He shoved his hands through his hair in sudden agitation. He didn’t even know what a home was. Who was he kidding? He was beginning to sweat just thinking about night coming. They’d arisen late after staying up taking care of the horse, and now the afternoon was waning. He glanced out the window. The snow was coming down endlessly, large flakes that held them prisoner at the ranch. He hated the place. How could bringing in a tree and hanging a few ornaments change that?
Maia set the ornaments back in the box. “After dinner we should build a fire,” she said, indicating the huge stone fireplace that was a showpiece along the center of one wall.
Jase drew in his breath audibly, his shoulders stiffening and his face paling.
Cole stood up. “I don’t think there’s ever been a fire in the fireplace.” He reached down and with his casual strength, pulled her up. He drew her body close to his, bending over her to examine the back of her head. “You have quite a bump there.”
“And a headache, but it will go away.” She knew better than to look up at him with his face so close to hers, but the temptation was too much. Her gaze met his. His eyes had once again darkened. She put her hand on his chest to keep a few inches between her and the heat of his body. Just for protection. If she knew any incantations for self-defense, she would have been chanting them. “What’s the use of having a fireplace if you never light a fire?”
Cole exchanged a long look with Jase, even as his hand came up to capture Maia’s. To press her palm tighter against his heart. “Good question.”
“You think we should try to light a fire?” Jase was breathing too fast, almost gasping for air. He actually looked scared, searching the living room as if someone might have heard them talking.
“Calm down,” Cole said gently. “You’re starting to wheeze. He’s dead, Jase. Keep telling yourself that. This is our house now, and we can have a damned fire in the fireplace if we want to have one.” He allowed Maia escape him. “You’re right. We have a ghost in the house, and I want him gone.”
Jase slowed his breathing, following Cole’s direction until the wheezing was gone. “All right, we’ll light the fire.”
Maia followed them into the kitchen. Cole swept his arm briefly around Jase’s shoulders. It was momentary, but he’d done it obviously without thinking about it and that pleased her. “I’m sorry if I’m stepping on everyone here,” she said. “I’m not trying to push anything on the two of you. You’re both obviously uncomfortable with having a fire. We don’t need one. Please don’t change everything for me. It’s your home, do whatever makes you comfortable.”
“Our father liked to brand things,” Cole said. “Including people.”
Maia winced at the grim tone. She stared in horror first at Cole, then Jase. “No way.” She felt sick, actually sick.
The brothers nodded.
How did anyone survive such a childhood? Who was she to tell them how to get over it? Horrified at the things she’d said to Cole, she gripped the back of a chair, her knuckles white. “Please don’t feel like you have to celebrate Christmas for me. Is that what you’re doing?”
Jase shook his head adamantly. “No, I want to celebrate it for my mother. I thought a lot about what you said. She loved this house. He wouldn’t let her have any of the things she wanted in it, but she would tell me what she’d put in spots if she had her way. She wanted cream-colored drapes in the library. She said they’d look great with the wood.”
“Cream-colored drapes? I guess we’re going to change the drapes.” Cole raised his eyebrows at Maia. “You know anything about drapes?”
She laughed just like he knew she would. “Don’t panic. We’re grown-up. We can figure out how to fit drapes.” Maia didn’t feel like laughing, but Cole was trying to bring back levity for Jase’s sake, and she was more than willing to help him.
Cole knew he could get used to the way the house felt with her in it. Jase set the table, and Cole pulled a chair around for Maia. “Sit down. You’re looking a little pale. I’ll see to the horse tonight. Maybe you should have let me put a couple of stitches in that cut on your head.”
“I don’t think so.” She glared at him. “You come near me with a needle, and you’ll find out how mean I can be.”
Jase snorted. “You’re a baby, Doc.”
“Oh, like you’d let him sew up your head! I’d wind up looking like Frankenstein’s mother.”
Jase grinned at Cole. “She’d make a great monster, don’t you think?”
“Great, just like the The Nightmare Before Christmas. I’m Sally.”
Jase and Cole exchanged a puzzled look. Both shrugged, nearly at exactly the same moment.
Maia groaned. “Don’t tell me you’re both so deprived you never saw that movie? Good grief. Live a little. Rent it. I’ll even spring for it.”
“Yeah, she says that now with the snow coming down, but once the roads are clear, she’s going to renege,” Cole said. “Eat your steak.”
“I don’t eat meat, but the salad’s wonderful,” Maia said politely.
Jase took one look at Cole’s face and burst out laughing. “I wish I had a camera.”
“And why don’t you eat meat?”
Maia made a face at him. “I told you why.”