherine and patted the chair, motioning for Matt to sit beside her. Jared remained standing around the table, looking down at her with that dark, arched brow and the hint of a roguish smile.

Where were her manners? Katherine leapt from her chair and offered Jared a seat, sloshed some coffee into a cup and shoved it in front of him. He reached out, she pushed it forward, wanting to keep distance between them, and the cup toppled over.

It spilled across the table. Katherine stared at the spreading mess. Jared's eyes were reflected back at her in the creamy brown pool of coffee. Eyes she could drown in. She turned, grabbed paper towels, wadded them up and sopped up the puddle. Tossing the wet mess in the trashcan, she turned, topped his cup again and handed everyone napkins. Anything to keep her clumsy hands occupied.

Jared held his cup close to his chest, as if protecting it. He frowned every once in a while like she represented the plague moving in his direction. How could she blame him? She'd suddenly turned into the biggest butter-fingered klutz in Texas.

“Help yourself to some cookies,” she said.

Jared reached out to the plate piled with still-warm cookies and removed his unsettling gaze from her. She breathed a sigh of relief. From the gallon container, she poured Matt a glass of milk, set it in front of him and smiled when he helped himself to three of the largest cookies.

“She baked these,” her mother said, smiling at Jared. “They have raisins and coconut. Matt loves them."

Katherine rolled her eyes, silently pleading. Please. No matchmaking.

Jared picked out a plump, juicy raisin, rolled it between his fingers and plopped it into his mouth, before he took a bite of the cookie. “These taste even better than they smell."

Everyone nibbled on cookies, except Matt. He inhaled one and came up for air, looking expectantly at Katherine. “You know what?"

She almost spilled her coffee and Jared gave her the plague look again. Oh, no . Please. Not, “You know what?” Say anything but “You know what?” Last time Matt said that, she climbed a ladder, almost fell off a two-story roof and bloodied Jared's nose. She held her breath.

“What?” Jared asked, taking another bite of cookie.

“We gotta get a Christmas tree.” Matt held his hands up as high as they could reach. “A real big one. For big presents."

Katherine exhaled slowly, relieved. Surely she could handle getting a tree for Matt. What could possibly go wrong?

She thought about the toys hidden in the closet, none that came fully assembled. She convinced herself that men did this to get even with women. First, the instructions were written for mechanical engineers. Second, parts were always left when she finished and she'd have to start all over to figure out exactly where those parts belonged. She did not look forward to putting Matt's toys together at all.

Jared glanced at her. “You want to go this afternoon around five and get a tree, or do you have something else planned?” he asked in a casual tone, never taking his eyes off her.

Going anywhere with him spelled trouble. Maybe he thought because she was divorced, and he assumed she had been celibate for a long time she was an easy lay, like the women he dated. But, he couldn't know she'd stayed celibate. She gazed at him and bit her lower lip. Could he? I mean a thing like not having sex for a very long time, that doesn't show, does it?

“We can manage. Thank you.” She lifted her chin so he'd get her message.

Jared sipped his coffee, watching her intensely over the rim. “You're doing it again."

“Doing what?"

“Reading something into my actions that I never intended, like when I stopped your fall and accidentally grabbed your you-know-whats."

Katherine gasped. She choked on her cookie and gulped down a stream of hot coffee, fighting for air.

Her mother placed the back of her hand over her mouth, hiding a fit of laughter.

Matt turned and beat between Katherine's shoulder blades. He repeated what he'd heard her say for years when he swallowed wrong. “Did that cookie have a bone in it?"

She wiped at the water filling her eyes. “Yes, it did, but you made it better.” She coughed again. “Thanks, Matt."

Jared leaned toward her. “Are you all right? Your face is really flushed. How about more coffee?"

She shook her head and whispered, “I'm fine. Really."

He fell silent a few seconds before suggesting, “If this afternoon's not convenient, I'd be willing to change it to some other day."

I'll bet you are. “We wouldn't dream of making you change your plans. We'll be fine without your help."

“Dear.” Her mother turned toward her with a dreamy, far-away look Katherine recognized immediately. That twinkle in her eyes meant one thing. Matchmaking. “What Jared's offering sounds like a good idea. How are you going to fit a tree into that small car of yours?"

Katherine didn't want any part of what Jared might be offering-especially with his ‘bad-boy’ reputation. “Other families manage and we will, too."

Jared pursed his lips. “I don't think you can manage the tree by yourself.” Lifting his hands, he moved them upward. “Matt wants a big tree. You'll need a truck like mine to get it home."

“You have a truck!” Matt said to Jared. Her son turned toward her with excitement dancing in his eyes. “Mom, I'd love to ride in his truck, can we?"

“Maybe we can ride in it some other time.” She straightened her shoulders and glared at Jared.

He rolled his eyes. “I'm picking mine up today. Katherine might as well come along and let Matt select his tree."

Her mother nodded. “I still think that's a wonderful idea, Katherine. It'll be fun to let Matt ride in a truck."

Everyone was against her. Katherine breathed deeply and nodded, surprised at the flash of male triumph that flitted across Jared's face.

“While you're gone, I'll do my exercises again. When you come back we can finish the plans for our tree-trimming party.” Her mother turned to Matt. “Would you like a party?"

He clapped his hands. “Yes, ma'am, just like when Grandpa lived here.” Matt looked at Jared. “He's in heaven, but he sees us."

Katherine's heart squeezed tight in her chest. It had already been ten months. When would the knee-jerk reaction stop?