Page 40 of Christian Clause

Katherine looks at me with eyes of betrayal. I’m not moved by them because I never promised her anything. All I promised to do was to help her. I never planned on having an affair with her.

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing,” she finally says in a strangled tone.

I shrug. “Hope is the number one priority in my life right now, and I won’t do anything to jeopardize having a successful relationship with her.”

“But how can you fall in love with your PA, Chris? You told me your work ethics don’t allow that. You’ve fired countless women who came on strongly to you in the past. Why Hope? Why now?”

A smile curls my lips. “Because Hope is different. She’s everything I want in a woman. She’s all I’ve been seeking for in a woman.”

“But I thought you and I could have something going after helping me. I thought we made the perfect fit. I thought we had a future together as we’ve known each other for so long.”

I hear the pain in her voice and I grimace. I don’t like hurting women, but in this case, I can’t help it.

Turning to regard her with rueful eyes, I sigh. “I’m sorry, Katherine. You and I will always be good friends, nothing more.”

She sniffs and I feel terrible. I reach into my jacket and offer her my handkerchief. I didn’t know her feelings for me ran so deep. My friends told me she put green lights out for me, but I didn’t see any of them because I had eyes only for Hope.

“Are you going to be okay?” I question as she dabs at her eyes with my handkerchief.

She nods. “I’ll be fine. Forgive me for being silly.” She laughs a little. “I can’t recall the last time I cried over a man.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I understand. Hope is a lucky woman. I wish you well, Chris.”

“Thanks, Katherine. That means a lot to me.”

She smiles and says, “I’m always here, I’ll always be here waiting for you in case it doesn’t work out between you and her.”

“Katherine—”

She vigorously shakes her head. “I know how love is, trust me. One minute you’re all over the person and the next, you can’t stand the person. So, in case that happens with you and Hope, I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

I release a tired breath. Katherine isn’t making it easy for me and herself. I have to spell things out bluntly to her.

“Katherine, I’m sorry, but nothing can happen between the two of us. Having known each other since high school, we would have been a couple by now.”

“I understand,” she replies in a small voice.

“Now that our business is concluded and we have no further dealings, I don’t think we should see so much of each other again.”

She nods without saying anything.

“I want to focus on my relationship with Hope and see where it leads.”

“That’s fine.” She smiles a little. “I’ll miss hanging out with you, but I understand. If you were my man, I wouldn’t want another woman flocking around you either.”

“Thanks for understanding.”

She leans in and places a kiss on my cheek. “Goodbye, Chris.”

I watch as she tightens her mink coat around her body and leaves the car. She waves at me when she gets to her front door. I nod at her and drive out of her driveway, feeling as if the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders.

As I drive down the street flagged by houses decorated with Christmas lights, the snow falling, Silent Night playing on my radio, and thoughts of Hope filling my mind, I decide Christmas is my favorite time of the year.

Chapter Twenty-One

Hope

---