Page 30 of Christmas Homecoming Secrets

From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Bryce moving toward her.

Time slowed as Heather turned, lifted the weapon and aimed it at Jade.

Jade froze, her senses on hyperalert. Movement to her left.

A blur flashed in front of her, then slammed into her.

She registered the crack of the gun in Heather’s hand as the air in her lungs whooshed out.

Another pop from behind her and Heather went down screaming and holding her left shoulder.

“Stay down! Stay down!” Tom’s harsh order reached her.

From underneath the heavy body on top of hers, Jade could see Tom approaching, his weapon still aimed at Heather.

With Tom covering Heather, Jade scrambled out from beneath the crushing weight, heart pounding, blood rushing in her veins. “Bryce!”

He coughed and groaned. Jade ran her hands over him, looking for the bullet wound. His hand covered hers. “Got the vest,” he wheezed.

Jade jumped to her feet to see Heather going after the weapon she’d dropped.

“I said stay down!” Tom stopped his approach, and Jade knew she had only a millisecond to act.

She threw herself between Heather and Tom’s gun. “Don’t shoot her!” Then lunged and punched the woman in her wounded shoulder.

Heather screeched and went down. Jade grabbed the weapon and tossed it out of reach, then flipped Heather on her stomach.

Tom hurried to her side and clapped the handcuffs around Heather’s wrists. Jade looked up at him. “Thank you.”

He glared. “I understood something was wrong when you said cousin . That was smart. However, getting between Heather and me was just plain stupid. I almost shot you.”

“I know, but I couldn’t let you do it.”

His frown deepened, but his eyes flashed understanding. “Ambulance is on the way.”

“Good. I’m going to check on Bryce.” She scrambled back to him to find him breathing and staring at the sky. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just trying to catch my breath.”

She dropped her head to his shoulder. “How’d you know to honk the horn?”

“The way Heather was walking with you. I knew she had a gun on you.”

“You saved my life.”

His arm stole around her. “I had to. Because I can’t imagine living without you. Or even Mia now. Tell me you’ll give me a chance to be the kind of father she deserves. I’ll do my best to be worthy of her.”

Jade kissed him. Hard and swift and with all of the love her heart held for him. “There’s nothing I want more. I love you, Bryce.”

He hugged her tight. “I don’t deserve you,” he whispered.

Paramedics descended, and Jade waved them away still lying across Bryce’s chest. “Check Heather first.”

“We’ve got paramedics on her. Heard your hero here took a bullet.”

“To the vest,” Jade said.

“Ma’am, let us check him out, please.”

Bryce gripped her fingers. “We’re not done discussing things,” he said softly.

“Okay.”

She moved away, her heart full for the moment. Bryce hadn’t said he loved her, but it had been in his eyes. She turned her attention to Heather who lay handcuffed to the gurney.

Just that fast, her emotion flipped into despair. Anger. Betrayal. The paramedics wheeled their patient toward the ambulance while two officers followed. One would ride in the back with her and the EMT.

Heather met her gaze for a brief moment, then looked away. Jade let out a slow breath and turned to find Bryce next to her. He placed an arm across her shoulders and kissed her temple. “It’s over,” he said. “She killed Frank, didn’t she?”

“Yes.”

“And she was behind all the attempts on your life?”

“She was.”

“I read some of Frank’s journal,” he said, “and I’ll be honest, based on what he wrote, I think Heather needs help more than prison.”

“We’ll make sure she gets the mental health services, but I don’t think there’s anything we can do to keep her out of prison.”

“Probably not.”

“What about you? Are you all right?”

“I’ve been cleared. Bruised, but not broken.”

“You threw yourself in front of that bullet she meant for me,” Jade said, her voice thick.

“And I’d do it all over again as long as it meant keeping you safe.”

He wanted to be a father to Mia and he’d taken a bullet for Jade. She was pretty sure that meant he loved her. The question was, would he admit it?

* * *

Even through all of the chaos and the interruptions, Bryce still heard Jade’s voice ringing in his mind.

“I love you, Bryce,” she’d said. Four words that had thrilled him and scared him to death all at the same time.

He was willing to admit he loved her, too, and little Mia had already wormed her way into his heart.

In spite of his yearning to be her father, the doubts about his ability to be the kind of father she needed wanted to cripple him.

Jade squeezed his hand, and he returned the pressure. “Let’s go,” he said.

“Where?”

“Someplace peaceful where we can talk without interruptions.”

She smiled. “I know just the place. Let me call Mom and Dad and tell them they can come home. Then we can go.”

Two hours later, after promising to give their statements in the morning, Bryce rode Caesar, a beautiful paint with a sweet temperament, and followed Jade to the top of the hill on her parents’ property.

When she pulled her horse to a stop, he did the same and took in the view.

A manmade lake at the bottom of the hill rippled in the wind.

Snow covered the rest of the area, but he could almost picture how it would look in the spring.

Rolling green meadows, blue skies, wildflowers and trees. “Wow.”

“I know. This is the most peaceful place on earth, I do believe.”

“I won’t argue that.” He dismounted, then helped her down even though she didn’t need his assistance. He turned her to face him. “Jade, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. A lot.”

“Uh-oh.”

A slight smile pulled at the corners of his lips. “I know I come with a lot of baggage. Some days, I’ll admit, I don’t even feel like a complete man because of my leg.”

A gasp slipped from her. “I hope you know that’s not true.”

“I do. Mentally. But sometimes my self-pity outweighs my common sense. I can be moody and snarky when that happens.” He swallowed and looked away. “I don’t know if you understand what that entails.”

“I think I have a pretty good idea. I can be that way myself. Everyone can. Life isn’t all about smiles and good times—although it’s necessary to have those. But it’s also knowing you can count on the people you’re doing life with, you know?”

He nodded, then pulled her close to kiss her. A sweet, cherished melding of lips and hearts. After a moment, he lifted his head. “I love you, Jade. With everything in me. I think it’s only fair that you know that.”

“Why do I hear a but in there?”

“Only a faint one. I don’t want to live my life in fear—or regret not taking chances. I don’t want to look back in twenty years wishing I’d done something different. I want a life with you and Mia. I know my PTSD worries you, but if you can bring yourself to trust me—”

She pressed cold fingers to his lips. “I trust you. I trust you with my life. The one you saved not too long ago.” A shudder rippled through her at the thought, and he hugged her close, relishing her nearness. A little surprised she wasn’t pushing him away. “So, can we tell Mia?”

“As soon as they get home.” She glanced at her phone. “Which will be any minute now.”

They rode the horses back to the house, and Bryce saw the Harrises’ vehicle in the drive. His heart pounded, and anticipation made his hands sweat in spite of the chilly weather.

Mia must have been watching for them, because she burst from the door in an all-out run, launching herself at Jade as soon as her feet were on the ground. “Mama, we’re back!”

“I see that.”

Mia turned to Bryce. “I’m glad you’re here, too.”

Bryce could only stare. This beautiful little girl was his.

“Bryce?” Jade asked. “You okay?”

He cleared his throat. “Yeah. I’m okay.”

Jade smiled. “Let’s go in the barn and have a chat.”

“Mr. Bryce, too?”

“Yeah,” Jade said, “Mr. Bryce, too.”

Once in the barn, Jade and Bryce tied up their horses and quickly pulled the tack from them, then sent them out into the pasture.

Jade pulled Mia into her arms and kissed her forehead.

Bryce decided he’d never tire of watching the two of them together.

The three of them sat on the large hay bales overlooking the land.

“Mia,” Jade said, “you know how you’ve asked me about your daddy and how you wanted to meet him?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well, what would you say if I told you Mr. Bryce was your daddy?”

Mia’s eyes went round and she turned her gaze on Bryce. “You’re my daddy?”

“I am.”

Mia wiggled out of Jade’s arms and turned to stand in front of him. “Are you really and truly?”

“Really and truly.” Bryce couldn’t help the huskiness in his voice.

“Are you going to be here for Christmas?”

He lifted his gaze and locked it on Jade’s. “I’m planning on it.”

“Cool.” She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “Will you take me fishing?”

Bryce let out a laugh. “Fishing? Sure.”

“And will you put the squirmy worm on the hook?”

“Absolutely.”

She grinned. “You’re a real daddy. Real daddies put the gross worm on the hook for their little girls.”

Bryce wasn’t sure whether to laugh or not. He caught Jade’s gaze once more and saw tears standing in her eyes. As well as a good dose of humor. She smiled and swiped a stray tear. Bryce held his arms out to Mia, and she let him pick her up. “I’ll bait any hook you want, kiddo.”

She kissed his cheek. “I’m glad you’re my daddy.”

“I am, too, Mia.”

And then he couldn’t speak as his emotions threatened to overwhelm him, but Jade slipped a shoulder under his arm, and he held her close while dropping a kiss on Mia’s head.

Finally, he managed to push words past his tight throat. “I thought I knew what I wanted and what I didn’t want, Jade. The truth is, I had no idea what I really wanted until you told me Mia was mine.”

“And this is what you wanted?”

“This is exactly what I wanted. And I’m beyond blessed to have it.” He kissed her while Mia giggled. “I just have one thing left to say.”

“What’s that?”

“I love you.”