Page 63 of Holding Out For A Holiday Hero

“I don’t hate it,” Jake cut through his brother’s words. “I don’t hate it at all.”

Tommy’s stare darted back to True. “Yeah.” Soft. “I guess you don’t, not anymore.” He pulled free of Jake’s grip. “Gonna tell me how you worked this miracle? Because last I knew, you were just giving her stalkery looks when you saw her in the coffee shop.”

Jake glowered. “You can stop oversharing at any point.” Seriously, any point. Jake raked a hand over his face. “True is in danger.”

That news wiped the smile off Tommy’s face. “What?”

“She’s been the victim of several attacks. A dead body was found in her house.”

Tommy managed to shut his gaping mouth. “Are you serious?”

Did it look like he was joking? And why in the world would he ever joke about True’s safety?

“I’ve been out of town—a ski trip with some colleagues to Vail. I had no idea…” Tommy shook his head. “So she’s here because you’re…what, protecting her? I don’t get it. You’re protecting her…with a giant Christmas tree?”

His brother was a pain in his ass. “She’s staying with me because I’m keeping her safe.”

“But you never put up a Christmas tree. Not since you moved out of mom’s place when you were eighteen and you enlisted.”

Tommy was fixated on the tree. “I put one up now.” Or, rather, Perry had technically brought in the tree for him.

“You did it for her. Because she’s…in danger?”

The floor creaked behind him. Jake knew True was closing in. “Because I want her happy. The tree makes her happy, so we have a tree.” It was not a big deal.

Tommy’s eyelids flickered. “Shit. This is gonna be bad, isn’t it?”

Bad? Yeah. If True told him that he needed to get his sorry self out of her life, it would be bad. If she was furious because of what he’d done, it would be bad. And she had to be furious. Talk about your manipulative pricks—that was him.

“We’ll have to start a new tradition, I guess,” Tommy announced after a thoughtful moment. “But that’s cool. Just don’t make me start singing carols. I will kick your ass if you try.”

Tommy couldn’t kick his ass on the best of his brother’s days.

Tommy craned around Jake. “He’s not a bad guy.” Gruff. “Actually, he’s the best guy I know. He paid for my college and law school. Saw more hell on earth than most people can imagine while he was doing his special ops work, but he never shares those nightmares with anyone. He never shares any pain with anyone. He also doesn’t get a lot of joy.”

Why, why did his brother have such a big mouth? Jake didn’t talk enough. Tommy talked too freaking much.

“Can you give him some joy, True?” Tommy asked. “Or are you just here because he’s keeping you safe?”

Wrong question to ask her. Jake unlocked and yanked open the front door. “See you tomorrow, Tommy.”

“I thought it was a fair question. I mean, don’t you want to know?—”

He pushed his brother across the threshold and hauled the door closed behind them. “I’m trying to convince the woman to give me a chance.” Low, meant just for Tommy. Though, considering his confession about why he’d taken her case, that chance had probably been blown to hell and back. “This is important. She is important.”

Tommy nodded. “Important enough for a tree.”

“Stop harping on the tree.”

Tommy rubbed his jaw. “It’s a pretty tree. Little bit lopsided. Could use some lights.” His hand fell. “Maybe I’ll even put one up at my place.” A smile tugged at his lips. “Do you remember that year when I got the football that had been autographed by the University of Georgia quarterback? Thought that was like…the best thing in the world. I was eight and, I swear, I slept with that football for months after Christmas. I took it everywhere. Showed everyone.” An exhale. “Thought Santa had some serious connections in order to get me that ball. He had to be a Georgia fan, right?”

Jake didn’t say a word.

“I still have that football. Guy who signed it went on to be a legend in the NFL. Always thought that was the most amazing present ever.” Tommy turned away. Took two steps. Stopped. “It took me years to realize that you’d given me that football.”

Cold wind blew against Jake’s face. Small snowflakes danced in the air around him.

“How’d you pull it off?” Tommy looked back at him. “How long did you stand in line to get me that autograph?”

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