Page 2 of All He Wants

I rolled my eyes even as I blushed. My fair skin was prone to going pink easily, and the combination of the cold and Nick’s words undoubtedly had my face flaming.

He grinned, leaning close and kissing one warm cheek just as the door flew open and a young woman squealed when she saw us.

“Finally! They’re here!”

I was caught immediately into a hug that smelled like cinnamon and I squeezed the unknown woman back before she moved on to hug Nick too.

He laughed over her shoulder at whatever expression was on my face. “Ember, this is Harper, my cousin. Harper, meet my girlfriend, Ember.”

Their hug ended and Harper darted down to grab the bags at Nick’s feet just as an older woman appeared by the door, her brown eyes crinkling at the corners when she laid eyes on us.

“Harper Hart, where are your manners? You could at least have let them in the door first.” We laughed as the door closed behind us and the warmth of the house slipped over me comfortably. The bags hit the rug with a muffled thump and I barely resisted the urge to ogle the tall ceilings and intricate floral wallpapered walls that surrounded us. “It’s so good to meet you, Ember. We’ve heard wonderful things.”

I was surprised when the older woman, who I had to assume was Nick’s mom, also wrapped me in a warm hug. Who knew Nick’s family would be huggers? Then again…

“Ember! Nick!” The deep voice was off-set by the eagerness in it and Oakley walked into view from a room off of the large entrance hall. He slapped his brother on the back enthusiastically before offering me a much gentler hug, like I was made of spun-glass. “Good to see you,” he said, voice softer as he let me go and I smiled, inhaling his familiar clean scent.

“You too. Thank you so much for having me.” I directed the last to his mom and she waved off my thanks.

“Of course! Nick said you’d be spending the holidays alone and we couldn’t have that.”

Nick stood off to one side, watching his family embrace me with a pleased look on his face that made me smile. “Ember, I’d like to formally introduce you to my mother, Rachel, and I’m pretty sure that’s my dad walking over to us now.”

I turned to look where Nick gestured and smiled at the man who approached. He looked like an older, stockier version of Oakley and Nick, with silver threading through his otherwise dark hair, his roots edged in grey, and fine lines giving him a distinguished appearance. I offered my hand and nearly had it crushed when I was instead tugged into a short but enthusiastic embrace.

“Lyndall,” he said a moment later when I was relinquished. “But everyone calls me Lyn.”

“You have a lovely home.”

“Thank you,” Nick’s mom beamed. “Leave the bags where they are, Jensen will get them for you. And are those for the tree?” She gestured at the shiny boxes full of cookies and I hesitated before shaking my head.

“No, they were just a little something to say thank you for having me. Some Christmas cookies. There’s a box for each of you.” I winced and looked at Harper. “Except you, Harper. I’m sorry, Nick didn’t tell me you would be here.”

“That’s okay, it was a surprise.”

Oakley slung an arm around Harper’s shoulders as he accepted the box I passed him, our fingers touching briefly. “She can share with me.”

“Dinner won’t be ready for a while,” Rachel called back as she led us through the grand entryway and into a smaller, less formal kitchen set-up. “So I thought perhaps a hot drink in the meantime?”

We all murmured our assent and Nick threaded his fingers through mine as we took a seat at the breakfast bar while his mom flitted around making tea, coffee, and a hot chocolate each for Oakley and me.

There was no real cooking apparatus in the kitchen, like it was more for show than anything else, and I wondered where the real kitchen was and who was cooking our dinner. The Hart’s had staff and it was freaking me out.

Once we were all settled with our drinks in hand, Nick’s mom opened the box of round cookies I’d given to her and Lyn and bit into one, the snap pleasing me. They were a damn good batch.

While Rachel ate hers delicately, Lyn dunked his immediately into his coffee and swirled it around before cramming the whole thing into his mouth in one go.

“That’s the only way to eat ‘em,” he said a moment later around his mouthful of baked goods.

“They’re stunning, Ember. Thank you.” Rachel beamed and I could feel a blush climbing my cheeks again.

“You’re w-welome,” I stuttered and then busied myself with a gulp of hot chocolate, burning my mouth a little in the process.

Soft chatter broke out and I felt myself relaxing little by little until the conversation turned to me.

“So Ember, what is it that you do?”

I smiled at Rachel. Now this was one area I didn’t mind talking about, in fact I was used to being my own advocate. “I run an independent bookstore.”