The Magic of Mistletoe

That wasn’t going to help her case. He looked around the room. “You mean in the

bedroom of a friend’s home in Tallahassee? Don’t forget why I am here.”

“You’re here because you went on a booty bender.” She sighed as if she were the bored one. “Some men go through a drinking bender, but you went through women quicker than I go through a pair of shoes.”

He snorted at how wrong Kristina was. There was no booty bender or partying. His days were filled with responsibility. He enjoyed being reliable for Gia and MJ. There were no other women for him, only Macy. Duke’s heart ached to see her again and talk to her. His mind raced back to Macy. He had to go find her. What could she be thinking right now? He was thankful someone had come earlier to take the kids on a hayride so that they weren’t subjected to the circus outside. “I don’t have time for this.” He reached for the door.

“Are you going to find your girlfriend?”

“Don’t bring her into this.”

That got her reporting radar going. She straightened her spine and raised her eyebrows. “So the little sweater girl is your latest thing, eh?”

“Good night, Kristina. I’m sure you can find your way out.”

“I guess Sweater Girl knows all about how you got your job in DC.”

It sounded like a threat as he was walking out of the room, so Duke stepped back in. “What did you say?”

“Oh.” Kristina sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “I just was curious if she knew the truth about how I was the one who discovered you. You were just covering the sports in New York when I met you.”

“I was actually doing just fine, Kristina.”

“Yeah, but look how you left things in DC. The world will see you as a typical jock running from your responsibilities, leaving his pregnant girlfriend who’s done everything possible for him when she’s with child.”

“Don’t try to threaten me, Kristina.” Duke shook his head, “because I could easily take this to the public and have you do a DNA test.”

“You’d ruin me!” Kristina exclaimed in a panic-stricken voice. “You of all people should know how important our careers are.”

“I really do feel sorry for you.”

“C’mon, Duke. This can be our last news story together. The ratings have dropped tremendously since your leave of absence. With you resurfacing by my side, you can get a bigger raise for yourself from MET. Don’t forget, I know your contract renegotiation is coming up soon.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Duke said.

“Please, Duke. Your absence has only made social media go crazy, waiting for your return to national news. I know with me being pregnant and on camera with you, my return will be just as welcome after I have the baby.”

“No.”

Kristina sighed while trying to pitch her ideas. “I just need you to go along with this with me for a little while. This is going to be my last news break until I deliver, then I’m going to lie low.”

“Not a chance.”

“Think about your future, Duke!” Kristina wailed.

For the first time since she showed up, Duke gave her a genuine smile. “That’s just it, Kristina. I am.”

That wasn’t a good enough answer for Kristina. Nothing was good enough until she had her way. She slunk off the edge of the bed. Doing her best seductive cat walk, as seductive as one could be with a huge belly protruding from her body, she came toward him. He straightened his spine. The smell of her overly chemically processed hair wafted to his nose.

She ignored his rigid body language and snaked her arms around his neck, drawing him down for a kiss. The minute their lips touched, Duke felt guilty and disgusted at the same time. He didn’t want to push her away due to the baby, so he reached around his neck and pried her snakelike arms from around him.

“Cut it out, Kristina, it’s not going to work.”

With a high-pitched giggle, Kristina squared her shoulders and wiped her bottom lip. “Oh, I think it worked out just the way I wanted.” She nodded her head to the right of her where the window curtains were drawn open. In the distance, he could see Macy swiftly walking away.

Chapter 8

Walking through the kitchen into the living room, Macy inhaled the sweet smell of her bakery cookie-scented candles. She checked the clock over the mantel. It was after midnight and she’d been home for the past three hours by herself. Lawrence had been kind enough to bring her home after the ruckus, since Duke was obviously so preoccupied.