“Funny,” Jack mumbled before turning toward the doors. He paused and looked at her.
“You know you gotta come back with us,” he said gruffly. He leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head. “You’re family, Jules, come back.” He held her stare for a moment and then left.
Julia took a deep breath and looked up at the man that had brought her back from a life without feeling or risk…or love. “Chase—”
“Wait, before you say anything, I want to take you somewhere.”
As if she was going to be able to just walk away now. “Where?”
His gaze was intense, his blue eyes trained on her. “Do you trust me?”
“You know I do.”
He held out his hand. “Then come with me. We’ll drop Jack off and then I’m taking you somewhere. If you still want to leave, I’ll drive you back here and you can leave tonight.”
Her chest ached at the thought of leaving again. She was so torn. It was easier to leave without saying good-bye, without seeing him. How was she going to leave when being with him felt so right? “Really? You followed me out here, now you’re telling me you’ll bring me back?”
He shrugged, broad shoulders rising and falling with the motion. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I’m actually banking on you not wanting to leave again, but I’m a man of my word. You want to leave after, I’ll bring you back.”
It was a step in the right direction. She knew with him was always the right direction.
…
Twenty minutes later, Jack had been left on the Baileys’ doorstep and they were now pulling into Chase and Maggie’s new house.
She knew whatever was happening would impact her deeply. She already knew she loved Chase, but now he was showing her this other side of him, which she already had known existed because he’d shown this kind of patience with his daughter. He was patient, kind. He could have given up on her. He could have been angry that she was trying to leave town without saying good-bye. He could have insulted her or belittled her feelings, but he didn’t. Instead he brought her…here. To his new house.
“Come on,” he said, getting out of the SUV.
Julia followed him, surprised when he didn’t go up to the front porch. Instead, he led them around to the back of the home and up the steps to the deck, and then he left her there while he disappeared somewhere.
Julia stood on the back deck, her boots a foot deep in the packed snow as she stared out into the dark yard. She had no idea where he was. “Chase?”
“Merry Christmas, Julia.”
Julia blinked, and then the darkness disappeared, replaced by an almost ethereal light. White lights. Hundreds and hundreds of white, twinkling lights transformed the yard into a paradise where there was no room for darkness. Evergreens, heavy with snow now boasted their gifts of light.
Her voice was trapped somewhere deep inside. This triggered the memory of a walk with Chase when they were young.
Chase appeared at the bottom of the steps, his handsome face shadowed. “Do you remember?”
Julia shook her head and then slowly nodded as the warmth of the memory flooded her body.
“We were seventeen, walking home from school after the play rehearsal. It was dark out and you were giving a running commentary on the Christmas lights in front of each house.” His mouth ventured slightly upward, his eyes unwavering.
Julia swallowed, pushing down the lump in her throat, pushing down the past before it ruined the moment.
“And you said that one day you were going to have your own house and the man you married would be so in love with you that he’d create a winter wonderland of lights for you every year at Christmas.”
Julia choked on the sob that broke free and Chase’s image blurred with her tears. She remembered. It had been their private memory, a silly teenage dream, one she’d never even told Michael about. But Chase knew. He remembered. That night at his house, she hadn’t had time to pull the memory because he’d started kissing her. But he’d been right, he remembered everything about them.
He walked up the remaining steps until he stood still in front of her. Love emanated from him, seeped through her body until she couldn’t ignore it anymore. Chase was brave, and strong. And maybe he was invincible.
“Don’t leave me, don’t leave us, Julia.”
She squeezed her eyes shut at the vulnerability in his voice. Chase was never vulnerable. “When I got the call that night you’d been shot I thought I was going to lose my mind and then I saw you there, in that hospital bed.” Her voice broke on a sob and he pulled her into his arms, kissing her head.
“I know, I know. But I’m fine. I always come back, remember?”
She pulled back from him slightly. “You can’t make that promise. I’m not Maggie.”
He frowned. “I’m not leaving you, ever. I’m here.”
“I went to see them, Chase,” she whispered, her hands grasping his waist.
“Who?”
“Michael and Matthew. I hadn’t been back there…since the funeral.”
He leaned forward and kissed her softly. “I would have come with you.”
“I know, but I had to do it on my own. I had to say good-bye. And after that I just shut down. All I could think of was you and Maggie and that I loved you both so much and I was just too scared to lose you too. I’m so sorry I walked out, Chase.” He wrapped her up in his strong arms and she felt all the worry slowly recede. He made her feel safe, he made her believe everything he said.
“I know, darling. I know. I’m not mad at you, I love you, Jules. I have never needed anyone. I’ve been the guy to help everyone else get their crap together. I’ve been dumped on and abandoned and I’ve grown to accept that that’s who I am. I like being strong. I like being dependable. I’ve learned never to count on anyone else. I’m the only person I can rely on. I don’t need anyone. But I need Maggie and I need you, God, how I need you in my life, in my bed, in my soul.”
Julia squeezed her eyes shut and tried to find the words to speak but he beat her to it.
“Julia, I have loved you since we were in high school. I have loved you through everything and I swear to God, I would have done anything to spare you the pain of losing Michael and Matthew. But we’re here, I’m here, and I’m offering you everything I’ve got. Me. My little girl. My heart. My soul. You’ve got me if you want me.”
Julia leaned forward, into him, into the man that had saved her five years ago, the man that was saving her now, injecting life and love and faith back into her soul. And the pain of the past was finally less than the pain of not having a future…with Chase.
“God, how could I not want you, Chase? It was never about not wanting you. It was about me.” She held his face in front of hers for a moment, letting everything she had come to know about this man play in front of her. The little boy he’d once been, unloved and neglected, to the strong, resilient, brave man he’d become. And he was hers; all she had to do was be as brave as he, and she’d have it all. A family. Motherhood. And a man she loved more than any guarantees of safety, a man she loved more than she ever knew possible.
“You saved me, over and over again. I don’t need saving anymore. You’ve got me. All of me, as whole as I’ll ever be. I want to be yours. I want to be Maggie’s mama. God, how badly do I want that. I love you both so much, forever,” she whispered before his mouth covered hers.
It was the first Christmas in so long that she felt the magic of the season seep through her and fill her with peace and love. Chase had brought her back, he’d given her the gift of love again, the gift of family. She was finally home.
Epilogue
“Happy New Year, Jules,” Chase said, grabbing her hand and ushering her into the darkened entryway of the Baileys’ home, away from the party. It was just past midnight and Chase kissed her until she could barely stand.
“This was the best New Year’s I’ve had in a long time,” she whispered as they slowly pulled apart, the sound of appro
aching footsteps interrupting their interlude.
“It would have been even better if we were at home, in bed, not at a party.”
She laughed at his disgruntled expression. “I don’t think there was any way we’d get out of attending this. The Baileys are celebrating Jack’s return—what a way for them to start a new year.”
Chase kissed the top of her head. “You’re right. I haven’t seen them this happy in years. But now that it’s past midnight, I think we can go. Maggie is already asleep. So we can sneak out and start this new year off right.”
“God some things never change.” Jack’s deep voice, laced with humor made her smile. Chase cursed under his breath and turned around to face his friend.
“When are you going to shave off that god-awful beard? You look like a fugitive.”
Jack rubbed his cheek, a lopsided grin on his face. “What are you going to do about it? Do you want my fingerprints?”
“Okay, you two, this is not the time to behave like children. There are more important things to discuss—like have you had a chance to speak with Lily?” Julia whispered.
Jack frowned. “Jules, I’m not going to speak with her.”
Her stomach dropped. Her poor friend. “Why not?”
“We can’t go back to what we were. She’s moved on.”
Julia made a mental note of the fact that he said she’s moved on…meaning he hadn’t. She was going to update Lily tomorrow. “Nothing’s ever too late. You should at least speak to her,” she said, nudging her chin in the direction of her friend who was currently standing alone and filling up another glass of champagne.
“I’d suggest shaving first,” Chase said.
She poked him in the ribs.
“Well, thanks for the advice,” Jack said, taking a step away and raising his empty glass of champagne to them.
Julia cringed as she turned around to face Chase again. “I feel so bad for him. He’s still not himself.”
Chase gave a nod. “I know. Give him time. He came home and did the right thing. He’ll get there.” His gaze darted from hers. “Oh man, don’t look now, he’s approaching Lily.”
Julia whipped her head around.
“I said don’t look,” he said, laughter in his voice as they both watched the scene unfold.
Julia held her breath as they watched Jack say something to Lily and hold up his empty glass. Vulnerability was stamped across his handsome face. Lily’s expression didn’t change, didn’t soften at all at whatever he said. Julia’s heart started hammering as she watched her dear, sweet friend, lift the bottle of champagne and slowly pour it in Jack’s glass. It looked like she was saying something too. And it looked as though she kept on talking, as she kept filling the glass, as champagne started overflowing and she kept pouring.
“Oh hell, that’s not going well,” Chase said in a strangled voice.
Julia held her breath. Clearly, Lily wasn’t ready to start the year off with forgiveness.
They watched, not moving as Jack just stood there as Lily stuffed maraschino cherries in his glass, her eyes narrowed and her mouth moving a mile a minute. “Do you think she’s insane?” Chase asked.
Julia stifled a laugh, because none of it was funny at all. “No, she’s just really, really mad at him.”
Lily stormed off and Jack stood there, champagne, and cherries dripping from his glass and onto his feet. Gwen raced across the room and followed Lily. Jack turned to them and gave them a salute before walking out the patio doors. Alone.
“That was so bad,” Julia whispered. “You should go talk to him.”
“Guys don’t like talking after they’ve just been humiliated by a woman. Maybe I’ll pass by and see him tomorrow,” he said, yanking their coats out of the closet. “I think this might be a good time for us to leave.”
She slipped on her coat. “I guess.”
“Don’t let that ruin our night,” he said, giving her a kiss.
She smiled up at him. It had taken forever to get to this good place. “I won’t. We’ll figure out a way to get them back together tomorrow.”
“Uh, that’s not exactly what I meant.”
She patted his shoulder. “That’s okay. I’ll help you.”
He laughed, pulling her out onto the porch. Snowflakes were falling and the air was crisp and tinged with the smell of cedar. He started down the steps and she called out to him, ready to share with him something she’d never thought she’d say again.
“What is it, Jules?” He stood there, on the bottom step, his dark hair sprinkled with white snow. His handsome features were relaxed and happy.
Her eyes filled with tears and a rush of hope and slight fear filled her as she spoke from her heart. “I…if you want…”
He frowned, moving closer to her, taking her hand. “What is it?”
“Have you ever thought about becoming a dad again?”
His blue eyes softened, and her heart swelled when she saw them fill with moisture. “I have.” His voice was thick, rough with emotion. “I didn’t want to push, or pressure you.”
She nodded rapidly, taking a step closer to him. “I want babies with you, Chase.”
He closed his eyes for a second and then leaned forward, cupping her face with his hands. “I want to give you babies, Jules. I want to give you everything,” he whispered before kissing her. They stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms and snow fell around them. Julia knew she was ready for a new year, a new life, with the man holding her.
Did you love this Bliss? Check out more of our fun and flirty titles here!
Don’t miss more books by Victoria James! Sign up for our newsletter here
About the Author
Victoria James is a romance writer living near Toronto. She is a mother to two young children, one very disorderly feline, and wife to her very own hero.
Victoria attended Queen’s University and graduated with a degree in English Literature. She then earned a degree in Interior Design. After the birth of her first child she began pursuing her life-long passion of writing.
Her dream of being a published romance author was realized by Entangled in 2012. Victoria is living her dream—staying home with her children and conjuring up happy endings for her characters.
Victoria would love to hear from her readers! Sign up for Victoria’s Newsletter and receive a FREE novella by Victoria James! You can visit her at www.victoriajames.ca or Twitter @vicjames101 or send her an email at [email protected].
Find your Bliss with these great releases…
Snowbound with Mr. Wrong
a novel by Barbara White Daille
Worst. Day. Ever. After Lyssa Barnett’s sister tricks her into reprising her role at Snowflake Valley’s annual children’s party, she doesn’t think anything can be worse than squeezing into her too-small elf costume. Then tall, dark, and way too handsome Nick Tavlock shows up to play Santa…and an unexpected storm leaves them snowbound in the isolated lodge. Now Lyssa is trapped with the man who drives her crazy in more than one way. She needs to stay strong—and far way from the mistletoe. Or maybe she just needs a little Christmas spirit...
Her Unexpected Engagement
a Checkerberry Inn novel by Kyra Jacobs
Stephanie Fitzpatrick wanted out of the spotlight after her pro-golfer husband was caught on camera cheating. But when a fib told by her well-meaning sister has her looking for a temporary fiancé, she goes to the one man who can help—her former best friend. Before long, the temptation to change the “temporary” arrangement into something more is hard to ignore.
Saving the Sheriff
a Three River Ranch novel by Roxanne Snopek
Every year, free-spirited Frankie Sylva banishes her holiday loneliness with good deeds. This time, she’s rescuing a truckload of neglected reindeer—until a blizzard sidetracks her scheme. When local sheriff Red LeClair finds her half-frozen and trespassing on Three River Ranch, he has no choice but to take her back to the ranch and keep an eye on her. But w
hen the power goes out, Red and Frankie are forced to depend on each other in a way that both have avoided for years. Will Red be the one Frankie rescues this holiday?
Resisting the Hero
an Accidentally in Love novel by Cindi Madsen
When his best friend’s sister moves to town, local cop Connor Maguire knows he’s in trouble. Faith is feisty, funny, and talks trash like nobody’s business. She’s also his partner’s sister—and so totally off limits. Faith Fitzpatrick isn’t looking for a hero. She wants safe, and there’s nothing safe about Connor. Confident, sexy, and sporting a six-pack that should be illegal, he’s everything she doesn’t want. The more time Connor spends with Faith, the more he’s willing to risk the wrath of her brother. If he could only convince her to take a risk on him, too.
Also by Victoria James…
A Risk Worth Taking
The Best Man’s Baby
The Doctor’s Fake Fiancee
The Rebel’s Return
The Rancher’s Second Chance
Rescued by the Rancher
Falling for the P.I.
Falling for Her Enemy
The Billionaire’s Christmas Baby
The Billionaire’s Christmas Proposal
Christmas with the Sheriff Page 15
