Friday, December 23
Getting up this morning, Emma was in the best mood she’d been in, in a very long time. She’d slept better than she’d ever slept as an adult as well. Of course, she knew why that was. And who she had to thank for all that good sleep. The only thing that would have made it better would have been for Cade to have been in bed with her this morning when she woke up.
Waking up this morning without him, she’d almost let the fact he wasn’t there, upset her. She’d quickly realized he’d just been being honorable, and she wasn’t going to hold that against him. Right then though, she planned on taking him some hot chocolate. Maybe with some Christmas cookies. He’d always had a bit of a sweet tooth. It was supposed to be in the twenties today, and there was a chance of more snow. She just wanted to make sure he was staying warm enough. And was keeping his energy up.
“Well, you certainly seem to be in a good mood this morning,” her mother grinned when she walked into the kitchen.
“I have to say, right now, I feel like all is right with the world.”
“Really?” her mother asked, shooting her a curious frown. “Even after the way you and Cade have been fighting. Lord knows, I hope he’s done with the drinking. Well, at least the excessive drinking. The occasional beer is okay.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure Cade and I are over most of our… humps and bumps at this point. He shouldn’t have any more reasons to get smashed out of his skull either.”
“Well, I certainly hope you’re right,” Jane grumbled, her face scrunching up in concern.
“What’s that look for, Momma?”
“According to Ezekiel, you and Cade are… Well, in love with each other.”
“I certainly hope he’s in love with me,” she grinned. “I know I’m in love with him.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Jane frowned.
“Wise? What is that supposed to mean? I certainly don’t think it’s unwise.”
“He’s your stepbrother.”
“Nope,” she shook her head vigorously. “Ethan is my stepbrother. Cade is just mine.”
“What if it doesn’t work out?”
“Momma, this has been coming for four years now,” she whispered, a secretive smile spreading across her face. “There’s no stopping it at this point. Like I said before, he is the right one. He always has been. Always will be. I’m not sure how you missed it up to this point. Besides, after last night, as far as everything working out goes, I’m certain I have nothing to worry about.”
“What happened last night?” her mother frowned.
“Oh, I’m not telling you that,” Emma grinned. “I don’t want a lecture killing my excellent mood.”
“I might give you a lecture on principle. From the sound of things, I wouldn’t have approved.”
“Mother, it’s between Cade and I,” she smiled, patting the older lady on the hand. “We’re both adults. That’s the way it’s going to stay. Now, I’m going to make some hot chocolate to take out to him. I want to make sure he stays warm enough today. Do you know if we have any of those sugar cookies left, I baked yesterday? I thought I’d take him some of those as well.”
“Oh, good grief,” Jane chuckled. “Yes, there’s cookies left. A few. All three of the men have been in them.”
“I’ll take whatever’s left.”
“What did that boy do to you last night? I feel like he’s turned the world on its head.”
“Oh, not the world,” Emma laughed. “Just me. Well, not on my head, exactly.”
“Now, you really need to explain that.”
“Nope, not going to do it.”
Twenty minutes later, making her way out to the barn, she stopped just inside the door with a huff. “Well, where’s he at?”
“Where’s who at, Beautiful? Would it be too much to hope you’re looking for me?”
Turning to find Phillip Matthews standing there, she gave him a tight smile. “Sorry, I’m looking for Cade.”
“Lucky schmuck,” he grumbled, shaking his head. “I figured as much though. I had it figured out the other day.”
“I’m sorry. It was never my intention to lead you on, but it’s been only Cade for me, for a while now.”
“I get it,” he nodded. “It’s okay. What are you doing out here? As cold as it is, I would think you’d want to stay in the house. I know that’s what you normally do this time of year.”
“I was bringing Cade hot chocolate and cookies,” she whispered, her cheeks staining pink. “It’s a few hours until lunch, and I wanted to make sure he had enough energy for the day.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “Like I said, lucky…”
“Seriously?” Cade growled from the door. “Even after last night, you’re still in here flirting with Matthews. What happened to my being the only one you want?”
“I’m not flirting with him,” she gasped, tears already forming in her eyes as she nearly dropped the thermos of hot chocolate and tin of cookies to the barn floor. She was so upset, she never even noticed when Phillip reached out to take them before they slipped from her suddenly numb fingers. “You are the only one I want.”
Phillip shook his head at his boss, feeling both shock and anger. “Cade, she wasn’t flirting with me.”
“That’s what it looked like,” he growled, still shooting daggers at her with his eyes.
Too upset to speak after that, she ran from the barn in tears. Leaving Phillip shaking his head, she never noticed the look of confusion and pain on Cade’s face.
“You’re an idiot,” Phillip growled at his boss.
“Lose the attitude, or I’ll fire you. You only get one free pass.”
“I’ll risk it,” the ranch hand scoffed. “Because if I don’t, you’re going to manage to screw up a sure thing. And after dealing with you for a short time this morning, I’m guessing none of us will survive it if you lose her. We’ll never get that thorn out of your paw.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“She wasn’t flirting with me. She was out here, in the bitter cold, to bring you this,” Phillip grumbled with a shake of his head, as he shoved the thermos and tin at him. “Hot chocolate and cookies I believe is what she said is in there.”
“Dang it,” Cade grumbled, looking down at the sweet treats. “I really am an idiot.”
“Whatever you did to her last night, had to be something pretty crazy for her to be, so emotionally vulnerable to you, you could send her off in tears like that, so easily.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because it’s quite obvious you haven’t gotten any in a very long time. Certainly not last night. Which is most likely why you jumped to conclusions the way you did, without asking questions first. You’re horny,” Phillip added with a snort and a shake of his head. “Which most guys always are. And you’re also about the biggest horse’s behind I’ve ever seen.”
“I’ve already said I was an idiot. What more do you want?”
“Yeah, you’re an idiot alright. She’d already explained it was only you for her. She wasn’t attempting to keep me on the side. Or whatever you were thinking.”
“Then what were the two of you talking about?”
“You, and how lucky a schmuck you are. Well, were,” Phillip scoffed. “I don’t know about now.”
“I’d bettered go talk to her. I need to apologize.”
“Yeah, and you’d best do it before she stops crying. It’s when they stop crying that they can become the most difficult. Apologies don’t always work then.”
“Had some experience with that, have you?”
“Yeah,” Phillip nodded. “And I still regret it to this day. So, you best get moving.”
“Yeah-yeah, I’m going,” he grumbled, already heading back out of the barn.
“I’d suggest you get down on your hands and knees and kiss her feet while you’re apologizing as well,” he heard Phillip call at his back.
Coming in the kitchen door, Cade laid the thermos and tin down on the dining room table, and cringed at the look on Momma Jane’s face.
“What did you do to my daughter?” she huffed. “When she first got up this morning, she was in about the best mood I’d ever seen on a person. And you were the one responsible. You’re also the one responsible for her crying now.”
“I guess she didn’t say a whole lot to you.”
“She just called you a few choice words, and said, despite it all, she still wants you.”
“Well, that’s something.”
“You haven’t answered my question,” Momma Jane growled.
“If I said I was an idiot, would that be enough?”
“Well, that’s one I never thought I’d hear you say?” she huffed. Crossing her arms in front of her, she glared. And waited.
“Where’s she at?”
“I would imagine she’s in her room.”
Already heading for the hallway, he stopped in his tracks when his stepmother called his name. Turning slowly, he looked like he was nearly in pain when he made eye contact with her. “Yes, Ma’am?”
“I love you, Cade Warren, like you were my own son,” she growled. “You and Ethan have both become a very important part of my life. But if you hurt my daughter, I will make you pay.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he cringed, and swallowed, taking a step back.
“Now, go fix this.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” This time, he turned and darted out to the hall before she could stop him again.
~~~~
Coming in the backdoor, Cade faced off with Ethan, his father, and Momma Jane with a cringe. It felt more like he was facing a firing squad, than coming to family dinner. They all three wore an identical look of irritation, Momma Jane’s possibly a little more intense than the other two’s. With Emma nowhere to be seen, he was certain he knew what was going on. Despite how much he’d begged for her forgiveness earlier, she’d refused to even speak to him.
Sitting the thermos and tin from the hot chocolate and cookies down on the counter, something he’d nearly had to wrestle Momma Jane for earlier, he nodded. “Hey.”
“Don’t hey me, young man,” Momma Jane growled.
Yeah, definitely more intense, he thought, taking a step back as a precaution.
“Patience, Janie,” his dad grumbled. “She did say he apologized. Even begged her to forgive him for being a jealous, horny idiot. She just said she wasn’t ready to forgive him yet.”
“Oh, thank God,” Cade mumbled under his breath. “I’ve still got a chance of making this right.”
His father must have heard him though. He gave him a serious look, raising one eyebrow at him, reminding him of what Ethan said last night about him having bat hearing. “Of course, he’d bettered figure something out pretty soon, if he still plans to do what he is wanting to do on Christmas morning.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about now, but she’s refusing to eat supper,” Jane huffed. “He’d better do something about that. Right now!”
“She’s refusing to eat?” he mumbled, glancing toward the door out to the hall.
“Yeah,” his dad nodded. “She’s claiming she’s not hungry. Women are like that. When they get upset, it can affect their appetite.”
“I’ll go get her,” he nodded, already heading toward the door out of the kitchen.
“Hang on,” Ethan grumbled, moving to reveal a tray he had sitting on the counter behind him. He moved the tray, with the covered plate, to the table, pushing it across at him. “As upset as she is, it might be best if you take this to her. Chances of her coming in here are pretty low. You might actually get her to eat if you take the food to her.”
“You sound like you’re pretty irritated at me too.”
“I knew you should have stayed in there with her last night.”
Glancing first at Momma Jane, he cringed, wondering what her thoughts were going to be now. “I told you why I didn’t.”
“Well, from what I’ve learned since talking to you last night,” Ethan frowned in irritation and crossed his arms in front of him. “She wouldn’t have been angry with you this morning. And more importantly, you wouldn’t have made a complete, jealous fool of yourself. Then there wouldn’t be a need for this conversation at all.”
“I had no way of knowing things would go the way they did,” he grumbled. “I was trying to do the right thing. Last night, when I left her room, she was nearly passed out on me. She was not in a state of mind to make a decision like that.”
“Passed out on you?” Momma Jane screeched. “Did you get my daughter drunk last night with the intentions of taking advantage of her?”
“No, we were not drinking last night,” Cade huffed. “I would have thought you knew me better than that.”
“Well, what did you mean?”
“Oh, I knew he wasn’t talking about alcohol,” Ezekiel jumped in before he could answer, continuing with a laugh. “There’s more than one kind of drunk.”
“Then what does he mean?” Jane repeated with a huff.
“If you think about it for a few seconds, I’m sure you can figure it out.”
Looking at her husband with a rare bit of irritation, she shook her head at him. “Just tell me.”
“If you’d like, we can go to the bedroom for twenty or thirty minutes, and I can show you,” Ezekiel smirked. “Of course, it’s certain to take us longer than that. I won’t bother to show the restraint he did. You and I are already married.”
“Oh,” Jane breathed. Slapping a hand over her mouth, her cheeks growing red with embarrassment, she just nodded. “I understand now why she was in such a good mood when she first got out of bed. And yes, I’ll take you up on that offer, but after dinner. I’m certain I won’t be crawling out of bed till morning afterwards,” she added with a smirk. “I’m usually dead to the world for several hours, after you’re done.”
“On that note, I’m going to go see Emma,” Cade grumbled, backing out of the room, the tray for Emma in his hands.
Reaching her bedroom door, he didn’t bother with knocking. He didn’t figure she would have invited him in if he had. Opening the door, he walked in, sitting the tray of food down on the wooden chair sitting beside the door. “Hey, Baby.”
She merely glared at him before turning her back on him to stare out the window.
“I see you’re still giving me the silent treatment.”
Sighing heavily, he took a step closer. “And I know I deserve it. I behaved like an irrational jerk this morning.”
Hearing her snort, of obvious agreement, he couldn’t help but grin. “Can you at least understand I was already dealing with a lot of different emotions when I walked in the barn, and found you talking to Phillip Matthews. Someone who has shown interest in you, and who is almost good enough for you. No, none of that excuses my jealous, psychotic behavior. And just so you know, I don’t even think I am good enough for you.”
Turning then, she rolled her eyes at him, and moved over to sit on her bed, propped against the headboard. She pulled one of her many pillows into her lap, and hugged it to her chest, just looking at him. She just sat there waiting for him to continue.
“You are so beautiful, and intelligent, and sexy, and kind. And you have me completely wrapped around your little finger. I was still so horny from last night, I couldn’t see straight. And I know, you probably agree with Ethan. That probably would have been something I could have avoided if I had just stayed in here with you.” Watching her closely, he laughed. “Yeah, I saw that little nod.”
Sighing, he shook his head. “Baby, I was halfway to completely irrational before I even seen you there with him. It didn’t take much to push me over the edge. Once our relationship issues are settled, and I don’t have to wonder anymore, I’m sure I’ll be able to behave better.”
Snorting, she rolled her eyes at him.
“Yeah, I get it,” he chuckled a little self-deprecatingly. “You have obvious doubt. But I said I’d do better. I’m certain I won’t be perfect at not acting like a jealous idiot. Guys are always going to look at you, and the Neanderthal is going to come out every once in a while.”
Moving over to the head of the bed, so he could cup her cheek with his large hand, he rubbed his thumb over her fuller, bottom lip. “There’s supper over there for you. Even if you decide not to leave your bedroom, please, at least eat.”
Done talking, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Feeling her immediately start to respond, he growled, and pulled her against his chest. Burying his hands in her hair, he brushed his tongue past her lips, seeking entrance to her mouth. Nipping the sensitive flesh, he moved back in with another growl, sealing their mouths together. She was kissing him back, her tongue sliding against his, and it was taking far more self-control than he ever realized he had, not to start ripping her clothes off her. Several minutes later, the kiss growing more heated and out of control with each second, he forgot he was trying to resist his baser urges, and he tried to slide her across the bed to lay them down in the middle of it.
Pushing him away, she shook her head.
Stepping back, he took several deep breaths, fighting to get his body back under control. “Okay, I get it. You’re still angry. But I am going to take that kiss as encouragement. There was nothing one-sided about it. You were definitely kissing me back.”