Chapter 1
Jamie stared at the reflection in the mirror. For someone who hated to look at herself, she was starting to spend a lot more time seeing herself for the first time, again and again. She touched her neck, the three small finger-pressed bruises had gone and she was glad Stephen wouldn’t be at the dinner tonight to celebrate her father’s birthday. He had to work late, according to Christine.
Alex had offered to come with her to the dinner. Not because he wanted to dine with her, but because he had felt obligated to provide protection in case Stephen showed up. Since their wild night over a week ago things had gone from awkward to back to semi-normal. She shouldn’t have spent the night. She should have gone back to her place instead of staying tangled in his sheets. His compliments and sexy smile had convinced her otherwise.
In the early hours of the morning, she had slipped out of his bed and gone back to her suite. She’d changed into workout clothes and gone for a run on the treadmill to try and clear her head. It hadn’t helped. The morning light brought her actions into clarity and as much as she had needed that night, it hadn’t been right.
It didn’t help that after she had showered, she had to text him and ask to drive to work with him because her car was still in the office garage. They’d sat in awkward silence and when they arrived at the office, Jamie found an excuse to need to go to her car. Alex didn’t argue when she suggested he head in and she would be up shortly behind him.
They had managed to get through the day, with a lot of meetings, and as the days worn into the next neither brought up the night of passion. By the time a week had passed, they had stopped trying to avoid each other. Jamie spent her free time in the gym and had gone shopping to buy a bathing suit so she could start swimming in the pool. She’d watched Alex swim one evening, hiding behind her blinds. Her body warmed as she watched him swim laps.
“Jamie!” Christine stepped into the bathroom. “What’s taking you so long?”
Jamie jumped back from the mirror and pretended to dry her hands with the machine. “I had to send a few emails out for work,” she lied.
“It’s dad’s birthday. Can’t you take a night off?”
“I am. Right now.”
“Good.” Christine played with her hair in the mirror and touched up her makeup. She glanced at Jamie in the mirror’s reflection. “You wearing a girdle or something?”
“What? No.” Jamie shook her head. “I’ve lost a bit of weight.” She shrugged. “I’ve kind of found my groove in the gym. The treadmill and I have become good friends.” She wanted to tell Christine about her night with Alex but held back.
“A real Christmas miracle.” She smiled. “Now let’s just see if you can keep it off.” She squinted at Jamie. “You’re still not the right size for the red dress.”
Jamie opened the door and held it for her sister. The damn red dress. She bit back a comment and forced a smile on her face. “I’m doing this for me. Not for you.”
Christine walked back to the table. If she heard Jamie’s comment, she didn’t acknowledge it.
Jamie purposely sat beside her mother, leaving the space beside Christine open for Stephen if he showed, and far enough from Jamie she didn’t have to speak to him.
Her mother picked up a menu. “This is a nice restaurant you chose, Jamie. Full of healthy choices, I hope?”
“Fruit for dessert and everything.” She winked at her dad.
“Excellent. I really hope you’ll take advantage of that today, then. I know it’s your father’s birthday, but it wouldn’t do to let yourself go before your sister’s wedding.”
“Of course, not,” Jamie said automatically. She planned on eating the piece of cheesecake Murray had left with her meal earlier today. He still made her meals, same as Alex’s, and she couldn’t complain. He was an amazing cook.
Jamie turned to her father and gave him a hug. He hugged her back. “Happy Birthday, Dad,” she said. “I got you two tickets to a Broadway play. Don’t tell Mom. She wanted me to sign you up for the vegetable of the month club.”
Her dad smiled. He was looking more and more like himself these days.
“How’s the wedding planning going, Christine?” Jamie’s mom asked over a glass of wine. “I hope it’s not too much work to do on your own.” She shot Jamie a disappointed glance.
“It’s a lot of work. I’m exhausted.” Christine made a face. “With Jamie’s job in the way, it’s very difficult for her to help me. But everything is under control.”
“I’m so glad. It must be so difficult planning everything and yet you look so much in control.”