Christmas in July

by Debbie Mason

  Grace had been right about one thing: her mother was a bitch. Jack couldn’t stand the way Helena treated her daughter. He thought he’d blown his chance with Grace right then and there. But that was the thing about his wife, she always took him by surprise. He was pretty sure that was the night he’d fallen in love with her.

  Thoughts of the past vanished at the sight of Grace backlit by the bathroom light before she flipped the switch. She looked like an angel, fine-boned and fragile. His decision not to tell her about Maria had been the right one.

  “Better?” She smiled, leaning over to kiss him as she slid under the covers.

  “Yeah. Thanks.” As much as he wanted to return that kiss, there was a small worry niggling at the back of his mind. “You never used to drink when you were alone. Has that changed?”

  “No, Jack. You don’t have to worry I’ve become a closet drinker while you were gone. I was a little nervous.” She frowned. “I guess a lot nervous, since I forgot how you felt about wine. I thought a glass would relax me.”

  “What were you nervous about?” He hoped it didn’t have anything to do with Maria or his plan to put that conversation on the back burner would be shot. If she asked him outright, he wouldn’t lie.

  “Us. This.” She motioned to him and the bed.

  He smiled, both relieved and amused.

  “Don’t you dare laugh at me, Jackson Flaherty.”

  “Ah, my wife, the little prude.”

  “I am not,” she said in an offended tone of voice.

  “No one knows that better than me.” Passion darkened her eyes as he slid his palm up her smooth thigh. “You look like an ice princess, but in bed you act like her slutty stepsister.”

  “Jack!” She tried to keep an annoyed look on her face then started to laugh.

  His chest tightened, and he lowered his mouth to hers. “God, I love you.”

  “Oh, Jack, I’ve missed you so much.” Her lips parted on a needy moan as he slid his hand under her nightie, touching and caressing her. He loved how responsive she was, the sexy sounds she made.

  “You still seem a little nervous, Grace. I can take it slower if that’d help,” he teased, nuzzling the soft spot just below her ear.

  She tugged his head to her breast. “Who’s Grace? I’m her slutty stepsister Ginger.”

  Chapter Ten

  You won’t be disappointed,” Grace assured the general manager of the Pines the next morning, barely able to contain her excitement. The Pines was a ritzy resort in Aspen. “Yes, we’ll see you then. And thank you, thank you very much.” Grace stood in the bakery’s kitchen staring at the phone after she’d said good-bye. She couldn’t believe it. If her sugar plum cake got the thumbs-up at the tasting, the Pines was placing a standing weekly order. A huge standing weekly order. She dialed Madison, but her call went to voice mail. It wasn’t the type of news Grace wanted to leave in a message, and she decided to tell her that night at the barbeque.

  When Jack wasn’t around.

  Because the thing was, no matter how amazing last night had been, and it had been off-the-charts amazing, Grace didn’t fool herself that they had an easy road ahead of them. Jack would need time to adjust to being home, to civilian life, whether he’d admit it or not. And they hadn’t even talked about the bakery yet. It was the IED—improvised explosive device—buried under the rug. Sooner or later, they’d have to.

  Grace was hoping for later. She needed time to convince Jack that the bakery would provide a good living for them. If—when, she corrected herself—they got the contract with the Pines, she’d have the proof she needed to make her case. Because while Grace had enjoyed working for her father, it wasn’t a job she would’ve chosen for herself. Her parents had done the choosing, and Grace didn’t have the heart, or the spine, to say no. She’d always loved to bake, but until Jack’s grandmother had left them the bakery, Grace had thought of it as a hobby. And now that she had a job she was passionate about, she couldn’t see herself doing anything else.

  The next hurdle would be to prove to Jack that Christmas was the perfect place to raise their son. Since Jack’s experience in the small town had been less than idyllic, living here might prove to be the toughest sell of all. His memories of growing up in the apartment above the bakery weren’t happy ones.

  It was the reason Grace had renovated while he was MIA. She’d put half of what she’d saved from her years of working for her father into making the apartment a home, the other half on updating the bakery.

  What she needed, she decided, were reinforcements to get him on board. At the moment, for obvious reasons, approaching Jill and Sawyer was out. The timer on the oven went off, and Grace transferred the cooled carrot-and-pineapple cupcakes onto the stainless steel prep top. As she spooned the cream cheese icing into the pastry bag, she came up with the perfect person to help her with Jack.

  Nell McBride.

  Madison had hated small towns as much as Jack, and thanks to Nell, look how that had turned out. Admittedly Gage had more to do with changing Madison’s mind, but Nell was the one who’d set everything in motion. Enlisting Madison and Gage wouldn’t be a bad idea. Given how set against Christmas her husband was, Grace needed all the help she could get.

  Between the four of them, they were sure to come up with a plan to get him on board. Grace’s good mood from earlier returned, then she looked up from piping the icing onto the cupcakes to see her sister-in-law push through the swinging doors.

  “Good morning, Jill,” Grace said with a hesitant smile, unsure what to expect from her sister-in-law.

  “Yeah, morning.” Jill focused on the cupcake in Grace’s hand. “Thought you should know, Stu turned himself in this morning.”

  “Is he all right?”

  Her sister-in-law gave her head a disgusted shake. “I don’t get you. The guy wrecked the apartment, and you’re worried about him. You’re such a doormat.”

  Grace wrestled with her temper. Once she had it under control, she said, “He’s had a lot to deal with, Jill. While he was fighting in Iraq for his country, his wife was living in their home with another man. He lost custody of his children.” Grace stiffened as soon as the words came out of her mouth. She’d just handed Jill the ammunition she needed.

  Jill slowly nodded. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. My bad. Amazing isn’t it, how our soldiers are treated? What kind of woman asks their husband for a divorce while they’re deployed, or for that matter, before sending them off to war? Gotta be hard for a soldier to concentrate on his job when he’s dealing with something like that, don’t you think?”

  She didn’t need Jill to point that out to her. The guilt had nearly driven Grace crazy. Her fingers clenched reflexively, the cupcake crumbling in her hand. “I tried to call him. You don’t know—” She stopped herself from saying anything more. She hadn’t told Jill how bad it was then. She didn’t need to tell her now.

  Jill flattened her palms on the counter. “What I know is that if you ever hurt him again, I’ll tell him, Grace. I’ll tell him everything.” Her lip curled. “No wonder he didn’t remember you.”

  Grace jerked as if Jill had slapped her. Closing her eyes in an effort to fight back tears, she turned to put the cupcake in the garbage. “He remembers me now,” she said quietly.

  “Whatever. I’m warning you, if you—”

  “How’s my two favorite girls?” Jack said as he entered the kitchen through the screen door with little Jack in his arms. He looked from Jill to Grace. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing.” Grace forced a smile. “Just busy. So many customers, so little time.” She held up a cupcake and mentally rolled her eyes. Brilliant, Grace, now you’ve handed Jack the ammunition he needs.

  His gaze roamed her face as he came to stand beside her. He leaned in, smelling like fresh air and sunshine, and kissed her temple before returning his narrow-eyed attention on his sister. “Everything good?”

  “Peachy,” Jill said, chucking little Jack under the chin. “How’
s my buddy today?”

  “Cake. Me want cake.”

  Before Grace could tell him it was too close to lunch, his father handed him a cupcake.

  Jill smirked.

  Don’t you have somewhere you need to be? Grace wanted to ask Jill, but didn’t, because that would be rude. And Grace had been brought up to be polite, even when she wanted to shove the cupcake she was holding in her sister-in-law’s face.

  “Got something for you, big brother.” Jill beamed at Jack, tossing him a set of keys.

  He looked from the keys to his sister. “What’s this?”

  “Your new wheels. Happy birthday times two. Same goes for Christmas.” Jill gave him a watery smile.

  Jack looked shocked. So was Grace. And even though Jill was being horrible to her, Grace was moved by her love for her brother. Jill would do anything for Jack. Including, it seemed, working overtime to pay for the vehicle.

  “Shortstop, you didn’t have to do this. I can’t—”

  “No, don’t argue. It’s a gift, you can’t refuse. Besides, Earl gave me a great deal. You being a hero and all.” She grinned then added, “And you need wheels. Grace sold your truck to buy a delivery van.”

  Wow, nice, thanks so much for throwing me under the bus on that one, Jill.

  Because she shared Jill’s SUV, Grace hadn’t needed a vehicle, but she should’ve realized Jack would. He’d loved that old truck, or so Jill had told her when Grace decided to sell it. But even her sister-in-law had agreed, that as business expanded, Grace needed a delivery van.

  “Is that right?” Jack said, giving Grace an inscrutable look.

  “Jack, I—” she began to explain.

  Jill cut her off. “Come and check it out.” She tugged on his arm. “It’s black and badass. You’re going to love it.”

  “Okay if I leave little Jack with you?” he asked as he handed Grace their son.

  “Of course.” Not really—she had a couple dozen more cupcakes to ice. But how could she say no after she’d sold off his precious truck? Her husband laughed at something Jill said as the two of them left the kitchen.

  Grace forced a smile and pulled out the stool. “Did you have fun with Daddy?”

  “No da. Jack.”

  “Jack’s your daddy, baby. You call him Da.”

  His mouth set in a mulish line. “No. No like Jack.”

  Grace sighed. She’d already dealt with one angry Flaherty and wasn’t up to going a round with another one. She placed little Jack on the stool and handed him an iced cupcake and a bottle of sprinkles. The way her day was going, he’d probably dump… He threw the bottle on the floor, and it shattered. “Me eat cake,” he said right before he smushed the cupcake in his mouth.

  She picked up one for herself.

  * * *

  Gage’s wife handed Jack two cold beers and distractedly waved him off to join her husband on the deck. As soon as they’d arrived, Madison had dragged them into the kitchen, and her stepdaughters Annie and Lily absconded with their son. Jack had waited for him to morph from giggling toddler to screaming terror. He hadn’t.

  Scooping up a spoonful of red jiggly stuff from a crystal bowl, Madison shoved the spoon at Grace. “It tastes like crap. What did I do wrong?”

  Ah, so this was the reason for the frantic phone call asking them to come early for the barbeque. His wife took a tentative taste, and her eyes widened. She looked around the room as if searching for somewhere to spit, then grimaced and swallowed.

  Madison leaned on the island. “Can you fix it?”

  “Umm, what is it?” Grace asked, casting a wary glance at the bowl.

  “Don’t worry, Madison, she can fix anything.” Jack kissed his wife, who said for his ears alone, “Not this.”

  As he walked through the dining room on his way to the deck, he heard Grace say, “Of course I can. It’s not that bad.” He grinned. Grace never could hurt anyone’s feelings.

  Opening the patio door, he walked onto the deck.

  Gage looked up from brushing down the grill on the mother of all barbeques. “Either you guys are early or my watch stopped.”

  Madison must’ve kept her emergency call on the down-low. “Early. Grace thought Madison could use a hand.”

  Gage snorted. “Or ten. Thanks,” he said, accepting the beer. He clinked the bottle against Jack’s and slanted him a look. “How you doing?”

  Jack leaned against the cedar rail. “Great. Memory’s back.” And after last night, he finally felt like he had his wife back, too. Nothing like a few hours of mind-blowing sex to resolve the worries and doubts. He smiled, remembering how good it felt just to hold her in his arms again, to wake up with her this morning.

  “So I heard. Grace looks happy.” Gage nodded to where Grace was laughing with Madison as they set the table in the dining room.

  “Yeah, she does,” he agreed.

  She hadn’t looked quite so happy when she’d come in from work an hour ago. At first he thought it was because she felt bad about selling his truck and had reassured her as long as she hadn’t sold his Harley, he was good. When that hadn’t helped, he figured whatever he’d walked in on at the bakery earlier had been responsible for her mood. No doubt his sister had been giving her a hard time.

  Jill had surprised him with the truck before he could call her on it. He still couldn’t get over what she’d done for him. She was the best… best sister, that is. Her sister-in-law and friend skills needed some work. Since she was coming tonight, he planned on getting her alone for a few minutes to put an end to her blaming Grace for everything.

  He drew his gaze from his wife. “Congratulations, by the way. Madison’s great. Lily and Annie seem happy with their new stepmother.” Seeing Madison’s success in winning over Gage’s daughters, Jack thought about asking her for some pointers.

  “Thanks.” Gage smiled. “Even the ex loves her. But between you and me, I’m kinda hoping we have a boy next. I could use some backup and a little less estrogen in the house.”

  “Feel free to borrow little Jack anytime.” Jack winced. Good thing Grace wasn’t around. “Forget I said that.” He took a long pull on his beer.

  “You’ve only been back a couple of days. Give him time. Remember, he’s had all of his mother’s attention for over a year, and now you’re horning in on his territory. He’s a cute kid. He’ll get used to having you around.”

  “Yeah, a cute terror. I don’t know how Grace does it. I turned my back for two minutes today, and he colored on the walls in the kitchen.” It was embarrassing. He was a soldier, for chrissakes. He’d shot down planes, taken out the enemy, led his crew safely through the mountains and deserts of Afghanistan, and he couldn’t handle a two-year-old.

  Gage must have seen the frustration on his face and clapped him on the shoulder. “Being a parent isn’t easy. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve been through a lot.” Gage held up a hand when Jack opened his mouth to deny it. “Don’t bother. Two brothers who were in the military, remember? They say hey, by the way. They’re glad you made it back. Said to give them a call if you need to talk.”

  “Tell them thanks. How are they doing?”

  “Don’t see much of them. Chance hasn’t been home since Kate died. Easton made it back in April for my wedding, though.”

  “I didn’t get to talk to Chance at Kate’s funeral. Must’ve about killed him to lose her.” Jack couldn’t imagine what he’d do if anything happened to Grace. Kate had been Chance’s childhood sweetheart. They’d been married for two years when her car went off the road in a blizzard. She’d been six months pregnant at the time.

  “For a while there, it was like he had a death wish. Can’t say I blame him. I don’t know how you go on after that.” Gage’s gaze went to his wife, who ushered Sawyer, Dr. McBride, and an attractive redhead into the living room, and he took a deep pull on his beer.

  Jack figured a change of subject was in order. “Who’s the girl with your dad?” he asked, while he kept an eye on Sawyer and Grac
e.

  “Karen. She’s a nurse at the hospital.”

  “Huh, I always thought your dad would end up with Mrs. O’Connor.”

  “So did we. It looked promising at Christmas, but then… nothing. She’s been on the campaign trail with Ethan. Both of them say hi. Eth’s going to give you a call. He should be back in town in the next couple of weeks.”

  “Senator O’Connor.” Jack smiled. “Has a nice ring to it.”

  “Yeah.” Gage rolled his eyes. “He won’t be able to get his fat head through the door if he wins.”

  Jack laughed. Gage and Ethan were best friends, as close as Jack had once been with Sawyer, who walked onto the deck with Gage’s dad. Dr. McBride handed Gage a platter of steaks. “Your wife says to get cooking.”

  “How quickly she forgets she was in charge of the dinner tonight.”

  “Sorry, son, she’s not allowed to lift a finger in the kitchen. Doctor’s orders.”

  “Doctor’s orders my ass. She put you up to that. My wife’s got you wrapped around her little finger.” Gage waggled his beer bottle at Jack. “You don’t know how lucky you are. Your wife’s an amazing cook. Mine can’t boil water without burning it.”

  No one had to tell Jack how lucky he was. But before he had a chance to agree, Madison popped her head out the door. “I heard that, McBride. You have some serious kissing up to do if you want to get lucky tonight.”

  Jack wasn’t sure, but Gage appeared to be blushing. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Honey, we have company.”

  “They’re not company, they’re family.” She let out a gusty sigh. “Oh Lord, here comes Nell.” The door closed.

  Gage shook his head, and the rest of them laughed. Dr. McBride turned to Jack and gave him a once-over. “You look good, son. But if you have any problems, you don’t hesitate to give me a call.”

  “That includes hangnails, Jack. He gets real concerned about hangnails. They might get infected, you know,” Gage said with a straight face as he put the steaks on the grill.

  “My son, the comedian.” Dr. McBride patted Jack’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re home. That wife of yours had me worried. She’s lost too much weight. You make her eat, you hear?”