Naughty Before Christmas (Decadent Delight Series #3) by Angie Daniels Page B

Instead, she gazed up at her not sure what to say.
    “ You’re a lovely woman. I’m sure you won’t have a problem finding a man of your own.”
    Lyric looked stunned although her chin had tilted a notch. “Ummm, thank you.” There was another prolonged silence before she summoned a shaky smile. “I feel really stupid for what I did but I had to come down here and tell you your husband had nothing to do with what happened. I kissed him.”
    Berlin sat forward in her chair, eyeing her intently . “I appreciate you being woman enough to come here and tell me that, but listen and listen good. I better not ever see you near my husband again. Do I make myself clear?”
    “ You won’t… I promise,” Lyric said, meeting her hard stare. “The two of you are having a baby and the last thing I want to do is break up a happy home. It’s obvious your husband really loves you.”
    “ Yes, he does,” Berlin began. “Now get out of my office.”
    Lyric flinched, but nodded. “Well, again, I’m sorry.” She had already turned to exit the room when Berlin spoke again.
    “ How did you find out where I worked?”
    Looking over her shoulder, Lyric shrugged and said, “I went back to the house to apologize and Trey told me how to find you.”
    Good ole Trey .
    Long after she was gone, Berlin gazed out the window of her office. Snow was falling again but she was too emotional to appreciate it.
    Reggie had been telling the truth.
    Panic tightened at her chest and her hands were shaking. She should have trusted him. Closing her eyes, she replayed the scene again but this time she saw the stunned look on her husband’s face and the pain in his eyes while he pleaded with her to believe him. She had refused to listen to what he had to say, only to discover how wrong she had been. Shaking her head, Berlin didn’t even want to think what might have happened if Lyric hadn’t been woman enough to come forward and admit her guilt. There was no telling how long the tension and feelings of betrayal would have gone on.
    B oo, it isn’t what you think.
    Why hadn’t she believed him? Berlin scowled and brought a hand to her forehead. If she had been feverous for the last few days then maybe that would have explained it. Dumb move, Berlin. She had almost sacrificed her marriage and happiness because of pride.
    Hearing infectious laughing, her eyelids fluttered open and she gazed out at the young children frolicking around on the snowy lawn, and couldn’t resist a smile. Last winter, she and Reggie made snow angels in their front yard. The afternoon had ended in a snowball fight that sent her laughing and screaming into the house. Soaked, wet and shivering, she and Reggie had rushed into the bathroom where she had drawn a hot bath. They spent the next hour, beneath the water, talking about having a baby.
    Their baby.
    Tears clouded Berlin’s eyes as she brought a protective hand and rested it on her belly. She loved her husband and their life together, and nothing was ever going to come between them again.
    Now she just needed to call Reggie and tell him.

CHAPTER 9
     
    This feels like déjà vu.
    A clu ster of silver bells over the door jingled as Reggie strutted inside. It was almost noon and the clinic was hours away from closing for the season.
    Patients filled the waiting room , and as soon as he strutted past the playroom, the area grew quiet as all eyes were in his direction. 
    “ Mommy, look! Santa Claus!” the little boy cried, his green eyes bulging.
    Reggie waved and swung the big black bag over his shoulder. It was snowing and barely twenty degrees outside yet he already felt sweat beneath the red coat and pants he wore. A quick glance at the clock on the wall over the water fountain made him scowl. Not enough time to sneak by his wife’s office and steal a kiss. That’s if she was ready to forgive him. She had contacted him yesterday wanting to talk about the incident but after a long uncomfortable moment they both