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Chapter One
SUMMERTURNER STOODbetween the two tall men and tried to ignore their impatient and sour expressions. Well, her brother Jack’s, anyway. No ignoring the other man on her left. Whenever he was near, all she wanted to do was throw herself on top of him and kiss him until he finally acknowledged her as something more than his best friend’s baby sister.
Caleb wore his usual pasted-on look of indifference, but behind his sable brown eyes she glimpsed fleeting moments of interest. Not in the brightly decorated Christmas parade floats, but in her. Sometimes she thought she caught him staring at her, but he’d look away or through her like she wasn’t even there. Maybe it was nothing more than wishful thinking.
A shiver of need ran through her. How she wanted that man.
One of these days, she’d stand on her tiptoes, wrap her arms around his neck, and kiss him until the iceman melted.
The last parade float passed. Jolly Old St. Nick waved to the crowd with a hearty “Ho, ho, ho,” and tossed mini candy canes from his overstuffed sack. Kids scrambled free of parents to scoop up as much candy as possible.
People stepped off the curb and followed Santa’s sleigh, making their way along the street toward the park for the tree-lighting ceremony. Summer turned and stared at Jack and Caleb, standing with their arms behind their ramrod-straight backs, eyes scanning the crowd and roofs for nonexistent snipers. Discharged from the military two months ago after a very dangerous and deadly tour in Iraq, neither of them spoke a word about their experiences, but their quiet intensity told her they’d seen and done things neither of them would ever forget.
“I’d say at ease, soldiers, but you already are. Seriously, dial it down. Everyone stood crushed along the street for six blocks, except for the five-foot restricted zone you two intimidated folks into keeping around us.”
Jack rolled his eyes. “What did we do now?”
“Glared at everyone. Frowned at the cheerful floats. Grunted at the carolers. Sucked the fun out of yet another tradition.”
“Another?”
“Yes. Another. Remember Thanksgiving?”
“Good food. Beer. Sam, Caleb, and I watched the game. The Broncos won.”
“Had fun, did you?” she asked Jack, then turned to Caleb. “How about you?”
“Yeah. You’re an amazing cook,” he said, not quite meeting her eyes.
Secretly, she thrilled at the compliment.
Outwardly, she threw her hands up and let them fall, slapping her thighs.
“I set the table with Grandmother’s best dishes. Crystal wine glasses, candles, flowers. I spent hours making a perfect turkey and all the trimmings. You lug-heads grabbed a plate, piled it high, and flopped back on the couch to watch the game. I sat in the dining room alone.”
Caleb’s gaze fell away.
“You should have joined us,” Jack said.
“I wanted to have a family meal. Mom and Dad are away on their trip. Sam came home, you made it home safe from the war. I wanted to sit around the table together and share a meal and remember how grateful we are for all we have. You’re here, Jack. You and Caleb survived. Couldn’t you take an hour to appreciate all you have left, instead of holding on to your anger and hurt and resentments and whatever else it is you feel when you’re quietly moody.”
“I’m not moody.”
“When’s the last time either of you smiled?”
“How did I get lumped into this family squabble?” Caleb asked when she shot him a disgruntled frown.
“Come on, sis, I’ll buy you a hot chocolate and we’ll watch the tree lighting. Will that make you happy?”
“I’m not ten.”
“I know that.”
“Do you? Ever since you got home, you’ve treated me like I’m a kid. You may run the ranch, but you don’t run me.”
“You’re my sister. I’m trying to look out for you.”
“I don’t need you to look out for me. I need you to find your way out of the dark. I’m trying to lead you there, both of you, but you refuse to follow. I can’t imagine the things you’ve seen, the things you’ve done to survive. But you’re alive.” She looked from Jack to Caleb and back again. “So live.” She turned to Caleb. “Find whatever it is that makes you happy, grab hold of it, and never let go.”
