“And she makes the best hot chocolate,” Jack added, coming to her rescue.
Grateful for the welcome levity, Kat smiled.
Somehow, he’d known exactly what she needed.
And in that moment, Kat was startled to realize what she needed… was Jack.
* * *
Listening to Kat’s story made Jack’s chest tighten, and the sudden, intense urge to protect her from pain surprised him.
Rattled, he abruptly rose and reached for her mug. “Refill?”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
As he strode to the kitchen, Jack grappled with his emotions, which felt too strong for his own good.
Standing at the stove, he gazed out the window, watching the snow cascade from the sky, coating the world in a blanket of white. The setting should have been peaceful. They’d notified Penny and Trudy that Kat would be staying with him until the storm cleared and they were safe and snug inside the cabin.
But instead of resting assured, Jack’s pulse skittered in an agitated, erratic rhythm. The cozy, intimate environment seemed to be lowering their walls and inhibitions. And the vulnerability made him feel at once wary and wonderful.
Carrying their hot chocolate back to the couch, he asked, “Would you like to watch a Christmas movie?”
“Sure. That sounds fun.”
“Any favorites?”
“Do you haveHoliday Inn?”
Jack stumbled on the edge of the carpet, barely preventing the steaming hot beverage from winding up in her lap. Gulping a sigh of relief, he carefully set both mugs on the coffee table. “Yeah, I do. My sister and I watch it every year.”
“Oh, I don’t want to hijack a tradition. We can watch something else.”
“No, it’s okay. I’d like to watch it with you.” The words left his lips before the sentiment had fully evolved in his mind. But the spontaneity didn’t make them any less true. And he knew Lucy would understand. Especially since she wouldn’t be visiting this year, anyway.
While he set up the DVD player, Kat tucked her feet beneath her, arranging the blanket with enough room to share. Jack hid a smile, pretending he hadn’t noticed the gesture.
“You and your sister must be close,” Kat said as she reached for her mug.
“We try to stay in touch even though she lives several hours away.”
“Is it just the two of you?”
“No, I’m the eldest of six. Four brothers and one sister. She’s the baby of the family.”
“What was it like growing up with so many siblings?”
“Loud. Chaotic. Messy. But also great.”
“Sounds wonderful,” she said wistfully. “Are you close with your other siblings as well?”
Jack paused, contemplating how to respond as he turned on the TV. Gray static filled the screen before he switched to the proper channel. “Not anymore. My brothers all work for my father’s real estate company. Each one’s in charge of a different region. Ever since my father and I had a falling out, the relationship between me and my brothers has faded into nonexistence. It’s like, as long as my father and I are at odds, the rest of us are in limbo, avoiding the conflict.”
“I’m sorry,” she said kindly. “Is there hope for you and your father to patch things up?”
Grabbing the DVD remote, Jack stared at it thoughtfully as he mulled over her question. He didn’t want to sound too morose, but he answered honestly, “I don’t think so.”
Cradling her warm mug in her lap, she gazed at him softly, a sympathetic sadness in her eyes.
