A Very Daring Christmas (The Tavonesi Series Book 8) (35 page)

She laughed. “That too. And maybe the influence of a few lucky stars.”

As he tumbled her back onto the bed, making sure to guard her arm, he gave thanks for every lucky star that had ever shined. And he planned to kiss her once for each one of them.

He also planned to be thankful all his life for whatever mysterious powers drove the universe and had brought him Cameron. Just as he planned to treasure her forever.

Moonlight spilled over them as he leaned in for the first of a lifetime of infinite kisses. 

Epilogue

Jake’s heart was in his throat as he turned off onto the drive leading to the farmhouse and acreage he’d bought in Sonoma County.
He
might think the old farmhouse was perfect. But what if Cameron didn’t? His fingers tightened on the gearshift as her hand curved onto the back of his.

She wriggled her fingers between his. “Did I tell you how much I trust your judgment?”

“Mistake number one.” Jake relaxed his hand under hers and glanced in the rearview mirror. Dylan’s head rested against the seat belt strap and the window, his face soft with deep sleep. “He’s out.”

“Nothing like a fourteen-hour flight to level off excess energy. He was so excited about coming back with me and showing me your new place that he chattered nonstop for the first three hours of the flight. The movie and a meal and sheer exhaustion finally settled him down.”

“
Our
new place.”

She squeezed his hand. “Yes. Our new place. Your mother told me you’ve been out here working every moment you weren’t at the stadium.”

“I warn you, Cam, it’s not close to being pulled together. The architect hasn’t gotten the renovations approved by the county yet. Worse, the plumber found a major leak in the main water line yesterday. It’s why we have to bunk over at Alana and Matt’s until next week.”

“I’ve been living with a six-year-old in a film trailer—I can handle a plumbing problem.”

She had been wrapping a film shoot in New Zealand, so he’d had to settle for getting her thumbs-up from a distance. He’d sent her photos before he bought the property, but looking at photos online and getting a true feel for the place that would be your future home were two different things. If there hadn’t been other offers, he might’ve asked for a long escrow and waited. But property in the rural areas close to town was at a premium, and the other offers were all cash on the line. So he’d bought it outright for cash.

Cameron leaned over and brushed a kiss to Jake’s cheek, drawing him back from his thoughts.

“Dylan loved everything about going with you to New Zealand. I was nervous about yanking him from school, but his teacher was the one who said that since he wasn’t used to sitting at a desk, being on location and having a tutor might ease him into the idea of school.”

“He charmed everyone. Apparently a family trait.” The smile she laid on him laced straight to his belly.

“Compliments will get you a spot in the master bedroom. Maybe quicker than you might imagine.”

“Not quicker than I want,” she said.

Her words swam into him, their message making him happier than he’d felt since she’d left for New Zealand. Even the start of baseball season hadn’t taken his mind off Cameron. When he’d picked her and Dylan up at the airport—was it just two hours ago?—he’d had to fight not to lift her in his arms and never let her go. But Dylan needed love and attention too. Life as an instant parent was throwing him curveballs he’d have to judge carefully in order not to strike out.

Sunlight slanted through the valley oaks lining the sloping drive. Jake dodged a rut in the road he hadn’t yet had time to fill and pulled up in front of the farmhouse.

Cameron slid her hand away and put both her hands to her heart. “The photos didn’t do this place justice. It’s... It’s like a dream, Jake.”

She hugged him and then leaped out of the car and headed for the front porch steps.

The sound of the door woke Dylan. “Hey!
I
wanted to show her.”

“Better get on it, sport.”

Dylan scrambled from the car and ran to where Cameron stood on the steps staring up at the house. Jake let Dylan lead her in. While he wanted to see her reaction, he also knew these moments between Dylan and Cameron were important, formative. He needed them to feel like a team. Dylan had memorized every cranny of the house before Jake had put him on the plane to New Zealand—he’d be a fine guide.

The two-story main house had four big bedrooms and two baths upstairs. And Parker had told him that the huge kitchen and living room downstairs could easily be remodeled to make an open-plan great room. The two other odd-shaped but large rooms downstairs could be converted to office space, a media room and a downstairs bath. And to Dylan’s delight, out the back door of the kitchen there was room for a practice field just beyond the orchard and kitchen garden.

The spring-fed stream that ran through the oak grove leading to a small valley was a bonus. But the major boon had been the caretaker’s house that was now home to Jake’s parents. Far enough down the second drive to afford privacy, their house was close enough that Dylan could walk through the clustered oaks, cross the stone bridge spanning the small stream and be at his grandparents’ in less than five minutes.

Jake’s dad already had a job with a mechanic in nearby Petaluma, and his mother was happy to putter in the gardens, start the novel she’d been threatening to write for years and look after Dylan. If Jake didn’t watch her, she’d spoil his dog and Dylan beyond salvation.

Jake moved the car into the shade cast by an oak tree near the house. One of the upstairs windows flew open, and Dylan popped his head out.

“She likes my room!”

Cameron poked her head out beside Dylan’s and waved, a bright smile racing across her face. The tension Jake had carried since the day he’d signed the final papers dissolved in the beam of her happy smile. He had a home.
They
had a home. The woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with had agreed to marry him. It was almost more than he could believe.

The grind of tires on gravel had him turning to see Alana’s Jeep roar into view. Matt had barely turned off the motor before Sophie jumped out of the backseat.

“Where’s the swing?”

“Hi, Sophie.”

“Sophie!
Manners
,” Matt called as he walked around to hold Alana’s door for her.

“Right.” Sophie ran to Jake, and he lifted her in a hug. “Hi, Jake.” She glanced back at her dad and Alana. “Where’s Dylan? I can’t believe he got to cut out of school for almost a whole month.”

Cameron and Dylan came down the front steps of the farmhouse holding hands. He was chattering so fast that Jake doubted Cameron got one word in during the house tour.

“Where’s Tyler?” Dylan asked when he spied them.

Sophie crossed her arms. “You’re supposed to say
hi
to everybody first. My dad said so.”

“Hi, everybody,” Dylan said, putting his hands to his hips. “Where’s Tyler?”

“With his dad,” Sophie said. Jake heard the trace of melancholy in her tone. “But he only has to be down there for two days. We can still do the batting cage again next Saturday.” She looked to Matt and then to Jake. “Can’t we?”

“That’s the plan,” Jake said. Their cheers rolled straight to his heart. Making kids happy was one activity he hadn’t counted on ever getting to tackle. He glanced at Cameron. She too was a surprise he hadn’t imagined. The stories of love coming out of nowhere and rearranging a guy’s life? He believed them now.

Dylan looked to Jake. “Can we go explore?”

Jake looked to Matt. He tried not to make decisions when Sophie was involved. He had a pretty good idea what was right or wrong for boys, but little girls? His sister had been a tomboy. He had no idea what was best for little girls.

“Sure,” Matt said.

“Thank God for Sophie,” Jake said as the two kids ran off toward the oak grove. “She’s been a great friend for Dylan.”

Matt shook his head. “They’re good for each other.”

“Perfect, really,” Alana added. “And I’m loving this place, Jake. But I do wish you’d let my landscape team come and help you.” She gestured toward the road. “Where does that lead?”

“To my parents’ house. My current dog sitters.”

Matt grinned. “You mean kid-sitters.”

“That too.”

Cameron slipped her hand into his. “We merged my shooting schedule with the team’s road schedule, and with Jake’s parents filling in, we’ve managed to create some semblance of order.”

“Order might be stretching the meaning of the word.” Jake chuckled. “Alana, I meant to tell you—thanks for agreeing to take Dylan when my parents head back to see my sister next month.”

“I heard we’re going to have a wedding,” Matt said with a wink. “Another success to chalk up to the meddlesome Tavonesi clan and their matchmaking abilities. Coco’s and Sabrina’s energies should be harnessed to power the planet.”

Cameron blushed.

“After the season,” Jake said quickly. It was true. Without the scheming of the Tavonesi women, he and Cameron might never have had the opportunity to fall in love. “We swore we’d wait until Parker returns from Greece. Although from what Alex told me yesterday, Parker might not be back for a while.”

“You haven’t met Juliet,” Alana said. “Trouble seems to stalk her. And Parker would rearrange the international boundary lines to help her. But if she toys with his heart, I might strangle her myself.”

Matt tugged Alana to him and planted a kiss to her cheek. “Fiercely loyal, this one.”

The hungry look in Matt’s eyes had the air crackling with sexual tension.

Cameron winked at Jake. Evidently she’d also seen the look that had passed between Matt and Alana. She turned to Matt. “So I get how precious a day off is during the season. How about Jake and I keep Sophie for the afternoon and bring her over to your place later? Give you guys some time alone. When should we bring her back?”

Matt nuzzled Alana. “How about ten days?”

Alana swatted him. “She has homework and an art project to finish.”

Jake didn’t have to be psychic to read Matt’s intentions for his wife. Hell, all Jake wanted right then was a room, a bed and Cameron. Maybe forget the room—just some time alone with her. “Maybe you could return the favor tonight and take the kids to a movie?” he asked.

Alana waved her hand in the air between them. “
Homework
, Jake.” She turned to Matt. “What’s with you two? Did they put aphrodisiacs in the Gatorade this week?”

Matt wrapped an arm around Alana’s waist. “Something like that.” He shifted a glance to Jake. “We’ll take you up on your offer. But bring Sophie back before six. Fatherly duties, homework police and all that. We’ll take kid duties from there.”

Alana turned to Cameron. “I meant to congratulate you. Matt said the meeting with the president went well.”

Cameron winced. “God, has it been that long since I’ve seen you?”

“Two months.”

“Parker wrangled a private meeting for us.” Cameron gestured into the distance where Sophie and Dylan were taking turns on the swing under a two-hundred-year-old oak. “And Dylan stole the day. He was so fascinated with the pens on the Oval Office desk. When the president invited him to sit in his chair, Dylan picked up the closest pen and told the story of the bateyes. He rattled off the facts so fast, no one could interrupt. UNICAN should tap
him
.”

“She’s marrying me for my kid,” Jake said with a laugh.

“Hey, that’s a time-honored tradition around here,” Matt said. “Alana fell for Sophie first.”

Alana wrinkled her nose. “Not true. Well... maybe a little. You were so guarded when I first met you.”

“You weren’t exactly easy to read.”

“I like to think of myself as an open book,” Alana said with a teasing grin.

“Fat chance.” Matt turned to Cameron. “Well, congratulations are in order. Alex told me you got the president to agree to look into earmarking some funding.”

Cameron shook her head. “It didn’t go as well as I’d hoped.”

“She’s too hard on herself,” Jake said. “The president said he’d help, and he meant it. Turns out that making sure people have clean water is one of the legacies he wants to leave when he exits the Oval Office. There’s a similar project the Department of Commerce has in the works in the Outer Banks in the Carolinas. Can you believe that in America we still need to get clean water to some people? It was a shocking revelation.”

Alana’s brows drew together. “That’s a big goal.”

“Yup. He said we need big goals. Otherwise, why bother?” Jake checked his watch. “You two had better head out.”

“Music to my ears,” Matt said. He tugged on Alana’s hand. “We have
kid sitters
. For
four
hours, my dear.”

Alana blushed.

Matt took Alana’s arm and turned her toward the Jeep. “I may break every speed limit on the way back to the ranch,” he said over his shoulder.

As they drove away, Jake couldn’t stand it any longer. He snatched Cameron to him. When his lips met hers, everything stopped. His rushing thoughts and worries, his anxiety about Dylan, his concerns about the property all melted away in the rush of heat and joy and want and—there was no other word for it—love. He’d kissed her at the airport, but Dylan had been with them, so he couldn’t lay on the kiss he’d dreamed of, fantasized about, for the five weeks she’d been in New Zealand.

“Mmmm...,” he murmured when they both came up for air. “Although I’m glad you like our new place, I have to admit that it isn’t a farmhouse, a ball field
or
a batting cage that’s home any longer. You’re my home. You’re everything that home is to me.”

“Jake...” She kissed him tenderly. “I love every little nook and cranny, every tree, everything about this place. But most of all, I love that it has you.” She smiled. “I can see us putting down roots and growing with this land. I can see us making a home and a family here.”

He ran his hand up her back and couldn’t resist gliding the other one to brush along the soft curve of her breast.