Read A Christmas to Believe In Online
Authors: Claire Ashgrove
by Claire Ashgrove
Clint bit back a curse as he scowled at the door. The one
part of his day that had gone right, and someone intended to
spoil it for him. If it were Alex, he'd kill his little brother. Right
now, he'd gladly go to jail for the offense too.
"What?" he snapped.
His mother's voice replied, "Are you busy, sweetheart?"
In the pale grey afternoon light, Clint caught the doorknob
turn. He automatically snatched at the comforter and tossed
it over his bare ass. Panicked more for Jesse's sake than his
own, he hollered, "Don't open it!"
Good God, this was getting ridiculous. It was like his
mother had some second sight to know exactly when she'd
catch him with Jesse. Hell, she couldn't have missed Jesse's
car in the drive. What did she think when she came up the
stairs to find silence behind his door? They were playing
checkers?
Beneath him, Jesse shifted in attempts to skirt out of his
grasp. He clutched her closer, warned her off with a shake of
his head. "You're not going anywhere," he whispered against
her breast. "Soon as she leaves, I'm locking the door and
indulging again."
She answered with a wry smile.
"I thought I'd tell you Keeley's here," his mother called
through the door. "We're in the living room, when you're
ready to come down."
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Glancing heavenward, he bemoaned his fate with a low
groan. So much for the idea of keeping Jesse in bed a little
longer. As his mother's footsteps retreated down the hall,
Jesse giggled. He cocked an eyebrow, not at all sharing her
amusement.
"You should see your expression."
Defying his mood, his mouth quirked. "She knows you're in
here."
Jesse lifted her hands to slide her fingers through his hair.
"I'll live with that."
He nuzzled her cheek, dusted his mouth over hers. Would
she care if she knew they'd had a witness last night? Maybe.
But some things died hard, and making Jesse blush had
always been a favorite pastime of his. Though a more gallant
man would keep the information to himself, he couldn't resist.
"She walked in on us last night. I got a slight reprimand this
morning."
Satisfaction poured through him as Jesse's cheeks flushed
with pretty pink. "I suppose I'll live with that too."
Stretching, she slid a slender leg alongside his, and her
breasts pushed toward his face. Unable to resist, Clint
gathered them in his hands, lifted, and pressed his mouth
into the deep valley he'd created. But sense slid through his
wandering thoughts, reminding him he couldn't get carried
away. Reluctantly, he let go.
"I should head on back to the house. If I remember right, I
have a dinner to plan." Her eyes twinkled so bright and
beautiful they mirrored tiny stars.
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"I have wine to buy." Though everything inside him
screamed in protest, he eased himself out of her heavenly
warmth and sat on the edge of the bed. "Good. That'll give
me an excuse to escape Keeley. You haven't met her, have
you?"
Slipping into her bra, Jesse shook her head. "Not sure I
want to."
He gave her bottom a playful slap as she slid from the bed
to pull on her jeans. "Looks like you're about to." Watching
her wriggle into the fitted denim sent a whole new burst of
energy thrumming through his veins. He scolded his body's
impatience, but let his gaze linger on her trim buttocks. "You
have an amazing ass."
Giving him a glimpse of the saucy Jesse he'd grown up
with, she smirked over her shoulder. "So do you."
Clint blinked. A compliment had been the last thing he'd
expected to hear. The fact she'd said it without skipping a
beat halted his tongue. At a loss, he stared.
"Get dressed." Jesse tossed his shirt in his lap. "Unless you
plan to meet your new sister in the nude."
No. But the realization he was about to meet his new sister
with Jesse at his side, made his chest tighten. Keeley would
know, without question, where Jesse fit into this family.
Where Jesse fit into his life. At the same time, Jesse would
share this uncomfortable meeting with him. Not his brothers,
not just his mother. His Jesse. The only person capable of
reading the hidden part of his soul. He could think of no more
fitting introduction.
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With a short nod, he yanked on his clothes, ran his fingers
through his hair. As Jesse started for the door, Clint caught
her by the wrist and dragged her back to him. He kissed her
thoroughly, then taking a hold of her shoulders, turned her
toward the mirror. "Your hair, sweetheart."
Her eyes widened as she looked at the tangled strands
tumbling down her shoulders. "Good grief."
He reached into his bag and handed her his hairbrush. As
she worked at the mess, a sense of comfort crept in to wrap
its fingers around his heart. He could get used to this. To
Jesse sharing his space. His things. His mirror in the
mornings.
Aw hell.
He was falling for her. Fast.
She flashed a bright smile. Her eyes held his as she ran
the brush through her long raven lengths, then set it down.
Wordlessly, Clint fit his hand into the small of her back and
escorted her out the door.
Keeley waited on the couch. The very same couch Clint
hadn't been able to look at all afternoon because of the
visions it created in his head. It had hurt too much, knowing
he'd intended to call things off. Now, he could see the picture
of Jesse and him in his mind's eye and embrace it. She hadn't
let him. He still wasn't convinced that was the smartest
decision, but for now, he accepted he had a little while longer
to enjoy her.
Before Clint could utter a word of greeting, his mother cut
her sharp gaze his way. Behind her welcoming smile lurked
warning. The silent message he should behave himself.
Welcome Keeley, as she'd requested.
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He extended his hand.
Keeley rose from the couch, all five foot sevenish of her.
Stylishly dressed in a pair of casual black pants and a soft
yellow cardigan set, she painted a picture of corporate
success. Slender, pretty—on the exterior, Clint couldn't find a
reason not to like her. Her eyes even glinted with warmth,
not just cordial politeness. "You must be Clint."
"I am. Nice to meet you, Keeley." He gestured at Jesse.
"This is Jesse Saurs."
She gave Jesse the same familial smile, the same firm
handshake. "Amelia's been telling me about the both of you. I
understand you grew up together?"
"We did," Jesse confirmed. "It's nice to meet you, but I'm
afraid I can't stay. I have get my son ready to go to a
friend's."
Clint's eyes widened. She couldn't be leaving. Not yet, at
least. She was supposed to make this meeting tolerable, not
strand him. But to his dismay, Jesse bent over his mother's
chair to kiss her cheek, then grabbed her coat off the peg.
She returned to him, rose to tiptoe, and planted her lips on
his. "I'll see you in a little while."
Stunned, he watched his life raft glide out the door.
Though Clint wanted to dislike Keeley, an hour later he
found himself laughing at her stories about her childhood. Her
mother had remained unmarried until her recent death, and
as the only child to a woman who spent most of her time
working, Keeley had run wild as a kid. Heck, much as he
hated to admit it, back then, they'd have made good friends.
And while he'd never, in a hundred years, admit it to Jesse,
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he suspected she might give Jesse's tomboy years a run for
their money.
Jesse still held the market on the toe-in-ribs cheat at arm
wrestling, however. No one but her could come up with
something that outrageous... and no one but he and his
brothers would be stupid enough to fall for it time and again.
"So, Clint, you raise Thoroughbreds?"
At the uncomfortable mention of his faltering life, his
enjoyment dwindled. He'd managed to temporarily forget
about Royal Promise, Angel's foal, and Susan Silby's offers.
He didn't need to confront those subjects before he left for
Jesse's. He refused to allow anything to spoil their
uninterrupted night together.
"He brought one with him," his mother interjected before
he could find a response.
"Oh?" Keeley's bright green eyes lit with excitement. "Can
I see her? Is she here?"
Clint inclined his head toward the front door. "She's at
Jesse's."
Keeley's features fell with unmistakable disappointment.
"Well, some other time then, perhaps."
A wash of guilt rained down on Clint. She was trying so
hard. It wasn't her fault he'd had a shit day when it came to
horses. He'd always done all he could to encourage interest in
horses. Yet here he sat, unwilling to extend the invitation.
"I'll take you by the next time you stop in."
If I'm still in
town.
Though somehow, he had a feeling Keeley would be
dropping in again soon. She and his mother had bonded
rather instantly.
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His mother grabbed for her crutches and pushed out of her
chair. "I think we could use more coffee and I need to put
some hamburger out to thaw. I don't know if Alex will be by
or not, Keeley. But you're welcome to stay for dinner and see
if he shows up."
"Thank you, Amelia. I probably should get back soon."
Clint grinned at his half sister. "You'll learn, Keeley, when
Mom invites, she expects you to accept."
Eyes wide with hesitancy, she looked between Clint and his
mother. "Well... There's not really anything waiting for me at
the hotel. If you don't mind the company...."
"She doesn't mind," Clint assured.
"Then it's settled," Amelia declared as she hobbled into the
kitchen. "We'll have green bean casserole. Clint, are you
stay—"
"I have plans."
"Okay, dear."
As the clatter of dishes came to life in the kitchen, silence
descended on the living room. Keeley rotated her coffee mug
in her hands and stared down into the brew. A slight frown
tugged at her manicured eyebrows. After several long
moments, she lifted her eyes to Clint. "Can I ask you
something?"
He nodded.
"My father... Would he have let me in the door?"
With the question, her facade fell. Clint saw through to the
same spirit that lived in him. Like he did, she questioned her
worth in their father's eyes. She craved his acceptance.
Needed it in some buried place inside. He leaned forward and
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rested his elbows on his knees. "He'd have welcomed you
with open arms. He didn't know about you. None of us did. If
Dad had, he'd have moved heaven and earth to make sure
you were part of his life."
Though she nodded with a smile, before she looked away,
he caught the glistening of tears in her eyes. At that moment,
he knew he couldn't pretend she was just some stranger
passing through their lives. Whatever Alex thought, whatever
suspicions Heath harbored, whatever reservations Jesse held,
Clint would treat Keeley as the sister she was. He'd do exactly
what his father had done... welcome her with open arms.
He reached across the way and grabbed her elbow. With a
light tug, he hauled her into his arms. "Welcome home,
Keeley."
Her shoulders shook for an instant, but on a deep breath,
she returned the hug. She gave his back a pat, eased out of
his embrace. "Thanks."
"Of course. I've got to get going though. I've got wine to
pick up before dinner. Make sure Mom has your phone
number. If I don't get to see you before I head back to
Kentucky, and you still want to see a horse, I've got a decent
guest room."
He stood up and dusted his hands on his jeans.
She gave him a thoughtful look. "Dinner with Jesse?"
"Yeah."
A slow smile spread across her face. "Casa Lapostolle,
Cuvee Alexandre Chardonnay."
"Huh?"
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"Get that. Cuvee Alexandre Chardonnay. She'll love it.
You'll be glad you did."
How Keeley knew whether Jesse would like the wine or
not, he couldn't begin to guess. But the conviction in her
voice left no room for argument, and he committed the name
to memory. Certainly couldn't hurt to try.
He headed for the stairs, only to stop with his foot on the
bottom tread. Turning around, he poked his head back into