His Holiday Bride

Paul cracked the door and came in with the baby in his arms. “I was about to put him down for his nap, but wanted to check on you first. Everything okay?”

Amber was pretty sure he knew she’d just talked to her sisters, but he said nothing about it.

She smiled. “Yes, I’m fine.” Humiliated beyond belief, but fine.

“Well, okay.” He started to close the door. “Just let me know if you need anything.”

“Paul!”

He opened the door wider, and waited.

“Is that offer to stay for a while still open?”

His dark brown eyes searched hers. “Yes.”

She nodded. “I’d like to take you up on it, if you don’t think your friend will mind.”

Paul smiled with such understanding, Amber wanted to climb into his arms with Joachim. Instead, she sat holding herself still on the bed.

“He won’t mind. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”

“Thank you.”

He smiled and winked. “Enough already with the thank-you’s.” With that, he closed the door.

Amber stretched back out on the bed, wondering if she was doing the smart thing by accepting an offer of hospitality from a man who was little more than a stranger to her. She decided, with her track record, she had nothing to lose.

Chapter 5

Paul stood at the window overlooking the majestic mountainous Moreno Valley waiting for Vanessa, his receptionist, to answer the phone at his office.

After three rings a familiar voice answered.

“G-Force Security, the only name you need to know for all your personal protection needs. Vanessa speaking, how may I assist you?”

“Vanessa, it’s me.” Paul braced his long body against the windowsill.

“Hey, boss, where are you? I checked your calendar and didn’t see any appointments. Karen’s been going crazy getting the home system prototypes tested and keeping up with her cold calls, and with Ryan on vacation and you out of the office she’s swamped. And Matt’s crazy girlfriend stole his car again.”

“Vanessa—”

“I swear, boss, Karen may be a wonderful salesperson, but—”

“Vanessa!” Paul regretted the harsh tone when the line went silent.

Vanessa Willis was a sweet teenager who’d come to work for him almost a year ago. She had no previous work experience, but five minutes into the interview Paul knew everything there was to know about the unexpected pregnancy that resulted in the birth of her little baby girl, Anna. And how her mother had given her the ultimatum to find a job or get out.

Although her story had tugged at his heart, Paul had decided to give the girl a chance, not because of her hard luck story, but because of her enthusiasm. He figured anyone who could be bubbly and upbeat while reciting such an account of her life would be described as an optimist.

As it turned out, hiring Vanessa was the right decision. She had energy and enthusiasm to spare, she was also bright and eager to do a good job and, most important, the customers loved her. But she did have one fatal flaw that Paul had not figured out how to handle. Vanessa loved nothing better than a few tidbits of juicy gossip. She was also sensitive to criticism.

“I’m sorry,” he said on a sigh.

“It’s okay,” she muttered. “I know I talk too much. Where are you, anyway?”

“I’m working from home today. Where’s Karen? I tried her cell phone, but she isn’t answering.” Paul knew in her current depressed state, it was too soon to abandon Amber. Which meant he would have to rely on his lead salesperson, Karen Grable, to keep things moving forward in his absence.

“It’s Saturday, remember? She’s out doing cold calls. She probably turned her cell phone off.”

“Damn, I forgot all about that.”

“Why are you working from home?”

Paul knew better than to answer that. News of his houseguest would be all over the office within the hour. “If Karen calls in, tell her to call me here.”

“All right. Is Joachim okay?”

“Yes, I’ve got to go.” With that, Paul pressed the button to hang up.

He sighed. Amber Lockhart could not have shown up at a worse time. He was right in the middle of developing a line of home security products to market to the public—in fact, his own home security system was a prototype for the line—and the commitment date to have it on the shelves was coming fast. The prototypes Vanessa mentioned were the second batch to be tested so far. And there had been countless other complications. There was so much to do, and so few hours in a day.

He tossed the cordless phone on the desk, braced his arms on the windowsill and continued to stare out the window, wondering what the hell he was thinking telling Amber Lockhart she could stay as long as she liked.

You were thinking that she would never take you up on the offer. That’s what! Now he was stuck with an unwanted houseguest. He let his head drop and his shoulders sag. His sanctuary had been invaded. But there was nothing to be done about it now; the offer had been extended and accepted and now he had to live with the consequences of his actions. Hopefully, she would not want to stay too long. He shook his head, before sinking down into his black leather office chair.

About an hour later, Paul was on the phone with one of his manufacturers when the soft whimpering of Joachim’s cry came through the door. By the time Paul ended the conversation and hung up, the whimper had become a full-fledged cry. Paul shot up out of the chair and headed toward the door. When he reached it, the crying had stopped, which alarmed him even more.

Taking the stairs two at a time, he reached the top landing in no time and hurried down the hall to Joachim’s room. The image that greeted him was a complete surprise.

Amber was bent over the diaper-changing table, where Joachim lay with his feet in the air, playing with his toes.

Paul stood in the doorway, listening as Amber hummed a song. It took a couple of bars for him to recognize “Amazing Grace.” With precision, she removed the soiled diaper and had another on his little bottom in a flash.

Joachim was so occupied with his feet, he barely noticed what she was doing. But the instant smile he gave her when she picked him up again told Paul that his bottom not only recognized the difference, but he was glad for it.

He stood silent as she rocked the baby in her arms and continued to hum. Turning in a slow circle, Amber froze when she turned toward the door and found Paul standing there.

“Oh, I hope you don’t mind. His little bottom was wet, and he was crying so, and you were in your office. I figured, why bother you for something I can do myself.”

“I’m sure Joachim is as grateful for your quick response as I am. Diaper-changing is not something he and I have mastered yet.” He came toward them, but stopped a few feet away when he realized Amber was not going to hand the baby off to him.

“It’s easy. You just have to stay out of the way of the waterfall.” She laughed, and Paul felt the sensual sound from the tip of his toes to the top of his curly head.

“The waterfall?” he asked, picking up a nearby stuffed giraffe. He needed to do something with his hands. For some reason they were itching to wrap around Amber and Joachim.

“Oh, yes, the waterfall. Every baby boy’s secret weapon.”

Paul chuckled. “Ahh, the waterfall.” He nodded. “I am well aware of the danger.”

Amber walked across the room, still holding the baby in her arms, and Joachim seemed to be content to stay there, even as she lowered herself into the large rocking chair.

“You have to be careful when removing a dirty diaper as soon as you lift the second flap and the air hits his little wee-wee.” She snapped her fingers.

Paul smiled. “Waterfall.”

“Exactly!”

Amber bounced the baby, and Joachim giggled.

“You’re a natural nurturer,” Paul said.

“Not really,” she answered. “It’s just that babies are easy. They have a few basic desires—food, clean bottoms, toys and love.” She turned the baby, prying his fingers off the thin, gold chain she wore around her neck. “It’s adults I have a problem understanding,” she said.

Paul watched the conflicted emotions run over her face. He knew that she was thinking of Dashuan Kennedy, but was unsure whether he should say something to her about it. Should he offer some kind of reassurance or would she rather he pretend not to understand?

“You know, Amber, you’re not the only woman that something like that has happened to.”

Her golden eyes narrowed on his face, and Paul knew he’d made the wrong decision. He’d gone too far to stop. “I mean, there are a lot of gay men out there dating straight women.”

“Oh?”

There was something so vulnerable in her expression, Paul felt his heart twist inside his chest. All her insecurities, all her uncertainty was right there, exposed in her eyes. Paul felt her need for reassurance reaching out to him across the room. Her need to be desired, to be made to feel like a woman, was so strong it was almost tangible, and Paul felt it pulling him across the room. As if being drawn by a giant magnet, Paul found himself walking until he stood right in front of her.

He sank down on his knees before the rocking chair, looking up at her. “You are a beautiful, desirable woman, and Dashuan Kennedy is a fool.”

Amber’s eyes dropped as her lush brown lashes shielded her eyes. “Considering some of the decisions I’ve made in my life, I have to wonder if Dashuan is the fool.”

Paul rested both his large hands on her warm thighs, and felt a jolt of desire course through his whole body. The way Amber sat straight up in her chair, he knew she felt it, too. His fingers tingled with the sensation of warm flesh, and he fought the urge to squeeze her soft flesh in his hands.

She lifted her lids until her tawny lioness eyes were looking into his. So lost in them, he didn’t even feel his son’s hand reaching out to touch his face.

Paul felt like a helpless animal trapped by her mesmerizing gaze. Like lightning to a rod, he sought her, powerless to resist.

Amber was a beautiful woman, but that wasn’t what was making her so damn attractive. In his business, beautiful women, celebrities and socialites surrounded him. And more than a few had made a play for him. But being a single father was hard enough without trying to juggle a social life, so Paul declined invitation after invitation. But beauty and availability were not the things that had his whole body wired right this moment.

No, the something special about Amber Lockhart, the thing that had him breathing hard and growing harder, was something else. It was his one weakness when it came to women. The thing that drew him to Michelle, and tore them apart.

Paul had always been a sucker for a passionate, hot-blooded woman. And looking into her eyes, he could see that Amber Lockhart was burning with passion. It was straining, aching to be set free, and the man in him wanted nothing more than to open the floodgate.

He knew he shouldn’t have, but he could not help himself. Paul leaned forward, wanting to taste her lips. At that moment, he honestly wanted a taste of Amber more than air to breathe.

Sensing his intent, Amber stood. “Isn’t it time for Joachim’s feeding?”

Paul, still kneeling, still hungry, his eyes level with the crotch of her slacks, was unable to comprehend her words.

“Paul?”

He took several deep breaths through his nose, and stood. Taking the baby from her arms, he licked his lips and tried to speak. “Yes. I’ll do it.”

He knew Amber did the right thing by standing; he knew it was for the best. The way he was feeling, who knew where even the smallest little kiss could’ve led?

Yes, denying the attraction was the smart thing to do, but somehow knowing that didn’t make the acceptance of it any easier.

Paul paused in the doorway. “Thanks again for changing his diaper. I appreciate the help.”

“That was my pleasure. He is such a sweet baby.”

Paul tried to force a half smile before walking out of the room.

When she heard his footsteps on the carpeted stairs, Amber sank back down into the rocking chair. She could still feel Paul’s large, warm hands on her thighs. For a moment there, she was almost certain he was going to pull her legs apart and come between them. Truth is, if he’d tried, Amber wasn’t at all certain she would’ve stopped him.

She laid her head back against the hard, wooden chair and released a deep sigh. Amber wanted to stay with Paul another day or so, just long enough to get the courage to face her family and their guaranteed criticism. But now, there was no denying the sexual attraction she felt pass between her and Paul. Staying with him meant running the risk that those feelings would crop up again, and next time…there was no saying what might happen.

She could not let herself forget that this man was a friend of Luther’s, who was like a brother to her. If she slept with him, even on the rebound, it could change her relationship with Luther forever.

She nodded, deciding on a plan. She would just have to make sure she stayed as far away from Paul Gutierrez as possible—if possible. Lord, when will I learn to stay away from pretty men?

Chapter 6

Later that same evening, as he chopped onions for the pot of chili that was boiling on the nearby stove, Paul glanced at the clock hanging on the wall over the dinner table and realized it was almost seven o’clock. He had not seen his houseguest in almost seven hours.

He looked at Joachim, who was bouncing in his swing, trying to grab the overhanging mobile that was just out of reach.

Paul’s mind replayed the image of walking into the nursery and finding Amber huddled over the dressing table. She’d looked so natural there, so comfortable with the task, a person would think she changed dirty diapers on a regular basis. Of course, for all he knew about her she well may have. But from what Luther had told him about her, and what he’d seen himself, she did not strike him as the nurturing type. Then again, there was the indisputable proof of how well she handled Joachim. Maybe some women were just natural mothers. Give them a baby and they just knew what to do.

Then there were those who should never be mothers. His mind conjured the image of another beautiful woman, and the most horrific experience of his life.

The day he found Joachim’s mother, Michelle, dead from a drug overdose. His infant son sat strapped in his car seat wailing from a combination of a soiled diaper and an empty stomach.

Paul was no innocent to scenes of death, having served on the front lines of a war zone. He’d seen his fair share of dead men, some of whom had been killed by his own hands. But nothing in his experience had prepared him for the traumatic experience of finding his former lover, the mother of his child, prone on a motel bed, her cold, dead body already beginning to stiffen.

Shaking off the melancholy image, he scooped the onions and hot peppers he’d chopped earlier into the boiling pot. Wiping his hands on the dish towel, he glanced back at his son once more before he turned and headed up the stairs to the guest room.

He stopped outside the door and lifted his hand to knock, but paused. Maybe I should just leave her alone, he thought. He knew the impact of what she had experienced had taken its toll. Paul could not even imagine how a woman would begin to get over finding her boyfriend in bed with another man. He could almost see her sitting on the side of the bed, replaying the image over and over again in her head.

He knocked, and heard movement in the room.

“Just a moment.”

He listened to the sound of a nose being blown into a tissue. A few muffled sniffles, and then some more shuffling around. Paul assumed she was getting rid of the evidence of her misery.

“Come in.”

When Paul opened the door, it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The only light was coming from the moon outside the large picture window.

Instead of the bed, Amber was perched on the pillows of the window seat, staring out over the large wooded area behind the house.

Paul came to stand beside her.

“Is this real?” She spoke in almost a whisper.

Since he had been wondering pretty much the same thing all day, Paul had no answer for her.

“Are you real?” She glanced up at him before returning her attention out the window. “Because if you are, and if this house is real, that means that everything that happened, the trip to L.A., Dashuan…that means that all of that is real, too.”

It was just as he suspected. She was sitting in the dark room, feeling sorry for herself. Paul sat down on the seat beside her. “Sorry, angel, I’m afraid it is all too real.”

She slanted her head just the slightest bit, and it revealed the single tear flowing down her face. Paul lifted his hand, and let it fall. Although every ounce of blood in his body wanted to console her, he knew if he took her into his arms, in her vulnerable state, things could easily get out of hand.

He folded his hands together. “So, is this what you plan to do all evening?”

She swiped at the tear. “Pretty much. Except, I thought maybe later, I’d let loose and cry myself to sleep.”

He shook his head and made a ticking noise with his mouth. “I’m afraid that’s not acceptable.”

“Oh?”

She quirked an eyebrow in indignation, and Paul hid the smile that came to his lips. She may be a little battered, Paul thought, but she wasn’t broken.

“See, there’s a house rule that all houseguests have to do their fair share of the chores.”

The other eyebrow went up. “Chores?”

He nodded. “I’m cooking dinner, even as we speak, which leaves the cleanup for you.”

She folded her arms across her chest, and Paul took it as the clear sign of rebellion that it was.

“And if I don’t?”

Paul stood. “Then you don’t eat.”

He walked across the room without ever looking back. He had started to pull the door closed behind him when he felt a pillow hit the side of his head.

“You know, I was wondering when the tyrant I met last night would resurface. This whole Mr. Mom thing you’ve got working here is just a front. In a way, I’m grateful you’re showing your true colors. It’s comforting to know I was at least right about you.”

Paul glanced back over his shoulder with a wolfish smile. “Glad I could help. We’re having chili for dinner, and it will be ready in about thirty minutes. And don’t worry. I have rubber gloves to protect your delicate fingers.” He quickly exited, and chuckled to himself as he heard the thump of another pillow hitting the door.

“No, sweet angel,” he muttered under his breath, “you’re not even close to being broken.”

At seven-thirty, Amber appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. Paul felt her presence as soon as she arrived, but continued to stir the pot without acknowledging her. Out the corner of his eye, he watched as his normally easy-tempered son began to squirm and wiggle in his walker.

Joachim became frustrated with his inability to make the walker go where he wanted. He began bouncing up and down and whimpering in earnest, his short chubby arms reaching for Amber.

Amber crossed the room and picked up the baby and he settled down, having gotten what he wanted. He tugged at a lock of long, golden brown hair that had come loose, and chatted in baby gibberish. It was obvious he’d missed his new friend and wanted to fill her in on the hours they’d been apart.

Paul glanced over his shoulder at the pair. “You’re spoiling him.”

“It’s the other way around. I can’t remember the last time any man greeted me with this much honest enthusiasm.”

Paul smiled to himself and continued to stir the pot. “The chili is not quite ready, but there are dishes in the sink…if you want to get started now.”

“No thanks, I’ll wait.” She gave him a smug smile as she passed by the stove and headed toward the dinner table. Amber sat down and began playing with the baby on her lap. She glanced around the large kitchen.

The room was large enough to fit thirty people comfortably. The walls were all covered in lacquered wood overlay and, combined with the stainless-steel appliances and the redbrick tiled floor, the effect was stunning. “Your friend has a nice house. What does he do for a living?”

Paul’s mouth twisted. “Why do you ask?”

She shrugged. “Just wondering.”

Satisfied that the chili was coming along okay, Paul wiped his hands on a nearby dishtowel. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned a hip against the counter. “Can I ask you something?”

Amber shrugged, her attention focused on the laughing baby in her arms.

“How did you end up in L.A. with someone like Dashuan Kennedy?”

She glanced at his face, then looked away. “I thought Luther would’ve filled you in.”

“No, he was too concerned with your safety to worry about details.”

“So, now you want all the gory details?”

Paul stood straight and began to put away his seasonings and spices. “Look, it’s your business, if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay.”

“No…it’s no big deal. Hell, thanks to Dashuan’s entourage, most of Detroit probably already knows the story, anyway.”

She crossed the room and put the baby down in the playpen. Joachim started to protest, until he realized all his toys surrounded him. He rolled over on his tummy, and then up on his knees like a pro, crawling toward his favorite.

Amber wrapped her arms around her body and walked to the large window that looked out on the night, framing the mountains silhouetted in the background.

Paul just stood watching her, giving her time to decide if she wanted to share what was obviously an embarrassing memory.

“My sister Opal works for the Chargers owner D’marcus Armstrong. He gives me tickets to the games. The seats are so close to the team I could smell their sweat.”

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