by D'Ann Lindun
“Well, you’ll always have me.” Amity hugged her.
“R.J. won’t want me hanging around every holiday.” Noelle voiced her fears, that as soon as Amity got married and started having kids she’d forget about her, and then she’d have no one.
“What?” Amity pushed her back to stare into her teary eyes. “Are you kidding? He’d love it, and so would Nick. They didn’t have a mom growing up, and consequently, not much of any kind of holiday. Their dad is great, but he didn’t play Santa very well.”
The ache in Noelle’s heart eased a little. From the time they’d met in the seventh grade, she and Amity had been best friends—more family than most of her true relatives. When her parents divorced, it had been Amity and her family who had seen her through it. “I love you.”
“Awe, I love you back.”
Arm-in-arm, they walked into the kitchen where Starla was busy making a salad.
“Do you need help?” Noelle asked.
Starla wiped her hands on her apron. “Thanks, but I think I have everything ready. We can eat just as soon as the guys get here.”
As if she’d conjured them up, the front door burst open and a pack of cowboys filled the small space. Short of the one and only rodeo she’d attended, Noelle had never seen so many Stetsons or boots in one place before.
Her gaze sought out Nick among the crowd.
His blue eyes met hers, and the flash of desire she spotted in them made her knees weak. It had to be the light glinting off his glasses. Didn’t it?
When he strolled toward her with a rolling walk that all cowboys seemed to possess, her pulse sped up. She feigned nonchalance when he drew near and spoke. “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.” She popped a cherry tomato in her mouth.
“Have you met everyone?” He watched her mouth as she chewed and she had the sudden urge to lick her lips.
She swallowed and shook her head. “No.”
He held out his hand and after a moment’s hesitation, she took it. Leading her into the living room, he headed for his brother and his friend. “You know R.J. and Trevor.”
“Yes, hi.”
They greeted her.
Nick tugged her toward a tall, handsome man with olive skin and dark eyes holding one of the infants. “This is Cody Utah.”
“Nice to meet you. Is this your baby? He’s beautiful.”
Cody beamed. “Thank you. This is Wyatt. Laney’s my wife.” The woman in question looked up from something she was saying to Sunny and smiled at him. The love between them apparent and as visible as a Christmas ribbon.
Noelle touched the baby’s cheek. “So precious.”
“We’re very blessed to have this guy,” Cody said.
Nick shifted, and Noelle assumed he was getting bored with the baby talk. She glanced at him and their eyes met and held. In his blue depths she saw pain and something like longing. For a child of his own? Or something else?
He glanced at another man standing nearby. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the guys.”
Noelle smiled at the man so smitten with his baby. “Nice to meet you, Cody.”
“You, too.”
Nick led her to a group standing around the tree. Sunny, Clancy and Shiloh had all paired off with their men.
Nick indicated each. The first one had an arm around Clancy’s shoulders. “This is Braden VanDerCarr.”
He nodded. “Welcome to Black Mountain.”
“Garrett Pike.” The tall man wore an enormous belt buckle and held a squirming infant she’d been told shared his name, although the child wasn’t his biologically. Sunny looked at both of them with open adoration.
“Howdy.” He smiled at Noelle, then turned his attention back to the fussy baby.
“Dillon Travers.” The country music superstar with striking green eyes held Shiloh’s hand with the enormous diamond on it.
“Hi, Noelle.” He held out his free hand. “Nice to meet you.” If his speaking voice was any indication, his singing would be beautiful. Together, he and Shiloh made a striking couple on and off the stage.
“The pleasure’s mine.”
A blond cowboy with an infectious grin was the last man to be introduced. “Luke Greer.”
He shook her hand with enthusiasm. “Ma’am.”
A slightly plump redhead smiled shyly at Noelle when Nick introduced her. “Rayanne Whitfield.”
“Hello, Rayanne.”
Starla joined them, taking Trevor’s hand. “Dinner’s served.”
Being the only two unattached people, Nick and Noelle were naturally seated together. He held her chair and she shot him a surprised glance. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had done that for her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
The tantalizing scents of brisket, baked potatoes and asparagus filled the air. Noelle had no idea how she could be hungry, but her mouth watered at the sight of all the delicious food on the table. When she took a bite of the beef she almost moaned in appreciation.
The conversation went from bull riding to local gossip to the Denver Broncos. Although some of it was like a foreign language to Noelle, she wasn’t bored. When she didn’t know what, or who they were talking about, Nick filled her in with little anecdotes that made her laugh.
His jean clad leg bumped hers every so often, and every time it happened her stomach jumped. Solid as a rock, it reminded her that even if he were a little younger than her, he was still a grown man. And a very sexy one at that.
She glanced across the table to Amity who was whispering something in R.J.’s ear. They looked so happy and so much in love that it almost hurt to look at them. Hard to believe that a few short months ago Amity’s idea of fun had been clubbing in Denver. From wild nights out to sitting around a table with cowboys and their wives and girlfriends—who would have ever imagined such a thing would make her happy?
But it obviously did.
R.J. made her happier than Brad, or any other man had ever come close to doing. A slight ping of jealousy nipped Noelle. She brushed it off. Amity deserved all the happiness in the world.
~*~
Nick was surprised how easy the city girl fit in with his brother’s friends. He liked them, too, but these were mostly R.J.’s buddies. He and Trevor had been best friends since they were both knee-high to a Shetland pony. The others had come along later.
Nick’s friends were similar—cowboys, now married with children of their own. If Noelle fit in here she’d do fine with his crowd, too. He shook himself. What difference did it make? It wasn’t like she was trying out for his girlfriend, and even if she were, he wasn’t shopping.
That reminded him—he needed to buy a Christmas gift for Amity. He had no idea what to get her, although he had a present for her and R.J. for their wedding.
Before he could think it through he asked Noelle, “Would you like to help me find something for Amity?” At her surprised glance, he clarified. “For Christmas? I don’t have any idea what to get her.”
“I’d love to,” she said immediately. “Do you have anything in mind?”
He shook his head. “Not a thing.”
She laughed. “Great starting point.”
“Everyone’s got to begin somewhere.” He wasn’t strictly talking about shopping.
“True.”
“Ten tomorrow morning work for you?”
“That’s perfect. Will you pick me up in your sleigh, or a car?” she teased.
“Which do you prefer?”
“The sleigh sounds wonderful, but a car is probably faster.”
He snorted. “That depends if you’re driving, or I am.”
Her laughter was musical. “You’re telling me two horses can go as fast as my Mustang if I were to drive them?”
“Probably not, but I’ll take you out in the sleigh someday,” Nick offered on impulse. “I’ll even keep it upright.”
She laughed, the sound like champagne glasses clinking together. “Deal.”
; He laughed, too, excited about their date and the prospect of another one. For the first time since Maura had packed up and left Black Mountain he was interested in a woman.
“Do you ski?” Noelle asked.
“Nope. Never had time to learn. Since R.J. and I were kids we had to help Dad keep the place running.” At her slight frown, he wished he’d taken lessons like a lot of the town kids had done—bussing to Telluride on Saturdays.
“Do you have cows?” She ate an asparagus spear.
“No. You remember my horses?” At her nod, he continued. “We raise Suffolk Punch draft horses.” Nick loved his job and the rare horses he and his father bred. He hated parting with them, but he made sure they went to good homes. For the money they sold for, it was unlikely they went for any nefarious purpose.
“There’s a market for that sort of thing?”
The skepticism in her voice irked him. Their annual fall sale brought people from around the globe. “Sure is. We sell to clients all over the world. We have a web page and everything.”
“That’s wonderful.”
His ire melted away. “Thanks. I love my job.”
She sipped from her glass. “I do as well.”
“What do you do?” He prayed she didn’t sing, at least not professionally.
“I’m a party planner.”
He blinked. “A what?”
She laughed and swung her fork in a small arc. “I plan and execute events like this one. Usually somewhat bigger, though.”
His stomach folded in half. “Not much market for that sort of thing here.”
“No, and this is one of my busiest weeks. Luckily, I have a great team and a cell phone for anything urgent. If I didn’t love Amity so much, there’s no way I would be here.”
“I get it.” He pushed his half-eaten meal away. His appetite had vanished. His mother’s face, or what he remembered of it seen in a few blurry photos, flashed in his mind. Living hundreds of miles from city lights had made her stir-crazy. One day, she packed up and lit out without a backwards glance. “You like Denver?”
“Absolutely adore it.” Her gaze slid to her friend across the table. “I thought Amity did, too. I guess falling in love changed her mind.”
“I suppose so.” He hoped his brother’s new wife wouldn’t wake up five years and two kids from now missing all she’d left.
He wasn’t like R.J., willing to risk a broken heart. Maura had been exactly like their mother all along—craving the excitement of bright lights. The minute she got a chance to get out of their tiny town she’d bolted like a runaway reindeer.
Getting any more involved with Noelle would only cause him heartache. “I better head home. Morning chores come early.”
“I’m tired, too,” Noelle said. “It’s been a long day, with more to come. I think Amity has something planned for every day this week.” She smiled at him. “But tomorrow morning is all yours.”
He’d take it, and forget about anything more. “See you at ten.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Amity looked up from her newspaper. “Wow. You look nice.”
Noelle glanced down at her dark green sweater and jeans. “Thanks. Is this okay for a day in Black Mountain? Nick asked me out.”
“He did?” Amity’s eyes grew round. She set the paper aside and leaned forward. “When?”
“Last night. Why so shocked?” Noelle took a piece of cinnamon toast from her plate and munched.
“It’s just that he never goes out with anyone. R.J. says—” The doorbell rang, cutting her off.
“You’re going to have to tell me what this mysterious secret of Nick’s is,” Noelle called on her way to the door.
Amity waved her on. “Later.”
Noelle paused and brushed crumbs from her sweater. “What are you going to do? Did we have plans? I can cancel—”
“No way. Go. I’ll spend the day with R.J. He’ll be pleased. I’ll meet you here at six for dinner.” She jumped up. “Wait. I know. I’ll ask Nick if he wants to join us. We’ll make it a foursome.”
Noelle stopped and frowned at her. “No matchmaking.”
Amity looked wounded. “Who’s matchmaking?”
“You are, that’s who.” She softened her glare. “But I’ll ask him if he wants to join us. That way, I’ll have someone to talk to while you and R.J. kiss all evening.”
“We’re not that bad.” Amity laughed.
“Right.” Rolling her eyes, Noelle went to the door and opened it for Nick. “Come in.”
He stepped through the door and removed his white Stetson. In his other hand, he held a poinsettia. He handed it to her. “For you.”
“Thank you,” she said, charmed by the gift. “It’s lovely.”
“You’re welcome.” He waved at Amity. “Mornin’.”
“Good morning, Nick.” She held up her mug. “Want coffee?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
Noelle placed the plant on a coffee table and opened the coat closet to retrieve her ankle-length red, wool coat. Before she could put it on, Nick set down his hat, took her coat from her and held it open so she could slide her arms in. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She turned to look at him. He wore a blood red western jacket, snug jeans and boots. He looked wonderful. And oh-so-sexy. Surprised by her reaction to a cowboy, she glanced at Amity who had a knowing smirk on her face. “Am wants to know if you’d like to join her and R.J. for dinner? And me, of course.”
“Sure,” he agreed immediately. “Where?”
“Let’s meet here,” Amity said, “and go from there.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Noelle pulled on her black gloves and wrapped a red and black striped scarf around her neck. “I’m all set.”
Nick held the door for her. “After you.”
She gave Amity a small wave. “See you tonight.”
“Have fun.”
Biting December air hit Noelle’s face and she ducked her chin into her scarf. “It’s freezing out here.”
“It’s cold, all right.” He opened his truck door and she slid inside, grateful for the running heater. He joined her, getting behind the wheel and backing into the street. “It’s below zero today.”
“Too cold even for a polar bear’s butt.”
He laughed, and she suddenly wasn’t so chilled.
The drive to downtown Black Mountain took a matter of minutes. Nick found a parking spot in front of a western store. “I thought we’d start here.”
Noelle placed her hand on the door handle. “I doubt she wants Wranglers.” He flinched, and she realized she’d hurt him. “I bet the perfect gift is in there, though.”
He rested his hands on the steering wheel. “What are you getting her?”
She thought of the antique sapphire bracelet she’d found in a LODO boutique. “A bracelet that matches her eyes.”
“I doubt my brother wants me to buy his wife jewelry.”
“You’re probably right,” she said. “I’d also strike perfume, candy and flowers off your list.”
He made a slashing motion with an invisible pen and paper. “Damn. They were at the top, too.”
She grinned. “What were you thinking of getting her in here?”
“Wranglers. And boots.”
She laughed. “Then let’s go get them.”
After he came around and let her out he said, “I don’t know what to get. That’s the problem.”
“We’ll find something,” she assured him. “I’m a champion shopper.”
“There are contests?”
“Big ones,” she told him. “Even a shopper’s Superbowl—after Christmas clearance sales.”
He chuckled, the sound warming her. “I’ll pass.”
“And I thought you’d punt.”
They shared a smile.
She rubbed her gloved hands together. “It’s cold out here. Which way are we going?”
He pointed to a shop on the corner with a lit Chr
istmas tree in front of it. “That one. It’s an antique store. I thought maybe I could find something in there.”
“Perfect.”
He held out his hand and she took it with a smile.
Hand-in-hand, they crossed the street and entered the store. A bowl of pinecones, along with a Crockpot of bubbling, spiced cider filled the air with their mingled scents.
A smiling clerk, wearing a red apron embroidered with green vines, greeted them. “Good morning. Can I help you find something?”
“Not just yet,” Noelle told her. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Let me know if I can help. In the meantime, would you like a cup of cider?”
“I’d love some.” She glanced at Nick. “You?”
“Sounds good.”
The clerk handed them a paper cup full of the steaming drink. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” they echoed.
Noelle sipped the spicy drink as she moved toward a display featuring vintage Christmas ornaments. She spotted a tiny star almost hidden among the others. It was made of wire and so delicate it seemed almost too fragile to pick up.
With care, she lifted it and examined the exquisite creation. Someone had taken a great deal of time creating the intricate design. Noelle turned it over. No price tag. Reluctantly, she returned the decoration to its spot. She didn’t need it, and besides, it would most likely get broken on the trip home. Her style was modern, not old-fashioned.
Nick, who had been standing silently, spoke. “Would Amity like that?”
Noelle nodded. “She’d love it.”
“So do you,” he said.
“Yes.” She moved away. “But we’re shopping for Am, not me.”
“I’m going to get it for her.” He retrieved the ornament and went to pay for it while she continued to shop.
Nothing else in the small shop caught her eye and they left after thanking the clerk for the cider.
“Where to now?” Noelle looked down the street.
Nick shrugged. “Either way. There are a few shops on each side of the street.”
She turned to her left. “This way then.”
Together, they ambled along the sidewalk. More people than Noelle expected rushed along, most greeting Nick by name.
“Do you know everyone?”