Jane's Gift (Lone Pine Lake 1)

But from the moment he met Jane, he’d gone against the grain and behaved like a completely different man.

And he realized it felt pretty good.

…

“Mommy, how much more popcorn are you gonna make us string?”

Jane sighed and shot a stern glance toward her oldest child. “Aren’t you the one who wanted to put a popcorn garland on the tree?”

Lexi nodded, her lips pursed. She clutched a half-filled string, a bowl of popcorn sitting at her feet. She looked bored.

“If you’d rather do something else, go ahead.” Jane didn’t want to make Lexi suffer. Sophia wasn’t even around the tree, having long ago abandoned them in favor of playing with her dolls. Logan was hanging and re-hanging and re-hanging various ornaments so the tree looked completely bottom-heavy.

“Thanks!” Lexi took off before Jane could say anything else, and she shook her head, pushed away the bowl of popcorn. Try as she might, her patience had worn thin; she’d caught herself mid-snap with the kids more than once. She hurt for Mindy, who was in a delicate state after Marty left her. Jane tried to brush off her own mood, to blame it on anything but what was really bothering her. She hoped no one realized what that was.

Christian Nelson. And his seeming abandonment of her after they’d made love.

She still couldn’t believe it had happened, that she’d given in so easily. She’d wanted it; she couldn’t deny that. And she’d been so overwhelmed with emotions afterward, things she’d wanted to discuss with him, but then real life had butted in.

And he’d run like a scared little boy with his tail tucked between his legs, never to be heard from again.

That’s what bothered her the most. How he’d never contacted her. Hell, he’d even left the Christmas tree he’d cut down for her on her front porch. She’d hauled it in and put it up herself.

Well, and with a little help from Mindy. That had been the moment she’d discovered her sister’s marriage was indeed falling apart.

“Mama, someone’s here,” Logan announced, and Jane blew out an aggravated breath.

Good lord, now what? She hoped it wasn’t Mindy again. She wasn’t in the mood for her sister and her all-of-a-sudden hellion children. Acting out because their father was gone, they were annoying, and their behavior only seemed to work up her own kids.

“Is it Aunt Mindy?” She knew Logan would recognize her car.

“No. I don’t know who it is.” Logan stood at the window that looked out the front yard, his face pressed against the glass.

“Is it Uncle Mac?” She hadn’t seen her little brother lately, and Mindy had mentioned him when they’d talked on the phone this morning.

“Nooo, I know his car, too.” Logan sounded insulted. Then he pressed his face against the window even more, leaving smudges on the glass. “It’s Captain Nelson! The fire captain, Mama! I knew it was his truck!”

Jane’s heart flopped like a flailing fish in her chest. She wished her son had recognized that truck sooner. It would’ve given her a little more time to prepare.

But prepare for what? Why was he here? What did he have to say? If she were smart, she’d shut the door in his face and demand he never contact her again. But that wasn’t in her blood, to be so rude. And when the doorbell rang and Logan ran to it, screaming like a wild man, she knew she couldn’t avoid him, either.

It was time to face reality. Instead of being rude, she’d give Chris the polite treatment. Listen to what he had to say, and then let him know she didn’t want to see him ever again.

Yes, that’s what she needed to do. What was best for her well-being.

“Hey, Jane. Can I come in?” Chris asked in that deliciously low, sexy voice when she opened the door. He skimmed his gaze up and down her frame as if he had x-ray vision and liked what he saw.

Any other time, she would’ve appreciated his blatant perusal. Tonight? Not so much. His scent reached her immediately, a hint of cologne and clean, fresh soap, as if he’d just showered. His hair curled casually about the back of his neck, and he wore a dark gray Henley that stretched taut across his broad chest, emphasizing his quiet power.

“I don’t know. Are you going to run in a few hours and not call me for the next five days?” Oh, there went the polite route. Where did that come from? She was actually proud of her outburst.

He shuffled his feet and dipped his head, looking embarrassed. Good. “I’m sorry for doing that.”

“You should be.” Oh, another rude comment. Look at her, standing up for herself. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“I can’t believe it, either.” He lifted his head, his eyes dark, his expression somber. “I’d ask for your forgiveness, but I figure I have to earn it first.”

“You figured right.” She lifted her chin, strength filling her. She could stand her ground and still get what she wanted.