Off Limits (5 page)

I snorted on
a laugh.

“Why did the accountant cross the road?” Connor asked. After a short pause, he answered. “To bore the people on the other side.”

Daniel and I choked.

“If an accountant’s wife can’t get to sleep, what does she do?”

“I don’t know, what?”

“Leans over to her husband and says ‘Tell me about work today, honey.’ ”

Daniel and I guffawed. But I got a twitch in my eye thinking about Jenna
leaning over to Jon in bed.

“Hey, that’s not fair to accountants,” I felt compelled to protest. “They can’t all be boring.”

“Probably not,” Connor admitted. “But he is.” He grimaced. “Don’t tell me you like him?”

“Fuck no. He licks ass.”

Connor held out his hand and I bumped my knuckles against his, both of us grinning.

I carried Jenna’s drink back to her, still smiling.

After we’d eaten,
some of us played pool. We’d taught Jenna to play on the big pool table that had been in the basement rec room, and she was a decent player. I grinned as she sank ball after ball and kicked Jon’s ass. And speaking of ass, as she bent over the table, wearing snug, low-rise jeans, her ass was…sweet.

Don’t fucking look at Jenna’s ass, for fuck’s sake.

I washed a groan down with a big swallow of
beer and turned to talk to Nick and Sarah.

At one point, I found myself sitting alone with Jenna while the others played pool.

“Hey,” I said. “You okay about your parents selling the house? You were pretty upset earlier.”

“I’m still upset. That’s why I’ve drunk six bottles of wine tonight.”

I smiled faintly. She wasn’t exaggerating by much.

“I get why they want to.” She leaned an elbow on
the table and propped her chin on her hand, regarding me with big blue eyes. “It’s just…sad.”

I nodded, mesmerized by those eyes. “Yeah.”

Her forehead wrinkled. “What about you? You were pretty quiet.”

I shrugged. “Not my place to make a big stink about it.”

“You
are
one of the family,” she said quietly. “You could have said what you think.”

I shook my head and tore my gaze away from her.
“Nah.”

“It just sucks, you know?” She sighed. “I guess I knew they wouldn’t keep the house forever. But when I think of coming home, that’s where I imagine coming.” She paused. “D’you think if I’d come home more often, they’d be keeping the house?”

I stared at her. “Jenna. No, peanut. This isn’t about you not coming home.”

She wrinkled her nose adorably. “I’m not so sure. So you’re okay with
it? With them selling the house?”

“Sure.” I was lying. But I wasn’t going to be a big whiny baby. The sense of loss still sat like a rock in my gut, and it kinda scared me. But no way I was admitting that. Especially to Jenna.

“What are you two looking all serious about?” Jon sat next to Jenna and gave her a tight smile that became a narrow-eyed look as he turned to me.

Oh hell no. He wasn’t
jealous. Of me? Fuck that.

“We were talking about Mom and Dad selling the house.” Jenna gave Jon a glum smile.

“Ah. I thought you were over that.”

Jenna’s eyebrows sloped down. “It’s a big shock.”

“It’s just a house.”

It wasn’t just a house. It was home. It was family. Jenna and I got that.

“Gonna hit the men’s room.” I rose to my feet to leave them alone. I didn’t want to talk that much
about it with Jenna, never mind with ass jacket.

Pushing away thoughts about the house being gone, I focused on having fun. And it
was
a fun evening. We all got fairly well lubricated. It was around ten o’clock when my attention was caught by Jenna and Jon standing over by the bar apparently having a heated conversation. I frowned.

None of my business.

Nobody else was paying any attention to
them. Connor and Daniel were both playing pool now and others were laughing uproariously over some joke.

I watched her shake her head vigorously. Did she need backup?

“I don’t want to go home yet.” I stared at Jon. “It’s only ten o’clock. I’m having fun.”

“I’m not.” He grimaced and rubbed his face. “Sorry, babe. I don’t know what you guys are talking and laughing about. And I can’t drink.”

“That was your choice. You can drink if you want. We can take a taxi later and come back for your car tomorrow.”

“I don’t want to leave my Mercedes here.
And anyway, I don’t really care about drinking. The wine here is crap.”

I drew back. “But…I don’t get home very often to see my friends. Leesha planned this because we were going to be here.”

He sighed. “Shit.”

“I know you don’t know them. But you won’t get to if you don’t spend time with them.”

“It’s not as if I’ll see them very often. You hardly ever come home.”

I bit my lip, worry still
gnawing at me, guilt that maybe I hadn’t come home enough. “I know, but that’s exactly why I want to spend time with them tonight.”

“Well, I’m going to go back to the house.”

I blinked. “Without me?”

“Yeah. You’re having fun, I’m not. You stay with your friends.”

I shook my head. “I want you to stay too.”

Now his sigh was weighty.

“Hey, peanut. You two fighting over what kind of wine to
order?”

I looked up to see Andrew, big and strong, concern etched on his forehead despite his joking words and the curve of his lips. I forced a smile. “Ha-ha. We’re not fighting. Jon’s going home.”

Andrew’s eyebrows flew up. “Oh. All right.” He eyed Jon. “Feeling okay?”

“Yeah, just tired. It’s a busy time of year.”

“Uh-huh.” His eyes flicked back to meet mine. “You want to stay, peanut?”

I bit my lip. “Yes. I’m having fun with the old gang.”

“Sure. Well, Jon, no worries. We’ll make sure Jenna gets home safe and sound.” He clapped Jon on the shoulder.

“Maybe I’ll stay awhile longer,” Jon said.

I squinted at him. “Really? You just said you wanted to go.”

“Great,” Andrew said. “We’re going to play darts next.”

Jon frowned. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to throw sharp objects
around when you’ve been drinking?”

“Yeah, you might want to stay back.” Andrew started herding us toward the back room.

I moved to link my arm with Jon’s. “I’m glad you’re staying.” Actually, I was a little annoyed and insulted. But I ignored that.

Jon actually got involved in the dart-throwing contest, making an effort to socialize, and I appreciated it. And I told him that, a while later,
pressing up against him to kiss his cheek and whisper in his ear, “Thanks for staying, and trying to get to know my friends.”

He gave me a one-armed hug. “You’re welcome.”

I nuzzled his neck. “I wish we were sleeping together tonight.” Actually I was probably too drunk to be any fun in bed tonight.

“Yeah. But it’s only a few nights.”

“True.”

I heard a muted snort behind me and turned to see
Andrew. He started coughing. I lifted an eyebrow at him. “Are you okay?”

He waved a hand, coughing into his other fist.

Connor came up and slapped him on the back. “Whatssamatter? Need the Heimlich?”

Andrew managed to speak. “Nah, I’m good. All good.”

I didn’t know what that was all about, but whatever.

In the end, Jon did end up leaving earlier than I did, because Emily wanted to go home.
Apparently her boobs were bursting. So Jon took her. It was fine.

It was well past one in the morning when we called a couple of taxis to take us all to Mom and Dad’s. I ended up squeezed between Connor and Andrew.

I was a little tipsy. I sat there pleasantly buzzed as we drove through dark streets, gradually becoming aware that Andrew was pressed up against me. He was so big and muscular and
warm. His presence filled the backseat—not just his physical presence, which was powerful, but his personality, so strong and protective and full of energy. He’d always been responsible and determined, his sights set on making hockey his career. He’d worked hard at it and had succeeded, which made me so proud and happy for him. He felt rock steady and reassuring, and yet I sensed he wasn’t entirely
happy. I sensed…I don’t know what I sensed. I was drunk.

My skin tingled with awareness of him. This was not good.

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. Shit.

“You okay, peanut?” Andrew nudged my leg with his big knee. “Have you passed out on us?”

“No.” I didn’t open my eyes. I didn’t want to look at him. I didn’t want him to look at me, afraid of what he would see.

I needed to avoid
him like Ebola for the rest of the holidays.

The next morning after sleeping in very late, everyone seemed to have calmed down about Mom and Dad selling the house. It still bugged me, though. Mom and I were in the kitchen drinking coffee. Dad, Daniel, and Andrew had gone over to Connor’s to help him put up a new front door. I had no idea why he chose Christmas Eve to do that.

“Mom.” I set
my mug on the counter. “If I came home more often, would you keep the house?”

She gave me a sharp look, then her eyes softened. “Honey. No. But you can come stay with us wherever we end up.”

“What if you don’t have room?”

“We’ll have room. We haven’t even started looking at places yet, so I don’t know what we’ll find, but we won’t move until we find the right place.”

I nodded. “I just thought…maybe
if I’d spent more time here you wouldn’t think about moving. Like maybe you need more help to look after things. I know Connor’s here, but it shouldn’t be all up to him to help you.”

“That’s not why we want to move.” Mom’s voice went uncharacteristically gentle. “We told you the reasons yesterday. That’s all it is. We’ve always known you kids would grow up and leave home and have your own lives.
We love to see you, but we don’t expect you to come home every weekend. And we don’t expect you to kill yourselves looking after the house so we can stay here.”

“Okay.” I sighed. “I’m still sad about it.”

“I know. Things change, though. Life goes on and things change.”

I gave another nod.

Jon came down then, having slept even later than I had. “Morning.” He crossed the kitchen to kiss my cheek.
“How are you feeling?”

“Fine.”

“Jenna Rose, did you overdo it last night?”

“No, Mom.”

She snorted.

I laughed. “Seriously, I feel fine.” I looked at Jon. “Want some coffee?”

“Sure, thanks.” He sat on a stool.

Oh. He expected me to get it for him. I rose and opened the cupboard where the mugs were. I forgot he didn’t really know his way around the kitchen and wasn’t as comfortable as the
rest of us were.

“How late did you stay?” he asked as I slid a mug across the counter to him.

“It was nearly two when we got home.”

“It was one fifty-six,” Mom said.

“Mom! You didn’t wait up for us, did you? We’re not teenagers anymore.”

“I just happened to be up and checking on Christopher.”

“That’s bullshit. Emily was home with him by then.”

Mom grinned.

“It was so much fun. I really
miss Leesha.”

Emily walked in carrying Christopher and I jumped up. “There’s my nephew! What a handsome boy you are today. Come to Auntie Jenna.”

Emily laughed and handed him over. He smiled at me and kicked his legs.

“Look! He knows me! He’s smiling at me.” I turned to show Jon. He didn’t seem impressed.

“When are you going for the sleigh ride?” Emily asked, moving to pour herself a cup of
coffee.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“I’m not sure if I should bring Christopher. It’s cold out.”

“It’s not that cold today. You can bundle him up, and then go inside if you think he’s too cold—there’s the little restaurant and gift shop there.”

Emily considered that. “Yes, I guess that’s true. I won’t skate, though.”

“Ha! Dad and the guys
might
let you get away with that, but they’ll tell you to
put skates on Christopher and get him on the ice.”

Emily laughed. “He can’t even walk!”

“Minor detail.” I grinned.

The back door opened and the kitchen filled with big, tall men.

“I was just telling Emily that we could find some little skates for Christopher.” I hugged him closer, hiding my smile.

“Hell yeah.” Andrew’s grin beamed across the room and touched something deep inside me.

Again,
I was so aware of his presence in the room, charging the air with electricity that shot right to my core. I bent my head and breathed in the scent of Christopher’s baby-shampooed hair. I shouldn’t have looked at Andrew.
Don’t look at him.

How the hell was I supposed to avoid him?

“I’ll go find the skates.” Mom jumped up.

“Mine are in my car,” Connor said.

“If you want to skate, Emily, I can
look after Christopher for a while,” I offered.

“But you love skating,” Andrew objected.

I flicked a glance his way, still trying not to look at him.

“There are enough of us that we can all skate and take turns watching Christopher,” Daniel said. “Hey, who drank all the coffee?”

“Make more,” I told my brother.

Grumbling, he washed the pot and changed the filter and started scooping coffee
into it. I walked around, bouncing Christopher a little. “Are you going to be a hockey player?” I asked him. “Your dad wasn’t good enough, but maybe you can be.”

Daniel snorted and I fought back my grin.

Two hours later, we arrived at Pritchard Farms, all bundled in our warmest clothes. Mom and I had filled Thermoses with hot chocolate, some spiked with Bailey’s, and we’d brought extra blankets
for the sleigh ride. I’d changed the booking to the sleigh big enough for ten people, since my romantic sleigh ride for two had turned into a family affair.

The temperature was relatively mild, and it even started snowing as we glided through the forest, bells jingling on the two horses pulling the sleigh. Big fluffy flakes drifted down around us and I turned my face up to their cool, delicate
touch.

“Let’s sing Christmas carols,” Mom suggested.

“Yeah, let’s not,” pretty much everyone else said.

Connor started telling us about a woman they’d brought in for public drunkenness last weekend. “We patted her down for weapons, but that was it,” he said. “We were just citing her and releasing her. So she leaves, and comes back in a few minutes later saying someone was harassing her. She’s
standing there straightening her sweater, and a bag of cocaine falls out.”

“Oh my God!” I laughed along with the others.

“You charged her after that?” Andrew grinned.

“Hell yeah. First she looked around and started to bend down to pick it up, but then realized we were all watching her. Then she tried to walk out, leaving it on the floor.” Connor shook his head. “Needless to say, she didn’t
get far.”

“I guess you felt stupid for not searching her better,” Jon said.

All eyes turned on him and silence prickled for a few seconds.

“Well, I didn’t actually do the pat down,” Connor said easily. “And we were more worried about weapons. Shit happens.”

“Remember the time I had to arrest a clown?” Dad asked.

“Yeah.” I smiled and focused on Jon when I told the story, since everyone else
knew it. “Dad got called out when someone reported a disturbance over on Elm Road. He got there and this clown had a baseball bat and was smashing in all the windows of a car.”

“I thought it was a joke,” Dad said. “Thought I was being punked. Dispatch kept asking for a description of the suspect and I just ignored them because it was so ridiculous. Then the guy started running, so I chased him.
I tackled him and got him cuffed and all the kids in the neighborhood were watching and started booing and yelling at me because I was arresting a clown. One little kid came up and kicked me in the shin before his mom could stop him.”

Everyone was laughing at the old story and I caught Andrew’s gaze on me, his smile wide and white, his eyes warm. For a moment, our eyes connected and I felt that
sizzle run over my skin again. His smile made me warm on the inside.

I held my cup of hot chocolate in my mittened hands and took a sip. Ignoring him was impossible. In fact, the harder I tried to ignore him, the more my eyes kept drifting his way. I wanted to watch him. All the damn time.

I snuggled deeper into the blanket wrapped around me, my insides tightening. I was afraid to examine what
this meant.

After our sleigh ride, we all went into the restaurant and had sandwiches and coffee. Mom and Emily stayed inside while the rest of us donned skates and hit the frozen pond. Jon decided not to rent skates and elected to sit inside as well.

“Are you sure?” I asked. “I can teach you how to skate. I taught little kids to skate for years.”

“I’m not a little kid.”

I shook my head. “I
know, silly. It’ll be fun.”

“Don’t really feel like humiliating myself in front of your whole family, including an NHL hockey player.”

“They don’t care if you can’t skate!”

But I couldn’t convince him, so I headed out to join the others on the ice. Christmas music played from speakers mounted on posts at the edge of the pond. Stepping onto the ice gave me a thrill of pleasure. I loved skating
so much.

This wasn’t the best ice surface in the world, but hey, it was snowing lightly and music was playing and my family was there. I caught up to Dad, Daniel, Conner, and Andrew, skated past them, and turned to skate backward, facing them. I still had it.

“Show-off,” Andrew said.

I grinned. “Who, me?”

“Wanna race?”

“Ha. I know you can beat me. I’ll only race you if you’ll try a single
axel.”

“Nope, nope, nope. So much nope.”

I laughed.

“
You
do an axel,” he urged. Somehow he and I had separated from the others. “Let’s see what you can still do.”

I took off and got a little speed, launched myself up on the forward outside edge of my right foot, and landed on the back outside edge of my left. God, it felt good! I pumped my arms in the air and glided toward Andrew. He caught
me by the waist, smiling, and spun me around.