Mistletoe Maneuvers

Ten

Lessa arrived home shortly after lunch. She had given herself less than a half hour to get ready for the wedding and throw some items into a bag on the off-chance they ended up staying over. It was a time squeeze, but she had no choice. Her aunt had a lunch date and Lessa wanted to arrive home after she was gone so that she could postpone the confrontation she knew was coming. After all, she would have to confess her love affair to her aunt. She couldn’t keep something that big a secret.

Unfortunately for her, Gran’s lunch date had been postponed and she was still there when Lessa got home. As Lessa hurried to get ready, her aunt took a seat on the bed and wasted no time starting her interrogation.

“Well?” Gran asked impatiently. “I want details.”

“The party was a bust. I certainly tried, but it doesn’t seem to do much good.” She pulled her blue dress over her head and said, “Sometimes I think I’m fighting a losing battle. I don’t think anyone will ever see me as anything more than Howard Lawrence’s daughter.”

“You have to prove yourself.”

“I haven’t done a very good job so far. A board member accused me in front of everyone of destroying the company and I almost took him out. Nothing like punching an old man I could’ve blown over by whistling.”

“Fire him,” her aunt said defiantly, crossing her arms.

“I can’t go around firing people. That’s not going to solve anything. I think it was a mistake to fire Rick.”

“I’m sure you do.” Her aunt shook her head as she continued, grumbling, “You arrive home all disheveled at two in the morning. I wasn’t born yesterday, you know.”

“All right, here’s what happened,” Lessa said resignedly, taking a seat next to her. Whether she liked it or not, her aunt deserved an explanation. “During the party, Rick found out about my proposal to buy Mara del Ray. He was pretty upset so I volunteered to go over it with him.”

“At his place?”

“We couldn’t come here, you were sleeping. And the party was still going on at the office.”

“So you went to his place.”

“And…one thing led to another.”

“You’re not a virgin anymore?” her aunt asked calmly.

“Gran, I’m twenty-six years old. I haven’t been a virgin for a long time.”

“Tommy Winston?” her aunt said with a grin.

“Tommy Winston? No! I was in seventh grade when I dated him. We didn’t even really date.” In reality, she’d lost her virginity when she was in college, at the ripe old age of twenty-one, with Kevin Blane. He had been a popular fraternity boy with whom she’d had little emotional attachment. She had endured the whole thing with a let’s-get-it-over-with attitude. They had slept together exactly twice.

“So now Rick wants to take you home to meet his family?” Gran asked. “Sounds serious.”

“It’s not like that. It only makes sense. I want him to see this property before sunset.”

“And you couldn’t take separate flights and meet him there?”

Gran had a point. “But there’s only one corporate jet,” Lessa said.

“So? You take the corporate jet and make him fly commercial.”

“We need to go over everything first.”

“I thought you did that last night.”

“We discussed selling Antigua last night.”

Her aunt raised her hands as if admitting defeat.

Lessa sighed. “It’s no relationship, Gran. I don’t think he’s capable. And I know I’m not.”

“You don’t know that at all. You’ve never been tested. That’s the problem. I always thought you were picky, just waiting for the right guy. Not the wrong one.”

“I’m sorry, Gran. I know this seems strange. I spent all that time plotting revenge and thinking about how I was going to get rid of him. I hated him.”

“There’s a fine line between love and hate.”

“I never thought this would happen. But I’m going to try and keep it all in perspective. I have to. I could be working with him for a very long time and I can’t afford to be jealous or distracted.”

“How in the world do you plan on preventing that?”

“I just can’t allow it. That’s all there is to it.”

“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, Lessa, but how do you know that Rick didn’t do this just to confuse you?”

“You think he slept with me just to bring me pain?”

“It’s a possibility. It’s also a possibility that it meant nothing to him.”

“I don’t think he did it out of spite, Gran. I know how I must sound, but he really isn’t a bad person. Underneath it all, I think he’s sweet and sensitive.”

“I hope you’re right, Lessa. I really do.”

“I’m a big girl, Gran. I can take care of myself.”

“You’re going to have to if you insist on playing with pirates.”

Normally, he would’ve been relieved to wake up and discover that his lover from the previous evening was gone. But not this time. It had only made him crave her more.

How had that happened? After all, Lessa was opinionated, stubborn and one of the most frustrating women he had ever encountered. But the truth of the matter was that underneath her bravado was warmth and tenderness. She had made him feel things he’d never thought possible again.

And so, when the opportunity had presented itself, he could not deny his mind or body the pleasure. But he would have to. As much as he was tempted to pursue their relationship, he had to agree with her. They would put the previous evening behind them. This was the only solution. After all, he was on the verge of winning back his company and firing her. As much as he might wish otherwise, Lessa did not belong at Lawrence Enterprises. She was resented and distrusted. The board would never again allow her any independence.

Although she was certain to be furious with him when she discovered that she had lost the company, in the end, he had no doubt she would be happier. She could take the money he paid her for her shares and start her own company. She would move on with her life, as he would with his.

But before then, he was going to introduce her to his entire family.

He must be crazy. After all, only a crazy man would do something so ridiculous. But it only made sense, right? They needed to go over their briefs before the meeting. They could do that on the plane.

Yeah, right.

The truth of the matter was that, like or not, he cared about Lessa. And, although they had promised each other that it was a single night, he was already longing for the moment when he could touch her again, when he could make love to her once more. He was not willing or able to go back to business as usual.

“Hello, Rick,” Lessa said as she opened the door to her apartment. She looked beautiful. Her long hair was swept up, away from her face. She was wearing a blue dress that alluded to the beautiful curves underneath. “Come on in,” she said, motioning for him to follow.

He glanced around nervously. “Where’s your aunt?”

“She’s not here. She went out to lunch with some friends.”

He entered and shut the door. In the foyer, he looked at the wall of pictures. They were old family photos featuring Lessa and her father. At the top was a picture of Howard with his arm around a woman who looked very similar to Lessa.

“That was my mother,” Lessa said. “That was taken at El Vitro, their first property.”

“Your mother was beautiful,” he said. “She looks a lot like you.”

“Thanks.” She pointed out another picture. “There they are with me outside of my father’s office. That was the day he incorporated Lawrence Enterprises.”

From the pictures, Rick could almost feel his deceased boss giving him the evil eye.

Lessa put on her coat and grabbed an overnight case from beside the door. “Ready.”

“Are you planning on staying a while?” he joked, nodding toward her bag.

“No,” she said quickly, embarrassed that he might think she was plotting to get him alone. “After our last trip, I wasn’t leaving anything to chance. I prefer my own swimsuit, thank you very much.”

“I thought that other one looked kind of nice.”

“Thanks,” she said uncomfortably, ushering him out the door and down the hall.

They didn’t speak until they were seated in his car. She asked, “So do you like the guy your sister’s marrying?”

“Sure,” he said with a shrug.

“You don’t seem that happy about it.”

Not happy about it? The truth of the matter was that his sister had suffered a nasty divorce that had been finalized only months before she’d met her new fiancé. Rick thought she was a fool to open herself up to more pain, but she was determined to be with her new love. And he gave her credit. “It’s her business.”

“Not a very romantic thing to say on the way to the wedding.”

“Maybe not. But it’s practical. She’s been married before. You wouldn’t know it though. She’s going all out for this.”

“She hasn’t given up on love.”

“Or maybe she’d just a glutton for punishment. She should’ve learned her lesson the first time.”

“Does she seem happy?”

“That’s how most relationships begin, don’t they?” There were exceptions, of course, like his and Lessa’s. They had begun as unhappily as most marriages end. What did that say for them?

They rode the rest of the way in silence, talking only when necessary. When they got to the chapel, Rick ushered Lessa past his stunned family, not stopping to introduce her. When he went back into the lobby, his sister said, “You brought someone? You actually brought a girlfriend to a family event?”

As a groomsman, Rick was required to work the crowd, seating people on either side of the church. Every now and then, he found himself glancing back toward Lessa. She seemed to be totally relaxed, busying herself by making conversation with the elderly woman next to her.

After the ceremony, Rick barely had time to say hello to Lessa before being whisked into the family photo session.

“I’ll meet you at the reception,” Lessa said.

An hour later, Rick and the rest of the wedding party finally made their way across the street to the reception. As the bride and groom made their grand entrance. Rick scanned the room, looking for Lessa, but it soon became clear she wasn’t there. He finally found her in the hall, helping an elderly woman out of the ladies room.

“This is Rick,” Lessa said, introducing him to the woman.

“Oh, your wife has been so sweet to help me,” she said. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without her. My daughter was late and-”

“Here I am, Mom,” a woman said, hurrying into the hall. She thanked Lessa profusely as she took hold of her mother’s arm and helped her the rest of the way.

“Wife?” Rick asked when they were out of earshot.

“It was a misunderstanding. She knew I came here with you and she just made an assumption. I didn’t see any reason to correct her.”

“Look,” he said, “I just have to stay for a little bit longer-”

“And who is this?”

Rick turned to see his parents were standing behind them.

“This is Lessa Lawrence,” he replied.

His mother smiled and held out her hand. “How nice to meet you, Lessa.”

“Lawrence,” said his father, shaking her hand. “Any relationship to Howard Lawrence?”

“I’m his daughter.”

“You’re the one,” his mother said, then looked at Rick. It was obvious by his mother’s confusion that the only thing she had heard about Lessa was that she was a pain in the neck. Lessa smiled sweetly.

Rick felt the need to explain. “Lessa and I have a meeting later on. It makes sense to bring her here.”

“I see,” his father said. “Well, welcome, Lessa. It’s very nice to meet you. You’re so much younger and prettier than I imagined. Rick, you didn’t do her justice.” His father winked. “He told me you were pretty but he didn’t say you were a knockout.”

Her heart did a little flip as Rick winced. Rick had told them she was pretty?

As his parents walked away, Rick looked at his watch. “I think it’s time to go.”

“Don’t be silly,” she said with a smile. “We haven’t even eaten yet. Besides, you don’t have to entertain me. I’m perfectly fine by myself. Go be with your family.”

A woman in a red bridesmaid dress came barreling their way. “Rick? Rick Parker! How have you been? I’m Jane Turner, remember?”

Rick shot the woman a grin that Lessa recognized immediately. Rick had no idea who the woman was.

“Would you dance with me?” she asked.

He glanced at Lessa, looking for help.

“Oh,” the woman said, her face dropping. “Is this your date? I’m sorry. I thought your sister said you were coming alone.”

“I’m not his date,” Lessa said quickly. She turned to Rick. “Go ahead. Take your time. I’m fine.”

Giving her a pained look, he walked to the dance floor with Jane Turner. Lessa went to the ladies’ room and found Rick’s newly married sister in there alone, struggling with her dress.

“Let me help,” Lessa offered.

“You’re Rick’s date,” Susan said with a smile. “I’m so glad he brought you. How long have you two been seeing each other?”

“Actually, we’re not really seeing each other. We work together. We have a meeting later today and it made sense to go directly from here.” Before his sister could say anything, Lessa added, “I’m so glad I could be here, though. It was a lovely wedding.”

“You’re not seeing each other?” his sister asked suspiciously.

“Not technically.”

His sister laughed. “Technically, huh? I saw the way he was looking at you. He appears quite smitten.”

“We’ve only spent a couple of days together.”

“So? I only met my husband three months ago. My mother married my father only six weeks after meeting him. Fast courtships are a family tradition. When Rick was engaged before, he proposed after only…” Her voice trailed off as she looked at Lessa. “You did know he was engaged before, right?”

Lessa nodded.

Susan smiled. “You see? I knew you were special. He must really care for you if he told you about Karen.” She sighed and said, “We were all so worried about him after Karen’s accident. He just withdrew from everything. Fortunately, he found that job. It was just what he needed. Or at least we thought so at the time. With him traveling to all those exotic locales, we felt certain he’d come home one day with a bride. But he hasn’t dated anyone seriously since.”

“Really? His reputation is as such a Don Juan.”

“Oh, yeah. And he is, don’t get me wrong. But I don’t think all these casual relationships are what he really wants. He’s like a nomad, wandering the earth. He’s never around for family birthdays or holidays. He just gives a hundred percent to his job.” She squinted her eyes. “Lessa Lawrence… Wait a minute. Aren’t you the one who fired him?”

Uh-oh. “Yes. I was…well, not happy with what happened to my father.”

“Rick felt bad about your dad. I remember him talking about it. But I don’t think he had much to do with it, if that makes you feel any better. He told us that they were going to fire him whether or not he took over.”

“I’m not sure of the details,” Lessa said. She didn’t want to get into this with his sister, that was certain.

“I bet you can find out. A lot of the board members are still there, right?”

They were and Lessa had done her best to check Rick’s story. The board members she had spoken to had all told her the same thing. If Rick hadn’t been there, they wouldn’t have fired her father. “I would like to believe that he didn’t have much to do with it,” Lessa said. “But the truth of the matter is that he didn’t stop it either.”

“Did he have the power to stop it?” his sister asked. “From what I remember, they had already made their decision by the time they told him.” She took Lessa’s hand. “In any case, please don’t hold it against him. I know he didn’t want to hurt your father, or you, for that matter. He was numb back then, still reeling from Karen’s death. Maybe he shouldn’t have taken the job, but we all make mistakes, don’t we? I’ve made my share.” She leaned forward and said conspiratorially, “I was married before. It didn’t work out, though. Have you ever been married?”

“Me?” Lessa laughed. “No.”

“What’s so funny?”

Why was she laughing? Because she had not even had a serious boyfriend. She couldn’t very well go from not dating to getting married. “The concept of me having a serious boyfriend is funny, I guess.”

“You and Rick sound like you’re perfect for each other.”

“I’m not like Rick,” she said quickly. “I have the opposite situation. I rarely date.”

“But you’re dating Rick.”

“Am I? I don’t think so.”

“You’re dating. You’re here, aren’t you? I would bet you that he cares about you more than he’s admitted. He never brings anyone to meet us.”

“But we have to go to Florida-”

“Mumbo jumbo. He’s had other meetings and inconvenient family obligations. He still never brought anyone.”

There was a banging on the door. “Susan?”

“That’s my husband,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “Isn’t he cute? Have you met him?”

“Yes. He seems very nice.”

“Susan?” they heard again. “What in the world are you doing?”

She smiled and grabbed Lessa’s hand. “Come on. Let me introduce you to the rest of the family.”

Rick sat at the table, nervously looking around for Lessa. He had a feeling she was in trouble, and his fears were confirmed when he saw her arm in arm with his sister. He watched as Susan took Lessa’s hand and proceeded to lead her smack into a group of cousins, introducing them one by one.

Rick’s younger brother saw the interaction and laughed. “We’re all intrigued by your mystery woman. Why didn’t you tell us you were bringing someone?”

“Because I didn’t realize it until this morning. And besides, she’s not a date. She’s a coworker.”

“Sure,” he said sarcastically. “This is me, Russell, your brother. I don’t need the party line. Now, how long have you been seeing her?”

“She’s the chairman of the board.”

“Kind of young to be chairman of the board.”

“My sentiments exactly.”

“She’s beautiful. And smart. And rich.” Russell glanced at Rick again. “And she’s not yours?”

“I already answered that question.”

“So…you don’t mind if I ask her to dance?”

“No,” Rick said, his jaw tightening.

Susan came over, pulling Lessa by the hand. “Lessa and I were just getting acquainted.”

“I think it’s my turn,” Russell said. He smiled at Lessa and said, “Would you like to dance?”

“I’d love to,” Lessa said, accepting his arm.

As his brother led her to the dance floor and the two began moving to the music, Rick couldn’t help but notice the way Lessa was smiling at Russell, as if she were actually enjoying herself. And his brother… Well, hell, he looked like he couldn’t be happier. And why wouldn’t he be? Rick remembered the way it felt to hold Lessa in his arms, to have her delicate arms wrapped around his neck. The way her breasts had felt against his chest.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his sister looking at him suspiciously. “Nice wedding,” he said.

“I hope you like it,” she replied. “It’s my last one.”

“I don’t know,” he teased. “Seems a shame to stop. You’re just getting the hang of it. This was so much better than the first one.”

“Very funny. But it’s your turn next.”

He laughed. “I don’t think so.”

They were quiet for a moment as he continued to watch his brother dance with Lessa. What the hell were they whispering in each other’s ears?

“She’s a beautiful woman,” Susan said.

“What? Oh, yes. Attractive.”

“She certainly caught Russell’s eye.”

“So it appears.”

The music changed tempo, slowing down considerably. But instead of leaving the dance floor, Russell pulled Lessa close and rested his cheek against hers.

“Just a coworker, huh?” Susan said, motioning toward Rick’s fists.

What was he doing? He relaxed his fists. He had no reason to be jealous. Lessa Lawrence was not his and never would be. “More than just a coworker. She’s chairman of Lawrence Enterprises.”

“Hmm,” Susan said, smiling.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It sounds like you’ve got a Hepburn-Tracy thing going on. An office love affair.”

“You’re wrong.”

“I know you. And I can see the way you’re looking at her. You can’t stop thinking about her, right? And I assume you’ve…held hands, so to speak.”

“Look,” he said. “I can guarantee this relationship is not going to go anyplace. She’s arranged to give me half her stock in the company once this takeover threat is aborted. What she doesn’t know is that I’ll then own more than her.”

“So you’re going to fire her?” Susan asked. There was no mistaking the horror in her voice.

He paused. That was what he was going to do, right? “Yes.”

“Rick,” she said, shaking her head, “it’s Christmas.”

“Look, if there was any other way… But there’s not.” He had gone over it every which way. The truth of the matter was that he had no choice.

“But you care about her. I can see it in your eyes. Why can’t you work together?”

“It’s complicated.” He didn’t want to discuss it anymore.

“This is so typical of you. Dating someone that you think is safe. You only like relationships that come with automatic brakes. Did it ever occur to you to get rid of the brakes? Maybe you could have the ride of your life.”

“I think you better lay off the champagne,” Rick said.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head, frustrated. After a pause, she asked, “Are you going to Mom and Dad’s for Christmas?” Every year his sister attempted to get him to come home.

“I don’t think so,” Rick said, sitting at the table. “You know how I feel about Christmas.”

“It would mean so much to everyone if you were there. I thought that perhaps this year things might be different.”

“Nothing’s changed,” he said, his eyes drifting back to Lessa. With relief. he noticed that they had stopped dancing and were making their way back to the table. “You know what I say-”

“Christmas is for families and kids. Yes, I know what you say. But you’re part of our family. And we would love it if you came.”

“Hey, Susan,” Russell said as Lessa sat down next to Rick, “Lessa doesn’t have any plans for Christmas. I told her that she and her aunt should come to our house.”

She was going to his parents’ house?

“It might be better if I didn’t,” Lessa said, meeting Rick’s eye. “After all, Rick and I work together…”

“He’s never there on Christmas anyway. And the more the merrier. Besides,” Russell said gleefully, “if the tennis club is open you promised to hit some balls to me.” He looked at Rick and shook his head with disbelief. “You didn’t tell me she beat Korupova. I saw that match on ESPN2.”

“Good for you,” Rick said stiffly to his brother. He turned toward Lessa and said, “I know my mother would love to have you.”

“Russell, come with me,” Susan said. “I need to show you something.”

“What?” Russell asked. “What’s so important?”

“Now, Russell.”

“My brother’s a great kid, isn’t he?” Rick asked after Russell and Susan had left.

“Kid? He’s a year older than me.”

“He seemed to really like you.” Rick hesitated and then asked, “So are you going?”

“Going where?”

“Christmas at my parents. He asked you, didn’t he?”

“It didn’t seem like you wanted me to accept his invitation.”

“As they said, I won’t be there. I don’t care what you do. Outside of the office, that is.”

She became quiet. Right away he regretted what he’d said. How could he tell her that he did care? That he didn’t want her going near his brother or any other man? That she belonged to him.

She raised her hands. “What do you want from me? To not talk to anyone? That’s why you’re upset, isn’t it?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said gruffly.

At that moment, a team of waiters began serving, and the table soon filled with fellow guests. As he attempted to enjoy his meal, Rick found himself looking at Lessa. Seemingly relaxed and happy, she regaled the table with stories of her tennis exploits. Several times, she glanced at him and smiled, causing warmth to spread through him.

He poured her champagne and picked up his glass as they toasted the happy couple. He found himself wondering if he would ever walk down this road. It wasn’t that he had completely written off the idea of marriage. It was just something distant, out there, that he felt he would address when it hit him.

Lessa, however, was the type of woman who would not stay single for long. Some man, some lucky man, would find her, and when he did, he would never let her go.

What the hell was happening to him? They had shared one night. One damn night. Yet the vision of her was seared into his mind. He couldn’t forget the way she had felt in his arms, the smell of her, the feel. He had only one option. He would go to Florida with her as agreed. And then he would stay the hell away.