by McBain, Mara
Letting the drape fall closed again, she turned back to the kitchen and couldn’t help but smile. Gingerbread men covered almost every flat surface. From cooling to decorating, the cheerful cookies were in varying stages of completion. Cut out cookies in the shapes of stars, bells, Christmas trees, angels, and stockings were already frosted and put away. Adrienne had thought her mad when she’d started baking and decorating, but Trey and Cole were enjoying her labor of love. Growing up in a bakery, the traditional treats had always signified Christmas to her, and the cookie cutters were all she had left from her mother. She stroked the battered cigar box that held the tin shapes.
“Your gingerbread is sinful,” Adri murmured around a bite. “Trey was lucky to find a wife like you.”
Gen looked up with a frown. “What do you mean? You said yourself that I hit the jackpot. Listen to that wind. If I was home in New York I’d be starving, struggling to keep shelter over my head and a fire burning while wondering how many of my neighbors would freeze to death before the storm let up.”
“You came into the marriage already knowing how to cook, clean, and bake. What more could he ask for?”
“Everyone knows how—” Gen pulled up short. Not everyone.
The smile Adrienne offered held a trace of bitterness.
“Trey’s exact words when I asked him why he agreed to marry you were that he was tired of hiring the cleaning and cooking done and craved a warm body in his bed at night. You think that my looks are such a gift, but sex was third on your country boy’s list of needs, and any woman can warm a bed.”
“If you want to look at it that way, any woman can cook and clean,” Gen said firmly.
“It’s not the same thing. As antiquated as it is, most men still see a woman’s inexperience in the bedroom to be flattering, but they aren’t as forgiving when it comes to home and hearth.”
“That I can teach you and, besides, if you married Cole, I would be right here and you wouldn’t have to worry about it,” Gen said, unable to hold back a grin. She batted her eyelashes at Adrienne’s reproachful stare, trying to tease her friend out of her worries.
“In case you’ve missed it, your dear brother-in-law is an incredibly handsome man that can get any woman he wants. Besides, I can just see the look on Trey’s face if Cole and I got married and continued to join you for every meal. That’s not even mentioning the boot he’d put up my ass if you started letting things go around here so you could go over and clean my house.”
“Family helps family. Trey and Cole work together all day, what sense would two suppers make? And as unromantic as it might’ve been, Cole made his feelings for you clear. It sounds to me like it’s up to you to decide if you’re willing to take a risk on country life, or you want to go back to a life in the city that you weren’t proud of to begin with.”
Adrienne’s head snapped up and her eyes narrowed to emerald slits. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Gen measured her words carefully. “No one here has judged you for your career or past relationships except you,” she said softly. “All I’m saying is if you aren’t happy, then maybe a change is in order.”
The intensity in Adri’s stare didn’t lesson. Standing her ground, Gen prayed her friend was at least considering what she’d said. The slam of the front door and a burst of cold air broke the silence and the spell. Both women hurried for the foyer. Snow swirled over the gleaming hardwood floor as Trey and Cole shoved and tugged a huge pine tree through the open door. When they finally cleared the opening, Trey had to lean his shoulder against the door to close it against the howling wind. He slumped there for a moment as both men tried to catch their breath.
Stomping snow off his boots, Trey nodded to his brother and they picked the tree up to carry it the rest of the way into the living room. Gen saw that they’d already fixed a stand to the bottom of the trunk. She couldn’t help clapping her hands together like a delighted child when they stood the towering pine up in the corner. Its tip nearly reached the ceiling. Snow and ice crystals still clung to the tree’s dark needles, sparkling in the light. It was breathtaking.
“Oh, Trey, it is gorgeous,” she whispered in awe.
Trey’s smile flashed white through his icy goatee at her praise. Tugging his gloves off with his teeth, he moved to join Cole in front of the roaring fire.
“As long as it took him to pick it out, it should be perfect,” Cole muttered.
Ignoring his brother, Trey reached out and tugged his wife close for a kiss. “I’m glad you like it, darlin’.”
Genevieve smothered a laugh, wiping at her face after the wet kiss. Beaming up at him, she reached up to thaw her husband’s goatee with warm hands. He chuckled as snow fell off the brim of his Stetson onto her dress.
“Maybe it’d be best if I took this to the mudroom before I drip all over the rug and other pretty things,” he said, nodding to the beautiful piece that centered the sitting area in front of the fireplace and kissing her again.
Shaking her head, Gen trailed him to the kitchen. He stopped in the doorway to survey the gingerbread men.
“It looks like we were invaded,” he drawled.
She felt her cheeks warm, but smiled. “I wanted to make enough that I could take a couple of platters to church. Children love them.”
“So do adults,” Trey said, helping his self to a broken piece before stepping into the mudroom to use the boot jack.
“The snow is getting worse. I can’t believe you remembered the Christmas tree with everything else going on.”
“It was the last thing on my list,” he admitted.
“Priorities,” Gen said, nodding to herself as she prepared a platter of cookies to go with their evening coffee. “I’m sure all of the other things were to get us and the stock ready for the storm and keep us safe. The tree is just a pretty tradition.”
He stepped back into the kitchen and wrapped her in his arms.
“It’s our first Christmas together and it doesn’t sound as if you’ve had a lot to celebrate the past several years. I wanted it to be perfect.”
“I’m with the people I love. We’ll be warm with full bellies. Anything else is just icing on the cake,” she said sincerely.
“You deserve a little icing now and then,” he said and tilted her face up for a kiss.
Wiping up the melting snow, Adrienne seized the time to gather her courage and search for the right words to apologize to Cole for earlier. As much as it stung, Gen was right. She hadn’t been happy in New York. She wanted the love and trust she saw building between Trey and Gen, and she couldn’t see finding that with a slick society man after what had happened with Clark. It was time she stepped up and took control of her personal life like she had her professional one when her parents died. She wished she could thank Clark for the favor he’d done for her. It turned out that she, too, would have a more advantageous match. McCade men took very good care of what was theirs.
She squashed her disappointment as Trey and Gen returned to the living room on Cole’s heels. Genevieve settled a loaded tray before the fire and Cole placed a small trunk next to the tree. The lovely cedar chest with removable trays that housed the McCade Christmas decorations was a work of art in itself. Setting his coffee aside, Trey lifted the ornaments out of a nest of velvet one at a time. The crocheted angels and fragile glass balls were exquisite. Adrienne watched Gen’s hands tremble as he handed one to her.
“They’re so beautiful,” she breathed.
If she’d had any lingering doubts about the gruff man’s love for his wife, Trey had erased it. The awed delight on her friend’s face when she’d seen the tree was a sight Adrienne would remember, always.
“Mama made the angels and the matching tree topper of course, and every year Daddy bought her another decoration. Sometimes it was a single bulb that caught his eye. Other times it was a set of them like these,” Trey said, pulling out a package that held four emerald ornaments with a white lace overlay that had tiny shamrock
shaped cutouts.
Gen caught her breath, and even Adrienne leaned close to look at the delicate craftsmanship.
“Those are lovely,” she murmured. “And I’m in awe of your mother’s talent with a crochet hook. These angels are so divine.”
Both men smiled in pride. Cole took the emerald bulbs from his brother, carefully adding them to the tree. Her heart skipped a beat when he smiled down at her. She was painfully aware of his brother and her best friend just a few feet from them. Years of lies and half-truths failed her now when she needed an excuse to drag the handsome blond off for just a moment alone. Blindly accepting another ornament from Genevieve, she tried to focus on the tree. She only needed a few minutes.
Stretching her petite frame, Adrienne reached for the top branches to hang an angel. Cole stepped up behind her, bracketing her with his strong arms. She could feel the heat of his body as he leaned close. Taking the ornament from her fingers, he placed it exactly where she directed. She couldn’t resist rewarding him with a kiss to the cheek. His head cocked in slight question, but then he smiled again. Adrienne released her held breath. There was still a chance to save this.
Chapter Four
Drifted snow obscured the bottom half of the first floor windows and the wind still scoured the house. It was worse than he’d thought. They didn’t often get storms of this magnitude. It was so early in the season. He was glad he’d taken the extra precautions and remembered to bring the shovel from the barn so they could clear the door and shovel a path. Gen handed him a cup of coffee the moment he stepped into the kitchen. She already had her boots on under her heaviest skirt. He shook his head.
“You’re not going out there.”
“I need to check on the chickens.”
“I’ll take care of the chickens.”
She opened her mouth again and he leveled a look at her that made it snap shut.
“Thank you. Cole and I have dealt with storms before. No more argument.”
“He’s right, Gen. Daddy didn’t allow Mama out in this type of weather either,” Cole said, his voice a little softer than his brother’s.
Shoulders slumping, Gen nodded and looked to her husband. “Is there anything I can do?”
“We’re not spending anymore time out there than we have to. Get a fire started in the family room and make sure we come back to a nice hot breakfast, darlin’,” he said, his expression and voice softening. Tugging her into his arms, he cuddled her close. “Don’t pout. I love you and just want you and our baby safe.”
She melted against him. When she looked up, her smile was sheepish. “I’m sorry. I just want to help.”
“I know, but as antiquated and old-fashioned as you ladies may find me, it’s nasty out there and I’d prefer if my pregnant wife stayed inside, warm and dry. If that makes me a Neanderthal, so be it.”
Adrienne snorted in amusement, cracking Gen up. Her slender body shook as she laughed into his chest.
“I guess even a twentieth century woman can’t complain when you put it that way,” she said when she could breathe and gave him a squeeze. “Be careful.”
“Don’t worry, darlin’,” he said and dropped a kiss on her lips before stepping into the mudroom to pull on his heavy clothes.
“Smooth,” Cole muttered out of the corner of his mouth.
“Just the simple truth,” Trey grunted, shoving his boot on. “And unlike the rest of her kind, it works with my wife.”
Cole chuckled as he shrugged into his coat. “Let’s get this over with.”
The wind caught the door, blowing it out of Trey’s numb hand to crash against the mudroom wall. Brutus met him just inside the door, fangs bared and the hair on his back standing on end. The hound’s tail started to wag before Trey could even uncover his face.
“Move your ass,” Cole muttered, pushing him out of the way, but he pulled up short too when Brute started to growl. “What in the hell is he doing in here?”
“He came to the door to be fed. It’s frigid out there. May he please stay, Trey?” Gen asked from the doorway to the kitchen.
Brute backed to her side and Gen scratched his broad head. Rolling his eyes, Trey leaned into the door, shutting the blizzard out. The dog and his wife looked at him with puppy dog eyes as he stripped out of his stiff, icy clothes.
“Get me some damn coffee and he can stay,” he grumbled.
“Sucker,” Cole muttered.
Trey shoved him as he tried to wrestle off his boots. “What difference does it make? He’ll be back outside as soon as the weather breaks.”
Righting himself, Cole chuckled. “It’s your fantasy, Trey. You tell it anyway you want.”
Trey grunted, too cold and winded to mess with his little brother at the moment. Gen pulled out a chair for him as he stumbled into the kitchen. Wrapping his hands around the hot mug of coffee, he sighed. Adrienne fussed over Cole at the other end of the kitchen table, and damn if his little brother didn’t look like he was enjoying it. Brute laid his head in Trey’s lap and he idly rubbed the big beast’s ears.
“How many snow storms have you survived just fine out in the barn?” he asked the dog.
His thick, black tail thumped on the floor, but Brutus had the good grace to look guilty. Raising his eyes to Gen, Trey shook his head. Teeth buried in her bottom lip, the expression on her freckled face plead with him. It was the look that he somehow knew she would never use for her benefit, only for those she loved. It made him love her all the more. He patted his knee and she pushed the dog’s nose out of her way to settle in his lap.
“He can stay inside until the storm lets up,” he said, trying for stern but the smile that lit his wife’s face and the gratitude in her eyes made it difficult. Her arms wound around his neck and he smiled as she burrowed her face inside his collar.
“The big sap can’t say no to her,” Cole said in a stage whisper.
Trey shot him a glare, but it was Adrienne who spoke.
“I don’t agree. He showed earlier that he is very capable of saying no when he needs to. He’s just learning to pick his battles. “
“He’s never shied away from a fight before.”
“Maybe not, but he has to share a home and bed with Gen. Happy wife, happy life. You should pay attention.”
“Now you’re just giving him too much credit.”
“You both remember we’re sitting right here, right?” Trey asked dryly.
“Sorry. I was just trying to educate your little brother in dealing with women. He needs all the help he can get,” Adrienne said, eyes sparkling in amusement.
“I can’t argue with that,” Trey grumbled.
Cole snorted in disbelief. “The only thing I’m going to learn from watching Trey is what not to do.”
“The lady said she was teaching you. Maybe you should clean your ears out, boy,” Trey said, taking another sip of his coffee.
Gen giggled at the sour look Cole shot his brother and slid from Trey’s lap.
“I’ll get breakfast on the table.”
Gen’s step faltered as the lights flickered. She looked up and then back at Trey.
“Get breakfast on. I’ll check the oil lamps and candles.”
“I checked them yesterday,” she said softly, but turned back to the stove. “All the wood boxes are full as well.”
Trey stepped up behind her and nuzzled her nape. “Thank you, darlin’.”
“You’re not the only one that knows how to prepare for the worst,” she said with a smile.
“Please don’t encourage him, little sister. He’ll have me out there cutting wood in this blizzard,” Cole groaned.
“You’ll be thankful he is the way he is if we have an emergency,” Gen said softly.
“No. No I won’t, because we will never hear the end of it if he thinks he was right.”
“He’s just trying to take care of those that count on him.”
“You’re creating a monster,” Cole warned.
Trey snorted and shook his head at
his little brother in disgust. He nuzzled Gen’s neck again.
“Thank you for understanding.”
She leaned into his embrace. Cole threw his hands up.
“You’re not going to convince her,” Adrienne chided him with a grin. “She thinks your brother is ten foot tall and bullet proof.”
“I’m sending her out wood cutting with him next time,” he grumbled, but then grinned down at Adri. “What would it take to get you to look at me like that?”
“Hmm,” she said, drumming her fingers on his chest. “I’m a little more jaded than my young friend. I don’t impress easily.”
“I guess I’ll have to try harder.”
“I guess you will,” Adrienne said with a mischievous smile.
The lights flickered again and they all looked up, holding their breath. Trey moved into the other room to look out the window that faced down the drive where the utility poles stood.
“I know the horrors of power outages in the city, panic, looting, rape,” Adrienne said, nerves obvious in her voice. “Is there anything I should know? What’s it like out here in the middle of nowhere?”
“Not much different; dark and cold. Only our predators are the four-legged variety,” Cole said.
Trey was surprised to see genuine fear twist the songbird’s delicate features. “We’ll be fine,” he said firmly, coming back in to sit at the head of the table. “You’re safe. There’s nothing to worry about. If the power goes out, we have two fireplaces and the big stove here in the kitchen with plenty of wood to keep them all going around the clock, if we need. We have oil lamps, candles, lanterns and flashlights,” he said ticking things off on his fingers. “This house isn’t going to be cold or dark,” he finished, giving his brother a hard look.
