Jane's Gift (Lone Pine Lake 1)

“We went to the movies once, a couple weeks ago. No big deal. We’re just friends.”

Mac stared at him, his gaze unwavering, and Chris gave as good as he got. Finally Mac looked away, watched the scramble of adults and children in the giant backyard.

“If you wanna date my sister, I’m not going to stop you. But it can’t be like it usually is.”

“What do you mean by that?” Chris’s feathers were ruffled. His shoulders tensed, his voice rough with irritation.

“I’ve known you since you moved here and I’ve never seen you get serious about a woman—ever. But hanging out with my sister, or whatever you want to call it? Come on, dude. You told me yourself you don’t do commitment.”

“I don’t.” He didn’t. He never had. His parents’ terrible marriage had cured him of ever wanting that. So why, when he looked at Jane, did she make him think of forever? He barely knew her.

But he wanted to know her better. Of course, he’d been the one to insert his foot in his mouth and remind her of the just friends bit. Forget about what had happened between them before and call it good.

Was he some sort of idiot or what?

“And Jane is too fragile to go out with someone like you and then get dumped. She’s suffered enough,” Mac added.

“I told you, there’s nothing going on between Jane and me.” It was a lie, but he had to say it. Had to convince himself it was the truth.

“She’s my sister and she’s had a tough time of it.” Mac sent him a measured look. “You break her heart and I’ll hunt you down, tear you apart.” His friend smiled, but Chris knew he was being serious. The entire family was protective of Jane.

“I won’t break her heart. I promise,” Chris vowed solemnly. But could he back up such a promise?

“You better not. Don’t want to send you to the hospital.” Mac chuckled.

Chris rolled his eyes. “Like you could.”

“Whatever, man. You gonna play some ball or what?”

“Yeah, I’m in. Are the kids playing?”

Mac snorted. “Of course. I’ll have you know if you don’t watch it, one of those punks will take you down. Mindy’s kids are wild, and Jane’s boy is picking up pointers from them.”

“He’s six.” Chris shook his head in disbelief.

“And he’s tough. He’ll take you down at the knees.”

Chris and Mac both laughed.

“I’m serious. Watch your back—or your knees. Those kids might bite.”

Chris figured they probably did bite, and he rubbed his hands together, ready to get the game going. His thoughts wandered yet again to Jane, to everything she’d said earlier. The expression on her pretty face when she’d looked up at him, when he’d been so tempted to kiss her.

If Mac hadn’t interrupted when he did, he would have kissed her. Thrown everything he’d just said out the window and kissed her for so long they both would’ve been left dizzy and gasping for more.

Yeah, he did not need to think about this right now. He shouldn’t want her. He didn’t do commitment. She was too vulnerable and she’d want more. They always wanted more.

But maybe, just once, he wanted more, too.

…

“Who’s the guy?” Cameron whispered, close to Jane’s ear, nodding toward Christian.

“Mac’s friend,” she whispered back, smiling at her big brother. They sat beside each other at Mindy’s endless dining room table, the Thanksgiving meal almost wrapped up. Everyone was too full to move, so they sat and chatted. Reaching out, she grabbed his forearm and squeezed. “It’s so good to see you.”

She meant it. She hadn’t seen Cam in a few years, not since before the fire, though she’d learned he’d been there for Stephen’s funeral, had come to the hospital after the fire. But she was also trying to distract him. He was perceptive, quiet, the one who could always figure out who lied, who broke something, who told on someone. The dark and moody one, who left home the minute he graduated high school and very rarely came back.

No way did she want him to figure out that she and Chris had a…thing going on.