License to Love: Holiday Box Set (Contemporary Romance)

by Kristen James

  “No, I’m not teaching, and I wanted to take her.”

  He made a silly face and got Aubrey to laugh.

  Margaret didn’t. Jason glanced at her stern face and thought maybe they should talk. “Would you like to come in for a minute?”

  She wavered.

  “Aubrey’s got some toys in there,” he added. Aubrey, clapping her hands, seemed to sway the verdict. Margaret accepted and got Aubrey out. Inside, he offered her a drink and pulled Aubrey’s crackers out.

  “I’ve been thinking I need to meet you.” He gestured to a chair, and they sat in the living room. “Savanna’s been a tremendous help to me.” Margaret almost winced and tried to cover it by pretending the tea was sour. He’d hit a sore spot, he could see. Maybe Margaret didn’t want Savanna helping him.

  “I’ve wanted to meet you for a while as well,” she started. “And I have a lot to talk about, but first I want to know who just left your apartment.”

  He drew a blank at first. “Oh, Rachael. A well-wisher.” Margaret raised an eyebrow at him, the same way Savanna did so often. “Not one that I want around, and I told her that.” He couldn’t give her anything besides the truth. “Margaret, I think the world of your daughter. She’s brave and tough. And a dedicated mother.”

  “I know,” she said with conviction.

  “Then is something wrong?”

  “I don’t think she knows all that yet, and I don’t want anyone taking advantage of her while she figures it out.”

  “I’ve worried that people, and especially you, would think that.” Since he spoke softly, honestly, she didn’t take offense. After hearing what a loving mother Margaret had been, and still was, to Savanna, he wanted to be a part of it. “The last thing I want to do is make problems for her.”

  But there was Cassie. He had made problems for them.

  “I didn’t know what to think when she told me she moved in here.” Margaret paused and sipped her iced tea. “This is really good.”

  With a grin, he told her, “Savanna made it.” Aubrey, at the table, had made a long cracker train and now busied herself with eating the crackers, one by one.

  “I can’t tell my daughter what to do.”

  His hope sank. “I want to prove myself again.” The cast wouldn’t let him forget what he’d done.

  “But, I’m keeping an open mind. Being around high schoolers for so many years has taught me a few things.” Jason didn’t like the comparison to a high school student, but he supposed he’d earned it.

  “I’m only asking for a chance. I know what Eric did to her.” When her eyebrows rose in surprise, he hoped she would put her trust in him because Savanna had. “I’m not full of myself. I know what a great woman she is, and I don’t know if I deserve her. I know with all my heart that I want to make her happy. Even if I can’t have a relationship with her, I’ll help her get on her feet here.”

  Jason almost said he loved her, but he knew he couldn’t claim that to Margaret when he hadn’t told Savanna yet.

  Margaret nodded, and he thought her eyes looked misty. If they were, she quickly covered it. “Savanna just has a lot to deal with already.” She spoke in a soft voice while looking out the window. “She’s trying to help Cassie, and now you, and then Eric is trying to upset her life again.”

  Eric? He felt guilty over the first two, but what the heck did she mean by Eric? She glanced back at him, probably because he hadn’t said anything. She saw the sideways tilt of his head and asked, “Did she tell you Eric filed for custody?”

  He shook his head, wavering between anger at Eric and hurt that Savanna hadn’t so much as mentioned it. “She’s told me other things about Eric, and that doesn’t make any sense.”

  “I know. I’ve hired a lawyer for her. We’ll see if Eric even comes over here to do anything about it.”

  His concentration went to hell with that. His mind raced back through conversations with Savanna, searching for some clue that she’d tried to tell him.

  Meanwhile, Margaret finished her tea and stood to leave. “Well, I’m glad I met you today, Jason.”

  He stood and offered his hand, truly feeling the same. Aubrey gave him a big hug when they left. He waved out the window, and renewed desire hit him to be involved in the rest of Savanna’s life, including her family.

  “There’s my baby!” Savanna knelt by Aubrey after work to see her stack of blocks.

  “Hi, Mama.”

  Savanna started to pick up the toys Aubrey had spread over the floor when Margaret said, “I talked to Jason today.”

  “When you got the diaper bag?” Savanna still couldn’t believe she’d been that scatterbrained. Margaret, seeing her face, added, “Everyone does things like that now and then.”

  “So you dropped by?”

  “He came outside and invited me in.” Margaret smoothed her hair back thoughtfully, and Savanna wasn’t sure if she should pry or wait for her to talk.

  She couldn’t leave it alone. “Well?”

  “I think he’s genuine.”

  Savanna wasn’t used to the whimsical look on her mom’s face. “So you approve of him?”

  Margaret’s smile crinkled her face in a graceful way. “He cares about you.”

  Hearing this from someone else felt nice. “You doubted that before you met him?”

  “I just thought the situation sounded suspect.” Even with those words, that dreamy look still decorated her face, making her look pretty.

  “I trust him,” Savanna said without any doubt in her heart. “He saved my life once.”

  After a moment’s thought about that, Margaret sighed. “The way he talks about you is so sweet. I like him, Savanna, even though a part of me says I should be worried about someone like him.”

  Savanna froze. Someone like him? Margaret pulled her gaze up from Aubrey and saw Savanna standing still.

  “Savanna?”

  “Why should you be worried about him?” Was there something about Jason that her mother saw, something she couldn’t see? Her mom was right; she couldn’t trust her own judgment. Not after Eric.

  “Oh, sit down, Savanna. I meant he might not be so emotionally stable because Mike died and because he got in that accident. That’s what I thought before I met him. Now I don’t think that’s the case.”

  “I don’t, either.”

  “I’ve wanted to meet him for a while,” Margaret said. “I think today started out awkwardly because I saw a woman leaving his place.”

  Savanna leaned forward like she didn’t understand what her mother meant. “What woman?”

  “I think he said her name was Rachael. Just a friend checking on him, but my mind jumped to all the wrong conclusions.”

  Savanna didn’t reply to that while hiding her shock and suspicion.

  Margaret still saw something in her face, something that showed she had her doubts. “Do you trust your heart?”

  “That’s the problem,” Savanna said. “I don’t anymore.”

  Eleven

  The clouds hung low like wet paper napkins as Savanna drove home from her mom’s house. She saw the storm coming and felt it in the air.

  Discovering Eric had cheated on her had been like discovering she’d been standing on a floor that didn’t exist. She couldn’t repeat that mistake. Going through the pain of not being wanted, even during the marriage, had completely changed her.

  Could Jason possibly be so sweet to her while still seeing Rachael? To be honest, they weren’t officially dating, so he could see other women if he wanted to.

  If he wanted to break her heart, that is.

  The street in front of her car flashed white. The loud thunder that followed shook her car, making Aubrey scream. Obese raindrops thudded down, clapping and pounding. The hard rain sent wet-pavement smell into the car.

  “It’s just a thunderstorm, Aubrey. I’ll get you home soon.” Savanna couldn’t drive any faster, however, because the pavement would be oily after the dry summer. The first rain always made the road sl
ick. She pulled into her driveway and debated waiting out the storm. There was no telling how long that would take, however, and she couldn’t take any more of Aubrey’s screams. She had to get her inside and calm her down.

  She jumped out of the car, flung open Aubrey’s door, and quickly undid her buckles.

  Suddenly, the constant water on her back quit, yet the rain’s music still sounded. She glanced back to see Jason holding an umbrella over them.

  Their gazes met for a brief look. It lasted only a second but said so much.

  “Thanks!” She hauled Aubrey up into her arms and ran inside. Jason hopped because he didn’t have his crutches. She was out of breath as they burst into her door.

  “Some storm, huh?” He held the umbrella out the front door and shook the rain off. Aubrey hung onto her, screaming still, but then Jason turned on the light and patted her back.

  Aubrey nuzzled her face into Savanna’s shoulder as Jason’s hand patted a slow, steady beat, soothing her. She calmed down and yawned.

  When Jason’s face came up, his eyes looked dark and shiny, dangerous . . . in a sexy way. His hair and skin were wet. She couldn’t look away.

  “I sure hope you don’t give that look to anyone else.” He spoke in a low voice that echoed through her and gave her excited chills.

  She felt herself smile, even though she had planned to play it cool. “No one else makes me feel like this.” She whispered since Aubrey had just fallen asleep.

  “How’s that?” he asked.

  The room lit up from the lightning outside, and then thunder rumbled like a thousand monster trucks. She pulled Aubrey even closer until it passed.

  “Let me take Aubrey to bed before I tell you.”

  He stood in the living room, unable to take his gaze off Savanna as she walked up the stairs. The stair’s soft nightlight lit the way, making her look like a dream as she ascended.

  He’d love to sink his fingers through all that thick, sunshine-blond hair. Run his hands up and down her generous curves. He couldn’t move for a minute, but when she disappeared upstairs, he turned on the small lamp on her end table. She hadn’t been joking about not having much furniture. There was more baby furniture than anything else.

  He could buy her new furniture, but that might offend her. He wanted to build her a house with a big yard for Aubrey, a swing set, a tree fort, and a brown lab to lie on the porch.

  Nope, he wasn’t going overboard at all. And it wouldn’t scare her at all to hear what he was thinking.

  She’d derailed his thoughts with her wet, sexy look, but now his doubts popped back up. Why hadn’t she told him something was going on? Maybe he took their relationship more seriously than she did, and maybe she didn’t feel the need to tell him about Eric.

  She walked down the stairs and into his arms, still damp from the rain and slightly chilled. To warm her up, he rubbed his hands on her arms. “Savanna . . .”

  He needed to ask her but didn’t know how to form the words. The tone of his voice must have told her something, because she paused and looked at him. In the dim light, she looked uncertain.

  “You know I’m here for you, right?”

  “Yes, I know,” she whispered while continuing to search his face, but the way she said it meant she wanted to know why.

  “It’s just . . . I heard about Eric, about the whole custody thing, and you haven’t told me.” Jason felt her grow stiff in his arms.

  “It never seemed like the right time.” Savanna’s words sounded like an apology.

  He’d been leaning on her and spilling all his emotions. Now that irritated him. “Why can’t I be there for you, like you’ve been there for me?”

  “I . . . you are, I just couldn’t talk about it.”

  “But I want to know what’s going on in your life, Savanna. I’m taking all your time. I’m telling you about my dark and ugly secrets.”

  “I know. I don’t know what to say. I didn’t want to think about it, so it was easy to let it slip. That way, I wouldn’t stress you with it, either. It means so many different things. There’s a mediation meeting coming up, and I’ve wanted to tell you so many times, but we’ve had other important things to talk about too.”

  It hurt to hear things had been progressing, and she had been dealing with them on her own. He could also tell she saw his hurt. “Let me be here for you, okay? I want to know everything. I’ll be right here with you through it all.”

  She looked honestly flabbergasted that he didn’t want to run from her and her problems. That almost made him laugh. If only she knew how much he admired her, wanted her, needed her.

  Jason kissed her forehead. “But don’t you feel better now? Didn’t you want me to know?”

  Now Savanna looked wishful as she gazed at him. “Yeah.” She exhaled, sounding relieved, and that broke him. Pulling her into his arms felt so right. Her mouth parted while she stared up into his eyes. He planted his lips on hers.

  He kissed her breathless before saying, “I wish I could carry you to the couch.”

  “Later on you can.”

  “Promise?” Jason asked. She nodded and they went together, him using one crutch for his broken leg. Thunder crashed again but not as loud as before.

  “Does it hurt?” she asked, with a gesture toward his leg.

  “Not really.” He didn’t think about it long, but pulled her up into his lap. “Well, maybe a little bit, but you can kiss me and make me better.”

  She nestled her bottom right up against him. “You naughty boy.”

  “No,” he said, kissing her neck. “Just crazy about you. And the ticklish spot right there.” He planted kisses all over her, not just her neck, until she grabbed his face in her hands and brought their mouths together.

  Why couldn’t he give in to his needs? Give her what she wanted?

  Torture. He loved and hated touching her. He loved the feel of her; he hated losing control. Her silky skin felt so smooth under his rough hands, her curves yielding against him. With her mouth on his, she could ask him for anything.

  Tonight wasn’t the same. Tonight he couldn’t contain the painful need he felt for her, the need eating him up inside. Skimming his hands over her shirt, he grazed her ribs and the swell of her breasts.

  She jumped and tightened her hold on him. Her tongue worked magic on him, teasing his mouth. Just like he’d fantasized, he ran his hands into her hair, feeling the fullness of it, the softness. When his hand traced down her neck, she made her little noise.

  That spot. Unable to resist, he kissed his way to the sensitive place below her ear. She went wild, flattened her breasts against him, and hung onto him. He nibbled where he’d kissed before.

  She cried out, a shriek of pleasure, and while she gasped in a breath, he heard Aubrey cry from upstairs.

  Thunder clapped.

  With a jerk, Savanna sat up, ran her fingers through her hair. “Uh . . . Oh, Aubrey.”

  They looked at each through a haze of desire while their brains cleared. “You should go up there.”

  She nodded and headed upstairs. Now he pushed both hands through his hair, leaning back into her couch. Even blowing out a big breath didn’t clear his head.

  The mood, however, was ruined. The storm grew stronger again, and he could hear Aubrey crying between the booms. He stood to go upstairs and help, but then he saw Savanna standing at the top of the stairs. “Sorry, but I think she needs me tonight.”

  “Don’t be sorry.” They waved before he headed out. Probably a good thing. Or was it?

  Jason stood by his bedroom window, looking out at the tall spruce trees stretching skyward across the street. After last night’s storm, the air felt fresh and clear as the world outside warmed up.

  Only a few white clouds floated high on the wind, puffed here and there. Looking out, he itched to get out of his cast and get on with his life, maybe go back to work at the fire station. He didn’t feel like he was giving Savanna his best the way he was now.

  Why couldn’t
he let go of this guilt? He felt like some kind of freak, unable to make love to the woman of his dreams, and all because of the cast. Well, because of what the cast symbolized. He wanted her so badly and knew she didn’t believe that.

  The phone rang, but he knew Savanna wouldn’t be calling him this early. When she called, she claimed to be checking on him, but they both knew he didn’t need that anymore. He needed to hear her voice, though.

  It rang and rang, so he grabbed it. “Hello?”

  “Yes, Jason Lancaster?”

  “Speaking.” He’d taken a few survey calls in his time at home, but the stiff voice didn’t sound like a telemarketer.

  “I’m calling in regard to Savanna Thompson. She listed you as a reference on her rental application.”

  Jason felt a weight slam into his chest. “I’m sorry, I don’t know a Savanna Thompson.”

  “No? That’s odd. Are you sure?”

  “I know who rents from me.” He wanted to ask the woman her name, but the irritated voice said goodbye and hung up. Drumming his fingers on the phone, he sat down on the bed.

  While he showered and ate breakfast, he turned the conversation over in his head and debated whether he should ask Savanna about it.

  At twelve fifteen, the phone rang, answering any doubt in his mind. Of course he’d be open about everything with her, especially after he’d gotten on her for that very thing the night before. “Hey, babe.”

  “Is everything okay?” Savanna sounded ready to drive over and save him. His voice must have given his worry away already.

  “Yeah, thanks,” he chuckled, wondering how she had become the knight in shining armor while he always needed saving. “I got the strangest call today. You’d tell me before looking for another place to live, wouldn’t you?”

  “Of course.” She paused, and Jason heard her breathe. “Why?”

  “A woman called to verify me as your reference on an alleged rental application, but she didn’t ask the normal questions. Something felt odd . . . seemed weird, so I said I didn’t know you.” Right away, he heard her breath quicken.