Friends who don’t kiss.
She’d given him a taste of heaven only to send him straight into “just friends” purgatory. He wanted to change her mind, but the worry in her eyes and the tightness around her lovely mouth had kept him from saying or doing anything. She’d been out of his life for so long. He didn’t want to blow it by not listening to her. A temporary, strategic retreat was in order, but he wasn’t about to roll over and play dead. He would think of a way to change her mind. More kisses were definitely in order.
The ringing sounded again.
Not bells. The telephone.
Adrenaline surged. Jake knew what a call at this hour meant. Someone was in trouble somewhere. OMSAR’s alert system sent out pages, phone calls and e-mails when the sheriff called for assistance.
Sometimes the calls came during the day. Many times they came in the middle of the night. Each situation was different.
Reaching across the bed for the phone, Jake glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand.
3:23 a.m.
Next to the clock, his pager lay silent. That was odd. The alert system was automated. Usually he got paged for a mission, too.
He picked up the receiver and hit the talk button. “Porter.”
“Hey, Jake. Hannah’s water broke,” Garrett said matter-of-factly. “The doctor wants her to go to the hospital now.”
Jake jumped out of bed. He knew what “now” meant when it came to delivering babies. At least Hannah’s babies. He headed to his closet. “She’s not supposed to be induced until after Christmas.”
“That was the plan, but it looks like we’re going to need to hang another stocking on the fireplace.” Garrett sounded calm, a little tired, but nothing to suggest something out of the ordinary was going on. Of course, the guy never lost his cool or got riled up. That was one reason he’d been the perfect addition to OMSAR’s board of directors. Garrett Willingham could always be counted on to be the voice of reason. “Think you can pick one up for us?”
“No problem.” Jake didn’t understand the lack of urgency in Garrett’s voice. “Did the doctor say go ‘now’?”
“As soon as we can. Luckily, Hannah hasn’t started contractions yet. Getting to Portland in this weather might take a while.”
Jake glanced out the window. White flakes falling from the sky limited his vision. Uh-oh. Not good. He brushed his hand through his hair, a little concerned.
“I’ll call everyone.” One big, happy family sounded like a cliché, but the handful of OMSAR members who lived on Mount Hood year-round helped each other out. Even those who didn’t live nearby were willing to lend a hand, too. Good times, bad times. At the beginning of a new life or at the end of another. “We’ll get you there.”
“That’s what I told Hannah. She still needs to pack, but is doing laundry instead. Her way of keeping control of the situation.”
“Forget control,” Jake said. “Remind her how fast Austin came.”
“She told me you almost had to deliver him.”
“Yep, and I never want to have to go through anything like that again.” Jake might be a wilderness first responder and have EMT training, but the last place he wanted to stick his head and hands was between his late best friend’s wife’s legs, even if it was to deliver her baby. “I doubt she does, either.”
“That may get her moving faster,” Garrett said. “Thanks.”
“Get her packed no matter what she says or wants to do. I’ll be there ASAP.”
And that meant Jake would see Carly. Good. He hadn’t liked the way she’d bolted out of his SUV like a downhill skier on a run for Olympic gold when he’d dropped her and the kids off. Usually women didn’t want him to leave, not the other way around.
He made the calls as he dressed, then climbed in his SUV. The weather combined with the snow on the road made the driving tricky, even with four-wheel drive and studded tires. Headlights came toward him. He recognized the large pickup truck with a snowplow attached to the front and waved.
Sean Hughes leaned out his window and his Siberian husky, Denali, stuck her head out, too. “What took you so long, Porter? Did you stop for an espresso first or did you need to put your date back in its pen before you took off?”
Jake ignored him. Sean always had something to say, anything from a smart-assed comment or a joke to diffuse the tension when they were out in the field. He also had no problem speaking his mind, which made him a favorite with the local media. But underneath that gruff exterior was a guy who would go out of his way for anyone, friend or stranger.
“How’s the road looking?” Jake asked.
“Clear to the house. I’m heading to the highway now.” With a nod, Sean rolled up his window and drove off.
Jake continued on to Hannah and Garrett’s house. The plowed road made for easier driving. Jake parked and jumped out of his truck. The cold wind blasted him, and the snow pelted his face.
Floodlights illuminated the driveway where two OMSAR members—Tim and Bill, who Jake had also called—blew snow away. White icicle lights added a festive glow to the house. Granted, this wasn’t the first time an OMSAR member made a middle-of-the-night hospital run to deliver a baby in a snowstorm, but if they didn’t hit the road soon, this was going to turn into a damn birthday party.
Inside the house, the combination of the furnace, fireplace and bodies wrapped him with warmth, chasing away the early-morning chill. He hung his jacket and hat on the rack by the door. A bunch of familiar OMSAR faces, including paramedic Leanne Thomas, greeted him. Obviously, more calls had been made after his.
“The gang’s all here,” Jake said.
Leanne winked. “Gotta take care of the money man.”
Garrett had been elected OMSAR’s treasurer two years ago. He didn’t ski or climb, but he knew finances and had become a valued behind-the-scenes unit member.
“Not to mention the money man’s wife.”
Nick’s widow.
The words went unspoken.
The smell of freshly brewing coffee and the sound of all the conversations going on brought back images from six years ago. Almost to the day, in fact. But the mood was one hundred and eighty degrees different. This was a celebration of life. New life.
Jake glanced around. The twinkling tree lights, the Christmas cards hooked with clothespins on rope and interspersed with the kids’ artwork made Jake think about family and home. Thanks to the Bishops, he’d always had those things.
“Garrett’s trying to get things together for the hospital, but he could really use help,” Leanne said. “Use some of that infamous Jake Porter charm and convince Hannah it’s time to finish packing?”
“Where is she?”
“In the kitchen.”
At least Garrett had gotten her out of the laundry room. “On my way.”
Hannah sat at the table with a pen in her hand and a piece of paper in front of her. Carly, dressed in jeans and a bulky brown sweater, peered over her shoulder.
The sight of Carly took Jake’s breath away. She looked like she needed a good-morning kiss. He could use one himself. Damn, she was sexy. Her tousled hair looked as if she’d crawled out of bed and not even brushed her fingers through it.
Voices drifted in from the living room. Sean Hughes must have been on a cell phone with someone in there because he offered to lead the drive to the hospital. Leanne wanted to ride with Hannah in case she went into active labor and needed help. Other people chimed in to the discussion. Hannah, however, paid no attention to them or to anyone. She seemed to be in no rush to get to the hospital and kept writing.
“That’s enough for me to get started, Hannah,” Carly said, her tone concerned and her attention focused only on her sister-in-law. “You need to finish packing so you can get to the hospital.”
“There’s no rush. I’m not showing any signs of labor.”
“Your water broke.”
“My water broke prematurely.” Hannah kept scribbling. “I’m not due for two more weeks. Rem
ember, they were taking this one a week early. Contractions aren’t going to start until they induce me so let me finish this list for you. You’re going to need it.”
The underlying worry of Hannah’s words was clear to Jake.
Damn. He rubbed the back of his neck. For once he wanted something to go Hannah’s way. She’d been through so much already. The last thing she needed to worry about was having the baby two weeks early and not being ready. But like it or not, she had to get moving.
“Good morning, ladies,” he said. “I hear the jelly bean decided not to wait until next year to celebrate Christmas.”
“Surprised us all, I must admit,” Hannah joked. “Too bad I don’t have a My First Christmas bib or outfit to take to the hospital with me.”
She looked up at him. Jake expected to see a smile, not a hint of fear in her eyes. He wasn’t used to seeing her like this, and he didn’t want to say anything to upset her more.
Instead, he poured himself a cup of coffee. “Christmas is still two days away. We’ll find a First Christmas outfit complete with Santa hat. Right, Carly?”
“Uh, sure,” she said. “We’ll find one.”
“Come on, Hannah,” Garrett said from the doorway. “It’s time. I’m going to wake the kids so you can say goodbye.”
“I need to finish my list.”
“Honey, I know this caught you off guard, but we need to go. You can finish the list later.”
Hannah clenched her jaw. “I’m not in labor.”
“The doctor said—”
“The doctor is a man and, like you, has no clue about these things in spite of all his credentials and the initials behind his name.” She glared at a taken-aback Garrett. “I will go to the hospital when I’m ready to go. Right now I’m busy, so leave me alone. Please.”
Garrett started to say something, but Jake raised his hand to stop him. The guy might be Hannah’s husband, but Garrett hadn’t been through this before with her. Jake had. Twice. Tonight made it a hat trick. He motioned he would take care of it. With a nod, Garrett left to rouse the kids.
As Hannah continued writing, Jake took a sip of coffee. He watched the clock. A minute passed. “All packed and ready to go?”
“Almost. I need to finish this first,” Hannah said.
Her stalling tactics bothered him. When she’d gone into labor with Kendall, Hannah had been in a rush to get to the hospital. She’d buzzed around the house like a hummingbird that couldn’t find a flower while a pale Nick talked to the doctor, trying to figure out if they should go yet. Jake hadn’t known what to do, so he’d helped Hannah get into the pickup truck and wished Nick good luck. Jake had shown up later that day at the hospital with a six-pack for the new dad, flowers for the new mom and a stuffed bear for Kendall.
Those had been the days. So young, so naive, so stupid back then.
With Austin, there hadn’t been time to do much except to get in the car and drive with a lead foot. The labor hit hard and fast. Hannah couldn’t reach Nick, who’d been climbing, so she’d called Jake. The baby’s head was partway out by the time they made it to the hospital. Nick had arrived during the pushing, allowing Jake to get the hell out of there.
He took another sip of coffee and glanced at the clock once more. “Time’s up, Hannah. You can finish the list later. Right now, you’ve got to go.”
She dropped her pencil, staring at her list.
“You don’t understand.” Her voice cracked. “Having this baby early is going to ruin the kids’ Christmas. I was hoping to finish everything up today, but now Carly’s going to have to take care of it and she needs to know what to do. Otherwise—”
“Carly and I will make sure the kids have the best Christmas ever.” He set his coffee on the counter and kneeled at Hannah’s side. “Isn’t that right, Carly?”
Her eyes met his in understanding. He saw the same worry on her face as he felt. The two of them had to get Hannah moving and on her way. “The most totally wonderful Christmas ever,” Carly added.
Tears welled in Hannah’s eyes. “But…I promised the kids I’d take them to see Santa today.”
“We’ll take them,” Carly said.
Hannah glanced back at her. “Are you sure?”
Carly nodded. “It’ll be fun.”
Jake touched the top of Hannah’s hand. “Just concentrate on delivering the newest addition to the family. Carly and I have everything else covered. No worries, okay?”
“There’s really no rush,” Hannah said, her gaze darting between the two of them.
“You know that,” Jake said. “But for those of us who have never had a baby, would you please go to the hospital now?”
“I suppose.”
“Thanks,” he said quickly, not wanting her to change her mind.
“I should be the one thanking you.” Hannah hugged him and squeezed Carly’s hand. “I’m lucky to have both of you. So are the kids.”
As Jake stood, Carly mouthed a thank-you to him. Seeing her lips move reminded him of kissing her. A spark of heat shot through him.
Hmmm. This could be the opportunity he needed, a chance to spend time with Carly, pint-size chaperones aside, and show her how they could be friends and still kiss. Jake grinned.
If things went the way he hoped, this might turn out be his best Christmas ever.
No matter where Carly went, she couldn’t escape Christmas.
She stood in the mall surrounded by everything she’d avoided for years and never wanted to experience again. The over-the-top decorations, the teeth-grinding Christmas music and nonstop holiday cheer were driving her crazy.
Today, the sixth anniversary of Iain and Nick’s fateful climb, was not the day she wanted to battle Christmas. Unfortunately, Carly had no choice.
Maybe this was the ghost of Christmas past’s idea of a joke? She closed her eyes, hoping it would all disappear, but when she opened them everything seemed brighter, louder, sparklier. She tried thinking about something other than the Christmas nightmare surrounding her, but her thoughts shot straight to one thing…make that person—Jake.
His kiss yesterday had opened the physical floodgates. She needed to close them. She didn’t want to be led by emotion, by a physical need or desire of anybody.
Carly wasn’t ready to go there yet. Especially with Jake, the subject of her childhood crush and teenage fantasies.
For someone who wanted life to be simple, hers had suddenly gotten very complicated. But she couldn’t be concerned about herself right now.
She thought about Hannah in a hospital bed, worried and missing precious holiday traditions with her kids. More was at stake than Carly’s comfort level. Kendall and Austin’s Christmas rested in her hands. Okay, Jake’s hands, too. They had promised Hannah the kids would have the best Christmas ever. They would have to work together to make sure it happened.
Together.
Talk about complications.
Carly rubbed one side of her forehead, trying to keep the headache threatening to erupt at bay. She wove her way through the throngs of shoppers, balancing bags and packages, while pushing strollers and holding young children’s hands. Her packages were safely hidden in Jake’s SUV so the kids wouldn’t see them.
“Aunt Carly.” Kendall waved. Her green sweater with a kitten wearing a Santa hat was hard to miss. “We’re over here.”
Here being the North Pole Village, home to the ambassador himself of this holiday horror, good old Kris Kringle. Kendall and Austin stood in a long line of children. Some in pretty party dresses, others wearing simple play clothes. All were accompanied by ragged and tired-looking parents, but where was…
“Where is Jake?” Carly asked, surprised she didn’t see him nearby. He knew better than to leave the kids alone.
“He’s at that store over there buying us smoothies,” Austin said, pointing.
“Don’t worry, Uncle Jake sees us or he never would have left us here by ourselves.” Kendall sounded so much like Hannah. “He watches us like a h
awk.”
“That’s because your Uncle Jake loves you so much,” Carly said.
“Yep.” Austin grinned. “He spoils us rotten.”
“That’s for sure.” Carly wouldn’t mind being spoiled a little. Not by Jake, but someone. Someday.
She looked around. The jolly fat guy wasn’t sitting on the big red throne. No wonder the line hadn’t moved. “Where is Santa?”
“He had to feed his reindeer,” Austin said.
“And it’s taking forever,” Kendall complained.
“I’m sure he’ll be back.” Carly noticed the bag in Kendall’s hand. “What did you buy?”
“A stocking and a First Christmas outfit for the baby.” The girl bubbled with excitement. “There’s a little red hat and matching bib, too.”
“Sounds cute,” Carly said, grateful Jake had thought to buy those. That would make Hannah feel better.
Austin moved closer to her. His wide brown eyes stared up at her. “Has Mommy had the baby yet?”
The concern in his voice squeezed Carly’s heart. These poor kids. First they lost their dad and now their mom had to say goodbye to them in the middle of the night. At least they had Christmas to look forward to.
Carly placed her arm around his narrow shoulders. “Not yet, honey, but she will have the baby soon and then we can go to the hospital and meet your new baby brother or sister, okay?”
Austin nodded. “I hope it’s a boy.”
“I just want a healthy baby,” Kendall said.
Austin’s eyes narrowed. “Sammy Ross says all babies do is spit up and poop. Is that true?”
Carly bit back a laugh. Unlike the kissing and having to get married, this time Sammy was correct. “Well, newborns don’t do a lot. They drink, cry, sleep, dirty their diapers and spit up.”
“Yuck.” Austin crinkled his nose. “Sammy said they smell. I hope our baby doesn’t smell bad.”
Carly bit back a smile. “You’ll love your baby.”
“Not if it smells.”
She mussed Austin’s hair. “Just you wait. The smell won’t matter. You’re going to be a great big brother.”
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