“Money. We’ve got lots of money. She likes the house, and she really likes kissing you, so maybe you should step up that part of it. I think she’ll go for it.”
Cole shook his head. “You need to do a little more thinking, Jase. You know we can’t just buy her. Maia isn’t like that. And I don’t have all that much to offer her, but I’m working on it.”
Jase’s face brightened. “You are? I really want her to stay with us, Cole. She makes us feel like we belong.”
“We do belong. Whether or not I can get her to stay, we’re always going to be family.”
“Good morning!” Maia entered the kitchen, her smile wide as she took in the sight of the two brothers eating breakfast. “You’re up before me this morning.”
Cole was not going to allow her to get away with putting distance between them. He’d made it damn clear last night he was making love to her, not having sex. And this wasn’t going to be a one-night stand. Jase might have had the right idea. He needed to step things up.
Cole snagged her around the waist and pulled her into his arms, settling his mouth over hers firmly. Staking a claim as blatantly as he could. His hand curved around the nape of her neck, held her still while his teeth tugged at her lower lip and his tongue teased at the seam until she opened for him. Her body softened, seemed to melt right into his as he kissed her thoroughly. At once he pulled her tight against him, losing himself in her heat, in the rising tide of intense desire she brought with her.
Jase cleared his throat. “See? I told you she likes kissing you. Are you two going to be doing that all the time, because it’s okay with me if you are, just not in the kitchen.”
“Yes,” Cole said decisively.
“No,” Maia assured at the same time. They exchanged a long look. She laughed and rubbed Cole’s jaw. “You’re looking all serious and stubborn this morning, Steele. I was planning on making gingerbread for a gingerbread house and using the gumdrops in the cupboard for trees. No one can be serious when we bake for Christmas.”
“Hey! Those are my gumdrops! I made Cole buy them for me, and I’m not giving them up.”
“We need them for the gingerbread house. It’s part of decorating for Christmas,” Maia explained patiently. “We have to use whatever is available and gumdrops work.”
Jase held up his hand. “We’re not going to eat the gingerbread?”
“No, I’m going to make a really cute house and decorate it with frosting and whatever else I can find.”
He shook his head. “She’s crazy, Cole. You can’t bake bread and not expect us to eat it. You’re going too far, Doc. I can do without the cute house, but the stomach demands food and baked goods.”
“You aren’t getting into the spirit of the season, Jase,” Maia pointed out.
“Yeah, and I’m not going to either if you deny me food.” He stuffed more toast into his mouth. “And stay away from my gumdrops.”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
Cole poured Maia tea from the teapot he had steeping under a small towel. “Before you start baking gingerbread for houses, would you mind going out to the stable and checking out the horses. See if any of them pass on any memories to you.”
Her heart gave a curious flutter. He’d made her tea the exact way she liked it, even adding a small amount of milk. “What are you planning?” She set the teacup on the counter, a slight frown on her face.
There was anxiety in her turquoise eyes. Cole caught her hand, holding it against his side. “It’s no big deal if you can’t find out any more details,” he assured her. “I’m going to shake things up a little regardless and see what happens. I checked, and we’ve got a short window of opportunity. The weather should clear for Christmas Eve.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.” Maia said. “Opportunity for what? And what are you shaking up?” She tightened her fingers around his. “You aren’t going to do anything crazy, are you?”
She looked so afraid for him he bent down to brush the top of her head with a kiss. It was an amazing feeling to have someone worry about him. “I just want you to see if you can give us a little clearer picture, that’s all.”
“Clearer picture of what?” Jase asked, his eyes bright with curiosity.
Maia expected Cole to hedge, but he didn’t. He let go of Maia, to sit across the table from the boy. She picked up her tea and followed.
“I’m beginning to think all these accidents, with the horse, with you, Maia and the ice, even the old man’s murder, are all connected. We promised one another we’d be honest. You’re not a baby, and I don’t intend to hide anything from you. I may be completely off base, but if I’m not, we have a problem on our hands.”
Jase went very still. “You think it’s Al?”