Part 31 (1/2)
”Do, Jamie,” Lucian said patting his friend on the back. ”I know the girls would love to see you.”
The side of Jamie's smirk kicked up, ”Antoinette's in her twenties now.”
Lucian scowled. ”No.”
Jamie laughed merrily and slapped his shoulder with what appeared as sympathy. ”It's inevitable, Luche. You know it and I know it.”
Jamie kissed Evelyn's cheek and walked out of the library in high spirits. ”She's got a boyfriend, Shamus. He's a martial arts instructor. He'll kick your a.s.s!” Lucian shouted and Jamie's laughter echoed from the foyer.
Once she was sure Jamie had left, she asked, ”Does Jamie like your sister?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. ”Not as much as Antoinette likes him. She used to follow him around like a puppy. Jamie's always kept his distance, but once he lost a bet and Toni made him give her his word that after she turned twenty he'd stop seeing her as only his friend's baby sister.”
”You don't want her to be with Jamie?”
”Jamie's a great guy. Couldn't ask for a more loyal friend, but Toni's my sister, and Jamie's my friend for a reason. We have very similar tastes.”
A small bit of hurt formed in her belly. Why were Lucian's 'tastes' good enough for her, but not good enough for his sister?
”Hey. What's that face for?”
She shook her head. ”You don't want a man to treat your sister the way you treat me?”
He opened his mouth, but the tension in his brow faded and he seemed to understand the conclusions she was drawing. ”Evelyn, there's nothing wrong with what we do. My concern with Jamie getting involved with Toni is . . . let's just say that I'm very private about my appet.i.tes around my family. Toni's a blabbermouth. She likes Jamie because the little girl inside of her said one day she'd marry him. She doesn't have a clue about what she'd actually be walking into with him. My sister doesn't have a submissive bone in her body and I'm not sure Shamus has the fort.i.tude to help her be what he needs. The entire thing could end badly and I don't need Toni running to all her little friends, painting Jamie's name in a bad light when he does nothing I wouldn't do.”
His words rea.s.sured her. She understood the desire for privacy. ”Well, you said she has a boyfriend. I don't think Jamie's the kind of guy to poach.”
Lucian's head jerked with a short bubble of silent laughter. ”Baby, Jamie and I are very similar. If there's something we want, we go after it. It doesn't matter who's guarding it from us. Once we set our sights on it, it's already considered ours. And we always get what we consider ours.”
”Well, what about Antoinette's boyfriend? Surely Jamie wouldn't fight-”
”Antoinette's boyfriend couldn't kill a spider. He's a tissue. Jamie would destroy him if it came to that.”
Christmas Eve morning Lucian woke Evelyn up by gently making love to her under the covers. They held each other close, tucked away from the chill in the air, and he rocked into her with such intense tenderness she was off balance for a good part of the morning.
Lucian laid out clothes for her to wear, a thick cable-knit turtleneck sweater, long johns, thick wool socks, and new fur-lined boots. When she met him downstairs, he was dressed much the same in boots, a heavy sweater, and rugged jeans. He looked like a lumberjack. He looked delicious.
His broad arms spread, holding out a puffy down coat for her. Evelyn slipped her arms in and he zipped it tight. As he placed a wool cap over her head and wrapped a cashmere scarf at her neck, she asked, ”Where are we going?”
”It's a surprise.”
They went out front. Expecting to see Dugan, she was surprised when Lucian unlocked the pa.s.senger door of a luxury SUV for her and got behind the wheel. ”You drive?”
His eyes crinkled. ”Of course I drive. Buckle up.”
She snapped the buckle and watched as Lucian navigated his way through the back roads. He drove like he did everything else, in complete control. They listened to carols on the radio and Lucian quietly sang along with the chorus.
”You know all of them,” she said and he glanced at her without fully taking his eyes off the road.
”All of what?”
”The carols.”
”Doesn't everyone?”
”I don't.”
Sometimes she felt like her background was a piece of Swiss cheese with great big holes in it, while Lucian's was some expensive aged kind that had been around long enough to see everything. Rather than comment on her lack of holiday experiences, he simply placed his hand on her knee and rubbed and tapped with the beat of the carols.
They pulled up to a small shed with a large sign and an enormous wreath on the peak. Lucian parked and smiled. He pointedly glanced at the sign and then back at her. She looked at the letters, wis.h.i.+ng she could read and then shook her head.
”It's a tree farm,” he said.
”A tree farm?”
”Yeah. They grow trees. We're going to pick out our Christmas tree.”
Her cheeks rose as her grin bloomed. ”Really?”
”Yup. Come on.”
They went into the shed, which was actually a store. A man in a heavy flannel jacket handed Lucian a receipt, Lucian took her hand and led her to the back of the store. They stepped out a set of double doors and Evelyn gasped.
An elegant open sleigh with a single horse hooked to it awaited them. The horse drew her near, his glossy black coat tempting and stunning. Clouds of moisture formed in the air in front of the animal's large snout. Its eyes seemed so alive behind the dark side blinds. His nostrils were huge. Heavy harnesses connected to his shoulders, and his mane was a glorious shade of black. She stepped close, needing to touch him to know he was real.
His pointed ears twitched and he whickered, his harnesses pulling, the creak of the leather p.r.o.nouncing their weight. He was incredibly strong and likely the most impressive living thing she'd ever seen. He reminded her of Lucian.
”Shh,” she soothed as she reached up a steady hand.
His wild eyes watched her, but he stilled as she petted the side of his mane.
”You're quite handsome,” she whispered to the impressive beast.
Turning to Lucian, who was watching her with a soft smile on his face, she asked, ”What's his name?”
”Pegasus.”
”h.e.l.lo, Pegasus.”
Snow crunched as Lucian quietly approached. ”He appears as charmed by you as every other male that crosses your path.” His hand smoothed over the powerful neck of the horse.
She stepped back. Pegasus's feet were covered in white fur that resembled snow boots. The sleigh was as sleek and black as the horse drawing it. A driver sat perched in the front seat, wearing a top hat with a sprig of holly tacked in the brim.
Lucian directed her to the rear. There was a black leather upholstered bench seat and a red fleece blanket draped over the back. As she stepped up her gaze fell on a single red rose sitting on the bench. Her cheeks pulled tight as she reached for it. There was a note attached. She unfolded it and tried to read it, but couldn't. It didn't matter. It was still the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for her. She knew it was from Lucian because at the bottom of the note she recognized the signed L.
Evelyn clutched the rose in her hands and faced him. ”Thank you.”
He kissed her temple and they settled into the seat, tucking the blanket over their knees. Her heart raced.