Christmas Nights, Contemporary Romance (Diamond Creek, Alaska Novels Book 6)

by J. H. Croix

  Tears were hot against the back of her eyes. She swallowed against the tightness in her throat and dipped her head to catch his lips in a kiss. “Love you too,” she murmured against his lips.

  A while later, after Janie made sure Travis got in and out of the shower safely and helped him down the stairs, they found Stella waiting in the kitchen.

  “You made coffee!” Janie said, throwing a grin Stella’s way.

  Stella grinned. “Yup. I knew you’d run down here and make it right away, so I figured I’d have it ready. I also have batter ready for pancakes.”

  Travis had stopped by the foot of the stairs, his hand on the railing. “Well, damn. All I had to do was break my leg to get you to make breakfast.”

  Stella burst out laughing and stood up from the stool by the counter. “Here. Let me show you how to use your crutches.”

  She picked up the crutches they’d carted home from the hospital last night and left by the door. Janie poured coffee for her and Travis and slipped onto a stool by the counter to watch. Travis gamely went along with Stella’s guidance and crutched his way in a circle around the living room. “Are these the same crutches you were using?” he asked once he made his way back to the kitchen.

  Stella shook her head. “Nope. They said mine would be too small.”

  Travis reached the counter and eased onto a stool across from Janie. A glimmer of pain flashed in his eyes.

  “Why don’t we get you settled on the couch?” Janie asked as she stood, hurrying to help.

  He waved her away. “Nope. My ribs are sore, that’s all.” He stretched his leg out to the side and reached out to squeeze her hand quickly. “Seriously. I’m fine.”

  She returned to sit across from him and slid his mug of coffee over. The morning passed in a warm blur. Stella insisted on making pancakes without any help and gleefully served them breakfast. After they ate, Stella bossed Travis into resting on the couch. They spent the rest of the morning watching television and relaxing.

  Janie went upstairs to get dressed late that morning and stared at herself in the mirror. She could hear Stella bantering with Travis about something, and her heart did a little flip. She’d never allowed herself to imagine a lazy morning like this. Not one that included a man who made her feel like no one else had ever made her feel. Her reflection stared back at her—her features relaxed and those familiar lines of tension gone. Starting her day with a bone-melting climax seemed to set a good tone.

  Chapter 22

  On Christmas Eve, Travis crutched his way up the steps to Janie’s house. The kitchen door swung open, and Stella stood in the doorway, grinning like mad. Pansy dashed past her and bounded into the snow. By the time he made it through the doorway, Pansy was racing back inside.

  “Hey Travis! Mom called to say she’s running late.”

  He crutched his way past Stella into the kitchen. “Thanks for letting me in anyway,” he said with a grin.

  Stella closed the door behind him while Pansy shook herself and sent the snow dusting her fur in an arc around her. “As if I’d make you wait outside,” Stella said with a roll of her eyes. She spun to the counter and immediately picked up her phone and started texting.

  Travis crutched his way to the couch and eased down, his eyes landing on the Christmas tree in the corner. Pansy had done a little damage to one corner with the branches ragged and torn. Presents were piled high underneath, and the lights strung along the ceiling brightened the room. He couldn’t wait until he got his cast off, but in the meantime, he was making do. It was the least of his reasons for being ecstatic about finally breaking through the walls around Janie’s heart, but he found it quite convenient that she wanted to fuss over him all the time. As such, she’d refused to let him stay at his apartment, insisting he shouldn’t be alone right now. He watched while Stella walked upstairs, her eyes intent on her phone.

  She’d survived the anticipation of the Christmas Dance and returned home jubilant from actually enjoying herself. After meeting Parker more than in passing, Travis was confident Parker liked Stella as much more than a friend. He’d shared as much with Janie, and she’d burst out laughing. “Oh yeah. I’m staying out of it and letting them figure it out.”

  Janie came swirling through the door, a whoosh of icy air blowing in with her. “Hey!” she called in his direction as she plunked several bags of groceries on the counter. He started to get up, thinking he needed to help. She turned to him with a hand on her hip. “You’re not seriously trying to get up and help me right now, are you?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “Don’t be dumb. There’s nothing left to carry. Stay right there,” she ordered with a wag of her finger.

  He fought the annoyance rising inside, not with her, but with his limited mobility. Moments later, after she’d whirled around the kitchen, she walked over and handed him a beer. She set a glass of wine down on the coffee table and adjusted the ottoman where his casted leg was resting. “Need anything else?”

  He took a long swallow of beer. “Not a thing.”

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Nope. Stopped by the station earlier and there was food everywhere. I figure I’m better off if I don’t eat much more since I’ll eat plenty tomorrow.”

  Janie nodded and leaned back into the cushions. Stella must’ve started a fire not too long ago because flames were still flickering in the fireplace. Travis looked at Janie and rested his hand on the back of the couch, sifting through her glossy hair. She rolled her head to the side, her eyes catching his.

  “You ready for Christmas with my family tomorrow?” she asked softly.

  “Absolutely. Anything that means I get a whole day with you is awesome.”

  Her cheeks flushed, and she leaned forward to snag her wine and take a gulp. He was finding it ridiculously easy to adjust to the new state of being obsessed with all things Janie. She made it easy because she was, well, she was Janie. He was finding, however, that while Janie seemed to have come to terms with her feelings for him, she flushed whenever he was this direct with her. Still stroking his fingers through her hair, he watched her. “What is it?” he asked.

  “What’s what?” she countered.

  “Whenever I say things like that, you get…like this,” he gestured to her as she took another gulp of wine.

  She stared at him and sighed. “I dunno. I’m not used to anyone talking to me like that. It’s…new. That’s all.”

  She leaned forward and traced the edge of his jaw. “I might not be used to it, but I like it,” she said, her voice husky as she brought her lips to his.

  Not much later, Janie flicked off the lights in the living room. The room fell into darkness. She turned to face him, and he realized the sky was lit up behind her in the windows. He grabbed his crutches and stood quickly. “Look!” He gestured toward the windows with the bottom of one of his crutches.

  She spun around, and he heard her breath catch. “Oh, I love the northern lights! I haven’t seen any yet this winter.”

  She stepped closer to the windows. He made his way to her and leaned against the wall by the windows, reaching for her and pulling her against his side. They stood in the darkened room and watched the colors dance across the sky. Shades of purple, blue and green in varying intensity rippled through the darkness. Only when the colors started to fade did Janie shift. He experienced a tiny pang of loss when her soft warmth moved away. “Let’s go upstairs,” she whispered.

  Once he clomped upstairs and managed to get in bed, Janie slipped under the covers beside him. He had a clear view of the sky over the bay. With Janie’s lush body curled up against his, he felt relaxed to his core. He watched the northern lights slowly fade into the darkness as her breathing evened into sleep. He’d never have thought falling asleep beside someone could feel this way, but right here, right now, he felt better than he ever had. Given he had a bum leg in a cast and his ribs were still sore as hell, that was saying something.

  “Mom!”

  Janie
was just standing up from the oven as she carefully removed the turkey. She set it down on the stove and turned as Stella slid across the kitchen in her socked feet. “There’s just no way to get you to remember you’re supposed to take it easy for another few weeks with that ankle, is there?” Janie asked with a shake of her head.

  Stella grinned. “I’m fine. I’m not running or jumping up and down. Anyway, you should be worried about Travis now, not me.”

  Janie chuckled. “Right. Anyway, what’s up?”

  “Can Parker come over later?”

  “Let me talk to his mom first.”

  “Why? You don’t usually say you have to talk to her first.”

  “Usually not, but it’s Christmas Day. I know you want to see him, but I need to make sure it’s okay with his parents if he’s not there for a little bit today.”

  Stella’s shoulders fell in an exaggerated droop, but she sighed and nodded. “Will you call her now?”

  “Give me five minutes.”

  Janie watched Stella meander out of the kitchen, grabbing a piece of cheese off of a tray on the counter as she passed by. Their house was filled with her family…and Travis. At the moment, he was seated in the corner of the couch with his leg propped up on an ottoman. Her mother and her two aunts, Pam and Sharon, were helping her in the kitchen, while her uncle Cody and Stella’s four cousins were scattered around the house between the living room and the sunroom. A football game was on television and Travis was bantering with her uncle about something to do with sports. She should’ve guessed he already knew almost everyone in her family. Apparently, he’d crewed with her uncle on the Winters’ brothers commercial crew a few summers ago.

  Travis glanced her way, his eyes catching hers. One look and it was as if a flame lit the air between them. Heat suffused her and her low belly clenched. She had to remind herself they were surrounded by family and tear her eyes away to focus on something other than him. “Hon, I’m starting the gravy,” her mother said from over her shoulder.

  Janie wiped her hands on a towel and slipped her phone out of her pocket. “Perfect. I’ll be right back. Need to make a call.”

  After she checked with Parker’s mother and got the green light for him to visit for a few hours this evening, she returned to the kitchen. Before she knew it, they were sitting down to eat. In her family, that wasn’t a formal affair. Although she had a dining table to one side of the kitchen, they’d elected to use it as a buffet table for serving and to eat scattered about the living room. There were just enough people here for the table to be crowded. Travis tried to insist he could serve himself, but after he almost dropped a plate while attempting to juggle his crutches and the plate, Janie elbowed him out of the way.

  “Back to the couch. Tell me what you want, and I’ll take care of it.”

  He dipped his head and dropped a lingering kiss in the curve of her neck, sending a hot shiver through her. When he lifted his head, her breath caught. Again, she had to remind herself where they were. “I’m not picky. Just get me some of everything,” he said, the low timbre of his voice sending another shiver over her skin.

  He crutched his way back to the couch, while she tried to focus and get their plates filled. Hours later, she wiped down the kitchen counter and turned on the dishwasher. Her family members had gradually left with her mother being the last hold out as she insisted everything get put away first. Parker had practically had to be shoved out the door. Janie was fairly certain he and Stella had managed to sneak in a few kisses in the sunroom. She hung the dishtowel on the oven handle and glanced to Travis. He was back in the corner of the couch with his foot propped up. The fire was dying down with embers glowing in the dim light. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her heart felt so full.

  She walked to the couch and settled into the cushions beside Travis. He curled his arm over her shoulders and pulled her against him. Even now, tired from a long day of cooking and the buzz of company all day, the feel of his muscled body against hers set a hum to life inside of her. She wondered if she’d ever get used to it. She relaxed against him and glanced up. Tracing a fingertip along his stubbled jaw, she smiled softly. “Well, you survived.”

  His shoulders shook with his laughter before he pinned her with his gaze. “You need to stop worrying any of this is hard for me. Aside from the fact your family’s pretty easy to be around, none of it really matters. The only thing that matters about today was I got to spend it with you.”

  A rush of emotion welled inside. He sifted his fingers through her hair and angled his head down, catching her lips in a quick kiss.

  Epilogue

  Travis walked down the dock at Otter Cove Harbor, weary from a long afternoon helping Nathan get their boat ready to be pulled from the harbor tomorrow. Nathan had left a few minutes earlier when Travis had realized he’d left his backpack on the boat. He was looking down when he heard his name and glanced up to see Janie jogging down the docks to meet him. He smiled inside and out—the kind of smile only she could elicit. She reached him finally and threw her arms around his neck. “Stella just got accepted to the music program at UW!”

  He held her fast against him and leaned his head back. “Awesome!”

  Janie kissed him quickly and wiggled, shimmying out of his hold. She slipped her hand in his and walked alongside him. “She’s beside herself. I promised we’d take her out for pizza.”

  “Of course. Let me get home and clean up first. I’m guessing she’ll want to bring Parker.”

  Janie grinned up at him. “Of course. He’s in the same program, so I’m trying to decide if it’s best to just accept that they’ll probably move in together.”

  He couldn’t help but laugh. “It is what it is. Whatever happens, Stella will be fine. Parker’s a good guy. I’m not worried I’ll have to threaten to kick his ass or anything.”

  Janie held his gaze for a long moment and then nodded firmly. He’d discovered over the last year that he loved how she’d come to look for him for advice. He couldn’t quite believe it, but they were a team when it came to parenting. When he’d moved in early last spring, he hadn’t known how that part of their relationship would play out. She’d quickly looped him into the dynamic and seemed beyond relieved for back up with some of the challenging issues. Stella was pretty well-behaved, but she was a teenager with a bumpy history. She had her moments and even her days, but all in all, they got through it.

  As they walked down the docks, he scanned the view. It was late afternoon on a chilly winter day. The sky was dotted with clouds, and wind was gusting across the bay. The mountains were tall and majestic on the far side, their snow-tipped peaks stark against the sky. A gust of wind blew Janie’s hair in a swirl. He glanced down and caught sight of the ring on her hand—a simple platinum band. He’d hemmed and hawed over his proposal and eventually sought Stella’s advice. She’d bluntly told him Janie wasn’t much of a fan of stones because then she had to worry about them. After all of his worries, Janie had surprised him by bursting into tears and flinging herself at him when he’d asked her to marry him. They’d had a simple ceremony this past summer. He still marveled every day when he woke up beside her and shrugged off the teasing at work over how quickly he’d gone from being a bachelor to a family man.

  He gave Janie’s hand a squeeze and stopped her on the docks. She glanced up, those hazel eyes—layers of color he lost himself in time and again—locked to his. “What?”

  “Just this…”

  He leaned down and brought his lips to hers. They were warm in the cold air.

  Janie leaned back in the booth and sighed. She pushed her plate away and eyed the pizza in the center of the table. They were at Glacier Pizza, and Travis’s arm was draped across her shoulders, his thumb idly stroking along her collarbone and distracting her. He distracted her almost all the time, but she’d become accustomed to it. He was laughing at something Stella said.

  Stella snagged the last piece of pizza and took a bite, her dark brown eyes bouncing
to Janie. “Thanks for taking me out for pizza.”

  Janie grinned. “Of course! You got some awesome news.”

  Stella’s eyes flicked to Travis, her smile expanding. “This is so perfect! You guys figured it out in time.”

  Travis took a swig of his beer and cocked his head to the side. “Huh?”

  Stella waved her free hand between them, still nibbling on the piece of pizza held in her other hand. “You fell in love and got married. I know Mom would’ve been fine no matter what, but she’s a people person. It took you to get her to wake up and stop being all to herself all the time.”

  Travis nodded slowly. “The falling in love part was easy.” He gave Janie’s shoulder a squeeze. “Your mom was just fine without me, so I consider myself lucky.”

  Stella said something else and the conversation moved on. Janie’s mind spun back to the years before she’d locked eyes with Travis. She’d come to realize she’d let old Randy have far more influence on her than she’d ever wanted. Randy’s dramatic entrance back into Diamond Creek had ended with a whimper when he worked out a plea deal for his charges. As it was, the best deal he could get meant fifteen years behind bars because of his long history and the felony assault charges. Janie felt truly free of the hold his violence had on her.

  A while later, she walked beside Travis onto the back deck at the house. Stella had bounded up to her room to ‘talk’ to Parker, which meant some combination of texting and screen time on their phones. Christmas was days away, and she couldn’t quite believe this would be her second Christmas with Travis. With Stella’s insistence, they’d gone all out with decorating this year. Travis had helped Stella hang lights along the roof and on a number of spruce trees in the yard, creating a magical feeling outside in the cold darkness. They stopped by the railing, and she looked up into the sky. “Oh! Northern lights,” she said on a breath.