Home for the Holidays Read Online Free PDF Page A

giving him a rakish air of indifference.
    â€œI’ve got an appointment this afternoon…” She offered the first plausible excuse she could think of; it might be uninspired but it also happened to be true. She’d made plans to have lunch with Lindy.
    â€œDinner then. I’m anxious to hear what Martin’s been up to.”
    â€œMartin,” she repeated, stalling for time while she invented another excuse. This wasn’t a situation she had much experience with. She did date, but infrequently.
    â€œListen, bright eyes, no need to look so concerned. This isn’t an invitation to the senior prom. It’s one friend to another. Strictly platonic.”
    â€œYou won’t mention…our wedding to the waiter? Or anyone else?”
    â€œI promise.” As if to offer proof of his intent, he licked the end of his index finger and crossed his heart. “That was Martin’s and my secret pledge sign. If either of us broke our word, the other was entitled to come up with a punishment. We both understood it would be a fate worse than death.”
    â€œI don’t need any broken pledge in order to torture you, Joseph Rockwell. In two days you’ve managed to turn my life into—” She paused midsentence as Paul Jamison casually strolled past. He waved in Cait’s direction and smiled benignly.
    â€œHello, Paul,” she called out, weakly raising her right hand. He looked exceptionally handsome this morning in a three-piece dark blue suit. The contrast between him and Joe, who was wearing dust-covered jeans, heavy boots and a tool pouch, was so striking that Cait had to force herself not to stare at her boss. If only Paul had been the one to invite her to dinner…
    â€œIf you’ll excuse me,” she said politely, edging her way around Joe and toward Paul, who’d gone into his office. Their office. The need to talk to him burned within her. Words of explanation began to form themselves in her mind.
    Joe caught her by the shoulders, bringing her up short. Cait gasped and raised shocked eyes to his.
    â€œDinner,” he reminded her.
    She blinked, hardly knowing what to say. “All right,” she mumbled distractedly and recited her address, eager to have him gone.
    â€œGood. I’ll pick you up tonight at six.” With that he released her and stalked away.
    After taking a couple of moments to compose herself, Cait headed toward the office. “Hello, Paul,” she said, standing just inside the doorway. “Do you have a moment to talk?”
    He glanced up from a file on his desk. “Of course, Cait. Sit down and make yourself comfortable.”
    She moved into the room, closing the door behind her. When she looked back at Paul, he’d cocked his eyebrows in surprise. “Problems?” he asked.
    â€œNot exactly.” She pulled out the chair opposite his desk and slowly sat down. Now that she had his full attention, she was at a loss. All her prepared explanations and witticisms had flown out of her head. “The rate on municipal bonds has been extremely high lately,” she said nervously.
    Paul agreed with a quick nod. “They have been for several months now.”
    â€œYes, I know. That’s what makes them such excellent value.” Cait had been selling bonds heavily in the past few weeks.
    â€œYou didn’t close the door to talk to me about bonds,” Paul said softly. “What’s troubling you, Cait?”
    She laughed uncomfortably, wondering how a man could be so astute in one area and so blind in another. If only he’d reveal some emotion toward her. Anything. All he did was sit across from her and wait. He was cordial enough, gracious even, but there was no hint of anythingmore. Nothing to give Cait any hope that he was starting to care for her.
    â€œIt’s about Joseph Rockwell.”
    â€œThe contractor who’s handling the remodeling?”
    Cait nodded. “I knew