Free The Christmas Bride by Heather Graham Pozzessere Page B

hear her or didn’t intend to answer.
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    Danny left early for the kids’ dinner club. That gave Cary time to bathe and dress carefully. She didn’t know where she was going, so she chose a black velvet dress that she hoped was both concealing and elegant. She wasn’t going to run away tonight. She was just going to explain that they couldn’t go any further. Because…
    Because she needed her job. And she couldn’t bear for things to be awkward.
    And because she didn’t want to be one of his long string of women.
    And that was the real rub, she admitted, seeing her features pale in the mirror as she slipped on her little pearl earrings.
    Why? What did it matter? she asked herself. He was good for her. He would open up the world that she had closed away, and then she could go on.
    No. She couldn’t.
    Because she cared about him, she admitted. Because he had fascinated her from the start. Because no one else could draw the things from her that he had drawn so easily. No one else could make her forget Richard.
    She hadn’t forgotten Richard.
    Yes, she had. For those precious moments in Jason’s arms, she had forgotten.
    She closed her eyes. He had made her say his name. But he had never spoken hers.
    There was a knock on the door to the suite. Cary grabbed her coat and hurried out. She didn’t want him coming into her room.
    His room, really. The whole lodge was his.
    She was breathless when she threw the door open and saw him. His eyes were bright. He was still angry, she thought.
    And in jeans and a leather jacket, he was far more casually dressed than she was.
    â€œOh! I’ll change,” she murmured.
    â€œNo, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter at all. Not where we’re going. Come on.”
    â€œWhere are we going?” Cary demanded.
    He could move so quickly when he was in a hurry. He had her by her elbow, and he hadn’t answered her question. In front of the lodge there were too many people around, all greeting Jason and nodding to her, for her to say anything. But finally they were in the Jeep, and she repeated her question. “Where are we going?”
    â€œThere.” He pointed to a structure just up the hill. Cary sighed. For a man who wanted to talk, he was extremely untalkative.
    And she still had no idea where they were going.
    The ride was too short, and yet it was also interminable. As soon as they entered the wooden building on the hill, she realized it was a private château, and that someone had readied it for their arrival. A fire was burning in the grate, and a delicious aroma was wafting from chafing dishes on the rustic table.
    Jason removed his jacket, casting it onto one of the couches. He didn’t take her coat, but walked straight to the table, lifting the cover off one of the dishes. “Beef Stroganoff. And, let’s see, a very nice white burgundy. Have a seat.”
    He pulled out her chair. Cary still had her coat on. “Jason, I never agreed to a private—”
    â€œDid you want to discuss our sexual relationship publicly?” he demanded.
    â€œWe don’t have a relationship!” she insisted.
    He smiled. “Fine. Sit down and tell me why.”
    Exasperated, Cary groaned, doffed her coat and then took the seat he had pulled out for her. He poured the wine, then sat opposite her. His eyes met hers as he lifted his glass to her.
    â€œWell?”
    â€œI just can’t see you anymore,” she said.
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œYou’re my boss, for one thing.”
    â€œWe’re nowhere near work.”
    â€œBut we will be.”
    â€œThis has nothing to do with work, and you know it.”
    Cary sipped her wine. “All right. All right—you need another reason? I don’t care to be one of the crowd.”
    â€œThe crowd?” One brow shot up. “Really, it isn’t that bad, is it?”
    She flushed. “I just don’t—”
    He