A Montana Mavericks Christmas

by Susan Mallery

  “But if I move away—”

  “Are you going to move away?”

  She thought about the letter in the kitchen drawer. Should she tell Jeremy about it? Not now. Not yet. Maybe not at all. But she had to be honest with him. “I don’t know.”

  Reaching out and taking her hand, he pulled her with him over to the sofa. As they sat, their shoulders and hips brushed, and neither of them moved away.

  Keeping her hand in his, Jeremy laced his fingers with hers. “Are Brooke and Adam sleeping?”

  She nodded, gazing into his green eyes, wanting him in a way that went beyond their bond of parenthood.

  “Everything has happened very fast between us, but I want you to trust me, Leah.”

  “Trusting takes time.”

  “I know.” Bending close to her, he murmured, “And maybe it takes a little persuasion, too.”

  When he brushed his lips back and forth across hers, need rose up, and she realized how very little persuading he’d have to do for her to give him her whole heart, maybe everything she was. He released her hand and touched her face, then his tongue teased her lips. As they parted, he took full advantage.

  Jeremy tasted hot and dark and forbidden, but Leah knew she’d fallen in love with much more than his sex appeal. She’d fallen in love with him.

  As wind howled outside, emphasizing the silence within, Jeremy’s kisses became longer and deeper. Their bodies strained toward each other. Leah could tell Jeremy wanted her, and she wanted him. But she also knew she couldn’t go any farther and didn’t want to lead him on.

  Pushing away from him, she murmured, “We should stop. It’s too soon…”

  Caressing her cheek, he looked down at her. “I know it’s too soon. I just want to kiss you and touch you and hold you.”

  She saw the deep tenderness in his eyes and realized he meant it. “I want to kiss and touch and hold you, too.”

  Groaning, he kissed her again with a fierce hunger. His hand slipped beneath the hem of the loose sweater she wore with her skirt and paused on her midriff.

  His touch was an erotic match to her already smoldering need. Feeling freer than she’d felt in a long time with him, she tugged open his tie and kissed him back, trying to show him her love. Her fingers fumbled with his shirt buttons until finally she felt his hot skin. His chest hair was springy and soft, and she remembered another night and how their babies were conceived.

  Jeremy’s desire for Leah was so ferocious it seemed to have a life of its own. He’d been furious with her when she’d accused him of seeing a lawyer for custody reasons. But this morning, after Mary had told him that Leah had stopped in, he’d realized the anger had come from something else. Her distrust had made him feel unbearably alone. She and the twins were becoming his world, and he couldn’t imagine his life without them.

  He didn’t want to imagine his life without them. Now he tried to tell her that with each sweep of his tongue and the depths of his kisses. Knowing he was stoking a need he couldn’t satisfy, at least for a few more weeks, he thought about stopping. But Leah and the moment became more important than satisfaction. Somehow he had to convince her she needed him. He had to convince her to stay.

  There was only one way to do that—make her want him as much as he wanted her. As a new mother, what had given her pleasure before, might not now. Yet being creative was part of the adventure and the challenge. Slowly, he stroked the skin below her breasts. She softly moaned, and passion shimmered between them.

  Breaking the kiss, he rained kisses down Leah’s neck under her luxurious hair. The way she said his name told him of the deep yearning she felt, too. When he rubbed his cheek against her hair, he breathed in orange blossoms and Leah and the scent of baby lotion, which seemed ever-present in the house now. Her hands, as soft as velvet and twice as arousing, slid down his chest, and he forgot time and place and reason.

  His mouth sealed to hers again, and soon he’d tossed the pillows from the back of the sofa to the floor and lay facing her. Being this close was sweet torture. As he stroked her hair, she worked his shirt from his trousers, and when her hands caressed his ribs, he shuddered.

  Pushing her hair back, he kissed under her ear. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he murmured, grateful that she could find pleasure in what they were doing so soon after the birth of their babies.

  “You’re not,” she assured him as she explored his chest again.

  This time when he reached under her sweater, he didn’t hesitate. He touched the skin on her side, making slow circles that brought soft sounds from her throat. Wanting desperately to touch her breasts, knowing it was best not to, he instead smoothed her skirt up her slender leg, letting his hand leave a trail of teasing seduction. Her skin was so soft, so silky, so perfect. As his hand dallied on her thigh, her breaths became short and shallow.

  “Oh, Jeremy, it feels so good. I just wish I could—”

  “So do I,” he said, his voice husky. He stroked her, letting his hand slide back to her knee.

  When she shifted slightly, he wondered if he should stop.

  But then her knee slid between his thighs, giving him pleasure. He thought fleetingly about stopping her. Instead, he kissed her again, taking whatever she could give him. He’d dreamed of her kisses; he’d dreamed of their bodies touching; he’d dreamed of creating magic between them again.

  Caught up in the pleasure she was giving him, he stroked her tongue until Leah brought her hand to him and caressed him through his trousers and underwear.

  He tore his mouth from hers. “Leah, stop! You can’t—”

  “Why not?” Her voice was innocent in its softness.

  “Because I can’t give you the same kind of satisfaction. It wouldn’t be fair.”

  “You are satisfying me. I just want to show you…” When she trailed off and passed her hand down the length of him again, he didn’t think about pressing her for what she’d been about to say.

  It had been forever since he’d touched her and she’d touched him so intimately. He was still thinking about stopping her, still thinking about giving her more pleasure when suddenly his restraint broke under the gentle touch of her hand, under the sensuality of lying here with a woman he’d wanted more than he’d ever wanted anyone, especially now that she was the mother of his children. Lost in the power of Leah’s touch, he let her pleasure him until her tender stroking took him beyond the breaking point. His climax rocked him, making him shudder, making him wish Leah could experience it, too.

  Even though he was a doctor, even though he’d been married, even though he’d had his share of experience with women, when his breathing returned to normal, he was embarrassed. “I shouldn’t have let you do that,” he murmured.

  “Just consider it my belated Christmas gift to you.”

  He saw the smile in her eyes, the lingering sparkles of pleasure that satisfying him had given to her. He kissed her then, sweetly and softly until a baby’s cry broke the silence.

  “It’s Brooke,” Leah murmured.

  “I know. Her cry is so different from Adam’s.” They gazed at each other, sharing the bond of recognition.

  “I have to go to her,” Leah said.

  “Before you do, I want to ask you something. Will you go out with me on New Year’s Eve? There’s a bash at the Hip Hop, and I’d like for us to go together…as a couple. We don’t have to stay long.”

  “I’d like that,” she said with a wide smile. “I’ll check with Bessie to see if she can baby-sit and let you know.”

  Jeremy couldn’t keep himself from kissing Leah again, from trying to show her what she meant to his life.

  Dressing for New Year’s Eve, Leah wondered what Jeremy would think of her soft white blouse and beaded vest, her black velvet skirt and high heels. After assessing her hair, she decided to pull some of it to the top of her head and braid it. Using black velvet ribbon, she tied one piece at her crown and the other at the end of the braid. When she heard a male voice in the living room t
alking to Bessie, she knew Jeremy had arrived.

  There was no doubt she was nervous about tonight. She and Jeremy seemed to be getting closer and closer. Though, since that night on the couch, his kisses had been less incendiary and more chaste. The past two nights, besides spending time with the twins, they’d also talked. He’d told her more about his childhood and his parents’ divorce; she’d shared stories with him about growing up in Chicago and how her heritage had sometimes set her apart, but how she’d made a few good friends whose loyalty and caring were still important to her even though they were miles away. She was disappointed that Jeremy hadn’t talked more about his marriage or his wife, yet she hadn’t brought it up. When he was ready to tell her, he would.

  As Leah stepped through the doorway into the living room, Jeremy’s gaze locked to hers. “You look fantastic.”

  “So do you,” she responded, admiring the fine cut of his navy pin-striped suit, his pristine white shirt, the navy and red silk tie. He was so handsome, her heart raced.

  Bringing one hand from behind his back, he said, “I brought this for you.”

  The sight of the beautiful red roses and white baby’s breath arranged as a wrist corsage warmed her inside. “How lovely!” She bowed her head to smell the flowers. The fragrance of the flowers was as heady as her desire to touch Jeremy and have him kiss her again. Although she was wearing heels, she still had to stand on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”

  The lights in Jeremy’s eyes told her he wanted much more than a token kiss. But as his arm curved around her waist to pull her close to him again, Bessie called to them from the sofa. “You two have fun tonight.”

  Jeremy’s hand settled familiarly on Leah’s hip and he responded, “You can count on it.”

  The Hip Hop Café was essential to Whitehorn’s community life. Not only did it serve great specials at reasonable prices, but it was a meeting place, a roundtable, the spot where Whitehorn’s grapevine started and stopped. One of Whitehorn’s chief suppliers of gossip was Lily Mae Wheeler. She knew everything there was to know about everybody. Leah and Jeremy passed her as they stepped inside the café with its shiny bright New Year’s Eve decorations and spirited conversation. Coming here tonight as Jeremy’s date wouldn’t go unnoticed. But Jeremy seemed oblivious to the arched brows and curious looks as he found them a booth, helped Leah take off her coat and slip on her corsage.

  “It looks different tonight,” Leah remarked, noticing the strobe lights near the jukebox, the red and silver streamers, the platters of sandwiches and snacks sitting on the counter.

  “So do you,” Jeremy said in a low husky voice.

  Suddenly everything in the café disappeared, except for Jeremy. He took her hand across the table and wrapped her fingers into his palms.

  “People are going to talk,” she said, blushing.

  “Does it matter?” he asked as he glanced around. He did see some people watching.

  Instead of answering, she returned the question. “Does it matter to you?”

  “I don’t care what people say, Leah. My life is mine to live. Now you and the twins are in it. I’m not going to hide how I feel about that.”

  She wished he’d tell her exactly how he did feel…about her. But that wasn’t the kind of conversation to have in the midst of a crowd.

  Someone started the jukebox. The music was slow and sentimental and Jeremy squeezed her hand as he smiled at her. “Would you like to dance?”

  Tonight she’d like to do anything that brought her closer to Jeremy. She nodded. As they walked to the space around the jukebox, Leah saw Kane Hunter take his wife Moriah into his arms. Sam Brightwater and his wife Julia also began dancing and smiled at Leah when they saw her. There was another couple Leah recognized—Wayne Kincaid, little Jennifer McCallum’s half brother, and his wife, Carey. But as Jeremy took Leah into his arms, everyone else faded away.

  Jeremy’s arm around her felt protective as his hand settled gently in the small of her back. His other hand engulfed hers as he brought it to his chest. “For safekeeping,” he teased.

  The fabric of his suit coat was roughly sensual against her hand. His cologne was musky, and she loved the scent of it. She loved the scent of him. He guided her in small steps that weren’t taxing, but rather swayed into the music. It was easy dancing with him, easy being close to him, easy to want so much more than a dance. They gazed at each other, lost in a magic world of lights and streamers and new chances.

  Jeremy bent his head, and his lips trailed by her temple, sending quivers of excitement through her. “I’d rather be someplace alone with you,” he murmured.

  “But New Year’s Eve is for celebrating,” she teased.

  Leaning slightly away, he searched her face. “I think the two of us celebrating the night alone could be very…exciting.”

  She remembered the other night on the sofa, the delicious sensations of having Jeremy touch her, his arousing kisses. She might not be able to make love with him for a few weeks or so, but she could certainly enjoy everything else. All of it felt so right with Jeremy.

  So what about that interview offer? a little voice in her head asked.

  She could tell Jeremy about it, but she didn’t want to spoil this wonderful night. Maybe she could find a sense of belonging with Jeremy. Although her mother had enabled her to get a degree and pursue a career anywhere she wanted, wasn’t happiness the ultimate success? Could a job in Washington, D.C., make her any happier than being here with Jeremy?

  They were questions that might take a little time to answer. Or maybe not even time, but just the right words from Jeremy. As one song led into another, she knew that this man could be her home and her future if he felt the same way about her that she felt about him.

  “We’ll be alone tonight after Bessie leaves.” She knew her words invited him to stay…she knew tonight could change her life.

  “Do you know what I’d like?” he asked.

  “What?”

  “To fall asleep with you in my arms.”

  The idea that he simply wanted to hold her, to be close to her as she wanted to be close to him, brought tears to her eyes. “I’d like that, too.”

  Jeremy pressed her to him and rubbed his jaw in her hair.

  When the song ended, they stopped dancing, but Jeremy didn’t release her. Absorbed in each other, they couldn’t seem to break apart until Carey Kincaid came up to them. Jeremy introduced Leah to Carey, explaining she was also a doctor.

  “I know,” Leah responded. “You and Kane Hunter share office space, right?”

  Carey smiled. “We sure do.” Addressing Jeremy, she said, “We missed you at the Christmas dinner last week.”

  “Something came up,” he answered easily.

  “Something like twins?” Carey asked with a smile. “You know, don’t you, that rumors are running rampant? In a community like Whitehorn, the gossip starts with the whisper of the wind.”

  “Are you asking me if it’s true, Carey?” he teased his colleague.

  Carey blushed but responded, “I could help nix it if it’s not.”

  With his arm still around Leah, he leaned close to Carey and murmured loud enough for Leah to hear, too, “It’s true. I’m the proud father of a boy and a girl. And Leah’s the proud mother.”

  Carey extended her hand to him and then to Leah. “Congratulations.”

  Leah felt that Carey Kincaid was sincerely happy for them.

  After speaking with them for a few more minutes, Carey said, “I’d better find my husband before he sends out a search party. And Jeremy, I am really happy for you. I know how much this means to you.”

  The message beneath Carey’s words was clear—I know you lost a child and I’m sorry for that, but I’m rejoicing with you now that you’re a father.

  Again Leah wondered if she and the twins were simply filling a hole in Jeremy’s life, or if they meant a lot more.

  Jeremy guided Leah to the trays of food on the counter. They sipped sherbert punc
h, ate sandwiches and guacamole dip and Christmas cookies. Every now and then they became involved in a conversation with someone they knew from Whitehorn. But most of the time, they talked with each other and did nothing to restrain the electricity that sizzled between them.

  They were dancing again when a woman tapped Jeremy on the shoulder. “May I cut in?” she asked pleasantly.

  With interest, Leah studied the beautiful blond, blue-eyed woman in the short, silver lamé dress.

  “Hi, Elise,” Jeremy said with a smile. “Leah, this is Elise Johnson. She’s working with me on a fund-raiser to enlarge the emergency room at Whitehorn Memorial Hospital.”

  Leah hardly had time to acknowledge the introduction before Elise put her hand on Jeremy’s shoulder and said to Leah, “You don’t mind, do you?”

  Leah’s intimate evening with Jeremy suddenly seemed less so, and she did mind the woman intruding. But her good manners made her say, “Of course not. I wouldn’t want to monopolize him.” Feeling insecure, afraid she would see a warmth she didn’t want to see in Jeremy’s eyes as he danced with Elise, she turned away and headed for the punch bowl. Trying to keep her mind off of the prickly feelings she was experiencing, she became involved in a conversation with Melissa North, the owner of the Hip Hop, complimenting her on the food and the New Year’s Eve atmosphere.

  It seemed like a very long time later when Jeremy returned to her side.

  Melissa excused herself and headed for the kitchen.

  Dropping his arm around Leah’s shoulders, Jeremy asked, “Would you like to dance again?”

  Unbearably unsettled, Leah moved away from him on the pretense of setting down her cup. “Maybe you’d rather dance with some of the other women here.”

  He took hold of Leah’s shoulder and nudged her around to face him. “I’m asking you to dance.”

  “I don’t want you to feel obligated.”

  “What’s wrong, Leah?”

  “Nothing,” she said a little too quickly.