A Holiday Temptation - Tiffany Patterson Page 0,35

I know him from work,” I answer, obviously not giving her the backstory.

“Mark,” she says with a wrinkle in her brow.

My chest tightens with panic as I think back to all those years ago, wondering if I ever told her about Mark. I didn’t, learning from a young age that though I loved my mother and she loved me, I couldn’t confide in her. Anything I told her always ended up getting back to my father. Thus, I kept my relationship with Mark a secret from her and my father. That is, until the night of his accident. Even still, I doubt that my father ever told my mother about Mark.

Instead, he made up some lame excuse for why I needed to be sent away to boarding school, and my mother went along with it.

“He works for Cypress?”

I shake my head as I pull out of the driveway. “No, he works at Townsend Industries. Cypress and Townsend are working on something together.”

“That’s right, that’s right.” She nods, recalling our previous conversations about my work. “He must be nice to invite us over for Thanksgiving.”

“It was more his sister-in-law that invited us.” I still didn’t know what prompted the woman I just met to invite my mother and me over to her family’s home for dinner on a major holiday.

When I asked Mark about it, he shrugged and said, “Resha loves feeding people.”

Then he proceeded to make a joke about how I couldn’t cook, so I might as well take her up on the invite. Recalling his teasing, I smile, but turn to look at my mom as we come to a red light.

She’s eyeing me with a funny expression on her face.

“You okay?”

She nods. “I’m fine, baby.”

I’m not sure I believe her, but I don’t push the issue. I’m just happy she’s out of the house and didn’t insist on remaining at home while I go out.

“Tonight’ll be fun, Mama. Just watch,” I say in an encouraging voice.

She nods before staring out the window.

I try to convince myself of my own words.

I hear another car’s engine and roll over to Connor and Resha’s living room window to peer outside. My frown deepens when I notice the black vehicle parked out front.

Jackie’s car is silver.

Impatiently, I watch as Damon, one of Connor’s close friends from the Underground, climbs out of his car before opening the passenger side doors for his wife and stepdaughter.

“You gonna get the door or just stare at ’em the whole time?”

Rolling my eyes, I push away from the window and toss a middle finger over my shoulder at Connor before moving to the entryway to open the door.

“Mark,” Damon greets, giving me a handshake. “You remember Sandra and my daughter, Monique.”

Despite my impatient mood, I find myself smiling at the little girl with big, brown eyes.

“I do. Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Happy Thanksgiving, Mr. Mark,” she says before leaning in and hugging me.

I make room for them to enter. “Come in.”

“There he is,” Damon says, and I know that’s his custom greeting for Connor.

I let their banter fall to the recesses of my mind as I peer out the doorway just in time to spot Jackie’s silver sedan pulling up in front of the house. I meet her and her mother at the foot of the walking path that leads to the door.

“You made it.” Right now is when I realize that I was carrying a slight fear that she wouldn’t show up.

“Mark, hi. Sorry, we’re running a little late.”

I wave her off.

“This is my mother, Marietta Hinkerson.”

“Mrs. Hinkerson, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

She gives me a small smile and a wave. This is the first time I’ve seen Jackie’s mother in person, and I wouldn’t need the introduction to know precisely who she is. Jackie is the spitting image of her mother.

“Thank you,” Mrs. Hinkerson says.

“What’s all this?” I give a pointed look at the tray of plates in Jackie’s arms.

“I couldn’t come empty handed.”

Shaking my head, I take the tray from her and place it on my lap.

“Do you need some help?” she asks as I move back to turn my chair around and head to the door.

“Nope, got it. You two go in before me.” I pause and wait for them to enter the house before going inside and shutting the door.

I quickly introduce Jackie and her mother to Connor, Damon, and the rest of those who’re still in the foyer before taking Jackie down the hall to the kitchen.

“I’m not sure I brought enough. I