27. Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Evie

"I love that sweater, Evie!" Jessica smiles as she looks at me through the phone. "You look gorgeous. Jamie's going to have a hard time keeping his hands to himself."

"You know this is your brother we're talking about, right?" I chuckle.

"So, did Jamie tell you where he's taking you yet?" My brother asks casually, changing the direction of the conversation. I can tell it's killing him that Jamie hasn't told him what we're doing.

The two of them stare at me desperately trying to learn where Jamie and I are going. Sometimes I can't get over how alike they can be and the intense looks on their faces has me smirking at their frustration.

"He did tell you!" Jessica shouts.

"Where?" Sean finishes.

A laugh bubbles up at the two of them. "He didn't tell me. He just told me to make sure I dress warm and to wear extra layers."

"Dress warm?" Sean raises an eyebrow and taps a finger on his lips. "Is he taking you somewhere outside?"

"I don't know." I raise a hand and laugh. "He didn't tell me yet!"

"This is so not fair—"

The doorbell chimes in the middle of his sentence.

"He's here, gotta go."

"Evie, don't hang up yet. Let us hear—" I cut Jessica off as I hit the end call button.

My heart starts to pound, and I take a deep breath. I rub my hands down my pants and wonder if I'm dressed warm enough for tonight as I make my way to the door.

I open the door, and the words I'm about to say freeze on my lips. Jamie is standing in front of me, looking so handsome that my heart stops at the sight of him. He's holding a small bouquet of primrose with a few holly berries sprinkled throughout.

My lips lift at the corner, and I look up to meet his gaze only to have my heart stop all over again. His hazel eyes are filled with warmth as he takes me in.

"How many pairs of socks are you wearing?"

His question has me narrowing my eyes.

"How many pairs of socks am I wearing?" I repeat.

He lets out a small laugh. "Yes."

I shake my head, confused, as he hands the to me. "You might want to grab an extra pair, just in case."

"I have multiple layers on already." I take the flowers from him in a complete stupor and turn to do as he says. I hear him step into the foyer and close the door behind him.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" I throw over my shoulder as I head into my bedroom to grab an extra pair of socks. The curiosity isn't only killing Sean and Jess.

"You'll find out soon enough." He chuckles. I can hear his phone ring just as I'm shutting the dresser drawer. "How many times have Sean and Jessica called you today?"

"Too many." I laugh. "I'm not sure I've ever seen either one of them so determined to find out what's going on."

I walk back into the living room just as he's sliding his phone into his pocket and realize that I'm still holding the flowers. "Let me put these in some water."

I turn to head to the kitchen but before I take one step forward I feel Jamie grabbing my arm and spinning me around.

He cups my cheek with his hand, and I meet his gaze. My breath catches, and my knees buckle at the warmth in his eyes as they roam my face before stopping on my lips.

"I believe I forgot something when I first got here." I feel his other hand slide across my back, pulling me flush against him.

"Oh?" I ask breathlessly.

His smile widens as he nods his head. "Yup."

He lowers his lips to mine and kisses me so sweetly. A sigh escapes me, and he chuckles.

"You look beautiful," he whispers against my lips.

"So do you," I reply. I can feel his laugh against my lips. "Handsome. I mean. You look handsome."

"I'll take beautiful." He chuckles again just as he presses his lips to mine for a quick peck. "Do you want to put those flowers in water before you crush them?"

"Oh." I look down at my hand. "I forgot I was still holding them. If someone hadn't distracted me, they would've already been in water."

A smile lights his face, and he removes his hand from my face just as his other hand slides off my back. I miss his touch immediately but head into the kitchen. I can feel his eyes on me as I grab a vase and start to fill it with water. "These flowers are perfect. What are they?"

"Just primrose and holly."

"Thank you." I look at him and smile as I drop the flowers into the vase and place it on the table. "I love them."

"I'm glad." I look up to meet his gaze. "Sooo are you going to tell me where we're going?"

His eyes take on a mischievous glint, and he shakes his head back and forth. "Let me grab your coat. We need to get moving."

"Jamie." He holds my coat out for me, and I stick one arm in at a time. "Are you really not going to tell me where we're going?" I rest my hands on his chest and look through my lashes up at him.

He rests his hands on my arms, smiles so very sweetly, and kisses the top of my head. "Nope." he pops the ‘p'. "Got everything you need before we leave?"

I nod.

"Good." With that, he heads out my front door and walks to his car, leaving me with my mouth hanging open.

Guess this really is a surprise.

When we turn on to Highway 120, near Yosemite, I'm pretty sure I know exactly where he's taking me.

"Snow tubing?" I ask in surprise. "You're taking me snow tubing?"

"Do you remember the last time we came here?" A smile crosses his face as he pulls into the parking lot and parks the car.

"I do. It was the winter before Liam told us he was joining the military."

"And right before Sean starred in Endless Blue, the movie that officially made him a movie star." He chuckles. "We all knew he was going to be famous, but we had no clue how much it was going to affect our lives."

I remember the first time Sean came home after that movie. The entire population of Willow Falls was thrilled to have a movie star in their midst. It took them a full weekend for the thrill to wear off so that Sean could just be Sean.

He loved sharing every minute of it with them, but in the same token it was hard to go from an Average Joe to a super star and I could see the toll it took on him.

"I also remember the time we came here as kids, and the five of us tried to go in one tube." Both my mom and Lenny were screaming at us helplessly as they watched us race down the hill.

"Oh yeah." He nods and chuckles as the memory comes back to him. "I think I ended up with a broken wrist; Sean had a broken leg; you had a sprained ankle while Jessica and Liam somehow managed to stay on the tube."

I shake my head at the memory. "And you thought us coming here tonight was a good idea?" I turn to face him with my arms crossed, and he laughs at me. I narrow my eyes teasingly at him.

"That was a long time ago, and the last time we came, no one got hurt." He looks at me with a crooked grin, and I feel my heart melt a bit. "I thought it would be fun to just let loose and have some fun. What better way to do that than tubing?"

I continue to narrow my eyes at him and do my darnedest to keep a stern look on my face, but I can't. He's practically begging me with his eyes to act like a kid and be silly with him.

How could I say no to that?

"I know how to let loose—" It's his turn to narrow his eyes and tilt his head. "Okay. Okay. Fine. I know how to let loose; I just rarely do."

"I think your brother is rubbing off on me." He cups my cheek and whispers in my ear.

"How so?" I say a bit breathlessly.

"All of his winter-themed holiday agenda stuff." He smiles as he looks out the front windshield of the car toward the hill where the tubing is going on and points. "This is another winter activity."

"I see what you mean." I chuckle and meet his gaze. "But just plain old dinner in a warm room would've definitely been boring."

His eyes widen and he pulls his body away to get a better look at me. "Are you teasing me, Evelyn O'Connell?"

"Me?" I innocently ask, pointing at my chest. "Why would I tease you for taking me tubing? You know how much I absolutely love tubing. And really, who needs to eat in a warm place?"

Before I know what's happening, he closes the gap between us and starts tickling me. I try to escape his fingers, but no matter what I do, I'm unable to get away.

"Uncle. Uncle!" I scream while laughing at the same time. "Please, Jamie, I can't breathe."

His hands stop, and I take a deep breath. A smile so wide that I feel like my cheeks are going to crack spreads across my face. My breathing is still heavy as I continue to catch my breath.

The grin on his face has my heart playing a game of hopscotch in my chest. He lifts his hand to my face and I lean into it. He brings his face so close to mine that I can feel the warmth of his breath on my cheek.

"Ready to go and have some fun?" He asks.

"With you? Always." The gleam in his eyes has my heart clenching. I lean forward and touch my lips to his. I feel him sigh against my lips, and I put a hand behind his head to pull him closer.

When he pulls his head back, he has a mischievous glint in his eye, and before I realize what he intends to do, he tickles me.

"Jamie," I scream and laugh.

His hands immediately freeze, and a smirk lines his lips. He tips his head toward the car door. "Let's go."

I watch him get out of the car and walk around the front of the car before making his way to my door to help me out.

As I wait for him I already know that tonight is going to be perfect. In spite of the fact that my toes will most likely be frozen.