Home for the Holidays by Debbie Macomber

reacting to the thought of Joe holding her…kissing her.
    His mouth began a slow descent toward hers, his warm breath nuzzling her skin.
    â€œJust remember,” she whispered when his mouth was about to settle over hers. Her hands gripped his lapels. “Old times’…”
    â€œI’ll remember,” he said as his lips came down on hers.
    She sighed and slid her hands up his solid chest to link her fingers at the base of his neck. The kiss was slow and thorough. When it was over, Cait’s hands were clutching his collar.
    Joe’s fingers were in her hair, tangled in the short, soft curls, cradling the back of her head.
    A sweet rush of joy coursed through her veins. Cait felt a bubbling excitement, a burst of warmth, unlike anything she’d ever known before.
    Then he kissed her a second time…
    â€œJust remember…” she repeated when he pulled his mouth from hers and buried it in the delicate curve of her neck.
    He drew in several ragged breaths before asking, “What is it I’m supposed to remember?”
    â€œYes, oh, please, remember.”
    He lifted his head and rested his hands lightly on her shoulders, his face only inches from hers. “What’s so important you don’t want me to forget?” he whispered.
    It wasn’t Joe who was supposed to remember; it was Cait. She didn’t realize she’d spoken out loud. She blinked, uncertain, then tilted her head to gaze down at her hands, anywhere but at him. “Oh…that I’m in love with Paul.”
    There was a moment of silence. An awkward moment. “Right,” he answered shortly. “You’re in love with Paul.” His arms fell away and he released her.
    Cait hesitated, uneasy. “Thanks again for a wonderful dinner.” Her hand closed around the door handle. She was eager now to make her escape.
    â€œAny time,” he said flippantly. His own hands gripped the steering wheel.
    â€œI’ll see you soon.”
    â€œSoon,” he echoed. She climbed out of the car, not giving Joe a chance to come around and open the door for her. She was aware of him sitting in the car, waiting until she’d unlocked the lobby door and stepped inside. She hurried down the first-floor hall and into her apartment, turning on the lights so he’d know she’d made it safely home.
    Then she removed her coat and carefully hung it in the closet. When she peeked out the window, she saw that Joe had already left.
    Â 
    Lindy was at her desk working when Cait arrived the next morning. Cait smiled at her as she hurried past, but didn’t stop to indulge in conversation.
    Cait could feel Lindy’s gaze trailing after her and she knew her friend was disappointed that she hadn’t told her about the dinner date with Joe Rockwell.
    Cait didn’t want to talk about it. She was afraid that if she said anything to Lindy, she wouldn’t be able to avoid mentioning the kiss, which was a subject she wanted to avoid at all costs. She wouldn’t be able to delay her friend’s questions forever, but Cait wanted to put them off until at least the end of the day. Longer, if possible.
    What a fool she’d been to let Joe kiss her. It had seemed so right at the time, a natural conclusion to a delightful evening.
    The fact that she’d let him do it without even making a token protest still confused her. If Paul happened to hear about it, he might think she really was interested in Joe. Which, of course, she wasn’t.
    Her boss was a man of principle and integrity—and altogether a frustrating person to fall in love with. Judgingby his reaction to her dinner with Joe, he seemed immune to jealousy. Now if only she could discover a way of letting him know how she felt…and spark his interest in the process!
    The morning was hectic. Out of the corner of her eye, Cait saw Joe arrive. Although she was speaking to an important client on the phone, she stared