Christmas Secrets

“You’ve been outed by a nine-month-old baby.”

“Yeah, well, I think we can count on him to keep quiet.”

“He’ll learn to talk someday.”

“Not before I leave town.”

“And listen to this.” Luca turned the laptop and punched another key. “It’s Samuel giving a speech twenty years ago.”

“…once the plan is fully implemented, the new routes will take us to Britain, France and Germany…”

“Okay, that’s a bit uncanny,” Cole had to admit. He’d heard his own voice recorded on numerous occasions, and Samuel’s was very, very close.

“The kid knows you’re family.”

“At least that explains why he’s latched on to me.”

Luca took a sip of his coffee. “But you’re still just going to walk away?”

“No.”

Luca drew back in clear astonishment. “You’re not?”

“First, I’m going to make sure Amber wins custody. Then I’m going to walk away. Involving myself in the Henderson family was never part of the plan.”

Cole was heading back to his life in Alaska just as soon as things were under control here. Showing up in Atlanta was about him doing his duty. It wasn’t some family reunion, and he wasn’t about to upend his and Zachary’s lives by acknowledging their biological connection.

Kissing Amber last night might have momentarily thrown him off track. He still couldn’t believe he’d done it—in a purple bathroom of all places, with Zachary in his arms. How ridiculous was that?

His plan was to keep complications to a minimum. Not that a single kiss had added some huge complication. In fact, he’d already put it into perspective.

Sure, Amber was pretty. She was sweet and kind and compassionate. And she’d had a rough time of it growing up. Her stories had engaged his sympathies.

But lots of people had a less-than-stellar upbringing. She was fine now, and she loved Zachary. And Cole was right to leave the two of them to get on with it.

“You’re sure that’s what you want?” asked Luca.

“I’m positive it’s what I want.” Cole pulled his thoughts back to his earlier point. “Roth will try to prove that Coco was unfit to name either a guardian for Zachary or the person to control Coast Eagle.”

“On the bright side,” said Luca, “I don’t think many wills are overturned because they’re foolish.”

“I hope not.” Just then, Cole wished he knew more about the law.

“So what do you think of Destiny?” he asked Luca. “I mean, other than she’s hot. Can you see past the fact that she’s hot? Because you should declare a conflict of interest if you can’t be objective.” Cole wanted to be sure Amber was getting the best possible legal advice.

Luca was all but laughing as he cut into his waffle. “I don’t need to declare a conflict of interest. I know she’s smart.”

“Are you sure? How do you know?”

“I asked her a few questions last night.”

“And?”

“And she had a ton of technical information at her fingertips. But she wouldn’t tell me anything about Amber specifically.”

“You didn’t make her suspicious, did you?”

“No. I pretended I was curious about what I’d read on social media. There’s a lot out there on social media.” Luca set down his cutlery and pressed a few more keys on the laptop. “For example, this, here. There are new rumors that Roth Calvin will be named interim president of Coast Eagle.”

Cole reached out to turn the laptop to face him again. “I thought Amber was in charge?” Letting Roth step up as interim president couldn’t be a good move for her.

“It’s a board decision,” said Luca.

“Which tells us Roth has the ear of the board.” Cole didn’t like the thought of that.

“It does seem like he’s got the power at least temporarily.”

Cole dropped his napkin onto the table and stood. “I need to get a handle on the guy.”

“Where are you going?”

“Coast Eagle’s corporate headquarters. I want to look Roth Calvin in the eyes.”

“Right now? Without an appointment?”

“I’ll talk my way in. I’m a fellow airline owner.”

“You want some help?”

Cole considered the offer. But then he shook his head. “He’s less likely to have his guard up if it’s just one guy.”

“Whatever you want.”

Cole shrugged into his jacket. “See what else you can find out about the law.”

“Can I talk to Destiny again?”

“As long as you’re oblique.”

Luca’s eyes lit up. “Covert operations. Roger that. This is kind of fun.”

Cole couldn’t help but grin in return. “Seduce her if you have to.”

“I’m all in for you, buddy.”

Cole skirted the Christmas tree, made his way past the reindeer and exited to the sidewalk. It was easy to hail a cab, and it was a short ride to Coast Eagle.

He took a few fast steps across the lobby, purposefully blending in with a group of employees to pass unnoticed by the security counter. Then he entered the elevator, pretending he knew exactly what he was doing. Taking the chance that Roth’s office would be on the top floor, he pressed the button.

The rest of the group exited on twelve. Cole continued up to a big, brightly lit reception area. It had gleaming hardwood floors, a bank of windows overlooking the city and a pair of immaculate saltwater fish tanks bracketing a long reception counter staffed by one woman.

“Good morning.” She was immaculately dressed and thirtysomething, and she smiled as she greeted him.

Cole strode forward and held out his hand. “Good morning. I’m Cole Parker, owner of Aviation 58. We’re a midsize commercial airline out of Alaska. I was told Roth Calvin was the man to speak with at Coast Eagle.”

“Do you have an appointment, sir?”

“I’m afraid I just got into town.”

The woman’s smile faded a little. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Calvin doesn’t have any openings today.”

Footfalls and male voices rose up behind them. The woman’s surreptitious, worried glance to the group told Cole one of them was likely Roth Calvin.

He quickly turned, talking the man in the middle of the group to be the guy in charge. It had to be Roth.

Again, Cole strode forward, offering his hand. “Roth Calvin. I’m Cole Parker.”

Roth’s expression was guarded, and his critical glance flicked to the receptionist. Cole figured it was only a matter of moments before security arrived on the scene.

“I was speaking with Amber Welsley the other day. She suggested you were the person to discuss Coast Eagle’s Pacific routes? I’m Cole Parker, Aviation 58 out of Alaska.”

“Amber told you to see me?” Roth asked.

“She did,” Cole lied. “She speaks very highly of you.”

Roth’s eyes narrowed, and Cole feared he might have gone too far. He was trying to arouse Roth’s curiosity, and maybe put him off guard with the mention of Amber.

Roth looked at Cole. Then he looked to the receptionist. “Sandra, push the Millsberg meeting by fifteen minutes.”

“Yes, sir,” the receptionist answered.

“Right this way, Mr. Parker.” Roth gestured to a doorway off the reception area.

“Please, call me Cole.” Cole entered an airy meeting room that housed a round table for four with leather and chrome chairs, coffee service on a marble side counter and a sofa grouping near the picture windows.

Roth gestured to one of the chairs at the round table, then took the one opposite. “How can I help you, Cole?”

“I understand you’re about to be named interim president,” Cole opened.

A smug smile formed on Roth’s face. “You’ve been listening to rumors.”

“I find, more often than not, rumors tend to be based on some truth. I’ll be honest, Roth, Aviation 58 is looking to expand along the West Coast. With the shakeup at Coast Eagle, I wondered if you might be interested in discussing some of your less-profitable routes in the West.”

“All of our routes are profitable.”

Cole had checked out Coast Eagle’s public information on the ride over, and now he made some assumptions and guesses. “Seattle to Vancouver is barely break-even. You’ve been losing market share in Portland. And your passenger load is low on anything northbound out of LA. Entering into a lease or codeshare deal with Aviation 58 could boost your cash flow and profits considerably.”

“You’ve done your homework, I see.”

“I have,” said Cole. “And it tells me Amber Welsley is a short-term play. You’re the guy with the ear of the board.”

Roth didn’t answer, but he did nod.

“I haven’t seen the actual will, of course. But I can guess where that’s going. A trophy wife is all well and good, but nobody’s under any illusions. Samuel would never have allowed a situation where Coco’s decisions could run Coast Eagle into the ground.”

Roth chuckled, and his expression relaxed. “You strike me as an intelligent man, Cole Parker.”

“I’m also a patient man. I get that your attention has to be on the home front for a few months.”

Roth gave a shrug. “These things can be expedited.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“A word here, a conversation there. It’s all about who you know, and who knows you.”

“I understand,” said Cole. “The sooner you get custody of the kid, the better.” He paused. “I mean, the better for Coast Eagle, of course.”

“Once the big question is settled, we will be looking for an early cash influx,” said Roth, coming to his feet.

Cole rose with him. “That’s good to hear, I’ll—”

Suddenly, the meeting room door flung open, and Amber burst in. She glared at Cole, cheeks flushed, nostrils flared. “You went behind my back?”

“Amber.” Roth’s voice was stern and patronizing.

“You suggested I follow-up,” Cole said to Amber, purposefully mischaracterizing their conversation.

“This is a private meeting, Amber.” Roth’s tone grated on Cole’s nerves.

Amber ignored Roth and spoke to Cole. “I suggested you follow up with Joyce Roland.”

“Amber,” Roth all but shouted. “Can you please excuse us?”

Cole had to steel himself from demanding that Roth shut up.

The receptionist appeared in the doorway. “Mr. Calvin? They’re waiting. The Millsberg meeting?”

Roth looked to Cole. “I do apologize.”

“No problem. Thank you for seeing me. I’ll be in touch.”

Roth looked to Amber, obviously waiting for her to leave.

She folded her arms across her chest, standing her ground. Cole wanted to applaud.

Roth gave in and left the room, followed by the receptionist.

“How dare you,” Amber whispered.

Cole wished he could tell her he was on her side. “It was an initial courtesy call. Nothing sinister. I told you up front that I was interested in the Pacific routes.”

“And what were you doing last night? Pumping me for information? Are you actually using Zachary’s trust to gain an inside advantage?”

“You called me last night,” he reminded her.

“And you were only too happy to show up.”

“To help with Zachary.”

“That’s how you played it, all right.” There was something in her eyes, a veiled hurt that made him think of their kiss.

He took a step forward. “Amber, I’m sorry.”

“For lying to me?”

“I didn’t lie to you. Last night was all about Zachary.” He paused. “I mean, it was mostly all about Zachary.”

She gave her hair a little toss. “You don’t need to explain.”

But he did need to explain. He wanted to explain. “I like you, Amber.”

“Well, I don’t like you.”

He moved closer anyway. “Yes, you do.”

“Go away.”

He shook his head. “I understand that it’s complicated.”

“It’s not complicated.”

“It’s Zachary. It’s business. It’s you, and it’s me.” Even as he spoke the words, he asked himself what on earth he thought he was doing. He needed to leave this alone, not ramp it up.

“There is no you and me.” But her expression instantly shifted, telling him otherwise. Her lips parted, her blue-eyed gaze going bedroom soft.

Cole glanced at the open door, debating pushing it closed and pulling her into his arms again. But that would be a stupid move. The receptionist, Sandra, would certainly report the closed door to Roth. It would complicate things even further for Amber.

But she was so enchanting, and his memory of kissing her was so incredibly strong, he couldn’t stop himself. He reached past her and gave the door a shove. Her eyes went wide as it clicked shut.

Without giving her a chance to protest, Cole pulled her into his arms, bringing his thirsty lips down to hers and kissing her soundly. She gasped, but she didn’t pull away. After a moment, her lips softened. She kissed him back, and her arms wound around his neck.

He pressed their bodies close together, feeling the sweet heat of her thighs and the softness of her breasts. He teased her lips with his tongue, and she responded, parrying with him, a small moan burbling in the back of her throat.

His hand went to her cheek, cradling the soft skin, holding her in place while he plundered her mouth. He forgot where they were, forgot everything except the sweet taste and scent of Amber. His other hand moved to her waist, sliding beneath her linen blazer, along her silk blouse, feeling the heat of her skin through the thin fabric.

Suddenly, she pushed back. “We can’t.”

Cole sucked in a breath. Of course they couldn’t. What was he thinking? They were in her place of business.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

But she shook her head. “My fault, too.” Then she glanced at her watch. “I have to go. There’s a board meeting.” She stopped talking. Inhaled a deliberate breath and took a step back. “That was foolish. I don’t know what got into me.”

“Amber—”

“Goodbye, Cole.” She moved for the door.

“Can I call you later?”

“No.” She shook her head and pulled open the door.

From behind her desk, Sandra’s sharp gaze went to Amber, then to Cole. He tried to look casual, innocent, as if nothing more than a brief conversation had taken place between them.

But it was hard to put his finger on the exact expression and posture that would convey those things. So he simply left the room, bid a brief goodbye to Sandra and took the elevator back to the lobby.

Smoothing back her hair and mentally pulling herself together, Amber reached for the door handle to Coast Eagle’s main boardroom.

She couldn’t believe she’d kissed Cole again. She couldn’t believe she’d done it in the office. And she sure couldn’t believe she’d enjoyed it.

She tugged open the door.

“There you are,” said Max, rising from his seat at the head of the long boardroom table.

The other eight members of the board nodded politely, their gazes fixed on her. They were all men, fortysomething to sixtysomething, longtime members of the Atlanta business community and the aviation industry. She knew most of them by sight, but she’d shared little more than a passing greeting with any of them.

Max moved away from the head chair, gesturing for her to sit down in it. “Please, Ms. Welsley.”

She hesitated over the bold gesture, but Max gave her an encouraging smile.

She told herself she could do this. For Zachary, she could do this. She lifted her chin, walked forward and took the power chair.

Max took the chair to her right.

She stared down the center of the table, fixing her vision on the photograph of a red-and-white biplane at the far end of the room. She had no idea what to say.

Luckily, Max opened for her. “Per article 17.9 of the Coast Eagle Articles of Incorporation,” he said, “Ms. Welsley is exercising her right as majority shareholder—”

“She’s not the majority shareholder,” said Clint Mendes.

Max peered at Clint. “According to the State of Georgia, she represents the majority shareholder.”

“But that’s under appeal,” said Clint.

“And until that appeal is settled, Ms. Welsley represents the interests of Zachary Henderson. Now, as I was saying—”

The boardroom door swung abruptly open, revealing Roth in the threshold, his eyes wide, face ruddy, and his jaw clenched tight.

“Mr. Calvin,” said Max, a clear rebuke in his tone. “I’m afraid this is a private meeting.”

“Is this a coup?” Roth demanded.

A hush came over the room as everyone waited to see what Amber would do.

She immediately realized she had to step up. She couldn’t let Max defend her against Roth. She was going to be a board member, and she had to stand her ground.

If she lost the court case, Roth would have her fired within seconds. He would have done that anyway. She had nothing left to lose.

She came to her feet, turning and squaring her shoulders. “Please leave the meeting, Roth.”

The silence boomed around her.

Roth’s jaw worked, his face growing redder. “Are you out of your—”

“Please leave,” she repeated. “This meeting is for board members only.”

“You’re not a board member,” Roth all but shouted.

“I’m the majority shareholder, Roth. That’s as much as you need to know. Now leave.”

Nelson MacSweeny coughed, but said nothing.

Roth glared at the man.

Then he fixed a biting, narrow-eyed stare on Amber.

But he seemed to understand that he’d lost the round. He stepped back, banging the door shut.

Knees shaky, Amber sat down. Everyone was still looking down the table at her. But something in their expressions had changed.

It might have been her imagination, but there seemed to be a level of respect in their eyes. She gazed levelly back. Her heart was pounding and her palms were sweating, but she wasn’t about to let anyone know that Roth had rattled her.

“Ms. Welsley is exercising her right to appoint herself as a board member,” said Max. “As current majority shareholder, she will sit as chair. As chair, she will break any tie over the appointment of an interim president.”

“So not Roth,” said Clint.

“Then who are we talking about?” Nelson asked.

“Are we taking nominations?”

“I’ve given it a lot of thought,” said Amber. “I’d like to discuss Max Cutter as the interim president.”

Max drew back in his seat. “I can’t—”

“Turns out you can,” said Amber. “I spoke to a lawyer this morning.”

“You’ll have to leave the room for the discussion,” Nelson said to Max.

Max fixed his shrewd gaze on Amber. She didn’t flinch. If she could sit as chair of the board, then he could sit as president. There was no one else she’d trust.

“Very well,” said Max. He rose and gathered his briefcase.

As he passed, he paused behind her and leaned down. “I guess we’ll go down together.”

She turned her head to whisper. “Then I guess you’d better help me win.”

“I was always going to help you win.” He gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder as he walked away.

The door closed behind him and another board member spoke up. He was Milos Mandell, a former commercial pilot and internet entrepreneur.

“Can we speak freely?” asked Milos.

“I would think we’d better,” said Amber.

“You seem like you understand what you just did.”

She couldn’t help flexing a small, resigned smile. “I believe I know what I just did.”

“He’s going to come after you,” said Nelson, clearly referring to Roth.

“He’s right to go after her,” said Clint, glancing around at his fellow board members. “This is a coup.”

Milos sat forward. “The coup would have been Roth taking over as president without the support of the major shareholder.”

Clint stared hard at Amber. “You’re jumping the gun, and it’s going to cost you.”

“While Roth will know you sided with him, so I guess you’re safe.” She let her words sink in for a moment.

Clint was smart enough to realize the opposite was also true. Amber now knew he was in opposition to her.

His jaw dropped a fraction of an inch. “I don’t mean… That is, I’m not…”

“Any discussion on Max?” Amber asked the group.

She didn’t have time to worry about Clint. She needed to get Max settled in as president, then she needed to focus on the court case, do justice to her day-to-day work and make sure Zachary stayed clean, fed and as happy as possible. The alliances, machinations and power plays at Coast Eagle were going to have to take a backseat.

On the staircase in front of Coast Eagle headquarters, Cole appeared and fell into step beside Amber. It was six o’clock. She was exhausted, and he was the last person she wanted to see.

Ironically, he was also the person she most wanted to see. The conflicting reactions were due to the kiss they’d shared in the meeting room.

“I read the press release,” he opened, turning right along with her as she headed down the crowded sidewalk toward the transit station.

“I think that was a good move,” he continued. “There’s an element of risk, but there’s nothing about this situation that’s not risky.”

She stopped to turn on him, forcing the flow of people to part around them. The man had gone behind her back, kissed her senseless, and now he wanted to analyze her business decisions? “Is that really what you want to say to me?”

Her words seemed to catch him off guard and he hesitated. Horns honked and engines revved on the street as cars breezed past.

“Yes,” he answered.

“Well.” She coughed out a chopped laugh. “It’s so very nice of you to approve of my decision.”

“Are you still upset?”

“I’m also tired, and I’m busy, and I’m going to miss my train.”

“Then you should get moving.”

He was right. She turned abruptly to march toward the station.

He kept pace. “I have a hard time believing the Hendersons don’t have cars and drivers.”

“Are you going to pretend it didn’t happen?”

“That you joined the board of directors?”

She rolled her eyes.

“That I kissed you?” he asked.

“That you betrayed me.”

“I didn’t betray you. I told you I was after the Pacific routes.”

“Don’t pretend you’re stupid, Cole. And don’t pretend I’m stupid, either.”

“You’re not stupid.”

“I know.”

“Except when it comes to transportation. Can I offer you a ride home?”

“You cannot.”

“Why?”

Because he had her rattled. The memory of his kiss had taunted her all afternoon long, messing with her concentration. She wanted to know the kiss had rattled him, too.

“It’ll get you home faster,” Cole offered reasonably. “You’ll be able to spend more time with Zachary.”

“Go away.” She fixed her sights on the train platform.

“Not what I was planning.”

“What were you planning?” The question was automatic, and she instantly regretted asking it.

She didn’t care about his plans. She wanted him out of her life. At least, a part of her wanted him out of her life. The other part wanted him to kiss her again. She nearly groaned in frustration.

“You’re having a tough week,” he said. “You need to have some fun.”

She dodged her way around a group of pedestrians, then skirted a trash can and a stroller. “What? This doesn’t look like fun?”

“Well, I’m having fun.”

“What do you want, Cole?”

“To take you on a date.”

His words shocked her to a halt.

He took her arm and drew her under a shop awning, next to a brick wall and out of the flow of pedestrians. “I can only guess at how hard you’re working and how tired you must be. I want to help you take a break. Come out with me tonight. Let’s walk through Atlantic Station, see the lights, drink hot chocolate. Or we can go skating. You said skating was your favorite.”

“I don’t like you, Cole.”

“To be fair, you don’t know me.”