“Jeremy, be serious. They are not going to throw us in jail. We haven’t done anything.” She stepped out to stand next to him and took his arm, her tight grip betraying her nerves.
“We’re trespassing,” he said.
“I did this all the time as a teenager.”
“We’re adults, not kids. Dammit, I should’ve known better.”
“I’m the one who brought us out here. Not you. I’ll take the blame.” Innocence shaded her voice.
Another police car pulled in behind the first, and a tall man unfolded from the driver’s seat. Jeremy looked heavenward and muttered a string of curses. It was the Cottonbloom, Mississippi, Police Chief, Thaddeus Preston, a well-known hard-ass when it came to following the letter of the law.
He pointed at Jeremy. “I know you. You work for the Fournette boys, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir.”
Before he could stop her, Kayla stepped forward as if she was trying to protect Jeremy. Preston held a hand up. “Step back, ma’am. What are you two doing out here?”
“We were getting ready to tee off and try for a hole-in-one.” The forced sass and humor in Kayla’s voice didn’t make a dent in Preston’s stony expression. He still looked pissed as hell. Of course, he always looked a little like Santa had not only left him a piece of coal, but stuffed it where the sun don’t shine.
“Get their IDs, cuff them, and put them in the back, Bill.” Preston directed his words to his second in command, but kept his eyes on Jeremy.
“What? You can’t do that! I call police brutality,” Kayla said.
“No one’s touched you, ma’am.” The tired resignation in Preston’s voice almost made Jeremy smile. The cold metal of the cuffs on his wrists stymied any misplaced humor in the situation. He ducked into the backseat.
Preston disappeared into his cruiser with their IDs. Kayla tried to sweet-talk the deputy, getting little response outside a couple of half-smiles. Thank God, she didn’t fight the cuffs. As she scooted next to Jeremy on the seat, she said, “We were planning to make out. Is that a crime?”
“On someone else’s property it is,” the deputy said.
“You can’t arrest us; it’s Christmas Eve!”
The door to the cruiser slammed shut in the middle of her last-ditch effort. She sat back with a huff. “Well, I never.”
“Well, I have and there’s no use in arguing or fighting the law. If they decide to take us in, we can’t do anything about it.” Jeremy propped his elbows on his knees and linked his hands behind his neck, the cold metal a reminder of their Christmas nightmare.
“At least they cuffed our hands in front.” Her small laugh and the jangle of her cuffs brought his head up. “What do you think? Will they catch on as a fashion accessory?”
She modeled the cuffs as if she was posing for a magazine, and he couldn’t help but smile back. “You are crazy.”
She sighed and tangled their fingers, their cuffs knocking against each other. “It’s going to be fine. They’ll either let us go with a talking-to or we get charged with a misdemeanor. It’s not the end of the world. Our lives will go on.”
“You don’t understand.” Light leaked into the cabin from the headlights behind them along with blue flashes from overhead.
“Then help me understand.”
He stared at their entwined fingers, felt her the warmth of her body pressed against his. “For a long time, I figured jail was the only future open to me.”
“Do you still think that?”
He considered her question, staring into her eyes. Since he’d met her, his life—his world—burst with possibilities. Maybe she was right. Maybe this run-in was just that—a blip he could recover from and not the first stepping stone down the path his mother had chosen.
“Not anymore,” he whispered. “I’ve met some amazing people who make me want to be a better man.”
“Like me?” Tentativeness and hope lilted her voice.
She was the sun to the black cloud he’d imagined followed him his entire life. Caught up in everything that had gone wrong in his life and the hand fate had dealt him, he’d not taken the time to appreciate how far he’d come. A great job, a great house, an amazing girl.
That was the present she’d given him. The ability to recognize happiness and grab hold. He shifted and put them nose to nose. “You’re the best thing to ever happen to me, Kayla Redmond. No matter what happens tonight, I don’t want you to forget that.”
She kissed him, and he could feel her smile against his lips and in his heart. With their hands still entwined, she nuzzled her face against his neck, and he pressed his into the waves of her hair.
Her voice wavered with emotions both light and dark. “Think of the story we’ll have to tell our kids.”
As her words registered, he turned to stone.
What the hell had come out of her mouth? Okay, maybe she’d been thinking it, but no woman in her right mind said something like that to her boyfriend of a few weeks. She needed damage control stat.
“I meant kids in the most abstract way. Kids are not in my five-year plan. Or even ten. Well, maybe ten. I mean, I do want kids. Eventually. But, I’m not trying to get pregnant. I don’t want to end up like my mom either.” She pulled away from him and pressed her fingers against her lips.
His laugh was chest deep and vibrated through her, and the relief was like passing a test you were sure you’d failed.
“Have you really thought about having kids with me?” His voice was still laughter laced, but held a seriousness and awe that made her want to hold him close.
He needed to hear the truth, no matter how much it scared her. “When I picture my future, I hope you’re there. And, if there’s a towheaded little boy or two with us, then…” She shrugged. “I know we haven’t been dating long, but I know you. I know this is going to work out. Does that scare you?”
He cupped her face, cold metal brushing her chin. “A little, but not because I don’t want the same things. I’m scared I’ll screw it up. And, by the way, if something… unplanned should happen, I wouldn’t run off like your sperm-donor dad.”
This time he kissed her. A sweet, gentle kiss that seemed like a promise.
The cruiser door opened and a blast of cool air cut them apart. Time to face the consequences. She would throw herself on their mercy if need be. Anything to keep the haunted look off Jeremy’s face.
Her mission was to make him believe goodness existed. That he was as worthy of happiness as anyone. It was a lesson she’d lost for a few years herself, but he had helped her believe again. She would do the same for him.
As arguments for their release formulated in her head, she shimmied off the seat and into the night.
“Uncuff them and let them go.” Chief Preston sounded irritated, but then again, he hadn’t seemed to exactly emanate the Christmas spirit since driving up.
The deputy unlocked the cuffs, and she rubbed her wrists. “That’s it? You’re not hauling us in?”
“Not tonight.” He held out their IDs.
“Thank you, sir.” Elation sent her leaning into Chief Preston for a lightning-fast hug. She stepped back worried he might pull out a Taser, but miraculously, his lips twitched into something that might have classified as a smile. A very small one.
“Hang on. There’s one condition.” Preston called out.
Jeremy’s arm tensed under her hands, and he pivoted to face the chief, the headlights throwing his face into stark reliefs and shadows. “What’s that?”
“Sawyer Fournette said your presence is required at his family’s Christmas party. So get your butts to Cade’s house.”
“Merry Christmas, Chief Preston,” Jeremy said.
The chief raised his chin before retreating to his car and backing it down the gravel track, the deputy following close behind. Kayla followed Jeremy’s lead and slipped on her helmet. The chief’s car waited for them at the main road, the blue lights flickering for a moment in acknowledgement.
&n
bsp; She pressed herself tight against Jeremy. His back blocked most of the wind. She only looked up at their turn off the parish road and onto Cade’s long, winding driveway. He and Monroe had built a house at the edge of the river, not far from the Fournette Designs shop.
Cars lined the drive, but Jeremy bypassed them all and squeezed between two trucks at the front. A twangy, country version of Baby, It’s Cold Outside drifted out, and the outline of people could be seen in all the downstairs windows. The party was in full swing.
Kayla took off the helmet and fluffed her hair. She took a step toward the front porch, but Jeremy caught her wrist and tugged her around.
“Before we go in, I wanted to give you something.”
A moment passed before she realized he had something in his hand. A beautifully wrapped small box with a mass of curly ribbons on top. She glanced from the box to his eyes and back again. “It’s a Christmas present.”
“Yeah.” He fumbled with the box and sounded embarrassed about it.
“But I didn’t think you were getting me anything.”
“Here. Open it.” He shoved it into her hands. “If you want or whatever.”
Since she hadn’t been expecting anything, disappointment wasn’t even an option and she ripped into the package with the frenzy of a five-year-old on Christmas morning.
She tilted the box so the moonlight glinted off the red-and-white candy cane outlined by the chain. Part of her had been expecting a gift card which would have been fine. Honestly. But, this was so much better. “It’s beautiful.”
“Do you like it? I can take—”
“I love it. Help me?” She held out her wrist, and he fumbled with the catch, his bottom lip caught between his teeth.
The urge to say more was strong, but she’d confessed enough of her feelings tonight. There would be time to tell him everything, to make sure he understood the dark days of their pasts were behind them. Or, at least, they didn’t have to face dark days alone anymore.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pressed a kiss on his cheek. “It’s a way better fashion statement than the police cuffs.”
Laughter spilled out of him, and really that was the best present she could ask for.
Sawyer Fournette stepped onto the porch holding a long-neck beer. “Thought I heard your motorcycle. We’ve got beer, wine, cider, and enough of Rufus’s barbeque to feed the raccoon population of Cottonbloom Parish. Y’all come on in out of the cold.”
“Out of the cold,” Jeremy whispered on their walk to the porch even though it wasn’t that cold. Once inside, laughter and music and the press of people made private moments impossible.
With her expanding belly camouflaged by her Christmas sweater, Monroe enveloped her in a brief hug, linked their arms, and led her to the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the river. “Cade tells me things are going well at the shop and you’ve fit right in. What he neglected to tell me was who you were fitting in with.”
Even though Kayla couldn’t detect any warning or disapproval in Monroe’s tone, she couldn’t keep the hint of anxiety out of her own. “You like Jeremy, don’t you?”
“Jeremy’s one of those rare men who will put themselves on the line for what’s right. My advice is to hang on to him.”
Monroe had stood by her through the worst summer of her life. She had believed and pushed Kayla when she’d wanted to give up. Monroe was the big sister Kayla had never had and her approval meant more than she wanted to admit.
Through the reflection in the window, Kayla spotted Jeremy’s fair hair. She glanced over her shoulder. He was in a semicircle with Cade, Sawyer, and their uncle Delmar, talking and laughing.
As if he sensed her stare, he glanced in her direction, their tangling gazes as warm and comforting as a hug. “I’m not planning on letting him go.”
“Good for you.” Monroe touched her wrist. “That’s pretty.”
She held up her hand, the delicate candy cane dangling. “A Christmas present from Jeremy. After he claimed he wasn’t getting me anything. Christmas is not his favorite holiday.”
“What? All the food makes it a winner in my book.” Monroe tucked her hair back in its fancy twist and fanned herself with a hand. “Although, this warm spell puts a damper on the mood.”
The party was still going strong at eleven. She caught Jeremy’s eye and pointed to the clock on the wall over the fireplace. As one, they moved toward the front door. Kayla scanned the room for Monroe to thank her and wish her a merry Christmas, but didn’t spot her.
“Do you mind?” she asked once they reached one another. “I promised my mom to be back before midnight. It’s tradition.”
“I don’t want to be the one responsible for breaking your curfew.” He snaked an arm around her shoulders, the same time she wrapped hers around his waist. The movement was natural and easy. Their time in the cop car had been a trial that had strengthened and accelerated their relationship.
Movement on the bank of the river drew Kayla to the far end of the porch. Monroe’s light blond hair was unmistakable as was Cade’s body pressed close to hers. She wasn’t sure if they were kissing or talking or just holding tight to one another, but she wasn’t planning to interrupt.
Jeremy stopped the motorcycle at the curb in front of Kayla’s house, and they both pulled their helmets off. She dismounted but he stayed straddling the bike.
“You’re coming in,” she said.
“I shouldn’t.”
“You should.” She tugged on his wrist, but he was immovable. “In fact, I insist.”
The battle played out in his face, but he gave in and followed her inside. She and her mother hugged and exchanged details about their respective evenings, although she left out the run-in with the police. No need to bias her mom against Jeremy before she got to know how incredible he was.
Christmas music played, and her mom handed them each a mug of hot chocolate. It’s a Wonderful Life was on the TV in the corner, the only other light coming from the multi-colored Christmas tree lights. Jeremy sat on an ottoman with one hand wrapped around a Christmas-tree-decorated mug, poking at the floating pieces of peppermint.
She knelt in front of the tree and shifted presents around keeping her eye on him. He took a sip and his eyebrows rose like it was the first time he’d ever had hot chocolate. Based on what she knew of his childhood she couldn’t imagine his mother making him any. She fought the urge to crawl over and put her arms around him.
Her mother sat cross-legged on the floor next to Kayla and pulled over a big rectangular box she hadn’t seen under the tree.
“Mom, you didn’t!” The zing of excitement wasn’t so different than when her mom had let her open the Barbie she’d wanted when she was eight. She ripped the paper off and tossed it aside, laughing. “You shouldn’t have, but thank you so much.”
Kayla leaned forward and hugged her mom, the boots she’d been eyeing for months between them. The scent of her mom’s perfume and the leather mixed with pine and peppermint. She closed her eyes and etched the moment in her memory. It had been a long time since she’d been this happy.
She handed her mom the present she’d chosen for their midnight opening—wind chimes for the front porch. After her mother had ripped off the paper, Kayla said, “Now you can take down those dorky shell chimes I made like a hundred years ago.”
“Absolutely not. I love those shells, but these will sound beautiful next to them. Thank you, sweetie.” They hugged again.
“It’s getting late.” Jeremy slapped his thighs and stood up. “Thanks for the hot chocolate, Mrs. Redmond, but I’d better—”
“Wait.” Kayla rose on her knees and held out a present. “You have to open yours.”
He stared at the red-and-green-striped package for so long, she shook it as if luring a wild animal in with a treat.
“You got me something?” His words rumbled slow and uncertain.
“You got me something.” She kept a smile pasted on her face even as her he
art broke for the little boy she could see reflected in his eyes.
He took the present, but retreated to sit back on the ottoman, turning the present over in his big hands. Kayla’s mom patted her shoulder and slipped away, leaving them alone.
“I told you not to get me anything,” he said softly.
“I know, but you might as well understand now that I don’t always do as I’m told.” She walked to him on her knees and put her hands on his thighs. “Go on, tear into it.”
Instead of ripping the paper off, he tried to keep it intact and whole, as if the paper itself was the present. “It’s a watch.”
“I haven’t seen you wear one, and this one has a compass and a stopwatch and a ton of other features.” She couldn’t tell whether he liked it or not.
The smile that finally came was boyish and unguarded as he pulled it out of the packaging and admired it. All the fretting she’d done over what to buy him had been worth it to be the reason for his happiness.
He strapped it on his left wrist, staring at it for a long moment, then pulled her between his legs. “I don’t even know what to say, except, thank you.”
“That’s all you need to say.”
He gestured around them. “I never imagined… All this seems like something out of a movie or a dream.”
When he didn’t continue, she ran her hands along the sexy, blond stubble of his jaw to link her hands around his neck, forcing him to look her in the eye. “You need to dream bigger, then.”
His choked-off laugh had a desperate tinge and his arms wrapped her close to him with a ferocity she’d never felt. He needed another present from her, one that was more difficult to give than a simple watch.
“Jeremy, I know it’s soon, but you should know that… I’m falling for you.”
He tensed. Had she misjudged the situation? Had she let her feelings overrule logic? Wouldn’t be the first time, but she’d hoped he would give her a safe place to fall.
“You don’t need to—”
He cut off her breathless backtracking with a hard kiss. “Tonight in that cop car, I realized I’d already fallen. Hard. You, Kayla Redmond, are the best present and all I’ve ever wanted.”
Christmas in the Cop Car (Sweet Home Alabama Book 4) Page 6