Be Mine at Christmas(13)
Author: Brenda Novak

“Matt told us you two went to school together,” Ben, Matt’s father, said after they’d been ushered in and offered a drink. He was doing his best to make her feel comfortable.

Angela glanced over at Matt, who stood by the punch bowl. He was talking to his brother and sister-in-law, who’d come from Reno, and a couple of uncles or cousins. Angela had been introduced to everyone, but Matt had such a big family, she was starting to lose track of who they were and how they all fit in. “That’s right. I lived with Betty Cunningham.”

Matt’s dad was an older version of Matt, except there was gray mixed in with his dark blond hair, and he had brown eyes. Matt’s mother was almost as tall as his father, and significantly overweight, but she was jovial and warm.

“Betty was a wonderful person,” Ben said. “Loved jewelry. Came down to the store often.”

Angela liked the rustic log home Matt’s father had built. A mile or so from town, it was cut into Mount Davidson, like the other homes and businesses in the area, and smelled of the fire crackling in the hearth. Scrupulously clean and well-decorated in rustic browns and reds, it had a wall of windows in front. The Christmas tree stood before the windows, reaching all the way to the center beam of the polished wooden ceiling, its lights reflecting in the glass. Angela guessed that in the daytime, the Jacksons had a lovely view of the Como Mountains.

“I miss her,” she admitted. Somehow, the hustle and bustle of the party and the easy camaraderie between all these people only added to Angela’s sense of isolation.

“Your daughter is such a nice girl.” Sherry, Matt’s mother, joined them now that she’d finished whatever errand had sent her scurrying to the kitchen with Kayla as soon as she and Angela had arrived.

“Thank you.”

“I’ve got her decorating cookies with my sister’s kids,” she confided. “She’s a natural.”

“I’m sure she’ll like that.” Angela caught Matt watching her. She smiled as if she were having a good time, but she wasn’t. She didn’t want to be here. This showed her what Kayla could have—without her.

“WHAT’S WRONG?” Matt asked.

Angela had left the party and stepped onto the extensive deck that wrapped around his parents’ home. A chill wind was blowing—possibly the beginning of the storm Peggy McGinness had predicted—but there was a full moon and when he came up next to her, he could see the snow glistening far below. It was beautiful. But not half as beautiful as the woman staring forlornly down at it.

She glanced over at him. “Nothing, I just…needed some fresh air.”

“Are you overwhelmed by the crowd?”

“No,” she said, but when she met his knowing gaze, she instantly recanted. “Yes.”

He chuckled with her. “You get used to the chaos.”

“They’re great. You’re very lucky.”

He knew he shouldn’t touch her. He’d promised himself he’d take the relationship more slowly, so she wouldn’t rebuff him again. But she looked so lost standing there, he couldn’t help trying to comfort her, include her. Moving behind her, he gripped the wooden railing, penning her between his arms. He was hoping she’d lean back and let him hold her, but she didn’t. “They really like Kayla,” he said.

She had a strange expression on her face when she twisted to peer up at him.

“Angela?”

She studied him for a moment, then seemed to relax. “She likes them, too. She—she’s never had anything like this.”

He slipped his arms around her, pulling her into full contact with him. He wanted to shelter her from the cold, close the emotional distance she kept putting between them as easily as he could close the physical one. If she’d let him… “Neither have you.”

She didn’t answer.

Lifting her hair, he pressed his lips to her neck. “Why not open up? Give it a try?” he asked softly.

“Matt, I—” He stiffened, afraid she was going to pull away again. “I have something to tell you.”

The tone of her voice didn’t sound promising. “What’s that?”

“It’s about that night, with Stephanie.”

He could tell by how rigid she’d gone that this wouldn’t be good. Could she have warned him and hadn’t? He no longer cared. That was thirteen years ago, and Stephanie had probably dragged her into it. He wasn’t going to allow what had happened then ruin what could happen now. “I don’t want to talk about that night,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned it never took place.”

“But Stephanie—”

“Doesn’t exist.”

“Is that what you want?” she asked fervently. “To forget? To live your life just as it is?”

“This is what I want,” he responded and, keeping their backs to the house in case anyone glanced out, he slid his hand up her smooth, flat stomach.

CHAPTER SIX

ANGELA KNEW BETTER than to let their relationship get physical. Matt claimed he didn’t care about what had happened thirteen years ago, but he didn’t understand. There was a living, breathing person as a result of that night. Surely, he’d want to know.

Or maybe not. Maybe he liked his life exactly as it was. That was what he’d implied.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on her worries. His fingers were lightly caressing one breast through the thin fabric of her bra, sending shock waves of pleasure cascading through her.

“Matt,” she murmured, still torn. Her conscience demanded she stop him, but her body begged her to close her eyes and forget. She’d tried to say his name in a commanding tone—but it came out choked and eager, and she could feel how deeply it affected him.

Pulling her along the railing to a set of stairs, he led her down to a small guest room. Set off from the rest of the house, it had a bed and its own bath.

“Let me see you,” he whispered as he shut and locked the door behind them.

In the house above, they could hear Christmas music, laughter, the tramping of feet. But it seemed far removed from them. Angela imagined Kayla grinning from ear to ear, licking frosting off her fingers. For the moment, everyone was happy. There was no need to ruin the party by blurting out the truth or to deny themselves these few stolen minutes. What would that really change?

Slowly, Angela slipped her red sweater over her head, watching carefully for Matt’s reaction as it dropped to the floor—and was gratified when his eyes darkened and his jaw sagged.