Special Delivery (Mountain Meadow Homecoming 1)

by Laura Browning

  Jake met his eyes. “The hospital has been busy the past few days.”

  “Yeah.”

  Evan stared once more out the window just as her car stopped at the curb. She came. She was just running late. He was embarrassed by the relief flooding through him. He swallowed to ease the tightness in his throat. “Jenny’s here,” he informed them. “I’ll get the door.”

  Something was wrong. She looked…beaten. He couldn’t think of any other way to describe it as she grabbed her bag from the passenger side and trudged along the walk. He flung open the door, wanting to wrap her in his arms, and knowing it was a right he no longer had.

  “Jenny?”

  When she saw him, her entire demeanor changed. One soft smile and his world shifted. “I’m sorry I’m late.”

  When she reached the top of the steps, he put his arm around her shoulder. “Tough day?”

  “More than you can imagine.” She relaxed against him for just a moment, and he closed his eyes as he inhaled her familiar scent. Feeling the years slip away, he leaned back to grin at her. “We have a surprise for after dinner,” he told her, “but if you’re too tired once you hear what it is, we could volunteer to baby sit and stay behind.”

  She shrugged as if to say it didn’t matter, making Evan wonder if there was more than work bothering her. Her expression was still wary. Jenny was subdued as they all sat to eat, but Holly and Jake’s happiness was catching, and she began to relax. As they finished the meal, Tyler told her his fears of being scrooged to death if they didn’t rectify the situation and decorate. When Holly explained the public-relations aspect to their proposed shopping trip, Jenny finally smiled.

  “I like it, particularly since I heard through the grapevine Jake threatened to punch one of the church ladies in the nose.”

  “Jake,” Holly said. “Can’t you go to hell for that?”

  “It’s far more probable he’d be promoted to archangel, if you ask me,” Evan commented.

  Jenny squeezed his arm. “I would write him a recommendation letter if he took on the church ladies.” She laughed. Her eyes met Evan’s for just a moment, and he smiled at her.

  While Holly nursed, Evan and Jake cleared the table, and Jenny loaded the dishwasher. Tyler was assigned the job of clearing out the back of Jake’s truck so they’d have a place for their purchases.

  * * * *

  Jake glanced from Evan to Jenny, his hands in his pockets. While he wrapped his right hand around the ring box nestled there, he cleared his throat. “Um. If you’ll excuse me for just a minute, I’m going to check on Holly.” When they just grinned at him, he beat a hasty retreat and padded up the stairs.

  Holly was just switching Noelle to her other breast, so Jake lounged in the doorway.

  “I will never tire of watching you with her. You’re a wonderful mother.”

  “You’re prejudiced.”

  Now was his opening. Jake swallowed, crossed the room, and knelt in front of her. His heart beat so hard he was afraid he might choke. He could do this.

  “I look at you and I see the mother of my child. That’s how I see Noelle. I helped bring her into this world. But I see more…a strong woman who refused to let circumstances beat her. I see a woman who’s brought laughter and joy to me and my friends.”

  He stopped for a moment and swallowed. When his eyes met hers, Holly’s lips parted. He wanted to hold onto her and never let her go. He wanted her to stay with him forever.

  “A week, Holly,” he whispered, “and I feel like we’ve already experienced a lifetime. I want a lifetime with you.”

  “Jake?” Holly’s voice shook.

  He dug in his pocket and brought out the small velvet box. Her eyes widened. Noelle had finished nursing, so Jake took her while Holly readjusted her clothing. He put the baby to his shoulder and burped her before settling her in her crib so he could finish what he’d started. When he turned, Holly still held the closed box in her hand. God, he’d never been this nervous in his entire life.

  “Open it,” he urged. “It was my grandmother’s.”

  She flicked the lid back to reveal the sparkle of an emerald ring surrounded by small diamond chips. “It’s beautiful.”

  He brushed her cheek with his fingers. “I could give you candlelight and music at some restaurant. We’ve never even been on a date. But these moments here with you, Noelle, and me will be so fleeting, and they’re so precious. I love you, Holly. I want to marry you just as soon as you say you will.”

  His last words were hoarse, so he cleared his throat, his heart hammering as he waited for her answer. When chagrin flitted over her expression, his breath caught. She was going to say no. And how the hell would he deal with that? He needed to say something. “I know we haven’t known each other long, but I don’t think that will change a thing.”

  “Oh, Jake. I love you. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t want to…but I do. I would marry you tomorrow, but we can’t…you know.”

  He laughed in utter relief. Sex. She was worried about when they could have sex. “How long will it be before we can…?”

  “I’ll have to ask Jenny.”

  Jake’s breath came out on a small, embarrassed huff. “Wow. That is one disadvantage of small-town life. It’s a little awkward to think we have to ask one of my best high school friends when we can make love.”

  Holly giggled. “Put the ring on my finger. Jenny’s a smart woman. She might figure it out if she sees it, so neither one of us will actually have to ask.”

  Jake, not much on long, personal conversations to begin with, grinned. “What a great idea. That’s why I love you.”

  * * * *

  Jenny’s gaze zeroed in on the ring as soon as they came downstairs with Noelle. She caught Jake’s eye, and he couldn’t help the grin on his face, then she spoke to Holly. “The first time you walked into my office Holly, I took one look at you and knew you were perfect for him. And I’m so glad I was right.” She kissed Holly on the cheek then hugged him.

  Jake set her away from him suspiciously. “So the box of food…”

  Jenny blushed. “Was just a way to throw you together.” She grinned at Tyler. “Little did I know Tyler had already accomplished that.”

  The boy grinned and ran forward to hug Jake. “Cool! Does this mean you’ll be my big brother?”

  Jake returned his hug. God, he already loved this kid like the little brother he would soon be. “Yeah.”

  Evan stepped forward, kissed Holly’s cheek and clapped Jake on the back. “Fast work, bro. Didn’t know you had it in you. But you’ve got yourself one fine woman. You’ll have to be sure to tell Sam.”

  Jake met his friend’s gaze and arched one brow. “Am I the only one who’ll have to confess something to Sam?” he inquired.

  Evan’s gaze slid to Jenny. “Maybe not.”

  Tyler bounced around them. “This calls for a celebration. And this time of year that means Christmas decorations…which we don’t have. Cut me some slack here. I’m in fifth grade. Andrew Jones’s house has five lighted reindeer out front, and one even moves its head. I’m losing face.”

  Jake and everyone else stared for a moment, then burst out laughing. Evan hooked an arm around Tyler’s neck. “So you’re saying this is a case of needing to keep up with the Joneses. Would that be correct?”

  Jenny snickered and Holly giggled. Tyler glared at them, then replied, his expression serious. “Yes, sir.”

  “Well, by all means, then.” Jake grinned. “Let’s go shopping.”

  “Never,” Evan drawled, shaking his head as if he were in pain, “did I think I would hear those words come out of your mouth. You are unmanning our entire gender.”

  “Stuff it, Ev. You’ll find out soon enough.”

  They were still laughing as they piled into Jake’s truck. While Holly and Jenny pushed carts, Holly carried Noelle in the sling Jenny had brought her. Lord, Holly was pretty with excitement putting color in her cheeks
.

  Jake trolled behind Evan and Tyler, who were like kids in a candy store, until Holly tugged on his sleeve.

  “Should we be spending this much money?” she whispered, biting her lip and looking at everything in their cart.

  Knowing he could, put a smile on his face mainly because he could do something to make her and Tyler happy. “Don’t worry about it. I have income other than my salary from the town. We can afford it.”

  “Besides,” Evan, who had caught up with them, added, “this is for two houses. Jake and I are going halves, and in case you hadn’t already heard, my family’s loaded.”

  Holly’s eyes rounded and she just laughed as Evan winked at her. With the decorations stashed in the back of the pickup, Jake drove to the Presbyterian Boy Scout Troop’s tree lot. The minister happened to be volunteering, and half the church was there as well. He smiled as he peeked in at the sleeping Noelle, but his eyes settled on Evan and Jenny who stood next to each other behind Jake and Holly. Jake sucked in a deep breath of satisfaction. So the minister saw what he had.

  “The doctor and the lawyer. It’s good to see the two of you. It would be even better to see you in church on Sunday.”

  Evan flushed. “Point taken, Reverend.”

  They decided Evan would buy his tree there, and then they moved two blocks to the Baptist church’s Mission Outreach lot. Jake helped Holly from the truck, his heart beating just a little faster when her eyes widened at the tree selection. She took such pleasure in everything.

  As she cradled Noelle, she tugged Jake’s arm. “Doesn’t this smell fantastic?”

  Pastor Joe approached, looking far more angelic than Jake knew him to be. He arched a brow at Jake before smiling at Holly. “Hi. I’m Pastor Joe. You’re Holly, right? And this must be Noelle.”

  “You know me?” Her eyes widened even more, making Jake chuckle.

  Joe grinned back at her, amusement sparkling in his sky-blue eyes. “Let’s say I’ve already heard of you. Jake and you are the talk of the town.”

  “As I’m all too aware,” Jake said with a grimace. He should be used to the gossip by now, but it sure was harder to take when you were the subject of it. “Joe…uh…plays cards with us sometimes. He’s new around Mountain Meadow, too.”

  “Yep. My first church, but things are working out pretty well.” He glanced at Tyler. “We’re building our youth ministry. I love working with kids.”

  “Reverend Taylor,” a voice Jake couldn’t fail to recognize called from across the lot, “we need your help for just a moment to move a tree.”

  Jake spotted the hostile glare of Betty Gatewood. He smiled, eyes narrowing as he stepped closer to Holly and put his arm around her shoulders. She, bless her heart, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and, knowingly or not, showed off the ring Jake had so recently put there. Joe’s eyes followed the glint.

  “Is that an engagement ring, Miss Morgan?” he asked with a tilt of his head as his amused gaze slid once more to Jake. No doubt about it. Joe would be telling Sam before even Evan could get to the phone.

  Holly blushed. “Yes. Jake asked me to marry him.”

  “Well, congratulations. I love weddings, and I love officiating at them even more. Have you set a date? Maybe before the new year?” Joe smirked as he held Jake’s gaze.

  “No need to rush things,” Jake mumbled and narrowed his eyes to glare at Joe.

  Joe grinned in return. “I’d love to see you Sunday. If you’ll excuse me right now, I better check on my other helpers.”

  The church ladies’ eyes followed them as Holly and Tyler inspected several trees before picking one. Jake leveled a look on the knot of them gathered near the wreaths, but all they did was tighten their circle. Evan bought a pair of wreaths for the double front doors on his house, and then they all piled back into the pickup truck.

  As Jake pulled out of the parking lot, Evan turned in the seat and asked Holly. “So was our combination holiday-shopping-and-public-relations excursion successful?”

  “Oh I think so.” Jake hoped so. And now that he had his ring on Holly’s finger, he’d better hear a whole lot less gossip about her.

  “How are we going to do this?” Jenny asked as they pulled into Jake’s driveway. “It’s almost ten now.”

  “Let’s do Jake’s house tonight and we can decorate mine tomorrow,” Evan suggested. “We can make a party out of it.”

  “All right!” Tyler cheered. “Now you’re getting the idea. It’s Christmastime!”

  Jake and Evan set the tree in Jake’s living room, then satisfied it was straight, they trooped outside to fulfill Tyler’s dearest wish by assembling three lighted reindeer for Jake’s yard and three for Evan’s. Tyler looked so excited, Jake wished he’d thought of decorating sooner.

  The kid stood out on the sidewalk in between both houses. “Three, two, one,” he called. “Light ’em up!”

  Jake and Evan plugged in extension cords and a half dozen glowing reindeer now stood or grazed in the two front yards…and two of them moved. Tyler danced in circles. “Oh! This is so cool, dudes. You got to come see.”

  Jake joined Evan and Tyler on the sidewalk, and they all gazed in an ecstasy of male bonding over their electrical and mechanical feat.

  “He’s right,” Evan said. “That is cool. My dad never let us put fun stuff like this at Richardson Homestead. Too undignified.”

  “Hmm,” Jake agreed. “We never did either. We lived so far off the road, Dad didn’t see the point. Who’d see it? But this is great.”

  “Yeah,” they all said at once and stood for a moment staring at the glittering lighted deer and listening to the faint click and whine of the two moving ones.

  “Who wants hot chocolate?” Jake asked.

  “Me.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Let’s go.”

  * * * *

  Holly’s eyes clouded just a bit as Jake boosted Tyler up so he could top the tree with a glittering angel. The clock in the hallway struck midnight as they all sat back to look at the tree’s bright decorations and sparkling lights.

  Holly sighed as she snuggled against Jake’s chest. A month ago, she’d known she’d have no gifts for Tyler and feared she wouldn’t have a tree. Now everything was different, largely due to the man who had his arm wrapped securely around her. “This is turning into the best Christmas ever.”

  Jake kissed her forehead. Tyler was curled at the other end of the couch, his eyelids drooping. Holly smothered a yawn.

  “It’s late,” Jenny said. “I should get going.”

  Evan stood. “I’ll walk you out.” Holly shifted to show them out, but he held up his hand. “Stay where you are. We’ll see ourselves out. You’re all invited to my place tomorrow. Two o’clock. We’ll decorate then grill steaks.”

  “Grilling in December.” Jenny laughed. “Guys and grills.”

  When the door shut behind them, Jake searched Holly’s gaze before he tilted her chin to kiss her. The shyness was all but gone from his hazel eyes, but oh the heat was there.

  Tyler woke enough to look at the two of them, say, “Eww,” and dash up the stairs to bed. Holly giggled and Jake chuckled, but his laughter stopped when she wrapped her arm around the back of his neck and pulled him down so she could kiss him again.

  “Jenny said since I’m no longer spotting she thought we could be intimate in a couple more weeks.”

  “Mmm.” Jake nuzzled her ear and slid his warm palm along her rib cage under her sweater. Holly loved the feel of his hands, slightly rough but amazingly gentle. She also loved the destination she knew he was heading to. “Did she say anything else?”

  Holly kissed him, tugging at his bottom lip with her teeth. “Yes,” she whispered against his mouth. “She said to be careful because you were a breast man.”

  Jake had just begun to rub the heavy globe of Holly’s left breast and stopped. “I’ll kill her,” he growled.

  “No.” Holly smil
ed. “I like breast men, but only if they’re named Jake.”

  “Are we allowed to play…?”

  Her hand slipped to his belt. “Yes.”

  Jake groaned against her lips, pulling her with him as he lay back on the couch. His erection pressed into her soft belly. For just a moment, she stiffened.

  “Hey.” Jake raised her chin. “Everything okay?”

  This was Jake, Holly reminded herself. Gentle Jake who would never hurt her. The knowledge gave her confidence. She nodded. As he threaded his fingers into her hair, Holly teased his lips with her tongue. He groaned again and held her still as his tongue plundered her open mouth. She tasted chocolate and inhaled the rich male scent of him, the tang of spice and musk all his own.

  Heat pooled between her thighs, setting off a throbbing ache low in her belly, and now she was the one groaning.

  Jake tugged at her sweater, pulling it over her head. His hazel eyes burned dark and hot as they raked over her naked breasts. As his gaze touched her, Holly’s breath escaped in short, shaky gasps. He raised his head and captured one of her nipples between his lips. His suckling sent a shaft of desire to her very core and made her cry out.

  Jake broke contact. “Am I hurting you?”

  “Just the opposite.” She sucked in a shaky breath.

  Her breasts had never been sensitive, but now she was afraid if he touched her again she would go right over the edge.

  “Holly?” he murmured.

  “Do it again.”

  He teased her with the tip of his tongue and then took her once more into his mouth. Holly gasped, clutching his dark hair in her fists to hold him against her. Wave after wave of pleasure crested and crashed over her. Holly bit her lip to keep from crying out as she longed to. She sagged against him, burying her face against his neck. Jake stroked her back with his broad palms while her trembling eased and her breathing returned to normal. Only then did she become aware of his erection still pressing against her.

  She followed instinct as she slid along the couch, her fingers going to the button on his jeans. She slipped it free and unzipped his fly, gazing at him. “Your turn,” she whispered and wrapped her fingers around him.