The Mysterious Stranger (Triple Trouble) (20 page)

* * *

Fallon tiptoed down the stairs. It was late and she should be asleep, but for some reason she felt restless. The past couple of days had been wonderful. She’d spent time with her sisters and their husbands. There had been long conversations, pool games, great food and general good times. Having Jarrett and Anna Jane as part of the group had only added to the fun. After all she’d been through today, she should be pleasantly exhausted. But she wasn’t. Her mind wasn’t willing to quiet enough to allow her to sleep. Maybe a quick stroll on the beach would help her unwind.

As she reached the main floor, she automatically glanced toward Jarrett’s office. Instead of darkness, she saw the door closed and a light shining onto the marble floor. She frowned. What was he doing up this late?

Not sure if she would be intruding or not, she crossed the foyer and tapped on his door. Seconds later he flung it open and stared at her.

“What’s wrong?” Fallon asked, taking in his rumpled clothing. His dark hair was ruffled as if he’d been running his fingers through it.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice low with tension. “Thank God. I wanted to come and get you but I thought you’d already gone to bed.”

Panic flared low in Fallon’s stomach. “Is something wrong with Anna Jane?”

“What?” Jarrett grabbed her arm and pulled her into the room. “No, she’s fine.” He shook his head. “Dammit, I never expected this to be so difficult.”

Alarm made her throat tighten. “Is someone ill?”

“Ill? What are you talking about? I need help with that.”

He pointed. She glanced in that direction and saw piles of boxes littering his desk. An empty card table had been set up in the center of the room. On the floor were rolls of wrapping paper and ribbon. Bows were everywhere. Some of her concern faded.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Trying to wrap presents. It’s about the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. How do you manage it? There are all these different-size boxes. What ribbon goes with what paper? And what in God’s name are you supposed to write on these stupid little cards?”

He grabbed a sheet of gift tags and tossed them into the air. “There’s too much room for just names, but not enough room for a proper message. Besides, after the third or fourth present, it’s tough to be creative.”

Fallon felt a giggle forming in the back of her throat. She swallowed the sound. The relief was sweet, as was Jarrett’s confusion. “Are you telling me you can save an empire but you can’t figure out how to wrap a few presents?”

He glared at her. “I’m not in a good mood, Fallon. This isn’t the time to make fun of me.”

She wrinkled her nose. “It’s exactly the time. If I don’t take advantage of your weakened condition, I may never get this opportunity again.” She looked at the mess he’d made of the single wrapped box on the chair by the window.

“How long have you been working on this?” she asked.

“Two hours.”

Laughter bubbled again. This time she wasn’t able to stifle the sound. He glared at her.

“May I remind you that I’m your host and as the guest, you owe me courtesy?”

“Jarrett, you’re one swell guy and I’m being very courteous. It’s just that wrapping packages is so easy. I can’t believe you’re this inept.”

His dark eyebrows drew together. “Inept?”

“What else would you call it?”

He thought for a second. “A lack of field experience.”

“Uh-huh. Do you want my help?”

He sagged with relief. “Yes. Please.”

“No problem. I wrap a pretty terrific package, if I do say so myself.” She glanced around the room. “The first thing we have to do is get organized.”

She had him collect all the supplies. Then she sorted packages by size. There was a huge box, which was obviously a computer for Anna Jane. In fact, everything he’d bought the child was what she, Fallon, had recommended. There were a few things for Leona and Frank, plus gifts for her family.

She fingered the beautiful leather-bound photo album he’d bought Elissa and Cole. “You didn’t have to do this,” she said, grateful she’d already ordered Jarrett several presents. At least she didn’t have to worry about her family facing him empty-handed on Christmas morning. “As you just reminded me, we’re your guests here. Allowing us to stay is enough of a gift.”

He shrugged. “I wanted to give them something. Anna Jane is very happy to have you here, and so am I.”

His confession warmed her from the inside out. To cover her sudden shyness, she pointed to a large roll of paper. “See if that will fit around the computer box,” she said. “If it doesn’t, we’ll have to patch a couple of pieces together.”

While he did as she requested, she went to work on several packages of software. “Anna Jane seems to be having fun,” Fallon said. “She’s spent the past couple of days laughing a lot.”

“I agree.” He unrolled the paper and stretched it out in the center of the floor, anchoring the edges with scissors and a roll of tape. “You’re a teacher, right?”

“Fifth graders.”

“What should I do with her? A few days ago you and I talked about several options—none of which I liked. She has to go to school, and there isn’t one on the island.”

“There also aren’t any children, Jarrett. Being around here is fine for now, but she is going to need kids her own age to play with.”

“Yeah. I’ve been thinking about that. You’re the expert. What should I do?”

“What do you want to do?”

The paper just fit around the box. He tapped it in place, then carefully folded the two sides down. “I could bring in a tutor. While that gets her an education, it doesn’t deal with the lack of children her age. There are a couple of good schools on nearby islands. She could board there during the week and come back on weekends. Or she could board in the States and come here during long breaks.”

She unrolled ribbon and wrapped it around the dancing-reindeer-covered software boxes. “How do you feel about those?”

“I don’t like them. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I would miss her if she were gone. Given the choice, I want us to be together.”

“But?”

“Yeah, but. But she needs more than me in her life. I have to decide based on what’s best for her, not what’s easiest or most comfortable for me.”

His willingness to sacrifice touched her. She’d known from the beginning that Jarrett was a special man. How was she supposed to resist someone who obviously cared so much about his niece?

“I’m a little concerned about boarding school in any form,” he continued. “I remember what you told me she said about losing her mother and Nana B. I don’t want her to think that she’s being abandoned again.”

“You could tell her the options and let her pick,” Fallon said. “Going away might not be so scary then.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.” He finished wrapping the computer and grinned in triumph. “Well?”

The paper didn’t quite meet on one side and the pattern was crooked, but Fallon knew Anna Jane wouldn’t care. “It’s beautiful. Want to put a bow on it?”

He nodded and sorted through the selection. The large floppy bow he chose didn’t match at all, but again Fallon didn’t say anything. This was one time when the thought was definitely what mattered most.

She picked up another box, this one containing a beautiful blouse for Leona. “There is another option,” she said, wondering if he would be angry with her for mentioning it.

“What’s that?”

She drew in a deep breath and looked at him. “You could move back to the States. That way Anna Jane would be able to attend a regular school during the day and come home to you at night.”

Her words hung in the silent room. Several emotions flashed through his eyes, but she couldn’t identify any of them. He’d discussed his past with her; she knew what she was asking. That he give up the safety of the island and return to the world.

“I know what I’m saying,” she told him, her voice soft. “I remember what you’ve been through. While I can’t imagine all you’ve suffered, I have an idea about it. But this isn’t about you, it’s about your niece. I’m not telling you it’s the only thing that would work, I’m just pointing out that it’s worth considering.”

She braced herself for the explosion. Jarrett bent over, picked up the computer and carried it out of the room. She went back to her wrapping, not sure if he was going to reappear. A minute later he walked into the room.

“Moving back is an option,” he said at last. “You’re right. It’s something I have to consider. I can’t stay here forever and I can’t keep her isolated.”

Jarrett glanced around the room. “Last year at this time, I was hard at work. I’m not sure I even noticed which day was Christmas. I gave Leona and Frank a big check and the week off. Someone from the hotel brought me meals.” He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. “Everything has changed. One day I got the call about my sister, three days later, after the funeral, Anna Jane was here. I didn’t know what to do with her, and if there’d been a way to send her away, I would have. Now I can’t imagine what it would be like without her. I think I would miss her very much.”

“You love her.”

He nodded. “I do.”

He was, she realized, the best kind of man. Honorable, caring. No wonder her heart was at risk every time they were together.

She remembered what her sisters had said about taking a chance on romantic love. Their lives had worked out, but would hers? She’d always assumed she would spend her life alone. Until she’d met Jarrett, she’d been content with that fate. Now she wasn’t. Now she wanted more. She wanted him.

At the thought, she became hyperaware of his body, of the quiet of the night, of how alone they were. A shiver raced through her. How she wished he would walk over to her and take her in his arms. She wanted to feel him press against her. She wanted to taste him again, to have his kisses drive her to madness.

“So you’re the organized one,” he said, his words breaking her mood.

She glanced down at the package she was wrapping and was pleased to see she hadn’t mangled it completely. She smoothed the paper and secured it in place with a small piece of tape.

“That’s me. The oldest by at least a couple of minutes and the bossy one.”

“So you’re used to getting your way, too?”

She smiled. “Always.”

“I’m surprised we work so well together. What with us both being bossy.”

She picked out a bow. “We’re a good team because we respect each other’s abilities.”

He cleared packages off his chair and sat down. “I don’t think so.”

“You don’t respect my abilities?”

“Of course I do, but that’s not the point. You can be as bossy as you want, Fallon. We both know I could take you.”

She blinked. “Are you saying you’re in charge simply because you’re physically stronger?”

His grin turned wicked. “Uh-huh.”

“That’s insane.”

“Maybe, but it’s true.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “With an attitude like that, I’m not sure I should help you.”

He looked at the few packages remaining. “You don’t have to, anyway. I can finish up.” He rosé to his feet and approached her. Humor still lurked in his eyes, but it was tempered with a fire that made her breathing suddenly speed up.

“Thank you,” he said.

“Um, you’re welcome.” Her palms got sweaty and she rubbed them together.

He stared at her for several heartbeats. “It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted a woman.” His voice was low and husky. “I’d nearly forgotten how good that could feel.”

Before she could answer, he brushed his mouth against hers. The contact seared her down to her tingling toes. Then, as unexpectedly, he pulled back.

“I’m not going to walk you upstairs,” he said calmly, as if discussing the weather. “It would be the polite thing to do, but I couldn’t leave you at the door. Thank you for that, too, Fallon.”

“I, ah…” She didn’t know what to say. Had he just told her what she thought he’d told her? That he wanted her? Happiness made her giddy. She wanted to tell him that it was fine. She wanted him, too. In fact, if they both wanted each other so much, maybe they should do something about it. But while it was easy to be brave when talking about Anna Jane, it was quite another thing to be brave for herself. So instead of inviting him to her bed, or even kissing him back, she stumbled to the door and softly called good-night.

Chapter Thirteen

“Y
ou have not seen flying reindeer,” Anna Jane said firmly.

Cole, Elissa’s husband, looked hurt. “Of course I have. Our apartment in New York is up very high. On Christmas Eve you can stand outside and watch Santa fly by. You can see the red glow in the sky from Rudolph’s nose.”

Anna Jane rolled her eyes. “I’m nine years old. I don’t believe in Santa anymore.”

Patrick winced. “Jeez, I hate it when kids say that. I’m a lot older than you and I still believe in Santa.”

“You do not.”

Patrick made an X in the center of his chest. “I sure do. I write a list every year and send it to the North Pole.”

Kayla giggled. “He uses express mail and a signed receipt, just to make sure it really gets there.”

“But you’re a grown-up.”

“Only on the outside,” Kayla said, then laughed harder when her husband glared at her.

Patrick deliberately turned his back on his wife and looked at Anna Jane. “Sometimes you have to take a few things on faith, even if there’s no proof.”

Jarrett watched his niece wrestle with that piece of information. He knew she considered herself very mature for her age, and believing in Santa went against her definition of being grown-up. But she liked Patrick and Cole a lot.

“It’s like love,” Elissa said. “You can’t see it or touch it, but you know it exists.”

“Maybe.” Anna Jane sounded doubtful. She turned to Fallon.

“Do you believe in Santa?”

“I believe in miracles, so that’s almost the same thing.” She held out her arms. Anna Jane moved next to her and leaned against Fallon.

At first Jarrett didn’t recognize the source of the warmth spreading through him. Although he was sitting on the sofa relatively near Fallon, it wasn’t just sexual desire. There was something else—and then he figured it out. Contentment.