Chapter 18
Eighteen
The McKenzie household was jam packed, full of adults and kids alike. Relatives from all over had come for Christmas day, bearing too much food and so many gifts, all of them eager to spend time with the ones they loved.
Chris had never seen anything like it. Thanksgiving had been busy enough, but there were even more people here today. So many names to learn as Jane introduced him to an endless stream of relatives and friends. He simply nodded and smiled. Hoped like hell she’d give him a thorough rundown later.
He’d been wanting to ask Jane to marry him since last night, but they were constantly interrupted and the timing never seemed right. So he waited patiently for the right moment, which felt like it might never come.
At least, not today.
Her parents embraced him as if he were their long lost son.
Her oldest brother Patrick and his wife gave him a hearty greeting.
The only one who still seemed skeptical was Cameron.
But he knew Cam was protective of Jane. Quiet.
He didn’t share much, and he was totally standoffish, but Chris took it in stride.
Jane had explained her brother’s past to him, and he knew the guy had been through a lot as a war photographer in Afghanistan.
“Want something else to eat?” Jane stood before him, beautiful in a simple forest green dress that brought out the color of her eyes. Her cheeks were flushed and the smile she wore reminded him of an angel. She was happy, completely in her element.
He loved seeing her like this.
Groaning, he shook his head. “I’m stuffed.” He’d eaten enough to feed three men. And considering how nervous he was, that had been a mistake.
“Don’t let my mom hear you. She might get offended.” With a laugh, she scampered off, stopping to listen to Lyssa compliment her on the apron she had made her for a gift.
Pride flowed through Chris. Jane had admitted she’d secretly worked for weeks on those aprons, and they were turning out to be the hit of the day.
The women loved them and all the little girls whined over not receiving one.
When Jane had confessed on the ride over that she was seriously thinking of pursuing a small business creating them, he’d encouraged her.
How could he not? All he wanted was for Jane to be happy.
Getting up from his spot on the couch, he limped through the crowded house, wishing for some fresh air.
He needed a few moments alone. The little box burned a hole in the front pocket of his jeans and he wanted to ask her, but not yet.
Not here. He prayed that when he finally did ask her, Jane would say yes.
If she didn’t…hell. He couldn’t think like that. Not now. It was Christmas, for the love of God.
He stepped outside onto the patio, breathing deep the icy cold air. Clouds hung low, the sky darkening as the day ended. Broadcasters predicted snow and Chris figured they were right on the money.
“You’re in love with Jane.”
Chris turned at the sound of Mac’s voice to find his friend standing with his brother Cameron, the both of them with scowls on their faces.
Chris swallowed hard. “I am. And she’s in love with me.”
The two shared a look before Mac spoke again. “You haven’t been together very long.”
“Long enough.”
“Mac has filled me in on you two.” Cam’s voice was deep and low. Slightly intimidating. But Chris was prepared, and he knew he could withstand an inquisition. “Sounds like there’s been a lot of indecision going down.”
“I love her and want what’s best for your sister,” Chris said. “Jane means the world to me, and so do her children.”
“She’s been through a lot. Too much.” The look on Cameron’s face was pained, and it touched Chris. He clearly loved his sister. “I don’t want to see her suffer any more.”
“I promise I will take care of her for the rest of my life.” He reached inside his front pocket and pulled out the box. “I plan on asking her to marry me.”
Both men’s gazes widened. “Holy shit,” Mac whispered. “Really?”
“Don’t sound so surprised.” Chris laughed nervously. “I love her. I can’t imagine my life without her.”
Cam watched him, his gaze unflinching, for long, quiet seconds until he finally nodded. “Think she’ll say yes?”
“I hope so,” Chris muttered.
“Then what are you waiting for?” Cam asked. “Maybe you should go find her and ask her right now.”
Chris swallowed hard, shoving the box back into his front pocket. “Right now? Are you serious?”
Cam shrugged. “It would certainly prove how much you care for her. Having the balls to ask her to marry you in front of the entire family? That’s a bold move, man.”
“Cam—” Mac started but something on Cam’s face seemed to silence him.
“I think she’d appreciate the gesture,” Cam continued, his expression dead serious.
It didn’t sound like something Jane would encourage, but then again, this was her big brother talking. Wouldn’t he know? “I’m not sure I can do it right now.”
“Your call, man.” Cam paused, his green eyes, so very similar to Jane’s, felt like they were seeing right through him. “You’d put all the rest of us to shame, proposing on Christmas day.”
That didn’t sound so bad. After all, it was Jane’s favorite holiday. “I might…”
What could pass for a smile curled Cam’s mouth. “Good. She’d definitely say yes, especially in front of the whole family.”
Shaking his head, Mac went to Chris and embraced him quickly, giving him a slap on the back before he pulled away.
“You’re much braver than me, man. No way can I imagine asking a woman to marry me in front of my entire family on Christmas.
I can’t even ask a chick if she wants to come to my parents’ house for dinner. ”
Both brothers laughed, but Chris just smiled. They’d get their turns someday. “This is quite the event. You have a ton of family.”
“More are here than usual, to see Cam and Jane,” Mac said. “Neither of them have been around much for a big family holiday. Jane was still recovering from her injuries last Christmas and Cam was out of the country.”
An extra-large crowd to witness his asking Jane to marry him—not intimidating at all. Chris swallowed hard, then tugged at his shirt collar. Despite the coldness in the air, he started to sweat.
Could he handle this? Or would it be too much pressure?
Maybe he should wait till this evening when they were alone before he proposed.
But he wanted her to know how much she meant to him, how much he loved her.
Wouldn’t a grand gesture like asking her to be his wife in front of her family on Christmas day be the mother of all grand gestures?
Hell. He didn’t know what to do.
Christian had been acting weird, ever since dinner. She wondered if he didn’t feel well but didn’t know how to tell her. Maybe they should leave early so they could go back home and relax without all the chaos around them.
But when Jane went searching for Chris throughout the house, she couldn’t find him. Pausing in her search, she found her sister talking to Chloe, who had stopped by on her way home from her own family festivities.
“Have you seen Chris?” Jane asked.
Mindy shrugged. “No, but who could find anyone in this crowd?”
“I saw him. He went outside, and Mac and Cam followed after him.” Chloe’s cheeks turned bright pink. “I was by the back door and saw them all together.”
Hmm. Jane wondered at that. She knew Chloe had a crush on Cameron long ago, but did it still linger? She seemed to take extra care in keeping tabs on Jane’s brother.
But then another thought invaded her brain. Poor Chris was outside alone with her two brothers? That couldn’t be good. They were probably drilling him, making sure he’d do right by her, and all that macho brotherly nonsense they loved to spout.
She appreciated their concern and love, but they could also be super intimidating.
“I really should go rescue him.” Jane started for the back door. “Before they scare him to death.”
“He’s right there.” Mindy grabbed hold of Jane’s upper arm and steered her around so she could spot Chris as he worked his way through the crowd of relatives. “And he’s coming right for you.”
“Hey,” he said as he approached, stopping to stand directly in front of her. He grabbed hold of her hand. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
She sent a fleeting look to her sister and friend, who both smiled their encouragement for her to go with Chris.
He led her into the living room, close to the fireplace, where her dad had made a quick announcement not fifteen minutes ago that dessert was going to be served soon.
It was a busy spot, not quiet at all, and she wondered what he might be doing.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Chris glanced around, his movements jerky. “I need to talk to you.”
“Now?” Like they’d have any privacy? The place was a mob scene. She’d never seen so many of her relatives all together before besides at her, Patrick’s, or Mindy’s weddings, and the group had grown over the years with other marriages and children galore.
Besides, she knew Chris wasn’t completely comfortable yet with the crowd that was her family.
“Yeah.” He gave her a crooked smile and her heart cracked wide open. “It’s kind of important.”
“All right,” she said slowly, surprised that he’d raised his voice. Like he wanted to be heard.
“I never gave you a Christmas gift,” he started, but she interrupted him.
“Yes, you did.” She glanced around, noticing that more than a few people had stopped to watch them, including Mac and Cameron, who had an extremely smug expression on his face. “You’re my gift,” she whispered.
Chuckling, he reached into the front pocket of his jeans, and held out a small black velvet box. “Open it.”
Her heart thundered in her ears but she still heard the soft gasps emanating from the increasing crowd that gathered around them. She took the box he offered and opened it with trembling fingers, a soft sigh escaping her at the sight of the diamond engagement ring nestled inside.
It was round, sparkly, perfect. She pulled it from the box and held it between two fingers. Chris snagged it and carefully went down on one knee before her, his warm gaze meeting hers.
“Jane, will you be my wife? Will you and Lexi, Logan, and Sophia live with me so we can be a family? Together?”
The entire room was rendered silent. Even the children had stopped talking and running around as they all watched Chris ask her to marry him.
She couldn’t believe he was doing this in front of everyone.
He wasn’t used to having such a big family, and he’d even confessed that being around her family at Thanksgiving had been a bit overwhelming.
So for Chris to ask her to marry him in front of the entire clan was momentous.
Huge.
“I asked your parents’ permission earlier. They approve,” he whispered as he slowly rose to his feet, his hand still clutching hers. “Your brothers do too.”
“Give the man an answer,” Cameron shouted from the back of the room.
She laughed. And cried, all at once as her gaze met Chris’s. “Oh, yes,” she said on a sob, throwing herself into his arms. He hugged her close before moving her away, chuckling when he slipped the ring on her finger. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, Jane.” He pulled her back into his embrace, smoothing his hands up and down her back. “I’m always here for you, sweetheart. No matter what.”
“I know.” She glanced up at him and drew her hand across his cheek, savoring his closeness, his scent, the way he watched her, all the love and desire and want that glowed in his eyes.
Lowering her voice, she whispered, “You should’ve done this later, though, when we were at home.
You didn’t need to make this into such a big deal. ”
“Freaking Cam,” Chris muttered and she gasped, glancing in her big brother’s direction. His face had Gotcha written all over it.
Not that she was complaining. After all, Chris had just asked her to be his wife.
Everyone burst into applause and shouts of happiness as they suddenly swarmed around them. Her mother rushed toward her first, yanking Jane into her arms and holding her close.
“You got a good one,” Lydia whispered, kissing her cheek. “Don’t let him go.”
Jane cried even harder, overwhelmed with happiness. Mac grabbed her kids and brought them to her and Chris. They all embraced, even Lexi, who smiled and said she was happy, though Jane knew this wouldn’t be the end of that particular challenge.
But everything was going to be all right. They could get through this. She had Chris by her side, supporting her. Loving her.
And that was all that mattered.
“Are you happy?” he asked her much, much later, when they were back at her place, in bed. Alone. Outside, snow fell, already forming a thick layer on the ground, and the children were snug asleep in their rooms
“Yes.” She drew her fingers down his bare chest , careful of his ribs. He was still a bruised-up mess. “I still can’t believe you did that.”
“I can’t, either.” He chuckled. “I wanted to prove how much you mean to me. And I wanted your entire family to share in our happiness. Oh yeah, and Cam made me do it.”
She lifted up on one elbow, smiling at him. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. Though my brother is a complete jerk.”
Reaching out, he cupped her cheek, his touch gentle. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Leaning in, she kissed him. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For my gift. For you.” She kissed him again. “For everything.”
“You are my everything,” he whispered against her lips. “Don’t ever forget it.”
She knew, without a doubt, she wouldn’t.
Want to read Cameron McKenzie’s story? Keep scrolling to read the first chapter for That One Summer, available now!