Don't Ditch a Detective

by Cami Checketts

  “You’re doing great,” she encouraged.

  He chuckled. “I’m not doing anything but staying upright while you pull me.”

  She squeezed his hands. “That’s an improvement from earlier, right?”

  “True.” He wanted to be back on the ski slope. That, he knew how to do. The ice was … squirrely.

  His skate hit a bump in the ice, and he launched forward, knocking into Cassie and sending them both falling. He landed right on top of her, and he could hear her breath rush out in a loud grunt.

  “Cassie!” He quickly rolled off of her, lying on his side next to her on the ice. “Are you okay?”

  She glanced over at him. “Yes,” she said. “Nothing broken.”

  “Oh, man. I’m so sorry. I am horrible at this.”

  She giggled. “You kind of are.” She rolled up onto her side also, close to him as they lay facing each other on the ice. “You seem like such a natural athlete. I’d think you’d be better at it.”

  “I should probably stick to familiar sports like skiing and basketball.”

  “Naw, you’ll get this, and I kind of like seeing the ultra-confident, tough detective struggling with something.”

  “That’s low. Maybe you aren’t the nicest person I’ve ever met.”

  Cassie grinned. “Probably not.”

  His smile slid away as he studied her. “Earlier on the trail, I shared more with you than I’ve ever told anyone.”

  She nodded. “I won’t share it with anyone else.”

  “I didn’t think you would.” He blew out a breath. “I just wanted you to know that I trust you. I feel a connection with you I’ve never felt before.”

  Her mouth softened, and her eyes studied him intently. He wanted her to return the feeling, wanted it badly.

  A shower of ice crystals fanned over them. “Hey! You two okay?” Austin rested his palms on his knees and stared down at them. “Did you wreck or something?”

  “Something,” Jed muttered. He smiled up at Austin. “Cassie’s trying to teach me to skate.”

  “Everybody else needed a halftime,” Austin said. “Adults get tired quick, I guess. I’ll help her teach you.”

  Jed thought the little guy was adorable, but he really wanted the kid’s beautiful sister all to himself. He focused on Cassie. She was staring at him, but he couldn’t read her expression. Was she upset they’d been interrupted, or was she glad not to tell him that she didn’t feel a connection and break him far worse than the ice could?

  “Thanks, man,” Jed said.

  Austin extended both his hands, helping them up onto their skates. “Okay. You hold on to Cassie and me, and I’ll teach you how to be a pro like I am.”

  Jed laughed and took hold of each of their hands. They skated off together, and Austin instructed him on how to go faster, how to stop, and when to glide. Cassie stayed by his side, holding Jed’s hand and helping him along, but she wasn’t looking at him and she didn’t say much. Had his words scared her? They’d terrified him, but they were true. Ever since he’d met her last September, he’d felt drawn to her and he’d wanted this chance to get to know her, to be with her. Now that he was taking the chance, he was messing it all up.

  Chapter Seven

  Cassie had taken a quick shower and put a dress on after hiking home from the lake; now she was now helping Mama with final dinner prep. Ice skating with Jed had been interesting, exhilarating, and a little terrifying. He trusted her and felt a connection to her he’d never felt before. What did that mean … for them? What was he expecting? When they’d teased about him paying her back for the pepper spray, she was pretty certain they were both talking about a kiss. Pathetically, she hadn’t kissed someone or let herself develop a relationship with anyone since Kellen. Could Jed break through those barriers? She’d love to kiss him and tell him she felt a connection also, but where would that lead? She’d fly to Honduras after Ella and Trey’s wedding. Who knew when she’d see Jed again? It wasn’t smart to let herself fall for him and then leave him behind.

  Jed walked into the kitchen and dining area, and her breath whooshed out. Her mama really liked a nice dinner on Christmas Eve, and apparently someone had told Jed what to expect. He couldn’t have had time to pack when he rushed here to help Heath and Hazel yesterday, so someone must have loaned him the clothes he was wearing now. She didn’t really care where the clothes came from as her eyes swept over him. He was wearing a button-down white shirt, open at the collar and rolled at the sleeves, and navy-blue dress pants. His dark hair was still damp and brushed back from his handsome face, and his blue eyes zeroed in on her.

  “Cassie,” he said in a low voice.

  She started toward him without even realizing she was doing it.

  He moved too, crossing the room and taking both of her hands in his. “You look incredibly beautiful,” he murmured.

  “You look like heaven in a dress shirt,” she told him.

  “Whoa!” Austin’s voice came from the table, where he’d already sat down for dinner. “Everybody’s smoochie right now. Trey and Ella. Heath and hottie Hazel. Gav, you need to find yourself a girl, mate.”

  Gavin had walked into the room without Cassie even noticing. As she looked around, she realized the entire family had come in—even Papa in his wheelchair. She thought Gavin would be uncomfortable with Austin’s razzing, but he just chuckled and ruffled Austin’s hair. “I’ll let you have the girls.”

  Everyone laughed and turned their attention to bringing the food to the table.

  Jed leaned down close to Cassie and asked, “Sit by me?”

  Cassie nodded. She wanted to be right by his side. Tonight. Tomorrow. Maybe always. The panic started in her chest, but she pushed it away. She was going to enjoy being around an incredible and handsome man for Christmas. There was nothing wrong with that. She wasn’t betraying her life calling or the children. Yet he was pretty invested in her. Was she leading him on by returning his attention? She pushed that thought away also, grabbed the mashed potatoes and then the rolls and jam, and settled at the table, with Jed seated at her right and Ella on her left.

  The dinner was crazy as any dinner with her family could be. She soaked up every minute, especially when Jed’s arm brushed hers or he gave her a soft smile. If she was any kind of normal woman, she’d be falling hard and fast for him and making plans to date him.

  They lingered over Mama’s pies and delicious hand-dipped chocolates. Cassie didn’t want the night to end, but she was wearing out fast. It had been a long, busy day.

  They moved into the living room and were all sitting around talking, just enjoying being together. Mama gave Austin his Christmas Eve pajamas and he protested that he was too old, but when he saw the Boston Bruins print on them, he went nuts, hugging Mama over and over and showing everybody. He’d met Jag Parros today—the starting center for the Bruins and a native of Lonepeak Valley—and he couldn’t have been happier.

  Cassie was drowsily content, sitting close to Jed on the couch and watching Austin run around. He ripped his clothes off right there and started to change into his pajamas.

  “Austin,” Mama reprimanded.

  “What?” he asked innocently. “I still got my underwear on, and everybody’s family.”

  Cassie laughed with the rest of the group, and hoped Jed felt like he was family.

  “Cassie,” Papa said in a low voice a few minutes later.

  “Yeah?”

  “Maybe you should walk that boy home.” He tilted his head toward Jed.

  Cassie turned to look, and Jed had indeed fallen asleep on the couch right next to her. She laughed. “He’s had a long day.”

  “Yeah,” Trey agreed. “I think he was up at four a.m. working out; then he got sprayed with pepper spray, went skiing, and learned how to skate. He definitely needs you to walk him home.”

  Cassie rested a hand on Jed’s arm, and he startled awake. His blue eyes opened wide and he passed a hand over his face. “Sorry. It’s been a long few
days.”

  Everybody had been semi-laughing at him falling asleep, but the remembrance of what Jed had done the past few days sobered the room up. He’d been instrumental in protecting and saving Hazel, the woman their brother Heath was in love with, and he’d brought down a mob-affiliated man, made arrests in his own department, and flown here to help rescue Hazel and arrest the man, and his henchmen, who’d tried to kidnap her.

  “You’re our hero,” Ella said from across the room.

  Jed shook his head quickly, looking adorably embarrassed. “No. Heath was the hero. I was just doing my job.”

  “Well, you did a very good job,” Mama said kindly. “Thank you.”

  The rest of the family murmured agreement and thanks; even Austin was quiet and somewhat serious for a moment.

  “Cassie should kiss you to say thanks,” Austin chimed in.

  That made everyone grin and laugh again. Some of them leaning forward. “Yeah, Cassie,” Stetson agreed. “We all owe him.”

  Jed’s blue gaze lit her up from the inside. She wanted to kiss him, for a lot of reasons, but not in front of everybody. “I’ll have her pay up later,” Jed said in a teasing voice.

  “Dang,” Austin groaned. “Then I can’t watch.”

  “Cassie’s going to walk you back to Gavin’s so you can get some rest,” Mama said.

  Jed shook his head. “She can’t walk me home. I’d have to just turn around and walk her back here.”

  Cassie smiled and bit at her lip. “Okay,” she murmured.

  Everyone exploded with affirmation and exclamations. They all knew what Cassie’s quiet okay meant. She wanted to kiss Jed as badly as her family wanted her to kiss him.

  Jed stood and offered his hand. There was a meaningful look in his eyes that shot tremors of awareness through her. She took his hand and stood, a little closer to his height with her heels on. He was one tall drink of water, and she was very, very thirsty.

  Jed said good night to everyone, thanking Mama for dinner, and then they walked back through the kitchen, getting her coat from the laundry room and exiting through the garage. The night was brisk and beautiful. The stars twinkled above them, promising Cassie excitement she had never experienced, as Jed helped her into her coat, took her hand again, and walked across the way to Gavin’s house.

  “Sorry I fell asleep,” he said.

  “Don’t you apologize. You have been our hero, working so hard to bring down that criminal Brigham and then rescuing Hazel.” She bit at her lip. “Then I thank you by spraying you with pepper spray.”

  “I almost forgot about that.” He chuckled as they walked up the steps to Gavin’s wide front porch. Swinging the door wide, he held it for her, and they entered the warm house.

  Cassie slid her coat off and laid it over a chair. There were some soft lights on above and below the cabinets, and the large Christmas tree in the corner was glowing, lending a romantic feel. Had she really just announced to Jed, and her entire family, that she wanted to be alone with him and kiss him?

  As she met his gaze and was lost in his blue eyes, she didn’t really care about the razzing she might take later, and she didn’t care if Jed thought she was too bold. The fact that she’d leave him soon and they couldn’t even daydream of a future together bothered her, but not enough to back away when he eased in close and took both her hands in his.

  “Cassie,” he murmured, his eyes tracing over her face.

  Cassie was afraid he’d get into deep conversation, but apparently he realized their clock was ticking and Austin would probably bound through that door within minutes.

  He raised their clasped hands and rested them on his chest. Cassie could feel the elevated beating of his heart and the strong muscles of his chest. She let out a sigh of longing, overcome with how much she ached to be close to this amazing man. He smelled incredible, like warm cologne and a little bit of chocolate.

  Bending down closer, he lifted one of her hands to his lips and grazed his mouth over her knuckles. Her skin tingled from his touch, and warmth erupted in her chest. She thought he’d go for the kiss, but he simply released her hands and cradled her face gently with his palms. Cassie’s hands were still at his chest. She flattened them on the muscle that was there and could feel his heart rate pick up.

  “I’ve been dying to be around you again since I met you in September,” he admitted quietly.

  “Really?” He’d alluded to that earlier, but she wanted to hear more. She was grateful he hadn’t gone away from that interaction thinking she was a brat.

  “You opened my eyes that day, Cassie. Brought light into my life.”

  Cassie’s own eyes widened. She didn’t know she’d helped him.

  “Even though you thought I was a jerk cop,” he was quick to say before she could respond to his sweet admissions.

  She smiled. “Not a jerk … okay, maybe a jerk.”

  He grinned, but then he sobered and trailed his hands back into her hair.

  Cassie ran her palms up to his shoulders, inching closer until their bodies brushed.

  “When we were teasing earlier,” he said huskily, “about you owing me?”

  She nodded.

  “You don’t owe me. If you kiss me, I want it to be because you want to.”

  She licked her lips, and his eyes darted to them before meeting hers again. “I …” She swallowed against her dry throat. “I want to,” she admitted.

  He leaned down closer. “I also promised I wouldn’t make it scary. Are you scared?”

  Cassie shook her head. “Not of you.”

  Jed didn’t seem to like that answer, as he frowned. His thumbs gently traced along her cheeks while his fingers were buried in her hair. “What are you scared of?”

  “Leaving you.”

  “That scares me too,” he admitted. “Do you still want to …”

  Cassie wanted to kiss him. Oh, how she wanted to. “Yes, but I don’t want to lead you on when I know I have to leave.”

  Jed’s gaze was serious. “I understand why you have to leave. I’m choosing to let myself fall for you, no matter what happens in the future.”

  Cassie’s breath caught. Choosing to let himself fall for her? That was so beautiful. She stood on tiptoes, ran her hands up to his neck, and whispered close to his mouth. “What are you waiting for, then?”

  Jed grinned. He didn’t respond verbally, but he bent down and captured her mouth with his. The kiss was firm and strong, just like Jed, but it was also surprisingly tender, as if he knew she’d been hurt and he wanted to show her that he would never do the same.

  Cassie let him take the lead, maneuvering her lips in a beautiful and gentle pattern, but when they pulled back for air, she pulled herself tighter to him, molding her body to his, and pressed her lips to his with a passion she didn’t know she had inside.

  Jed let out a short groan of desire, and then he matched that passion. He ran his hands down her neck and along her back; then he wrapped them around her waist, spun her, and pressed her against the front door. Cassie clung to him, exchanging kiss for kiss, loving the heady sensation his touch brought.

  As he slowed down the kisses, he bent even lower, softly kissing her neck. He glanced up at her, and desire and vulnerability battled in his blue eyes. “Cassie.” His voice was reverent and yet full of desire. “I’ve never felt like this …”

  Cassie understood what he was saying. She wanted to tell him everything she was feeling for him, but to what end? She’d be on that plane for Honduras on January second, and he’d be back in Park City. They weren’t going to end up together, but she couldn’t find the willpower to care as she pulled his face level to hers and pressed her lips to his again. The joy of their lips and bodies connecting pushed every other concern away. Cassie wanted nothing for Christmas but more of this, more of Jed.

  The door suddenly pressed into her back. Cassie gasped and pulled away from Jed’s lips.

  “Hey!” Austin hollered. “Let us in.”

  Jed lifted h
er away from the door but didn’t release his hold on her.

  Austin banged through the door, followed closely by Gavin and Stetson. “How was the kissing?” Austin demanded.

  Cassie’s face and neck were hot. Was it obvious they’d been making out? Her brothers probably thought they’d give Jed time to kiss her but not enough time to get too close. Gavin could write the book on being the overprotective big brother.

  She did something she never could’ve imagined twenty-four hours ago: she buried her face in Jed’s chest rather than look at her brothers. Normally her family would be the ones she’d turn to, and twenty-four hours ago she hadn’t really liked Jed.

  “Austin.” Gavin shook his head. “Don’t embarrass them.”

  She tilted her head and smiled at him. Either he realized how embarrassed she was, or he approved of Jed. Probably the former, as he’d given his best friend, Trey, an incredibly hard time when Trey went after Ella.

  Jed kept one arm around Cassie’s waist and walked with her over to the couch. He lifted her coat off the couch and said, “I’m going to walk Cassie back now.”

  Austin rolled his eyes. “We know that’s code for kissing her more. Just say it.”

  Jed chuckled.

  Stetson rescued them. “Watch out for Trey and Ella. I think they’re making out behind Mama’s house. Maybe go in the front door. Mama’s getting Papa to bed.” He winked.

  “Thanks.” Jed waved to all of them and helped her into her coat again.

  Austin looked like he wanted to tease them more, but Gavin interrupted him with, “You know Santa will bring all your presents to Mama’s house, so we don’t have to worry about catching him here. Why don’t we camp out down here and eat popcorn and watch movies all night?”

  “Yes!” Austin cheered. “Fred Claus first, then Home Alone.”

  Jed opened the door and escorted Cassie back out into the cold. He wrapped his arm around her again, and Cassie loved feeling like they were a couple, though it also tugged at her heart. She wasn’t like Ella, who could simply promise herself to the man she loved. Her eyes widened. Love? Had her mind really gone there already?