Elkin Brothers Christmas The Complete Series - Leslie North Page 0,141

“And then you got here, and I ruined it.”

“Not completely.”

He laughed, the sound a rumble against her skin.

“I didn’t love it when you took charge and wanted to hide Scott and—and all those things. It reminded me of my ex. But now that I know you a little more, and know about your family, I can see why you did.” Was she too forgiving? Too vulnerable? It just felt so good to trust him. So peaceful.

“I’m sorry,” Jonas said, pulling her closer and kissing her temple. “Truly. I’m sorry about that.” He offered no excuses and didn’t run from the confession. “I’m sorry for something else, too.”

“What is it?” she asked.

He stared up toward the ceiling, blowing out a quick breath. “That I want you so much.”

Rachel trailed a hand down the front of his body and found him already hard, though they’d just finished their first round of sex a few minutes ago. “I’m not sorry,” she said. She swung one of her legs over him and straddled his body.

He ran his hands up the sides of her waist, grinning at her.

“I’m not sorry at all,” she repeated, rocking back against his length. It was like Christmas all over. The lights coming on. The fire starting. “Don’t be sorry, Jonas.”

“If you’re sure,” he said, his eyes locked on hers. Such a gorgeous man, such a gorgeous room, such a gorgeous place. Was it so bad to let herself live in the moment?

It was too much—too trusting. But when Jonas entered her again, all her fears melted, taken over by desire, and Rachel let go.

11

A knock at the front door woke Jonas from a sound sleep.

He rolled over onto a cooler part of the mattress and rubbed at his face. Did he imagine the knock? It came again. Rachel didn’t stir. He listened hard for any sound from the spare bedroom down the hall—nothing. Scott was still fast asleep.

Jonas crept out of bed at top speed, throwing on a pair of sweats and a long-sleeved shirt, the first available from the dresser. The cold hallway floor against his feet made him wish he’d taken enough time to put on socks.

He pulled open the door.

“Good morning. We need to talk.” Chase stood there in his oversized parka, the hood pulled up over his head.

Jonas stared at him. “Right now?” A high, cheerful peep from the spare bedroom alerted him that Scott had awakened. Jonas’s stomach plummeted. “You’ll have to come in.”

He ignored Chase’s wide-eyed expression and ushered him inside. “I’ll be right back.” Before Chase could answer, he headed up the stairs to the second floor two at a time. There was no sound coming from his bedroom—a good indication Rachel was still asleep.

Jonas found Scott standing in the crib, grinning at him. He swept his son up into his arms, emotion tightening his chest. It was a first of its kind moment. And the last thing he wanted to interrupt the moment was having to deal with whatever it was his brother found important at this hour of the morning.

Jonas noted Chase had taken off his parka and seated himself on the sofa. He didn’t stop to answer the questioning look on his brother’s face but headed for the kitchen to get Scott a sippy cup full of milk.

Jonas settled into the loveseat opposite where Chase sat, his brother watching them closely. Gradually, his expression turned to a dawning recognition. He knew the truth.

“That little boy has your eyes,” Chase commented casually.

“Yeah,” Jonas said. His heart burned in his chest. This was the conversation he’d been trying to avoid since Christmas Day, and in all that time, he still hadn’t settled on exactly what he was going to say.

“I thought you were just sleeping with Rachel.” Chase cocked his head to the side. “The way you’ve been looking at her is a dead giveaway. But now it looks like—” He gestured to Scott. “What’s the deal?”

“It’s really none of your business.” No matter how much he didn’t want to be talking about this, Jonas forced his body to stay relaxed. It was as if he had some instinct to stay calm, to protect Scott from any agitation. “What’s happened in my life belongs to me, not the rest of you.”

Chase put both hands through his hair. He’d come back to the Elk Lodge not long ago, after his ski career collapsed and he was rudderless, his leg hurting him and his heart bleak. “I don’t understand how this could have