Silent Night (Bad Boy Rockers 5.50)

“Much.” I tug her down to my chest and meet her upturned lips with mine. Her taste is unique and deepening the kiss, I finally pull back. My breathing is heavy and my body aches with need. Instead of taking what I know we both want, I settle Savannah in my arms and nuzzle into her apple scented hair, reminding me how tasty my wife is.

“Jace, are you really happy living away from your family?” she asks, causing me to frown.

I tip her face so that I can see her eyes and wonder where she’s coming from with the question. “We’ve lived in New England for a few years now. It’s where I proposed to you. It’s where we married. The children were born there. Why wouldn’t I be happy there? Talk to me, Savannah.”

“It’s just that when we come to visit you always have this look on your face. I can’t really explain it, but sometimes I wonder whether you miss being around Ryder…and your parents.”

I think about what she’s saying, but I’m not sure how to answer. So sighing, I tell her, “I’m happy in New England, Savannah. In fact, I’m happy wherever you are.” I tug her close and kiss her brow. “I do miss shooting the shit with Ryder. I miss him being thirty minutes away. The coaching job, I never expected to have, just like I never thought I’d have a wife and kids. What I’m trying to say is that I’m happy living wherever you want to live. I’d follow you anywhere, Savannah.”

Tears swim in her eyes as she cups my face. “I love you, Jace Stone.” She smiles. “I think in the New Year that we need to look for something close to Ryder and your parents.”

My forehead drops to hers and rests there while I hold her gaze. “Are you sure?”

“I miss living here as well, Jace. I want the kids to be able to spend time with their grandparents, uncle and aunt, honorary uncles and aunts, and I want them to be able to play with their cousins. I don’t want them to be strangers who we only see at Christmas and maybe once during the summer.” Savannah’s face lights up with excitement. “I want to have family dinners on the weekends…I just want us to be around family and friends.”

I smile. “We have friends,” I comment.

“Yes, but they aren’t good friends, and they’re not family.”

I don’t even need to think Savannah’s idea through. “Then let’s move. I’ll start looking for work and we can always lease a place to stay until we find what we want.”

Biting her lip, Savannah asks, “You don’t think Charlie and Tammy will mind moving?”

I chuckle. “You’re kidding right. Charlie loves being the oldest cousin and takes his role seriously when we’re around the others.” I tug her head back to my chest. “They’ll both love being around the others. We’ll talk to them about it, and lay all the positive things out for them.” I rub her arm. “Don’t worry about them, Savannah. They’ll be fine, just like we will be.”

“Even though I’m cold and tired, I’m glad we’re getting this time alone,” Savannah comments. “But you’re like a furnace against me.”

I know what she means. It’s probably the first time in a while that we haven’t been disturbed by the kids during the night, or have them interrupt us during a conversation. This is nice, even though my leg is going to sleep.

“I’m going to have a walk around. I need to stretch my leg.” I rub my aching hip and downwards toward where I’d removed my prosthesis for comfort. “Can I get you anything?”

“No. I’m fine. I’ll hold out for coffee in the morning.”

“Okay.” I slide out from under her, and once my prosthesis is in place, I move from the back of the stage.

Everyone seems to have spread out through Kix and as the early morning light slips through the windows, they start to stir. I don’t pay them much attention as I stretch my arms up toward the ceiling.

It hasn’t been that bad, being snowed in here, but there is a cold chill throughout the place and I’ll be glad to get Savannah back to warmth.

“You okay?” Ryder asks, standing beside me.

“I’m good.”

He frowns.

“I need to wake my leg up, but I’m really okay, Mom.” I grin. “You look well rested.”

Ryder blushes slightly and won’t meet my gaze, which makes me laugh. “Got lucky, huh?”

“Asshole,” he mumbles, shoving me, a grin spreading across his face.

“Hey, can you do me a favor?” I ask, knowing I should really wait until we’ve told the kids, but Savannah wouldn’t expect me to hold anything back from my brother.

“All you have to do is ask?”

I pause. “Can you keep your ears open about any coaching jobs around here, and houses that will take pets as part of a temporary lease?”

Ryder stares ahead and slowly a smile starts to spread across his face. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He laughs. “You’re all moving home?”