This Christmas (10 page)

“I doubt that. You left because you got some other girl pregnant. How many others have there been?”

Jake felt every muscle in his jaw tighten. Where the hell was this guy getting his information? It wouldn’t be a good idea to deck Bree’s dad, but Jake wouldn’t be painted as some womanizing dirt bag when that wasn’t the case. It may have been short, but the conversation was over. Jake stood, straightened his cuffs and gave Ed Gervais a few things to think about. “I’m not who you think I am, Dr. Gervais. I’m going to chalk up what you just said to me as a case of misinformation. You don’t like me? Fine. You don’t trust me? That’s unfortunate. However, I’m in Charlie’s life and I’m not going anywhere.”

“You have a lot of nerve.”

“You have no idea. We’re done here. I’m taking my daughter to the game and she’ll be home later.”

Jake stormed out of the office, raging inside. Who did Bree’s dad think he was dealing with? He wasn’t some kid who was going to wet his pants and run. Jake heard footsteps racing toward him and he looked up to see Bree.

“Oh God. I’m so sorry I was late. I could have stopped whatever happened. Whatever he said...”

“You mean the lies he has in his head about me, about us?”

“Lies? What do you mean?”

He stepped close, crowding her. “I can’t go into it now, but you and I will talk later. Just remember you were the one who kept her from me Sabrina. You. Tell your Mom and Dad to stand down.”

She didn’t say anything; she didn’t move at all.

“I’m going to take Charlie. The game is at five so I should have her home around nine. Then we’ll straighten this all out.” He’d only taken a few steps when she snapped back.

“You can’t order me to ‘talk this out’, Jake.” He stopped and caught her defiance when he glanced over his shoulder. “There’s nothing to talk about if you think so little of me.”

“No, I can’t. But trust me; it would be much better for us to settle things between us than for me to call my attorney. Don’t you think?”

Jake didn’t wait for her to say anything else; he went to the living room where Charlie was sitting her hands folded and her head down. “Please don’t fight,” she whispered.

Damn. Right there, one look at his sad child and he was gut-punched. This kid had a way of tearing his heart out. Jake hadn’t even known about her for twenty four hours, but she meant everything to him. “I’m sorry,” he said going to her. “Mom and I still have to get used to everything that’s happened. It’s going to be hard sometimes.”

“Charlie,” he heard Bree behind him. Damn, even her voice affected him. He hated how pissed he was. All he wanted was to hold her. “We’ll work it out. And we’ll try not to fight, okay?”

Charlie went to her mother and the two of them, so much alike, held each other tight. All Jake could think was that those were his girls. His.

“Let’s get your coat on so you can go,” Bree wouldn’t look at him, at all, putting all the focus on Charlie who left the room to get her coat.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you,” Jake began. “I know what your dad said wasn’t your fault.” It was the best he was going to give as far as apologies went, even though he was certain she hadn’t fed her dad lies about him, he was still pissed.

“Don’t threaten me with a lawyer again. We can work everything out between us without this getting nasty.”

“Okay.”

“Okay? Really?”

“I was pissed and I took it out on you. I shouldn’t have.”

Bree sat on the sofa, looking like a slightly bigger version of Charlie, resting her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. “God, this is such a mess. I made such a mess of everything.”

Jake felt his chest tighten as he looked at her. Bree was trying to be strong, but she was hurting and he wanted nothing more than to take her mind off her troubles. Wary, he sat next to her and gently reached around her back and let his hand settle on her shoulder. It was the only thing he could think of to do. They’d always found comfort in the other’s arms, and there was no reason to think, even with all the baggage, that would change.

She didn’t cry. Bree was too tough to cry, but there was a little tremor when she drew a deep breath, and Jake could tell she was using all her energy to hold herself together.

“I know your family is doing Christmas baking, and I have a feeling it’s kind of a big deal, based on the crowd, but if you want to come to the game, get away from here for a bit, you can. It’s not like there’s a limit on the number of people I can bring.”

She let out a long breath, sat straight, and stretched. Bree worked hard to put on a happy face. “I’m fine. You and Charlie go and have a good time. I’ll see you later.”

“Are you sure? It might be fun.”

Jake didn’t think he said anything out of the ordinary, but something in her changed. Her expression went soft, vulnerable, and as her eyes travelled over his face and settled on his mouth, Jake’s body reacted.

It could have been the adrenaline that came from being so angry that got him worked up, or the way her tongue darted out of her mouth, or her scent, which was filling him up. But Jake figured just being close to her, knowing she might need him, was enough to trigger his own want.

But damn, she had to stop looking at him like she wanted him to kiss her until they both couldn’t breathe.

Bree trailed her fingers over his shoulder and down his arm, squeezing his hand before letting go. The move was harmless, innocent... and it finished him.

But he couldn’t let her know.

“B
ree, you’re making me nervous!” Kara chided. “Stop pacing.”

Sabrina stopped by the window that faced the front of the property, peered out, and then turned to look at her friends lounging around her bedroom. They’d had a full day of baking, a great dinner courtesy of her mother and Aunt Joann, and now Sabrina and Kara, Cass, and Jade were camped out in her room in yoga pants and sweatshirts, eating ice cream straight from the pint. They used to do the same when they were teenagers, but now they made sure they had a good wine to accompany the ice cream.

Cass admired the ruby liquid in her glass and smiled. “Who’d have thought that you could pair Ben and Jerry’s with a good Shiraz?”

Jade wrinkled her nose and shook her head before taking a sip. “Some dark chocolate, yes. Ice cream... I dunno about that.”

Kara rolled over on her side and tucked a pillow against her. “I miss wine.”

“Can you have wine after you have the baby?” There was real pity in Cass’s voice. She’d probably die without her favorite red blend.

“Not if I’m nursing, right, Bree?”

“Yeah. No wine.”

Cass groaned. “It sounds like torture.”

Bree smiled, perching herself on the window seat that had been her comfort spot for the last twenty-nine years. Her eyes focused on a distant point, and she thought about Jake looking at the same spot last night, wondering about the Holly Point Lighthouse. Bree hated that the light had gone out, that there wasn’t enough money to keep that very special part of the town’s history alive and bright for the future.

Nothing had felt the same since it had gone dark.

Her thoughts drowning out the conversation behind her, Bree continued to watch for Charlie, and her friends stood by, offering what support they could. Sabrina did appreciate they were there, she wouldn’t expect anything less from them. The Christmas season around her house was madness, and there was always a clutch of people coming or going. Sabrina loved the activity and when Charlie was little, the season was even more magical than it was now. But Bree was a nervous wreck and as much as she loved her girlfriends, she wished they’d all just leave her alone.

“I should have gone with them,” she mumbled.

“Are you insane?” Cass asked. “Why would you want to be alone in the car with him for an hour each way?”

“Not alone,” Bree said. “Charlie would be there.”

“Right, and do you know what would happen? You’d get all weepy, because it would feel like the family you thought you’d have with him and, honey...” Cass sat on the other end of the window seat. “I know this is going to sound mean, but you’re
not
a family. You put all your faith in him, but he left and didn’t come back.”

Damn, that
was
harsh.

“I’m aware of that.” Bree blinked hard. “Thanks.” Cass’s words were enough to bring every emotion she’d been tamping down right to the surface. Her trembling jaw told her she was close to losing it.

“I think you believe there might be a chance with him. And there’s not.”

“Right, no chance. Got it,” Bree choked out.

God help her, Sabrina loved Cass. She did. But not so much at that moment. Why would Bree think there was a chance with Jake when he was ready to let her have it for what her father said to him that afternoon? No, Jake was no fan of hers.

Cass slumped down and played with the drawstring on her sweatshirt. “I didn’t mean it like it came out.”

“Then how did you mean it? Did you forget to put some snotty aside in there, so I’d know just how stupid you think I am?”

Jumping up like she’d been slapped, Cass reeled at the comment. “I didn’t say you were stupid!”

“You didn’t have to, it came through loud and clear.”

“Bree, she didn’t,” Jade, the eternal peacemaker, stepped in.

“You all think I’m an idiot, is that it? Because why? Because you think I’m still in love with him?”

Kara rested her head on her hands. “Are you?”

“NO! No, I’m not.” Bree pulled her legs up and looked away from them.

“Okay,” Jade said quietly. “You’re not.”

“I’M NOT! Oh, my God. I’m going to wait downstairs.”

“You just don’t want to face it,” Cass snapped. “I get how you feel. I know how it feels to have your heart broken.”

Bree felt every nerve go raw. “You don’t know
anything
.” The tears burned her eyes because her friends saw right through her, but she wasn’t about to let go of the lie she didn’t love Jake, because the truth hurt too much. “Unless you’ve been left like I was, terrified and pregnant, dying a little every day, you don’t know anything.”

“I know more than you think, and I don’t want you to be hurt again.”

“Well, what do you think you’re doing now?
You’re
hurting me.”

“Bree,” Jade said. “Take it easy.”

Just as she was about to respond, Sabrina saw a pair of headlights out on the road turn into the driveway. “They’re back.”

She was out of the room like a shot, pushing her friends out of her head and wanting to hear everything that happened at the game. Bree opened the front door and saw Jake, no jacket on, reaching into the car to gather a sleeping Charlie in his arms. Just like a dad.

The muscles in his broad back strained his dress shirt, moving like a wave. Bree remembered what he felt like under her hands when she held him close and, even more, when he held her. How she felt safe and loved.

When he turned, their eyes met and everything inside her lit up just like the Christmas tree in their living room. He’d been back in her life for twenty-four hours, but her feelings for him were just as strong as the day he’d left. Maybe even stronger because of Charlie. He didn’t move for a second and then came up the front steps with their sleeping daughter nestled against his chest. It was the most natural and beautiful thing she’d ever seen. He was a big man, strong and physical, but his hold on his child was gentle, and Bree felt her heart break because of all the time he’d lost with his baby.

“Are you crying?”

His words surprised her. Was she? She touched her face, feeling the wetness there, and nodded. It had been a rough day and the scene with her friends had really upset her. But all she could really focus on was her sleeping baby with her daddy and how guilty she felt.

“I’m so sorry, Jake.” Running her hand over Charlie’s head, her hair soft and silky to the touch, Sabrina didn’t know if she could apologize enough. “I’m so sorry.”

He swallowed hard, obviously feeling regrets himself, but if that was the case, he wasn’t telling her. He also wasn’t casting blame and that almost made her feel worse. Once they were inside, she wanted to be in his arms, to feel safe as he surrounded her. Reality hit like a bucket of cold water.
God, her friends were right
.

The attraction she felt for Jake wasn’t superficial or merely physical. Bree still had serious, deep feelings for him.

“Where’s her room.” Jake didn’t want to let go. He was going to hold his little girl until the last second.

“Upstairs. Second floor, second door on the right.”

He smiled. It was a real honest to goodness smile. “Ladies first.”

To the best of her knowledge, Jake had never been up to these rooms before. Maybe he’d been here with Ryan back in the day, but she didn’t think so. He followed her closely, his body ridiculously near to hers. Once they were in Charlie’s room, he set his girl gently on the bed. “She had a lot of fun. So did I.”

Charlie was sitting up, but she was swaying so much, Bree sat next to her to keep her from toppling over. “Oh, my gosh. She’s so tired,” Bree chuckled. “I guess you two really must have had a good time.” Leaning forward, she took off Charlie’s shoes and then looked up at Jake. “Can you give me a hand?”