A Mistletoe Affair (13 page)

Her cheeks turned beet-red. It was the most adorable thing he’d ever witnessed, especially when he took into account where they were and what they’d just done. “Come on, Vicki,” he encouraged. “I want you to say it.”

She rolled her eyes. “Before we made love,” she said. “For the second time. I want to know what you were thinking before we made love for the second time.”

“I was trying to think of how I could convince you to do it a second time, and then maybe a third.”

“You were not,” she said with a laugh, pushing up from where she’d been draped on top of him. Jordan instantly missed her weight and warmth.

She grabbed the afghan that he kept on the deck furniture and wrapped it around herself. A tiny part of him died as she covered up her nakedness. If he could, he would keep her naked for the next week.

“Tell me,” she said. “What were you thinking?”

He blew out a sigh as he realized that she wasn’t about to let this go.

“I was thinking of how fast this is all moving.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “And of how it all turned out the last time I allowed things to move so quickly with a woman.”

In a soft, slightly accusatory voice, Vicki said, “You’re still comparing me to her.”

“It’s hard not to make comparisons,” Jordan said. “She was my last serious relationship.” He moved over to her and pulled her onto his lap. He didn’t miss the way she stiffened against him. “But also know that things are different with you, Vicki. Because
you’re
different.” Jordan pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder. “I can’t help this fear. It’s been a part of me since Allison walked out, but I’m determined to fight through it, because you’re worth it.”

“
We’re
worth it,” she said. “I don’t care what it takes, I’m going to prove to you that I’m better than Allison.”

“You don’t have to prove anything to me. These issues I have over what happened with Allison are just that—they’re
my
issues. I don’t want you to feel that you need to compete with my ex-wife. You’ve already won that battle.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “I’m going to admit something that I’ve been too ashamed to admit to anyone.”

Several moments crept by before Vicki prompted him. “What is it?” she asked.

In a voice that was barely a whisper, Jordan said, “I don’t think I ever really loved her. I was enamored with her, some might even say enthralled, but if Allison had not gotten pregnant with Mason, I doubt our relationship would have lasted more than a couple of months.” Jordan shook his head. “When I think of my parents’ long, loving marriage, I feel ashamed that I made such a mockery of the institution by marrying a woman I wasn’t in love with.”

“You thought you were doing the right thing. Giving Mason a two-parent home.”

“And just look how that turned out. I probably scarred him for life.”

Her expression softened. She cupped his jaw in her palm. “To quote the great Dr. Seuss, ‘Oh, the things you can find if you don’t stay behind.’ The mistakes you made with Allison, the hurt she caused you, it’s in your past, Jordan. Leave it all behind and look toward the future.”

“I’m going to try my best to take that advice,” he said. He pulled her more firmly against him. “Who would have thought Dr. Seuss would come to the rescue yet again tonight?”

“You’d better pay attention to those books when you read to Mason. Dr. Seuss was filled with those little nuggets of wisdom. Whenever things start to get overwhelming, I read it and remember that I’m continually striving to make my business the best that it can become.”

Jordan trailed his finger along her temple and down her cheek. “You’re amazing, you know that? You have the ability to change my entire perspective with just a few words. I don’t know if I can ever find a way to thank you for everything you’ve done, Vicki.”

A wicked smile lifted the corner of her mouth. “If you think long and hard enough—” she wiggled on his lap “—I’m sure you can come up with something.”

Jordan barked out a laugh. He pressed a swift kiss to her lips. “I think I may have found it,” he said as he flipped her onto her back and inched his mouth down her body. “Give me just a second. I’ll show you.”

Chapter 9

“Y
ou mind sharing whatever it is that put that smile on your face?”

Vicki jumped to attention at her mother’s question. She knew the heat creeping up her face was turning her fair skin red, but how in the heck was she supposed to prevent that when thoughts of the night she’d spent in Jordan’s arms invaded her mind every waking minute?

“I’m not sure it’s something a mother would be all that comfortable hearing from her daughter,” Vicki replied.

Christine Ahlfors’s eyes narrowed as a smile drew across her lips. “Who is he?” her mother asked.

“Just because I’m smiling a little more than usual today, you automatically assume there’s a man behind it?”

“Yes,” her mother stated. “Now, tell me who he is?”

“How many centerpieces will you need for the senior citizens’ Christmas luncheon?” Vicki asked.

“Don’t even try changing the subject on me,” her mother said.

Vicki arranged the poinsettia in the brass pot and set it in the center of the table in her mother’s informal dining room.

“Vicki!” Her mother screeched.

She whipped around. “What?”

“Tell me who he is,” she practically whined.

With a sigh, Vicki finally relented. “Jordan Woolcott.”

She watched as her mother’s mouth formed a perfect O. He eyes grew just as round. “Really,” she said. “After all these years.”

It was Vicki’s turn to stand with her mouth agape. “Was it that obvious?”

“Honey, I’m your mother. Do you really believe I could miss those longing looks you would send Jordan’s way whenever he was around? I’m just happy he finally caught a clue.” Her mouth curved with a coy grin. “As far as catches go, he’s a good one.”

“He has some issues,” she said.

“The election?”

“And the ex-wife.”

“Ah, yes.” Her brows arched. “She is a bit of baggage, but she hasn’t really been around, though, has she?”

“No, but she left her mark on Jordan,” Vicki said. She fingered the poinsettia’s silky petal. “To say he’s gun-shy about trusting another woman is an understatement.”

“He just needs a good woman to show him the right way. At least he’s finally opened his eyes to the possibilities. I’m grateful for that.”

“So am I,” Vicki said with a grin. She kissed her mother’s cheek. “I have to go. I’ve got several arrangements to complete for the Williamses’ holiday party and a lot of work to get done on the float. The kids have been working on it everyday, but I need to be there to make sure it’s all going according to plan.”

Her mother caught her by the wrist. “Vicki, you know it’s not too late to pull out of this float competition, don’t you?”

Vicki’s heart deflated. “Really?” she asked. “Are we back to this? What is it, Mom? Are you afraid that I’m going to embarrass the family or something?”

“Of course not,” her mother said. “I just don’t want you to be hurt if this doesn’t turn out the way you think it will.”

“Oh, so you think I’m going to come in last place? Is that it?”

“Vicki, you know that’s not the case.” The sting of her mother’s chastising tone was softened by the gentle smile on her face, but it didn’t do much to assuage the disappointment Vicki felt at the realization that her mother still didn’t believe in her. Would her family ever take her seriously?

“I have to go. I’ll see you later,” she said, giving her mother a kiss on the cheek.

Three hours later, Vicki began to wonder if there wasn’t something to her mother’s concerns. As she stared at the planks of particleboard littering the ground around the base of the float, Vicki had to stop herself from crying.

“Are you okay?” Jasper Saunders, one of the high school students she mentored through Mass Mentors, asked.

“No,” Vicki answered. “This is not good.”

“It’s just a setback, Ms. Vicki. They can probably cut you more particleboard in a day.”

She looked over at Jasper and smiled at his attempt to make her feel better. “What have I told you about calling me Ms. Vicki?” she asked. “It makes me feel older than I really am.”

He grinned. “Sorry.” He hitched a thumb at the door. “Since we can’t do any more on the float today, do you mind if I go? A few of us are heading to the mall to celebrate being off for winter break.”

“Sure,” Vicki said. “Have fun. I’ll text you when I get the new particleboards.”

Once she was sure Jasper had left the building, Vicki thought long and hard about indulging in a much-needed cry. But she wasn’t going to do that. This was a setback—a big one, but not insurmountable.

She unrolled the float’s design plans and cursed. She acknowledged that she was the one who’d made the mistake in the calculations. The particleboards she’d had custom cut for her float were short by several inches.

“A math whiz, you are not,” Vicki said.

If she had the pieces shipped to her, it would cost her another two days that she couldn’t spare. She would have to drive down to the lumberyard in Cambridge where she’d ordered them and hope that they could cut her all new boards today.

“You can still do this,” Vicki said. But she was not relying on her own math skills to get it done this time.

It was a good thing she was dating a self-proclaimed math nerd.

If anything could brighten her sullen mood, it was thoughts of Jordan. She took out her phone and explained her dilemma to him. Twenty minutes later, Vicki heard his car pulling up.

“Where’s Mason?” she asked, immediately noticing that he didn’t have the toddler in tow.

“Grandma Nancy insisted on taking him to Boston to see some ice-skating show at TD Garden arena.”

“Oh, I saw the commercial for that. He’s going to love it.”

“He loves being spoiled by his grandmother, and she loves spoiling him. It’s a win-win.” He motioned to the float. “What’s going on here?”

“I’m in over my head,” Vicki admitted. She explained the mishap with her measurements. “I called the lumberyard while you were driving over and they said if I emailed the correct measurements they could have new boards cut by this afternoon, which makes me the luckiest girl in the world. But it still sets me back by at least a day. It’s time I can’t afford to lose, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Jordan covered her shoulders with his palms and pulled her toward him, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. “You’ve got this,” he said. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll make up whatever time you lost today.”

There he went again, making her heart melt. Vicki found herself falling more and more in love with him every day, and this was just one of the reasons why. He always knew the exact thing to say to set her mind at ease.

Jordan pulled out a tape measure and started assessing the dimensions of the float base. Vicki typed the numbers he called out into her phone and emailed them to the lumberyard.

“See how easy that was?” he said.

“Painless,” she said. “Now to get down to Cambridge before the lumberyard closes for the day.”

“Do you want some company on the drive?”

“You have time to drive down to Cambridge with me?”

“I’ll make the time,” Jordan said, pulling her in for another kiss, this one leaving her knees weak.

They drove to Cambridge together and picked up the newly cut boards for her float, but instead of returning to Wintersage, Jordan took her on the Jordan Woolcott personal tour of the town where he’d gone to both college and law school. They visited several of his old haunts. Vicki laughed until her sides hurt as he regaled her with stories of his days as a hotheaded law student who thought he knew everything.

“I’ve been put in my place by quite a few professors in this town.” He palmed the massive burger he’d ordered at Doyle’s, a historic pub in Jamaica Plain, just south of Cambridge.

“I can totally see you as a know-it-all,” she said.

“Thanks,” he said with a sarcastic grunt as he bit into the burger.

Vicki reached across the table and patted his arm. “That’s okay. You’re reformed.”

“You may be the only person who thinks so.” He laughed, wiping the corners of his mouth. “I consider myself a work in progress.”

“I’m sure if any of your old professors saw you now, they would be extremely proud.”

With a grin, he threw the words she’d used the other night back at her. “You’ve already scored, Ms. Ahlfors, no need for such flattery.”

By the time they arrived back in Wintersage, Nancy and Mason had returned from their outing. Vicki couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious as she entered the house she’d spent untold hours in as a teen, when she and Janelle would come over for sleepovers. It felt different being here as a guest of Jordan’s instead of Sandra’s.

The moment she entered the house, Nancy’s face lit up.

“Well, hello,” she said, taking Vicki by the hands. “You look fabulous, honey. I meant to tell you at Sandra’s wedding just how much I love the new haircut. It accentuates those cheekbones that I’ve always been so jealous of.”

“Thank you,” Vicki said. She’d always adored Nancy.

Jordan’s mother’s brows arched as she looked from Vicki to Jordan. “So,” she said, leaving the word hanging.

“Very subtle,” Jordan said.

“I was trying to be,” Nancy said. “Did I succeed?”

“No.” He kissed her on the cheek. “How did Mason enjoy the ice-skating show?”

“He loved it.” She pointed a finger between Jordan and Vicki. “Someone needs to tell me right now how long this has been going on. And, if I may be so bold, tell me exactly
what
is going on.”

Jordan barked out a laugh. “Aren’t you just dying to know?”

“Jordan!”

“Thanks for taking Mason on his outing today,” he said. “We’ll see you later.”

Nancy followed them to the door. “Vicki, you’re reasonable. I just want to know how serious things are between you two.”

“We’re leaving, Mom,” Jordan called as he carried Mason outside.

Vicki turned to her. “I’ll explain everything when we meet to discuss the final plans for the Kwanzaa celebration,” Vicki said.

Nancy grabbed both of her hands and squeezed them, letting out an excited squeal. “I don’t know who finally knocked some sense into his head, but it’s about time it happened. I’m so happy for the two of you.”

Vicki stood there with her mouth agape. For years she’d thought she’d done a good job of hiding her feelings, only to find out that both her mother and Nancy had seen it all along.

It was starting to look like the only person who
had
been clueless all this time was Jordan.

*

“Vicki? Vicki!”

Vicki’s head shot up. She looked across the table to find her brother Terrance staring at her, his expression a mixture of annoyance and concern. Of her three brothers, she had been closest to Terrance, but probably because he was the closest to her in age. Vicki never quite knew if it was by design or not, but their parents managed to space their four children out equally, having them all two years apart.

Spence, the eldest at thirty-four, was two years older than Jacob, who was two years older than Terrance. Being the only girl and the baby had not been easy for Vicki. She was convinced her intimidating older brothers were the reason she hadn’t been asked out on more dates in high school.

“What is it, Terrance?” she asked, breaking off a small piece of the grilled salmon her mother had served for Sunday dinner. Even though all four of the Ahlfors children were no longer living in the family home, they all came together for dinner at least twice a month.

As usual, talk about Ahlfors Financial Management had dominated much of the conversation. Her father’s company had recently scored a big client; it was as if Christmas had come early for the men at the table. Vicki had allowed her mind to drift as her father and brothers strategized how best to capitalize on this boon to the business. Apparently she’d tuned them out to the point that she hadn’t heard Terrance calling her name.

“I asked how things were coming along with the toy drive?” her brother said. “We’ll have to start distributing the toys soon, won’t we?”

Her spine went rigid. “Terrance, I told you weeks ago that I wouldn’t be able to work on the toy drive this year.”

His eyes widened with shock. “You haven’t done anything?”

“I told you I couldn’t,” Vicki stressed. “I’ve taken on several new clients at Petals and they all had big projects for the holidays.”

“Oh, come
on,
Vicki. You’ve got to be kidding me. All this time I thought you were handling things.”

“So there’s no toy drive this year?” her father asked. “Isn’t the local paper coming to do a story on it?”

Everyone around the table looked to her. Vicki put her hands up. “Don’t blame me,” she said. “I specifically told you all that I wouldn’t be able to take on as many projects this year.”

“But the toy drive is your thing,” Terrance said.

“No, it’s not. It’s
your
thing,” Vicki countered.

Her brother had first come up with the idea for AFM to sponsor an annual toy drive, but that was where his input ended. For years Vicki had planned and organized the drive, collecting the toys and coordinating with local charities and children’s hospitals to see that they were distributed. The only time Terrance made an appearance was when it came time for the local media to do a human-interest story.

And was her name ever mentioned? Of course it wasn’t!

It had never been about praise and acclaim for her. The driving force behind why she’d happily coordinated the event in the past was because she loved seeing the kids’ faces when the wrapped gifts were placed in their hands. It broke her heart knowing that, for some, it was probably the only gift they would receive for the holidays.

And now some of those kids wouldn’t even get
that
gift.

“I can’t believe you dropped the ball like this, Vicki,” Terrance said.

“
I
dropped the ball?”

“Yes! How will it look when the paper comes and we have to tell them there’s no toy drive? You should have—”

“Everybody calm down,” Spence interrupted in his calm voice. “This is easily solvable.” He pulled his wallet from his pocket and tossed a credit card on her placemat. “Go to the toy store tomorrow and just buy a bunch of toys. See, problem solved.”