The Twilight Before Christmas (23 page)

Kate’s eyes widened. She clutched the sheet to her naked breasts. “What?”

“My parents,” he announced. He reached down to help her up. “Why is it that even when you’re grown, parents can make you feel like a teenager caught in the act?”

Kate wrapped the sheet around her and hurried toward his bedroom while Matt scooped up the blankets and followed her. “Did you get caught in the act often?”

“Are you laughing at me?” he asked, a dangerous glint in his silver eyes.

“Only because I’m disappearing into the bathroom to leave you to face the music alone. You might get dressed.” She grinned mischievously at him as she gathered up her clothes and retreated behind a securely locked door.

Matt caught sight of the wisp of peach-colored lace that lay on the floor and found a wicked smile stealing over his face. He stooped down and picked it up, bunching it into his hand before shoving it into the pocket of his jacket, which was lying on the back of a chair. He dragged on clothes as fast as he could, combing his hair with his fingers just as the polite knock on his door came.

He could hear Kate laughing, and it was contagious. He couldn’t wipe the grin off his face as he opened the front door. Victoria Granite threw her arms around her son and hugged him hard. “You frightened us, Matt! We called and called and you never answered. First there was a fire here and Danny told us about that horrible incident at the store and then a call went out and… ”

“Victoria, take a breath,” Harold Granite advised. He smiled lovingly at his wife, used to her run-on sentences. “We heard the fog came in last night, and Elle Drake went over the cliff. Victoria was worried.”

Matt’s mother made a face. “Really, Harold, I knew he was perfectly fine; you were the one who spent the entire morning trying to call him and pacing back and forth like a wild tiger. I was fine!”

Matt met his father’s gaze over the top of his mother’s head. They both stifled a knowing grin. “I’m sorry, Dad. I should have remembered after all these years, how you worry.”

Victoria smiled and patted Harold’s arm. “There, dear, you see there was nothing at all to worry about. All that pacing.” She shook her head, stopping in midsentence as she looked up at the mantel and the candles that had burned down to the holders. “Oh my goodness.” She looked around carefully. “Matthew Granite, you had a woman here last night, didn’t you?”

“Mom, once I turned thirty, I thought we agreed I didn’t have to talk about women with you.”

From the bedroom came the sound of a door closing. His parents exchanged a long, satisfied look. Victoria arched her eyebrow at her son. “She’s still here?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. And don’t start on her, Mom. I don’t want her scared off. This is the one.”

There was another startled silence. “Kate’s here?” Harold asked, clearly astonished. “Kate Drake?”

“Of course it’s Kate,” Victoria said.

Kate came out of the bedroom with a bright smile and desperation in her eyes. She was wearing one of his shirts over her thin white blouse. Matthew was instantly mortified. He thought he would tease her, and at the same time, he’d have the added pleasure of knowing she was sitting beside him in the warmth of his car without a bra. He’d planned to slip his hand inside the white silk of her blouse and caress her soft creamy skin. The idea alone had made him as hard as a rock. It hadn’t occurred to him that her blouse was sheer enough that her darker nipples would show so alluringly.

Kate always presented a near flawless appearance to the world, and he realized immediately when he saw the desperation in her eyes that it was her armor. She wore her clothes and hair and makeup to keep people from seeing the real Kate. The vulnerable Kate. The Kate she shared only with her sisters, and now with him.

“Hello Mrs. Granite, Mr. Granite,” she greeted.

Matthew drew the edges of his shirt together around her, sliding several buttons in place. He bent to kiss her, shielding her from his parents’ scrutiny for a brief moment. When he was certain she was sufficiently covered, he circled her waist with his arms and held her in front of him. He could feel her soft unbound breasts pushing against his arms. Instantly his body reacted, thickening, hardening, an ache pounding through his blood. He held her close to him, covering the painful bulge stretching the material of his jeans. Kate was without mercy, slowly and sensuously rubbing her round bottom over the hard ridge. “I would very much like to visit, but Elle’s in the hospital, and we have to go by Kate’s house before we go to see her.” Was that his voice? It sounded thick and husky to his ears. He was even afraid color burned in his face. His palms itched to cup Kate’s breasts in his hands. The soft weight on his arms was driving him crazy. His mouth had actually gone dry. And if she didn’t stop the way she was rubbing against him, he was going to shock everyone right then and there. “Let’s have dinner tonight,” he suggested, in desperation making eye contact with his father.

Harold, taking the cue, caught Victoria’s elbow firmly.

“Danny will be spending the evening with Trudy Garret and her little boy at the Grange. Santa Claus is stuffing stockings and delivering presents around seven. We were going to watch,” Victoria said. “Can we plan for another night?”

“Tomorrow is the pageant rehearsal,” Matt said. “You all are in that. Maybe we can grab dinner afterward.”

“There’s never time.” Harold shook his head, but headed across the living room to the front door. “The pageant rehearsal never runs smoothly, and we’re always there until midnight.”

“Good point,” Matt agreed. “Don’t worry, Mom, we’ll have dinner together soon.” He walked them to the door. “Who’s playing Santa Claus this year?”

Harold grinned. “No one’s supposed to know, Matt.” He went out into the light drizzle and paused. “Jeff Burley broke his leg a couple of weeks ago. He’s done it every year, and we had a bit of trouble finding a replacement. Everyone’s afraid of the fog. Some of the townspeople think it’s some kind of alien invasion.”

Victoria put up her umbrella and made a little face. “People are so silly sometimes.”

“I hope you’re not trying to ask me to be Santa Claus this year, I’m more afraid of the kids than I am of aliens.” Matt sounded as stern as he dared with his mother.

Kate made a move to retreat back into the house, but Matt held her firmly as if she were his only refuge. The cold air hardened Kate’s nipples into tight buds, and she was acutely aware she wore no bra beneath Matt’s shirt. The drizzle was penetrating straight through the material and turning the silk blouse beneath it transparent. She crossed her arms over her chest and kept her smile firmly in place.

“There aren’t any aliens,” Victoria said, exasperated. “And no, you don’t have to play Santa. I know better than to ask any of you boys. You’d frighten the children with your nonsense.”

“Not Dad!” Matt suddenly sounded authoritative, and Kate looked up. “Dad, the doctor told you not to overdo.”

“Playing Santa Claus wouldn’t overdo anything.” Harold was clearly annoyed. “And no, it isn’t me. We had someone come forward, but he wishes to remain anonymous. It would ruin all of his fun if I revealed his identity.”

Matt followed his parents to their car, taking Kate with him. “I’m not going to tell anyone.”

“The last man you’d ever expect,” Victoria said primly.

“The last man I’d ever expect to play Santa would be Old Man Mars.” Matt laughed. “Can’t you see Danny’s face? He’d run from Santa.”

Victoria and Harold looked at one another and burst out laughing. Victoria waved gaily at Kate. Matt stared after them. “You don’t think they meant that mean old man is going to play Santa.”

“I can’t imagine it. I think they were teasing you. Do you have the car keys? I’m getting cold, and I have to stop by my house to pick up some clothes before we go to the hospital.”

“I’ve got them. Come on. Let’s get you out of the rain.” Matt drew her bra from his jacket pocket and held it out to her. “I’m sorry, Katie. I couldn’t stop thinking about playing out my little fantasy of being able to touch you when I was taking you home. It was childish of me.”

Kate merely looked at the peach-colored bra in his outstretched hand, but made no move to take it. “And you wanted to be able to touch me how?” She walked past him to the car. There was a distinct sway to her beautiful rear, one he couldn’t resist. Kate settled into his car, slowly unbuttoned the wet overshirt, and allowed the edges to gape open to reveal the transparent silk blouse underneath. She leaned back against the seat.

Matt drove slowly along the coastal highway, fighting for air when there was none in the car. The shape of her breasts was not only outlined beneath the see-through material, but highlighted. “Kate, you’re an incredible woman.”

“I’m a lucky woman. I rather like your fantasies. By all means, tell me whenever you get one.”

He couldn’t resist. Matt slipped his hand inside her blouse, cupped the soft, creamy flesh in his palm. His knuckle rubbed gently over her breast, the pads of his fingers possessive as he caressed her body. Right at that moment he could think of a hundred fantasies. He turned the car onto the drive leading to the bluff overlooking the sea. The moment he parked, he caught the back of her head and held her still while he devoured her mouth.

They spent an hour in the car, laughing like children, necking like teenagers, wildly happy as they held hands, touched and kissed and whispered of dreams and hopes and erotic fantasies.

When they arrived at the Drake house, no one was home; the sisters were all at the hospital. There was a note for Kate telling her Elle was doing much better and instructing her to join them when she could. Kate took the time to shower. Matt joined her and spent a long while leisurely lathering soap over her and rinsing her off. He made love to her under the spray of water, then dried her off with large towels. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her while she dressed. “I’ve never been happier, Kate,” he admitted, as she pinned the thick length of hair on top of her head into her “perfect Kate” style.

“Me either,” she answered, and leaned over to kiss him.

Matt caught her hand and dragged her through the house into the living room. “Kate, do you love me? You know I love you. I tell you. I show you. I want to spend my life with you, and I’ve made no secret about that. Do you love me?”

Kate nearly stopped breathing. She touched his face. “How could you not know, Matthew? I love you so much I ache with it sometimes.”

“Then why won’t you agree to marry me? I don’t think your family objects to me, and obviously my family would welcome it.”

She let her breath out slowly. “I have some things to work out, Matt. I want to marry you. I do. But I have to be certain it’s right for you. That I’m right for you.”

“Katie. Honey. I know you’re right for me.” He looked around the room. “Where’s that damned snowglobe anyway?” He retrieved it from the shelf.

Kate took it out of his hands. “You only get one wish, Matt, and you’ve had yours.” She went to place the globe back on the shelf, but it came alive in her hands, the fog swirling. Waiting. Kate closed her eyes and made her wish. She couldn’t stop herself. She wanted Matthew Granite more than she’d ever wanted anything in her life.

Matt said nothing, asking her no questions. He simply took her hand in a gesture of solidarity.

Kate and Matt spent most of the afternoon in the hospital with Kate’s sisters in Elle’s room. Matt and Damon played a game of chess while the seven sisters caught up on news. Joley helped Damon, and when Matt expressed disapproval, Abbey immediately took Matt’s side. They did their best to entertain Elle, who looked bruised and very young. Her bright red hair tumbled around her white face and heightened her pale skin and deepened the purple in the bruises. She was in good spirits but weak and still had a headache.

Matt and Kate left the hospital in the evening to meet the Granites at the Grange, where most of the townspeople were bringing their children for photos with Santa and a small party.

The Grange hall was packed with parents and children. “Jingle Bells” blared through the building, mistletoe was hung in every conceivable place, and holly decorated the tables laden with cookies and punch. A fake mantel went along the entire length of one wall with holly, candles, and tiny sleighs filled with candy canes adorning the top. Rows of stockings hung on gleaming hooks. The silver-tipped fir tree nearly reached the ceiling and was covered in lights, ornaments, and a multitude of white angels with silver wings.

“The ladies at the arts and crafts shop have been busy,” Matt whispered.

Kate shushed him, but her eyes were laughing. Several elves hurried past them, bells tinkling from their hats and ankles. Kate and Matt followed the elves through the crowd to the back of the building, where Santa Claus sat in a high-backed chair surrounded by more elves and a reindeer that looked suspiciously like a dog with plastic antlers attached to his head. The line to visit Santa was long, small children clutching parents’ hands and staring with large round eyes at the jolly old man. The Santa suit fit perfectly, and the white beard and mustache seemed natural, both bushy enough to hide the face successfully. Matt tried to get close enough to get a good look at the Santa. Several preteenagers rushed past him laughing loudly, tossing popcorn at each other.

“Do you think it’s Old Man Mars?” Matt whispered.

“How could it be?” Kate asked. “He hates Christmas.”

“Right height. I could tell if he were talking loud or maybe even by the way he walks.” Matt weaved his way through the small children.

“Hey!” A young boy with red hair protested. “No cutting in.”

“I just wanted to ask Santa if he’d give me Kate for Christmas,” Matt explained.

Unimpressed, the boy wrinkled his nose, and all of his friends made faces. “Well, you got to stand in line like everyone else.”

Kate laughed and dragged Matt away from Santa Claus. He spotted Inez and pulled Kate toward her. “If anyone knows who Santa Claus is, it’ll be Inez. She knows everything.”

“Doesn’t that come under the heading of gossip?”

“News, Katie. How can you even use the word
gossip?”
Matt stopped moving abruptly and brought her up short, staring out the window. He bit out a string of curses. “The damned fog is rolling in, Kate. It’s coming right this way.”