Don't Break My Heart (Return to Redemption, Book 6) by Laurie Kellogg Read Free Book Online Page B

subtle requests for
investment advice. It quickly became evident that BJ Elliott had made the
fortune he had because he and his trusted advisor both knew how to take full
advantage of any kind of economic turn.
    The look of admiration in Trisha’s eyes nauseated him. If
anyone at this table got some nooky tonight, it would be BJ Elliott. But not if
Justin had anything to say about it.
    As the wait staff cleared the sixth course, the band took a
break and Santa stepped up to the microphone again. “Ho-ho-ho! Has everyone
been good this year? He dragged a bulging sack to the younger kids’ table and
pulled out a wrapped box. “How about you, Noah? Have you been a good boy this
year?”
    “Don’t you already know?” Noah asked.
    “Yeah,” Mandy, the flower girl, chimed in. “Didn’t you check
your list twice to see if we’ve been naughty or nice?”
    Tyler buried his face in his hand. “Leave it to our kids to
bust St. Nick’s chops.”
    Santa laughed. “Okay, kids, you all get presents just for
being smarter than me.” He emptied the sack, handing each child at the table a
personally tagged package, while costumed elves transported the piles of presents
from under the trees to each table and distributed them.
    When Justin tore the paper from his gift, he expected
something generic like a pen and pencil set or a tie, but instead he received a
beautiful monogrammed leather case containing a top-of-the-line drafting kit.
Unbelievable. He’d actually been planning to buy a new compass.
    “Ben, you’ve only known for a week that Haley and I were
attending the wedding. How did you—”
    “I have very good people working for me. Santa has spent
every spare moment for the last month researching and shopping. I can’t take
any credit except for paying the bills.”
    “Well, thank you. This is beautiful.”
    Cal received a new holster and a gift certificate to a gun
shop. When Darlene unwrapped an apron and two tickets to a taping of The Iron Chef in New York, she squealed,
“Oh, my gosh. I love this show, Ben! You have to know someone to get tickets for it.”
    “Well, Beej knows a lot of people.” Tyler chuckled.
    Crissy jumped up to exchange gifts, distributed according to
the seating chart, with Frankie. When Annie opened a five-pound box of imported
Swiss chocolates and Tyler received a thirty-year-old bottle of scotch, Ben
said, “You two will get the rest of your gifts later tonight.” He turned to
Trisha and smiled. “Aren’t you gonna open yours?”
    She merely nodded and tore the gold foil from a slender
jeweler’s box. She pulled out a long strand of perfectly matched pearls and
gasped. “Oh, Ben, they’re beautiful. It’s way too much.”
    “Frankie told me you had the kind of flawless complexion
that would compliment a pearl necklace. I think she misstated it. It’s more
like the pearls compliment you.”
    “Thank you. Would you put them on me?”
    Justin’s fists clenched beneath the table as she turned to
let BJ fasten the clasp. When the man laid a kiss on her bare shoulder, he
wanted to strangle the overly generous sonovabitch.
    ~*~
    Trisha tried to eat only half of each course, but the
fettuccini Alfredo with grilled shrimp and the perfectly cooked filet and
lobster tail with asparagus and glazed baby carrots were so delicious, she practically
licked her plate clean.
    Throughout the entire meal, Justin watched every bite she
took, making her so self-conscious she dropped her fork twice. By the end of
ninth course, she was so on edge and full, she could barely breathe.
    “You’re looking a little green around the gills, Trisha.”
Justin popped the last bite of his assorted fruit and cheese plate into his
mouth. “You okay?”
    “I’ve just eaten too much. I don’t think I’ll be able to
handle dessert.”
    He rose and strolled around to her side of the table,
extending his hand. “Why don’t we go work off some of our dinner?” he
suggested.
    She’d already danced with Cal