Sweet Christmas Kisses (112 page)

“I can’t impose on you. Don’t worry. Driving in the snow is not a problem for me.”

“I know, still I’d rather drive you. If we get stuck we’ll be together to tackle the problem.”

She glanced at him and smiled. “Okay. Thank you.”

Would he be able to convince her he was a decent doctor after keeping the truth from her?

The car stopped in front of the imposing three-story stone mansion. Heavy snowflakes tumbled from the starless sky and glided over the windshield. Julia studied the brightly lit living room. “Mom and Dad are waiting for me. They must be worried because of the storm. I should have called.”

“Julia, there’s a car parked against a bush there.” Tony pointed to the side of the front yard.

“Oh my God. Clyde’s car.” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Why would the jerk come here?”

Tony shrugged. “Probably to fix the mess he’s created and convince you it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

“Not a big deal? Screwing his receptionist? Does he think I’m going to forgive and forget that easily?” The scene she’d witnessed in the clinic brought nausea to her stomach. Eyes narrowed, she spun her head toward her companion. The pressure hurting her temples eased. Tony was such a nice man, and a handsome one.

Why couldn’t Clyde have been more like Tony?

“I’ll bet he’s determined to marry you.” Tony’s calm voice stated an obvious but irritating fact.

“No way.” Annoyed, she fiddled with the strap of her handbag. “If he loved me he wouldn’t have cheated a week before the wedding.”

A warm palm enfolded her hand and steadied it. “I’m not saying he loves you. I’m saying he’s determined to marry the Dutton heiress.”

“Oh no, have I been so blind? You think all he wanted was my father’s money?”

“Unfortunately.” Tony gently squeezed her fingers and she glanced at their entwined hands. Why had she settled on a jerk when there were decent men in the world?

“Listen to me, Julia.” His authoritative tone got her attention. “Your ex will do everything to convince you and your parents that it was just an innocent scene that you witnessed, then he’ll act offended that you could doubt him, and finally he’ll try to seduce you, and beg or threaten you to make sure the wedding takes place.”

“Yes, I can see him doing that.” Her gaze flew to the family room’s bay window and then returned to Tony. “But how would you know?” For a travel agency clerk in his early or mid-thirties, he seemed so perceptive.

“I’m sorry, Julia, but I’ve dealt with men of his type and with their victims at the Crisis Center.”

She didn’t understand. “What Crisis Center?”

“The other place where I work. I’ll tell you about it later. Now let’s concentrate on you.”

“I’ll show that scum I’m not going to let him manipulate me.” She blew out a deep sigh and clenched her hand.

“You need to remain calm, very calm.” Tony slowly uncurled her fisted fingers. “No anger, no sadness, no frustration. Whatever he says, keep a tiny smile on your lips to disconcert him. Keep repeating to yourself,
calm
,
smile
. I’m sure you’ll find the right answers if you remain in control of your feelings. I know you can do it.” He held her shoulder and captured her gaze. “I trust you to be a strong person.” He reached out and caressed her hair gently.

“Thank you, Tony, for all your support.” She gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.

He smiled, such a warm smile, she was tempted to ask him to come in for a drink. And then she glanced at the house and sighed.

“Hey Julia.” He tilted her chin up. “I’m looking forward to our cruise. Play you hand carefully. You can handle him. I have your cell number from the cruise information. I’ll call you later. Good luck.”

She nodded, fastened her hood, slid her gloves on and jumped out of the car. Careful not to slip on the icy stone stairs, she climbed up the five steps leading to the massive wooden front door and inserted her key. The door opened right away.

Maria, the dear old housekeeper who’d always worked in their house, pulled her in the foyer and examined her with a knowing eye. “Thank you Lord, you are here, bambina, safe and sound.” Maria helped her take off her coat and boots and handed her a pair of high-heeled pumps.

“Come on, Maria, you know it’s not the first snow storm I’ve faced.” No need to specify she hadn’t come home with her sports BMW.

“Yes, yes, but your fiancé had us all worried saying you were anxious, having cold feet about the wedding, and have been drinking.”

“The jerk. Me drinking? Not a drop. Here, check.” She blew in the face of her former nanny. “I don’t have cold feet but I broke the engagement. The wedding is off.”

“Santa Maria, thank you. You finally came to your senses.”

“You never liked him, right?”

“No, he’s arrogant. Never said a kind word to me or Marina, the maid. Anyway, he’s in the family room with your Mom, Dad, and Josh who is here for two days between business trips.”

A spicy aroma wafted around them. Julia sniffed with delight. “You made your delicious hot cider punch.”

“Wait, I’ll get you a cup, bambina. It’ll warm you inside.” Maria went to the kitchen and Julia followed her to receive her drink.

“Thank you, Maria.” She gave the older woman a kiss on the cheek. “Time to meet the family, but first...” Julia took her smartphone out of her purse, shoved it in her skirt’s pocket, and put her handbag in the foyer closet.

A few sips of the punch invigorated her.
Calm
and
smile
. “I can do it,” she murmured and strode to the family room.

Julia paused at the door and surveyed the large room where a brilliant fire crackled in the hearth. Mom drank the cider punch, her crossed legs kicking the air nervously. Beside her on the brown velvet sofa, Josh perused his phone. Ensconced in his favorite recliner, Dad twirled his Cognac glass between his hands, and not far from him, in a crisp white shirt and navy tie, Clyde chugged on a can of beer.

The scum had taken the time to make himself presentable. As always, not a single blond hair fluttered out of the neatly combed waves. The respectable doctor and perfect fiancé for Senator Dutton’s daughter. Julia cursed, clamped her jaws and heaved a deep breath. Time to go in and do battle. She raised her chin and plastered a little smile on her lips.

Calm and smile. Thank you Tony
.

“Good evening. What a cozy little reunion,” she said with a level voice.

Her few words exploded in the silence and brought the four people to their feet.

“Julia.” Her name echoed from every corner.

“Sweetheart, we were so worried.” Mom rushed to hug her.

“Why Mom? I would have called if I was in trouble.”

“That’s my girl. I told you she can take care of herself, Nancy. Now sit and relax, everyone,” Dad said, but a sigh of relief blew out of the corner of his mouth and he turned to scowl at Clyde. “You made us nervous for nothing.”

“Darling, I was so worried you may have been in an accident considering the crazy way you ran out of my office.” Clyde walked to her, shaking his head in concern.

“Really?” She glared at his pale blue eyes yet kept smiling. When he came close enough to hug her, she sprang her fist into his stomach. “Back up, scumbag, and don’t ever try to touch me,” she uttered under her breath.

“Ouch. Are you crazy?” He clutched his hands to his belly.

“Something wrong with your stomach? You drank too much maybe,” she said with a saccharine smile. Her parents didn’t notice a thing from their places, but Josh’s eyes widened and he pressed his lips together.

“How you doing lil’sis? Everything okay?”

Julia sat between her brother and mother to make sure Clyde would not squeeze in beside her. “I’m doing great. But I have an announcement. The wedding is off.”

“I was right,” Clyde said triumphantly, “when I told you Julia misinterpreted a little thank you gesture on the part of the receptionist because I got her brother a job. Julia thought I was cheating on her. Oh God, a week before our wedding. As if I would ever do such a thing.” His face reflected shock and hurt. “You know, I love you, darling. I assure you of my love day and night.”

Damn the scumbag. Tony was so right.
He’ll act offended that you could doubt him, and then...
Nope, no wedding, bastard.

Calm
and
smile
. “Thank God, I have excellent vision. I know what I saw, Clyde. Seeing my fiancé screwing his receptionist is grounds for breaking the engagement, wouldn’t you say so, Josh?”

“What?” Mom and Dad, and even Josh, the cool lawyer scowled.

Clyde rose to his feet and slowly walked to her sofa, his eyes narrowed. “Darling, all you saw was the woman’s arms around my neck. I don’t deny it, but it was a simple hug given in her excitement. You ran away immediately screaming our wedding was off.”

He knelt in front of her and caught her hand. She recoiled as if a snake bit her. He was a snake all right, and she was lucky she had escaped in time.

“You can’t do that to me, Julia. I adore you. You know how much money and effort, Senator Howard and your mother have put into the preparation of our wedding. It’s our dream, darling. Don’t spoil it for the wrong reason.”

The bastard had used the right words to sway Mom and Dad, but Josh didn’t relax his guarded stance and continued to study the man at her feet.

“There will be no wedding. Dad, I’ll repay you every penny and I’ll return all the gifts.” She couldn’t smile anymore. Oh God, she was afraid she’d start crying at her ex-fiancé’s hypocrisy.

“Why don’t you admit you have cold feet suddenly? It’s my fault. I’m sorry I was too busy at the hospital recently and I wasn’t able to take you out enough.” He grabbed her hand with an iron grip and kissed it before she could yank it away.

How had she ever figured herself in love with this trash?

Mom melted. “Maybe we should give them some privacy to sort things out.”

“Yes, we’ll give you time to discuss your feelings reasonably,” Dad added.

“I said I’ll repay the expenses, Dad,” she cried desperately. But they were already out of the room. Clyde straightened up and flashed a calculating look.

Josh hesitated. “Do you want me to stay, Julia? Can you handle him?”

A cold tremor slithered down her spine. Were Clyde’s manipulating ways more than she could handle? Tony was right. Clyde would not let go without a fight. But Tony had assured her she’d manage to win any argument if she controlled her anger. Amazing how she trusted his word.

Calm
and
smile
.

“Yes, I can handle him.” She smiled, remembering Tony’s kind gaze on her. “You can go too, Josh. I will get myself another glass of punch and be back, Dr. Clifford.”

The hot apple cider warmed her insides and somehow gave her strength. When she returned, Clyde closed the door behind them, indicating he wanted full privacy. She settled in an armchair and waved to the one across the cocktail table. He sat there and stared at her. She didn’t flinch and continued to drink her punch.

He rubbed his palms on his knees and lowered his head. Now what?

She tilted her chin, waiting. At this rate, the night promised to be long.

Without changing his subdued pose, Clyde flipped his gaze up to her. “I told the truth to your parents.”

“Really?” She snorted.

“Karen came to thank me for helping her brother. She fastened her arms around my neck. That was the truth.”

“Ah, and what followed didn’t count?”

“I expected a hug, not the erotic tonguing she gave me while groping me.”

“Spare me the disgusting details. I saw it and don’t need a reminder.”

“Julia, I wasn’t expecting her actions. I turned horny. I should have stopped her, but I didn’t.” His lips curled down in dejection and he shook his head. “We haven’t made love for a month with you living at your parents’ and me always busy.”

Exasperated, Julia snapped, “So it’s my fault you cheated with her.”

“No, it’s my fault. Mine alone.” He held his head between his hands, rubbing his temples, and addressed the Oriental rug as if he didn’t dare look her in the eyes. “I couldn’t say the complete truth to your family and ruin my reputation and my career as a doctor.” His hands opened in a desperate gesture, pleading for understanding. “We had a good thing going. We shared the same goals, to have a family, several children, brilliant careers, and a successful happy future. I’m sorry. I messed up everything.”

Taken aback by his humble attitude, so unlike him, she kept quiet. He hadn’t tried to seduce or threaten. He’d been honest, acknowledging his mistake. Could Tony be wrong?

Clyde heaved a deep breath. “I love you, Julia. I swear I have never cheated on you before. It was a horrible mistake.” He paused, giving her the chance to say something. She just scowled at him. “I know you despise me now. I was weaker than I thought. Men make mistakes. I made one tonight and lost your trust.” He raised his head and held her gaze.

Her breath caught in her chest. Yes, men in her family had made mistakes. She’d heard Mom had forgiven Dad a short affair and they still had been happy later. Julia was the result of their reconciliation. And her brother David had almost succumbed to the plot of a scheming colleague, but woke up in time to realize he was about to mess up his future.

Should she forgive Clyde?

Could she forgive him?

“I love you, Julia. We’ve been together for two years. If you forgive me, I swear I’ll make it up to you. I can make you happy. Give us a chance.” He held out a hand to her and sighed. She ignored his outstretched fingers. “True love doesn’t die in one night.”

He was right. True love shouldn’t die that fast. So...

Maybe she never truly loved him. She’d just settled for a convenient marriage. The perfect marriage as everyone said—not the marriage with a man she’d love all her life. He needed her for his career and his status, and she’d agreed to marry him to please her parents and have a family and babies.

“Clyde, I’m glad you explained yourself. I don’t resent you anymore and I won’t say a word about today. No one will hurt your reputation or your career. We’ll both forget this unfortunate scene.” She caught a glimpse of triumph in his pale blue eyes. He’d almost swayed her, except... “Except that I realized I never truly loved you. I can’t marry you.”