Christmas in Cancun

by KaLyn Cooper

  But there was one small problem.

  He blinked open his eyes to find the most stunning blue eyes staring back at him in the gray light of pre-dawn. Her cherubic face wore splashes of darker pink on rounded cheeks. She didn’t smile. She didn’t move, just watched him intently from her position between him and Jillian.

  With his lightest touch, Jack brushed Addi’s damp curls from her warm face. She whimpered then scooted over closer to him and crawled into his arms.

  Just like last night.

  She’d become restless on the trip home, shifting often in her mother’s arms, seemingly unable to get comfortable enough to sleep.

  It had taken a great deal of convincing for Jillian to finally concede to come back to the Girard compound, at least for the night. He feared if she hadn’t, she would be gone from his life. Forever. He couldn’t have that. Not now. Not since he’d had a taste of her.

  Jillian had paced the floor for over than hour, well past midnight, cajoling Addi to no avail. Jack hadn’t been able to sleep, concerned about them both, so he’d stepped into Jillian’s room and offered to take over. Addi went to him immediately, sighed one time, and fell asleep in his arms. When he’d tried to put her in the crib, she’d awaken and protested. Jillian had decided to put Addi in the king-sized bed, but every time Jack attempted to pull away, the baby would wake up and fuss. He finally gave up and lay down with her resting peacefully between the two of them.

  “You’re still here?” Jillian’s rough voice made his cock stand up and pay attention. There was something so sexy about a woman first thing in the morning, especially one who had given him such outstanding pleasure the night before.

  “Sorry, I hadn’t intended to fall asleep or spend the entire night in your bed. It just happened.”

  Jillian reached over. He hoped she was going to touch him. Instead, she caressed her baby’s head, which lay tucked against his bare chest.

  “She’s past due for her meds.” Jillian’s gaze fell to the baby’s soaked diaper. “And a change.”

  Jillian snatched her child from Jack’s embrace and rolled off the bed. Addi released a small protest. “Oh, dear, she’s very warm, still.” Placing the baby on the changing table, Jillian quickly removed the soaked diaper and disposed of it.

  Jack stretched out and watched her practiced movements, willing his erection down. This was not the time—as he glanced at the wall of glass open to the ocean breeze and anyone who happened to walk across the quad—and certainly not the place, to make Jillian scream his name as she came hard around his cock.

  Jillian moved toward the bathroom, Addi in her arms.

  “Want me to take her?” Jack offered.

  “No. I’m going give her a cool bath then reapply the ointment.” She glanced at the open doors. “Thank you for helping me out last night, but I think you should go now. Your family might get the wrong idea if you’re seen leaving my room before the sun rises.”

  Oh, no. She was not going to kick him out of her bed. He was not a one-night stand to slink out of her bedroom and disappear by the morning light. He was not done with her by any means.

  “Let me help you.” Jack jumped out of the bed and strode to the bathroom, reaching her in three steps. “Give Addi the meds while I start the tub.”

  Minutes later, Jack had a few inches of cool water in the tub. “Come test this and see if I need to add more warm water.”

  With Addi in her arms, Jillian kneeled down and tested the water on her wrist. “This is perfect.” She gave him a small smile. “You’re really good with kids.”

  “I’ve had some practice with Preston and Greyson.” He had loved those two boys since birth. “Every time I got leave from the Navy, I’d take it here, and Lilly would bring the boys down. I’d help her out with them. More than their father ever did for her.”

  “I take it you’re happy about her divorce?” Jillian placed Addi in the tub.

  The baby let out a small squeal when her bare butt was immersed in the water, but she settled immediately. Jillian used the washcloth to clean Addi’s sticky hair and cover her in the cool water, careful of the pinker skin.

  Jack shifted to lean his back against the tub and face Jillian. “He’s an ass, and he treated her like shit.”

  “Watch your mouth, please. Addi learns new words every day, and she doesn’t miss many.” Jillian squeezed some of the water out of the cloth and gently ran it over Addi’s arms.

  “Sorry.” Jack rarely watched his words around the boys, and Lilly had never scolded him. Must be different with girls.

  His phone buzzed. He checked his watch and hoped it wasn’t Rock Star calling in sick again.

  It was a text from Too Tall. Ruff nite? Hope baby is better! Got BAC handled

  Jack texted back: I owe you thnx

  I’ll collect. Baby? That was like Too Tall to be concerned about Addi enough to press for a response.

  She’ll be fine in a few days. Jack hoped she would be.

  Good! Got this handled for as long as you need. Out. Jack trusted his second-in-command and was sure Too Tall would call him if any emergency arose.

  “Thank you for all your help, but I don’t want to keep you from your work.” Was Jillian trying to get rid of him?

  “You’re not.” Jack gestured to his phone as he slid it back into the pocket. “Too Tall, the man you met last night on the boat—” Jack cringed at the memory of his buddy at the door and his brother at the window. He hurried on, “He’s my right-hand man and has things under control.”

  “You are working through the holidays?” Jillian swooshed the washcloth around in the water before dabbing Addi’s face. The baby winced and moaned.

  Jack snickered. “If the cruise lines had their way, we would. Holidays are especially busy because so many people want to go someplace warm and kids are out of school. I shut down for Christmas, though.”

  “So, how does your family celebrate Christmas? Do they open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?” Jillian ran the washcloth over Addi, who sat still as a doll.

  “Tonight will be a revolving door of company. Seems everyone in the area will stop in at some point. We have tons of cousins who will drop in for a drink and to catch up on family gossip.” Jack shook his head. “Some politicians will make an appearance and try to weasel money out of Mother and me for their next election. It takes on a real party atmosphere, but they are always gone by about ten o’clock.”

  “Does the staff stay?” Jillian reached for a towel, but Jack grabbed it from the stack and handed it to her so she didn’t have to lose touch with Addi.

  “No. Mateo has been preparing food to hold us over until he returns on the twenty-sixth. Mother and Lilly actually cook Christmas dinner, which we’ll eat around two. The boys are usually up and ready to rip into presents at the crack of dawn. We do that in the formal living room on the main floor. For the past two years I’ve cooked breakfast for everyone.”

  Surprise covered Jillian’s tired face. “You cook?”

  Jack smiled. “Sure I cook. Breakfast. I can scramble eggs and fry bacon. Mateo always has fruit cut up. Speaking of which, why don’t I run upstairs and grab some for Addi? Want me to bring her some milk?” Jack rose to his feet.

  “Thank you. Fruit would be wonderful. Juice if there is any. Her body temperature may be too warm for milk.” With Addi wrapped in a towel, Jillian brought the baby to the changing table. She diapered her and began applying the ointment Doctor Stan had given her with only slight protest from Addi.

  In the kitchen Jack found Mateo at the stove.

  “How is our princess this morning?”

  “She’s very quiet.” Jack admitted to himself Addi hadn’t slept well. More than once he’d heard her whimpers as she turned over in her sleep.

  “Pour her some apple juice into that child’s cup,” the cook ordered and laid fruit out on a plate. “I’ll bring this down to her when the coffee is ready. I’m making waffles this morning. Do you think Miss Jillian would
eat a few if I made them for her?”

  Outthinking the cook because he really wanted some of Mateo’s mouthwatering waffles, Jack said, “Sure. You might want to bring extras. Kids love waffles and we might be able to get Addi to eat a few.”

  Mateo raised his eyebrows as if he knew what Jack was doing. “I’ll be sure to bring a few extras. Now get out of my kitchen. I’ll see you downstairs in a few minutes.”

  Juice in hand, Jack returned to Jillian’s bedroom, entering through the open quad doors.

  She performed that undefined parental dance with Addi in her arms. “She wants to sleep but just won’t let go.”

  “May I try?”

  Exhaustedly, Jillian handed her over to Jack. He positioned her like a football securely in the crook of his arm and handed her the juice. Tentatively, she sipped then drank eagerly. He rocked her gently, cup cuddled to her chest like a baby doll, and she fell asleep with a heavy sigh. Addi was limp when he placed her in the crib and covered her with a light sheet.

  “Looks like she’ll sleep now.” Jack took Jillian’s hand, and they walked to the lounge where he often slept as the first streaks of yellow broke the purple-gray of morning.

  He sat down on the fresh sheets and pulled Jillian between his widened knees. “Mateo will be down in a few minutes with breakfast. Let’s eat, and I want you to try to get some more sleep.” Before she could protest, he squeezed her hand. “I’ll take the first watch. I’m used to being up this early. You had an adrenalin rush last night that lasted for hours. It takes a lot out of the body. You need more sleep.”

  Jack let out a long silent breath when she leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his neck. It was as though she’d stepped into his embrace that way a million times before. More than comfortable, it was right, as if they belonged that way. She melted into him, resting her head on his shoulder. Her breathing slowed and softened. For a minute, he thought she’d gone to sleep standing up. She was drained both physically and mentally.

  “Ah hem.”

  Without looking for the source of the interruption, Jack quietly offered, “She’s had a long night. We just got Addi to sleep.” Jack rubbed her back in long, slow strokes.

  “I’m awake.” Jillian stepped from his arms, and he let her go. “Mateo, this looks wonderful.” She gave the man a genuine smile. “I’m starved.”

  The family cook set the tray on the small table near the double lounge then withdrew a fat jar from under his apron. “My wife, she sent this for the bambino. She went to her mother who is a healer and they made this special for Addi. It’s an ancient balm for fire in the skin.”

  Pensively Jillian took the container and opened it. “It smells like sweet spices. What’s in it?”

  “Secret recipe, but they had our boys collecting Yucca and aloe yesterday for hours. It’s good for her, I know, for sure.”

  A slow smile crossed Jillian’s face as she spread a little on her arm. “It’s cooling but nice.”

  “Please, use it on her. It makes her heal fast.”

  Jillian threw her arms around Mateo, and Jack thought the man’s eyes were going to pop from his huge head. “Thank you Mateo, and please thank your wife and mother-in-law.” She released her hold on him, and he nearly tripped trying to move backward.

  “I will tell them.” He was red-faced when he turned and fled the lower level.

  Jack didn’t withhold the snicker. “Let’s eat.”

  They dove into the food as if they were starving.

  “We need to keep Addi as quiet as possible today.” Jack sipped the last of his coffee.

  “That shouldn’t be difficult. She’ll probably sleep most of it. The medicine Dr. Stan gave her for pain knocks her out.” Jillian refilled his cup and got another cup of orange juice.

  “I want to go through the rest of the boxes you brought. I think Jimmy was onto something with that phrase about the mother hiding the way, showing the faithful.”

  “You know the waters here, so you should look at the map your Gramps made. Jimmy was working on it just before he died. He’d sent it to Professor Tzuc with a stack of other papers he’d copied. We were supposed to meet him when we came down, but that would have been three years ago.” Jillian hid a yawn behind her hand before finishing her juice.

  “Let’s get you back into bed.”

  Jillian’s eyes flashed to him. “Jack, last night—” She scanned the length of the other bedrooms and pool house.

  “It was wonderful,” Jack interjected and reached for her. She stood and began to pace. He knew what she was going to say but refused to let her go there. Not yet. Not now.

  “Jack, I don’t think…” Jillian looked away then returned her gaze to meet his. “I don’t think we should ever let that happen again.”

  “I don’t think so either.” Purposefully misunderstanding, Jack continued, “From now on we’ll take Addison with us so Mother and Lilly don’t have to babysit.”

  Her eyes met his with the fierceness of a mother bear. “That’s not what I mean, and that won’t be a problem either. Addi and I are leaving. I plan to make some calls and find us a hotel room today.” She turned her back to him.

  Oh no she’s not. She and Addi are staying here. Jack rose to his feet and stepped behind her. He bound his arms around her abdomen and spoke in her ear. “No. To both. You are staying right here, and you and I aren’t done. Hell, we’ve barely started.”

  When she trembled, he turned her to face him and softened his voice. “Jillian.” She looked up at him with those gorgeous green eyes overflowing with lust interrupted by flickers of hesitation. He wanted to throw her on the lounge and dive into her heat. Damn his family for being here. And staying for the next two weeks.

  White teeth bit into her lower lip, drawing his attention to them.

  Jack slowly lowered his head, giving her the chance to stop him. She didn’t. She tilted her head up slightly to meet his kiss. He’d meant it to be soft and gentle, but the surge that went through him on contact kicked every nerve ending into a hypersensitive state of frenzy.

  Goddamn, how she did that to him. He had always been in control of his body, but not around Jillian. He lost it with her almost every time.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her, tangling her tongue with his, giving as good as she got. He wanted her more than his next breath.

  He slid his hands under the silky shirt she’d worn to bed. It was the same peach color of the morning light that now filled the sky in the east. She moaned when he cupped her breast.

  “Jack, we ca—” She gasped when he rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

  He felt the surge of heat at the apex of her legs through the matching lightweight shorts. Oh, yes. She wanted him, again.

  The quiet footfall on the tiled patio twenty-five feet away made Jack pull away from her mouth and kiss her arched neck. He opened his eyes and looked into the disgusted face of Levi.

  Jack pulled Jillian’s face to his chest, her back to his brother. “You’re right. This isn’t the time,” he whispered into Jillian’s ear. “Darling, why don’t you go get some rest, and let’s tackle the boxes when you get up.” Without allowing her to see his brother, he guided her to her bedroom door.

  “But—” The huskiness of her voice told him she wanted the same thing he did. That wasn’t going to happen right now.

  He had to deal with Levi.

  “You had a rough night, sweetheart.” Jack kneaded the back of her neck with the hand he used to keep her moving forward. “You could use a little more sleep.”

  She stifled a yawn. “You’re right. I’m exhausted.”

  Jack tucked her into bed with a kiss on the forehead. “I’ve got Addi covered. You just sleep.” He turned on the air conditioning, checked Addi, who was sound asleep, and grabbed the baby monitor before closing the blackout drapes and patio doors, leaving them both in cool silence.

  At first he didn’t see Levi, who sat at the shaded table in th
e corner drinking coffee. Jack grabbed another cup and joined him, wanting to get this over and done with since his brother was going to be around for at least another ten days or so. He could only hope a crisis arose with the company demanding his brother’s attention back in Chicago.

  His relationship—no, it wasn’t a relationship, not of the romantic kind—wasn’t any of Levi’s business.

  Not true. She was Levi’s sister-in-law too.

  It was complicated at the very least.

  “How fucking stupid can you be, Jack?”

  “Watch it, Levi.”

  “I just did. You had your hand up the little slut’s shirt. The way she flaunts those big tits without a bra is pretty enticing, but for Christ’s sake, she’s our sister-in-law. She was married to Jimmy.” He shook his head in revulsion.

  Jack fisted his hands under the table. “She’s not like that, not at all. She’s really shy and sweet and smart and a very good mother.”

  “The little gold digger has sure got you fooled. She’s using that luscious little body of hers to capture another Girard.”

  “You accused her of that yesterday, too. What makes you think she’s chasing the family money?”

  “She was working two jobs and barely making enough to pay for college and still eat until she married Jimmy.” Levi was smug as he sat back and sipped his coffee.

  “How do you know that?”

  “We had her investigated when they got married. I’m sure she’s doing quite well now that she’s got his life insurance money. But I guess that’s not enough for her. She shows up here with a killer bod and a kid, claiming it’s Jimmy’s, and weasels her way into the family…then onto your cock.”

  “Just look at Addison, and you can see Jimmy. I’m sure if you want she’ll take a DNA test.” Jack’s analytical brain kicked in. Killer bod. Big tits. He knew Levi was a breast man and blondes were his favorites. Fuck me.

  “Jealous, bro?”

  Defensively, Levi sat up and stared at Jack.

  Before the older brother could say a word, Jack leaped in. “Jimmy pursued her for months before she’d even date him. I had to play Cyrano to help him with his moves. She’s only had three lovers in her life. You’ve probably had that many since you landed here five days ago, so don’t you dare call her a slut. She didn’t come after me. I wanted her from the minute she walked through the customs door at the airport before I knew she was our sister-in-law. So get that whole dollar-chasing idea out of your head.”