The Christmas He Loved Her

by Juliana Stone

  Her scent was subtle, fresh with a hint of exotic. Cain liked it.

  “I know, Mom. But, like, can’t I be serious without a tie?”

  A ghost of a smile tugged the corner of her mouth and Cain smiled. “He’s got a point.” Cain motioned toward his tieless shirt.

  She straightened, though her hand never left her son as her eyes traveled the length of him. Gone was the smile. The lady was all business. “And you are?”

  Cain opened his mouth and then closed it. What to say? Obviously she wasn’t a townie, because he’d sure as hell have remembered someone like her. For the moment he didn’t feel like sharing his relationship with Jesse, didn’t feel like owning up to his hell-raising days.

  “A friend of the family,” he answered instead.

  She grabbed her son and pushed him toward the door. The boy opened it and a soft swell of voices spilled outside. He ran inside, but the woman paused. She looked at Cain as if he had two heads.

  “Aren’t you coming inside, then?”

  Her abrupt tone kick-started him into action. Cain exhaled and followed in their footsteps.

  The Edwards home boasted a grand foyer—the focal point, a massive centered staircase that led to the upper level. He took a second and glanced around.

  The walls were no longer taupe and had been done over in pale, cool greens. The wood accents—the railing and trim—once oak, were now dark ebony, and the ceramic floors had been replaced with a funky hardwood. It was similar to what was in the house he’d shared with his ex-wife, but damned if he remembered what it was called.

  Music wafted from the back of the house, and he assumed a good many people were gathered outside on the deck. It was the first week in June, so the weather was warm and the Edwardses’ yard was renowned for its landscaping, pool, tennis courts, and prime lake frontage.

  It was the sweetest spot on Crystal Lake and one not many could afford.

  There were quite a few folks talking quietly. He felt their interest. It was in the understated whispers and covert glances directed his way. Cain ran his hand over the day-old stubble that graced his chin and winced. Shit, he should have at least shaved.

  The woman and little boy disappeared among the crowd, and he took a step forward, suddenly unsure of himself. He was surrounded by faces he recognized, yet he felt like an outsider. Again he fought the sliver of doubt.

  Maybe he should have stayed away. Sent a card or a flower arrangement.

  “Cain, you came.”

  The whispered words melted his heart. Years fell away as he turned and gazed down into Marnie Edwards’s face. She was older, of course, her face fuller, with time etched into the lines around her eyes and mouth. Her dark hair was elegant, hitting the curve of her jaw in a blunt cut. She wore a smart black suit, with a dash of red in the scarf draped loosely about her neck.

  Marnie opened her arms, and he grasped her small frame close to his. She trembled against him. “I knew you would.”

  Grief welled inside him. Hard, like a fist turning in his chest. He couldn’t speak; his throat felt like it was clogged with sawdust. So he just held her, took her warmth and strength into his body, and closed his eyes.

  “Cain, thank you for coming. It means a lot.”

  Cain looked up, kept Marnie secure in his arms, and nodded to Steven Edwards. Pain shadowed the older man’s eyes, and Cain swallowed hard. “Sir, I tried to get here for the funeral, but…”

  Steven Edwards nodded. “I know, son.”

  “Jesse would be so happy to know you’re all together.” Marnie wiped her face and slipped from his embrace. “Mackenzie and Jacob are out back somewhere.” She crossed to her husband’s side. “You should go see them.”

  “Is my mother…” His voice trailed off as he struggled to gain control over the emotions inside. “I tried to get hold of her earlier, but she didn’t pick up.”

  Marnie smiled warmly. “She’s here somewhere, helping with the food, I think.” She glanced up at her husband. “It’s good now. We’re all home.” Marnie motioned toward the back of the house. “Go, the boys are waiting.”

  Cain nodded and slipped through the small groups of people gathered in the hall. Muted voices and snatches of conversations followed him as he entered the kitchen and headed toward the patio doors. He recognized a lot of the faces, smiled, said hello, but didn’t stop to talk.

  The deck was crowded, and conversation halted as he stepped outside. Hot sunlight filtered through the vine-heavy pergola overhead, and the scent of lilac filled the air. The bushes alongside the pool house had grown a lot. They were in fact twice the size he remembered and were full of fragrant white and soft purple-colored blooms.

  His gaze wandered past the deck. There was no one here he wanted to talk to. Bradley Hayes, a classmate from back in the day, nodded and headed in his direction. They’d never been friends, and he sure as hell wasn’t in the mood to pretend.

  Cain turned abruptly and took the stairs two at a time to the patio below.

  He cleared the bottom step, grabbed a cold beer from the nearest waiter, and took a long, refreshing draw. He glanced out over the backyard as his hand absently wiped the corner of his mouth. The tight feeling in his gut pressed harder, and his skin was clammy.

  Cain was used to being the focus of attention but this was different. These weren’t fans. They were old neighbors, teachers, acquaintances, and some he’d considered friends a long time ago.

  Were they judging him? Was he the prodigal black sheep, returned?

  He squared his shoulders. None of them were the reason he’d come back.

  Two men caught his eye, and he moved methodically through the crowd of mourners, nodding to those who called greetings, yet his gaze never left the duo several feet away from everyone.

  The man on the left was dressed in a suit, his tall frame draped in expensive Armani. Cain knew this. His closet was filled with the crap. His newly minted ex-wife, Natasha, had insisted he wear nothing but the Italian designer whenever he accompanied her to one of her damn premieres. She’d spent wads of cash dressing him up like one of her West Coast buddies. After she had left, he’d considered getting rid of the lot, but hell, it had cost a fortune and he didn’t see the benefit in throwing money away.

  The man on the right was decked out in full military dress.

  Cain stopped a few feet away, and they both turned at the same time to face him.

  Silence fell between the three, their eyes locked on each other as a world of pain united them.

  Armani raised his beer, a tight smile settling on his face, though his eyes remained shadowed as he spoke. “You look like shit.”

  The soldier stepped forward.

  “I’m sorry…I…” Cain struggled to form a coherent sentence but faltered. Two arms enveloped him in a bear hug that was crushing and welcoming and hard, in the way it was among men.

  The pain he’d felt for days, ever since he got the news, grabbed him, twisting his insides until he nearly choked from the intensity. Mackenzie stepped back, gave them some room, and Cain fed off the strength and energy that was Jake Edwards.

  After a few moments Jake let go, grabbed another cold beer from the bucket at his feet, and tossed it to Cain—who nearly dropped the one he already had. Mac scooped one for himself, and they wandered down to the beach.

  There were no words spoken. The easy silence of their youth enveloped them as if the passage of time meant nothing.

  They’d buried one of their own today.

  There was nothing else to say.

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  New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

  The Bridesmaid

  by Julia London

  Two mismatched strangers on a disastrouscross-country trek

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  Kate goes from rubbing elbows on the plane with a gorgeous but irritating stranger (doggone arm-rest hog) to sharing one travel disaster after another with him on four wheels. Joe thought he had his future all figured out, but sometimes fate has to knock you over the head pretty hard before you see that opportunity is standing right in front of you… in a really god-awful poufy bridesmaid dress.

  Praise for Julia London:

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  For more Julia London, visit:

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  For more Macy Beckett, visit:

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  For more Macy Beckett, visit:

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  For more Jeanette Murray, visit:

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  They’re both about to learn that in the game of love, it’s all about breaking the rules.

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  “I just loved The Officer Breaks the Rules. I fell in love with the characters from the first book in the series and continued to fall in love with them in this book.”—Night Owl Reviews

  For more Jeanette Murray, visit:

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  “For fans of Susan Wiggs and Janet Chapman.”—Booklist

  For more C.H. Admirand, visit:

  www.sourcebooks.com

  A Wedding in Apple Grove

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  He’s not so sure about small town life.

  She can’t imagine living anywhere else.

  Welcome to Apple Grove, Ohio (population 597), where everyone has your best interests at heart, even if they can’t agree on the best way to meddle. When the townsfolk of Apple Grove need handiwork done, there’s no job too small for the Mulcahy sisters: Megan, Caitlin, and Grace.

  Specializing in hard work and family loyalty, tomboy Meg Mulcahy has left behind any girlhood dreams of romance. Enter newcomer Daniel Eagan, looking to bury his own broken heart and make a new start. He’s surprised—and delighted—by the winsome girl with the mighty tool belt who shows up to fix his wiring.