Her whole life, Cole had never failed to help her when she asked. If Kade hadn’t been around and Kevin couldn’t help, she always sought out the youngest McCall. No matter how busy he was, he always made time.
“So,” he said, drawing out the word as he bent to look in her eyes again. “What else is bothering you?”
She exhaled and glanced in the empty great room. “I was looking for Connor.”
“He’s out in the barn with Kevin and Kade.” His dark eyes narrowed. “Why? What’d my brother do now?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. I just had a question about a belt buckle.”
“The one on the shelf in the den?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Brock tried to sell it to him.”
Just as she’d suspected. “So he could fix his grandmother’s laundry room,” she stated, the knot in her stomach tightening. He’d sacrificed, and she’d had fun. Okay, they both had, but if only she’d known what he’d had to give up. He never once let on.
Cole nodded. “Yeah, but Connor refused to buy it, and said he’d loan him the money. Brock agreed only if my brother took the buckle as collateral. He’s making monthly payments on it, and I’m sure he didn’t want you to know, but I don’t particularly want you worrying, so that’s why I told you.”
Jen swiped away the tears that had fallen. “Thanks.”
She could’ve given Brock a loan. Same went for Kade and Kevin. The darn cowboy was too stubborn. Too proud. He was also very selfless. Sacrificing something he loved...
“You have a good man, Jen.”
Her head went back, and she thought about correcting Cole, telling him that Brock wasn’t hers, but realized it wasn’t true. The handsome, selfless, green-eyed cowboy was hers, and she was the only one standing in her way. “Thanks,” she repeated. “And thank God Connor is a decent human being.”
“Oh, boy.” Cole grimaced. “Don’t let him hear you say that. It’ll go to his head.”
She chuckled. “You sound just like Kevin.”
His grimace deepened until he appeared wounded. “You really know how to hurt a guy.”
They were still laughing when the three cowboys returned through the glass doors on the outside wall. Jen was surprised at how much better she was feeling since leaving her apartment earlier that day. Funny how talking with Brock, and a few other Harland County cowboys had lightened her mood.
Hit with another yawn, she nodded when her cousin asked if she was ready to head home.
Definitely.
Even though Jen knew it was a little too early to continue her talk with Brock, she wanted to get back to the ranch and wait.
Chapter Ten
The following evening, at the McCalls’ party, Jen waited patiently for Brock to arrive. They still hadn’t finished their talk. Yesterday, when she’d returned home from Wild Creek, she’d curled up on the couch, intending to catch a quick nap while the ranch manager finished his daily chores. She woke up at midnight to find the house quiet and a blanket thrown over her. Not only had it been too late to see Brock, it was too late to text him, too.
She may not have had to put up with morning sickness, but the fatigue was kicking her butt.
Today, she’d been up nice and early only to find out he was heading to an auction with Kade. Once again, their talk had been postponed. Frustration mixed with agitation to prickle her nerve endings most of the day.
It was her fault their talk had been put on hold for so long. Maybe this delay was fate’s way of extracting payback, she thought while standing quietly in front of the mammoth spruce tree, decorated in white lights and red bows, taking up the far corner of the McCalls’ great room. She’d hitched a ride with Kade because Kevin was doing part of his punishment she’d doled out for interfering in her love life, and would be arriving late, and Brock still had work to finish.
The festivities were in full swing. The host and hostess wore matching red sweaters and Santa hats, handing out candy canes. Thick, green holly, entwined with white lights bordered all the doorways, windows, beams, and mantels in the room, casting a festive glow. For a half hour, she stood in her blue velvet dress, watching the merry crowd mixing it up. Holiday music blared from speakers near the dance floor set up on the other side of the room.
She was sipping her water, watching Connor and Kade loading up their plates with food from the catered buffet, while Tiffany, wearing a thigh-high red dress, danced with three different men, a little too snuggly for Jen’s tastes.
Then Brock appeared wearing a dark green Henley, new jeans, and an appreciative smile that interfered with her pulse. Her heart beat out of control as the gorgeous, sexy cowboy walked across the room, gaze only for her, ignoring the beautiful women trying to catch his attention.
“You look breathtaking,” he said, stopping in front of her, his warm, emerald gaze never leaving her face.
She could feel her cheeks heat. “Thanks. I’m sorry about last night. I fell asleep.”
“On the couch. I know.” He smiled. “You looked so peaceful, I didn’t have the heart to wake you.”
Choking on her water, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand while her eyebrows rose. “Y-you were there?”
“Yes. I came over after I finished work.”
“Oh, Brock, I’m sorry. Why didn’t you wake me?”
A tender expression crossed his face. “You were too peaceful, and I remembered what you’d said about us having time because you were in for the Christmas break, so I covered you with the afghan from the back of the couch and let myself out.”
Her throat heated. Stupid hormones. She told them to go away so they could finish their talk. At this rate, he’d have her blubbering inside of a minute. “I had several things I wanted to say, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open.”
“It’s okay,” he said, reaching out to lightly touch her arm. “We can talk later. Did you eat?”
She shook her head. “No.” She was too keyed up, but just the simple touch of his hand had calmed her right down.
“Let’s eat first,” he said, and when she nodded, he grabbed her hand and together, they walked to the buffet.
She knew they hadn’t technically cleared the air, and that it was mostly her who needed to do the clearing, but holding his hand had felt too right to pull away. So right, in fact, when they had to release each other in order to eat, she suddenly felt colder. She was contemplating that when they finished their food and Cole and Bess joined them.
“Jen, that color is gorgeous on you,” the petite blonde said, looking attractive in red satin.
“Thanks, you look beautiful.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Bess blushed. “I couldn’t make up my mind which to wear. Poor Cole. I must’ve tried on ten dresses, and only ended up with this one because he pulled me out of the house.”
“You looked great in all of them.” Handsome in black pinstriped pants and white shirt, he smiled, hugging his wife close. “But I wasn’t about to get into a debate on shoes, too.”
His wife laughed. “Yeah, I am kind of indecisive.”
Jen smiled. She’d noticed the quiet woman seemed to have a hard time making decisions, even letting Cole decide restaurants and what to order, always saying “whatever you decide is good with me.” Jen couldn’t help but feel there were times when the president of McCall Enterprises wished his wife was a little more assertive.
But everyone had their flaws. No one was perfect, least of all her. She couldn’t even manage to tell Brock she loved him.
“So.” Cole frowned, glancing around the room. “Where’s your brother? I haven’t seen him all night.”
“I volunteered him as a dancer at a nursing home.”
“What?” Brock reeled back. “Not the one where my gram helps out?”
“Yes, that’s the one. Why?”
He groaned. “Oh, Jen, those women are dangerous. I went there once to help install a TV stand in the common room, and barely left with my…well, with everything i
ntact.”
Bess inhaled and smiled. “It couldn’t be that bad.”
“It’s worse.” He nodded. “You have to watch out for hands, and canes, and walkers.”
“Damn, walkers?” Cole chuckled. “Do I even want to know—”
“No,” Brock cut him off, shaking his head. “No, you don’t want to know.”
“Well, I’m sure Kevin will be fine. He has a way with women of all ages.”
“I hope you’re right.” He shivered.
Kade and Connor—minus Tiffany—joined them. His buxom blonde was still on the dance floor, twerking with two young cowboys. Jen was a little surprised the tall McCall was allowing it. He didn’t seem to have an issue with his girlfriend’s popularity with the male guests.
All of a sudden, the party grew quiet, except for the music and a few sucked in breaths echoing one another around the room. And Brock’s distinctive, “I told you so.” Jen glanced at the doorway to see what caused the commotion, then slapped a hand over her mouth to block her own intake of air.
“Kevin?” A shocked laugh hiccupped up her throat at the sight of her brother’s disheveled appearance.
Lipstick kisses in bright red, pink, and orange covered his face, neck, and throat, while his hair stuck up in places as if people had grabbed at it and pulled. Four buttons were missing from his blue plaid shirt, which hung off his body, revealing a tear in the top of the black T-shirt he wore underneath.
Was that a hickie?
“Kevin, what the hell happened to you, man?” Cole asked, chin hitting his chest.
Her brother held up his index finger as he limped to the bar in the corner. Not only was his Stetson missing, he only had on one boot. How did you lose a boot? After pouring a shot of whiskey, he ignored the shot glass and drank straight from the bottle.
Brock leaned close to her. “I told you those women were dangerous.”
“Women did that to you, Dalton?” Connor chuckled. “Why do you look so traumatized? You losing your mojo?”
Kade shook his head and frowned. “Weren’t you volunteering at the nursing home tonight, Kev?”
The tall cowboy’s laughter grew louder. “Senior citizens did that to you?”
Kevin slammed the bottle on the bar and sent the big guy and indignant glare. “They weren’t women, McIdiot. They were monsters with nine hands and twelve canes. One even wielded a clamping device. And that sucker hurt. I bet it left a mark. I was lucky to get out of there with at least part of the family jewels intact.”
Connor snickered. “I’m sure they’ll be talking about it for years.”
“And I’ll be in therapy for life.” Her brother glanced at her then. “Thanks, Jen.”
Folding her arms across her chest, she raised a brow and snickered. “Serves you right for breaking your promise.”
Despite his harrowing experience, he appeared to hold onto his common sense, because he closed his mouth and nodded.
“Oh, you poor, poor thing,” a stacked blonde gushed, rushing to his side, grabbing a napkin from the bar to remove some of the lipstick from his face.
“Yes, how awful.” A pretty brunette appeared on his other side and started to wipe off his neck.
Sliding his hands around the women, Kevin cupped their hips and closed his eyes. “I’m starting to feel a little better.”
“We’ll take care of you.”
“Yeah, we’ll make you feel all better.”
A smile curved his lips, and soon both dimples made an appearance. “You may have to go easy on this ‘ol cowboy tonight, girls,” he said, opening his eyes as he led the women away. “I wasn’t kidding about that clamping device.”
“Wow.” Cole blinked, watching Kevin and his dates disappear into the crowd. “On that note, I’m going to go dance with my wife.”
As the couple walked away hand-in-hand, Jen stifled a yawn. Her third one in the last half hour.
Brock reached for her hand again. “You ready to call it a night?”
She felt bad. It hadn’t even been two hours since she’d arrived, but she was tired. “Yeah. I’m tuckered.” She squeezed his hand. “And we still needed to talk.”
A half hour later, Jen was at his cabin, sitting on his couch like yesterday morning, except, this time, Brock sat next to her, holding her hand because he had to touch her. Needed the contact.
When they got back from the party, she’d gone into the main house and disappeared down the hall in her room for a few minutes. He’d waited, admittedly on pins and needles, unsure what she was doing, and exactly what she wanted to say to him. The fact they’d held hands often that night helped keep his demons at bay. She wouldn’t have allowed the touch if she was going to kick him to the curb. Right?
A few minutes later, he’d had his answer as she’d reappeared with her small suitcase, and told him she was ready to go to his cabin.
“The tree is beautiful,” she said, squeezing his hand, bringing his mind back to the present.
He eyed the six-foot spruce in the corner. “Your brother had it delivered yesterday.” Last night, he’d only added the lights, hoping she would help finish decorating with him.
“He always picked out a tree for Lenny and Sherry when he got one for the main house,” she said, then stifled a yawn.
“Hey, we don’t have to do this right now. You should to go to sleep.”
She shook her head. “No. We need to finish our talk. I’m sorry it’s taken this long.”
“It’s okay. I love you, Jen. I’ll wait as long as you need.”
“I love you, too, Brock.”
His heart jumped at her words and the genuineness in which they were delivered. He’d known. He’d felt it in her touch, seen it in her eyes, but to hear the words spoken out loud was just as incredible. Opening his mouth to tell her, he was silenced by her warm finger and the swarm of emotions swimming in her gaze.
“Let me finish.”
When he nodded, she removed her finger, then stood and walked to the fireplace.
“We’ve both made the same mistake, keeping our feelings a secret because we didn’t want to hold the other back.” She turned to face him, expression open and brimming with everything she felt. “I fell in love with you weeks ago, Brock, but didn’t tell you because you’d already had another job lined up and plans for the money you’d make. I didn’t want you to feel pressured, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect you to stay. I was hoping when you left for Amarillo, you were going to ask if you could see me when you finished.”
Ah, hell.
He rose to his feet and joined her by the fire. “I didn’t know.”
She nodded. “Like I said, we both made mistakes. I realize you’d had no idea my plans had changed. That I no longer wanted to go to Houston after graduation. I wanted to go wherever you were going.”
If only he’d known. He reached out to touch her soft cheek. “I’m sorry I let my pride get in the way. I just want the best for you, and for you not to have to struggle anymore.”
“You’re the best for me, Brock. I want you. I’ll take the struggle if it means I can have you.”
He inhaled as his heart swelled in his chest. “You do have me, Jen. All of me. Every last damn, stubborn, mule-headed speck.”
A sweet smile crossed her lips. “I love your damn stubborn mule-head.”
He chuckled, and ran his hands up her arms. “Can I hold you now?”
For an answer, she simply stepped close and wrapped her arms around him. He immediately pulled her in, closed his eyes, and held her tight. God, he missed this. Missed the feel of her soft curves pressing into him. Her fresh, flowery scent. The way she held him so tight, as if he was her world and she was afraid he’d disappear.
“I’ve missed this, Brock. I’ve missed you,” she said, drawing back, face wet with tears, gaze full of all the love he felt in her touch.
He cupped her face and lowered his mouth to hers, kissing first one corner, then the other, before covering her lips and kissing her long
and thorough, reacquainting with her taste, her feel, her need.
How had he ever thought he could live without this woman? Without her sweetness, her touch, her love? He was a fool. But that was in the past. He knew what he wanted. He knew what she wanted, and he thanked God they wanted the same thing. To be with each other.
When they broke apart for air, he tucked her head under his chin and held her tight. “I love you, Jen, and I swear to God I’ll never leave you.”
She squeezed him tight in response.
“I know there’s still over a week before Christmas, but I have something for you to open now.” He reluctantly drew back, but not far because he had the tiny, skinny box on the mantle. “Here,” he said, handing her the present.
He watched her remove the lid, his pulse pounding, throat dry, hoping she understood the meaning behind the piece of jewelry.
“Oh, Brock…it’s perfect. It’s us.” Tears streamed down her face as she lifted a half sapphire, half emerald heart stick pin from the box. “You stick.”
He smiled. “Yes.”
Hot damn. She got it. She got his meaning.
“I’m not going anywhere, Jen. I’m sticking,” he told her, helping her pin the jewelry to her dress.
“Thank you.” She cupped his chin and kissed him, then drew back and smiled. “I have something for you, too…well, two somethings, sort of,” she said. The excitement lighting her eyes rivaled the tree. “Sit down while I get them.”
Doing as he was told, he sat on the couch and watched as she fished two palm-sized, square boxes from her nearby suitcase. One box had a red bow on top, the other had a green one. She set them on the coffee table, then sat down next to him.
The excitement radiating off her tingled straight through him. “Here,” she said, handing him the present with the red bow. “Open this one first.”
He smiled into her happy face, then glanced down as he lifted the lid to reveal a white picture frame with a blue rattle on the side. But it was the black and white x-ray type photo inside the frame that had his heart rolling into his ribs. “Is this…”
Harland County Christmas (Harland County Series) Page 10