Page 79 of Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas
“We’re going to go find something to eat, if that’s okay?” At Steve’s nod, Will ushered out the other three kids.
Maya’s voice carried back into the room. “Why are we getting food? I’m not hungry.”
“They’re having atalk.” Will’s voice was lower but still clear enough to understand, to Camille’s chagrin. “Remember what happened at breakfast the last time theytalked? Do you really want to watch that train wreck again?”
“Oh. No. That was uncomfortable. Let’s be gone a while.”
Their voices finally faded, and Camille still didn’t have any idea of the right way to respond.
“You don’t have to say it back.” Even though they were alone in the room, Steve kept his voice low and his mouth close to her ear. “You don’t have to say anything right now. I just wanted you to know.”
Suddenly, she knew exactly what she felt and what she wanted—needed—to do. Turning her head, she pressed her mouth against his. After a startled second, Steve kissed her back, and she could feel how much he really did love her. It was obvious in the way he held her, as if she was something precious, something that deserved to be protected and cherished…and loved.
She deepened the kiss, and he groaned against her mouth, his hand coming up to cup the back of her head. When he pressed on the swollen knot, she yelped, pulling back.
“I’m sorry,” he said, remorse quickly replacing the heat in his eyes. “Did I hurt your head?”
“It’s fine.” She wanted to say the words now that she’d actually figured out how she felt. “I’mfine. I’m good. I love you, too.”
By the way his eyes widened in surprise, he hadn’t expected her to say it back. She took advantage of his startled moment of silence to keep talking.
“And I love your kids. They’re really interesting people. If everyone was as awesome as your kids, I wouldn’t mind talking to people. I might even go to the grocery store during the busiest time of the day.”
His mouth started to curve up at the corners, and his smile stretched until it was a full-faced beam. She just looked at him, basking in the beauty of him and the knowledge that she was the one who’d made him so happy.
When he moved to kiss her again, though, she held him off. “Can I ask you one thing before you make me forget everything except for how great it feels when you kiss me?”
“Of course.” His grin widened even more at her question, and she almost chickened out, not wanting to bring back his grim look. She needed to know, though.
“Did Nate burn down my house?”
As she’d feared, his smile fell away, and she dreaded what his answer would be. “No. Jackie has officially declared it an accidental fire caused by compromised wiring.”
Her body sagged in relief. “Thank you. It wouldn’t have changed how I feel about you, but it would’ve made it hard to forgive him, and he’s your brother, so… It’s just good to know.”
“I understand.” His mouth quirked wryly. “Jackie told me she actually suspected I’d set it.”
“What?” The idea was so preposterous that Camille could only stare at him, her mouth open.
“Mrs. Lin showed her that picture of the person on your porch in bunker gear, and she knew I was interested in you, so she thought I might have done it so I could be a hero.”
Camille scoffed at that. “As if you need any help with that. You’re constantly being heroic.”
His smile was slowly returning. “Not constantly.”
“Well, no, but usually. You’re really intimidatingly close to perfect.” He snorted, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to convince him of it. That didn’t change the truth, though. She brought the subject back to Nate, unable to let it go without asking one more question. “Was he the one in that picture?”
“I think so. He admitted having borrowed my bunker gear—or breaking in to take it from the station when he couldn’t get his hands on mine—and he liked to go to your house and…” He paused, the anger building in his eyes again. “He would watch you through the windows. We’d always been too competitive, growing up. Ryan, Nate, and I…” He shook his head. “With Ryan, it was always about girls. With Nate, it was sports, grades, attention…everything. I thought we’d outgrown all that, but I guess in his head, he was still competing for who got to be the center of attention. He wanted to be thehero. After I helped you at the scrapyard and we started to reconnect, Nate got a little…obsessed with the idea of being the one to save you. Even if he had to put you in danger first to do it.”
“Oh.” She absorbed that, feeling her stomach cringe away from the idea. “I guess I can kind of understand that.”
“You can?”
“Not really. I mean that I can eventually forgive him for it.” Giving in to temptation, she stroked the line of Steve’s jaw, trying to smooth away the tightness there. “It’s not your fault, you know. He may have felt competitive, but all you’ve ever done is try your best to help people. You’re therealhero.”
He cupped her face gently, careful to avoid the back of her head. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And thank you for the welding helmet. I’ve coveted that kind for years.” She loved how he supported what she did without trying to dismiss or diminish it. Even her grandma hadn’t understood how much a part of her that her artwork was.
