Page 25 of Soldier’s Christmas Crush (Trinity Falls: Home for Christmas #4)

JENSEN

J ensen stood on his own front porch that evening, shovel in hand, looking out at the snowy fields around the house.

The storm was finally letting up, and while snow was definitely still falling, it was coming down gently now, lacy flakes floating down, instead of the relentless onslaught that had been slanting past the windows all day.

Maybe we’ll be dug out by Christmas, Jensen told himself.

If he didn’t have plans to talk to Ransom, it probably wouldn’t have mattered to him so much that he’d try to dig them out before the snow had even finished falling.

As it was, he’d been out here for almost two hours and he’d barely been able to clear a narrow path to his truck and Willow’s car, sweep the snow off them, and shovel enough of the driveway for them to get out.

At least this way when the plow finally came through, he’d only have to clean the snow that had fallen starting now.

He leaned the shovel against the porch railing, then took one last look over the snowy countryside before turning back to the house.

Warm light glowed in the living room windows as the Christmas tree twinkled festively.

He’d stuck his head in earlier to check on Henry, but he and Willow were doing just fine. She had made them a nest under the tree with couch cushions and blankets, and she had been reading picture books with him in there basically since he got up from his afternoon nap.

Thankfully, the cough seemed to have let up almost completely. Henry was still a little low energy, but mostly he was happy. And Jensen could hardly blame him. How could anyone be unhappy when they had Willow’s undivided attention?

He kicked the snow off his boots and slipped in the front door. The whole house smelled incredible, the scent of the tree mixing with the chicken soup they had started in the slow cooker earlier. He left his boots on the mat and hung his coat up on one of the hooks.

Once he was back in the warmth of the house, Jensen realized he was probably a mess. In spite of the cold weather, he’d worked up a real sweat moving all that snow, and he was pretty sure his hair was plastered to his head and he probably smelled awful.

“Hi,” Willow said softly from the nest by the Christmas tree as he entered the room.

The soft lights made her cheeks glow, and the sweet expression on her face told him she didn’t think he looked terrible at all.

“Are you two okay if I take a quick shower?” he asked .

“Of course,” she told him, waving him on. “Take your time. We’re having fun.”

He nodded to her and jogged up the stairs, forcing himself to stop thinking about going straight back down to kiss her.

We have to talk to her brother.

He showered as quickly as he could, then pulled on a fresh pair of jeans and a flannel, again resisting the urge to dress in a way Willow might like.

It’s not a date. We’re snowed in.

On his way back downstairs, he heard Henry laughing.

“Oh, no, ” Willow wailed in mock dismay. “My house.”

“What’s going on down here?” Jensen asked, stepping back into the living room to see that the two of them were now playing with wooden blocks.

“I was building a nice sturdy house,” Willow said sadly. “And then it fell over.”

For some reason, this made Henry start chuckling again.

“Why don’t you give it another try,” Jensen suggested, settling himself in his favorite chair to watch.

“That’s a good idea,” she agreed. “I know this house won’t fall over.”

Henry squealed with delight as he watched her stack up blocks.

When she had a nice tower built, she suddenly looked over at the fireplace.

“Is that Santa?” she asked. “Did I hear Saint Nicholas coming down the chimney? ”

While she was turned away, Henry gleefully knocked over the tower.

“Oh, no,” he said when he was finished, then crammed his fists to his mouth as if maybe she wouldn’t notice that he was giggling that way.

Jensen was amazed and happy to see his boy talking, even if it was only a few words.

“What is it?” Willow asked, turning slowly. “Oh, noooooo. My house. It fell over again.”

Henry melted in giggles, sagging against her in a cozy way that tugged at Jensen’s heartstrings. But that kind of behavior usually meant he was getting sleepy again. It was probably best to get some supper into him before bedtime.

“Something smells good in this house,” Jensen said, pretending to sniff the air. “It makes me hungry as a bear.”

He roared a little, gently, so Henry wouldn’t be scared.

But Henry was laughing helplessly again. He was definitely getting sleepy. They’d be lucky if he didn’t nod off at the table.

“Me too,” Willow decided. “What about you, Henry?”

He nodded his little head, gazing up at her with stars in his eyes.

Yeah, buddy, we’re both lovestruck, aren’t we?

They headed into the kitchen together, and he ladled out soup for everyone. Willow kept Henry on her lap through dinner, and Jensen saw no reason to intervene. They were both enjoying their meal, and if Henry didn’t feel well, it was good for him to be comfortable in her arms .

The meal was peaceful, and they drifted back out to the living room afterward. Henry didn’t make a sound of complaint when Jensen told him they should head up to bed.

Jensen took his time with his son, giving him a warm bath, finding a fresh pair of fuzzy pajamas for him, and then holding him in his arms and singing to him until he was just about asleep before finally lowering him into his crib.

As he straightened up, he realized Willow was standing in the doorway watching him.

The last few weeks, he’d noticed over and over again how capable she was and what an incredible woman she had grown into.

Maybe it was the warm glow of Henry’s nightlight softening her features, or the expression in her eyes that he now recognized as longing, but in that moment, Willow suddenly seemed so young again.

It made him feel guilty to notice her beauty.

And that had nothing to do with her long soft hair and womanly figure, and everything to do with the look in her eyes and the goodness he knew was in her heart, a goodness that seemed to radiate from her, making people smile and feel comfortable wherever she went.

Her eyes widened slightly, as if she realized he’d caught her looking.

“Hey,” he said softly, hoping to stop her from hurrying away.

“Hi,” she whispered back.

He remembered Henry and moved toward the hallway so they wouldn’t disturb him, praying that she wouldn’t run downstairs and break the spell.

But she only backed up to give him space, her big blue eyes watching him as he closed the door.

A moment of silence stretched out between them in the dim hallway, until he swore he could hear his own heart beating in his chest, and see the thrum of her pulse at her neck keeping the same rhythm.

He clenched his hands into fists in an effort not to touch her.

But in his mind he pulled her close, told her that she was all his, forever, and kissed her so thoroughly that she could never forget it.

“I think I’ll turn in early,” she whispered, dragging her eyes from his as if she had read his thoughts. “Good night, Jensen.”

“Thank you,” he whispered brokenly.

She glanced back up at him, warmth in her eyes now.

“It was a wonderful day, wasn’t it?” she asked softly.

“It really was,” he told her.

As he watched her head back to the guest room, he couldn’t help the longing in his chest. And he wondered what his life might be like if this wasn’t just some wonderful dream.

What if every day could be like this one?