Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
The day of Thanksgiving dawned colder, making Jewel's joints ache as she went down the stairs for breakfast. Chase moved better now, and the stitches had dissolved even though his black eye remained. He'd become more and more tense as the week had worn on, going to the grocery store several times with both her and Raul to get all they needed to host dinner.
Chase was restless that morning, an apron around his waist as he set the last of the bread to rise. Jewel sipped her mushroom coffee and watched him with amusement. He wiped his hands on the dishtowel and ran a pen through a list on the counter.
"It's going to be fine. We divided and conquered, remember? All we're in charge of is bread and turkey," she said.
He shot her a look. "I know, but what if I screw it up?"
Jewel rolled her eyes. "You've cooked two practice turkeys this month already, and both of them were delicious. This one will be too."
Destini wandered in, still in her pajamas, her hair a wild tangle. "What's got you all wound up?"
"First big family holiday," Chase said. "And I want everything to be perfect for you."
Jewel laughed. "It's just Thanksgiving. It's not like we're preparing a state dinner."
Chase ran his hands through his hair, a streak of flour swiping across his temple. "I missed so many years with you both, and I want to make up for lost time."
Her heart softened at his words, and she wanted to wrap him in her arms and help him relax. The tension in his shoulders showed how serious he was about this, not to mention the way his hands kept clenching and unclenching.
Destini gave him a quick, tight hug before stepping to the fridge and scavenging for food.
Jewel ran a hand over his back, trying to soothe him without being too touchy in front of Destini. "We're all together, and that's all that matters. This will be the first big event in the new house though, so I get why you're nervous."
He scowled but Destini chimed in before he could say anything, pulling blueberries out of the fridge. "Who all's coming?"
"All our families," Jewel said.
Chase grunted as he checked the temperature on the oven and the turkey. "Half the town, basically. It's going to be pure chaos and way too loud."
Destini laughed. "Sounds like my kind of party."
"Leave it alone and let it cook," Jewel said, shaking her head.
Chase ran his hands through his hair and growled, "Ugh, I'm going to go take a shower or something. Then I'll finish cleaning up down here."
Jewel looked around as he went up the stairs. Other than the counter, the house was spotless. He'd been nervous cleaning all week.
"He's doing all this for me, isn't he?" Destini asked before popping a blueberry into her mouth. Jewel nodded, and Destini hummed in thought.
"He loves you so much," Jewel said.
Destini raised a brow and smirked, "Almost as much as he loves you."
Jewel's cheeks flamed, and she huffed as she left Destini chuckling and eating her breakfast.
She trailed Chase up the stairs to their bedroom like some lovesick fool, following him around like a puppy. He'd moved the rest of his things into the room, and while they fell asleep each night holding the other, they hadn't slept together since Destini had moved in weeks ago.
It frustrated Jewel, but she avoided asking about it, too content to just ignore her feelings and hope for the best. But if even Destini could see that he loved her, perhaps it was safe enough to tell him how she felt too.
Chase pulled off his thermal Henley when Jewel entered the bedroom. She watched him, appreciating how much stronger he looked compared to just weeks ago.
"You're nervous about your family coming over," she said softly.
He turned, catching her gaze. "Ya think? Is it that obvious?"
"Only to someone who—" She blinked, pausing. She'd almost admitted to loving him.
Fuck, she loved him so much. It was getting harder and harder to avoid saying. Her chest grew tight, and she sank onto the bed with shaking legs.
Immediately, he was next to her, kneeling in front of her with a frown of concern. "Hey, are you alright? Is today a bad Lyme day? How can I help?"
God, was it any wonder why she loved him? He treated her like a precious jewel. Barely weeks of living together, and she couldn't imagine a day without his support. The way he cared for her every day was addicting.
"I'll be alright," she croaked out, cupping his cheek with her palm and praying it was true. "Tell me why you're so nervous? It's just a family dinner."
His eyes shuttered, and he stood, running his hand through his hair, which had grown longer. He paced toward the window and back to the bed, the muscles of his back and chest rippling with each step.
"I don't like the kids at school making Destini feel weird about me. She's been withdrawing, but this week with her being home, she's opened back up."
Jewel nodded. "I know, I talked with Lola and Ana about it at yoga. Tasha's aware too, and is doing what she can as the counselor, but there's nothing we can do about it except support Destini and give her the tools she needs—teach her how to reply, what to say, and how to say it."
Chase rubbed his forehead. "I know, and hopefully being surrounded by family today will remind her that she has a whole support network here. But it's going to be loud, chaotic, and uncomfortable for me."
"We don't have to. We can cancel and eat turkey sandwiches with all that bread and turkey. Honestly, there were a few holidays where we barely spent an hour with our families. If Liz and Joe were out of town and Dad and Gemma didn't come down, we usually ordered pizza and vegged in our pajamas watching movies."
He frowned, his eyes unfocused. "Prison holiday meals were only slightly better than normal. I want to make our holidays memorable for Destini. She's only going to be here another two years before she goes off to college."
"She'll be back for holidays."
"Will she though?" Chase asked, spinning on his heels. "You didn't come home for them. I couldn't wait to get the fuck out of Crimson Creek. Who's to say if I would've come back for holidays. What if these kids make Destini hate this town, and she leaves and never comes back?"
He hesitated, pausing in front of the window and looking out at the barn outside, unseeing. "I want this to be the best holiday she's ever had, not because I'm trying to outdo what you've done up to now, but because…"
She stood and slipped an arm along his back, holding him in a side hug as she waited. She'd learned to listen to him in the last few weeks, as he was much better at sharing his feelings than she was.
"I have a black eye, so our first holiday pictures together are already going to have this messing them up. I just want the rest of the day to be perfect and balance out all the negative things that come with being my daughter."
"Oh, Chase," she said, pulling him into her arms. He squeezed her tighter as she stroked his back. "Destini loves you, loves being here. Just being together, the three of us, is perfect enough, but you've also given her a giant, big, loud and loving family like we never dreamed possible."
He shuddered in her arms, and she pulled back, holding his face in her palms so he was forced to look into her eyes. She almost told him she loved him.
Almost. But this moment, today, wasn't really about her or her feelings. It was about Chase and Destini and family.
She took the cowards way out, not quite ready to take that leap of faith yet. What if he just thought he loved her because of Destini? What if she thought she loved him because of Destini?
She sighed. "By all rights, she should be missing Carmen and her little cousins. But there's so many families here who love her. She's got new little cousins to love on, aunts who love talking about science and clothes and makeup, uncles who ask her opinion about farming and horses, and grandparents who would let her get away with murder."
He chuckled, his eyes going soft. "Who wouldn't love her? She's amazing because she's been raised by you."
Her breath caught at his sweet words. "And an amazing father who loves her unconditionally."
He smiled, leaned forward, and kissed her softly. They'd not kissed nearly enough in the past few weeks, and she missed him. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him. The kiss quickly grew deeper, their tongues dueling and tangling like they'd been kissing their whole lives instead of just a few months.
Her heart was full even as a sliver of fear wormed its way inside her mind. This couldn't last, couldn't possibly be real. She couldn't be that lucky to have a happily ever after. This bubble would burst any day now.
Yet her soul urged her to seize the moment, soak up this feeling of peace and contentment with this man who made her heart sing.
When the kiss broke, he rested his forehead on hers with a sigh. Stomach twisting in anticipation, she licked her lips and said, "You know, there's one way I can help you calm down that's guaranteed to work."
He chuckled, bending slightly and picking her up by the ass. "Oh, yeah? Prove it."
She squealed, wrapping her arms and legs around him as he walked them to the bed.
"You're finally giving in?" she asked breathlessly as she bounced on the bed. He grabbed her knees and pulled her toward the edge.
He growled, his eyes going dark. "I've been afraid Destini won't approve."
"Bullshit, she loves you—both of us. Who wouldn't want their parents together?" Jewel said as they both wiggled and slid out of their pants. She kicked hers to the side and shoved the rest of her clothes off.
He stood in front of her as she lay on the bed naked, knees dangling over the side. Sliding a hand up and down his cock, he said, "You're right, but this isn't just a fling until she moves out, my Jewel. If we keep going, you better believe it's for life. Got it?"
Her breath caught in her throat as he slowly bent her knees, placing her feet on the edge of the bed and exposing her body to him. She was weeping with need after so long without him, her breath already coming in little pants.
He teased her entrance with his dick, his thumb just barely grazing her clit. Her hips arched, and he growled. "Is that what you want, my Jewel? Are you willing to take a chance on an actual relationship with me, a beat-up old convict?"
She sat up and wrapped her arms around his waist, tipping her head up as her breasts pressed against his lower chest. She met his gaze, vulnerable and hesitant.
"You're not just a beat-up old convict. You're the sweetest man I've ever met who always takes care of me and our daughter, always thinks three steps ahead of me, always knows when I need something before I even realize it. Of course, I want to try an actual relationship with you."
He glared and kissed the tip of her nose. "Do or do not, there is no try."
She burst out in a laugh and fell onto her back. "Oh my God, did you just quote Star Wars while we're naked ?"
He wiggled his eyebrows. "Never underestimate the power of the force."
She laughed, and he caged her with his arms, his dick pressing against her entrance once more.
"God, I love your laugh," he said, nuzzling her neck. She blinked, her heart melting, loving the feel of him around her, pressing inside, stretching her. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. He hadn't said the words, right? Nothing to panic over.
"Good, because I love your dick," she gasped as he slid inside so deep, she could feel him in her stomach.
He choked on a laugh and held her hands by her head. "Enough talking. More fucking."
She grinned. "I find your lack of movement disturbing."
He chuckled and dipped his head down, kissing, licking, and nipping up her neck to her ear. Each kiss was accompanied by a thrust, and he set up a rhythm that made her toes curl against the edge of the bed. Her hips rose to meet him, craving more, deeper, faster.
"That's it. God, you're so tight, such a good girl," he murmured into her ear, her eyes fluttering wildly as he went faster. As she raced closer to the edge, his head raised.
Fingers locked, eyes locked, they stared into each other's soul. Her vulnerability was laid bare, and he didn't back down, didn't run away. He was so much braver than she'd ever been, and the thought of admitting how much she loved him terrified her.
She lifted her hips to meet him harder, challenging him for more, daring him to leave.
Yet he never would. He was as constant as the stars and had always been there, watching her, waiting to make her his. She was stretched, filled by his cock, but it was her soul that stretched at the realization that this was always meant to be.
He thrust deeper, faster, and shifted his hips slightly. The change slammed his pelvis directly onto her clit, and her back bowed to the sensation.
"Oh," she moaned, trying to hold off her orgasm even as her body began to shake.
Her muscles gripped him tighter, and the clench of his jaw showed his concentration. She teetered on the brink, and he thrust once more, hitting that special place that only he could reach.
"Chase!"
Just that one word, and they both went diving off the cliff, bucking and thrashing against each other in a shared release that was long overdue. Their bodies shuddered, and he thrust one last time before holding them both still, pressed against the bed, his hands biting into her wrists.
Wave after wave of pulsing heat filled her, her body squeezing in time to the beat of his. The stress and tension surrounding this holiday flew out the window, leaving a blissful, peaceful humming in her veins.
As they both sank in the after effects, he leaned down, capturing her mouth once more. Long and leisurely, his mouth promised forever. His kiss coaxed her toward a future together, and he angled his mouth for a deeper kiss, mercilessly tempting her to give in to the love that grew between them.
And God, did she want to. He was all she'd ever wanted from a man. Someone who would support her without trying to take over. Someone who would love her and Destini unconditionally, even if she didn't say the right thing or do the right thing. Someone who would work with her to make her dreams come true instead of just blindly telling her no.
Chase did all of that and more. Tears pricked her eyes, and he slowly broke the kiss, kissing her lower lip softly and then her top lip before easing back to stand. His hands trailed down her arms and across her breasts as he stood.
The moment stretched as he met her eyes, his hazel ones clear and full of love and peace. She smiled lazily up at him as he stepped back, helping her stand on shaky legs.
"There. You're much more relaxed now, right? Mission accomplished," she joked, trying to lighten the mood from the intense emotions swirling within her.
He followed her into their bathroom to clean up, slapping her on the ass and making her jump. "As much as I loved it and have been dying to test out the soundproofing in our room, I don't want you to sleep with me just because you think it'll help me feel better."
His serious tone contradicted the playful slap, and she caught her reflection in the mirror. Staring at herself, she couldn't lie.
"Oh, I didn't. Don't worry. I very much wanted to sleep with you. I enjoyed it a lot."
He paused as he turned on the shower, the weight of his stare pressing into her back, but she didn't turn away. The time to tell him how much she loved him had passed, and she was afraid to look at him right now, afraid to tell him exactly how much she enjoyed her time with him.
If history had taught her anything, it was that things seemed perfect before the bottom fell out and everything exploded. It's what had happened just before her mom died, just before she graduated and slept with Chase, just before they'd worked out a plan to be together and then he went to prison.
Something was going to happen. She could feel it in her soul.
* * *
The dining room buzzed with conversation and laughter. For the first time since he got out of prison, he wasn't overwhelmed by his family. He didn't want to escape, didn't hover on the edges.
Plates clinked, children darted between the adults' legs, and the warmth of family filled every corner of the room.
Parker stood near the kitchen, holding court with Gunner and Henry, their voices rising and falling in typical male banter. Maryanne chased Connie, who was attempting to steal another slice of pie. Holly's kids played a complicated game of blocks in the corner, Holly sitting at the table in a way that let her keep an eye on them while talking with Taylor and Ava. Jewel chimed in on his right, but he was caught between the two conversations at either end.
Destini sat to his left, her plate half-empty, her smile wide and genuine as she listened to Hunter and Bill talk horses across from her.
She caught Chase's eye and winked, a gesture so similar to his own that his heart nearly stopped.
"What do you need? More turkey?" Chase asked her, cutting a slice.
"Dad," Destini said, rolling her eyes. "I'm good."
The word "Dad" hung in the air, soft and momentous. Chase froze, his knife suspended midair. For a heartbeat, the room seemed to pause, the background chatter fading into a distant hum.
He glanced at Destini, and she winked again, a soft smile playing on her lips as she acknowledged the weight of the moment before turning back to Hunter's animated discussion about training the foals.
Chase felt the word like a physical touch, warm and unexpected.
Jewel's hand slipped under the table, finding his and squeezing. Her touch anchored him, grounded him in this moment that felt both impossible and perfectly natural.
Bill cleared his throat and mouthed, "Welcome to fatherhood." Then he crossed his arms and turned back to Hunter and Destini.
The conversation flowed again, but Chase couldn't stop the word from echoing in his mind. Dad .
She'd not said it as a scream or in pain. Her tone came straight from the mental file labeled love .
Chase swallowed hard, blinking rapidly. Jewel leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Told you she loves you."
He reached for his drink to push past the knot of emotions. The only thing remaining was to convince Jewel that they belonged together, that their love was real.
After everyone had left and the house was clean, the wind whipped around the old Victorian house. Chase curved his body against Jewel's in the main bedroom, thinking through all the ways he could tell her he loved her.
In the end, he just whispered into her hair, "I love you."
Her breathing didn't change, she didn't tense. Disappointment ripped through him, as she must already be asleep. After weeks of saying it into the dark of night with her in his arms, he should have the courage to say it to her face while awake.
Yet he couldn't stop taking the coward's way out. Part of the puzzle was complete—Destini had accepted him, loved him, called him Dad.
After their morning sex of passion and laughter, he felt like Jewel was closer to accepting him instead of running away. He was so close to the life he'd always dreamed of. Perhaps by Christmas, they'd be a family in every sense of the word.