Silver Thaw (31 page)

“My mom’s Christmas gift. I thought sure I left it by your computer.”

“I’m sorry, honey. I saw that you had it wrapped, so I already handed it off to Barney so he can send it out for us tomorrow.”

Amanda hadn’t heard the doorbell ring.

Jeb added, “You were busy cooking, and Barney didn’t have time to come in and say hello. He’s working the late shift tonight.”

“But the present isn’t boxed.”

“At Pack and Mail, the owner takes care of that. I gave Barney your mother’s address. Gerry will even make sure the bows don’t get smashed.” He started up the stairs. “I’m going to vanish for a while. I’ll enjoy your company if you join me later.”

Amanda frowned. “How did you get my mom’s address?”

He paused with a broad, sun-bronzed hand on the banister. “She gave it to me so I could send her the laptop.”

“What laptop?”

“The one she uses to Skype you. She had no computer, so I ordered her a cheap one.”

Amanda’s shoulders sank. “You shouldn’t have done that. I already owe you so much. I’m in debt up to my eyebrows.”

He winked at her. “Getting your mom set up with Skype is part of my Christmas gift to you and Chloe this year. The keyword in that sentence is
gift
. You don’t owe me a dime for the laptop.”

“But I—”

“And you have to admit it was a great gift,” he went on. “Traveling to see your mom would be unsafe right now, but this way, Chloe can get to know her grandmother. And you can reconnect with Emma. I think that’s special for all of you.”

Amanda’s throat went tight. “It’s very special. I didn’t know you made it happen by buying my mom a laptop.” She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “Thank you.”

*   *   *

Kate called Amanda the next morning to suggest that the family should celebrate Adriel’s and Chloe’s birthdays at the same time. “Adriel loves the idea, and she’s happy to have the party on Chloe’s birthday instead of her own.”

Amanda was caught off guard. She couldn’t recall mentioning to Kate that Chloe would turn seven on the twenty-second. Jeb must have said something. “I love the idea, Kate, but I’ve already invited Chloe’s friend Molly to attend a party here.”

Kate laughed. “That’s fine, as long as you don’t mind the entire Sterling family gathering at your house.”

Amanda almost said this wasn’t her house, but Kate moved ahead with plans. “I was thinking we could do the cake and open presents in the afternoon. Jeb says he’s already booked a clown, which the little girls should enjoy. Then when all the folderol is over, we can have a casual dinner. Maybe the guys could grill some hot dogs and burgers. Jeb has that nice overhang over his barbecue, so the weather won’t matter.”

“Chloe loves hot dogs,” Amanda replied. The child also loved Jeb’s family. For the first time in her short life, she had doting grandparents and aunts and uncles. “I think she would love sharing her party with Adriel. They hit it off on Thanksgiving.”

“It’s a deal then! We’ll keep it simple. I’ll bring the cake and ice cream. I’ll ring everyone else and tell them to bring chips and dip.”

“I could make a potato salad,” Amanda offered.

“Sounds good. What arrival time did you give Molly’s mother?”

“Two.” Amanda recalled Jeb’s mentioning that he would hire a clown, but she hadn’t known he’d actually made the arrangements. “I thought that would give the girls a couple of hours to have a good time and Molly could still get home for dinner.”

“We’ll be there at two then.” Kate paused. “I might show up a little early to help you get set up. This will be so much fun. I haven’t gotten to do a kid’s birthday party in years.”

After ending the call, Amanda stared blindly at the granite countertop with a smile curving her lips.

*   *   *

Chloe’s birthday was upon them in no time. On the morning of the twenty-second, Amanda awakened feeling as excited as Chloe would be when her feet hit the floor. And Jeb had made it possible. Going over to the dresser, Amanda drew out her tablet to write him a note.

I’m standing on a boulder now instead of a cliff, and I know you’ll catch me in your arms when I jump. I’m not only ready, but I need you to make love to me
.

After dressing, Amanda took the slip of paper downstairs with her and laid it in front of the coffee machine. Jeb was already having his first cup of coffee at the table, but she knew he would refill his mug. When he did, he would find her message. Her heart skittered when she turned to meet his gaze. He grinned and winked at her.

As promised, Kate came early to help Amanda set up. Under her breath, she told Amanda that there were three deputies standing guard outdoors.

“Jeb arranged that,” Amanda replied. “He’s paying them to do it.”

“I doubt it. They’re all Barney’s friends and probably told Jeb to keep his money.”

Within seconds laughter filled the house. At two o’clock, Molly arrived, looking adorable in a light blue dress. For once, Amanda didn’t feel that Chloe was outclassed, because she had ordered her daughter a pink birthday frock and matching patent leather shoes. The dress, sporting a deep rose sash, had a silk cap-sleeve bodice with a tea-length skirt of ruffled organza. With her dark curls tumbling around her shoulders, Chloe looked like the princess Jeb often called her.

Adriel and Sarah arrived shortly after Molly, and then Jeb’s brothers and dad walked in. Jeb gave up on resetting the security system until the clown arrived. For some
reason, Amanda had been expecting a man to fill the role, but Rocky Allen, a petite woman with wildly curly, bright red hair, turned out to be delightful. She wore billowing crimson pants, a garish polka-dot top, a conical hat, a bulbous red nose to complement her painted face, and floppy, oversize shoes. Apparently a gymnast who’d missed her calling, she utilized Jeb’s roomy home to do cartwheels and backflips, executing the moves with graceful precision until she deliberately bungled one and sprawled on the floor. The seams of her britches were held together with Velcro, allowing her to split them during her falls, whereupon she would gasp, try to cover herself, and finally enlist the aid of Molly and Chloe to help her.

Enchanted, the girls insisted Rocky join everyone at the large dining room table for birthday cake. When the candles were lighted, the clown yelled, “Fire!” and hurried over to extinguish them. Jeb, going along with the game, explained that after making a wish, the birthday girl had to blow out all the candles with only one breath.

Face aglow, Chloe knelt on a chair in front of her cake and gave both Jeb and Amanda a long, wistful look before squeezing her eyes closed to make her wish. Amanda felt heat pool in her cheeks. Every adult in the room had to know what the child yearned for—not just a pretend family but a real one. The clown made a great show of trying to maneuver her fork past her gigantic nose, making the girls giggle even as they ate.

Amanda had planned games as the next activity, hoping to burn off the sugar both girls had consumed. To her surprise, the Sterling family joined in. The men looked silly playing ballet freeze. The back-to-back balloon pop elicited hysterical laughter. Then they played Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

Chloe grew so excited she trembled as she sat with Adriel to open gifts. Jeremiah and Kate got the child a play kitchen. Jeb’s brothers gave Chloe fake foods and toy kitchen appliances. Adriel and Sarah went in together on a child-size table with two chairs and a tea set. Amanda’s gift for Adriel was a basket filled with scented soaps, bath salts, a wineglass, fine dark chocolate, and a bottle of Merlot. She got her daughter a life-size baby doll complete with a receiving blanket, diapers, outfits, and a feeding bottle.

After the party ended, everyone helped with cleanup, and Jeb fired up the gas barbecue. The family gathered once again at the dining room table to share the evening meal. As Amanda helped Chloe add relish to her hot dog, she heard Jeremiah murmur to Jeb, “She’s a keeper, son.”

Kate overheard the comment and didn’t bother to keep her voice down. “If he lets this one get away, he needs his head examined. Never have I seen two people more right for each other.”

Once again, Amanda’s cheeks went hot with embarrassment. Jeb noticed and winked at her.

*   *   *

That night after Chloe was tucked into bed with Frosty and Bozo, Amanda found Jeb waiting for her in the kitchen. The dollhouse was finished, and he’d recently resumed their nightly ritual of sharing a brandy. Two filled snifters sat on the round table, one on either side of a lighted candelabra. Startled by the formality, Amanda sought his gaze, and what she read in his eyes made her steps falter.

“What’s the occasion?” she asked.

He motioned for her to sit beside him instead of
taking her usual place across from him. After sliding one of the snifters toward her, he took a sip from his own. Amanda noticed a slip of pink paper lying near her snifter. With a fingertip, she drew it toward her.

Jeb had written,
I’ve made no secret of my feelings for you, Mandy, and at one point, you told me that you love me, too.

An aching sensation spread through her chest. Looking up at him, she whispered, “It’s true. I’ve come to love you with all my heart.”

He looked deeply into her eyes and slid another note toward her that read,
Why are we stuck in this holding pattern? I know you’re still legally bound to Mark, but I’m confident you’ll be granted a dissolution of the marriage on January eleventh. There may be a brief waiting period for the divorce to be final, but then you’ll be totally free.

Amanda locked gazes with him. “Where are you going with this, Jeb? And why are you slipping me notes instead of just talking to me?”

He shrugged. “It’s become a tradition.”

She held his gaze. “I’m assuming you read my most recent message then?”

He smiled that wonderful smile that always made her feel as if the sun had broken through a cloud. “Yes. It was the invitation I’ve been waiting for, a sign from you that you’re ready. But if I’m going to ask you to stay in my life, it seems to me I should hold with the tradition that brought us together in the first place, asking you in a message.” Another pink slip rested beneath his fingertips. “There’s no law against a woman being engaged to another man before the dissolution of her marriage is final, right?”

He slid the last piece of paper toward her. With trembling fingers, Amanda took it and read through a blur of tears,
Will you, Mandy Marie Lang, do me the great honor of becoming my wife?

She blinked. Stared at the words. She was about to say, “Oh, yes,” when he cut her off with, “You heard my parents today. We’re perfect together. I don’t want to push you into anything or make you feel trapped. But leaving so many words between us unspoken is—well, it makes me feel as if there’s nothing solid that I can hang on to. You’ve said nothing to indicate that you plan to stay with me. You never speak of the future or say the word
forever
. And because you don’t, I’m constantly curbing my tongue, afraid I’ll scare you off if I say something wrong.”

The last thing Amanda wanted was to make this wonderful man feel insecure.

He slid off the chair and went down on one knee beside her. Another rush of tears burned in Amanda’s eyes as she swiveled to face him. Grasping both her hands, he said, “Mandy Lang, will you marry me?”

Amanda appreciated that he used her maiden name. It gave her a sense of identity that had been stripped from her.

She trailed her gaze over Jeb’s sun-burnished countenance and said, “Under my clothing, I have scars all over me, Jeb. Wouldn’t it be wiser on your part to see what you’re getting before making a lifetime commitment to me?”

He released her hands to cup her face between his palms. “I know you have scars, Mandy. I saw all those photographs.”

“So why—”

He cut her off. “I love you,” he whispered. “All of you,
every inch of you, scars included. So I’ll ask you again. Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” she pushed out.

Jeb drew a small velvet box from his shirt pocket. Inside was the most gorgeous wedding set Amanda had ever seen. He slipped the engagement ring onto her left hand. A large center diamond surrounded by petal-shaped sapphires created a dazzling flower. “Oh, Jeb, this is so
beautiful
. It fits perfectly.”

“Not nearly as beautiful as you are. And your mom told me your size. I ordered it from a fine-jewelry site online.”

He set the closed box aside, cupped her face again, and kissed her, gentle and inquiring at first, his warm, silken mouth cajoling hers to open for him. Then he took, every caress of his lips and thrust of his tongue hungrier and more demanding than the last.

Grabbing for breath, Amanda drew back. “I’ve never really made love, Jeb. It wasn’t this way with Mark. What if I—well, make a mess of it and disappoint you?”

He pushed to his feet and swept her up into his arms. As he carried her toward his bedroom, he said, “Nothing about you could ever disappoint me. You’re the most perfect and beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”

Over the last many months, Amanda had read numerous love stories featuring men who were tender, passionate, and romantic in bed, but she never believed she might find that with anyone. Jeb toed the door closed after they entered his bedroom and stood Amanda by his king-size bed. She tensed and closed her eyes when he began undressing her, for she truly did have scars, so many that she could no longer remember how she had received some of them. Her blouse slipped off her shoulders and down her arms. With the ease of long practice, Jeb unfastened the front clasp of her dingy bra, making her wish she’d thought to order herself at least one set of pretty underwear. Next, her jeans fell in a puddle around her ankles.

Her body jerked when she felt a hard, warm fingertip graze a mark on her right breast. “How did this happen?”

“I fell against a countertop corner,” she replied, her voice quivery with nerves.

“Fell, or were you pushed?”

“Thrown, actually.”

She heard him mutter a curse, and then she felt the
featherlight graze of his lips tracing the scar. “You’re so lovely, Mandy.”

He moved to yet another spot on her shoulder. Before he could ask, she said, “He worked at a mill then and kicked me with steel-toed boots.”

And so it went, until he’d found and kissed every mark on her body. He even discovered the lump on her lower left rib and the protrusion at the tip of her sternum. “It never healed right,” she whispered.

He nudged her to sit on the edge of his bed and knelt to remove her shoes, socks, and jeans. Opening her eyes, Amanda studied his carved features, his tawny brows, and the gleam of his toffee-colored hair. In her opinion, he was the beautiful one. When he’d finished divesting her of her clothing, he sat back on his heels and stripped off his shirt. She’d seen him naked from the waist up one night, but even so, the sight of his broad, powerfully muscled chest nearly took her breath away.

He pointed to a faded slash on his lower abdomen. “Table-saw mishap. I was ripping plywood, and the blade grabbed. A shard shot at me like a bullet.” He stood, unbuckled his belt, and dropped his jeans. Indicating another scar on his work-hardened thigh, he said, “Chain saw. I was sixteen and ignored my dad’s rule about wearing safety chaps.” His endlessly deep gaze met hers. “I’m not a perfect package either. Are you still sure you want to keep me?”

Amanda couldn’t help laughing. “You have the most gorgeous body I’ve ever seen.”

“Same back at you. So what do you say we forget all about our imperfections and just love each other for who and what we are?”

She nodded, and that was all the answer he needed.
The next thing she knew, they were lying on the coverlet, skin to skin, one of his legs bent and pressed between her thighs. With one kiss, Amanda felt as if the world fell away and only they existed. With Mark, she’d only ever experienced pain. With Jeb, she discovered ecstasy.

When he skimmed a hand along her side and over her hip, he touched her as if she were made of fragile glass. She gloried in the steely feel of his back, marveled at how the muscles beneath his skin bunched against her palms when he moved.
Jeb
. The smell of him, a masculine blend of piney cologne, male musk, and fresh mountain air, permeated her senses. When he suckled her breasts, fiery tendrils of sensation spiraled through her, and she arched against him for more. Without abandoning her nipples, he slipped his hand between her legs and brought her to climax with only a fingertip.

Still trembling with the aftershocks, Amanda accepted the hard, silky length of him deep inside her. He established a rhythm, and she lifted her hips to meet each thrust, incredulous at the bursts of pleasure he ignited within her. As his passion increased, hers mounted as well, until they both reached a fever pitch, soared over the crest, and plunged into a dark yet sparkling void of exhaustion, clutched in each other’s arms.

When their heartbeats slowed, Amanda snuggled against him, sighing with contentment. Jeb hugged her close. “That was amazing,” he murmured.

“Beyond amazing. If I’d known it could be like this, I would have seduced you the first night.”

He smiled against her hair. “We’ve only just begun, Mandy mine. Just always know that nothing that takes place between us will ever be anything less than wonderful.”

Amanda believed him. Pillowing her head on the hollow of his shoulder, she toyed with his chest hair. “We used no protection.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Being with you was so mind-blowing that I plumb forgot.” He kissed her forehead. “I always practice safe sex, so there’s no worry about STDs.”

“I’m not thinking of that.” She lifted her head to meet his gaze. “I think I’m one of those women who gets pregnant easily. After one time with Mark, I was in trouble.”

Jeb arched a brow. “Will you be upset if that happens again?”

“I’d love to have another baby, but I’m not sure how you’d feel about it. I don’t want—”

“Mandy, if you tell me we’re pregnant, I’ll be the happiest man alive. I’m one of six kids, and I always thought I’d have a family one day. When I found no woman I wanted to marry, I gave up on the idea, but now, with you and Chloe in my life, I’m excited about the possibility that we’ll have more kids.”

Amanda pushed up on an elbow to kiss him. When they were both breathless, she came up for air. “Let’s see if we can get lucky, then.”

He grinned, pushed her onto her back, and made love to her again. Afterward, Amanda’s bones felt as if they’d melted. “Wow. That was quite a roll of the dice.”

He chuckled and drew her into his arms. “We’ve got a little girl who’ll be up with the chickens. In order to keep pace with her, we both need some rest.”

Amanda wasn’t sure she could walk if she tried. “I should go back upstairs so she doesn’t find us here in the morning.”

He toyed with the ring he’d put on her finger. “We’re
engaged. Just stay put, and if she wakes up before we do, say we’re going to get married.”

Amanda stirred. “We should at least be wearing something.”

He sat up. “Right. I’ll take care of it.”

Swinging out of bed, he entered the walk-in closet and returned a moment later with a T-shirt for her and a pair of fresh boxers for himself.

*   *   *

When Amanda awakened shortly before dawn in Jeb’s arms, her body ached for more of him. He blinked when she kissed him. A smile curved his lips.

“If you’re looking for trouble, lady, I think you’ve found it.”

“Oh, good.” She nibbled his neck. “I was afraid you’d be too tired.”

Jeb rose on an elbow. “Not on your life,” he whispered just before he settled his mouth over hers.

After they’d showered separately, Jeb got dressed and Amanda scurried upstairs wrapped in only a towel to get some clothes. When she entered the kitchen minutes later, Jeb presented her with a mug of hot coffee. As she took a sip, she opened the fridge and saw a slip of pink paper lying atop the eggs in the clear plastic storage container.

The note read,
I’m the happiest man alive. Thank you so much for last night. Perfect. Beautiful. Mind-blowing.

Amanda grinned and turned into his arms to blow his mind again with a good-morning kiss. Before she knew it, his hands were under her top and cupping her breasts. She moaned as he teased her nipples erect and was disappointed when he suddenly stopped and kissed her forehead.

His voice thick with desire, he said, “We can’t do this. Chloe may come downstairs and find us making love on the kitchen table.”

Forced to agree, she said, “You’re right. Let’s focus on fixing food. For a minute, you made me forget that I’m
starving
.”

“Sex burns calories.”

“If I start to gain weight, I’ll remember that.”

“Trust me, if you ever go on a diet and come to me for a calorie-burning session, I’ll never tell you to just have a sandwich and leave me alone.”

She giggled. He stepped behind her to survey the possibilities for a meal. “Bacon and eggs sound good.” He bent his head to nuzzle her nape. “Too bad I won’t be able to have you for dessert.”

Smiling, Amanda grabbed a pound of bacon, six farm-fresh eggs, and a sleeve of English muffins. “Eggs Benedict?” she suggested.

“Yummy.”

As they worked together to prepare breakfast, Jeb gave her a mischievous sidelong look. “Please tell me you didn’t agree to marry me to avoid having to pay back that loan. A wife can’t very well repay her husband for money he gave her.”

Amanda rolled her eyes. “I’d never be dumb enough to marry a man for money. Only for love.”

“Music to my ears.”

*   *   *

Sometime later, Chloe stumbled into the kitchen, her dark hair tousled from sleep, her small fists rubbing her eyes. Amanda gave the child a quick good-morning hug, fixed her a cup of hot chocolate, and settled her at the table while Jeb brought out platters of food.

After saying the blessing, Amanda dished up a plate of scrambled eggs for her daughter, who didn’t care for eggs Benedict, and Chloe, though still bleary-eyed, caught a flash of the diamond on her mother’s left hand. “Oh, Mommy, what a pretty ring!” She shot Jeb a questioning glance. “Did you buy it for Mommy for Christmas?”

Caught off guard, Jeb sent Amanda an imploring look.

“No, sweetie,” Amanda inserted. “This is an engagement ring. Last night, Mr. Jeb asked me to marry him, and I said yes. He gave me this ring to make it official.”

Chloe’s eyes brightened, and she beamed a smile. “Does that mean Mr. Jeb will be my new daddy?”

Jeb spoke up. “Being your daddy would be one of the greatest honors of my life, princess. But only if that’s what you want.”

“It’s what I want. Having you for my daddy was my birthday wish yesterday.”

Jeb chucked the child under her pointy little chin. “Well, I guess this means your wish came true.”

“Can I start calling you Daddy, then?”

Jeb nodded. “I’d like that.”

*   *   *

Jeb originally planned to collect his ladies and drive to the Redmond airport to pick up Amanda’s mother, but when Christmas Eve morning dawned, he got nervous and changed his mind. The divorce hearing was now only eighteen days away, and according to Clyde Johnson, Mark was undoubtedly stewing in his own juice, imagining ways to retaliate against Amanda.

Stepping into his office out of Amanda’s earshot, Jeb called Barney and asked if he’d be free that afternoon.

“Hey, bro, it’s Christmas! Why do you think I’ve worked
so many extra shifts? I was earning days of leave to take the holidays off. No work for me until the day after New Year’s.”

“Great. Mom can throw a birthday party for you since you worked on the actual date.”

As Jeb expected, Barney groaned. “God save us. When is she going to realize we’re all grown-up? Last Easter Sunday, I found a basket on my front porch. I liked the chocolate bunny, but those spongy yellow chicks are like eating flavored rubber.”

Jeb barked with laughter. “I have to agree. They’re awful. Kids seem to like them, but they’re not my deal.” Turning serious, he told Barney about Amanda’s Christmas surprise and what time Emma would arrive at Roberts Field, the airport in Redmond. “I know I’m being overly cautious, but I get a tingle up my spine when I think about driving that far with Amanda and Chloe. On this ice, even my truck might spin out of control if Mark rammed me.”

“How will her mother recognize me?”

“I’ll tell her to look for a deputy wearing a tan uniform and a dark brown Stetson.”

“Hello? I’m off duty. No uniform for me today. I’ll shave before going over to the folks’ house tonight, but otherwise I’m intent on being a slob for a change.”

Jeb grinned. “Wave a sign that reads, ‘I’m Jeb’s brother, the slob.’”

Barney sighed. “Oh, all right, I’ll shave. But I’m not waving a sign. What does this gal look like?”

“An older version of Amanda and Chloe. Her hair has gone partly gray, but she’s slightly built, with delicate features and big brown eyes.”

“Hmm.” Barney sighed again, a little louder and
longer this time. “I’ll find her. You owe me one, though. I don’t get days off very often.”

“I really appreciate this, Barney.”

“How often have I heard that? And then when I need a loan, you always say you’re broke.”

Jeb took umbrage. “You haven’t asked me for a loan since your wild college days, and the only reason I said no back then was because Dad threatened to lop off my head if I gave you money. Your grades had gone to hell, and you were partying too much.”

“Those were the days.” Barney chuckled. “It’s a good thing I had Dad to bring down the hammer. Studying the law is no walk in the park, especially with a blinding hangover.” Silence. Then Barney added, “It’s a great Christmas surprise for Mandy, bringing her mom down for a visit. But I gotta know, have you even made it to first base with her yet?”

Jeb preferred to keep the sexual aspects of his relationship with Amanda private. “She agreed to marry me night before last. I went the whole nine yards. Even got down on one knee when I proposed.”

“Holy
hell
! You’re engaged? Mom will be so excited she’ll shit a brick.”

“Don’t tell her, Barney. I want to announce it officially at Christmas dinner tomorrow. We’re all meeting here, four o’clock. Show up early to help in the kitchen.”

“See there? I do you a huge favor, and in return I have to help cook. What’s wrong with this picture?”

*   *   *

When Jeb returned to the kitchen, he found his counters powdered from one end to the other with flour. Amanda, fretting about her hostess duties the following day for a huge family dinner, had decided to make pies.

“I’m not very good with pies,” she informed him. “Bread, fine. Cakes, no big deal. My brownies are to die for. But piecrust defeats me nearly every time.”

Jeb watched her cut shortening into the flour with painstaking care. “Why are you doing that?”

“Because all recipes for crust say to do it.”

“I just throw the whole works into my KitchenAid mixer. I do a killer meat pie. I don’t see how fruit fillings would make any difference.”

She handed him the mixing bowl. “Wave your magic wand, then.” Jeb could tell by her expression that she felt edgy. “Otherwise we’ll have patchwork pies.”