All I Want for Christmas: A Kinnison Legacy Holiday novella (5 page)

“You’re right, there’s plenty to do. Sorry for the whine. I guess I’ve gotten used to little boy noise around here.”

“I’d offer to come home and make some big boy noise, darlin’, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t want to come back to work.”

“Big boy noise,” she repeated, dropping her voice low. The seductive tone shot straight below his belt. “I like big boy noise,” she purred.

“Liberty,” he warned with a grin that slowly curled his lip. He glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot. They’d played this game before and with incredible success.

“Honey, I don’t want you to worry about me all alone out here,” she continued. “I’m just being lazy. Lying here on the couch in my yoga pants and one of your old flannel shirts that smells like you.” She chuckled.

His cock twitched.

“I’m hardly what you’d consider a bad boy’s fantasy.”

His body grew tense as he conjured the image of her doing a private dance for him. When it came to sex—phenomenal sex—she knew what buttons of his to push. He eased himself behind a stack of cabinet boxes. “What are you wearing under that flannel shirt?” His heart sped up when he heard her sigh.

“Why don’t you come home and find out?”

Her voice pulled at his crotch. He squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the urge to unzip his pants and engage in a little old-fashioned phone sex with his wife.

Nope, not today. These little swimmers were currently a precious commodity. “I’ll be home in ten… make that eight minutes, which gives us about fifteen minutes before lunch break is over.” He was already walking toward the alley where his truck was parked. “I want you naked, wet, and ready for me, understand?” He saw Clay coming down the alley. “Be right back,” he called out.
Got a baby to make.
Rein heard a sigh and pressed the phone to his ear as he climbed in the cab. Shit. “Don’t get too far ahead of me, sweetheart.” He disconnected and dropped the phone on the seat as he sped out of the alley, his mind decidedly on one thing and one thing only.

Seven minutes and a few seconds later, he raced through the front door. He dropped his coat in the foyer and unbuttoned his shirt as he searched the family room, finding it empty. He eyed his boots, thinking there wouldn’t be time as he strode into the kitchen and found it, too, empty--though he eyed the sturdy kitchen island with a renewed perspective. His office was empty and so, too, the laundry room. He came down the hall next to the stairs and unbuckled his belt, ready for the hunt as he took the steps two at a time. “Liberty?” He stuck his head in their bedroom and found it vacant.

Walking down the hall, his pants unzipped, he called out, “Ms. Liberty Belle, your hunk of burning love is requesting to climb aboard—”

Liberty walked out of Cody’s room, her eyes opening wide at the sight of his bulging manhood tenting his boxer briefs. Right here was as good as any place in the house. He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops, ready to get this show on the road.

“You didn’t get my text?” she hissed in a frantic whisper. She stepped up to him and hastily fastened the snaps of his shirt.

Confused, he couldn’t understand why she didn’t want to see his hunk of burning love.

“What an unexpected surprise, honey,” she said aloud. “You’re here just in time to meet Mrs. Connors from Social Services. She stopped by to take a look at Cody’s living arrangements. I was just showing her the bed you’d made.”

Quick to zip his pants, he had just buckled his belt when a short woman with dark hair cut blunt across her small shoulders and wearing a suit the color of a sick flamingo emerged from the room. She was otherwise occupied, making a note on her clipboard, allowing Rein to fasten the last snap of his shirt. He smiled as she peered at him over the reading glasses perched halfway down her nose. She assessed him with the look of a mildly interesting science experiment.

“Mrs. Connors, this is my husband Rein.”

The woman offered her hand, but her expression remained stoic. “Is it commonplace that you’d be home in the middle of a workday, Mr. Mackenzie?”

He eyed the woman. “Um… not really. As it happens, I’m on break and thought I’d come home and have my wife for lunch… have lunch with my wife, I meant to say.”

The woman’s brows shot straight through her blunt-cut bangs. “I see.” She glanced at Liberty. “You mentioned that the child is visiting his mother today and is under Miss Harrison’s supervision?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Liberty nodded as she followed the woman down the stairs to the front door.

Rein tucked in his shirt, noticing the woman didn’t miss a beat as she stepped over his coat.

“We’re to meet at the diner later to pick him up. He loves the cinnamon buns.” Liberty shot him pointed glances, no doubt suggesting he find a way to hide the bulge in his jeans.

He smiled as he placed his hand on the stair rail and crossed his boots. Despite Liberty’s attempt to hide what was going on, Rein and the ostentatious woman had a silent understanding.

“Very well.” She looked at Rein. “You should know that from time to time an agency representative may stop in unannounced. It is policy.”

Rein smiled.
As it is my policy to make love to my wife in the middle of the day if I wish
. “Absolutely, Mrs. Connors.”

Liberty appeared as though she might kill him as she walked the woman to the front porch. He came up behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

“Enjoy your lunch,” Mrs. Connors said, waving as she climbed into her car.

Rein waved back. “Nice to have met you, Mrs. Connors. I shall.”

He pulled Liberty inside before the woman was barely out of the drive and pushed her against the door. A groan uttered from her throat as she reached up and unsnapped his shirt.

“This is the strangest foreplay we’ve ever had,” he said, capturing her mouth in a hot, wet kiss. He felt her fingers working at his belt as he reached beneath the hem of her shirt and sighed.

“Just as I thought—wearing nothing.” He helped himself to a slow caress. “We aren’t going to make it to the couch, you know that.” He leaned his forehead to hers.

“Right here. Right now.” She reached up and nipped at his lower lip as she curled her arms around his neck.

“Hell, yeah, and this is going to give you something to think about the rest of the day.” He tugged her yoga pants down, helping her kick them away as he shoved his jeans past his hips. Lifting her, he entered her swiftly, finding her ready for him.

“It’s your ring tone,” he said, pressing deeper. “Wild thing describes you, sweetheart. It got me hard just talking to you.”

She chuckled, burying her face in his neck, clinging to his shoulders as she moved with him. She whispered things he might not remember, but--as they toppled together into pure bliss--how she responded, how she fit him perfectly reminded him how much he loved this woman with every fiber of his being.

Between brief kisses and quiet laughter, they redressed.

“I’m late. I’ve got to get back to work,” Rein said, tapping her nose with a grin. “But I’d like to thank you for lunch.”

She licked her lips. “I’ll see you at the diner.”

Yeah, he could do this all over in a heartbeat. He picked up his coat and welcomed the chill in the air.

Chapter Three

Rein hugged his wife. “Hey, we did it.”

Liberty gazed up at him. She couldn’t love this man any more than at this very moment. They stood together amid hundreds of area residents who’d come out on this frosty night in December to see the lighted parade and kick off the holiday shopping season in End of the Line. Cody sat perched on Rein’s shoulders, taking in the wonder and beauty of the eighteen-foot Fraser fir lit entirely with old-fashioned colored lights. Every business surrounding the courthouse square was outlined with tiny white lights, and those businesses off the square had joined in celebrating the resurrection of the town lighting. The Git and Go, Tanners Meat Market, the bowling alley, Dusty’s Bar and Grill, even the fire station and Doc Johnson got on board, outlining their buildings with white lights.

Wyatt held Gracie as he flipped on the generator he’d bought to offset electric expenses to the nearby courthouse. His face as he watched his daughter’s joy was nothing short of a Christmas miracle.

“Good Lord.” Betty sniffed. “I never thought I’d see the day,” she said as she observed the sight.

“Ding, dong the Grinch is dead,” Dalton said, tossing a grin to Betty. The Kinnison clan had designated the bakery as a sensible meeting spot to watch the parade. Dalton nudged his daughter's shoulder and pointed out that it’d started to snow. The two occupied themselves with catching snowflakes on their tongues.

“He may never grow up,” Angelique commented as she snuggled with baby Sawyer under a blanket, watching her husband and daughter.

Liberty chuckled. “Isn’t everybody a kid at this time of year?” she asked, watching her stepbrother.

Rein laughed. “In particular, that one.” He nodded toward Dalton, who stood with his arms spread wide, face upturned, mouth wide open.

Beneath the gargantuan tree, Reverend Adam Bishop, newly appointed pastor at the Trinity Lutheran church, led the combined voices of his church and that of Reverend Leslie Cook’s choir from the First Church of Christ in several secular holiday songs as well as tossing in a couple of holiday hymns. Reverend Cook, still fairly new to the area, was End of the Line’s first female pastor.

“I’m glad to see the two church choirs joining forces,” Betty remarked. “Maybe it will make things a little easier for Pastor Cook and the old-timers who don’t seem to realize that women can be as committed to God and church as any man.”

“I’m just glad that you all were able to convince the businesses in town to resurrect this tradition,” Rein said.

“You all know this was originally Jed’s idea,” Betty said as she passed around a tray of cocoa and mini holiday cupcakes. “He would’ve loved to have seen you boys involved with your families like this.”

The town lighting had kicked off just after dusk and the lighted holiday parade with participants from surrounding small towns as well as a school marching band from Billings was slated to begin in a few minutes.

Betty with her sparse but newly opened bakery had been handing out samples of her Snickerdoodle cookies, mini holiday cupcakes, and hot chocolate since just after the supper crowd at the café. This event was one of the very few times Jerry and Betty closed the café in the early evening--and only for one hour, and then it was back to work in case any of the holiday revelers wished to get a bite to eat before heading home.

“Where are Rebecca and Michael?” Liberty asked.

“He was asked to pull the trailer bed for the Crow nation entry,” Angelique replied. “Aunt Rebecca wanted Emilee to dance, but this was her first parade and I wanted us together as a family.”

Rein nodded. “It’s a good thing. Someone has to keep an eye on Dalton.” He lifted Cody off his shoulders, placed him in Liberty’s arms, and kissed his sister-in-law on top of her head. “You’re a saint, Angelique.” He gave Liberty a quick kiss. “Try to save me one of those holiday cupcakes.”

She grabbed his coat sleeve and kissed his cheek before whispering in his ear, “There are so many uses for icing.”

He turned his face so they were nose-to-nose. “Do you want Santa to think you’re a naughty girl?” he asked quietly.

She lifted a brow and smiled.

Rein shook his head. “You’re killing me.” He turned his attention to Cody. “You be a good boy” he said, kissing him on the cheek. “See you all later.” He waved and disappeared through the throngs of parade-watchers.

Accepting a chair from Dalton, who’d been positioning camp chairs for everyone, Liberty sat down with Cody on her lap and covered their legs with an afghan she’d brought along.

Wyatt came walking across the main street now starting to line with crowds of people sitting in camp chairs and on blankets to watch the parade. “What’d I tell you?” He held his hand up to get a high five from Dalton. “Do I deliver or what?”

A little girl pointed at Wyatt. “Mommy, is that the man you called the Grinch?”

“The Grinch doesn’t live around here anymore, sweetheart,” she woman said, then smiled and tugged the little girl down the street.

Aimee joined her husband, hugging him and Gracie at once.

“It’s a fine tree, Wyatt,” Jerry said slowly as they walked by. He was seated in a lawn chair, with a blanket over his lap. “Jed would be delighted that our holiday traditions are back,” he said, struggling to enunciate his words.

Wyatt stopped and shook the man’s hand. “Thanks, Jerry.”

“It’s too bad that Clay and Sally can’t be here. I know Sally would love this,” Angelique said to her friends now seated together along the curb. Sawyer made a soft sigh and settled deeper into her arms, fast asleep despite the noise around him.

“I stopped over to take them a casserole tonight and she just seems miserable. I’ll be very surprised if she makes it to January,” Aimee said, accepting Gracie from Wyatt. He stood behind his family, seemingly taking in the whole scene as though for the first time.

Dalton had taken a spot on the curb beside his daughter as they waited for the parade to begin.

“Where’s daddy?” Cody asked around a mouthful of cookie.

Aimee caught Liberty’s gaze and smiled.

“He’s helping some people with the parade, sweetheart. We’ll see him afterwards.” Liberty mentally applauded herself for sidestepping that, in all likelihood, Rein was in the Trinity Lutheran Church changing into his Santa gear and getting ready to bring up the end of the parade in the decked-out Kinnison horse-drawn sleigh. They’d found Jed’s old Santa suit at the ranch after the fire, and decided to keep it and get it cleaned. She remembered the scene when Wyatt and Dalton had brought it over earlier in the week…

***

“Figured you’d be needing this.” Dalton hung the red suit, complete with black Stetson, over the kitchen bar stool. “The owl was sitting on the woodshed when we drove in.”

Rein looked up from the copy of
A Cowboy’s Christmas
that he’d laid out to give Wyatt. “Good, then you can take this. Figure you’ll want to read it at the open house Aimee mentioned the two of you are having.”

Wyatt scratched his cheek and glanced away. “We’ll have to see about it being an open house this year. Maybe we’ll start out with family and a few friends.”

Liberty offered coffee to the three most important men in her life—her husband and her two stepbrothers. “You all don’t mind if I continue on with supper here, do you?”

“I don’t know, what are you making?” Dalton asked, coming to stand beside her at the stove. He looked over her shoulder. “What the hell is that?”

“It’s called broccoli cheese chowder and it happens to be Rein’s favorite.”

Dalton shook his head and sat down at one of the breakfast stools. “I always knew he was a little bubble short of plum.”

Rein checked for Cody, and gave Dalton the finger.

“So, has he spoken to you?” Wyatt asked.

Rein glanced from Dalton to Wyatt. “The owl?”

“Jed,” Dalton said, calmly folding his hands. “You know he’s spoken to each of us.”

Rein frowned and sat back, scratching his brow.

“I’ve seen the owl around here several times,” Liberty offered. She sat down and watched the expressions of the three men. Did they really believe that Jed could speak to them from the dead? Michael Greyfeather’s belief based in his Crow culture and religion was one thing—asking for Rein to believe it was quite another.

Her husband gave her a quick side look, then focused on turning the coffee mug between his hands. He shook his head.

“Yeah?” Dalton remarked, taking a swallow from his cup. “I wouldn’t worry about it. Maybe things have gotten to the point where he feels it’s not necessary.” He finished his coffee. “Need to pick up a few things before I go home.” Dalton eyed Rein. “We’ve been through a lot, the three of us. I’d like to think that Jed is happy with the way things are going. That we’ve done well continuing his legacy—the cabins, the Last Hope ranch, the equine rescue—and now bringing back the holiday traditions in town that he started.”

Rein chuckled quietly. “At least he’s assured of his line being carried on through you two.”

Liberty felt her heart squeeze. She’d never seen Rein like this. She felt partly to blame that they hadn’t yet had any children of their own. She touched his arm.

Wyatt spoke first. “Rein, you’re his blood. We’re adopted. Remember that. Besides, you know that legacies are about more than having children.”

She knew what Wyatt intended, but also knew how important having children was to her and Rein.

“Yeah, you keep telling me that. It’s easier when you already have kids, though, right?” He sighed and shook his head. “Hey, I hear what you’re saying and I appreciate it. And I do feel good about all we’ve accomplished together.”

“And man, I’ve never seen anyone as good with a kid than you are with Cody,” Dalton said.

He met Dalton’s gaze. “For as long as we have him.”

Dalton blew out a sigh. “Give it some time. I know it’s going to happen for you guys. I believe that, I really do.”

“Like you believe Jed talks to you?”

Wyatt’s gaze met Dalton’s.

Liberty knew that things could turn ugly any moment. “It’s been a long day. Cody’s going to be waking from his nap soon. Maybe we could table this discussion for another time?”

Wyatt stood. “Thanks for the coffee.” He looked at Rein and slapped his shoulder. “I’ll bring the team to the church on Thursday.”

Rein nodded, and amiable handshakes followed.

Liberty went back to the stove and allowed Rein time to mull over his thoughts. The strain of the bakery project deadline combined with sharing the duties of having a child in the house had taken their toll this week—on them and their lovemaking.

“It sounds stupid, but do you think there is some reason Jed seems more interested in Wyatt and Dalton?”

She stuck a pan of biscuits in the oven and turned, wiping her hands on a towel. “Baby, I don’t know that I believe this idea that Jed’s spirit is in this owl, or that he somehow spoke to Wyatt or Dalton. I never met him. What I know of him is what I’ve learned from the three of you, and what folks in town say about him. It seems that most people had a great respect for your uncle, and, more importantly, it seems to me that he loved the three of you a great deal.”

He nodded. “What with the holidays and seeing that old Santa suit, and hearing about Jed’s sage advice through some means I don’t even understand…” he trailed off, sounding pensive, then shrugged. “I guess it made me realize that he was forced to take me in. He was the only family I had. You know, maybe having three boys to raise was too hard for him.”

Liberty held up her hand. “Okay, you can stop there.” This was not the behavior of her otherwise confident and too-often cocky husband. “Don’t you dare say such things. You ask anyone in town and they’ll tell you how he felt about you three boys. Good Lord, hasn’t Betty sung the praises of you three enough times?” She leaned on the island and looked across the counter at him. “Don’t you see? He had no children of his own. You three—you are his legacy.”

“Daddy?” Cody called from the top of the stairs.

Rein pushed away his coffee cup and stood. “I’ll go see to Cody. How long is supper going to be?”

“Another thirty-forty minutes.” As she finished making supper, she wondered what Jed would have thought of her. Would he have been supportive of the fact that the daughter of his ex-wife, the woman who’d abandoned Wyatt and Dalton to Jed’s care had gone and married Rein, his one and only relative by blood?

She looked out the kitchen window, startled by the streak of white flying through the twilight sky. She knew it was that damn owl. “So, talk to him already. What’s it going to take?”

***

“Woo-hoo!”

The sound of Emilee cheering as she stood jostled Liberty back to the present. The short rasp of the End of the Line fire truck signaled the beginning of the parade.

For the next hour she watched as Dalton and Wyatt helped the kids collect the candy thrown to the curb and handed out by people dressed as elves and candy canes.

Cody clapped and giggled, delighted by the colored lights and holiday music blasting from the various homemade floats.

But nothing stirred her heart more than when Emilee pointed down the street and cried,” It’s Santa!”