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He dipped his head and captured her mouth. His arms circled her and he pulled her close as he deepened the kiss, tasting the addicting sweetness that was only Mia.
With the last of his control, he broke off the kiss, and pressed his forehead against hers. “You’re big trouble, lady.”
Before she could say anything, the clock chimed. Midnight.
“Merry Christmas, Mia.”
Even though the air was brisk, the day promised to be bright and sunny. A perfect Colorado Christmas, Mia thought as she fingered the charm on her necklace.
She glanced across the SUV at Jarrett. Christmas Eve had already been wonderful and this morning had started out close to perfect, too. Jarrett had showed up with a box of jelly donuts and they’d shared breakfast together. Just the three of them.
It could give a girl ideas. Ideas she had no business thinking when she should only be thinking about her son.
Although the man was definitely making this holiday memorable, especially when he’d insisted on taking her and BJ out to the ranch today. Were they a couple? No. She shook away that crazy thought.
“We’re here.”
Jarrett’s voice drew her attention as he turned off the main highway and drove under an arch announcing the McKane Ranch.
Mia felt the excitement as a large two-story house came into view. She smiled at the snowman in the front yard, then her attention went to the wraparound porch and the dark shutters that framed the numerous windows.
Jarrett bypassed the driveway and went around the house. “We’re pretty informal here,” he said. “I don’t think the front door has been opened in years. Everyone has always used the back door.”
That would never be allowed in her parents’ home. The service entrance was only for the hired help. “Sounds like my kind of place. I bet you had fun growing up here.”
His smiled faded. “Ranching is a lot of work. One of the reasons I left and went away to college.”
He parked next to Joe and Sylvia’s car at the small porch that overlooked the barn and corral. “So now the place belongs to Trace.”
He turned off the engine. “After our parents died, I was happy to sell him my half.”
She smiled. “You can still come back whenever you want, and the best part is seeing your family.”
There was a long pause, then he said, “There was a long time when I wasn’t exactly welcome. But a few years ago, Trace and I became partners in a natural gas lease. The money helps him keep the ranch and not worry about having to run cattle. And I can invest in business ventures. Anyway, then Jenna came along, and somehow I ended up calling by more and we sorted some things out.”
Mia was surprised by Jarrett’s admission. “Well, I’m glad you and your family have reconciled your differences.”
He nodded and turned toward the house. “Oh, look, here comes the welcoming committee.”
Kira and Trace stepped onto the porch. “Welcome and Merry Christmas.”
Mia got out and the cold breeze brushed against her cheeks. “Merry Christmas,” she called back.
Trace came down the shoveled steps and greeted his brother first, then walked around the car to her. “Welcome, Mia.”
“Thank you for inviting us. Your place is beautiful.”
“We think so.” He glanced at his brother. “There’s plenty of time before dinner so you can leave BJ with us while Jarrett shows you around.” He pointed toward a group of bare trees. “The cottage is just over there, if you’re still interested in seeing it.”
Mia turned around to see a small white structure about fifty yards from the house. “Oh, yes. I’d love to.”
Jarrett got BJ from the back seat while Mia handed a large poinsettia plant to Trace.
When Jarrett’s brother started to protest, citing the no-gift clause, she quickly said, “It’s from BJ.”
With a smile, she retrieved a salad and a pie and carried them into a huge country kitchen with maple cabinets and granite countertops filled with food. Several mouthwatering aromas surrounded her, making her hungry.
Nola and Sylvia were already there helping Kira with the meal. “Just put those things down, if you can find a spot for them.”
Kira beamed as she came up to Jarrett and gave him a kiss on the cheek, and then looked down at the carrier. “I’d love to get my hands on this little guy, if I could.”
“Sure,” Mia told her. “He loves being held.”
It took only seconds before Kira had BJ in her arms. “Now you two run off and see the cottage. We can handle things here.”
Jarrett came up beside Mia. “They seem to be trying to get rid of us.”
“Not at all, but I would love to have this little guy around more.” Kira smiled down at the baby and cooed, “Oh, yes I would.”
“Let’s go.” Jarrett escorted Mia out the door and across the yard, but she was distracted by the horses roaming around in the corral.
“Oh, what beautiful animals.”
Jarrett changed direction as they detoured to the corral fence. “Trace has been doing some horse-breeding the past few years. This guy is Thunder Road.” When he whistled, the horse trotted over as Jarrett climbed up on the fence railing so he could pet the spirited animal. “Hey, Roady.” He rubbed the horse’s face and neck briskly, then glanced at Mia. “This guy was sired by Midnight Thunder, a champion cutting horse.”
“He’s beautiful.” She could see how much Jarrett loved animals. “He seems to like you, too.”
“He knows me. I come out here sometimes.”
There was so much about this man she didn’t know, that he kept hidden. She glanced around. “I still can’t see how you’d want to give this place up. I love the peace and quiet.”
He shrugged and released the horse and they watched him run off. “When I was younger, I called it boredom. I wanted excitement and fun.” He looked toward the horses. “After my mother died, my father and I didn’t get along much.”
Mia understood that. “He’s gone now?”
“Yeah. When his wife died, he wasn’t much for living alone.”
“What about your mother?”
He continued to stare toward the corral. “She’s been gone since I was a kid.”
“I’m sorry, Jarrett. How old were you?”
“Six.”
“Oh, God, you were just a child.”
He turned toward her. She could see the pain before he quickly masked it. “I grew up fast.”
“What about your stepmother?” She wanted him to tell her that she’d been a caring and loving woman. “Did she help you through that time?”
“I don’t remember much.” He shifted. “She was just there, and soon, so was Trace.”
“At least you had a brother to share things with.”
“Yeah, right. I did everything possible to let him know how much I hated him.”
Jarrett stepped up to the small cottage porch and turned to see if Mia needed help. Damn, he hated that he’d spilled his guts to her. He’d never told anyone about his childhood. Why her?
He inserted the key into the lock. “I know Trace and his foreman, Cal, redid the entire inside.”
“The outside is well-maintained, too,” she said, coming up beside him. “I can’t wait to see the rest.”
He swung open the front door, and they stepped into a living room that had a small sofa and two chairs. An area rug covered part of the shiny hardwood floors.
“Oh, this is nice.”
He gestured with his hand to go on, and she walked into a galley-style kitchen. All the stained-wood cabinets were new, as were the egg-shell-colored solid-surface counter-tops. The white appliances gleamed. Jarrett had no doubt Kira had been out here cleaning.
“This is so nice. There’s even a table and chairs.” Mia walked through to a small sunroom that looked toward the open pastures. “This would be a perfect work area. Plenty of light and space for a desk and computer.”
She beamed as she walked ahead of him and down the hall. She stuck her head into the bathroom that also had a stackable washer and dryer. “Okay, I’ve died and gone to heaven.” She went on to check out the two bedrooms. When she came out she looked about to burst.
Her dark hair was bouncing against her shoulders. And he noticed how slim she was becoming, and how long her legs were. Yet, it was her eyes, those blue eyes of hers that made his gut tighten in need.
“This is three times as big as my apartment,” she said, bringing him back to the present.
“And thirty miles out of town.” But closer to his house. “In the winter that could be a difficult drive.”
“But I know I can afford this place,” she insisted. “Obviously, if I stay here, I plan to pay rent to Kira and Trace.”
He studied the stubborn woman in front of him. She was beautiful and no doubt capable of doing anything she set her mind to.
“Okay, but you have to let me take you to look for a dependable car. That sedan of yours is in bad shape.”
Her eyes widened. “I can’t afford a new car.”
“Not new, but at least an upgrade from what you’re driving now. I can get you a good deal, one with decent tires.”
She smiled slowly. “You’re a fraud, Jarrett McKane. You try to get everyone to think you’re this ruthless businessman with no heart, but you’re a nice guy.”
He stood straighter. “If you think I’ve gone soft because I’m fixing the apartments up, think again. I have a good reason for doing it. The judge ordered me to.”
Her look told him she wasn’t buying it.
“Ah, hell. At least while you’re living there I can keep an eye on you.”
“You’re not responsible for me, Jarrett,” she told him sternly. “I can take care of myself, and have for a lot of years.”
“I know that.” He couldn’t help wondering about other men in her life. “What if I just want to help you?” He tested her. “Say if I want to come around to see if you and BJ need anything? I mean, I do visit my brother and sister-in-law out here.”
“And Jenna,” Mia added.
“And Jenna,” he repeated, watching the light play off her hair. Her skin looked so soft.
Her eyes met his. “Aren’t you going to be too busy with the new factory project to bother with us?”
He shrugged. “That’s not a done deal, yet. I’m still going over things with Fulton Industries.”
“It’s because of the tenants, isn’t it?”
“Things could work out better.” He didn’t want to tell her his idea to keep the apartment building. “Hey, what’s the worst that can happen? The deal goes south and I get to live in the hellhole apartment 203 forever.”
“Well, BJ and I would be your neighbors.”
He stepped closer. “I thought you were moving in here?”
“Not if the apartment is still available. I like paying my own way. Would you raise the rent on us?”
He smiled at her. “Maybe we can work out a special deal.”
An hour later, with BJ asleep in his carrier in the living room, the Christmas dinner could start.
In the McKanes’ dining room, there were two long tables dressed with red and green tablecloths and holiday china. A row of delicious food dishes crowded the sideboard, not to mention the overflow waiting in the kitchen, along with a dozen pies and assorted desserts.
Mia carried her heaping plate to the table to find a seat. It was no surprise Jarrett had saved one next to him.
“This is the best Christmas ever.” Jenna climbed into a booster seat next to her uncle. “And you know what else, Unca Jay?”
The youngster didn’t wait for prompting. “I’m glad you bringed BJ and Mia. And that you aren’t mad at Daddy anymore.”
Mia caught the exchange between the two brothers who sat across from each other.
“Yeah, well it’s Christmas,” Jarrett said. “Everyone should get along.”
“It’s a time for peace and goodwill,” Joe added. “And we should think about those who aren’t here with us today.”
“Like Jody and Nathan,” Jenna said. “And Ben, ‘cause he’s protecting our country.”
“That he is,” Nola said. “We need to pray for all servicemen who are away from their families, too. And to keep them safe.”
Everyone bowed their heads as Trace led them in the blessing. Mia was surprised when Jarrett took her hand in his. It was warm and reassuring. She was glad that she had someone to share this day with.
“Now, let’s eat,” Jarrett announced after the prayer. And it began. Lively conversation and good food.
“Mia, how did you like the cottage?”
She looked across the table at Kira. “Oh, I love it. It’s beautiful and so roomy.”
