Blush Duo - Marriage Under the Mistletoe & The Christmas Inn (14 page)

Scott had said he didn’t want to manipulate her. But she felt manipulated.

And by Sunday afternoon she was a mass of nervous energy, waiting for him to pounce. She would rather have met him head-on and deal with his marriage proposal and the attraction they had for each other than play this waiting game.

Fortunately, Evie found an ally in her sister. Grace was back from New York for a few days for the party, and Evie was grateful for her sister’s support.

“You know he’s staying with Hot Tub, don’t you?” Grace told her, sitting down to share the love seat by the pool, which Evie had occupied for the past lazy hour because it was sheltered and quiet and away from Scott, who was playing pool with her brother and Trevor. Her sister handed her a long glass of iced tea.

Hot Tub. Cameron Jakowski. It made her grin. Grace and Cameron loathed each other, and their private war had been going on for years. The ultracharming police officer was the only person Evie had ever known who was able to ruffle Grace’s supercool composure.

“I didn’t know that,” Evie admitted. “But we’re not exactly talking about things that matter at the moment.”

“No more declarations of love?” Grace inquired.

“Not one.” She’d told her sister what had transpired between them in the eighteen hours he’d stayed at the B and B.

“Are you in love with him?” Grace asked frankly. “I mean, besides being full of hormones and the emotions tied up with being pregnant with his baby. Do you actually
love
him?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“And that’s not enough?”

“Logically it is,” Evie replied as she drank some tea. “But I’m afraid of who I’ll become if I let myself go there.”

Grace tutted and tapped her perfectly manicured nails together. “And I thought I
 
was the closed-off neurotic in the family.”

“I don’t think there’s any doubt about that,
Princess.
”

They snapped their necks around instantly. Cameron stood by the pool fence, beer in hand. He smiled at them both and raised his drink in salute.

“What do you want, Hot Tub?”

He grinned. “To see what a five-hundred-dollar pair of shoes look like.”

Evie immediately looked to Grace’s feet and the Jimmy Choo sandals she wore.

Grace stood and glared at him. Evie watched as her sister gave Cameron a murderous look and then took off back to the house. “You know,” Evie said, “one day you’re going to go too far and she’ll come at you in all her fury.”

He chuckled. “I look forward to it.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Cameron laughed again and asked Evie if she needed anything before he returned to the games room. Evie languished beneath the Balinese-style hut overlooking the pool and closed her eyes for a moment.

“If you fall asleep in that chair you’ll get a back cramp.”

Her lids fluttered open. Scott had approached with all the stealth of a leopard. “I’ll have a spa when I get home to take the kinks out.”

His eyes darkened. “Be careful getting in and out of the tub.”

“Are you offering your assistance?” she asked, smiling.

Scott sucked in a breath. “I’m saying be careful you don’t slip and hurt yourself.”

“I won’t,” she said. “I have no intention of doing anything that might harm the baby.”

He looked at her with blistering intensity. “Me, either.”

Clarity washed over Evie like a wave. “Of course—that explains the Mr. Nice Guy act you’ve had going all week.” She pulled herself straight in the seat and then stood up. “I’m not fooled by it. And I’d rather you simply be yourself.”

He shrugged. “I don’t want to upset you.”

“Too late,” she snapped. “Do you think talking about teddy-bear wallpaper and prenatal vitamins are such neutral subjects that I won’t be tempted to burst into tears and act like a hormonal lunatic?”

Scott stared at her and shook his head. “I can’t do anything right with you, can I?”

“I’m only—”

“Your way or no way,” he said stiffly. “And no way in between.”

Evie bristled. “That’s not true.”

“It is true. There’s no middle road with you and it’s so damned frustrating.” The air around him was filled with pent-up emotion so powerful Evie could only watch, fascinated and mesmerized. “I asked to be your husband and you turned me down... I’m trying to be your friend and that’s not good enough. The only place I’ve ever felt marginally welcome in your life is between the sheets...and that...and that just...kills me.”

Evie gasped. “Scott, I—”

He reached for her and took hold of her shoulders, molding her bones with his big hands. “Is that what you want from me?” he demanded, and Evie was suddenly so turned on, so hungry for him and so ashamed to admit it she could hardly draw breath. “Is that all you want from me?” His body was hard against hers and he stared down into her upturned face. “Just this?” One hand swept down her back to cover her behind and urge her closer. “Is that really all this is to you?”

Before she could say a word his mouth came down on hers. It was hot and hard and had ownership stamped all over it. But Evie didn’t mind and shocked herself by kissing him back hungrily.

“No,” she said when he was done, when their breathing was ragged and their mouths were finally apart.

He released her gently. “But it’s not enough for you to marry me, right? I know you’re scared, Evie... I know you think I’m gonna die on the job and leave you. And you know what—maybe that will happen. Because there are no guarantees in any relationship. But if you can’t get past that fear and keep refusing to marry me and let me take care of you and all we’ll share together is that baby inside you—then, that’s okay. Because that in itself is an incredible thing.”

He stepped back, took a long breath and then left her alone without another word.

* * *

“You look like hell.”

Scott jerked his gaze upward. He was sitting in Cameron Jakowski’s living room, and Cameron and Noah were loafing back in a pair of recliners. He felt their scrutiny and shrugged. “Whatever.”

And his brother-in-law was probably right. He felt like crap and figured he probably looked worse.

“Are you sleeping?” Noah asked, and grabbed the remote from Cameron. He flicked off the motor sports program none of them were watching.

“Not much,” he admitted, and suddenly felt like spilling his guts to these two men who had quickly become friends. “Who knew, huh?” he said, and laughed at himself. “That it would feel this bad,” he explained when he saw Cameron frown.

Noah looked heavenward. “I did.”

Scott grinned. “Yeah—I guess my sister put you though the wringer a few months back.”

“And then some,” Noah said, and looked as if he was thinking stuff Scott was certain he didn’t want to know about his sister. “But it was definitely worth it.”

“Schmucks,” Cameron said, looking mildly appalled.

“He thinks he’s immune,” Noah explained, grinning. “I keep telling him the harder the resistance, the bigger the fall.”

“Not likely,” Cameron replied. “I don’t ever want to have that pathetic hangdog look on my face. Next you pair will be wanting a group hug.” He scowled and took a long swallow of Corona. “Forget it.”

Scott laughed. “I’m good,” he insisted, and then a sharp pain pierced his chest when he realized he could certainly do with a hug from Evie. He’d backed off to give her space and felt the loss of her so acutely it was messing with his head. But he didn’t want to upset her and was worried what anxiety might do to their baby. So he stayed away and endured the longest five days of his life.

And he was angry with her, too. Angry that she was afraid to give them a chance. Angry that she didn’t
want
to love him. It...hurt. He’d never felt hurt like that before...never knew that pain like that could stop a man eating, sleeping, almost breathing.

“She’ll come around,” Noah said. “I know Evie. She’s set in her ways about some things...but she’s the most sensible person I know. And she’s been on her own for so long. Give her some time.”

“Well, I’ve got plenty of that.”

“Schmucks,” Cameron said again just as his cell phone pealed. He headed off down the hall to get the call and returned a few minutes later.

“That was one of my boys from the Big Brother program,” he told them. “Giving me the heads-up. Apparently there’s some trouble going down at the surf club tonight.” He grabbed his keys as Scott and Noah got to their feet. “Teenagers fighting over turf.”

A turf war in Crystal Point? It seemed incomprehensible. “Do you know these kids?”

“Yeah,” Cameron replied. “Some of them. One group has been using the top floor for secret computer gaming parties. They weren’t doing any harm, so we’ve let them use the place while the renovations are going on. The other group wants them out. I don’t want to call it in until I know something’s really going on. I gotta go.”

“I’ll come with you,” Scott said.

Noah nodded. “Me, too.”

Cameron looked at them both. “And you might want to decide if you should call Evie,” he said. “Because my source told me that Trevor was there with them.”

Chapter Fourteen

E
vie taught her Friday night class with about as much enthusiasm as a wet sneaker. Callie had turned up for the class, with Noah’s three youngest kids in tow, and the kids played happily with watercolors at their specially set up table in the corner.

Once the class had concluded, Fiona and Callie lingered in the studio drinking a second cup of coffee and Evie prepared herself for what she knew was an inevitable confrontation with her sister-in-law.

“Have you guys picked out names yet?” Callie asked over the rim of her mug.

“Not yet. But I’m thinking I’d like a family name and something traditional.”

Callie nodded. “And the baby’s surname,” she asked, “what will that be?”

Evie stilled. The implication was clear. “We haven’t really discussed it.”

“Scott intends to be a hands-on parent,” Callie said. “He’ll be a good father.”

Evie didn’t doubt that for a moment. “I know.”

“The thing is,” Callie said as she flicked a look toward Fiona and then back to Evie. “He’s always been...you know...rock-solid. When we were growing up I was always this unpredictable whirlwind, and Scott was exactly the opposite. He got good grades in school and knew what he wanted to do with his life. You’d be hard-pressed to find a man more responsible.” She sighed heavily. “He’s got this sensible, pragmatic way about him. Come to think of it, Evie, you and Scott are a lot alike.”

Evie’s heart filled up and flowed over. But she wasn’t sure if their similarities were pulling them together or pushing them apart. He had offered her everything and Evie had refused him...rejected him...and still he loved her.

And I’m terrified of losing him.

But her logic made no sense. By rejecting Scott she didn’t have him...so how could she lose something she didn’t have?

Her eyes filled with tears and it took barely seconds for Callie to wrap her arms around Evie’s shoulders. “I don’t know what to do...what to think. As hard as I’ve tried not to be, part of me has been so dishonest with him, with
us.
”

“There is an
us?
” Callie asked. “I mean is there a you and Scott?”

Evie shrugged, and then nodded. “I’m such an idiot,” she admitted.

“Just a woman in love by the look of things.”

Evie hiccupped. “Do you mind?”

“About you and Scott? Of course not—he’s my brother, you’re my friend, I’m married to your brother—it kind of makes us closer than regular sister-in-laws.” Callie squeezed her shoulders. “But I think he’s in pretty bad shape about this.”

Evie knew it and it tore her up inside. “Do you think he still wants to marry me?”

Callie nodded. “But do you want to marry him?”

She shrugged. “His job...”

“His job isn’t his life, Evie,” Callie said kindly, looking at her stomach, and Evie sensed immediately that her friend knew her fears. “Not anymore. But there’s no denying he’s good at it. He has two commendations for bravery in the line of duty, was promoted through the ranks well before most people his age and he’s always seemed to simply take it all in his stride. Even when his friend died he held it together. He’s not a risk, Evie....”

Evie sucked in a quick breath. “But his job is risky,” she implored. “And if something happened I’d—”

“We all die, Evie,” Fiona said, quieter than usual. “It’s how we live that counts.”

With those few words it was as though a wave of clarity washed over her and Evie sat, too stunned to move. So many memories surged up and rocked her reality—memories of Gordon and the knowledge that with so many years of grief snapping at her heels, she’d forgotten how it felt to be loved...and to truly live. Occasionally she recalled snapshots of things she’d shared with her husband, like the birth of their son. But the everyday stuff—the often mundane, day-to-day things were the moments that made up a real life. The burnt toast in the morning, the laughter over a shared movie on television, the comfort of strong arms around her as she slept. That was the
living
Fiona spoke of.

And now a genuinely good, honest man wanted to share those things with her.

And I turned him down?

Evie wondered if they made bigger fools than her. “Do...do you really think he’ll still want me?”

Callie smiled broadly and hugged her. “Why don’t you ask him and find out?”

Fiona laughed and they had all lifted their coffee mugs to clink them together when Callie’s cell buzzed. It was obvious the call was from her husband because a dreamy look crossed her face. The look lasted only seconds, though, and when she disconnected Evie knew something was wrong.

“There’s trouble down at the surf club,” Callie said quickly. “Noah said Trevor was there and you should sit tight and not worry.”

Trevor? Trouble? Not worry? Not likely!
Evie jerked to her feet. “Trevor’s at Cody’s on a sleepover.”

“Apparently he’s not,” Callie said. “Cameron and Scott are dealing with it.”

Evie’s blood ran cold. “I have to get down there.”

Callie grabbed her arm. “Noah said you should stay here and he’ll call the minute he knows—”

“I’m going,” Evie said firmly.

Callie’s grip tightened. “Well, I’m coming with you.”

Fiona stood. “You both go. I’ll stay here with the kids.”

Evie was by the door in seconds and her sister-in-law followed closely on her heels.

* * *

With scaffolding as the only access point while the building was still undergoing renovations, Scott followed Cameron and they climbed up the outside to investigate.

There were two groups of boys embroiled in a standoff on the top floor of the surf club—one group was clinging to their laptops and backed into a corner, the other group was fueled with aggression while the ringleader held a crudely assembled Molotov cocktail. There didn’t appear to be any other weapons involved, but Cameron still approached the scene as dangerous and Scott respected his experience enough to allow him the lead.

Through the dirty window Scott saw Trevor and another boy out in front of their group of friends. They were talking and it looked as though they were trying to reason with the leader of the other group. Scott got a bad vibe from the teenager then and his instinct kicked in immediately. The handmade device in his hand looked lethal enough to do some serious damage, and with the renovations upstairs at the painting stage, there were plenty of combustible materials available if the troubled teen decided to use his weapon.

Scott knew that surprising the boys would only fuel the tension, and followed Cameron back down.

“I’m calling for backup,” Cameron said once they hit the ground. He pulled his cell from his pocket and made a call. “They’re ten minutes away. I know that kid pretty well,” Cameron said. “The one who’s holding the weapon is likely to start something once I go in there—he’s got a lot of anger issues. Wait outside until the unit gets here.”

As much as he wanted to haul Trevor’s skinny butt out of there, Scott knew he had to do as Cameron said. If the rules weren’t followed, someone might get hurt, and the idea of that someone being Evie’s son was unthinkable.

If something happened to Trevor, Evie would be inconsolable. Fear pitched inside his gut, and a deep swell of feeling swept through him. He cared deeply for Evie’s son and had an instinctive need to protect him.

He thought about Mike O’Shea, faced with the idea of losing his child, and Scott remembered his friend’s frantic rush to race into the house without consideration for the consequences. A father not thinking clearly—a man obsessed with saving his child... Scott had labeled Mike over and over.

I’m going in there. I will do whatever it takes to save Evie’s son.
But he knew, without a doubt, that he could do it and still minimize the risks for everyone around him.

I won’t lose my head...that’s not me. I’m not Mike. I can do both.

A silver utility pulled up about fifty meters away.

When Evie and Callie jumped out and headed toward them, Scott’s heart jumped inside his chest.

She launched at Cameron. “Where’s my son?”

“Upstairs.”

“I’m going up to get him.”

“You’re doing no such thing,” Scott said, and took hold of her arm. “Let Cameron handle this.”

She looked at him, all eyes, all fear. “If my son is in danger I’m not going to sit back and—”

“You won’t be doing him any favors by charging up there,” he said, and quickly explained about the homemade weapon. “The police backup will be here soon. They can diffuse this before it gets out of control.”

“But he needs—”

“He needs you to stay calm,” Scott said, and tightened his hold on her arm. She looked terrified and he was just about to pull her closer when a stream of loud shouts came from the building, followed by footsteps on bare boards and the unmistakable roar of a fireball breathing into life.

Scott released Evie and raced toward the building, barking out instructions to Cameron to keep everyone back as he moved to scale the scaffolding as quickly as possible. When he reached the top he immediately saw the orange glow of flames through a closed window and heard boys running toward the door. They raced across the threshold in a frightened group, pushing and fighting each other to get through.

He was by the door in a second and instructed the boys to stay calm and file out one at a time. Through the doorway he could see the flames kicking into life, igniting painter’s drop sheets.

“Scott!”

Trevor’s shaky voice echoed in his ears and he grabbed the boy by the shoulders as he came through the door and hovered, clutching his computer. “Get out now,” Scott told him.

“Cody,” Trevor said loudly to be heard above the formidable rush of flames. “Cody’s stuck in there—he won’t come out.”

Once the last of the boys were through the door, Scott stepped over the threshold. “You go,” he demanded to Trevor. “I’ll get him out.” Evie’s son hesitated and Scott pushed against his chest. “Do what I tell you. Go!”

When Trevor finally turned on his heel, Scott moved into the long room. The flames were running along one wall, igniting the sheets on the floor. He covered his mouth with his forearm and headed across the floorboards. In the distance he heard sirens, and relief pitched behinds his ribs.

He saw the kid backed into the corner, clearly in shock. The flames were closing in on the boy, and Scott skidded across the floor. As he got closer, the fire changed direction, skirting the walls as it hissed and ran around in an arc, combusting a pile of old rags on the floor before it moved dangerously close to the terrified kid.

“Cody,” he shouted. “Move to your right and take a couple of big steps.”

The teenager coughed and remained where he was as Scott moved closer. The heat pushed him back momentarily and he heard the fire truck pull up outside. But he couldn’t wait for backup. The whole room would be engulfed soon. He
had
to get Cody out. There was no time to waste.

He darted to his left, flipping across a low line of fire that snapped at his heels. The heat smothered his skin and filled his lungs. When he reached Cody, the boy almost fell into his arms.

“Come on, kid,” he said as he hauled him over one shoulder. “Let’s go.”

* * *

Evie saw Trevor and rushed forward, oblivious of the fire brigade telling her to stay back. The fire crew worked their way up the building and helped the scared teenagers down the scaffolding.

As soon as she felt her son in her arms, Evie held on to him tightly. “You scared me, Trevor.”

“I’m okay,” he insisted. “But Cody...Cody’s still inside,” Trevor said shakily. “Scott told me to get out. He said he’d get Cody down. But he wouldn’t move. As soon as the fire started I yelled to everyone to run...but Cody...he wouldn’t listen...he wouldn’t...he just wouldn’t...”

A sob racked her son’s thin frame, and Evie hugged him close. Over his shoulder she looked up at the building. Thick smoke billowed from the top floor, and her heart thumped.

Beside her, Evie felt Callie’s terror and while she clutched Trevor with one hand, Evie laid her other palm over her stomach. The moments ticked over, every one seeming longer than the one before. And then she saw Scott, illuminated by the beam of torches from the firefighters and the bright shadow of the flames behind him. He carried Cody over his shoulder and strode along the scaffolding without missing a step. Three firefighters waited until he’d passed before heading inside the building.

He got to the ground and moved a safe distance away from the building before letting go of Cody. The paramedics were on hand and laid the boy in an awaiting stretcher. By now news of the drama had spread throughout the community and there were people everywhere. The police had now cordoned off around the building, and Evie was held back behind a tape.

Evie heard Noah mutter a relieved “Thank God,” and without thinking, she ducked underneath the tape and raced toward Scott.

He looked stunned to see her moving so fast and took a few steps to meet her near the front off the ambulance. “Evie, you shouldn’t be run—”

She clutched his shirt, hauled herself against him and kissed him on the mouth. A kiss to stamp herself as his. “You’re okay,” she breathed, and felt hot tears in her eyes as their lips parted.

He nodded, smiling. “I’m okay.”

And with that one look, Evie knew what she wanted. Because she saw...
love.

“Thank you for getting Trevor out so quickly,” she said, clutching his arm. From the light beaming from inside the ambulance she got a good look at him. He had a black smudge on his face, and his T-shirt was scorched near the sleeve. “And for saving Cody.”

“It’s my—”

“Your job,” she said, cutting him off, and smiled. “Yes, I know. I’m glad you were here.”

He looked at her oddly. “You’re sure about that?”

“Positive.”

Someone called his name and he turned away for a moment. Cameron and another police officer were making their way toward them. “I need to talk to these guys,” he said, and touched her face. “Why don’t you take Trevor home and I’ll come by when I’m done?”