A Home for Christmas

by Vaughn, Ann

  “And then you fill in on the Springfield SWAT team on occasion,” she said, her voice soft.

  “Yes.”

  “It scares me, Riley, I won’t lie. To know you put your life on the line like that? It terrifies me.”

  “It’s what I do. And I am good at it.”

  “Will you continue to do it now?”

  He was quiet a moment. This was the conversation he knew they needed to have but wasn’t looking forward to.

  “Now that we’re together?” he asked.

  “Yes…now that Cam and I are in your life.”

  “Are you asking me not to?”

  She turned in his arms then so she could look into his eyes.

  “I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “You survived the horrors of war, and I know you are highly trained and good at what you do. It’s my right, as someone who cares for you, to worry about you, to be selfish enough to want you to have a desk job and be home with me every night. But at the same time, I wouldn’t change you or ask you to give up what you love.”

  Just as she most likely gave Wade the room to pursue what he loved, Riley thought. He drew her back into his arms, kissing her.

  “I’ll look into scaling back,” he said, “how would that be?”

  “You would do that?” she asked, her voice suddenly thick with emotion.

  “You’d be surprised what I would do for you, Jenna,” he said, surprising himself with the admission.

  Jenna smiled and he thought it was the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen.

  “You like me,” she sing-songed, her eyes full of laughter.

  He cupped her face in his hands, kissing her until she was breathless and clinging to him.

  “Yeah, baby, I like you,” he whispered. “I might even be falling in love with you,” he said, wiping the smile completely off her face.

  “What?” she asked, shocked down to her core.

  “You heard me.”

  “Yes, I did…and I fell for you the minute you included my son in your plans to get to know me.”

  “You’re a package deal. I get that. And spending time with Cam is not a hardship. I enjoy being around him.”

  Tears began spilling down her cheeks, her whole body trembling. She knew that he liked Cam but to hear it! She threw her arms around his neck and held him tight, letting her tears fall freely.

  “Didn’t mean to make you cry,” he said softly, returning her embrace.

  “There’s no falling involved with me, Riley,” she managed, her lips against his ear. “I love you.”

  Chapter Nine

  After Jenna’s admission, Riley had to choke back tears of his own, and held her tight in his arms to keep her from seeing that his eyes were misty. When they’d both calmed down, they got out and went back to bed, finally falling asleep in each other's arms. Having Jenna’s love meant everything to him. He could definitely see a future for the three of them.

  He woke that morning to the smell of breakfast cooking. Getting up, he pulled his clothes on and went into the kitchen, a bit bleary-eyed but smiling when he saw her flipping pancakes. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her where her shoulder met her neck.

  “Good morning, beautiful.”

  She looked over her shoulder at him, kissing him. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

  “I did, yes,” he said, sneaking a piece of bacon and dashing away when she tried to swat at him for stealing.

  “You’re as bad as Cam,” she laughed. “Sit down and I’ll fix your plate.”

  “I can fix my own, Jen,” he said.

  “I know. Sit.”

  He shook his head and crossed to the bar to sit, but stopped when something outside caught his eye. There was a black sedan parked across the street and a man sat in the front, a camera trained on her house. Not wanting to alarm her, he told her he needed something from his truck and went out the front door. As soon as he stepped outside, the man pulled the camera back and took off. Riley noted the license plate number but also noted that it was a rental car. Alarmed, he pulled his phone out and checked for any messages from Colt. He had a feeling whatever the man was doing there, had something to do with Wade Blackwell. Seeing what Colt had uncovered, he felt his suspicions were confirmed.

  He pulled up Colt’s number and called him.

  “What’s up, Blondie?” Colt asked.

  “I just chased someone with a telephoto lens camera from the front of Jenna’s house. Something Blackwell is into looks to be leaking over to her.”

  “What do you need?”

  “I’m not sure. Run Jenna’s info. Let’s make sure there’s nothing there. I may need a team to shadow her. Make sure she’s safe.”

  “I’m on it. I’ll have her info to you within the hour.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  He ended his call with Colt then called Mike.

  “Hey, buddy. I need your help. Can you come back to Springfield?”

  ***

  Jenna looked out the window when Riley didn’t immediately come back in and saw him on the phone. The look on his face concerned her. He looked worried. And he was barefoot outside in the cold with no jacket, the mother in her noted. She went to the door and opened it. He looked up when he heard the door open and winked at her, but she could tell he was still worried.

  “Riley?” she asked.

  “Be there in just a minute,” he told her. “No, I want a twenty-four hour watch. Covert. Yeah. Thanks, Whit. Yeah. See ya.”

  “Everything OK?” she asked when he came back in.

  “Yeah. Just work. Breakfast ready?”

  She eyed him a minute not sure he was being entirely truthful with her.

  “Yes. On the bar.”

  He crossed to the sink and turned the water on, washing his hands, but she noticed his eyes kept cutting over to the windows, scanning. When he dried his hands and crossed by her on his way to the bar, she caught his arm to stop him.

  “What’s going on, Riley? I’m a mother, remember? Can’t pull stuff over on me.”

  He placed a hand on her cheek and leaned down to kiss her. “It’s just work.”

  “Do not patronize me, Riley Stanton,” she snapped, eyes narrowed. “Something has you worried. Your eyes keep scanning outside.”

  He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “There was a car outside and a man taking pictures with a telephoto lens.”

  “Paparazzi,” she said, not even alarmed.

  “What?”

  “We get them every once in a while. Wade is a big deal at times.”

  He considered her words. Maybe it was just paparazzi out to catch a glimpse of Blackwell’s family. Somehow he didn’t think that paparazzi would have hightailed it when he stepped outside.

  “Hopefully, that’s all it was, but I don’t want to take any chances.”

  She nodded. “OK. See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

  “Old habits die hard.”

  “Relationships are a two-way street, my friend. You’ve told me I don’t have to go it alone. Goes for you, too.”

  He smiled and kissed her. “I hear you. I’m sorry I tried to keep it from you.”

  She smiled up at him. “There may be hope for you yet, Stanton.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” he said, sitting on a stool at the bar. “This looks good, babe.”

  “This is better than good, my friend. Guarantee it.”

  He laughed then took a bite. “OK. You’re right. These are awesome.”

  “Told ya. I need to go Christmas shopping today since Cam isn’t here. Come with me?”

  He groaned. “Seriously? Shopping?”

  “Yes. Tis the Season.”

  He chuckled. “I’ll go anywhere with you, beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” she said, leaning over to kiss him.

  “So, what else are you getting him other than the PlayStation?”

  “Some clothes. Headphones. A few games. Then I have to get somethi
ng for my parents and my sister, Jackie.”

  “You have a sister?”

  “Older sister. She lives in New York, works for a magazine.”

  “Not close to her?”

  “No, we are. Just don’t get to see her that often.”

  “It’s been two years since I’ve seen my brothers. Between their tours and mine we just never could get together at the same time.”

  “That stinks. I see Jackie every Christmas for sure. Then it just depends on when she can get away.”

  “You never go visit her?”

  “Never have time. Being a small business owner has its perks but it also has its drawbacks. Time off is scarce.”

  He studied her a moment before turning back to his food.

  “Do you like cleaning houses?”

  She shrugged. “It’s not my favorite thing in the world, but it’s not so bad. The houses that I do myself are easy. It’s helped me get back on my feet after Wade and kept me from having to go back to my parents with my tail tucked between my legs.”

  “Your relationship with your parents really that bad?”

  “It’s complicated. They love me, and I love them, but my plans for my life didn’t mesh with theirs.”

  “Because of Wade?”

  She nodded. “Wade and Cam. My mother was never a fan of Wade's, but she thought I should turn the other cheek where Wade’s infidelities were concerned. Stand by your man, no matter what, because a divorce equals failure…but that’s not me. I wasn’t going to live my life like that; and I was so scared that he had given me some kind of disease. I went for every test in the book. Thank God he hadn’t. But it made me paranoid. No way in heck I was going to go down that road again. And don’t get me wrong, I got plenty lonely these last five years, but until you came along, there was no one I was ever even tempted to get close to. Not after what Wade put me through.”

  He finished his food and got up to put his plate in the sink. When he came back, he stood on the opposite side of the bar from her, arms folded over his chest.

  “I wanted to talk to you about Wade, Jen…I had my guys run a background check on him. He’s gotten into drugs, and he’s gotten into gambling, and he’s starting to get in over his head with both.”

  She closed her eyes a moment, shaking her head. “I wish I could say I’m surprised, but I’m really not. Ever since his career took off, he’s changed. He’s gotten caught up in the glitz and glamour of being a celebrity. When the movie deal came a couple of years ago…”

  “He made a movie?” Riley asked, shocked.

  She smiled. “He had a bit part in a Presley Preston movie. But he’s done motorcycle stunt work in a handful of movies and TV shows and made cameo appearances on a few shows as well.”

  “I’m concerned that his activities are starting to spill over onto you.”

  “The man out front?”

  “Yeah…and Wade showing up here that day. You do know he was stoned out of his mind that day, right?”

  “I was pretty sure…another reason why I don’t want him around Cam too much, and that makes me sad because he has hurt his son to the point that I don’t think he will ever be able to repair the damage.”

  Riley nodded. “I wasn’t sure if you realized that he was under the influence that day.”

  “I was with Wade for eight years before we split up. I can pretty much tell when he’s impaired.”

  “Good.”

  She got up to clear her own dishes, smiling when he came up behind her trapping her between his body and the sink. His hands began massaging her shoulders and neck, making her moan in appreciation.

  “That feels so good,” she told him, closing her eyes.

  “You seemed a little tense.”

  “Did I?” she asked, her head falling back against his chest.

  “I know a really great way to relieve stress,” he said, his lips against her ear.

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Mmm, yeah,” he said, fingers curling into the waistband of her yoga pants, pushing them down her thighs and then completely off.

  “Riley,” she gasped, feeling him remove his own pants.

  “Keep your hands on the counter,” he told her, pushing her slightly forward to enter her from behind.

  “Yes! Riley!” she cried, arching her back and pushing against him.

  “That’s it, baby, move with me,” he encouraged.

  Jenna held tight to the edge of the sink, meeting him stroke for stroke until she was trembling with need. Riley found his moments later, then partially collapsed against her, his hands covering hers on the counter.

  “I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll ever have my fill of you,” he confessed.

  “I hope you never do,” she said, looking over her shoulder to kiss him.

  “We’d better get going if we’re going to go shopping today,” he said, handing her pants back to her.

  “Mm, yes, we should.”

  “And I need to go by my place to get a change of clothes.”

  She smiled. “I get to see your place?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah…though it isn’t mine, it’s Jack’s.”

  “You live with your brother?”

  “I’m house-sitting.”

  “You haven’t gotten a place of your own yet?”

  “Not yet. When I first came back, Trevor needed me to stay at his place. Then Jack wanted me to stay at his. So, now I rotate between the two. No need for me to get my own place just yet.”

  “I guess not,” she said, but still found it a bit sad that he didn’t have a home of his own.

  “What?” he asked, picking up on her tone.

  “Well…I guess I’m a little sad that you don’t have a place of your own.”

  He chuckled. “No need to feel sad. When Jack gets out in another few months, I’ll find my own place.”

  She looked up at him. “Or, you’ll move in here,” she said.

  “Maybe so," he confirmed, "Come on, get a move on. Places to go. Shopping to do.”

  Jenna laughed. “Yes, much shopping to do. Let’s go!”

  Chapter Ten

  Shopping with Riley was an event in and of itself. Jenna couldn’t remember ever enjoying shopping more. Unlike in the past when Wade went with her, Riley didn’t just follow her around and then stand around looking bored. He asked questions. He made suggestions. He offered honest opinions about what she was choosing. The bottom line was that he just flat out paid attention to her, something that Wade rarely did, even when things were good in their relationship.

  She’d just finished paying for some shirts for Cam when her phone rang. Pulling it from her purse, she saw that it was Wade. Glancing at Riley, she raised the phone to her ear.

  “What do you want?”

  “Where are you?” he snapped.

  “Hello to you, too.”

  “Dammit, Jenna, I’m not in the mood for your shit. I’m at your house. Where the hell are you?”

  “Wade. Go home.”

  “It’s my weekend with Cam.”

  “Oh, my God, really? You’re really going to try to play that card?”

  “What’s going on?” Riley asked, concerned.

  She covered the mouthpiece and looked up at him. “Wade is at the house. He says it’s his weekend with Cam and he wants to know where we are.”

  “Let me see it,” he said, his voice low and soft.

  “Who are you talking to?” she heard Wade bark out.

  Jenna rolled her eyes and handed Riley the phone, finding an empty bench just outside the store they exited.

  “I asked you a question, Jenna,” Riley heard Wade growl when he put the phone against his ear.

  “And I believe I made it clear to you the other day that she doesn’t answer to you,” Riley said, his voice low and menacing.

  “Butt out. This is between Jenna and me.”

  “When you speak to her as disrespectfully as you just were, then I become involved. Your days of pushing her around are over. And
you don’t just show up and demand to see Cam. You call and clear it with Jenna first. You forfeited this “it’s my weekend” crap when you failed to see your son for the last six or seven months.”

  “That is between me and my wife!” Wade exploded.

  “She’s not your wife, man,” Riley told him. Taking his phone from his pocket, he pulled up a text to Mike.

  Blackwell is at Jenna’s house. She and I are out shopping. I’m on the phone with him. Need a pick-up on him ASAP.

  “She is my wife!” Wade insisted. “She’s always been mine. Since we were sixteen.”

  “She stopped being yours the day you decided to cheat on her,” Riley replied calmly.

  His phone chimed a reply from Mike.

  Keep him talking. Will have him in custody in approximately five to eight minutes.

  “Where’s my son? I want to talk to Cam.”

  “Look, man, you are stoned. You don’t want to talk to your boy right now. He doesn’t need to hear his dad like this.”

  “Put my son on the phone, you son of a bitch!”

  “Not gonna happen, Blackwell. You aren’t talking to him until you are clean and sober. He doesn’t need that image of his dad in his head.”

  “Give the phone back to Jenna.”

  “That’s not happening, either. I told you before, your days of pushing her around are over. You get yourself sobered up, then I might allow you to see them. But you get this through your head right now: whether you see them or not is on my terms now.”

  “Bullshit! They are my family, not yours! Where the fu-“

  Wade was cut off mid-sentence. Riley heard a muffled sound and then Mike’s voice came over the line.

  “Got him. I’ll take him to the offices unless you want to press charges. He busted up your brother’s truck pretty good. Got the tail lights and headlights. Back windshield is busted through. Front windshield has some nice spider web action. Side mirrors are hanging on by a thread. I’m surprised her neighbors didn’t call the cops.”

  “Me, too,” Riley admitted. “Take him to the offices. We’re heading that way. I’ll call someone to get the truck. Thanks, man.”

  “Needed to get out of Tuscany anyway. My mother and Gia were smothering me.”

  “I can imagine. Be there in fifteen.”