by Jan Springer
She looks gorgeous, Blue thought as she ascended the steps. JJ opened the door to welcome them inside, but Blue took hold of the door and shooed JJ inside. The last thing she needed was to get sick so close to her due date.
Wafts of delicious scents curled around Blue as she held open the door. Her mouth watered, and her tummy growled. Not only was she cold, she was hungry too!
As everyone entered the mudroom, Blue noted how beautifully JJ’s hair shone beneath the lights and how fluffy it looked. Envy swept through her. When Blue had been pregnant with Ivy, her hair had fallen flat, and she’d been miserable with her large size. But JJ didn’t appear to be in any discomfort as she greeted her guests.
“Man, it smells really good in here,” Kelly said.
“Wow, you look great, JJ,” Mitch complimented as he set the bags down and quickly helped Kaley off with her coat and then he removed his own. He hung the coats on hooks and then rubbed his red hands.
“Oh, you’re just saying that, so you can get an extra helping of dessert,” JJ said with a laugh.
“You look absolutely smashing, JJ,” Paul added as he assisted Kelly in removing her jacket and hung their coats up. Then as Blue stepped inside, Mitch helped her out of her coat too.
“I’m so glad you all could come. The turkey is ready. But first, everyone please give me a hug,” she ordered.
JJ reached out and hugged each of them and then quickly instructed the group to head into the dining room and find their seats at the table.
A nice feeling of coming home bubbled inside of Blue as JJ turned her attention to Blue and gave her a warm embrace. JJ smelled so nice. Of flowers and spices. She had made such a lovely home here on the ranch, especially after the horror of being incarcerated in prison for so many years.
She looked healthy too. Her cheeks were pink and plump, and her brown eyes sparkled with happiness and the baby was riding very low. Blue sensed the baby would arrive probably right on or near the due date.
“I’m so glad you came,” JJ said after she let go of Blue. Then she frowned and peeked out a window.
“But someone is missing. I counted six of you getting out of the plane. Where’s Daegen?” she asked.
“He’s coming in a minute. He’s taking care of the lanterns.”
JJ’s frown turned upside down and she nodded. Then her mouth dropped open and she clutched her hands to her chest with surprise when she saw the two bags filled with presents where Mitch had placed them.
“Oh, what’s this? You didn’t have to, sweetie. I told you all to just to bring yourselves,” JJ chastised.
“We wanted to, JJ. You’ve been so kind to invite us for dinner, we wanted to get you and the guys something. And a little something too for the baby from all of us. You can open the baby’s present on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, however you celebrate it.”
“We do both,” JJ laughed. “Thank you so much. You guys are so sweet, and the baby will be pleased.”
“Oh! And I brought your monthly mail too. The letters and bills are at the bottom of one of the bags. There’s a letter in there from Milena too.”
JJ grabbed Blue by her hands and squeezed.
“Oh, Milena, the poor dear. Another Christmas in prison. I so miss her. I’ll read her letter later. Thank you so much, Blue. I really appreciate the presents and the mail. What would we do without you delivering our mail?”
“No worries. There’s a few people lining up for my job, if I decide to quit some day,” Blue admitted.
“I hope that isn’t for a very long time,” JJ replied.
Blue hoped not too. She loved her mail route. Loved how happy the hermits on her route got when she delivered mail and their groceries and then the highs she got while flying. But having a place like JJ had sure would have been nice. For herself and especially for Ivy.
“Oh, sorry ladies, I forgot the presents,” Mitch said as he suddenly strolled through the doorway into the mudroom and grabbed the bags.
“And the place is decorated so perfectly, JJ. Blue, wait until you see the giant Christmas tree! And where’s my brother? And the other two heathens? Did they desert you?” Mitch said with a wink to Blue.
“They’re getting ready. There’s always work to be done and they came in late. Now let’s get out of the mudroom and into the house. It’s cold in here,” JJ said as she ushered Mitch and Blue into the hallway toward the back of the house.
Suddenly Blue felt anything but cold. Just being here with friends had quickly warmed her up and for tonight there wasn’t any other place she’d rather be, than here.
Chapter Four
Brady inhaled a tortured breath as water sluiced over his body washing away the soap suds. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d told JJ she was killing him in not being allowed to be with her. He understood why he couldn’t, but hell, it didn’t mean he wasn’t frustrated. He missed pleasuring her, making love to her, and sinking his aching shaft deep inside her accepting warmth.
It hadn’t helped when he’d gone into JJ’s bedroom and then into her bathroom to find her flowery scent everywhere, even here in the shower. Brady grit his teeth as he moved into a position where the water pummeled from the showerhead onto the ultra-sensitive length of his engorged shaft.
Yeah, sure, he should be rushing his ass out of here, get dressed and then greet their guests right alongside JJ. But after seeing her in that sexy dress, and being alone with her, he’d lost his self-control. Kissing her warm, welcoming lips, seeing her pillowy breasts, touching her, suckling her taut nipple and then getting cut off from the pleasure he’d been enjoying. Well, hell, that kind of interruption really sucked. He was going to be selfish for just a little bit and get himself some much-needed relief.
At least then he could relax and enjoy the evening with friends. In the meantime…
His hands clenched tight around his erection and he imagined JJ here with him. On her knees, her gaze dark and needy as she stared up at him. Her mouth was open while he swirled his cockhead against her trembling lips. Her hands were wrapped snug around the base of his shaft. Her hot tongue licking, lapping and loving.
He dragged the steamy damp air into his lungs as she opened her mouth and he slid inside. He gyrated as he began a quick piston. He moaned his satisfaction as her warm lips stretched over his shaft and her tongue forcefully dabbed an especially sensitive area on the underside and then she sucked hard on his jerking flesh, keeping a firm suction.
Brady panted as the pleasure ignited. He pumped his hands faster over his penis. Harder and faster. Gasped and then swallowed his moans as the sensual spasms sparked and quickly burst, exploding like blades of electricity through his shaft and slamming hard up into his belly and beyond.
He came on a strangled groan, jerking and bucking like an out of control stallion who’d gone too long without his mate.
Oh, man, JJ girl, I really miss this.
Rafe heard the voices drifting up from the first floor the instant he shut off the shower taps. At first, he figured maybe Brady, Dan and JJ were talking, but he quickly learned their guests had arrived. He heard Kelly’s cheerful laughter, an answering laugh from Brady’s brother, Mitch and then other excited voices. He needed to hurry and join the party!
As fast as he could, he towel-dried himself, blew dried his hair and donned his nicely pressed and cleaned clothes that JJ had lain out on his bed sometime earlier when he and Brady and Dan had been clearing the ice for the arrival of their guests. This was the first Christmas party they were having since JJ had been here.
It had been JJ’s suggestion to invite friends over for this get-together. He hadn’t been so sure about the idea, because of the timing with the kid coming so soon, but she’d been so excited, so who was he to protest?
Besides, she’d done a fantastic job decorating the living room and kitchen area too. She’d strung garland intertwined with cute miniature sparkling Christmas lights around the room. Had draped a long strand of garland over the fireplace mantel too
.
She’d even requisitioned some thin slabs of Styrofoam they’d had left over from an insulation job from one of the shelters, and after getting him to show her how to use the band saw in the barn, she’d designed and then cut out pieces until they were shaped like giant snowflakes. He’d hung the giant flakes throughout the first floor. He had to admit, they sure did look nice.
After Rafe was fully clothed, he ran a comb through his hair, slipped into the hallway and stopped as he met Brady coming out of JJ’s bedroom.
“Well, shit, mister. You clean up real nice,” he complimented Brady who was now clean shaven and not a strand of hair out of place.
“You too, my man. Who are you trying to impress anyways?”
Rafe laughed at the teasing glint in Brady’s eyes.
“Same lady as you are,” he answered.
“Come on, my man. Let’s be on our way. That sweet lady of ours is holding down the fort while we sit up here and gab.”
Rafe grinned as he followed Brady down the hall toward the staircase. He liked this side of Brady. Happy, easygoing and best of all, Brady was alive.
The past few months had been fraught with worry about JJ flying that plane and going missing that one time, Brady getting tetanus and almost dying and now there was worry about the upcoming arrival of the wee one to their untraditional family.
He’d been praying every night for the safe arrival of the baby. After a year of hard work and worry, they deserved happiness. Loads of it. And he, for one, was quite ready for it.
Shit! Dan thought as he stared at his ragged work clothes where he’d hung them up on the hook just inside the bathroom door and listened to the laughter of guests passing along the hallway as they headed into the dining area. In his hurry to beat Brady into the bathroom, he’d forgotten the clothes JJ had insisted he wear tonight. They were in his room. Upstairs!
Now what was he going to do? He’d look like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, all out of place, with the others probably all decked out in fancy clothes.
Maybe he could sneak by them and head up the stairs? But he doubted he could do it. The dining room was well within the field of vision of those stairs and he’d get caught.
Dan quickly towel-dried himself, then grabbed the blow dryer and began to dry his hair. He pondered on how he could get out of this mess. He could scoot across the hallway to the other bedroom and find something in the closet to wear? But JJ would know, and he would probably suffer endless teasing afterwards for not being man enough to go upstairs and get on his proper Christmas attire.
A sudden knock had him turning off the blow dryer and glaring at the door.
“Hey, are you in there?” JJ’s cheerful voice curled around him like a welcome embrace.
Hell, he didn’t want her to know he’d forgotten his clothes. But suddenly the door opened and his clothes, nicely hung on hangers, were presented to him.
Laughter from the guests drifted into the bathroom as JJ slipped inside.
Her eyes widened, and she made a cute little O with her mouth as she spied his nakedness. If they didn’t have a house full of guests, he’d be pulling her right into his arms, kissing her smack on her sweet lips and making love to her right here.
“Don’t think you’re going to get out of wearing these so easily,” she said. Her eyes smiled with amusement as she removed his wrinkled work clothing from the hook, tossed them into the nearby hamper and hung up the fresh clothing she’d brought in.
“And don’t think you’re going to get out of here, without one of these,” he whispered.
Her flowery fragrance mixed with a nice spicy aroma made him ache for her. Suddenly he wanted to touch her fluffy hair and feel her quiver against his body as he kissed her. Impulsively he took one step forward, grabbed her by her waist and pulled her against him. He loved how her sweet baby belly pressed against him and he enjoyed the surprised expression splash across her face as he lowered his head.
He heard her breath catch as he sipped at her trembling lips. She melted against him and she moaned softly as he thrust his tongue into her mouth. His cock hardened at her moan and he answered with an animalistic growl. Loud enough for her to hear but not loud enough for their guests.
Guests. Darn.
But she tasted so sweet, her mouth so soft. He wished he could thrust his fingers into her hair and feel the silky softness, but he didn’t want to mess up her hairstyle. Didn’t want to mess with her lipstick either. Well, that part was probably too late.
Reluctantly he broke the kiss. She was breathing hard, her cheeks pink.
Slowly he pulled away.
Man, she was the cutest thing he’d ever seen. He swore she looked more beautiful with every passing day. Pregnancy really did agree with her and he didn’t feel an ounce of jealousy that she carried another man’s baby. It just felt so natural and he thought of the baby as his own. Loved it so much just because the baby was a part of JJ and Brady.
“Damn, pretty lady, you do look good enough to devour,” he whispered.
“Any other time, Dan and I’d be devouring you,” she said.
He chuckled as she pulled out of his embrace. She took a quick glance into the mirror. He guessed to check her lipstick, but he’d been careful not to smudge it. Much. She caught him watching her as she wiped away a smudge, and gave him a warning look.
“Don’t take too long. The turkey is being carved by Brady as we speak, and I want you to get some too before it’s all gone. Our guests are hungry.”
“Not as hungry as I am,” he growled. That sweet smile that lifted her lips assured him that she got his meaning and he didn’t mean food.
She opened the door and slipped back out in the hallway and then closed the door behind her, leaving him with a hard-on that he knew only JJ would be able to quench. Since she was unavailable for the next little while due to the baby, he would have to be content with her second-best attribute.
JJ’s cooking.
Dan grabbed the clothes and quickly got dressed.
Dinner went wonderfully, and JJ had enjoyed it when everyone insisted she sit down and be served. The girls and Brady made sure everyone had enough helpings on each of their plates, and JJ was grateful for them taking over as it had been a long day. Her feet were sore, her back ached and every once in a while, the baby would give her a good punch. But she kept her discomfort hidden. She wanted them all to have a great time and truth be told, on the most part, she was able to enjoy herself by watching her guests interact with each other.
They all seemed genuinely happy, including Daegan who had eventually joined them. She couldn’t see any romantic sparks happening between any of them though. They just seemed like friends. Laughing and joking and eating.
During dinner she caught Brady, or Dan or Rafe watching her with tender expressions and warmth would curl through her. This is what she wanted for her friends. She wanted to see that look of love that the guys gave her in one of the other men’s eyes for one of the girls.
But it didn’t happen.
Oh dear, maybe she was just asking for too much having another romance, besides hers, to start right here on Moose Ranch?
After dinner, to her surprise, her guests paired off. Mitch and Blue hooked up to wash the dishes and Kelly and Paul volunteered to serve coffee, Christmas cake and the gingerbread cookies she’d baked.
Even Daegen and Kaley were speaking in hushed tones. She caught them discussing their pilot experiences. Hmm, they had something in common.
With coffee and dessert finished, the girls asked JJ to see the nursery and she was happy to oblige and led them upstairs. She’d decorated the nursery walls in delicate yellow and blue toned wallpaper. Online, they had ordered white furniture; a crib, bookshelf, toybox and a change table which had come weeks ago.
The girls gushed over JJ’s homemade white lace curtains and the cute colorful handsewn alphabet letters she’d made and then hung on various areas on the walls. She appreciated their compliments and her happiness mad
e her forget just for a few minutes, about her anxiety on soon becoming a mom.
Awhile later, they returned to the main floor, and joined the six men in the living room who were in deep conversation about their ranches. Soon their discussions turned into compliments about their pretty Christmas tree and JJ beamed with pride as she gazed at the tree that her cowboys and herself had decorated.
Yes, that tree did look spectacular, especially with the backdrop of an ice-frosted living room window and the nearby orange flames that flickered boldly in the stone fireplace.
Suddenly the group broke out into a cheerful string of Christmas carols. They sang traditional songs such as Dashing Through the Snow, I’ll be Home for Christmas, Jingle Bells and many others.
As JJ sang along with the chorus, she realized the baby had stopped being restless and was now quiet, allowing JJ to fully relax. She still chuckled to herself off and on at finding Dan, nude and looking quite guilty as sin as she’d brought his clothes to him in the bathroom. She remembered the shock coursing through her as she’d suddenly remembered that Dan wouldn’t have his clothing in that bathroom.
Once Rafe and Brady had shown up, she’d instructed Brady to carve the turkey and then she’d discreetly excused herself, and headed upstairs to retrieve Dan’s clothing. She wasn’t sure if anyone saw her bringing the clothes down, for if they did, no one said anything. So maybe Dan would be off the hook in the teasing department.
When the singing came to an end, Kaley and Daegen offered to serve everyone more coffee and more dessert. JJ couldn’t help but laugh. She was surprised that there was still room in everyone after all the food they had stuffed away at dinner. But she was thrilled with their continued compliments about her cooking and her baking and grateful at her forethought of baking shortbread cookies, just in case. Well, those cookies came in quite handy now.
“So, Blue, have you given any more thought about that sheep ranch you once mentioned you’d like to maybe get started on? I just wanted to let you know that I haven’t forgotten and I am still keeping an eye out for something with appropriate grazing areas for the sheep,” Dan blurt from beside JJ.