All She Wants for Christmas (Kent Brothers 1)

"Do you think Riley Jensen will see us all the way back here? It's kinda far."

"I think she'll probably be a little busy, but maybe she'll be looking for you. You can stand on your chair and wave to her while she's singing. But no talking, because that would be rude."

"Okay, Daddy."

When it looked like people were starting to claim seats, Ethan moved in with his parents and brothers. Tori had joined them, too, along with one of her friends. They made it about three quarters of the way back since it was pretty well packed in. Damn there were a lot of people here.

"Daddy, I can't see," Zoey whined.

His kid needed a nap. As soon as Riley finished singing, they were outta here.

"It's the best we can do, muffin," he said, tugging on one of her pigtails. "Sorry."

Then his phone buzzed, an unfamiliar number.

"Hey, Ethan, it's Joann, Riley's publicist. Are you here at the festival?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Riley has the front row saved for you and your family if you want to watch the concert."

"Oh. We're already seated, kind of in the back."

"Then come on up front. I'll be waiting here to seat you."

"Okay."

He hung up and turned to his mom. "That was Riley's publicist. She has the front row saved for us."

"Oh, isn't that nice," his mom said, then herded the family up and out of their chairs and toward the front row.

Zoey, of course, was thrilled. And the view was much better up here in the front row. What he didn't care for was having to endure knowing looks, encouraging nods and smirks from everyone as they made their way up there.

Great.

"Hey, didn't know you and Riley were back together." Mark Roberts patted him on the back. "Nice going, man."

"We're just so thrilled for you and Riley, Ethan," Callie Roberts said.

Ethan half turned. "It's not like that. She likes Zoey and wanted to make sure she could see. Plus she's known my parents for a long time."

Callie gave him a sly grin. "Sure, honey. Whatever you say."

Ugh. Zoey was bouncing in her seat waiting for the concert to begin and telling everyone around her that she was Riley Jensen's new best friend. Even his own mother had gotten into the act, sharing that he and Riley had "gone out" alone together the other night.

Maybe Ethan could just slip out and go home.

But then Riley and her band came out, and damn if his libido didn't tie him to the chair, because she looked gorgeous in tight blue jeans, sinfully sexy thigh high boots, a wide-open suede jacket and a shirt that clung to her curves. She'd worn her hair down. It swept her shoulders in loose waves and all he could think about was how good she'd smelled the other night when he'd held her close and kissed her and touched her. And oh, man, he was sitting next to his mother and thinking about having sex with Riley.

He was probably going straight to hell for that.

At least this time she wasn't singing about him. It was all Christmas songs, and Zoey couldn't help but sing along, despite his mother's best attempts to admonish her to stay quiet. But Riley smiled down at Zoey, since his daughter wasn't exactly a quiet singer. Fortunately, she did have a great voice and Riley finally motioned to her to join her on stage. And since his daughter didn't have a shy bone in her entire body, she got to stand with the choir and sing her little heart out along with Riley and the choir.

His mother took approximately ten thousand pictures. Plus video.

Ethan had to admit he was pretty excited about it, too, though it wasn't like he thought of Riley as a celebrity. She was just Riley. But he was always thrilled to see his daughter happy, and Zoey was grinning from ear to ear, especially when one of the choir angels put her halo on Zoey head.

Zoey probably wouldn't touch ground from her happy place for at least twenty-four hours.

After the concert, Zoey jumped into his arms. "Did you see me, Daddy? I got to sing on the stage."

"I saw you. You were awesome."

"Did you hear me? I sang really loud."

He laughed as Riley joined them. "I had no problem hearing you."

Riley rubbed Zoey's back. "This young lady has a beautiful voice, just like her mama did."

Zoey frowned. "Did you know my mama, Riley Jensen?"

Riley lifted her chin and Ethan could tell she fought tears. "I did. She was my best friend in high school."

"Wow." Zoey turned to Ethan. "I didn't know that, Daddy. Did you know that?"

"I did." He put Zoey down and lifted his gaze to Riley. "You did a nice job out there tonight."

"Thanks. I'm just glad all this is over with." She swept her gaze over the camera crews who were packing up.

"Everyone leaving?"

"They are."

He frowned. "You're not?"

She shrugged. "I've sprung my people loose. Figured I'd hang out here until after the holidays and write some music."

"By yourself?" his mother asked.

Riley smiled. "Yes. Everyone has their families to go home to. I plan to stay and enjoy the solitude. I do my best songwriting that way. No one to hover over me and no place I have to be."

What she hadn't said, Ethan noted, was that Riley had no family to go home to for Christmas.

"You'll come to our house for Christmas," his mother said, taking the words right out of his mouth.

Riley's eyes widened and she shook her head. "Oh, no. I couldn't. I wasn't trying to wrangle an invitation. I really do intend to just spend a couple weeks alone and write."

"That's just fine, dear. You do that. On Christmas Eve you'll come over for dinner and games. Christmas morning we have pancakes for breakfast, turkey for dinner. You won't be spending Christmas alone."

Riley slanted a helpless gaze his way.

"No use arguing with her. You know how she is. If you don't come over she'll just send one of us to fetch you."

She inhaled and let out a sigh, then smiled. "Of course. Thank you, Stacy. I'd love to come over for Christmas."

Ethan wondered how many holidays Riley had spent alone the past ten years. She'd never come home before so he had no idea where she'd spent her Thanksgivings and Christmases.

It would be...interesting spending Christmas with her. And okay, maybe he was thinking about carving out some time to be alone with her.

They might not have a future together, but they had right now.

He looked down at Zoey, who leaned against his mother and yawned. "Mom, why don't you and Dad take Zoey home? She looks tired. I'd like to hang out with Riley for a bit."

He knew his mother would jump all over that one. "Of course. Come on, little miss. Time for bed for you."

Ethan picked up Zoey and gave her a kiss.

"Night, Daddy."

"Night, muffin."

She turned sleepy eyes on Riley. "Night, Riley Jensen. I love you."

Riley's eyes sparkled with tears as she pulled Zoey into her arms. "Good night, Zoey. I love you, too."

As they walked away, Riley lifted her eyes to Ethan. "She's an amazing child. You're very lucky."

"Thanks. I think so."

"And she really does have a beautiful voice. So clear and perfectly on key."

"She gets that from Amanda because if you recall I can't sing for shit."

Riley laughed. "Your singing is great." At his dubious look, she said, "Hey, at least you sing on key."

"Okay, maybe that, but Nashville isn't going to come calling to offer me a record deal anytime soon, so I'm grateful Zoey got her singing genes from her mom."

"Me too."

He looked around and realized it had gotten dark. The crowds had thinned.

"Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?" she asked.

"No." He took her hand. "I want to take you ice skating."

Her brows lifted and she grinned. "Really?"

"Yeah."

"I haven't been ice skating in years."

"Good."

The rink had been poured in th

e middle of town on one of the grassy fields behind the high school. Ethan had a hand in prepping and building it, and God knows it was plenty cold enough to sustain it. Proceeds from the sale of admissions and concessions would be split between the women's shelter and the new field stands at the high school.

"I'm not sure I even remember how to skate," Riley said as she finished lacing up.

"Oh come on. You never forget. You were always good at it."

"Ha. I think it's something you definitely forget. Plus I'm a lot older now."