When everyone is settled in their seats at the beautifully decorated table, the champagne begins to flow. My heart sings as I breathe in the traditional scents of Christmas. The fresh pine garland running down the center of the table mixes with the aroma of three large orange and cinnamon candles on tall glass stands.
I inch my chair closer to Jarrod’s so I can reach for his thigh under the cover of the white linen cloth. He covers it with his, and I whisper, “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Yes, it is. A very special Christmas Eve,” he agrees with a squeeze of my hand.
I look around the table at the smiling faces of my friends while we wait for Lydia to place a steamy bowl of seafood chowder in front of each of us. I can’t help bending closer to inhale the rich, creamy goodness. Yum, this is the perfect warmer after being stuck on the cold mountain for too long.
When those plates are emptied and cleared, the main course is served. Thick slices of honey-crusted baked ham sitting on a pool of shiny, rich gravy with tangy whole cranberry jelly. And for sides, baby carrots, greens, and crispy roasted potato and parsnips. I pile my plate high with the vegetables. Snowboarding really gives me an appetite.
But we’re not done. Lydia clears our empty plates again, and this time when she returns, she is carrying a large silver platter holding a mountain of homemade cookies. All the classic cookies from what I can tell: chocolate chip, gingerbread, and snowflake-shaped sugar ones. I thought I couldn’t eat another thing after the delicious meal, but now I’m rethinking that as my eyes grow wide at the abundance of sweet treats.
Klaus passes around a tray of tall glasses filled with eggnog to go with our cookies. My nose twitches with the rich, sweet nutmeg scent. My mouth waters uncontrollably at the display of all my favorite seasonal treats.
I take a glass of eggnog from the tray and glance at Cassie sitting opposite me. She is the only person I know who loves eggnog more than me. But surprisingly, as Klaus moves around to her side of the table and offers her a glass, she politely declines.What the heck?
Something is up. Both she and Luke have been acting a little strange ever since I arrived. I had thought we would get to spend more time together these holidays, but instead, they are always disappearing off somewhere.
My forehead crinkles as I catch her eye across the table, and she gestures that she is too full. I’m not buying it. Cassie has always been tall and thin and unfairly able to eat way more food than me.
For the last couple of days, I’ve been wondering if there may be a secret that she and Luke are hiding. I don’t want to spoil her surprise, and I’m thinking the others are so wrapped up in their own love that they haven’t noticed anything amiss. Me, I’ve got nothing better to do than forensically view each of the relationships of the couples around me. Well, I didn’t before today, but now I, too, can be distracted by a sexy man.
I turn back to the man in question to discuss the benefits of sugar cookies over chocolate chip, and he looks at me like I’m the crazy lady he accuses me of.
Two cookies and half a glass of eggnog later, and I feel like I cannot eat or drink another thing. If I could move from the table, I would, but then Luke clears his throat, hoping to get our attention. I turn to look at him, and he looks nervous as he stands, then reaches for his wife’s hand. I look at Cassie, and her smile tells me everything. We’ve been best friends for so long that I know every one of her expressions.
Scott leans back in his chair. “Hey, mate, you got something to say?”
“Nobody told me we were doing speeches,” Blake interrupts.
Luke shakes his head, laughing. “My turn tonight for a speech, so you can stand down this time, Blake.” He looks down again at Cassie, and my eyes get a little misty. “Cassie and I have some news … we’re having a baby.”
Luke’s usually deep voice cracks on the last word, but nobody really notices, as Jasmine squeals, jumps up, and runs to hug Cassie. Bec and I are not far behind. My happy tears now run freely down my grinning cheeks as we surround her in a group hug.
I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve cried in front of other people, but tonight, I don’t care. I’m so damn happy for my friends I can’t even speak. And by the time we release the group hug we’re all in the same messy state.
I look over to Luke, who is grinning from ear to ear as the guys congratulate him with fist bumps and slaps on his back. I push my way through the circle of brawn around him and pull him into a hard hug. Luke has been one of my best friends since high school, and though our friendship cooled for a time when he broke up with Cassie, we always stayed in contact. How else was he going to know how Cassie was doing? Now they are going to have a baby, and I’m so freaking excited for them.
Jarrod comes toward us from the kitchen carrying two bottles of champagne. “This calls for a celebration with thespecialchampagne,” he announces, although I’m not sure what makes one bottle more special than another other than its price.
He pops the cork like a professional, and as he begins to pour the cold bubbles into the tall flutes that Lydia just placed on the table, he asks, “Cassie, would you like a sparkling water?”
How did I ever think Jarrod was rude? He really is thoughtful and sweet, not just with me but to everyone. I really like him, which is a dangerous state to be in when, in a couple of days, we’ll be going our separate ways.
When we all have glasses in our hands, Blake steps up to make a toast. I’ve heard Blake’s speeches before, but this time, with our small, intimate group of friends, his words are heartfelt and special as he hints at the struggles Luke has been through after being injured in Afghanistan. He speaks of what great parents Cassie and Luke will be, and I’m all misty-eyed again. But then so is everyone else.
Chapter 14
Madison
Electricitybuzzesthroughmybody as Jarrod places his hand lightly on my lower back when I move past him on my way to the living room. It’s a brief touch but enough to radiate the sizzle of heat to my extremities and increase the beat of my heart.
Over the last two days, my awareness of Jarrod has intensified. His penetrating gaze on me has become my kryptonite, and like a drug addict needing another fix, I’ve sought it out. I need him to want me like I desire him. And I think he does, if his attentiveness tonight can be taken to mean more and his earlier promises at the bar are to be believed.
The thought that tonight, without the influence of alcohol, I may finally end up in his bed, gives me a fluttery feeling in my stomach and I have to cross my legs to tamp down the ache at the junction of my thighs. My panties are already feeling uncomfortably damp just at the prospect of what might happen later. I can’t imagine what the reality will be.
Jarrod leans down, offering to top up my glass of champagne. “You’re not trying to get me drunk again, are you?” I joke, and his answering broad grin aimed right at me has my heart skipping a beat. Jarrod’s scowl is broody and hot, but when he shares one of his rare smiles with me, my lady bits weep.
“Not tonight,” he promises with a wink.
