“Well, come in, dinner’s on the table waiting for us. Jesse, would you mind carving the turkey?”
“Sure, Ma,” Jesse said, then jerked his chin to Aiden. “Wanna help?”
Aiden’s eyes widened. “Seriously? Sure.”
Aiden followed the tall, broad-shouldered man into the dining room as Jackson made some hasty introductions.
“Here, allow me,” Jake said smoothly as he took the pie plate from Stephanie’s hands, and she smiled her gratitude.
Jackson opened his mouth to protest, but Jake held up the hand holding the dish. “Hey, bro, wouldn’t want you to make that wound worse.”
“You should sit down before you fall down,” Justin added with something that seemed borderline sincere, but Jackson wasn’t fooled. The youngest King brother turned to Stephanie. “So, tell me, did you really climb out of a window and walk along a roof?” he asked as he offered her his arm.
“Barefoot, in the snow?” Jake asked, taking her other arm, waving Jackson off as he tried to step forward. “Justin’s right. You’re looking a little pasty.”
“Uh, y-yes, I guess I did,” Stephanie responded, seeming surprised at the attention she was receiving.
If Katie wasn’t still holding on to him, he would have stepped in. Instead, Jackson contented himself with shooting his brothers a dark glare as he followed them into the dining room.
“Did you really break a guy’s nose using a slingshot?” Jesse asked as he held the fork and guided Aiden’s hand as he sliced at the large turkey on the table. Aiden nodded. “Yeah, I was grounded for breaking a window, but she hit a guy in the face.” Despite the boy rolling his eyes, Jackson didn’t miss the pride in the kid’s voice.
The adults laughed as they took their seats at the table, and Jackson neatly maneuvered around the seats to slide into the chair next to Stephanie’s before Jake could.
Finally, he was getting dinner with Stephanie. It wasn’t quite what he’d planned, but it would do for a first date. He glanced over at his mother and smiled as she took her seat at the head of the table. She winked back.
“Now, tell me all about yourself,” Judith said, beaming at the beautiful woman by his side.
* * *
“Thanks,” Stephanie said, accepting the glass of eggnog from Jackson. She smiled as she turned away from the window to gaze at the scene in front of the fireplace. “It was so kind of your mother to invite us to Christmas Eve dinner.”
Justin was giving Katie a piggy-back ride to peer closer at the nativity scene on the mantelpiece, and Jesse was playing a game of chess with Aiden, Jake murmuring suggestions in the boy’s ear, despite the glare Jesse was giving him. Judith sat in the rocking chair, beaming as Christmas carols played softly from the CD player on the table next to her.
“I’m glad you came,” Jackson said quietly, and she met his gaze as she sipped her eggnog. She blinked at the slow burn of rum, and Jackson chuckled. “Careful. Ma’s eggnog can be dangerous.”
“I’m glad I came, too,” she said softly, smiling. Judith King had called her early that morning and insisted she and the kids join them for dinner. It was a good excuse to get the kids out of the house after what had happened; she’d been dreading serving them another meal of burnt macaroni and cheese for Christmas Eve. Still, this was so much more than she’d expected. Jackson’s brothers had welcomed them warmly, and Aiden especially seemed to be enjoying the testosterone.
Jackson stepped closer. “So, this is what I’ve got to do to get a date with you, huh?”
She arched an eyebrow. “What, have your mother do your dirty work?” Her lips quirked. She was flirting with the most eligible bachelor in three counties, and felt no guilt or reservations doing it.
He grinned. “No, I mean come rescue you in the middle of the night.”
She sobered, all traces of playfulness leaving her eyes, and she reached out, gently touching his side. “You could have been killed,” she whispered, and his eyes warmed at her concern. “Does it hurt? Where you got shot?”
“Grazed,” he corrected, although he seemed pleased by her concern. “Nah. Don’t listen to them,” he said, jerking his chin in the general direction of his brothers. “It’s fine.”
The kids had slept with her in her bed, once the deputies had taken statements, and one of them had kindly boarded up the broken window and the front door they’d broken down. While the kids had cuddled with her, she’d lain awake, staring at the ceiling. Merriam had thought she’d have a lifetime with the kids, but she’d died suddenly. Ever since moving to Patience, Stephanie had struggled to forge a new life with the kids, and then their home was invaded. Jackson had been shot at. Life was short. Life was unpredictable. She’d pulled the kids closer in their sleep, so grateful they were unharmed, that they were safe here, in her arms. After what had happened, she’d discovered she could look after the kids quite successfully, that whatever happened, they’d work through it. These children were her life now, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’d made a promise to herself, in that crowded bed, two hearts beating against her. She was going to make every second count, because you just never knew when it would all be over.
She glanced down at where her hand was gently resting against his shirt. She could feel the bandage through the fabric. The thought that he could have died, that she came close to losing him—she’d been surprised by the fear, the panic, and the sheer relief when she’d seen him, safe and relatively sound. He’d risked so much for her, and her children. “Thank you. I—I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come along.”
His hand covered hers as he arched an eyebrow. “Well, it didn’t look like you were doing too badly, you know. Remind me never to back you into a corner.”
“Maybe I’d like you to back me into a corner,” she said, then bit her lip. Okay, so that was forward. Very forward. But she didn’t want to dance around this anymore.
His eyes gleamed as he started to back out of the living room, dragging her by the hand, his lips curving with wicked intent.
She darted a look over her shoulder. Aiden was deep in conversation with Jake about which chess piece to move while Jesse had his head resting on his arms, waiting. Justin, Katie and Judith were playing house with the nativity figurines on the table by Judith’s rocking chair. She smiled as she followed Jackson into the hall, then gasped as he pressed her up into a corner.
“Look up,” he murmured.
She did. In the middle of the hall foyer hung an ornate chandelier, and hanging from the chandelier was a familiar sprig of leaves and berries. Her lips curved.
“Mistle—”
He pressed his lips to hers, cutting off her words, and she closed her eyes, giving herself up to the sensation. She’d been fantasizing about this since the moment she’d seen the handsome sheriff at the post office—and he lived up to every delicious, delightful daydream.
His kiss was gentle, tender, as though he had all the time in the world. He cradled her jaw with both hands, tilting her head. Her mouth opened under his, and she sighed as his tongue swept in and leisurely explored.
He pressed against her, gently pushing her back against the wall, his broad chest brushing against hers. She could feel his ridged strength through their clothes, the swell of his biceps and shoulders as her arms rose. Stephanie clung to him, winding her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer.
His hand slid down her neck to gently caress her breast beneath the silk fabric, and she shuddered. Her nipple peaked as he cupped the mound, weighing it, lifting it. His other hand stole around her waist, pulling her up against him. He was so strong, he had this ability to make her feel safe, desirable … cherished.
Aiden’s laughter from inside the room echoed through the hall, and Stephanie paused. Jackson smiled against her lips, holding her close before placing a gentle kiss on her lips and pulling back.
“I take it back,” he murmured. “I like backing you into a corner.”
She looked up at
the mistletoe. “Lucky that was there.”
His eyes gleamed, and he arched an eyebrow. “I put it there before dinner. There’s a tradition in my family.” He leaned forward to kiss her again, his tongue briefly touching hers before he withdrew. She tried to hide her disappointment.
“What’s the tradition?” she asked huskily.
He grinned, and inside she warmed at the wicked intent in his eyes. “Pa used to hide sprigs of mistletoe around the house, so he could surprise Ma anytime with a kiss. This year is the first Christmas since he passed, and we’re all doing it. It’s a nice way to remember my father—and it’s very handy when a young lady comes a-callin’.”
She arched an eyebrow. “So, you do this a lot?” She hid her uncertainty and vulnerability behind what she hoped was a mildly curious expression. She really didn’t want to know that this was one of his signature ‘moves’, that he used it on other women, yet she hadn’t been able to stop herself from asking.
His expression grew serious, his eyes intent. “I haven’t looked at another woman since that first afternoon I spotted you at the post office,” he admitted.
Her cheeks warmed, and she couldn’t hide her pleased smile. His grin returned. “I have been trying to ask you out for months, Miss Farrell.” He tilted his head. “I like you. A lot. And I like Katie and Aiden. I know you need to consider them. Heck, I’ve thought a lot about them, too.” He took in a deep breath. “The thing is, I know you and the kids are a package deal.” He dipped his head. “And I’d really like to be part of it.”
Her eyes widened. This was more than she’d expected, more than she’d hoped. “Really? I mean, the kids can be a challenge, and lord knows Aiden can be a handful, but he’s a really cool kid, and Katie is so sweet, but it’s not easy—”
He covered her lips again, and this time his kiss was hot, wet, and completely carnal. Her toes curled in her shoes and she trembled as he awoke a desire that burned so hot, so deep, she didn’t think she’d ever be able to extinguish it.
When he finally dragged his lips from hers, they were both panting. Then he grinned. “Sweetheart, last night wasn’t easy. I think, going forward, we’ll be able to handle whatever comes our way. We work well as a team.”
She nodded. “I think so, too.”
He kissed her quickly, then tugged her out of the corner and led her down the hallway.
“Where are we going?” she asked as he opened the next door and peered into the room before dragging her further.
“We’re looking for more mistletoe,” he said.
She laughed, then squealed as he lifted her off her feet and whirled them into a room. His lips claimed hers as he kicked the door shut, and she gave herself up to the moment, enjoying being thoroughly kissed.
She moaned as he lowered her onto a leather sofa, and she got a brief impression of the room, with bookshelf-lined walls and a mahogany desk, and a sheriff with a wicked gleam in his eye.
“I don’t see any mistletoe,” she whispered as he covered her body with his.
He winked. “Trust me,” he whispered back, and took her mouth in a breath-stealing kiss.
Funnily enough, she did.
Mistletoe Maverick Page 5