Angel's Lake Box Set: Books 1-3 (Angel's Lake Series)

by Jody Holford

  “Oh... that never occurred to me. Are you… you okay?” He put his arm around her and pulled her close.

  “I’m wonderful. What a treat to get a little piece of them both like that,” Anna said, this time unable to stop the tear that fell. Sam leaned in and kissed her cheek where it slid before kissing her other cheek as well. Looking at him, thinking about her mom, listening to the Christmas music being drowned out by laughter and chatter, she was overwhelmed with gratitude, affection, and complete serenity.

  Chapter Ten

  “It wasn’t just your idea,” Kyle Meyers complained, pulling a sweater out of his compact suitcase and tugging it over his head.

  “Okay. Sorry,” Jordan replied, rolling her eyes behind his back, making Anna stifle a giggle. “We have a present for you that we thought you’d love.” Kyle just shook his head but the smile on his handsome face was warm when he looked at Jordan. The guest room no longer seemed spacious with the three of them surrounding the single bed, Kyle’s suitcase open and Jordan’s on the floor.

  “I don’t care whose idea it was, just gimmee,” Anna laughed, holding her hands out, barely containing her desire to prance around the room singing “You’re here, you’re here, you’re finally here.”

  Jordan blew the side bangs on her mahogany hair out of her eyes and reached for her zippered bag. She pulled out six individually tissue-paper wrapped, rectangular gifts and placed them side by side along the bed. Kyle put his arm around Anna to give her a quick squeeze and kissed the top of her head. Somehow, she’d managed to be the only short one in a family of tall people. She beamed up at him.

  “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Really? You’ve hidden it so well,” he mocked.

  “Hurry up!” Jordan complained, pushing the first package into Anna’s hand. She ripped off the tissue to find a knitted stocking, brick red, long, and bearing her name in white cursive at the top.

  “You got me a stocking!” she squealed, immediately knowing what the other packages contained. She quickly ripped the tissue off all of them and lay each of them out on the bed.

  Anna

  Jordan

  Kyle

  Dad

  “I love them!” she squealed again, impatient to hang them on the fireplace. She threw her arms around her brother first, then Jordan. Both squeezed her back just as tight.

  “How come there are six?”

  “For Jordan’s boyfriends,” Kyle cracked, unbothered by Jordan’s answering glower.

  “Funny. They came in sets of six so I figured, you know, we’d just get names put on if you, me, or your dad ever marries,” Jordan grinned.

  “What about me?” Kyle grumbled. Jordan flashed him a sweet smile.

  “Who’s gonna marry your cranky ass?” Jordan asked.

  “A smart woman,” David Meyers suggested, joining the group, fresh from his shower. Though she’d needed and wanted space, Anna’s heart felt close to bursting with the joy of having them all here. With his salt and pepper hair still wet, he pulled Anna close and gave her a tight hug.

  “Smart,” Jordan snorted in an unladylike way making them all laugh.

  “Let’s go hang the stockings,” Kyle said, giving Jordan a gentle shove.

  As they walked behind Jordan and Kyle down the hallway, Anna’s dad hugged her close once again.

  “The place looks great, honey. Did you do all the painting?” he asked.

  “Yup. I’m going to put in hardwood floors after Christmas,” she replied, pleased with his praise.

  “I noticed the shag carpeting has been replaced,” he said dryly.

  “Is that what was here when you met mom?” she asked, eager to know.

  “As I recall, yes. Mind you, I only came over a few times and most of my attention was on your mother,” he said quietly, looking down at her, making her lips and her heart tighten briefly.

  “I’m really glad you’re here, dad.”

  “Me too. Did you get me a gift yet?” he asked. Jordan and Kyle had gone to the garage to get tools. She heard the garage door shut as her dad sank into the couch.

  “It’s December 23rd. Of course I have. Why?” she asked, puzzled.

  “I just thought that if you hadn’t, my gift could be you not putting in hardwood floors by yourself,” he grinned. She chuckled even as she rolled her eyes.

  “I’m going to get drinks. Don’t let Kyle and Jordan put hangers on my mantles while I’m not in here,” she warned.

  “Of course not, dear,” he agreed, returning her smile.

  Sam stuffed a couple of Tums in his mouth, a habit that was increasing over the last little while. He saw the car in Anna’s driveway and knew her family was there but took the time to shower and change and regroup. He had a case of beer and a bottle of wine, figuring that would cover all the bases and tried to remember the last time he’d met a girl’s family on purpose.

  “Oh, right, never,” he mumbled.

  Grabbing the beer from the fridge and the wine from the counter, he wondered if a guy was supposed to get the girl he was sleeping with-falling in love with-lying to-and crazy about a Christmas gift when they hadn’t been together long. He actually had bought her a little joke gift when he’d been out with Melissa but that was…before.

  He knocked on her door rather than walking in unannounced, as he’d done for many days now. Anna greeted him with her sucker-punch smile and a rather rosy glow.

  “Well hey there, neighbor,” she said with a goofy grin. She leaned in on her tip toes, promptly lost her balance and fell against him. With the beer in one hand and the wine in the other, all he could do was brace his feet while she giggled herself upright.

  “Hi. Doesn’t look like you need these, honey,” he grinned.

  “Hmm. Probably not. But I need you and that’s not what I intended either,” she commented lowly with her brows furrowed.

  “Is that so? Goes both ways. You going to let me in?”

  “Yes, please. Let him in,” The pretty redhead laughed, grabbing Anna’s arm and pulling her back.

  “I’m Sam. Her neighbor,” he said, putting the beer and the wine down and offering his hand.

  “Jordan. From what I hear you’re more than her neighbor,” she replied, shaking his hand firmly.

  “That would be true,” he replied, “how many drinks in are you Anna?”

  “Only 3,” she replied indignantly with the same look she’d given him when he’d tried to shovel her driveway.

  “Someone’s a little nervous,” Jordan said in a stage whisper. Anna smacked her, replying, “Am not.” She moved back to him, took his hand and pressed her mouth to his and he could feel her smile as he kissed her back.

  “Ow, my eyes!” a male voice said, making Sam look up, Anna fall forward, though this time he caught her by the arms. Jordan rolled her eyes. He liked her so far.

  “Get over yourself. Your sister is hot,” Jordan said, moving closer to Kyle, who had his eyes covered. She looked back at Sam. “Which, by the way, you are too.” She winked at him and Sam wished he’d had a beer before he’d arrived.

  “What’s wrong with your eyes?” another male voice asked. Kyle uncovered them, grinned at Anna, who stuck her tongue out at her brother, and extended his hand to Sam.

  “They hurt. Anna kissed a boy. Kyle,” he said happily.

  “Sam,” he replied, shaking Kyle’s hand and not correcting the boy comment. He made eye contact with Anna’s father whose smile was friendly enough even though his eyes were clearly taking his measure. Like father, like daughter.

  “I’m David, Anna’s dad. You going to let your guest come in, dear?” he smiled fondly at Anna, who was now glued to Sam’s side.

  The comedy of errors moved its way into Anna’s living room where the fire was crackling, snacks were set out on the coffee table, and the tree stood centre stage. She had really picked a beauty. Anna sat beside him on the couch, her father sat in the small matching chair across from them while Jordan and Kyle took the drinks he
’d brought and said they’d freshen everything up.

  “No more for Anna,” David said.

  “Dad,” Anna warned in a tone she’d used on Sam more than once.

  “Sorry, dear. Habit. Would you like another drink?” he smiled falsely but Sam could read the affection between them as easily as he could see the resemblance. She must have inherited her blond hair from her mother, but the expressive, gauging eyes were definitely her dad’s.

  “No thanks-you I’ve had enough,” she said primly before casting Sam an intimate smile. He didn’t dare return it.

  “So Sam –”

  “Dad!”

  “What? I can’t talk to him?”

  “Talk to who?” asked Jordan, coming back in with a half full wine glass and a full glass of water. She handed the water to Anna. Kyle followed behind with three open beer bottles and passed one to Sam and one to David. They clinked bottles and each man took a long swallow.

  “I was just trying to engage in conversation with Anna’s friend and she got pouty,” David commented.

  “I don’t get pouty!”

  They all stared at her and shared a loud laugh when she finally conceded with an embarrassed shrug.

  “I just think I’m a little old for you to be giving my boyfriend the third degree,” she said. He liked the way she said “boyfriend” but realized, again, how much more he wanted that what the term implied.

  “When I was seventeen, I brought Karina Mosby home and dad wasn’t there. You sat at the end of the couch asking the stupidest questions. I was ready to throttle you so fair is fair,” Kyle laughed. He took a seat on the floor while Jordan sat on the couch.

  “Seriously? Karina Mosby?”

  “What? She was hot!”

  The two went back and forth, easing Sam’s tension and making him curious about the chemistry between them. Speaking of chemistry, Anna was cuddled so close that the air barely fit between them. David Meyers continued to regard him with interest.

  It was going well. The boys had talked business when Jordan and Kyle finally stopped sniping at each other. She would definitely be taking advantage of Jordan’s close proximity tonight to find out what was going on there. Her ‘buzz’ had subsided but everyone was currently in the living room laughing at something so her nerves had subsided as well. She put some of her tarts on a plate and took a moment to enjoy the feeling of having all of the people she…loved in her home. The thought rocked through her like lightening. Fast, clarifying, illuminating. She loved Sam. The happily ever after love that she read about to her students. Her heart sped up but she felt oddly peaceful about the realization.

  “You all right in here,” Jordan asked, coming into the kitchen with a few more empty beer bottles and an empty chip bowl.

  “I’m wonderful,” Anna grinned. Jordan set the empties down and picked up one of the tarts. She stared at it cynically.

  “So it would seem. Look at you with all your domestic-goddess home owner bliss,” she replied wide smile on her full lips. She took a cautious bite of the pastry. “Damn. Add pie maker to that list.”

  “Really? It’s good?” Anna squealed, picking up one of the apple.

  “You haven’t tried them?” Jordan asked with her mouth full. Anna wondered how someone could be so feminine and sexy while being unladylike at the same time.

  “No way! Since when do I know how to cook?” Anna laughed, taking a hearty bite and almost polishing it off. “Mm. Good.”

  “I miss you, Anna,” Jordan said seriously, wiping her mouth. Anna smiled and gave her a hug.

  “I miss you too,” she said into her shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Me too but I feel all airplane-y. I’m going to go shower,” she answered, sniffing her arm and cringing.

  Anna heard the front door open and close but thought nothing of it. She continued to straighten up since her guests seemed to be doing just fine on their own. She’d been so worried about her dad being, well, her dad with Sam. Instead, he’d been great. He and Kyle and Sam had chatted back and forth while Jordan interrupted with comments and quips. Anna sat back and listened to their voices, so grateful to be in her own home for her first Christmas with them. She hummed “We wish you a Merry Christmas” with a silly grin as she filled the kitchen sink.

  “Sure you don’t want one?” Kyle offered the cigar again.

  “I’m sure,” Sam replied. He leaned back against the railing and took his own measure of Kyle and David Meyers. Both good looking men, they wore confidence like their expensive sweaters. They stood about his height with Kyle being stockier than his father. David took a seat in one of the porch rockers, crossing a leg over his knee, seemingly at ease with the silence. The tone had changed the minute they’d stepped outside for “cigars” which Sam had realized quickly was code for the third degree they’d skipped giving him earlier.

  “You like being an architect in a small town?” David asked.

  “I do. Went away for school and got a couple job offers elsewhere but my family is here so it was a no brainer,” Sam answered. He wondered whether the rail was sturdy enough to hold his weight.

  “You grew up here,” David stated.

  “Born and raised. Only left for school and a few vacations. Actually, small world—Anna’s grandmother taught my mom,” Sam shared.

  David’s eyes looked thoughtful as he idly pushed back in the chair.

  “Humph. I’d forgotten her mother was a teacher,” he said quietly.

  “So has Anna met your family?” Kyle asked and then without waiting, added “You two seem to be moving rather quickly seeing as she just moved in last month.”

  “Kyle,” David said, uncrossing his leg. Sam would bet David had reined his son in during many meetings with the easy way Kyle’s shoulder’s relaxed at just his name. He gave an unrepentant shrug toward Sam and leaned back against the opposite rail.

  “We’ve been friends almost since the moment she moved in and, small town, not hard to meet my family even if we weren’t,” Sam said.

  “She’s quite… smitten with you,” David said leadingly. Kyle eyed his cigar like he was considering whether he really wanted it lit. Sam looked back at David who was leaning forward in the rocker. His hands felt twitchy and the porch felt small.

  “The feeling is mutual, sir. More than mutual. I,” he shook his head and edged himself so he was sitting, rather than leaning, on the rail. He couldn’t tell them he loved Anna before he told her. “I care a great deal about her.”

  “That seems to be true,” David considered, “However.”

  “Jordan mentioned you were engaged,” Kyle said, seamlessly picking up where his father had left off.

  He weighed the two men, their stance, the easy way they’d been with Anna. Sam was used to getting a read on people as well. Yes, they were protective but it was abundantly clear that their nature to be so was rooted in love. He’d enjoyed seeing another part of Anna tonight. All those little pieces she was looking for, she revealed to him bit by bit and he was crazy about every one of them. He needed to make a choice, fast. He could brush it off, not commit either way. He got their protective instincts. He felt them for Anna as well and thought himself a bastard for having let his lies carry on so long. He wanted to talk to her first but he thought about how much worse it might make things to lie to the people she loved. Anna was the kind of woman who would care more about how you treated those she cared about than how she was treated. Not that it made it okay, but it would definitely dump salt in the massive wound he had already carved. How much more did he want to regret?

  “Actually,” he said, meeting both their level gazes, seeing Anna in both of them. “I was never engaged or attached.”

  “Jordan told us on the flight that she thought Anna was falling for you. I don’t think she actually meant to say anything about your betrothal but it did come up,” David said pointedly, his lips firm, his eyes unsmiling. Sam could imagine those watchful eyes and steady voice in a conference room hammering
out a deal that ensured he would come out on top. Kyle stood still like he was waiting his turn.

  “Anna likely told her that. They don’t seem to keep much from each other,” Sam replied ruefully. “Listen, I’m going to be straight with both of you. I’m in love with Anna. There’s things I need to tell her that I shouldn’t be telling you two first, but I think if I don’t, it’ll just make it worse when I do tell her everything.”

  He felt like he was back in Principal Daw’s office after pulling pranks with his buddies. He swallowed the ridiculous urge to avert his eyes, kick the step, shuffle his damn feet.

  “I think you better get to your point,” Kyle said, his voice low and lethal. David stood. Kyle crossed his arms and Sam stood with the rail at his back, tidily boxed in.

  “When she moved in, she was very stand-offish. Friendly enough, sweet as hell, but convinced that I was trying to help her with things because I wanted something from her,” he started.

  “So far, she seems right on the money,” David agreed. Sam flinched but kept going.

  “She doesn’t want help with anything. At all. What man would let a woman just string up Christmas lights by themselves knowing her ladder wasn’t locked? Or chop down a frigging tree by herself. She’s the strongest woman I’ve ever met but she’s got a stubborn streak longer than this road,” Sam vented. Kyle nodded his head.

  “All true. Comes by it honestly. I’m still trying to figure out how any of that led to you lying about being engaged.” Kyle said, the word ‘lying’ said through gritted teeth.

  Sam figured he was “The Cleaner” in the father-son relationship, business or personal.

  “She said straight up she thought I was after…her. When I met her, I just wanted to be neighborly, help her out so she didn’t break her neck. My only intention was friendship but even that got her back up. So I, stupidly, said I had a girlfriend. I don’t have an excuse for that. I just said it. I thought, take that back but then she completely relaxed like somehow I could be trusted now. I’ve wanted to tell her since the moment the words flew out of my mouth but somewhere in the middle of trying to help her and becoming friends with her, I fell for her. Hard.”