Chapter 13 #2
“I know, I know. Make me feel guilty, why dontcha? The boys have been harassing me daily. Mac is going to help me get one later. Maybe if they’re lucky we’ll decorate it, too. Are you seeing Chris tonight?”
Jane marveled at her sister’s smooth subject changing. “No, he’s working. I think I’m going to stop by the station on my way home, though. Bring him lunch.”
“Aw, you two are cute. Don’t worry about everything so much, Jane. The children will come around, especially when they see how happy Chris makes you.”
Easy for her sister to say. “You want to run down into Sacramento later this week then? Maybe in the afternoon so we can have Mom watch the kids? The stores are only getting more and more crowded.”
“Pushy girl.” Mindy shook her head and sighed. “Yeah, let’s do it. Throw the kids at Mom and make our escape. You sure I won’t cut into your time with Chris?”
Jane rolled her eyes. “Family comes first, Mind. You know this.”
“Uh huh. And you’re crazy.”
Jane completely agreed.
“What are you looking at?”
Chris immediately closed out the jewelry store’s website he’d been checking out, embarrassment making him move fast. “Nothing. Just doing a little Christmas shopping.”
Eric, Chris’s second in command, had stopped by the station to pick up his paycheck. “Who the hell are you Christmas shopping for? Not like you ever mention any family.”
Chris smarted at that remark, but Eric was speaking the truth. “A friend, not like it’s any of your business. I do happen to have friends.”
“Ah, right, I’m an idiot. You looking for something for Jane Clark?” Eric wagged his brows at him.
Chris rolled his eyes, trying to brush this one off. “Yeah. Well, maybe. I don’t really know what to get her.” That was the truth. But he knew this much—it was definitely going to be a piece of jewelry. And he wasn’t talking about a cheap pair of earrings, either.
Something special, something significant showing how he felt, since he couldn’t spit out the words and tell her. He was too nervous to admit his feelings, so he kept quiet instead.
It was slowly eating him up inside.
“Chicks dig jewelry.” It was as if Eric could read his mind. “That’s what I’m getting my girlfriend, though I think she wants an engagement ring.”
They both mock shuddered at that statement, but secretly, Chris had contemplated it. Shot that idea right down, too, considering they’d only been seeing each other…what? A month? And he was ready to declare his love and ask her to marry him?
The thought terrified and excited him all at once. He’d never been one to do anything that spontaneous, but his feelings for Jane were so strong, he couldn’t deny them. Spending so much time with her and her family, staying overnight…they were turning into a little family unit.
But he was afraid if he moved too fast, she’d run away. She’d only been widowed for two years, and there were so many things for her to consider. Like her children.
He needed to consider the children too. It was a huge commitment.
“I’m not getting her an engagement ring.” They both shuddered again, Chris putting on a big man show for his friend and coworker. “But I’d like to find her something nice.”
“There’s a jewelry store down in Oakwood that has unique stuff for a decent price. You should check them out,” Eric suggested.
“Thanks. I think I will.” Chris pulled the desk drawer open and plucked the envelope containing Eric’s overtime check from it, handing it to him. “Don’t spend it all in one place.”
Eric opened the envelope and glanced at the total, wincing. “I just might. I gotta impress my girl, since I’m not giving her what she really wants.”
“Will she flip if she doesn’t get the ring?”
“Nah, if I give her an expensive necklace or something, she’ll be cool. But my time is coming, man. I need to figure out what to do.” Eric sounded vaguely freaked out. Chris knew he should feel vaguely freaked out, too, contemplating spending a lifetime with Jane.
But he didn’t. He actually liked the idea of being with her and the kids, spending all of their time together.
Coming home to them after being away for three days.
Greeted enthusiastically by the kids and beautiful, sweet Jane the moment he walked through the door.
Wrapping her in his arms and holding her close, like he never wanted to let her go and planting a sweet, welcoming kiss to her lips.
Yeah, that sounded good. Way too good.
“Are you two getting serious? You and Jane?” Eric asked.
How to answer this without sounding like a complete sap or, worse, completely whipped? “We’re taking it one day at a time.”
“Right on, man. She’s nice. I went to school with her, though she was a year ahead of me. We didn’t really hang in the same social circles if you get what I’m saying.”
“What? Was she a snob and you were a nerd?” Chris laughed when Eric threw a fake punch at his arm.
A knock sounded on the office door and Chris sat up straight, offering a “come in” in his most commanding voice.
The door opened and there stood the very woman they’d been talking about.
Looking soft, and warm, and oh, so pretty, her cheeks were pink from the cold outside and she was bundled up in a heavy dark brown coat, a cream colored scarf tied around her neck.
“Hi.” She sounded breathless, and she aimed those green eyes right at him, slaying him with the sparkle and joy he saw there. “I hope you don’t mind my stopping by. I brought lunch.” She lifted the brown paper bag in her hand.
“I’ll never turn away lunch.” He’d never turn away her, but he didn’t want to get too lovey-dovey in front of Eric. He needed to have some dignity around his coworker.
“Hi, Eric. I didn’t know you’d be here today or I would’ve brought you a sandwich, too.” She looked worried, as if she’d slighted his coworker, and Chris loved that about her. How she always wanted to take care of everyone.
How well she took care of him.
“Hey, I was just leaving. I needed to pick up my check, is all. No worries, Jane.” Eric sent Chris a knowing look and moved toward the door. “I’ll see you two later.”
The second Eric shut the door, Chris sprang out of the chair and had Jane wrapped in his arms, kissing her until the both of them were panting. She finally shoved at his chest, the bag still clutched in her hand, and he released her reluctantly.
“Sorry,” he said, not feeling sorry whatsoever. “I couldn’t resist.”
“I appreciate that, trust me.” She smiled and set the bag on the desk. “I picked you up a sandwich at the deli.”
“Sounds great.” He opened the door. “Want to eat in the kitchen?”
“Yeah, let’s eat there.”
She followed him through the barracks and into the giant kitchen.
He flicked on the overhead light and went to the refrigerator, pulling out a Coke for him and a bottle of water for her.
His crew of two was outside in the garage, having just eaten an early lunch, so he and Jane were alone, free to talk, free to stare at each other over the table if they so chose.
And, well, Chris so chose. At least for a little while.
“Why’d you stop by?” She never really had before. They usually kept their rendezvous behind closed doors, always at her house, though he’d like her to come to his place. It was hard, though, with the kids.
“I was over at Mindy’s this morning. She invited me for breakfast and then offered to watch Sophia while I brought you a surprise lunch.” She smiled, her expression shy. Was it him or did she grow more beautiful every time he saw her? “I hope you don’t mind.”
“I never mind. You can stop by and see me anytime you want.” He meant that, too. Unwrapping his sandwich, he took a bite, savoring the delicious homemade bread and thick cut turkey that came from the local deli.
“Is it good?”
“It’s great,” he answered after he swallowed, then tore open the small bag of chips that accompanied his sandwich.
“Good. Great.” She shifted in her seat and he wondered if she was nervous. And why. “I have a question to ask you.”
“Go for it.”
“Um.” She nibbled on her lower lip, kept her gaze downcast. “What exactly are you doing for Christmas?”
Warmth suffused him. He hoped she was asking him over. “I usually work.”
“Are you working this Christmas?”
“Actually,” he said, considering, “no. Poor Eric’s on duty.
” They’d tossed a coin and Eric lost, even though Chris could’ve pulled rank.
He liked to play fair. Still, he’d learned long ago to not really like Christmas.
It was all about family togetherness, gift-giving and good will toward men.
He didn’t mind the good will part, but everything else had never really applied to him.
“Would you like to spend Christmas with me—with us? Maybe stay overnight on Christmas Eve so you could be at my house on Christmas morning? Then we’d go over to my parents’ later and have dinner.
The entire family will be there.” She looked hopeful, her pretty green eyes soft, as she stared right at him.
“I would love to,” he said with a smile, and she sent him a relieved one in return. “Are you sure you want me to stay the night?”
Jane nodded. “You’ll enjoy it, I promise.”
“Oh, I know I’ll enjoy it.” He practically leered, earning a blush from Jane at the hidden explicitness behind his words.
“You know what I mean. It’ll be fun, watching the kids see their presents when they wake up, opening them. Helping me set them up the night before.”
“Ah, that’s why you really want me over. So you can put me to work,” he teased.
“Well, I would love your help. Really, I could do it on my own…” She sobered, her expression growing serious. “But I would much rather have you with me, Christian.”
Chris swallowed. Yeah, he needed to get her something special for Christmas, something that showed how much she meant to him.
By extending this offer to him, wanting him to stay the night despite the possible negative reaction from her children, meant a lot to him.
That she would open her home and her family to him when he had nothing—it was like an early Christmas gift.
He needed to give her something amazing in return.
Standing, he went over to her side of the table and dropped a quick kiss to her lips.
“I would be honored to be there,” he said, meaning every word. “And I would love to help.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, leaning up to brush a lingering kiss to his jaw. “I would love your help.”
She might as well have said she loved him, what with the way his heart swelled so much it felt ready to burst.
“You can count on it.”