Christmas Tempest (Holiday Heartwarmers #12)

Chapter Eight

Jasmin felt herself sinking into his warm gaze. Letting go of her usual restraints, wanting to experience the rioting emotions and not curb them, she waited for her normal shyness to kick in. When it didn’t, she brought up the one issue they hadn’t mentioned. The fact that he could be a married man who’d chosen not to wear a wedding ring.

“Not married. Truthfully, I’m not even seeing anyone right now. My last girlfriend flew the coop when I told her I was adopting an eight-year-old boy. Not only did she drop me so fast I got whiplash… she quit her job, leaving me short-handed. I swear, I’m never getting involved with another female who I employ. Ain’t worth the hassle of not only a broken heart, but also being short-staffed.

Jasmin had to grin at his way of stating the last bit. “Poor baby, she broke your heart. You don’t look too heartbroken.”

He grinned cheekily and held his chest.

Shaking her head and rolling her eyes at his nonsense, she added, “I’d say good riddance to an obvious future divorce. Can’t imagine anyone being so harsh about a grieving little boy.”

“I know.” Dex agreed with her words. “Thankfully, my feelings were never that deep for Rachel; we were just getting to know each other.”

“Okay. If you say so. I’m glad you weren’t too hurt.”

“I didn’t say that.” Dex stared at her again before speaking. His eyes saying much more than his words. “I thought she was a nice person, one who cared about others. See… it’s been bothering me about how wrong I could be in my judgement. Makes me wonder if my people skills are slipping.”

“Could it be that you were trapped in a busy time and just relied on her to be what you… ahh, you needed her to be? I know it’s happened to me before… expecting folks to react a certain way and then shocked when they didn’t. From what you’ve said, your business kept you busy, you were fighting to adopt your nephew and maybe you were taking her for granted.”

“Okay, maybe a little. But we talked about the situation, and she gaslit me into thinking she would be up for anything until it became clear that I could win custody. Then suddenly, she turned into someone I never knew.”

This time, Jasmin sensed his seriousness. Leaning back; her gaze fixed on his, she opened up. “I get that. My last boss – a woman so nasty that she had me questioning everything about myself – was the last straw. My morals, my work ethics, even my self-confidence took a huge hit until I finally couldn’t take her spitefulness anymore.”

“What did you do?’

“I quit. Being a single person, the decision came easy. I only had myself to worry about. So, I decided to head back to Carlton Grove. I grew up there and between you and me, before college, I couldn’t wait to leave. Go to the city, get the grades, land a great job… you know, be somebody.”

“And did you?”

“Sure. Built a cushy career, worked my way up the corporate ladder, and then they hired HER. How the mighty have fallen. It didn’t take me long to realize I had an apartment I couldn’t call a home, a job I now hated, and a future that appeared dull and sad. I remembered that the last time I’d felt good about myself had been at home in the Grove where my parents still live. Since they’re always begging me to visit, you can’t imagine their joy when I told them I’d be there in time for Christmas and would be staying.”

The coziness of the vehicle closing in around them surprised Jasmin into a pleasant thought… this is the best time I’ve had in years. Just sitting here and spilling out my heart to a virtual stranger.

Not wanting to hog the discussion, she reached out her hand and passed him some of her cookie stash. “Tell me more about yourself.”

While he chewed and moaned his liking for the taste of the expensive shortbread, he hummed. “Hmm. Let me see. Where do I start? Well, I didn’t grow up in Carlton Grove. In fact, I have the opposite story because I grew up in Seattle and hated city life. Always wanted to live in small town America.”

Seeing the snow melting, she emptied the bag and put his sock back on, then just kept his foot in her lap, gently stroking and warming it.

He groaned with enjoyment. “Don’t ever stop.”

Smiling, she nodded. “Go on.”

“Right. Where was I? Okay, so once I got out of the Airforce, I got my law degree and moved to the Grove with intentions of settling down. In my mind, I envisioned a booming law practice, a roomy old house filled with a wife and two or three kids… oh, and maybe a small yappy dog.” He laughed but the humor wasn’t without self-derision.

“And…”

“Didn’t happen. I worked my buns off and got the practice but to my detriment, I never seemed to have enough time for romance… never mind the family. Well until that last debacle. Seems I’m having to settle with the non-yappy dog and a ready-made kid. But I’m not complaining. I love my job. Only now, I desperately need to hire more employees so I can spend time with Dillon. I refuse to let him grow up like I did with absentee parents.”

“Is that why you disliked the city?”

“Probably a good part of it. Both my parents were career minded and shouldn’t have had active twin boys. They were always on their way out the door. Rushing so much I don’t remember many times we spent all together as a family. Max and I grew up mostly in day cares, and then with after school babysitters who spent more time watching TV than hanging out with us. Thankfully, we had each other, but it soon became apparent that Max got off on being the center of attention, a joiner who liked all sports. Whereas I tended to hang back… a loner who loved books.”

“You didn’t play in any sports?”

“Yeah, well I wasn’t allowed to hang back all the time. My dad enrolled us into all kinds of practices. Jujitsu, karate, wrestling and then of course there was basketball, soccer, and baseball. We were expected to be involved in all those extra curricular activities. Max loved it all. Me… not so much.”

Jasmin heard the disparaging note he didn’t hide. “What? There’s something you’re not telling me.”

He lifted his eyes to let her see his truth. “Turns out, I had a natural talent for sports whereas Max… well, let’s just say he didn’t. For me, catching a ball and tossing it to home plate came easy… as did hitting and running the bases. Basketball and soccer also came easy though I didn’t particularly get the high everyone else talked about when we won our tournament championships. My sympathy for the losing team kind of overshadowed my joy which made me different from the others.”

“Did Max excel at any of the activities you’d joined?”

“Yep. Anything where he could release his frustration, like wrestling and the martial arts – he won trophy after trophy.”

“And you?”

“I quit those particular sports as soon as my dad gave me the go-ahead.” He caught her look and grinned. “Max liked being the winner.”

“And you didn’t want to take that away from him.”

“Kinda… yeah. My idea of fun is to head out on my own, find some peace and quiet, and read all the wonderful books I can get my hands on. Like my favorite bestselling authors.”

“And have you? Read them I mean?”

“Not near as many as I’d like. But I always have something to look forward to in my old age, don’t I?”

Jasmin laughed. “That you do. They aren’t going away. And with Dillon taking up your free time, it’s probably a good thing. You do intend to be a hand’s-on dad, right?”

“Can’t wait. It’s why I need help at my law firm. We’re growing every day and turning away clients is just not good business.”

Jasmin began to laugh.

“What?”

“You’re looking for lawyers, and I’m looking for a job, both me and my friend who’s a top-notch litigator and was my immediate supervisor in my old firm. Maybe we should apply for those openings you have?”

Dex wrestled to sit upright, his face beaming. “Who did you work for in Seattle?”

“Deputy district attorney for the county of LA. Seven years.”

“Seriously? You had to be driven to last that long. They have a good reputation.”

“It’s true. Bet they won’t be keeping those credentials with two of their best lawyers leaving. I’m not bragging, but between Mandy and me, we took on a lot of their top cases. Meredith, our new boss, will bring them down – you just watch. Without us there to pick up the slack and clean up the work she liked to pass on and then take credit for, it’s going to start showing. Makes me feel sad. I took pride in knowing we helped build their reputation.”

Dex’s gleaming expression warned her that he would be coming out with something she needed to listen to, and she was right. With his head held in a playful sideways angle, and a begging grin on his face, he let her have it.

“I’m in desperate need of good attorneys. Will you apply to work with me? Please… Don’t tease.”

“Should we?”

“Yes. Absolutely. There are other, larger law firms in Carlton Grove, but none that need you as much or will treat you as well.” He’d leaned closer to her and reached for her hand. “Think of it this way. Remember that brown-haired little male angel in the photo? You’ll be saving the future of that little boy who needs his uncle spending time with him. I could do it with two new hires.”

His beseeching tone, laughing lips, and twinkling eyes made warmth creep into her heart, and it spread throughout her body. Funny thing about the moment, she’d never felt so wanted or alive before, as if her response meant the whole world to someone else. That a handsome man with warm brown eyes held his breath for her answer gave her more power than she could handle.

“Okay, okay. I’ll apply. But you can’t hire me because of this situation. Promise me. You have to seriously go over our resumes and pick the best people for your positions.”

“Deal. You’re hired.”

Now Jasmin broke into giggles. “How do you figure that?”

He held out his hand and poked at each finger as he spoke. “I’ve never had a better foot massage. You saved my dog and kept her safe. And you’re choice in cookies is wonderful.”

“Be serious, Dex.”

“Okay. Seriously. You make me feel good. Your smile could get you modeling jobs. That heart you keep hidden is huge and caring. Your voice is soothing. My dog likes you. And you care what others think.”

“You haven’t even read my resume.”

“I probably don’t have to. If you say you worked as a deputy prosecuting attorney for seven years, you’re topnotch.”

Suddenly, he pulled at her hands to make her lean forward. “And I want to kiss you more than I’ve ever wanted to kiss anyone before in my life.”

Closing in, their lips only parted by inches, she whispered, “You said you weren’t going to ever get involved with an employee again.”

He moved closer still, so their lips were touching. “I lied,” he muttered, before taking her mouth in a scorching kiss.