Page 59 of Christmas at Hart's Ridge

“Okay. How about—”

“Princess!”

We jumped apart at the sound of Ethan’s voice booming down the hallway.

“You were gorgeous, and all those little kids—” He halted, his eyes narrowing at us. AtLuke. “Why is her lipstick on your mouth?”

To his credit, Luke didn’t even try to deny the truth. “Because I kissed her,” he said simply.

Our friends had formed a half-circle around us, blocking curious bystanders from getting the latest gossip. A quick glance at their faces told me Luke and I hadn’t been as discreet as I had thought. Not a single one of them looked surprised. Eli and Max exchanged smirks. Emma, Nora, and Kate looked concerned, but amused. Jasmine was shaking her head, like she couldn’t believe I had been this careless.

Ethan, however, looked downright shocked.

Not just shocked.

Pissed.

No way was I going to let Luke take the fall like that. I linked my fingers with his. “Ikissedhim, actually.”

“Stay out of this, Bethany,” Ethan snapped. “This doesn’t concern you.”

My temper flared. “Considering it wasmymouth doing the kissing, it absolutely does concern me,” I snapped right back at him.

“Red,” Luke said quietly.

He gave me a look that spoke volumes. He squeezed my hand and I understood. Ethan wasn’t mad because at me for kissing his brother. He was mad at his brother for kissing his best friend. I squeezed back, silently agreeing that he could do the talking.

“Listen, Ethan, I know you’re mad, but watch your tone when you’re talking to her. Say what you want to me. I’m the one you’re mad at. Don’t take it out on her.”

“You’re damn right you’re the one I’m mad at. What the hell were you thinking, messing around with Bethany? She’s not someone you can throw away when you’re done with her.”

I gasped like he had slapped me. Who said anything about throwing me away?

“Take a breath, Ethan,” Eli said, ever the voice of calm. Normally Eli had a way of cooling the hottest tempers. As the one and only full-time police officer of Hart’s Ridge, he’d had a lot of practice.

But Ethan was past listening. He stalked toward us. Max reached for him, but he wasn’t fast enough. Luke stepped in front of me, but all that did was give Ethan a clear target. His fist connected with Luke’s jaw. Luke’s head flew back. He stumbled, taking care not to knock into me, and recovered quickly.

“Ethan!” I yelled, furious. But after one ferocious glare, I turned my attention to Luke. “Are you okay? Don’t—” I broke off, afraid I would cry if I said anything else.

My lower lip trembled at the thought of Luke and Ethan brawling—in front of all these children, for heaven’s sake. In front of myparents, who were watching all this with mouths agape. And there was no doubt in my mind that Luke could flatten Ethan, if he so chose. I couldn’t bear that, even if right now he was being a royal asshole.

“I won’t, baby. Of course I won’t.” The look he gave me was so sweet, so tender, that I believed him. He touched his jaw, winced, and shot Ethan an aggrieved look. “Feel better now?”

“I’ll feel better when you get your dirty fucking hands off her.”

“Not going to happen,” Luke said calmly.

“You—”

“Enough!” Jasmine said in the voice she usually reserved for breaking up bar fights. It got both their attention. “Luke, Ethan, outside.Now.” Ethan started to protest and she gave him a look that would have made me pee my pants if it had been leveled at me. “Did I stutter?”

“No,” he muttered.

“Good. Wait for me by my car. Both of you.” They shuffled off, Luke giving me a quick kiss on the forehead on his way out. She turned to me. “Bethany, darling. You were lovely tonight. I hope we do it again next year. Minus…you know.” She waved a hand to where Luke and Ethan had disappeared.

“Um, yeah.” I cleared my throat. “Thanks.”

She squeezed my hand. “Give them both the night. Talk to them tomorrow, okay? They need to have a conversation. As brothers.”

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