A Home for Christmas by Ann Vaughn

She
nodded.  “Better get used to it, babe.”
    She squeezed his hand, tears falling down her
cheeks again.  This time, Riley leaned forward and kissed them away before
touching his lips to hers.  For the first time, Jenna didn’t hold herself
back.  Maybe it was because Cam was just down the hall and she knew it
couldn’t get out-of-control.  Whatever the case, she turned in his arms
and wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.
    “Thank you, Riley,’ she whispered when they
pulled apart, pressing her forehead to his, and placing her fingertips against
his lower lip.  He nipped her fingertip lightly, then ran his tongue
around her finger.
    “Anytime,” he replied.  “and I mean
that.  You don’t have to do it all alone any more.”
    “Riley,” she whispered, kissing him, “please
don’t make promises you can’t keep.  My heart is fragile enough, but Cam…”
    He kissed her back.  “Quit while you’re
ahead, babe.  Don’t piss me off.”
    She smiled and combed her fingers through the
back of his hair.  “I’ll try.”
    “Good.  Let me take care of you,
Jenna.  You and Cam.”
    “Tell you what.  You’re still here by
Christmas and we’ll talk,” she said, giving him a final kiss then sliding off
his lap. 
    He watched her walk down the hall to Cam’s
room.  Closing his eyes and letting his head fall back on the couch, he
reached down to adjust himself in his jeans.  For the first time since
leaving the Navy, Riley felt like he wasn’t just spinning his wheels.  Jenna
and Cam had come to mean a lot to him in just a few short days…and that
surprised him.  He’d never really seen himself as the settling down sort
but after spending these days with them, it was becoming easier to see. 
He wanted them both.  He admired Jenna’s strength and courage.  She’d
distanced herself from her ex.  He’d checked her financials.  She’d
made a success of her maid service and bought this house without any of
Blackwell’s money.  It was a nice house in a nice neighborhood. Not as big
as the house she’d had when she was with Blackwell, but no shack, either. 
All the money that Blackwell sent for Cam, she was putting into a college fund
for him, except in December, when she used part of it to buy Cam’s Christmas
presents. 
    “Falling asleep on me, Stanton?” she asked.
    He smiled when she sat beside him but didn’t open
his eyes. 
    “Just thinking,” he said softly.
    “About?”
    “You.”
    “You flatter me,” she said and he could hear the
smile in her voice.
    “Just stating facts.  You and Cam…Jenna, you
both mean a lot to me.”
    “Riley…” she started but he stopped her by
pulling her into his arms and kissing her until she was clinging to him and
breathless.
    “Don’t over think it, OK?”  She
nodded.  He kissed her once more, then reluctantly released her and
stood.  “Good night, Jenna.”
    “Good night, Riley,” she echoed.
    ***
    The next few days passed just as pleasantly as
the previous ones.  Jenna was learning to take Riley’s kindness in stride
and not get quite as emotional over the small, thoughtful things he did. 
Friday night, Jenna sat pensively in the living room while Cam was on the phone
with Wade in his bedroom.  She hated when Cam spoke to Wade because he was
always sullen for the first few hours afterward.  Riley was working late
that night and told her he probably wouldn’t make it over until Saturday
morning.  It was the first night since she met him that he wouldn’t be
with them and she found she missed him more than she was prepared for.
    Cam came out of his room and handed the phone to
her.
    “Dad wants to talk to you,” he said, then left
her to go back into his room.
    Taking a deep breath and praying to keep her
cool, Jenna raised the phone to her ear.
    “Hello?”
    “Who the hell is Riley?” Wade snapped without
preamble.
    She closed her eyes and counted to ten before
speaking.
    “Hello, Jenna.