The Best Christmas Ever (10 page)

The blood drained from her face at his harsh and untrue words.

But Drydan wasn’t done. “Does Justin know your little secret? Would he be so interested then, I wonder, if he found out?”

Infertile.
He would tell Justin she was infertile just out of spite. The world spun and she thought she
would have to rush right back into the bathroom and be sick. Then she realized something. “You won’t tell him. It’d be too embarrassing for him to find out André had actually broken our engagement because he found out I was flawed.”

She saw she’d scored a point.

Squaring her shoulders, she advanced. “And it wouldn’t matter if you did, Mr. Watson. Justin is my brother-in-law and a good Christian man. I’m his housekeeper and sitter. There’s no romantic relationship between us, so that wouldn’t matter.”

She strode past him through the space that had opened up when he’d stepped back in anger.

“Mark my words, missy. He won’t have you. No man will when he finds out your secret.”

She tuned out his voice and continued to the lobby. She was heading toward the door, when a touch on her arm stopped her. She jumped and whirled around.

“Sarah, are you okay?” Justin stood there, looking, for all the world, like a concerned date.

No man will have you.
She swallowed and tried to smile. “I’m fine. I thought you’d be outside.”

“I didn’t want you going to the car alone. Besides, I have a couple of questions to ask you.”

They walked out of the restaurant together. “Oh?” she said, trying to sound carefree and failing miserably.

“The first is, do you still want to go to the movie?”

“Of course,” she immediately replied.

“And the second…” he paused as he got to the car. Unlocking the door, he opened it and stepped back to allow her to enter.

She waited, but he didn’t go on. Nor did he close
the door. Finally, she looked up at him. That was what he’d been waiting for.

“What’s going on between you and Drydan?”

She knew she was going to be sick.

“P
lease just drive.”

Justin watched Sarah as she visibly shook while trying to remove her purse strap from her shoulder. Such a simple task had become a major chore. He closed her door and went around to his side of the car. After sliding in, he started the car and drove off. He was halfway to the movie before she finally asked, “Why is Watson working for you?”

He shrugged. “Just one of the lawyers we hired to help with the overflow. He has a very sound head on his shoulders, has done wonders for other companies and is known as a very good attorney with contracts and such.”

“Oh, he is. He’s very good at what he does. Probably at the very top.”

“How would you know that, Sarah?” But he had a feeling he knew. He’d never really heard the last name of her fiancé. Could it be—

“My ex-boss. I was engaged to his son.”

Bingo.

“You see, he never liked me. Once Andrée and I were serious, Drydan did everything in his power to get me to quit. He’s the one who delivered the news that I was fired. And he enjoyed telling me a minute ago that I’d proven him true by chasing after you, hoping to cash in on your fortune.”

“He said what!” The car swerved, but Justin immediately jerked the wheel, steering the vehicle back into his lane.

Sarah’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at Justin. Her misery vanished as she realized Justin was absolutely furious. “I’m sorry, Justin. That’s just Drydan. He doesn’t like me and wanted to make sure he scored a few points. I didn’t mean to cause any problems when I saw him by the phones. Maybe I should have just pleaded illness and left—”

“Not another word.”

She snapped her mouth shut, taken aback by the savage sound of his voice.

“Don’t apologize for things that aren’t your fault. That’s one pet peeve I have developed about you that’s going to drive me crazy, Sarah. You take
too
much blame.”

“You don’t have to be mad at me!” she cried.

Justin shook his head, his anger cooling some. “I’m not mad at you. I’m angry at what I allowed to go on when I was only a few feet away. Why didn’t you tell me, Sarah, that you were uncomfortable? I never would’ve stayed.”

She shrugged. “It was a business meeting—”

“It could have taken place later.”

“I didn’t know that!” she argued, irritably.

“Point made,” he said.

And she thought he actually grumbled the words. Turning, she saw he was frowning out the windshield. “Please, don’t be angry,” she said softly, sorry she had repeated what Drydan had told her.

Finally, he sighed. “I’ll try. After all, I don’t want you to think I’m
always
like this.”

He actually gave her a small grin.

“I think I know that,” she replied, smiling.

“Do you?” he asked quietly, intensely.

She didn’t answer. She didn’t have to because Justin returned his gaze to the street as they arrived at the movie theater.

After he parked, he came around and opened her door again. This time he reached in and took her hand. Shaking his head, he smacked his lips. “I think between the movie and you, that you, darlin’, are going to be the better to watch.”

She laughed. “What do you mean by that?”

“I’m taking you to one of those sappy romantic movies. I figured that’s what all women would want to see.” He gave her a long-suffering look.

“Actually,” she replied, blithely lying, “I’m a horror person myself.”

His eyes widened, then gleamed with amusement. “
Revenge of the Swamp Monster
is showing, if you prefer. I hear aliens came to Earth and repaired the creature so that he lives once again.”

She burst out laughing and started across the parking lot with him. “I give in. Sappy, syrupy romance is fine.”

While Sarah waited, Justin paid for two tickets.
“It’s been aeons since I’ve been to a movie theater,” she confided as they went inside.

“Then I think you should enjoy first class,” he replied, leading her over to the concessions.

“Oh, please, don’t buy those. The prices at these counters are outrageous.”

“You didn’t eat any dinner. I don’t want to sit through the entire show listening to your stomach growl.”

She flushed.

He chuckled. “A ‘monster buster popcorn,’” he said, reading from the menu, “and two medium drinks.”

“You don’t expect to eat all that popcorn, do you?” Sarah asked, aghast at the size of the popcorn he’d ordered.

“If we don’t I can guarantee you that Mickie will finish off the leftovers. She eats about half of one of these whenever we come to the movies. She loves popcorn.”

“As much as peanut butter and jelly?”

“I don’t think so.” He grinned. “Of course, you have to understand, in six months or so she’ll have another all-time-favorite food.”

They found seats just in time—the lights were already dimming. Sarah had never realized how close the seats were before. Justin’s arm brushed hers as he jerked on his jacket before finally getting it off. His light musky cologne wafted over to her and she inhaled it, enjoying the scent and the warmth of his presence next to her.

How could she have guessed he would have stood up for her against Drydan? Even André hadn’t done
that. André had only shrugged and said his father and mother were worried about him. He’d never been outraged or offended by the way his parents had insulted her. But Justin had. And he’d felt upset he hadn’t been there to defend her. It gave her a very warm, special feeling to know he wasn’t angry with her.

She turned her attention to the screen and began to eat popcorn. Occasionally, their hands would bump and she and Justin would each offer an “Excuse me.” The tension—tension she was still surprised to find between them—built.

She was so nervous she missed the entire movie. All she caught was that it was about two people who fell in love, but the disclosure of some deep dark secret broke them apart. In the end, love overcame the obstacle.

The story line did nothing for her stretched nerves. There was no love between her and Justin. She felt only an attraction. He’d invited her out and let her feel like an adult for a night. However, the plot, along with Drydan’s words, made her wonder how Justin would feel if he suddenly found out what had originally motivated her to pray and finally come see him.

Would he be hurt? Angry? Bitter?

It wasn’t that she didn’t care for him, that she hadn’t wanted to see Mickie before she’d found out she was infertile. It was just that…what?

That her priorities hadn’t been right? That she’d had so many things going in her life that she’d relegated Justin and Mickie to the far corners of her mind?

They were all awful reasons, but all true. How self-centered she could be? The occasional brush of his leg or arm was driving her crazy! she thought, distracted
once again by the warm, intimate brush of his trousers against her nylon-covered leg.

“You ready?”

She blinked, glanced at Justin and realized the credits were just coming up on the screen. She nodded. “A good movie,” she said.

“I should have chosen action.” He chuckled, then winked. “I would’ve gotten more of a reaction from you.”

She laughed, not sure what he meant. His warm hand slipped to her back and again she recognized how much of a gentleman Justin was.

He escorted her to the car and closed the door behind her before slipping in on his own side. The ride was quiet, not filled with chatter, as they drove along the highway.

“Did you really enjoy the movie?” he asked as they approached his house.

“Very much,” Sarah murmured. “Or, at least, going out. I hadn’t realized just how much my world had started revolving around Mickie and housework.”

He chuckled again, a husky sound that sent shivers down her arms.

“I force myself to take off at least once a month and go to a museum during lunch or just for a walk. It not only gets me away from the office but gives me time to relax and think about what I have, how lucky I am. Just to enjoy being a person instead of a dad or a president of his own company.”

“Well, I can say it was nice. I think I’d forgotten what quiet is. Or just sitting still.”

He pulled into the driveway, right into the garage, and turned off the engine. The garage light automatically
came on, illuminating the way to the kitchen door.

She pushed open her own door and slipped out of the car before he could come around.

“Shame on you,” he chided, standing in front of the vehicle.

She shrugged. “You’re tired.”

He smiled, an odd smile. “Now, why would you say that?”

“You’ve been so quiet.”

“I was just thinking,” he replied, escorting her to the door.

His hand was at her back again, the light touch thoroughly distracting her.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his keys—and promptly dropped them.

Sarah, nervous for some unknown reason, tried to get them at the same time he did. She chuckled self-consciously and stood back up, only to find she was inches from Justin. Her gaze snapped up to his.

Justin’s eyes darkened as he looked at her face, her eyes and, finally, her mouth.

Frozen, Sarah watched as his head bent. Slowly, his mouth closed the distance to her lips.

Her breathing increased.

What in the world is happening?
her mind screamed at her.
This is Justin!
But it didn’t matter. She felt warm, strong hands on her arms, and then she was being pulled against Justin’s hard frame. She relaxed in his embrace as she told herself no. Then she lifted her lips to his.

Warm, soft, tender.
Those were the words to describe how it felt to be kissed by Justin Warner. His
arms slid behind her and held her to him; his lips touched hers and caressed her tenderly, then with more urgency. She kissed him back, a tumult of warm, sweet emotions swirling within her.

Then Justin eased back. When she opened her eyes, he was staring at her in shock.

Her own breathing was unsteady. But she flushed at the surprised look on his face. “What? Have I grown two heads?” she quipped, but her voice came out like a croak, definitely not normal.

Justin didn’t get the chance to answer, she was thankful, for Christine showed up at the door and pulled it open.

“I thought I heard you get home. Did you forget your key?”

Justin stepped back. Sarah immediately slipped around Christine. “Good night. Thanks,” she called, and strode quickly toward the stairs.

Have I grown two heads?
Great line, Connelly, she admonished herself. She went into Mickie’s room and kissed the little girl good-night, then hurried into her room before Justin could catch her, if he even intended to.

She didn’t bother with a shower, and instead changed right into her nightie. No way was she going to risk going out there and running into Justin again.

She flipped out the light and in a few minutes heard his tread up the stairs. It sounded as if he hesitated outside her door but then went on. She wasn’t sure. She was thankful he hadn’t knocked if he had indeed passed by.

Oh, how she was thankful. She’d had no business
kissing Justin like that. She was his employee, nothing more. No wonder he looked shocked.

True, he had initiated the kiss. Was it possible he’d felt responsible for what had happened at the restaurant and had thought to apologize, then reacted to the yearning for him he’d seen in her eyes? Or maybe it had just been one of those fluke things. After all, there was a full moon tonight, and full moons made people go crazy, didn’t they?

She pulled the covers over her head. She didn’t want to think about it. She couldn’t think about it. She had just come out of a bad relationship with André, a man she’d
thought
she’d loved, though she realized now she had just enjoyed his company.

André was sweet, but there had never been a real spark between them. He certainly hadn’t caused the reaction in her that Justin had just caused.

No, she would not compare them. Justin was…Justin. Her brother-in-law and her employer. That was all. And he would stay that. She would make sure to forget what had happened, then he wouldn’t have to look so shocked again.

Yes, that’s what she’d do. She couldn’t afford to get close to someone else a second time. She knew he’d forgiven her for the past, but he wouldn’t forgive her if he found out she was infertile. He would believe that was the only reason she’d come back in the first place. And he’d be basically right. She wouldn’t be able to argue, and he’d throw her out and probably refuse to allow her to see Mickie again. There would be hurt all around.

Dear Father, what have I done? Please, please,
please help me to ignore my feelings and just do the job I came here to do.

She admitted she’d wanted to get to know Mickie and Justin, too—but not that way. Only hurt could come of it. She touched her lips, recalling their kiss, then gasped when she realized what she was doing.

Burrowing her head under her pillow, she vowed that tomorrow she would force herself to forget what had happened tonight. Yes, as the old saying went, tomorrow was another day. She’d start fresh, avoid Justin if necessary. But she would, in no way, let him think she was interested in more than a working relationship…no matter what her heart and lips were telling her.