Chapter 28
December 25, 2006 - evening
When Kevin and Rachel arrived back at the house, everyone was trying very hard not to stare at them. Brian and Leighanne, in particular, were looking for something to have changed. But it didn't look like anything had. Rachel greeted everyone with a smile, introduced herself to AJ, Amanda, and Denise and to Howie and Rita, and slipped back into the role of hostess with apologies for her lateness. But that was all. Kevin quickly got immersed in conversation with Nick and Brian about upcoming football and basketball games, Aaron and Harrison hanging on their every word.
AJ joined them, his eyes glued to Rachel as she circulated around the room. Kevin looked up and chuckled. "Reel it in, Bone," he whispered. "Amanda's not going to take kindly to your tongue dragging on the floor over anyone but her."
AJ looked at Kevin, his eyes narrowing. "You've spent the last-how many weeks-in this house with her? Four?" He took a deep breath. "Cold shower's working okay, I guess." Kevin laughed lightly. "You're a better man than I, Gunga Din," AJ sighed.
Howie listened to AJ and Kevin's conversation as his eyes followed Rachel around the room. No way to tell for sure, of course, but he'd lay even money that nothing was going on with her and Kevin-at least not yet. But she certainly was beautiful. And Kevin did seem to be in better spirits than Howie could ever remember him being during the holidays, except for the three-year period when he was married to Kristin. And the kids! The change there was incredible. And the best part of it was that there seemed to be a new freer, happier relationship between them and their father. He grinned as he watched Aaron, hanging on the arm of Kevin's chair, listening to the football and basketball talk. And when Jemma approached him with a plate of crackers and cheese, Kevin smiled at her and pulled her onto his lap. This was a whole new Kevin, Howie thought. Fully domesticated-well, he grinned, maybe. He searched the room for Rachel again. She was talking to Rita and Maria. He smiled. She was definitely a good fit with this crowd. Low-key and friendly. He got up and walked over to the ladies.
"Rachel." He grinned at her once he had her attention. "My compliments to the hostess. This is the nicest party Kevin's ever thrown. Obviously, it can't be his doing." Rachel smiled up at him and laughed softly.
The only one who really knew that something was different, was Aaron. He saw his father's eyes following Rachel, just the way they had followed Jemma over the past weeks. But this time there was no cause for jealousy. This time Aaron was happy. And even more so when he saw that Rachel was smiling at Daddy in that special way. She only did it when she thought no one was looking, but that was okay.
* * *
The party was over and Rachel was in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher. She smiled to herself. Kevin had been very well behaved. She'd had a moment of panic when they arrived at the house, that he was going to want to announce their 'trying it on for size'. But he hadn't. He had managed to sneak a couple of quick kisses, but always out of sight of everyone, so she had nothing to complain about.
"Rachel-." His voice was soft and gentle, and she had to take a deep breath before turning around. He was standing in the doorway of the kitchen with two champagne flutes in hand. "Leave that. I want to give you your Christmas present." He started toward her.
"But-I-this needs to be cleaned up-," she began, suddenly nervous.
He stopped in front of her and put a finger on her lips. "I said leave it," he whispered. "That's an order-you still work for me," he teased. He handed her a champagne glass and slid his arm around her waist. "Come on." He guided her down the hallway to the den. There was a fire burning in the fireplace and the Christmas tree lights were on. Rachel walked over to the fireplace.
"Where do you want to sit?" Kevin said with a grin. "Because if you're going to sit on the floor again-." She looked up at him and shook her head as she smiled. He sat down on the sofa and held out his hand to her. She joined him.
He held up his glass and she brought hers together with it. "Merry Christmas, Rachel," he smiled. "Third time's the charm."
She smiled back at him and whispered, "Merry Christmas, Kevin." They sipped the champagne in easy silence. Kevin set his glass on the coffee table in front of them, got up and walked to the Christmas tree. He picked up a small box nestled in the branches and returned to sit with Rachel. "Kevin-you've already given me a Christmas present-two presents in fact."
"Those were from Jemma and Aaron-this is from me," he said softly. "Go ahead-open it."
As she unwrapped the box, Kevin slid his arm along the back of the sofa behind her shoulders. When the paper was off, she looked up at him again. The box in her hand was a jeweler's case. "Kevin-what-?" He just grinned at her and waited. She lifted the lid and whispered, "Oh, Kevin! It's beautiful!"
On a platform of white velvet lay a cameo done in blue and white jasperware, accented with a tiny diamond chip at the neck of the woman in profile. The pendant was attached to a flat black velvet ribbon with a jeweler's clasp. As Rachel lifted it out of the box, she noticed that the cameo was set on a deep back.
"It's a locket," Kevin said in answer to her unspoken question. "Take a look." Rachel found the latch and opened the locket. Inside was a small picture of Kevin, Jemma and Aaron.
"When-?" she gasped. Her eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
"The day of Jemma's play-I got her out of school a little early and picked Aaron up from Tracy's." He was smiling broadly. "So I guess this means that you like it?" All she could do was nod. "Here-let me help you put it on," he said gently.
As he hooked the clasp at the back of her neck, he leaned in and placed a kiss just above the top of the turtleneck. Rachel turned to look at him and as she did, she reached up and unpinned the clip holding her hair in place. Kevin's eyes widened and he reached up to run his fingers through her hair.
"Does this mean what I think it means?" he asked quietly, his eyes locked with hers.
"I don't know-what do you think it means?" Rachel whispered.
"This," Kevin murmured as he pulled her closer. "And this." He bent his head down to kiss her. Rachel pulled back slightly. He looked into her eyes and smiled. "No rough stuff-I promise. I'm just glad you forgave me for that." His fingers traced the curve of Rachel's cheek and brushed lightly over her lips. Now that he was at this point, he wanted to make it last as long as possible. The anticipation that had been killing him during the party was now something that he wanted to prolong. His arm around her shoulders held her close and he used his free hand to do something that he'd never done before-never taken the time for. This tactile exploration of her face was driving her as crazy as it was him. He could see it in her eyes. He didn't try to kiss her again. Just let his fingers roam and memorize every curve and surface and line from her forehead to her chin and back beneath her ears and free-falling hair. His eyes never left hers as his fingers caressed. Her breathing was deeper now, matching his own, but she made no move either to stop him or urge him on. And then she licked her lips and bit down on the lower lip. Kevin took a deep shuddering breath and, gripping the back of her head, pulled her in to meet his lips.
They came together gently, but it was as if an electric current had been zapped through her body. Rachel gasped and as her mouth opened, Kevin's tongue licked her lips and grazed over her teeth in search of her tongue. He teased her, his tongue touching and withdrawing, forcing her to seek his. Her hands roamed his chest and up onto his shoulders. As her fingers combed through his hair, he groaned and gave up his game. He tightened his embrace and she came willingly to him. Lips melted together and sweet fire exploded in Rachel's brain. There was no way to deny the tension that had been building up for weeks. He was touching, tasting, claiming her. His mouth on hers was all she wanted-and all she could endure.
Kevin nearly lost it when Rachel began to respond to him. He had thought he was holding her as close as it was possible to hold her. He was wrong. As his thumb began to draw sensuous circles over her spine at the small of her back, she whimpered and arched toward him as her tongue probed into his mouth. He could feel the heat of her body through her clothes and his. He broke away from her mouth. "Oh my G-d, Rachel!" he moaned. "You're driving me crazy!" He looked down into her eyes and read the answering passion pooled there. "We have to stop or I'm going to break every promise I made to you today." He smiled. "I wouldn't mind-but I think you would."
"So much for protecting myself," Rachel laughed softly and shakily.
"So much for not knowing how we feel about each other," Kevin grinned.
She looked up at him with a slow smile, and his heart raced. "Stop that," he whispered. "Or I'm going to assume that you didn't mean a word you said in the car." Their eyes locked and the moment stretched. "Did you?" he breathed.
Rachel took a deep breath and pulled away from him slightly. "Yes-I did mean it," she replied slowly. "All of it. Including the part about having feelings for you. But just because those feelings are in focus now, it doesn't mean that we can ignore the rest of it." She looked down and fingered the locket around her neck. "I still need to know that you're sure. And that can't happen until you finish with Kristin."
"So I'm just supposed to pretend that tonight didn't happen and keep away from you until-when?" he frowned.
She took his hands in hers. "No, Kevin," she said gently. "I'm not fool enough to imagine that you're going to be willing to do anything like that. But I think we both have to recognize that tonight was flood tide after holding everything in for so long." She smiled and arched an eyebrow, holding his gaze long enough to get him to smile in return. "We've got to learn to pace ourselves a little," she chuckled.
Kevin grinned and shook his head. "Okay-I guess. In that case, I think it's time that you and I went to our separate bedrooms-before I try to convince you otherwise. Come on," he said softly as he stood up and offered her his hand. He slipped his arm around her waist as they headed toward the door. Rachel looked up at him and suddenly started to laugh. "What-?" he asked. She pointed above his head and he looked up. There was the mistletoe, hung carefully above the middle of the doorway. "Where the hell did that come from?" He chuckled. "See? I told you there didn't have to be mistletoe," he grinned. "But sometimes-a little insurance doesn't hurt." He pulled her gently into his arms and tipped her face up to his. There was no electricity this time-no fire. Just a tender kiss and they continued on up the stairs.
When they reached the upper floor, Kevin included Rachel in his routine check of the children's rooms. They looked in on Jemma and then checked on Aaron. Both were asleep and Kevin kissed each of them before leaving their rooms. Rachel settled Aaron's quilt around him more securely before she stepped out of the room. She didn't see him turn over.
In the hallway, Rachel turned to her door and was about to walk into her room when Kevin stopped her. "What? No goodnight kiss?" he grinned.
She chuckled softly. "You didn't get enough downstairs?"
He pulled her close and raised his eyebrows. "What do you think?" he murmured as his lips came down on hers. "Goodnight, Rachel," he whispered as they broke apart. "Sweet dreams, honey."
"Goodnight Kev." Rachel went into her room and gently closed the door. Kevin stood staring at it for a moment and then with a smile, headed for his own room.
Down the hallway, Aaron grinned in the darkness and rolled over as he drifted back to sleep.
Chapter 29
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