We work together in silence for several long moments before West asks, “What do you want from Santa this year?”
To feel like I belong. To not have to worry about being asked to leave. To see your smile every day for the rest of my life.“There’s nothing I want.”
“There’s nothing you want?” He deadpans in a tone that clearly indicates he doesn’t believe me.
“I have everything I could possibly want right here,” I tease before standing on my tip toes to press a chaste kiss to his lips. His beard tickles my face and I love the sensation, especially when I remember that it was wet from my essence just an hour ago.
He frowns at me. “What was your life like before the Kringle Ranch?”
I twine a small red bow around the Christmas tree. Mom loves to add bows of all colors to her trees. She says it’s because the holidays are a gift, and we should never take them for granted.
“I don’t know. I don’t remember much until I was about six. That’s when Micah and I got taken from our mom.” There are other things before that. I have more memories, but I don’t ever reach for them. I know that my brother is scarred and never talks about before. He’s told me that our past doesn’t matter. Given the sad look on his face when he says it, I think it’s probably a good thing I don’t remember.
“And the homes after that?” He sorts through the ornaments, putting the snowflakes and icicles in separate piles.
“Some of the families were nice,” I admit. OK, so most of them were nice to Micah. He’s easy to love. He always does what other people want and never asks for anything for himself. He’s not needy or anxious. He works hard and he always excels at whatever he tries. “Everybody loved Micah.”
“But they didn’t love you?” He looks up from his work, his beautiful brown gaze holding me hostage.
“Not everyone is easy to love.” It hurts to admit those words out loud. It hurts to tell West who I really like the painful truth. But he’ll figure it out if he’s with me long enough. Maybe that’s why his parents warned him against pursuing me.
“Cassie—” I can’t pick out the note in his voice. I’m not sure if it’s a reprimand or pity or shock. But it doesn’t matter. I can’t change who I am. I can hide it for a little while, but my true self always comes back to the surface.
“I think your tree looks really good.” I step back and gesture toward it. “Maybe you should put a few more ornaments on the bare spots. But you have a great frame and I need to go now. They’ll be wondering where I am.”
He blows out a breath. I can see there’s more he wants to say. It’s written on his face but finally he nods. “Let me grab my coat.”
“You don’t have to. It’s not far.”
“My girlfriend doesn’t walk home alone in the dark,” he growls.
I manage a smile at his bossy tone. I should have known he wouldn’t let me. West has always been fiercely protective over me.
When we’re outside, he holds my hand. Maybe I should say something about it. After all, anyone passing upon us would be able to tell we’re holding hands. But I like the feeling of his big fingers wrapped around mine too much.
I like the way it feels to have his steady presence beside me as we trudge down the familiar path that has footprints in it already. Probably from Micah and Ledger. They’ve been visiting Mom and Dad every day since he came home from the hospital.
We thought he was having a heart attack, but we were fortunate. It was a close call and the doctor warned him that one is around the corner if he doesn’t change his lifestyle.
As we approach the house, the porchlight is on and glowing. It always is because Dad will wait up for me. He’s an early to bed and early to rise type. Except when we were teenagers. Then he’d stay up late and pretend to build a model boat. He’s been building the same one since I was in high school.
West squeezes my fingers as we approach the front porch. He pauses before we get to the light and turns to me. He brushes a gentle kiss to my forehead. “For the record, you are incredibly easy to love.”
Then he’s gone, fading back into the shadows of the night. I stand there and stare into the darkness until I can’t see him anymore. I should probably go inside but I’m rooted to the spot for the longest time. I think I’m falling in love with West Kringle.
6
WEST
“This had better bea damn good emergency,” I tell Micah as I pound on his front door. He called me a few minutes ago and woke me from a dream about Cassie. She was naked and in the shower with me. I’d just pulled her against me when my phone went off.
This is probably what my mom would call a blessing in disguise. It gives me a chance to come clean to my best friend, to tell him that I’m dating his sister. He deserves to hear it from me, man-to-man. We’ll deal with his emergency then I’ll tell him that I’m in love with his sister and keeping her forever.
He opens the door, looking even more disgruntled than I feel. He’s holding a sleeping baby in his arms. “This is what I called you for.”
“No, thanks. I don’t want it,” I answer, only half teasing him. There are dark circles under his eyes. He’s taken over so much since Dad had the health scare. He’s always worked the hardest here. Sometimes, it’s like he has to prove he’s earned his place. After what Cassie said last night about not being lovable, it makes me wonder what wounds the system left on him.
“She got left on my doorstep,” he explains. “Tiny wisp of a thing with only a blanket and a bag of formula. Look at her. Too damn chilly for that.”