Page 27 of Soldier’s Christmas Crush (Trinity Falls: Home for Christmas #4)

WILLOW

W illow held Henry close, barely able to breathe as Jensen’s words echoed in her mind.

I love her.

Could it be true?

She knew he had feelings for her. That much had become pretty obvious. But this was much more than just a casual crush.

Ransom’s movement distracted her momentarily. He set the coffee and food on the table by the sofa, and Willow repressed a shiver at the idea that he was only doing it to free up his hands.

Please don’t let them fight. Not in front of Henry.

She briefly considered taking him upstairs, but she would have to go past both men to do that, and she worried that might escalate things.

“You’re not in love with her,” Ransom said, his voice hard as flint. “My baby sister is a sweet, innocent girl. She’s just an easy conquest before you get back to your cursed life.”

Jensen’s face fell and she realized that her brother couldn’t have said anything more cruel.

“Do you really think that about your best friend?” she heard herself ask before Jensen had a chance to say anything. “That he somehow deserves the stuff that’s happened to him? That he’s a horrible womanizer? Or is it just that you think I’m still a little kid?”

Ransom turned to face her, a look of surprise on his face, as if he couldn’t imagine she would have anything to say in the matter.

Jensen moved to her and put his hands out, offering to take Henry.

She was glad when the little one went right to his daddy, allowing her to stand up and talk with her brother face-to-face.

“I’m not an idiot, Ransom,” she went on.

“I noticed that you felt the Army was a fine choice for yourself and for Jensen, but you thought it was too dangerous for me. And I know that Jensen Webb was always the most important person in your world, and you trusted him with your life, but now you think he’s too dangerous for me too? ”

Ransom shook his head like he was going to try to argue.

“Is that what you really think of me?” she demanded as calmly as she could. “That I’ll always be a helpless little girl?”

Ransom opened his mouth, but she didn’t let him answer .

“I loved that you protected me when I was actually a little kid and needed protecting, Ransom,” she told him truthfully. “You were the best big brother ever. I was so lucky to have a man like you in my life. But I grew up a long time ago. It’s time for you to accept it.”

“Willow,” he said softly, lowering his head, as if in defeat.

She felt all her love for her brother come rushing back to her, like the tide dancing back to the beach.

“I’m so sorry you had to find out this way,” she said. “We should have talked to you sooner. I think we were both afraid of how you would react. And I think you can see why.”

He nodded, still not looking at her.

“But if you tell me that us being together would hurt you, I won’t do it,” she said quietly. “Neither of us would ever do something to hurt you.”

He glanced up at her and she saw a flicker of hope in his eyes.

“I’ve been telling myself that I wouldn’t let myself fall in love with him because of everything you’ve been going through, Ransom,” she said softly.

“I didn’t want to make your life any harder, and I didn’t want to isolate you from him or from me.

But I’ve got to be honest with you. I don’t feel sorry for you.

And I don’t think you’re helpless. You’re my big brother, and I know you’re strong and smart and a wonderful father.

I believe in you, Ransom. What would it take for you to have a little faith in me? ”

Ransom’s face dropped back to the floor, and she knew she had her answer, even if it wasn’t the one she wanted .

Tears burned her eyes then and she ran upstairs, knowing that there was nothing else she could say or do, and not wanting Henry to see her cry.