She wanted him, too.
Pulling himself out of the pool, he shivered as too-cold temperatures replaced the warmth of the water. Grabbing the large, fluffy towel he’d left on a lounge chair, he dragged it over his wet head to remove the excess water from his hair, then wrapped the terry around his shoulders. He headed up the brick inlaid steps leading to his two-story house, and wasn’t surprised to see his younger sister, Natalie, sitting at the small table in the kitchen nook that overlooked the landscaped backyard. As always, she’d made herself right at home and was reading his newspaper and drinking what he assumed was a mug of the coffee he’d made that morning. She saw him coming up the walkway, smiled gregariously, and waved.
He lifted a hand in greeting, but entered the house by way of a back door that led to one of the downstairs bathrooms, where he took a quick shower, washed his hair, and changed into the sweatshirt and jeans he’d left there earlier. Leaving his hair damp and finger-combed away from his face, he grabbed his socks and sneakers and headed into the kitchen to see his sister.
The unmistakable fragrance of the delicious buttermilk spice muffins his mother made assailed his senses. There was a cloth-lined basket on the table, and judging by the half-eaten muffin on the plate next to his sister, he’d identified the scent accurately.
“Morning, Nat.” Taking one of the chairs across from her, he began pulling on his socks. “I’m glad to see that the house key I gave you for emergencies is coming in handy.”
Unaffected by his wry tone, she set aside the paper he’d read earlier and shrugged. “I knocked, and no one answered. I didn’t expect you to be out in the pool, for God’s sake.” She eyed him dubiously as she petted the fluffy gray ball of fur reclining on her lap. “How you can go swimming in fifty-degree weather and enjoy it is beyond me.”
The pool was one of the things that had appealed to him when he’d bought the house, along with the large whirlpool in his master bath. “I keep the water heated, and it’s invigorating.”
“Whatever rocks your boat.” Green eyes twinkling, she lifted her mug in a toast to him, then took a drink of the coffee.
Finished tying his shoes, he glanced at the clock, noted that he only had a half hour until Jessica arrived, and realized he needed to move his sister along her way. Unfortunately, Natalie was one to do things at her own unhurried pace.
At twenty-seven, she was the baby of the Matthews clan, and five years younger than he. Though he was close to all his sisters, he was especially fond of Natalie, whom he’d formed a special attachment to from the day his mother had brought her home from the hospital and he’d first peered into her bassinet. They were also the only two siblings left who were single and unattached.
“So, what brings you by?” he asked, wanting to get to the crux of her visit—if there was even a reason.
She glanced down at the cat she’d given him six months ago as a gift, so he’d have company in his big house. “I just wanted to make sure that Camelot isn’t wanting for anything, isn’t that right, Cammie?” she crooned, scratching the feline under her chin.
He couldn’t help but grin at her excuse. “And?”
She tipped her head up, and her rich brown hair, permed with soft waves, swirled around her shoulders. “I found her lapping at a bowl of cream, and judging by her very affectionate purrs, I think she adores her master.”
The cat was truly an affectionate pet, very spoiled, and he was just as smitten. “Now that you know Camelot has me wrapped around her paw, what really brings you by?”
She tore a hunk off the crispy top of the baked good, sprinkled with cinnamon sugared walnuts. “Mom wanted me to deliver something to you, along with these delicious muffins she made.” She popped the bite into her mouth and chewed.
“Which you’ve helped yourself to, I can see.” Unable to resist, he took a chunk of her muffin for himself. It all but melted in his mouth.
She licked the sugar from her fingers. “Of course,” she replied unrepentantly. “It’s not as though you have anyone else to share the muffins with.”
He lifted a brow at her direct comment, but didn’t feed the curiosity glimmering in her eyes. “You mind getting to the real reason why you’re here?”
“I’ll give you a hint. “You need to start practicing your ‘ho, ho, hos’ for Christmas Eve.”
Remembering what had transpired last Christmas Eve, he guessed right away. “You brought the Santa suit over?”
“Yep. Mom wanted to make sure you had it beforehand. Christmas is only three weeks away, and I heard Jackie, Jennifer and Alyssa talking about Santa stopping over at Grandma’s again this year. Looks like you started a new tradition.”
He smiled at the mention of his nieces, whom he adored, the three of which belonged to his oldest sister, Courtney, and her husband Dale. He also had two nephews by his other sister, Lindsay, and her husband Clive. The kids ranged in age from two to seven, and all still believed in the magic of St. Nick.
“I’d be happy to play Santa Claus.” He glanced at the clock again, this time more meaningfully. “I hate to rush you off, Nat, but I’ve got company coming over.” He ate the last of her muffin, then stood and started clearing off the table.
Natalie remained seated and continued stroking Camelot, watching as he tossed the newspaper into the trash, and took her mug and plate to the sink. “Hmm, if you’re cleaning, your company must be female.”
He slanted her a tolerant look. “Yes, she is.”
Interest glimmered in her eyes. “Is it serious?”
If Jessica had her way, they’d remain platonic friends. If he had his way, she’d be warming his bed and fulfilling those fantasies that had him tied up in knots. But no matter how much he desired her, he wasn’t about to rush her into something she wasn’t emotionally prepared for. When the time was right, they’d make love. He’d waited a year for her to come around, so he could abstain a while longer, until he swayed her to his way of thinking. But until then, he planned to keep her just as aroused and inflamed as he was with touches and kisses and anything else she’d allow.
He wasn’t sure how to answer his sister’s question, so he kept his reply ambiguous. “I definitely like her.”
“What’s her name?”
“Jessica Newman.” Rinsing the dirty plate and utensils in the sink, he placed them in the dishwasher. “She and I are planning a surprise party for Brooke and Marc on New Year’s Eve, and she’ll be here anytime.”
She ignored his blatant hint to leave. “Are you going to bring her over to Mom and Dad’s for Christmas Eve?”
Drying his hands on a dish towel, he thought of that possibility. Christmas Eve at his parents’ was a fun, cheerful, overnight affair, with baking, a buffet of food to snack on, and his mother playing Christmas music on the baby grand piano his father had bought her years ago for an anniversary present. There was laughter and reminiscing, and before the stroke of midnight they’d all retire to the rooms that they’d grown up in and wake up the next morning to enjoy the delight of watching the younger generation tear through the presents Santa had left for them.
He thought of Jessica, possibly spending the better part of Christmas alone, with her mother living in West Virginia, and Brooke now remarried. Would she accept such a personal invitation when she turned down the simplest of dates?
He’d never taken a woman to the family gathering before, never had the desire or the inclination to share that special time with someone else. Although it wasn’t difficult to imagine Jessica fitting in with his family, he wasn’t certain if he was ready for that leap and what it implied.
“I don’t know if I’ll