"They're already wrapped. But thanks for the offer." Elizabeth squeezed her hand. "I know there isn't a romance between you and Jordan. Speaking for all the Haynes wives, I wanted to tell you, we would love it if you two got together. You're good for him, and I think he's good for you, too." Elizabeth's brown eyes danced. "If he's anything like his brother, I promise you won't be disappointed when the lights go out."

Holly already suspected that. "You've all been so nice to me. I don't know how to thank you."

"You don't have to."

Impulsively Holly gave her a hug.

"Hey, if there's hugging going on, I want to be included," Kyle said as he carried one end of a huge fir tree up toward the open front door.

"Talk to your wife," Elizabeth said.

Travis came up the stairs, holding the thick end of the tree. "Wife," he said.

Elizabeth laughed.

Holly led the way inside. Austin followed behind with a tree stand. In about ten minutes the tree was up in the living room's bay window. Five minutes after that the appropriate trees had been tied onto car roofs and everyone had left.

Holly checked on Jordan. He pulled himself to his feet and grimaced. "I'm tired," he said. "Would you mind if we decorated the tree tomorrow?"

"Not at all. I'm worried about you."

He gave her a half smile. "I'll be fine. I just need to rest."

The front door opened, and Louise stepped inside. "What a day," she said. "Those little ones about ran me into the ground."

Jordan's jaw tightened. Had something happened to upset him?

"I have a few ornaments I brought from the store," Holly said. "I want to bring them down before I forget." She waved at Louise and headed for the stairs.

"The tree looks nice in here," Louise said.

Jordan grunted.

Holly started up the stairs. Some premonition made her slow her step. Something was going to happen. She could feel it.

"Do you want me to hang the lights tonight?" Louise asked, her voice slightly m.u.f.fled as she walked into the living room.

"No," Jordan roared. "Haven't you done enough today? Just stay the h.e.l.l out of my life."

Chapter 11.

A s soon as he said the words, Jordan wanted to call them back. It would be a big mistake to get into this now. They were both tired, and nothing would be accomplished.

But watching Louise with his nieces and nephews had been more than he could stand. She'd held the little ones; played with the older ones. All the kids adored her. He hated knowing she'd wormed her way into his family under false pretenses.

Louise tossed her coat over a chair by the entrance to the living room, then she walked toward him. Her cheeks were flushed, her blue eyes bright with anger. In her purple slacks and fuchsia shirt, she didn't look like anyone's idea of a dangerous person, but he knew the truth ... and her secrets.

She came to a stop about three feet in front of him. After planting her hands on her hips, she glared at him. "I've had it with you, Jordan. I've been here nearly a month. I'm tired of the rude comments, the innuendos and hostile looks. Your att.i.tude stinks. If you've got something to say, then be man enough to say it."

He stared at her for a long time. "You don't want to hear this," he said at last, his voice low.

"Try me. Or are you only good at being a bully?" The taunt did what it was supposed to. The heat of his anger increased. He made one last effort to maintain self-control, then let it go. "I don't like you, Louise. I haven't for a long time."

"Why?" she asked, her confusion obviously genuine. "What did I ever do to you?"

"You destroyed my family."

She stared at him as if he were crazy. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He focused his attention on her face. He wanted to see her admit the truth. "I know about your affair with my father."

His expectations were fulfilled. Louise paled to the color of chalk, then sank onto the sofa behind her.

"Oh, Lord," she murmured. "Alter all these years." She raised her head and looked at him. "How did you find out?"

"That's not important. The point is I know what you did."

She tried to smile, but her lips were trembling too much. "What I did? You make it sound like I planned the affair. I didn't. I was just seventeen. Still in high school." She turned away. "A virgin."

He saw the flush of color on her cheeks. Jordan steeled himself against any hint of softer emotion. Alter what she'd done, she deserved to suffer.

She drew in a deep breath. "He came to the high school and talked about drunk driving. I was sitting in the front row. Your father was older, of course, but a handsome, charming man. He smiled at me and-"

"Spare me the details."

Her spine straightened. "All right. Have it your way. I was seventeen, and Earl Haynes seduced me. There, I confess my crime. Are you happy? What I did was wrong, I admit that. I knew he was married." She was silent for several seconds. "I'm not proud of what I did. My only defense is that I was naive."

"He had a wife and four sons. Did you ever think about what your so-called innocent affair would mean to us?"

She flinched.

Jordan fought to keep his anger flowing. He didn't want to feel anything for the woman in front of him. Not compa.s.sion or empathy.

"He said no one would ever know."

"There's an excuse."

"I'm not excusing, I'm explaining. I was so young."

He folded his arms over his chest. "That's it, then? You were young? Don't you want to declare undying love for my father?"

Her blue eyes darkened with regret. "I didn't love him Jordan. I don't know if that makes it worse or better, but it's the truth. You can say whatever you want, but none of it will be more ugly than what I've already said to myself." She drew in a deep breath. "It was twenty-nine years ago. Maybe it's time to let it go."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" he said. "But there's so much more to the story."

For the first time she looked frightened. "What do you mean?"