Chasing Christmas Read online

  His aunt offered him a knowing smile as they finished the dance.

  Throughout the evening, Chase danced with Jessie several times. He’d even showed her a few dance steps. She caught on fast, even though she seemed a little nervous when she danced with him.

  Around eleven, Ashley announced that those who were hungry would find some delicious selections available. Chase escorted Jessie to the food table. Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches cut into triangles sat atop small white mugs filled with steaming tomato soup. There were cheese and meat trays, veggie trays, chips and salsa, as well as sweets including a S’mores bar complete with an assortment of ingredients. Cans of sterno served as a way to toast the marshmallows.

  “This is so cool,” Chase said, picking up a skewer with a marshmallow on the end and holding it above a flame to toast. “Was this your idea?”

  Jessie blushed as she picked up a marshmallow and held it above a can of sterno. “Stacey and I saw something similar on Pinterest. I thought it might be fun.”

  “It’s awesome,” Chase said, sliding the marshmallow onto a chocolate cookie topped with a piece of chocolate. After he settled another cookie on it, he handed it to Jessie and took the skewer from her.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He watched her face, aware he’d surprised her with his gallantry. Maybe he’d have to do more of it. Her look of approval and admiration was something he liked seeing.

  He poured them each a mug full of the creamy chocolate kept warm in slow cookers, and then guided her to a seat next to her friend Stacey.

  Time passed quickly as they laughed with their friends. Before he was ready for the evening to end, Ashley turned on a television she’d insisted be set up above the stage. The band had taken a break, but everyone watched the countdown on television as midnight approached.

  Ashley and Stacey walked through the crowd, handing everyone paper cones filled with biodegradable confetti. Jessie had found the product when Chase pitched a fit at Ashley’s idea of having confetti for everyone. The last thing he wanted was to find little glittering bits of paper in his shop for the next several months. When Jessie offered the alternative of confetti that would disintegrate like bubbles if it got wet, he agreed.

  Chase stood and drew Jessie up with him. After placing his hand at the small of her back, he guided her toward the stage. Before everyone left for the evening, he wanted to offer a word of thanks to those who attended the party. As soon as the clock struck midnight, their guests would be ready to leave. In fact, those who were worried about bad roads had already gone.

  He paused at the foot of the stage, listening as the crowd around them joined in the countdown. When they got to five, Chase turned Jessie so she faced him and brushed his hand across her smooth cheek before burying it into the hair at the back of her head.

  “Happy New Year, Jess,” he rasped in a husky tone right before he captured her lips in what he’d intended to be a friendly kiss.

  However, what started out as friendly soon filled with passion and desire as sparks ignited between them. Jessie slid her hands up his arms and clasped them behind his neck as she pressed against him.

  He deepened the kiss, oblivious to those cheering around them, the photographers snapping photos, or the fact that he’d kissed her right through the first minutes of the new year.

  All he knew was how good, how right it felt to hold his wife in his arms and give his yearning for her free reign.

  Finally, he lifted his head and shot her a cocky grin. He wasn’t at all surprised when embarrassment reddened her cheeks and she turned her back to the cheering crowd, burying her face against his chest.

  With a quick kiss to her forehead, he pulled her up on the stage with him and moved in front of the microphone.

  “Jessie and I thank you all for coming tonight and helping us ring in a new year. May it be one full of success, health, happiness, joy, and love for us all. Happy New Year!”

  More clapping and cheers ensued.

  Chase waited until the noise quieted down to lean toward the mic again. “The roads are probably going to be slick with all the snow that fell this evening, so please be careful driving home. If you don’t want to drive, we can find somewhere for you to sleep. Thanks again, everyone!”

  With a final wave to the crowd, Chase escorted Jessie off the stage, took her hand in his and they slowly made their way through the crowd, accepting well wishes and giving them in return.

  A dozen of Chase’s rodeo friends asked if they could stay, so Lucas and Lori offered to put a few of them up at their place. Chase sent several guys over to the bunkhouse, and invited the rest to sleep on couches in the main house.

  Departing guests stopped long enough to take one of the keepsake ornaments Jessie and Stacey had railroaded Lucas into helping them make. Lucas had cut a long pole into rounds about a quarter-inch thick then drilled a hole into each round. When he finished, Jessie and Stacey tied a piece of jute string through the hole for a hanger. The girls then stamped one side with a snowflake and the other with a small C and J on either side of a larger J and wrote the date in small print with a permanent marker. Again, Chase had been surprised by Jessie’s creativity and willingness to make the ornaments.

  Once everyone cleared out of the shop, Chase removed his suit jacket and draped it around Jessie’s shoulders then took her hand in his as they ran through the snow.

  He glanced over at her and almost tripped at the look of pure joy on her features as she turned her face up to the night sky.

  When she noticed him watching her, she smiled. “I love the snow!” Snowflakes melted on her cheeks and clung to her eyelashes.

  He shook his head, although he grinned. “You are a nut, Mrs. Jarrett. Just wait a few weeks. You’ll be thoroughly sick of the snow by then.”

  “Maybe, but I’m not right now. It’s gorgeous!” She laughed again as they continued toward the house. Unexpectedly, she slid on a spot of ice and would have fallen if it hadn’t been for Chase keeping her upright.

  Without thinking, he swept her into his arms and carried her the rest of the way to the house. The few people who hadn’t yet left or hurried inside where it was warm cheered.

  Chase smirked and bent down so she could open the front door when they reached it.

  Almost involuntarily, his head dipped toward hers, eager for another kiss.

  She turned her head to the side and stiffened in his arms. “You can set me down now,” she said, sounding breathless.

  Reluctantly, he set her on her feet in the entry foyer wishing they didn’t have an audience, regretting she wasn’t his true wife. If she was, he’d pull the pins from her hair and back her down the hall to his room while he lavished her with kisses.

  Instead, he accepted the teasing of his friends and hurried off to see how many spare blankets and pillows he could find.

  Jessie helped make up three beds on the couches in the great room and media room. He watched as she started upstairs to her room, and then realized it was occupied by Cooper and Paige James. Chase had been surprised when he’d received a text from the rodeo clown that morning saying he and his bride planned to be there for the party.

  He was glad Cooper made the effort to come. It was good to see him and it gave Jessie a chance to speak with Paige about the Lasso Eight account. They’d been too busy this evening to talk business, but Chase would make sure the two women had time to speak in the morning.

  Although Ashley said Jessie did well with her graphic design business, he knew she wanted the Lasso Eight account. If there was anything he could do to help make it happen, he would.

  After all, Jessie was helping his career by pretending to be his love-struck bride.

  Chase walked through the house, shutting off lights, adjusting the temperature, making sure everyone was settled in for the night.

  He found Jessie in the kitchen, loading dishes into the dishwasher. He leaned against the doorjamb and watched her a few moments. She still had on
her princess skirt and flannel shirt. His suit jacket was draped over the back of a kitchen chair. She worked efficiently and quickly, not wasting any movements. When she added soap and turned it on, he strode into the room.

  “Ready for bed, Jessie? It’s been a long day.”

  She gasped and spun around, obviously surprised by his presence. “I, um… I was just… I thought I’d better finish the dishes. We’ll probably need all of them in the morning to feed this crowd.”

  Chase smiled, wondering what she’d do if he kissed her again. The kisses they’d shared in the shop at the stroke of midnight had him thinking all kinds of things. Things only a husband should think. Things that were about to drive him beyond the edge of reason. Things that would probably scare Jessie half to death.

  “Let’s get some sleep. Morning will be here all too soon.” He removed the dishtowel from her hand and tossed it on the counter then wrapped an arm around her waist, guiding her toward the door.

  Frantic, she looked around, as though she searched for some reason to remain in the kitchen a while longer.

  Chase clicked off the lights and took her hand in his, leading her down the hall to his room. He didn’t know what Ashley was thinking, forcing them to spend the night together. At least with his large bed, they could both sleep without touching the other. Unless Jessie wanted to.

  With the scent of roses and vanilla surrounding him and zaps of electricity shooting up his arm from their joined hands, he certainly wouldn’t mind if his wife decided she’d like more than a marriage in name only.

  Maybe it was the pressure of having the reporters around, the excitement of hosting the party, the feeling of magic in the air from the arrival of the New Year, or watching Jessie delight in the falling snow, but something had left him feeling love drunk and thoroughly enamored with his wife.

  He opened the door to his bedroom and flicked on the overhead light.

  Jessie gulped and took a step back. “I can’t do this, Chase. I just… it’s not… I’m not…”

  “It’s okay, darlin’. We’re just going to sleep. I promise.” Chase placed a hand on her shoulder and drew her into the room then closed the door behind him. He pointed to the bathroom door. “Ashley left your things in the bathroom. Go ahead and get ready for bed.”

  He yanked off his tie then walked over to the closet and turned on the light. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jessie hurry into the bathroom. Chase removed his boots and shirt, followed by his undershirt and pants.

  Quickly, he tugged on a pair of flannel pajama bottoms then turned off the closet light and shut the door. He turned off the overhead light then switched on the lamp on the side of the bed. After dragging the comforter down to the end of the bed, he folded back the sheets. A vision of Jessie in his bed, gazing at him with love in her eyes and her hair spilling all around made him squeeze his eyes shut and shake his head to dislodge the image.

  The bathroom door opened and Jessie hurried out, hair still pinned up, holding her crossed arms in front of her chest. She wore a black pajama set he was convinced was designed specifically to seduce men. Chase could think of no other purpose for it as the thin straps across her shoulders gave way to black lace along the edge of the top. The short shorts had lace insets nearly up to her waist and fancy trim skimming her thighs that made Jessie’s legs seem ten miles long.

  In the subdued light from the lamp, her skin looked like a beautiful expanse of creamy silk. His fingers itched to touch every inch of it. He took a step closer to her, then another.

  Her eyes widened and she glanced behind her, as though gauging whether she could barricade herself in the bathroom and spend the night sleeping in the bathtub.

  Chase grinned and reached out a hand, lightly touching her arm. “That’s a nice outfit.” The husky tone of his voice was one he didn’t recognize.

  Jessie tightened her arms across her chest and attempted to turn away from him. “I don’t know for a fact that Ashley did it, because it could very well have been Stacey, but the clothes I planned to wear for sleeping have disappeared.”

  Chase would have to be sure to thank whoever brought Jessie the sexy pajamas. “What did you plan to wear?” he asked, trying to distract her so she’d calm down. He could feel her trembling as she stood before him, wearing nothing but bits of lace and satiny fabric.

  “I had sweats and an old university T-shirt.”

  He chuckled. “Sorry I missed seeing that, but I won’t complain about this one.” Unhurried, he trailed a finger up her arm and across her shoulder. Unable to stop himself, he pressed a hot kiss to the back of her neck.

  She jumped and goose bumps broke out on her skin.

  About to take things too far, Chase stepped back. “You look gorgeous, Jessie. Really.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Chase hurried into the bathroom. It took him less than five minutes to get ready for bed, turn out the light and return to the bedroom where Jessie huddled beneath the covers on her side, facing the wall.

  Disappointed but mindful that he needed to keep his hands to himself, he turned out the light and slid onto the bed, pulling a throw blanket over his legs.

  “If it makes you feel better, I’ll sleep on top of the covers.”

  At her barely perceptible nod, he hid a smile. “Thanks for today. I’m sure it was hard to do what you did, but you really did look beautiful and you charmed every one of my friends.”

  “You’re welcome. It was fun to plan the party and dress up. You looked good, too.”

  A grin creased his face and he settled his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. “Thanks. Good night, Jessie.”

  “Good night.”

  Silence settled over them and Chase released a long, frustrated breath. He tried to recall wanting any woman as much as he wanted the one currently clinging to the far edge of his bed. No one had ever made him feel the way she did. No one had driven him as crazy as she had, especially in such a short time.

  Uncertain how he’d ever relax and go to sleep with her so close, yet so far away from him, he swallowed back a sigh.

  The covers rustled and he felt the bed move as though someone jiggled it.

  Remaining perfectly still, he waited, trying to discern what Jessie was doing. When the bed continued to wiggle, he finally figured out she was shivering.

  “Are you cold?” he asked, rolling onto his side so he faced her.

  “Y…e…s…” she said between chattering teeth.

  “Aw, Jess, why didn’t you say something?” Chase got off the bed, pulled back the covers and slid between the sheets. He scooted over until he connected with her arm. His hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her against him.

  He wondered if she’d shove him away, but she didn’t. Instead, she inched closer to him as he surrounded her with his warmth.

  Shivers wracked over her, tugging at his heart. “How long have you been cold, darlin’?” he asked, shifting his legs until her icy feet rested against his shins.

  “Since about five minutes after the party started, although the dancing helped keep me warm. The cold sheets kind of finished me off.”

  He grinned against the fragrant locks of her hair. “If I’d known about the dancing, I’d have danced every dance with you. Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I didn’t want to be a bother. It wasn’t too bad until about an hour before the party ended. I could have gladly climbed up on the table with the S’mores and stood over the sterno cans.”

  A laugh rumbled out of Chase and he kissed her ear. “There are several cowboys here tonight who would have paid good money to see that.”

  “I’m sure,” she said, relaxing against him as her shivering subsided. “Thank you, Chase.”

  “For what?” he asked, growing more and more aware of just how scantily clad she was dressed. Under the guise of trying to warm her, his hand skimmed from her shoulder, along her ribs, and down her leg then back up again.

  The fires of longin
g he’d attempted to bank earlier flared to life. All he wanted in that moment was to turn Jessie over and lose himself in a night of loving her.

  “For being such a good man,” Jessie whispered in a voice thick with sleep.

  Her words carried the punch of a being dowsed with a bucket of ice water. No matter how much he wanted Jessie, he wouldn’t do anything about it. Nothing but hold her close to his heart.

  Chapter Eleven

  Never one to sleep in, Jessie typically awoke early and jumped right into her day.

  Regardless of a lifetime spent rising before dawn, this morning, she lingered in bed. Caught between a state of not quite asleep and not fully awake, she felt more content and secure than she’d ever been in her life.

  Uncertain what was different, she started to roll over and found she couldn’t. Something big and warm blocked her. Something that smelled exactly like Chase’s enticing fragrance.

  Instantly, her eyes popped open and she glanced over at Chase’s face on the pillow beside her.

  Suddenly, she recalled being so cold, she started shivering after she climbed into bed last night. Chase had pulled her close and folded his strong body around her, sharing his warmth.

  Jessie had gone from freezing to nearly overheated in a matter of seconds as he cuddled her. If she hadn’t already been half in love with him, that simple, sweet gesture would have done the trick.

  He didn’t try to seduce her or talk her into doing anything. He’d simply held her.

  Jessie had never known anyone who simply gave something to her without expecting anything in return. But Chase had.

  Last night, after that amazing kiss at midnight and the way he’d carried her inside the house, her husband could have talked her into any number of things. But he hadn’t even tried. The sliver of vanity she possessed caused her to wonder why he didn’t find her attractive.

  Then again, she’d seen something spark in his eyes when she’d walked out of his bathroom wearing the skimpy outfit Ashley or Stacey had left for her there. Even though Jessie didn’t have a lot of experience with men, she had enough to recognize desire when she saw it. Chase’s eyes had been filled with it as he looked at her, watched her. Yet, he’d been a perfect gentleman.