Free Spicy with a Side of Cranberry Sauce by Rachell Nichole Page B

mouth. He tugged it gently from her lips and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles.
    “What if I mess it all up? What if dinner is terrible? God, I don’t want to ruin this,” she said.
    “Shh.” He pulled her into his arms and sighed. He’d wanted to do that from the moment she walked into his room nearly two hours ago. He rubbed the soft shirt on her back. It was just as smooth beneath his fingers as he’d imagined. “It’s going to be fine. Things are going well in the kitchen. And if you misstep, Mom and I will help get things back on track.” Was she really worried about the meal, or was she using that as an excuse? He didn’t know if he should broach the subject of her mom’s absence. That had to be at the root of her anxiety, right?
    He’d never dealt with that kind of loss, and he didn’t know what to do. Except point out something good about the holiday.
    “Your dad’s doing well. Do you think he’s having a nice time? My mom and her holiday craziness can be a bit much, but sometimes it rubs off on others. And she’s genuine in her holiday cheer. She doesn’t love any time of year more than Halloween through New Year’s.”
    Amy nodded against his chest. “I’m sorry. I am never like this. I don’t…” She looked up. The impact of her soft hazel eyes slammed through him.
    “Cry? Why not?”
    She shook her head. “Because it never does any good.” She sat up straight and pulled back from him, physically and metaphorically.
    “Yeah, but sometimes you just need to cry.”
    “Right,” she said. But he could tell she didn’t believe him. He could practically see the walls coming up around Amy, shutting him out and hardening her vulnerabilities.
    They might not have another chance to really talk before his brother showed up and the holiday craziness exploded, but she seemed so exposed right now. It wasn’t the right time, but he feared they wouldn’t get another shot.
    “Look, Amy, about last night. I know I said it shouldn’t have happened, and honestly it so shouldn’t have. I know better than that. I don’t do so well with the whole, um, sex thing.”
    She laughed. Oh, great. He was really screwing this one up. She wiped the tears and mascara smudges from her face. At least he’d made her laugh instead of cry more.
    “I shouldn’t have kissed you. The first time or the second.”
    “You may have done the initial kissing, but I most definitely got naked first. And I’m glad I did.”
    So was he. But he couldn’t be selfish like this. He couldn’t give her anything more than a few days. His mother would be furious with him when she found out he’d done even that much.
    He wanted to tell Amy they should break it off, but she was dealing with enough. He wouldn’t burden her further by sharing his worries about disappointing his mother. It wouldn’t really be Amy she was upset with anyway, but something told him Amy would take it upon herself to feel responsible.
    She sauntered back into the dining room just as the front door banged open and his brother walked into the foyer. Great, just what he needed. Another family member added to the mix of the most screwed-up holiday he’d ever lived through. He hoped he’d make it to the end of the weekend.

Chapter Eight
    Amy looked back at the list—her lifeline in the midst of a buzzing kitchen. Mason walked through the swinging door with another guy trailing behind him. Martha shrieked and ran across the kitchen, pulling him into her arms. That had to be one of her other sons. Lewis. She could see the family resemblance, and a slice of pain slithered through her. She’d never had that. Someone who looked like her. A brother or a sister to share secrets and childhood silliness with. Her dad stepped closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
    She smiled and squeezed his fingers.
    “How ya doin’?” she asked.
    “Good. Really good. Ames, thank you so much for badgering me into coming down here. I’d forgotten what holidays