by Lori Foster
He kissed her temple. “We’re short on cash, big on grief. I know Thanksgiving is going to be rough, but Christmas will be—”
“Partially spent with my family.” The idea came to her, dug in and took root. Not a perfect solution, but definitely a good one. Excitement growing, Briana lifted up to see him. “I can start laying hints now with Owen and Ella, so that it’s coming from me instead of you. They like me, Jax. I promise they do.”
“They adore you,” he agreed. “But—”
“They’ll love my family, too. It won’t be the same, but we can start new traditions.”
“No.” He drew her back down against him. “We can’t do that, honey. We need to figure it out—”
“And you will.” She bit her lip, but the ideas were growing fast, gaining steam and she couldn’t rein herself in. It felt right.
It felt perfect.
“Could I make a suggestion?” She rushed on. “Please don’t say no until you’ve thought about it, okay? I mean, really thought about it. Maybe take a day or two. Even a week if you need to.”
Brows twitching and a smile putting a dimple in his cheek, Jax nodded. “Now you’ve got me curious.”
She sat up, her breath quickening in her excitement. “First, promise me I can talk to Owen and Ella about joining my family for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Promise me,” she said, overriding his automatic objection, “and I’ll promise you that if they don’t want to, I’ll let it go.”
His gaze searched hers, but finally he nodded. “All right.”
A win! She felt more confident by the second.
“Be forewarned though—it could be weird. Ella might cry, and Owen will be gruff—”
“It won’t be weird at all because we always include other people. There are so many of us that it’s easy to add in a few more. I promise.”
His smile looked appreciative, and gentle. “Still—”
“Let’s get engaged.” The second the words left her mouth, her eyes widened.
So did Jax’s. In fact, he turned to stone. His flummoxed expression...well, she just didn’t know.
After what felt like an hour but was probably no more than an excruciating fifteen seconds, he repeated, “Engaged?”
She’d said it, so now she had to shore it up. Briana nodded decisively. “Engaged. It can be a long engagement,” she promised, “but it’ll make me a part of your family all the same. I can be helpful, Jax. I swear it.”
Slowly, he sat up, his brows knit, his eyes darkened. “You want to marry me?”
More than anything, but she only said, “Eventually. We’re good together, right?”
“Honey...” He trailed off, then tried again. “Sex is not marriage. Great sex—”
“So it was great?”
“How can you ask that?” Gentling his tone, he held her face in his hands and kissed her. “I’ve never known anyone like you. I’ve never felt anything even close to how you make me feel.”
Maybe it was love for him, too, and he just didn’t realize it? All the stress and worry lately could make it hard for him to decipher. “You see?” She worked up a lighthearted smile. “It would be so perfect with us, Jax.”
“The thing is, my life is pure turmoil right now.”
“But getting better.” She squeezed in close, holding him as tight as she could. “I can help with that. I can ease the transition—”
“You’d be a new transition, Briana. One more thing for Owen and Ella to deal with.”
He made her sound like a burden, and that stung. Her heart thumped harder, with determination—and damn him, love. She could make it work. She had a generation of determined, caring heritage in her blood.
Biting her lip, she took in his regret, his tenderness and a dozen more emotions she couldn’t yet name, and then she threw her heart at him. “I love you.”
Jax sucked in a breath.
“I love you and I will love your brother and sister. I want you all to be happy again.”
“You take on too much.”
“You have no idea what I can take on.” Poking him in the chest, she said, “I’m stronger than you realize. I have more than enough love to go around, and even better, I have a massive family that will—”
“Make up for what we’ve lost?” Snorting, Jax got to his feet. Naked, he strode into the bathroom but didn’t close the door. Immediately Thor got up and followed, stopping midway where he could see them both, his furry face showing concern.
Briana couldn’t see Jax, but by the shushed sounds of fabric, she knew he was dressing. She shot to her feet and stalked after him. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“It’s dawn. I’m going to see how the roads look.”
“Snowy,” she said. “They look snowy, and you know you can’t run off. Not this time.”
His gaze skipped to her, over her, and his mouth flattened. “Put on some clothes.”
“No.” She folded her arms under her breasts. Sure, she was a little cold, but the fireplace had done a wonderful job of warming the small house.
“You think staying naked will...what? Make me see things your way?”
“I’m hoping it’ll entice you back to bed. You’re more reasonable when you’re turned on.”
Jax caught her chin. “Around you, I’m always turned on. But that doesn’t change the facts.”
“The fact that you’re a coward?”
He drew back, his shoulders stiff. “A coward?”
Eh, so maybe she shouldn’t have said that. “You care about me.”
“Never said I didn’t.”
“But you’ll use Ella and Owen as an excuse because you’re afraid to take a chance?”
Shooting past her, he grabbed up his boots, then sat in a chair to pull them on. “It’s too much—”
“Not for them,” she countered, cutting him off. “But maybe for you?”
Suddenly the dog’s ears perked and he gave a low “woof.”
Jax and Briana turned to him. A second later the dog went nuts, barking and racing to the front door.
“What in the world,” Briana said.
Jax shushed her. “Listen.” They both went quiet—and then heard the hum of an engine. “We’ve got company.”
Horror washed over her. “My family,” she breathed. And they were about to catch her naked! Making a beeline for the bathroom, she ordered, “Pick up our bedding! I’ll pull on my clothes.”
The knock sounded at the door, barely heard over Thor’s warning barks.
Briana slammed the door on Jax’s laughter. If he found this funny, he obviously didn’t know her family well enough.
* * *
IN RAPID ORDER, Jax considered things.
The furious, protective dog. Briana’s family—a large gathering from the sounds of it—on the porch.
And the rumpled rugs and clothes on the floor, a sign of their night together.
Was he a coward?
No.
Was he worried about overwhelming her with his problems? Definitely, he was—but maybe she was right. From what he’d seen, Briana was strong enough to handle anything that came her way.
Mind made up, he ignored her order to remove the bedding and instead called out, “Just a second. We have a stray dog in here.”
Jordan’s voice was the first to reply. “Open the door only a crack so I can talk to it.”
Everyone in Buckhorn knew Briana’s uncle Jordan was a miracle worker with animals. He had the true gift of being able to talk even the most fractious animal into tranquility.
Giving Thor a few pats, Jax braced his booted foot on the floor to prevent the door from opening too much, then cracked it open.
On one knee, Jordan spoke through the opening—and immediately Thor calmed, tipping his head and listening while his tail gave a few steady
thumps against the floor.
Jordan reached in to scratch Thor under the chin, whispering, speaking in soothing tones, and in no time at all, Thor was again a happy, sweet pup.
“It’s okay now,” Jordan said. “Open up.”
Trusting him, Jax put some slack in the door and Thor rushed out, sniffing everyone, greeting them happily, before going off to do his business.
“Beautiful dog,” Jordan said. “Briana is keeping him?”
“Said she was.” Jax stepped back and watched as Sawyer, her oldest uncle, took in the setting. His searching gaze landed on Jax.
Then Morgan, her uncle with the baddest rep, scowled and called, “Come out, girl. You can’t hide.”
No answer.
Her father, Gabe Kasper, did his own quick perusal, blew out a breath and announced to everyone, “I knew it.”
The bathroom door cracked open. Briana glanced at them all and pursed her lips. “You knew what, Dad?”
“That day I caught you peeking out. I knew Jax here had just gone by, and I could see it in your eyes. You were already snared.”
Morgan laughed. “The day I caught you jogging—”
“Uncle Morgan,” she warned.
Jordan went to the door and whistled, calling Thor back in. Sidetracking everyone, he said, “Have you named him?”
She sent her uncle a grateful look and eased into the room. “I’m naming him Thor. You don’t think he belongs to anyone, do you?”
“No one has contacted me about a lost dog that fits his description.” Jordan’s hands moved over the animal’s fur. “Judging by the looks of him, he’s been on his own for a while.”
“Good, then he’s mine.”
Sawyer nodded. “New house, new dog—anything else new you want to tell us about?”
They all looked at Jax.
Thor even came to sit by his foot, leaning into his thigh and staring up at him in expectation.
Yes, he knew what he was in for. Her family was not known for subtlety. Every damn one of them went after what they wanted, no holds barred. Somewhere in their DNA, stubborn resolve formed a basis for all their other qualities—like acceptance, understanding, and moral strength.
They weren’t perfect, no. But they obviously adored Briana, and she adored them. They were a package deal, just as he, Owen and Ella were.
Going down this path would not only change his life forever, but his brother’s and sister’s, too.
Jax did it anyway. Watching Briana, he announced, “She proposed.”
Briana’s gasp was loud enough to be a smack. “I said we could get engaged.”
“Engaged for what, if not marriage?” He turned to fully face her. “You said you could handle anything.” Jax indicated her father and uncles. “You can start by handling them.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You think I can’t?”
Actually, he was pretty sure she could handle anything once she set her mind to it. “I think you’re embarrassed because we spent the night together.” He pointed at the floor. “Right there.”
Gabe ran a hand over his face. “I don’t want to hear this.”
Jax turned to him. “You raised a brazen daughter.”
His mouth opened, but then he closed it and sighed. “I know. That was mostly her mother’s doing, though.”
“She’s also beautiful.”
With one agreeable nod, Gabe said, “Gets that from her mother, too.”
Since Briana’s mother had red hair and freckles, the explanation was absurd. Just like her two sisters, Briana was the spitting image of Gabe, only far more feminine.
Rather than debate it, he said, “She’s also smart and motivated, extremely caring, has a big heart and—”
Sawyer interrupted. “And you love her?”
Pushing aside the indecision, Jax opened his heart—and took an irrevocable step forward. There’d be no going back, not with Briana, not with his siblings and not with her family. But did he even want to? Life without her seemed far bleaker than anything he’d faced so far.
Was she worth it?
Absolutely yes.
And so he answered with a simple, “I do.”
Gasping again, Briana rushed up to him, her expression dark. “Don’t you dare let them force you into saying anything that you don’t—”
“I love you,” Jax stated, smiling.
Catching her breath, Briana stared at him, then released it in a shaky laugh. “You could have told me that before you told them!”
“You were too busy calling me names. I didn’t have a chance.”
She huffed...and relented. “Well.” With heartbreaking hesitation, she asked, “You really do?”
Pretending no one else was there, Jax pulled her in close. “I’m only human, so how could I not?”
“Ahem.”
Together, they turned to look at her father. “Not to break up this momentous occasion, but half the family is on the way. We rode here in the four-wheelers, but Garrett and Shohn are clearing the road. Adam and Owen are shoveling the walkway for you—”
“Owen is here?” Jax strode to the door and looked out. His brother, bundled head to toe, wielded the snow shovel with ease, working side by side with Adam, Jordan’s son. Pride swelled in Jax’s chest. Owen was a man now. Young, yes. But still very much an adult.
“I picked them up,” Morgan explained, “after Gabe called to tell me you two were stranded. I figured they shouldn’t be alone, in case power went out there, too. They camped out at Sawyer’s place.” He grinned. “Owen invited your sister along to help shovel, but she chose to stay behind with Honey and Misty.”
He knew Honey was Sawyer’s wife, and Misty was Morgan’s. “She chose to stay behind?” That didn’t sound like his contrary sister, especially since she’d been trying to take part in everything.
Not thinking much of it, Morgan shrugged. “Ella insisted on helping Honey, who’s cooking a big breakfast for everyone. You know she loves to feed people.”
Sawyer smiled with a memory. “Morgan knows that because, before he married Misty, Honey was always trying to feed him.”
“And me,” Gabe said, grinning.
“Same,” Jordan added.
“Casey, my oldest, lost power, too, so he and his clan stayed over, as well. He’s at home now clearing my and Morgan’s driveways. We figured finding you two was the priority, but maybe it wasn’t as urgent as we thought.”
Briana turned a very smug look on Jax, as if to say, Are they not the most wonderful people ever?
He smiled, because yes, they were—and she was a part of them, which made her equally wonderful.
Tipping up her chin, uncaring that her family mingled around them, Jax kissed her. “I love you,” he whispered again, watching her beautiful smile bloom. He put his forehead to hers, and said, “I don’t want a long engagement.”
Excited, she grinned and asked, “No?”
“Definitely not.” One more kiss, then he got control of himself. “I don’t want to rush you so I’ll let you choose the date, but as far as I’m concerned, the sooner the better.”
With that she laughed, turned to her uncle Morgan, who was also the mayor, and announced, “We’re getting married. How soon can we make it happen?”
* * *
ONE MONTH LATER, with Jax’s brother and sister showering them with smiles, and her vast, occasionally rowdy family crowding the courthouse, Briana said, “I do.”
Jax had given his wholehearted agreement for the small, informal wedding she preferred, and he’d been very patient with the month it took to get it arranged around everyone’s schedule. Who needed white lace and designer invitations when she could have Jax Remmy that much sooner?
They’d already combined their families, so this just made it official.
Owen and Ella had fit right in
for Thanksgiving. Yes, there’d been some tears; sad memories worked that way, blunting happiness and squeezing the heart even during the best of times.
Her wonderful family hadn’t judged. No, they’d just enveloped them—Jax, Owen and Ella, all three—in warmth and understanding. It hadn’t been perfect, but there’d been far more moments of joy than grief.
Thor was over the moon with his new, enormous, extended family—and he was very vocal about it. He had a doggy sound for everything: meeting the other pets in the family, chasing the kids through the house, getting and giving affection. He got along extremely well with other animals, but for any dog over thirty pounds, he hid behind Jax or Briana. He might be huge, but he had a very sweet, tender heart.
And he still slept in front of the door, wherever they stayed. Thor took no chances with their safety.
Owen and Ella adored him, and he adored them. Even more than the wedding, Thor seemed to bind them all together. Things were looking very promising.
She wouldn’t fool herself into thinking Christmas would be easy for any of them, but she believed it would be easier with love all around them. Jax believed it, too.
The relaxed reception was held at Uncle Sawyer’s house, with guests spilling out everywhere, dogs and cats playing, and kids causing the usual ruckus. Everyone pitched in food, eating off paper plates, drinking colas and passing around numerous hugs.
Toward the end of the day, Jax managed to get Briana alone in a hallway. It had to be a miracle because in a family the size of hers, privacy wasn’t easily acquired.
He’d worn a dark suit for the wedding, but at some point he’d removed his jacket and tie and rolled his shirtsleeves to his elbows.
After he’d kissed her, Briana said, “You’re mine.”
“And you’re beautiful,” he replied in a low rumble.
“Thank you.” She felt beautiful in the very pretty cream-colored dress with a cinched waist, swirling skirt and elbow-length sleeves that her sister Kady had loaned her. Her other sister, April, had supplied the freshwater pearl necklace and earrings.
The three sisters had gathered up their mother and Ella and shopped until she found the slightly heeled shoes to complete her wedding outfit. Her mother had also chosen a new dress, and they’d gotten Ella a dress and shoes, earrings, a manicure and pedicure.
