Coulson's Lessons

by McIntyre, Anna J

  “Garret.” Alex abruptly pulled away. “Did you know about Russell and my sister?”

  “What about them?” Garret frowned and pulled Alex back into his embrace.

  “He spent the night with her.” Alex waited for his reaction.

  “Damn him!” He snapped angrily. Alex pulled away again and searched his face for an explanation of his strange response. “I have never spent the night with you. Never.”

  Before she could respond, the phone rang. It was Russell. He’d been trying to contact the cabin for hours, concerned over the storm and the lack of phone service.

  Garret, knowing it would be best to leave the cabin before he and Alex risked unprotected sex, asked Russell to come to the cabin and pick them up. He then called the local garage to tow his Jeep.

  On the way back to town, Alex silently considered Garret’s words. They had never spent the entire night together. It would be nice to wake up in Garret’s arms. In that moment, Alexandra decided that when they did make love again, it would not end with one of them leaving the bed… until morning.

  Chapter 43

  Russell never mentioned Kate during their ride to town. Instead, he and Garret discussed repairs to the Jeep and other practical matters. Occasionally, Russell would pass Alex a knowing glance, his eyes gleaming with mischief. After the brothers dropped her off at home, she didn’t see Garret again on Monday.

  If Alex was curious about Russell’s intentions toward Kate, her questions were answered several days later when Kate announced Russell was taking her to the annual Coulson Christmas Party. Steve was positively green with envy, and the party reinforced Tommy’s confidence in Russell’s honorable intentions.

  Garret asked Alex if she wanted to attend the party, but she declined because of work. Forced to make an appearance, Garret reluctantly attended the Christmas party.

  The moment Emily spied Garret alone, she immediately rushed to his side, certain his fling with Suzy Homemaker had ended. Despite his lack of interest, Emily was persistent. Kate immediately caught onto what Russell’s little assistant was up to. After noting Garret’s reaction to the attractive woman, Kate left Emily with Garret. Why interfere? If Emily wanted to be an absolute fool by throwing herself at Garret’s feet, why should Kate intervene? It was obvious that Garret would simply pick up his feet and politely step over the silly woman.

  At the Christmas party, Garret learned from Kate that Alexandra would be spending Christmas alone. They had never discussed their plans for the holidays. Garret imagined he would make an obligatory appearance at his parents’ home. He was not especially close to either his mother or father, nor was he over anxious to see Harrison and his wife. Russell was the only member of the Coulson clan to whom Garret felt a close bond. Their closeness had grown from the time Russell had discovered Garret’s affair with Alexandra.

  The morning after the party, Garret called Alexandra and asked her to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day with him at the cabin. Alex was speechless for just a moment. She’d promised Taylor she’d stick around the restaurant and help, yet now the last thing she wanted to do was stay with Taylor. Christmas Eve and Christmas morning meant she would be able to spend an entire night with Garret—an entire night. It took her all of thirty seconds to accept his invitation.

  “You aren’t going to be here?” Taylor was more than disappointed.

  “Come on, Taylor, I never said for sure,” Alex reminded him. They were alone in the bar.

  “What’re you going to do? Spend the day with Kate? Tommy?”

  “Promise you won’t say anything?”

  “Say anything about what?”

  “I don’t need a million questions from the crew.”

  “You know I can keep a secret.” He smiled devilishly.

  “Hmmm.” Alex rolled her eyes. “I’m spending the time with Garret.”

  “Coulson?”

  “Only Garret I know.”

  “So, what’s with you two?” Taylor folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall, carefully studying Alex’s face.

  “We’re friends.”

  “Friends?” He smirked.

  “Good friends.”

  “How good?”

  “None of your damn business.”

  He laughed at her outburst. “That guy’s crazy about you. It’s all over his face. You seem kinda hot for him.”

  “Oh, shut up, Taylor,” Alex said, flustered.

  “He’s got lots of bucks, good catch.”

  “I couldn’t give a damn about his money!” Alex looked insulted at the insinuation.

  “I bet you don’t, Alex.” His eyes swept admiringly over Alex. That lucky bastard. “I wish you luck, sweetheart.” Taylor’s words were delivered softly, with such sincerity, that Alex paused. “You deserve all the happiness this world has to give. You’re some special lady, Alexandra Keller.” With that said, Taylor reached out and placed a gentle, chaste kiss on her cheek.

  Unfortunately, from where Garret was standing at the entrance to the bar, there was no innocence in Taylor’s kiss. All Garret saw was Taylor muttering some soft words to Alex. Although he could not hear what they were saying, the way Alex was looking into the bartender’s eyes made Garret want to slam the man’s too-pretty face. When Taylor capped his words with the kiss, Garret snapped.

  “Keep your damn hands off her!” Garret roared from the entrance. Alexandra about jumped from her skin. Taylor watched as Garret angrily approached the bar. Being a seasoned bartender, Taylor wasn’t afraid of a fight, but Garret was one big son of a bitch. Despite the fact he was some twenty years older than the bartender, Taylor was not about to underestimate the man.

  “It’s not what it seems, Coulson.” Taylor’s voice was even, unafraid, no nonsense.

  “Garret,” Alex snapped, noting the dangerous glare Garret fixed on her employee. After hearing her voice, he turned his angry glare at Alex. “He was simply offering me congratulations.”

  Garret said nothing. He only continued to stare at Alex in dark fury.

  “Taylor was wishing me luck. Wishing us luck. I told him I wouldn’t be able to work Christmas because I was spending it with you.”

  Her voice contained more impatience than fear. Garret turned to face Taylor. Abruptly, Taylor held out his hand as a peace offering.

  “Listen, Coulson. I’m not sure why you dislike me so much, I…” Taylor saw something in Garret’s eyes. He knew! “Shit, Alex, he knows! I don’t believe it. You told him!” Taylor sounded incredulous. Turning to face Alex, he knew instantly that his hunch was correct. “But I didn’t tell anyone.” Taylor couldn’t believe this was happening. This crazy old man was liable to kill him. Garret continued to glare at Taylor. Taylor continued to glare at Alex.

  “Oh, don’t come unglued Taylor.” Alex moved between the two men, gently nudging Garret backward with her hip. “Garret, back off. You’re overreacting to a harmless good luck kiss. And, Taylor, stop looking like you’re about to be tar and feathered. Garret knows it was only a one-night stand.”

  At that statement, Taylor swung around and firmly kicked the wall. Why did she have to say that? He was dead.

  “Alex, you really don’t know anything about men, do you?” Taylor gritted between his teeth, grateful Garret wasn’t moving toward him. “I wish you luck with her, Coulson—you’re gonna need it.”

  Hostility toward the bartender dissolved. Garret almost felt a little sorry for the man. He would hate it if Alex dismissed him so casually. Garret didn’t think Taylor was in love with Alex, no. It wasn’t love. He obviously valued her friendship, cared about her happiness. If Garret were a truly good person, he would even be grateful that she had found someone like Taylor to sate her loneliness and lust—someone who cared about her, who was considered sexy. Unfortunately, Garret wasn’t that good. Not by a long shot. Garret did manage to take a deep breath and extend his hand to Taylor.

  “Just never, ever, touch her again,” Garret warned softly as he and Taylor e
xchanged a cautious handshake.

  Chapter 44

  Garret picked up Alex early on Christmas Eve morning. He immediately announced that they would be purchasing a Christmas tree. Bundled in thick jackets, Garret guided Alex through the Christmas tree lot. The thick fragrance of pine hung in the air and echoes of Christmas carols drifted from a nearby transistor radio. Most of the good trees were gone but they managed to find an acceptable one. Standing in the outdoor check-out line, the small tree in tow, Alex came face to face with her brother-in-law.

  “Jimmy!” Alex exclaimed, startled. The strangeness of the encounter was not lost on her. Coming face to face with your brother-in-law while purchasing an item as personal and sentimental as a Christmas tree with another man was unsettling.

  “Alex!” Jimmy immediately planted a kiss on Alex’s cheek and then noticed the tall man scowling at her side. Is this what jealousy looks like? he wondered.

  “Jimmy, I’d like you to meet Garret Coulson.” Alex looked tentatively from her brother-in-law to Garret. Hesitantly they shook hands. “Jimmy is one of my oldest friends. He’s also my brother-in-law.”

  Jimmy carefully observed Garret Coulson. As near as he could figure, Coulson had been dating Alex less than three weeks. What man became that possessive after such a short time? Jimmy could never recall Ryan ever looking at Alex in that fashion nor at men who looked at her. And plenty of men looked. Even when Alex gained weight over the years, her voluptuous full figure attracted as many admiring glances as this thinner version.

  “Have you heard from Adam?” Jimmy asked. He stood in line behind Alex, holding several packages of Christmas tree lights.

  “He called this morning. Having a great time.”

  Garret stood quietly behind Alex.

  “Kimmy didn’t go with him, did she?” Jimmy asked.

  “Heavens no. I wouldn’t have let him go if girls were going, even though they are chaperoned. Anyway, this trip was planned before Adam and Kimmy started dating.”

  “That’s sorta what I thought. So, where are you spending Christmas?” Jimmy’s eyes flickered from his sister-in-law to Garret. Alex didn’t answer immediately.

  “At Garret’s cabin. Up at Clement Falls.”

  Garret wrapped his arm around Alex as she answered the question.

  “Oh…” Jimmy smiled slightly. “I understand Kate’s dating Russell. Are they joining you?”

  “Kate’s doing her volunteer thing. She convinced Russell to join her. We might see them later,” Alex explained, her nervousness subsiding.

  After Garret paid for the tree, Alex turned to say a final goodbye to Jimmy.

  “Merry Christmas, Alex.” Jimmy gave her a hug, then whispered, “I love you.” He then nodded to Garret. “Merry Christmas, Garret. Nice to meet you. Drive carefully with our Alex.”

  “Our Alex,” Garret grumbled after he shoved the tree into the back of the Jeep.

  “Be careful with that!” Alex scolded. Climbing into the Jeep, she closed the door and turned to face Garret. “Garret Coulson, I do believe you have an incurable jealous streak.”

  “I heard what he said,” Garret snapped.

  “He’s not only my brother-in-law; he’s one of my oldest friends. You need to stop being so jealous. I’m not used to it. It’s unsettling,”

  “Why, didn’t Ryan ever get jealous?” he snapped, then turned on the engine and began backing up.

  “No, never,” Alex answered.

  “Then he was a fool, wasn’t he?”

  The harshness of his words silenced Alexandra. What does he think, that I can’t be trusted?

  The entire drive to Clement Falls was spent in unbearable silence. Alexandra and Garret had never had arguments before. She and Ryan had never had arguments. She wanted to cry. She wanted to go home. By the time she reached the cabin, the last thing she wanted to do was decorate a Christmas tree.

  After Garret parked the Jeep in the garage and turned the engine off, he turned in his seat to face Alex.

  “Alex, I’m sorry. I was out of line back there. Totally.”

  “Garret, what do you think?” Her eyes began to fill with tears. “Once unfaithful, always unfaithful?”

  “Hell, Alex.” Garret pulled her into his arms; her gentle sobbing dampened his shoulders. “No, I don’t think that. I’m just so damn insecure where you’re concerned. I love you Alex. I’ve loved you for so long, and I want you to belong to me. Me. No one else. I don’t want to share you with anyone. Never again.”

  “Oh, Garret, I don’t want anyone else.”

  Together, they went into the cabin. After unloading the car, Garret started a fire in the fireplace and put the tree in its stand. Alexandra unpacked the groceries and began making hot cocoa, generously spiking it with peppermint schnapps.

  Garret was furious at himself for making Alexandra cry. He’d almost ruined Christmas and prayed it wasn’t too late to salvage the holiday. Alexandra joined him by the undecorated tree, carrying two cups of cocoa, each topped with whipped cream.

  They sat on the leather couch together and faced the orange flames dancing above the rock hearth.

  “Do you forgive me?” Garret whispered, gently nuzzling her face.

  “Yes,” Alex answered softly. Taking a sip of the drink, she stared at the flames.

  “I want to give you your present,” Garret whispered.

  “Okay.” Alex looked up to him shyly. “But then I get to give you yours.”

  Like an anxious child, Garret quickly retrieved a small, gold-foil box. Jewelry. Alexandra prayed it wasn’t an engagement ring. It was too soon. What would Adam say? What would she say?

  Taking a deep breath, Alex eased open the box. Inside was a delicate gold bracelet with a single gold heart encrusted in diamonds.

  “It’s beautiful,” Alex whispered sincerely. Garret smiled at her expression.

  “I wanted to give you something else,” Garret whispered. “But it’s too soon, isn’t it?” He looked anxiously into her face. Does he read minds? she wondered.

  “Yes, Garret. It’s too soon. But this is truly beautiful.” She rewarded him with a kiss and then abruptly jumped from the couch to retrieve her gift to him.

  Garret was surprised when Alex handed a gift not much larger than the one he had given her. He glanced up at her curiously.

  “This is one of your gifts,” Alex explained nervously. “You, you might think it is… inappropriate. But…”

  Garret frowned at Alex’s stammering and quickly opened the box. He began to laugh when he saw the contents: condoms, at least a dozen.

  “You plan to keep me busy this Christmas?” Garret’s blue eyes gleamed mischievously, noting Alex’s sudden embarrassment. “And what exactly is my other gift?”

  Alexandra began to point to a wrapped package on the kitchen counter, but Garret was not paying attention. Instead, he snatched the cup out of her hand and placed it with his on the coffee table. Quickly, he pulled Alex to her feet and began dragging her to the bedroom.

  “Garret, the tree!” Alex protested.

  “We’ll decorate it tomorrow.” He continued moving into the bedroom.

  “On Christmas Day?”

  “Okay, so we’ll decorate it the next day.” He gently tossed her onto the bed and slammed the door shut.

  “After Christmas?” Alex began to laugh.

  “I want to play with my new toys.” Garret grinned, looking down at Alex’s lovely body sprawled across the bed. He began pulling off his clothes, while Alex lay on the bed and watched. Before Garret removed his pants, he paused and leaned over to the nightstand and pulled open the top drawer. It was filled with condoms.

  “I bought my own,” Garret explained mischievously.

  Alexandra laughed. As she leaned her head back down onto the mattress, she felt Garret removing her shoes and socks. Not attempting to assist in the undressing, she lay still.

  “You know, Garret, those things have an expiration date.”

  “I guess we’l
l have to use them all before the code date runs out.”

  Alexandra could feel Garret’s hand on her pants’ zipper. Down it slid. She raised her hips slightly as Garret eagerly pulled down her pants. In a flash, Garret was on the bed and Alex’s blouse and bra sailed across the room.

  They lay together on the bed, and Garret was slightly breathless as he pulled Alex into his arms.

  “You better be careful,” Alex warned in mock concern, her hands mussing his hair. “I don’t want you to have a heart attack on me.”

  “You saying I’m getting old?” he growled. Rolling on top of Alex, he looked down at her; she continued to run her fingers through his hair.

  “I imagine you can still hold up your end of things,” she purred, quite aware of the steel rod pressing against her stomach.

  “I imagine I can.” His mouth captured the tip of her nose and then moved downward, sliding his tongue along the edge of her lips. “Is this a commentary on my gray hair?” he growled softly.

  “Noooo. I love your hair,” she murmured silkily.

  Alex’s mouth reached up and captured Garret’s with such urgency and need that Garret imagined he could take her now without a moment of foreplay or protection. But he wouldn’t. No, tonight was theirs. Never before had they been able to make love freely. Freely. No longer was he taking Ryan’s wife. In the morning, Garret could wake with Alexandra in his arms. Tonight was theirs. For once, he did not have to share Alex with anyone.

  Garret rolled onto his back, taking Alex with him. She found herself sitting on top of him, looking down as his hands went to caress her breasts. Alex could feel his need nudging at her bottom. She scooted downward, allowing the eager fellow to spring forward. She grabbed a condom from the nightstand. Tearing open the package, she hastily removed the circle and eagerly slipped it onto Garret. He groaned, his fingers moving over Alex’s breasts, up to her shoulders and down her arms, pulling her face to his. Their mouths met in hungered passion. Garret’s hands settled on Alex’s hips, then swiftly and firmly he lifted her up and placed her onto his erection, plunging deep inside. Alexandra gasped from the abrupt entry. She found herself moving against Garret in wanton anxiousness. Riding to paradise, she thought she would surely die.