Chapter 13
Kennedy
My heart clenched at how easily I’d fallen for him. I wanted to see this same image day after day. If only he wanted the same. I shook my head as I grabbed my robe and donned my slippers before quietly leaving the room. I made it to the top of the stairs before another door opened and closed.
“Kennedy,” Harrison whispered.
I grinned as I waited for him to join me on the stairs. “Happy.”
He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed. “Merry Christmas, sis.”
Turning toward his body, I hugged him tightly. He may annoy me most of the time, but I loved him with every ounce of my being. “Merry Christmas, bro. Let’s go get the coffee going.”
“Yeah, I’ll get the oven started for the rolls.”
This had been our routine for the last five or six years.
Though, my parents used to bring a regular coffee pot with them so we didn’t have to use the percolator.
Downstairs, I looked out the kitchen window as I filled a pitcher to pour into the silver contraption.
A light layer of snow had fallen and dusted everything white.
I slowly took it all in, my eyes pausing at the log at the end of the short walkway.
“What the fuck?” I shut the water off and leaned closer to the window, trying to wrap my brain around what I was seeing. “Harrison, come tell me I’m seeing what I think I’m seeing.”
“Is that a fucking gnome?” His eyebrows raised almost to his hairline as he looked at me.
“Let’s go check it out.” I set the water on the counter, setting the coffee-making process aside for a moment.
“How many of them do you think we found as kids?” Harrison asked as he followed me to the wall lined with coats.
I stuffed my slipper-clad feet into a pair of snow boots, wrapped a scarf around my neck, and pulled Jack’s coat on. It was the first one I found.
I laughed. “I’m not sure. Over two dozen at least. Mom refused to let us keep them.” There was no rhyme or reason for when they were found. We never could figure out the pattern. I don’t think there ever was one.
“Wait, you don’t have pants on,” Harrison said as he put on a mismatched outfit of outside wear.
“I’ve got my fuzzy robe on. I’ll be fine for the few minutes we’ll be outside.” I unlocked the door and headed out, Harrison right behind me. I carefully walked to the log. Even though the sidewalk had been shoveled clear yesterday, I knew that with the fresh snow, it could be slick.
“Holy shit.” Harrison burst out laughing as I rounded to the front and found the gnome adorned with a strap-on that seemed to be stuck in the log. Harrison pulled it out, and I couldn’t hold my laugh in. The “dildo” was a small anal plug. We both lost it as we took the statue back inside.
I stomped the snow from my boots, hung everything back up, and returned to preparing the coffee.
“Where should we put it?” Harrison asked, still holding it in his arm like a baby.
I shook my head as a giggle escaped my lips.
“Shh,” Harrison whispered. “We don’t want to wake Gran.”
“Where do you want to put him?” I asked. An idea popped into my head, and I giggled. “Wait, let me take him. He’d be the perfect inspiration for Jack’s books.”
Harrison ran a hand down his face. “I don’t want to know.”
The oven dinged, indicating it had reached the temp he’d set it to. I glanced around the counter, realizing the pan of cinnamon rolls weren’t out.
“Shit, I forgot the rolls.” Harrison opened the fridge and pulled out the extra-large pan of cinnamon rolls. “They’ve gotta sit for at least twenty minutes.”
I nodded. “Thirty would be better.”
Harrison grumbled something I couldn’t make out in reply.
Gran shuffled into the kitchen, and I quickly tossed a towel over the gnome and pushed him into a corner, moving the tea tray out for her.
“Good morning, sweetheart. I see you and your brother are getting breakfast ready.” She pulled her electric kettle toward her.
“Oh, you’ve already filled it.” She scratched her head as she yawned before clicking the on button.
I pulled the Christmas mugs from the cupboard.
Each one had our names on them, and we only used them on Christmas morning.
Happy and I had pointed them out at the Lodge’s gift shop years ago because we rarely found things with Harrison’s name on it.
Gran had found mugs with the rest of our names and bought them all.
We’ve used them ever since. I moved a few regular mugs around to find a general Christmas mug for Jack.
“Morning, Gran.” Harrison kissed her cheek. “I’ve got the cinnamon rolls covered, Kennedy is on coffee duty, and you’ve got the kettle on.” He smiled. “Merry Christmas to my two favorite gals.” He threw an arm around my shoulders and Gran’s.”
Gran patted his chest and moved from under him to put a tea bag in her mug. “Merry Christmas to you too, Harrison.”
Gran turned to look out the window. I saw a ghost of a smile on her lips before she poured hot water over the tea bag and added a teaspoon of sugar and a good dollop of honey. “I think I’ll go sit in my chair and watch the world wake up around us.”
Her smile niggled a small idea in the back of my mind, an image forming of Gran creeping around town as she staged a naughty gnome for the town to find.
I shook my head. It couldn’t have been her.
That was even a bit much for Gran’s pranks, not to mention I remembered being with her when we found one years ago.
There’d been no way for her to stage it and be with me at the same time.
I turned to fill both my and Jack’s coffee cups. I added creamer and sweetener to mine. “I wonder how it got out there.”
Harrison shrugged. “No clue, but it’s fucking hilarious.”
I nodded and took a sip from my mug. “I’m going to check on Jack.” I grabbed his coffee, tucked the towel-covered gnome under my arm, and headed toward the stairs.
“Sis?”
I turned back toward Harrison.
“Jack’s my best friend. If you are what he wants and you want him, I can’t stop you. But if you hurt him, I’ll never forgive you.”
My heart constricted. I didn’t want to ruin the friendship Harrison had with Jack, but I couldn’t back away now. “I understand.” I nodded. “Jack’s different, Happy. I want more with him, and it scares the shit out of me,” I admitted.
“Be honest with him about it. He needs to know how you truly feel.” He crossed his arms. “It’s weird, you two together, but I only want you both to be happy. I’ll come to terms with it. Just don’t fuck things up.”
With his words swirling through my mind, I made my way up to my room.
Slowly, I turned the doorknob so it wouldn’t squeak.
Jack was still knocked out. I quickly placed the gnome on its side, the dildo pointing straight at Jack’s face.
I couldn’t hold back my smile as I placed his coffee on the side table.
I sat on the edge and leaned over, gently moving his tousled hair from his forehead before giving him a kiss there. “Good morning, sunshine,” I whispered and kissed his ear lobe before peppering small kisses down the side of his neck.
“Hmm, now that’s a hell of a way to wake up,” he murmured.
I smiled and sat back, waiting for him to open his eyes.
“Shit!” He pushed away from my pillow. “What the fuck is that?” He turned and sat up.
“Harrison and I found him outside, and I thought he’d be a wonderful inspiration for your writing.” I grabbed his mug and held it out to him. He rubbed his hands roughly over his face before blowing out a breath and taking the coffee from my hands.
“I’m not even going to ask where you found him.” He took a sip, still staring at the statue.
I chuckled. “Oh, that’s the funniest part. His dildo was stuck in a hole in a log outside. We saw him through the kitchen window.”
Jack laughed. “That brings up a whole different view on blue balls,” he said before his gaze shifted back at me.
“Now where’s my Christmas kiss?” His eyes heated with desire.
I saw something more when I stared into their depths, something that had me sucking in a breath of hope.
He set his coffee down and leaned forward.
I met him halfway, and one of his hands gripped the back of my neck, the other the side of my face, as our lips met.
My body lit up when his lips touched mine.
The kiss was gentle, filled with promise, and when his tongue asked for entrance, I greedily opened for him.
He kept the kiss slow and soft. This kiss was more than just a turn-on, more than a hint of how sex would be.
This kiss held a deeper promise of more than just this encounter.
It scared the ever-loving shit out of me, but I was willing to hold onto him for as long as I could.
He touched his nose to mine before pulling back. “Mmm, now that’s the perfect wake-up.”
“I think we need to join everyone else downstairs.” I looked at the clock. “The cinnamon rolls will be going in the oven. Once that happens, Harrison will be itching to open presents.” I smiled.
“Then let’s go. We don’t want to keep Harrison waiting.” He threw back the covers, glorious in his nakedness. His cock was happy to see me too. “You keep looking at me like that, princess, and Harrison will be waiting a long time to open presents.”
Moments later, dressed in his green T-shirt and flannel lounge pants decorated with gifts, Jack grabbed the gnome and his coffee. “Let’s go open presents.” He smiled and hurried down the stairs.
Seeing him happy and excited, almost boyish like, had me falling further for this man who had turned my world upside down in just a few days. I smiled as Harrison and Gran laughed and hooted. I detoured to the kitchen, nuked my coffee for thirty seconds, and joined everyone in the living room.
Harrison pointed. “Your pile is there, next to Gran.”
“You never could wait for everyone,” I teased, smiling at the gifts in front of me. Over the years, the number of gifts decreased, but the memories and time together amounted to more than any gift could.
Harrison opened his gifts first: a cable-knit sweater from Gran and a cocktail smoker kit from Jack, and he laughed when he opened the Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots game from me.
Gran opened Harrison’s present first and found a new robe, with a gift certificate to her favorite seafood restaurant in the pocket.
Mine were next. I was nervous.
Gran’s smile widened when she opened the case of her wine from her favorite vineyard. Next was a small box. Gran pulled out the charm bracelet I hoped she would like. “Oh, Kennedy, it’s gorgeous.”
I had started her collection with a small quill charm, to represent me, and a replica of the mountain house. Tears filled her eyes.
Harrison pointed. “There’s something else in there.”
Gran set the bracelet down and pulled out my note. Her eyes quickly roamed over the words twice before they turned toward me, her tears falling freely. “You’re moving home?”
I nodded. “Yeah, if you’ll have me until I find my own place?”
She held her arms toward me. “Of course, you always have a home with me.” She pulled away, wiping tears away, and glanced at Jack. “Shall you tell them?”
I quirked an eyebrow as I waited for what he had to say. He smiled.
“Well, I gave Gran her present early, but last night I discovered that an idea I pitched to my agent months ago has been accepted. She sent me the offer last night.” He glanced at all of us.
“It’s a series of small-town romances based in Norina.
After all the stories Harrison told me, it seemed only natural to want to capture that essence on the page.
” He paused. “Gran invited me to stay with her while I work on them, and I accepted.”
I gasped. “You’re moving to Norina too?”
“If it’s okay with you, and Gran still has room.” His words were soft as he watched for my reaction.
“Of course I have room!” Gran said.
I grinned. “Yes, yes, it’s okay with me.”
He sat next to me. “Good, now I think it’s your turn to open presents.”
My hand shook as I picked up the first one.
Nerves and excitement at his news rolled within me.
This one was from Jack. I opened it and smiled.
An gift card. The next was from Harrison, and I burst out laughing when I revealed a pristine copy of Perfection, a game that frustrated me to hell growing up.
“It seemed fitting to grab a favorite game from when we were little.” He laughed and held up his game. “Seems you had the same idea.”
“Yeah, but you never got so mad at your game that you threw it at a wall and destroyed it. Then hid all the pieces in a shoebox so our parents wouldn’t find it,” I huffed.
The last present was from Gran, a small box that I gently unwrapped and opened. “Oh, Gran.” I stared at one of her favorite antique cocktail rings. Grandad had given it to her on their third anniversary. I remembered the story well. I couldn’t stop my tears as I glanced up and leaned into her arms.
“Grandad wanted you to have it, and I want you to have it now. Enjoy it while I’m still alive.” She squeezed me. “Now you’ll have a piece of both of us with you at all times.”
I put it on my right middle finger and admired the sparkle of the tiny diamonds and sapphires in its Art Deco design.
“Your turn.” I nudged Jack in the ribs.
“Why do I have four?” he asked.
“I don’t know, just open them,” I replied.
The first he opened was from Harrison, a bottle of hard-to-find whiskey. He raised it in cheers toward Happy. The next was from me. He laughed as he opened it. A pocketknife from the lodge with his name on it.
He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I love it, and it’s very practical.” He tucked it into the pocket of his lounge pants.
The next one he opened was from Gran: a journal, along with a gorgeous fountain pen.
“So you have a fresh start to write all the notes for all the books. Your love for words is rival to Kennedy’s and mine.” She grinned. “Now one more.” She motioned toward the last small box.
He unwrapped it and opened the top, pulling out Christmas mug, matching our set, with his name on it.
I laughed. “Looks like I wasn’t the only one doing some shopping at the Lodge.”
“I didn’t wait till Christmas Eve to do my shopping.” She winked at me and turned her attention to Jack.
“You are family now, Jack, and are always welcome for Christmas in the mountains with us,” Gran said.