Sweet Christmas Kisses (121 page)

Panic wrinkled her forehead. “Who are you?”

He reached for her hand to soothe her. She pulled away as if a hornet had stung her. “Don’t touch me.” Her sudden repulsion slapped him in the face.

“Who are you?” she repeated, her teeth clenched. Anger and pain churned in her eyes. His heart melted for her and guilt stabbed him.

The five men surrounding them stared, not understanding the question or the depth of the drama. He needed to get her away from them, from this airport, from the pothole they had fallen into, and clarify the situation.

Brian glared at him. “He’s Dr. Tony Lorenzo, my mentor in psychiatry.” Scorn dripped from his words.

David added his input. “Yes, the director of our Crisis Center.”

Clyde crossed his arms and glared at Tony. “A reputable psychiatrist who can convince a tender personality of anything he wants.”

“No, it can’t be. Tony, tell me they are wrong?” she begged. “You are a simple travel agency clerk. Right?”

“That’s what he told you?” Josh snorted, before Tony could breathe a word. “I know him well, Julia. I’m the lawyer for his psychiatric group.”

“You lying bastard,” Clyde snarled. “You tried to steal her from me.”

 Tony ignored them. Only one person interested him. “I’m sorry, Julia. You were so turned against all doctors I didn’t want to spoil our beautiful time together.” He opened his hand and waited, hoping against hope.

Her gaze fluttered from his hand to his eyes. “How could you lie to me all this time?”

“Was it so important to tell you my profession and risk ruining a perfect vacation?”

“Maybe you lied about...” She lowered her head. He knew she was fighting her tears.

“Never. I withheld the truth about my job, but every word I said was true. Please, believe me. I was going to tell you everything on Tuesday.”

She rubbed her hand over her forehead. “I can’t trust you anymore. Goodbye.” She turned away.

Why had he waited so long to acknowledge his feelings?

Tell her, you idiot. Tell her in front of her brothers. Let the whole airport know
.

“I love you, Julia. Oh God, I love you so much,” he called after her.

Deep silence fell around him and people stared.

She halted, shook her head, and then continued. A human wall shielded her from his view.

He’d lost his Christmas angel, the only woman he’d ever loved.

Fighting her desperation and tears, Julia walked beside her brothers, barely aware of her surroundings. She’d lost her happy dream and her handsome hero. Was she cursed to always fall for the wrong man?

Tony had seemed to be the right one for her. Tears blurred her vision and she almost tripped on a suitcase. Josh caught her arm and tossed her a sympathetic glance.

Outside the airport, they waited on the sidewalk. A huge SUV stopped at the curb, Ethan’s company car. He held the door for her and she climbed into the second row. Her male escorts followed, with Josh and David beside her, Clyde and Brian behind them, and Ethan next to his driver. The SUV took off.

Her eyes fixed to the window, she tried to block the happy pictures of last week. What’s the use? One more time she’d let a jerk fool her.

Tony was not a jerk, her heart protested. He’d been the kindest man on Earth, the most tender lover. Her tears threatened to burst out in a flood. She sniffled and pressed her wrist against her mouth.

But he lied to you, her brain insisted.

Only by omission. He really didn’t utter any lies.

Stop defending him, you idiot
. A big sigh escaped her.

“Julia, don’t make such a drama,” Josh squeezed her hand. “It’s not the end of the world. You had a good vacation apparently. A lot of fun. Now, your normal life will resume.”

“Normal life?” She threw him a disgusted look and arched her eyebrows. What normal life did she have before the cruise? A boring empty life with a gold-digger taking advantage of her? Josh wanted her to go back to
that
?

“Darling, I’m here for you.” Clyde’s hand stroked her nape. “I’ll be at your side to fix all the problems and we’ll be happy again together.”

She spun toward him and glared. “You,” she snapped. “You were out of the picture two weeks ago. What brought you here anyway?”

“I saw the pictures in the newspaper like everyone else. For you to throw yourself in another man's arms, right after our argument, you obviously needed my loving attention. I told Josh I wanted to come and meet you with them.”

“Your loving attention? Keep it for your receptionist,” she yelled, exasperated. “Nothing has changed as far as you’re concerned.”

“Julia, calm down,” David admonished. “You’ve made a mess of your life. We’re here to help you.”

“No, you listen to me. All of you.” Her voice rose with her irritation. “I’m not the lil’ sis you can order around. I’ll do what I want with my life, even mess it up if it suits me. Stop interfering. You had no right to be at the airport.”

“Of all the ungrateful—” David started but Josh interrupted him.

“Leave her in peace, David. She’s upset right now.”

“Upset at what? I don’t understand. She doesn’t seem to care about the pictures in the papers or the scandal she’s caused or Dad’s health and political problems.”

“I think Dr. Lorenzo lied to her,” Brian suggested.

“What lie did he tell you?” David asked.

“None of your business.” She clamped her jaws together.

“I think he let her believe he worked at a travel agency.” Josh narrowed his eyes. “Is that the store where I dropped you to pick up your car the day after the storm?”

“As a matter of fact,” Brian said, “I recall that Dr. Lorenzo mentioned once he had to help his mother at her travel agency because her employee had an emergency.”

Behind her, Clyde grumbled. “The travel agency where you went after running away from my clinic. So he was there. I’ll bet the bastard tried to console you. He’s an expert at soothing emotional women.”

“Okay, happy you solved the puzzle?” She crossed her arms on her chest. “I’ve had it with you, Clyde. You’re not coming to the house. Ethan, tell your driver to drop him at his clinic or I’m the one leaving this car. We’re near his building now.”

Her brothers examined her with a new respect and looked at each other. Josh nodded and Ethan talked to his driver. A moment later, the car stopped in front of the clinic she had left in tears. His face a hard mask, Clyde jumped out. “I’ll see you at the hospital, David.”

He disappeared into the building and hopefully out of her life. Julia heaved a deep breath. The past didn’t mean anything to her anymore.

“Listen Julia,” Ethan groaned. “Josh and I have come to spend a few days with the family for Christmas. Try not to ruin them with your bad mood and stop being selfish.”

“I’m not being selfish. Honestly.” She wanted her brothers to understand. “I did my best to be discreet on the ship. Jeff and Mary-Beth Anderson were hounding us all the time. Tony helped me. He even let them believe he was gay.” She flicked her pinkie.

“He what?” they shouted together. Shock and disbelief played on each male face.

A nervous laugh shook her.

“You don’t say. Dr. Lorenzo playing the...?” Brian’s eyes almost popped out. “Why on Earth would he do that?”

“To help me and get rid of the Andersons,” she simply said. “Wouldn’t you do it to help your friend?”

“Never,” David and Josh cried.

Ethan burst out laughing. “I’d have to be madly in love to act that crazy.”

She rubbed her neck and played with the big beads of her
Murano
necklace. Was Tony madly in love? He called after her that he loved her. She thought it was too late, but...

“Pretty necklace,” Brian said. “You got it in Venice?”

“Tony bought it in Rome. He wanted me to have a little souvenir from Italy.”

David bent to examine it. “A
little
souvenir? This necklace is a true
Murano
. Look at the size of the beads.” He chuckled. “It must have cost a
little
fortune.”

“Are you sure?” She stared at her beads.

“I bought a similar one for Jenny. Don’t worry, Lorenzo can afford it. He’s a doctor and making good money.”

Unlike Clyde, Tony was generous, and he had taken care of her every minute of the trip. She fingered her necklace, recalling the kiss he’d given her after clasping his gift at her neck.

“Julia, do you love him?” Josh asked with a soft voice.

Silence hovered in the car as they waited for her answer.

“Yes, I love him, but he lied to me and didn’t tell me about his job as a doctor, so I don’t know if he loves me.”

“If he played the gay to protect you, then I’d say he’s in love,” Ethan drawled.

“If he gave you that necklace and called it a
little
souvenir, I think he must love you,” David pointed out.

“If he took a week off from his busy schedule to be on a cruise with you, he must have been very attracted to you, don’t you think?” Brian suggested.

Julia smiled. Darn, they were answering her questions, calming her doubts. “What about you, Josh. What’s your opinion?”

“I heard a lot of things at the airport. I heard him say he loves you.” Josh captured her gaze and she eagerly listened to her lawyer brother. “Julia, Tony Lorenzo is usually a very self-confident psychiatrist who’s used to helping others. Yet he hid his profession because he was so afraid of losing you after hearing you hated all doctors. A profession he’s very proud of.”

“What? Why would you hate all doctors?” David scowled.

“Including your brothers?” Brian tapped her shoulder. “Shame on you, Julia Ellen.”

“It’s because of Clyde. I was so upset.”

“Forget Clyde, once and for all,” Brian grumbled. “I always thought he was a creep.”

“I assume Tony planned to tell you about his job after the cruise in order to not upset you and spoil your fun,” Josh continued with his theory.

“That’s what he mentioned at the airport.” She bit her lip, pondering what Josh had summarized.

Her lungs swelled with a happy feeling and a soothing peace settled inside her. “Josh, do you have Dr. Lorenzo’s home address?”

****

Tony headed to the shower as soon as he returned home to his condo on Tuesday night. For the past two days, he’d drowned himself in work and seen even more patients than before leaving for vacation.

His interns ended up begging for a break. Young Brian had often glanced at him curiously and immediately averted his eyes, but hadn’t dared address him. Besides, Tony’s intimidating scowl hadn’t invited conversation. Several times, Tony had been about to ask him how his sister was doing and changed his mind.

Did she still resent him? Probably. Otherwise, she would have called.

He’d been tempted to call her so many times yesterday and today, but hadn’t, afraid she wouldn’t take his calls. Texting seemed too impersonal after all they had shared. He’d give her time to recover from their hectic schedules during the cruise and the mess at the airport.

The hot shower did wonders to his tired body. Wrapping a towel around his hips, he checked his answering machine. No messages. His emails? Still nothing.

He was supposed to take her out today and explain everything. Too late now. What a fiasco. He’d sit home alone and heat a frozen pizza.

Damn, he had to do something to get her back. His impatience escalated at his inability to communicate with her. On a sudden inspiration, he sat at his desk and started sending her their vacation pictures. One after the other for ten minutes. Maybe they would remind her of their good time together and reassure her he would do anything to make her happy.

Come on, answer, Julia
. Nothing came, no call, no text. The continued silence frustrated him and scared him. What if she refused to forgive? What if she compared him to Clyde? She was already convinced all doctors were nasty.

Please, sweetheart, call. Say you like the pictures, at least one of them
.

He couldn’t afford to lose her. He loved her. The words he had blurted at the airport to keep her came from his heart. He’d go to her house and beg to see her.

A strong knock on the door interrupted his musing. Someone from the building since the front desk hadn’t called to announce a visitor. “Who is it?”

“Joe from reception. I have something to deliver.”

Tony tightened the knot on his wrap and opened the door. And stared, unable to believe his eyes.

“Julia.” She’d come. All the way to his place.

His gaze roved over her. As lovely as always, with her suede coat, short skirt and high-heeled boots. The same angel who had appeared at the shop window of the travel agency when he was setting up the Nativity display.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

“Yes, of course. Come in. Hu...sorry I’m not decent. Just got out of the shower.” He let her in and closed the door, not sure what to expect, and yet hoping they could go back to their idyllic time. If she came to him, it should be a positive sign.

She did some peering of her own, her gaze roaming over his chest and towel. “You look...great.” Her cheeks pinked when the damn towel started tenting in an embarrassing way. She averted her eyes, took off her coat and threw it on a chair with her handbag.

“I feel at a disadvantage here. Let me get dressed and we’ll talk.”

Her hand flew to his arm. “Before you go, I want to tell you, I don’t resent you anymore.”

A big sigh escaped him. “Thank you, Julia.” He considered her and hesitated, not sure they could forget the airport episode and his deceit without serious explanations.

What the heck, he couldn’t wait another second. He pulled her against him and enfolded her in his arms. “Sweetheart, I missed you so much. I went through hell these past two days, waiting for a call or a text from you.” He caressed her hair. “You were still analyzing your feelings.”

She laughed. “The analysis is your department, Dr. Lorenzo. I made up my mind, in the car, while going home.”

“That soon?”

“I had a chat with my brothers and their comments made me see things clearly.”