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 w
armth 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 her 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?
“Gavin’s really great with Austin,” Jed said.
“Yeah. Are you going to camp out with them?”
Jed shook his head. “Sounds fun, but I really am exhausted. I’d better get some sleep so Austin isn’t waiting for me tomorrow morning to open presents. I can imagine he’ll be up early.”
Cassie laughed. She loved her rambunctious littler brother. They walked slowly across the snow, and Cassie tilted her head back and looked at the stars. “I always loved Christmas Eve. It’s so magical.”
“Tell me one of the Christmas Eve traditions you loved as a child,” he suggested.
They stopped in front of Mama’s front porch. If Trey and Ella were really making out around back, they were being quiet about it.
It didn’t take much for Cassie to decide on her favorite. “When I was younger, before Papa got hurt, we’d always find a family we could help. Mama would take us into Denver, and we’d buy them a bunch of presents and food. We’d wrap everything, and on Christmas Eve we’d stack it on their porch and then doorbell ditch them. We loved watching them open that door.” She smiled up at him wistfully. “That was always more fun for me than getting my own presents.”
“Angelic.” He brushed his knuckles over her jawline, then bent down and placed a whisper of a kiss on her lips. “Cassie,” he murmured. “I’m not even close to worthy of you, and I know you’re planning to leave again.” He swallowed, and her heart hammered into the open space he left there. “Is there any chance of a future for us?”
Cassie wished he hadn’t arrived at this spot. Why did he have to ask? Couldn’t they enjoy their incredible connection and kisses for more than two seconds? She took a step back, and his arm dropped away. “I’m so sorry, Jed,” she murmured. “You knew about my life.”
His blue eyes filled with pain. “Forget I asked. Please. Forget the question.”
“You can�
��t just erase a question.”
“Please.” He stepped closer, and his large frame overshadowed her. It was chilly outside, but she hardly felt it with him so close. “I shouldn’t have pushed you like that. You barely know me.” His jaw clenched. “I kind of have it in my mind that you’re as taken with me as I am with you, but you need time.”
“Jed.” She shook her head as she stopped him. “Time is the thing I don’t have.”
“I know that.” He wrapped his arms inside her open coat and tugged her against him. “But please give me what little time you have. I won’t ask for anything beyond the next week.”
Cassie felt tears prick at her eyelids. He was so patient with her. If she were able to give her heart away, it would be his in an instant. She slid her arms around his neck and just clung to him. “I’m sorry it can’t be different,” she whispered against the side of his face.
Jed turned his face to hers. “It’s not your fault. You’ve dedicated yourself to loving and serving. I can’t take you away from that. I wouldn’t want to.”
Yet part of Cassie wished he could. She’d felt rejuvenated being around her family and especially around Jed, exactly what she’d hoped for, but soon she’d be going back. She loved it so much, but her path was demanding. A big part of her just wanted to stay here with her family, and especially with Jed. She’d never thought this would happen to her, especially after Kellen’s betrayal, but she was falling for Jed. It was scary and exciting.
“Thank you,” was all she said to Jed.
He nodded, his face too serious as he stared down at her. When he spoke, his words surprised her. “Was the kissing scary for you earlier?”
She laughed. “Far from it.”
Jed didn’t laugh with her. “When we were teasing about me paying you back for the pepper spray and I said it wouldn’t be too scary, there was interest in your eyes but a glimmer of fear.”
Cassie froze in his arms. Where was he going now? He was far too direct for her soft and battered heart.
The Strong Family Romance Collection Page 54