by Vivian Arend
Dare went very still. “He didn’t write just to tell you his exciting news, did he?”
Jesse shook his head. “He wants me to join him. He wants me to be one of the main programmers on the project, including teaching and travelling.”
Dare sat back, sprawled on her arms as she gazed at him. “Jesse. That’s a huge compliment. It’s amazing.”
It was—and the mere thought of it tangled his insides into a thousand knots. “I don’t know what to do.”
She was too far away. Jesse pulled Dare into his lap. He circled her with his arms and buried his face against her neck. Her rich auburn hair fell around him like a curtain, blocking out everything except the two of them. The warmth of her body melded against his, the heated brush of her breath ghosted past his ear.
“We’d have to move away from your family and farther from mine.” Dare’s words were barely a whisper. “Away from Vicki and Joel.”
“Away from all of them, yes.” Jesse took a deep breath and straightened slightly, cupping her cheek. “My first instinct is to say no, but there’s a hefty salary involved. And I do mean hefty—the corporation that’s funding the research has deep pockets. We need to think seriously about this.”
“When do you have to decide by?”
“There’s no rush,” Jesse said. “Dr. Wadia says he’s getting the first steps of the process in place but wanted to give me a heads-up. He should know it’s a go for sure by the end of April. The absolute deadline for my decision is August first.”
“Wow.”
Silence reigned again for a while before Dare nodded decisively. “Well, I can see why you were distracted. But the fact that we’ve got a long time to make a decision means you have to try to not worry right now. Especially if he won’t know until the end of April if there’s actually a job for you.”
It was good advice, but Jesse knew he would still think about it a lot more than was good for him.
He went for a topic change. “You’re not mad at me anymore?”
“Nothing to be mad about,” she insisted.
“I’m a little pissed that you’re being so understanding,” Jesse confessed. “I could use a little arguing.”
Dare rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because throwing dishes and shouting is so much more fun.”
He rolled her to the carpet, pinning her under his body. “It’s not the shouting that’s fun, it’s what comes after.”
“Oh, that’s the part you’re missing.” Her gaze shifted to his lips. “We can probably come up with a reason why we need to have some angry sex. It is angry sex that you’re looking for, right?”
“Angry. Hot. Heavy.” He jammed a hand under her shirt and slid it upward until her breast filled his palm. “I want to take you hard.”
Instead of telling him he was an ass or yawning in his face, both responses he would’ve completely understood, Dare proved once again she was his absolutely perfect partner.
She grinned. “I think we can manage that.”
Unexpectedly, she twisted. With a hand on his shoulder, she got enough torque to flip him onto his back. An instant later, she’d crawled over him, peeling her shirt up and over her head to toss it aside.
Jesse hummed in approval. He curled up far enough to undo her bra and then sent it flying after her shirt. “Your tits are always stunning, but pregnant? There should be an entire wing in some museum to pay homage to them.”
“They’re big enough to fill an entire wing by themselves,” Dare teased before moaning. “God, Jesse. Yes.”
He didn’t know what to do next. He wanted it all. His hands, his mouth, his teeth all over her skin. He dropped his hands to her waistline, rolling her under him as he shred away her pants and undies.
Dare stripped his shirt away, and fabric tore. They were all hands and heat and dirty delicious noises—far too long, yet it was only moments later, he dipped his fingers between her legs and found her ready and wet for him.
“Do it.” Dare made the words a challenge, a gasp following as he hauled her over his legs and notched himself against her heat.
One inch of movement. One thrust and they were joined.
Their foreheads met. “You are my everything,” Jesse confessed.
Her face lit up like sunshine. “Good. Now fuck me.”
With pleasure. For both of them.
He rocked into her hard and dirty, soaking in the sensations streaking over his skin like wildfire. Aching with the extreme pleasure of the tight fist of her body surrounding him. Dare’s heels dug into his ass as she rocked to meet his demands with her own vibrant enthusiasm.
He paused for a moment to lick his thumb then reached between their bodies to slide over her clit.
Dare arched, her breasts pressing against his naked chest. Head falling back, her hair slid over his arm supporting her back. Sweaty and hot with every bit of pleasure centered on his cock as she squeezed him, Jesse took as hard as he gave.
A moment later her nails raked across his shoulders, and she let out a cry. He lost it, the connection between them fire and passion.
They clung to each other, chests heaving. Coming down while still connected. Bodies, souls. Hearts.
Dare sighed happily. “I love you. We’ll figure it out.”
“I love you too,” he agreed. “And we will.”
Jesse just hoped the right answer wouldn’t require tearing his heart in two.
SP Ranch Journal
~Michael Coleman, January 1984~
Still trying to figure out where the hell the past twelve months flew to.
With the successful year we’ve had, it’s time. I know Da intended to someday divide the land into six sections, one for each of us boys to be able to take charge of and find our way.
I’m in total agreement. Just because I had to take over when I did doesn’t mean I’m the best man for all the tasks. Plus, I know our hearts lie in different areas. If I have to listen to George wax poetically about his damn horses for another three straight hours…
He’s got interesting plans, and I bet they work, but as far as I’m concerned, a horse is part of a working ranch and not a pretty work of art to be pranced around an arena.
Like I said—different paths, neither right nor wrong.
It’s clear, though, that John’s never going to fully take charge of his section. We’ll deal with it easily enough, and he’ll never want. He’s a fantastic worker—when things are going well. I’ve done everything I can to get him to see a doctor or a therapist, but he’s stubborn. Like all us Colemans, so I guess I’m not surprised. But the land will be his, and when he’s up to it, we chat about his ideas, but mostly, he hangs out with Mark and works beside his twin.
I’ve asked Mark if he’s okay with that, and he insists he is. If it ever changes—
Well, I’m keeping an eye on it.
Three of us are married now—myself, Ben, and Randy. George and Sally got engaged over the holidays and plan to get married the summer after next. Not sure why they’re waiting so long on the wedding because George told me they already plan to move in together into the house he’s working on as soon as it’s done. Again—different paths.
I keep hoping Mark will find someone he’s interested in. Even sent him to the Stampede and on as many buying and selling trips as I could wrangle in the hopes someone from outside Rocky would catch his eye, but so far, no luck.
His business is his own, but I’ve made sure he knows he’s welcome to bring anyone home, no matter who he falls in love with. Colemans are smart enough to accept a person for who they are, not anything else.
In other news, Marion had an idea. Said we’re all getting to the point that our individual families need to build some of their own traditions, even as we spend time together. Christmas Day is for families, Boxing Day for the entire Coleman clan. She has spoken—and I’m not about to argue, because she’s right. As usual.
Still, we don’t want to leave anyone out. Since they don’t have extended families yet, Mark and
John were invited over to Ben and Dana’s for Christmas Day. For some reason, Mark ended up here instead. Said he promised Blake he’d take him tobogganing. No idea what’s going on there. Maybe he and Ben had another fight—oil and water those two at times—but I didn’t mind having my kid bro around. Marion just rolled her eyes, set another place at the table, then made him wash the dishes.
The party on Boxing Day was just what we needed. Adults all caught up with each other, the four kids tangled happily like pigs in a pen.
I’m going to suggest we do it all over again later this year—maybe Canada Day. While we get together often, putting those dates aside could make it extra special. Family gatherings are important. I can see them getting even more so as the Coleman clan continues to grow.
3
Jaxi pulled the final batch of cookies from the pantry where she’d stashed them and handed the container to her mother-in-law. “I think that’s it for us at the main house. Ashley’s got everything ready over at the Peter’s house for the guys.”
Marion glanced around the home that had once been where she raised her six boys. “You did the place up nice.”
“Not much different than usual,” Jaxi insisted. “Although the poinsettias you and Mike got us really brighten up the room. Thanks for that. Makes it look extra festive in here.”
Marion picked her coffee off the table and gestured toward the easy chairs. “Come sit for a minute. Chaos will arrive soon enough.”
Jaxi grabbed her own drink, happy to have a moment alone with the older woman. She paused to peek into the playpen to check if Justin was still covered up. “What are the chances he’ll try and stay awake the entire time people are here?”
“There’ll be enough hands that all the babies will get passed around just fine,” Marion assured her. She took a sip of her coffee and smiled contentedly. “I kind of like that we’re holding an extra holiday get-together for the Colemans this year.” She glanced at Jaxi. “Of course, I can say that because I’m not the one who did all the extra organizing.”
“It made sense. I’ve missed seeing the Whiskey Creek girls since they moved away. When they said they wouldn’t be coming north for Boxing Day, it made sense to put in a little extra effort.”
“Still, thank you. And I know your Uncle George is grateful. It’s about time we got a chance to meet that new daughter of his.”
Which seemed to Jaxi like one of those fairy-tale moments. “Poor girl. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to first walk into a family gathering of this size.”
“She’s a Coleman by blood. She’ll have the guts to handle it.” Marion nodded firmly. “Besides, she’ll have her sisters.”
Which was true, yet Jaxi made a mental note to ask a couple of the quieter Coleman ladies to keep an eye on Julia when she arrived. It didn’t matter how brave somebody was, getting tossed into a gathering of strangers you wanted to impress was never going to be a walk in the park.
Jaxi’s oldest sister-in-law, Beth, could calm a raging storm. Partly it was her teacher training, and partly the woman just oozed Zen-like vibes. Jaxi appreciated her for many reasons but was especially grateful one of their more immediate family members had no problem being the peacefulness to counter Jaxi’s admittedly high-energy leanings.
She caught herself smiling. Her sister-in-law Ashley, who lived next door, was possibly an equal match in enthusiasm and energy. Jaxi had never imagined back when Travis had first brought his partners home that his wife would be so much fun to be around.
Ashley was the master of everything crafty, with an artistic flair that left Jaxi in awe. Most recently, the other woman had designed a snugly cloth to swaddle her babies that could be done up with one hand—a miracle in any mother’s books. Add in that the blankets were sinfully soft and made of the brightest, happiest fabric their sister-in-law Hope could bring into her quilting store, and everyone in the community wanted one.
Sitting in the cozy living room, Jaxi gazed around at the comfortable home she’d made with Blake. The signs of children were everywhere, and while the furniture might be a little worn, it was still bright and pretty.
“It’s a wonderful place,” Marion said firmly.
Jaxi glanced up, amused. “Can you read my face that clearly?”
“Probably because I’ve seen that expression on my own face so many times,” Marion returned. “We’ve had things good overall, haven’t we?”
“Better than good. Pretty much everything I’ve ever hoped for.” Jaxi played with the cup in her hands. It was true, but there’d been one thing twisting inside her over the last while that she’d been wondering about, hard.
After Justin had been born, she’d told Blake they were done having babies. It wasn’t until Ashley’s most recent had arrived in September that something had changed. Holding their newest nephew had woken up a part of Jaxi that she’d thought was ready to be done.
But that was a conversation to put aside until at least after the party this weekend.
It wasn’t until the afternoon that the gathering officially started. The family met in the front yard of Blake and Jaxi’s then broke into two. The men scooped up the older kids and hauled them across the coulee to Ashley, Travis, and Cassidy’s place.
Blake came and gave Jaxi a final hug, a trio of little blond girls and one four-year-old boy bouncing around his legs like jumping beans. He leaned in. “Have fun making mischief.”
Jaxi pressed a hand to her chest. “Us? A choir of angels couldn’t be more innocent.”
Becca tugged on Jaxi’s leg. “We’re going tobogganing. Uncle Jesse said he once slid down the hill in the coulee and…”
“…went right over the river and up the other side,” Rae finished.
Jaxi’s gaze snapped to Blake’s face. “Uncle Jesse sometimes has a problem remembering the rules.”
“We’re going to the other tobogganing hill,” Blake informed the girls firmly before offering Jaxi a quick wink. “The one that Uncle Jesse doesn’t know how to slide down nearly as well as you guys. You’ll probably have to teach him.”
“Uncle Jesse is silly,” Lana pronounced with the wisdom of a six-year-old. “We’ll teach him the right way.”
“Wight way,” PJ agreed.
“You do that,” Jaxi encouraged.
Happiness bubbled in her chest as Blake gave her another quick kiss. “I promise they’ll return with all body parts intact.”
“You as well. I like all your body parts,” she said with an utterly straight face. “Ohh.” She slapped a hand over the spot on her butt where he’d pinched her.
Then she hurried over to greet Ashley and take the car seat from her. “Ready to share your babies?”
Ashley grinned, twisting to the side to display one-year-old River peeking over the side of the backpack. He blinked huge dark eyes as he clutched strands of Ashley’s hair as if they were reins on a pony. “Anyone who can get this kid to let go of me for more than thirty seconds is welcome to try.”
Blonde-haired Daisy toddled over to Jaxi, her riotous curls poking out from underneath her knitted toque.
“Auntie J., up,” she ordered, arms held out demandingly. With three adults in her house willing to offer hugs at the drop of a hat, the little sweetie was a wee bit of a tyrant.
Jaxi got the two-year-old balanced on her hip, then, between her and Ashley, carried the car seat about five feet before Trevor and Becky from the Moonshine clan showed up.
“I’ve got him,” Trevor insisted, pulling the car seat away and peeking inside. “Hey, dude. You want to come hang out with the big boys?”
“Sure, Trev. Just remember Forest will need to be burped and probably changed. After you nurse him, that is,” Ashley teased.
Trevor made a face. “Too bad, little guy. Tell you what. This time you keep an eye on your mom and your cousin-to-be.”
He stood, carrying the car seat in one hand and wrapping the other arm around Becky to stabilize her. “Come on, Rodeo. Let’s get you inside where it
’s warm.”
Becky’s smile was patient. “I’m plenty warm, Trevor. I have this internal heat system helping.” She glanced at Jaxi. “I don’t know how anybody stands being pregnant in the summertime.”
Then they were in the house and coats were being pulled off. Trevor actually got Forest out of his car seat and was cradling the three-month-old with a far more experienced air than Jaxi had expected.
He grinned when he caught her staring. “With my little brother and his wife having two kids rapid-fire style, the entire Moonshine clan has gotten a lot of practice lately holding babies.”
Everyone moved into the living space, and once the dust settled, Becky cradled Forest, staring down at his dark hair with a secretive smile on her lips. Ashley still held River, and everywhere else, Jaxi’s sisters-in-law and the women of the other Coleman clans were settling into chairs and beginning to catch up.
The Whiskey Creek Coleman girls entered the house to loud hellos. The newest member of the family, Julia, stood beside them, her cheerful grin shining out.
Lisa gestured toward their group. “I’m pleased to present the now complete Whiskeyteer four-pack. Everybody, this is Julia. Julia”—Lisa swung her hand as if she were a game show host—“this is everybody.”
Julia wiggled her fingers. “I don’t see any name tags.”
“Just call us Ms. Coleman, and you’ll be mostly right,” Marion said dryly as laughter bloomed again.
The next hour passed in sweet pleasure as everyone visited for a while then rotated and moved to a new group of family. Babies were passed around with joy and love.
Rachel from the Moonshine clan sank back on the couch with a contented sigh as she breast-fed two-month-old Ava and watched her one-year-old, Liam, take toddling steps toward Lisa. “There’s something in the water, isn’t there?”
Jaxi glanced around the room. “We’ve been blessed, yeah.”
Rachel snickered. “The Coleman family is funding Doctor Kincaid’s retirement all by ourselves.”
“He has delivered just about all of our babies, hasn’t he?”