A Coulter’s Christmas Proposal

by Lois Faye Dyer

  “They look delicious.” Amanda recognized the clear signal that Ruby wouldn’t say more about Joseph and his sons. Still, her words painted a stark picture of a life devoid of parental love and affection in the motherless Coulter household. It sounded as if the brothers had closed ranks to endure and survive. She felt a wave of thankfulness that Eli’s brothers hadn’t abandoned him. It spoke volumes about their strength, integrity and loyalty that they’d stayed to support each other until the youngest was able to leave the ranch.

  She took one of the small tea sandwiches. “It’s wonderful!” she exclaimed, the fresh, rich flavors bursting on her tongue.

  Ruby smiled with pride. “It’s an old family recipe.”

  Amanda spent another hour with Ruby, and the older woman shared further anecdotes about Melanie and their mutual support of the library, a local women’s book club, the art fair at the school and Melanie’s participation in the Parent-Teacher Association. But Amanda didn’t ask questions about Joseph Coulter and Ruby didn’t offer any more information.

  By the time Amanda said goodbye and returned to the hotel, she had dozens of questions bouncing around in her head. She didn’t need answers for her book research. But instinct told her that those answers would help unravel the mystery that was Eli.

  She had plenty of time to jot down notes about her interview with Ruby before it was time to shower, change and drive out to the Lodge for the barbecue at six. Since she was going directly to the Lodge and not to the Triple C outbuildings, she followed a different road off the highway. Like the ranch road, it was gravel, but it was clearly newer and approached the Lodge from the far side.

  Amanda reached the parking lot and left her car, the slanting late-afternoon sun warm on her bare throat, arms and legs. She’d donned a white sundress with little cap sleeves, a square neckline that hinted at the valley between her breasts, a full skirt and nipped-in waist. Bright red sandals matched her wide resin bracelet and hoop earrings. With a red cotton sweater to throw on later, when the sun disappeared and the evening cooled, she felt comfortable yet festive. This was the second time she’d been to the Lodge for a party, she reflected, but how different the circumstances were. This time, she had been invited by the Coulters and didn’t feel guilty for crashing the event.

  Guests strolled over the lawns and sat in groups on the wicker furniture arranged along the Lodge’s wraparound porch. Amanda followed the walkway that led from the parking lot across the lawn toward the porch. “Amanda!”

  She found Mariah standing with Jane at a huge barbecue grill set up at the bottom of the lawn, beneath the shade of a tree.

  She waved and started toward them. She was waylaid halfway there by Mason Turner and three other men.

  “Hey, Amanda,” he said, flicking a finger at the red sweater she carried over one arm. “I hoped you’d be here tonight.”

  “Hello, Mason.” Amanda swept a quick glance over the other three tall, handsome men. “Don’t tell me. Let me guess. These are your brothers, right?”

  “How did you know?” The tallest one, by not more than an inch, grinned admiringly at her. “I’m Jed.” He jerked a thumb at the other two. “These are my little brothers, Ash and Dallas.”

  “Little?” Amanda felt her eyes widen. They all stood well over six feet.

  “He means younger than him,” the one Jed had called Dallas assured her. He eased forward. “How come I haven’t met you before, Amanda? I thought I knew all the pretty women in Indian Springs.”

  Mason groaned aloud. “Back off, Dallas. She belongs to Eli.”

  He means it, she thought with amazement. Before she could gather her wits and reply, Dallas gave her a disappointed look.

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Amanda. If you change your mind, just give me a call, okay?”

  “She’s not going to call you, Dallas.”

  A strong arm slipped around Amanda’s waist. She didn’t have to hear his amused, easy drawl to know it was Eli. Only Eli caused her body to have that instant, sensitized reaction. She thought back to what Mason had said. Had Eli said anything to him about her?

  “She’s too smart to be sucked in by a line,” Eli continued. He looked down at her, his eyes amused.

  “Damn.” Dallas looked chagrined. “I was hoping she was pretty and stupid.”

  “The politically correct term is intellectually challenged, Mr. Turner,” Amanda shot back with a smile.

  The men laughed, including Dallas.

  “I told you she was too smart for you, Dallas,” Eli said.

  “Are there any more at home like you?” Dallas asked, eyeing her with interest.

  “I have a sister back in New York but she’s married,” Amanda told him.

  “Unhappily?” he asked hopefully.

  “No, she’s very happily married.”

  “Well, darn,” he said with a gusty sigh.

  “Have you guys eaten yet?” Eli asked, changing the subject when the laughter died down.

  “No. We just got here a few minutes ago,” Mason replied. “But we could smell barbecue for the last mile. If it tastes half as good as it smells, I can’t wait.”

  “Jane’s in charge of the food, so I can guarantee it’s good,” Eli told him.

  They strolled in a group across the lawn. Eli walked by Amanda’s side, though his hand had dropped from her waist. She continued to wonder whether he was merely being protective of her or whether Mason’s comment was true.

  Three hours later, after eating Jane’s mouthwatering food, meeting more of Eli’s friends and being held in his arms on the dance floor, Amanda was nearly convinced there was more behind Eli’s actions than protectiveness.

  The sun had long since set behind the buttes in the west, and the lawn and walkways to the Lodge and creek were shadowed. Colorful Japanese lanterns swung from lines suspended from corner poles to crisscross over the dance floor, spilling muted gold light over the few couples there. Beneath the trees edging the lawn, the shadows fell deeper, darker.

  Swaying to a slow ballad in Eli’s arms, Amanda shivered slightly. Though her faint shudder was in response to the fit of their bodies shifting against each other, he must have thought she was chilled, because one of his arms tightened around her waist, anchoring her against him. His other hand smoothed over the sensitive shape of her back until his fingers cupped her nape.

  Tucked against the warmth of his hard body, she felt surrounded by him. Her head lay against his shoulder, her lips nearly brushing the strong column of his throat. Each breath she drew in filled her senses with the faint spicy cologne he wore and a unique scent that seemed to be his alone. She couldn’t define it but there was something absolutely seductive and irresistible about the elusive faint aroma: it made her want to bury her face against his throat, stroke her tongue over his pulse to taste him, and drown herself in whatever it was about him that lured her closer.

  Despite feeling nearly drugged with the overwhelming masculinity of the man who held her, she realized the deeply sensual impact Eli had on her could prove dangerous. Where could this lead? she wondered hazily. They had an unusual relationship, one that didn’t yet include friendship, let alone trust. He’d made it clear he was reserving judgment on her, and if she was honest, she wasn’t clear whether she trusted him, either.

  She’d never been a woman to indulge a purely physical attraction without the involvement of other emotions, and after learning so much about him, she knew she cared more than she wanted to admit. But she was very much afraid that all Eli felt for her was physical attraction.

  With reluctance, she tilted her head back and looked up at him. “I should be getting back to town,” she murmured. “I promised Ruby I’d be at her house at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow to go through photos she took of your mother when they worked together on committees at the school.”

  Eli’s arms tightened briefly in protest before they loosened, and he stopped moving to the music. “I wish you didn’t have to leave,” he said reluctantly, “but I understand.”


  It wasn’t until he stepped back, sliding his hand down her arm to thread his fingers through hers, that Amanda realized they were one of only a few couples on the dance floor. They left the low wooden platform and strolled down the walkway to the parking lot.

  “Before you go, there’s something I have to say.”

  Amanda looked sideways at him. The faint glow of the lanterns behind them backlit his profile, casting his face in shadow. “What is it?”

  “Do you remember when you said you expected me to apologize for misreading you after I got to know you?” he asked.

  “I remember.”

  “Well, you were right,” he said. “I owe you an apology. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you to keep to the terms of our agreement.”

  Amanda laughed, his apology as heartwarming as it was unexpected. “I can’t tell you how delighted—and surprised—I am that you’re actually willing to admit you were wrong.”

  “I was wrong about you and for that I apologize,” he told her, his deep voice amused. “But I’m still a believer in the basic concept. I wouldn’t trust someone unfamiliar until I had sufficient time to get to know them.”

  Amanda heaved a long, loud sigh. “You’re such a cynic, Eli.”

  They reached her car and she leaned back against the driver’s door. “But I do appreciate a man who can admit when he’s wrong,” she added. She rose on her toes and boldly pressed a quick kiss on his lean cheek. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He braced his forearms on the car beside her and leaned closer, bracketing her with his body. “I like the way you say thank you.” He lowered his head, brushing his mouth against hers.

  Amanda caught her breath at the swift flash of electric heat.

  “Do you?” she murmured, unconsciously sliding her tongue over her lower lip to capture the warm taste of his mouth.

  “Mmm-hmm.” His body settled over hers and his lips brushed the curve of her cheek, the arch of her cheekbone, the corner of her mouth before returning to fit carefully, slowly over hers.

  He wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her onto her toes until the curve of her hips cradled the hard thrust of his. Her breasts pressed against the solid wall of his chest, her arms linked around his neck and she felt surrounded by him as their bodies touched, clung, heated against each other from lips to thigh.

  Amanda felt as if she’d waited a lifetime for this and she shifted, trying to get nearer although his hard angles were already tight against her softer curves. He groaned, a deep, inarticulate sound of need and arousal, his fingers flexing against her back, gathering her closer. The kiss turned hotter as his tongue stroked hers, sending desire surging through her veins and making her burn.

  The world slowed, stopped, narrowed to the press of his mouth against hers. When, at last, he lifted his head, she was breathless and dazed.

  “I’ve wanted to do that since the first time I saw you,” he whispered, his voice rough.

  “You have?” she said, unable to think coherently, her fingers clenching the warm strength of his bare forearms. “I thought you were only tolerating me because my brother-in-law owns a gallery.”

  “The gallery has nothing to do with my wanting you.”

  “Oh.” She stared up into his molten green eyes. “I’m glad,” she whispered.

  “I’m still not crazy about the idea of anyone publicizing my family’s life by writing a book,” he told her bluntly.

  “I can live with that,” she replied softly.

  He smiled, his teeth a flash of white in the dark night. “Good to know.” Then he bent his head and kissed her again, his arms wrapping around her to pull her against him.

  Amanda slid her arms around his neck, her fingers threading into the silky soft hair at his nape.

  The sound of voices drawing nearer broke them apart. Amanda clung to him, her breath choppy and legs weak, as guests drifted into the parking lot, calling good-night as they broke from groups to reach individual vehicles.

  “The party must be over,” Amanda said, her voice husky.

  “I guess so.” Eli stepped back as headlights flashed on, illuminating the parking area. “I’d better let you go.”

  Don’t, she thought, but said nothing.

  He pulled open the car door, and Amanda slipped inside, lowering the window as he closed her in.

  “I’ll see you on Monday,” she told him, switching on the engine.

  He nodded and stepped back as she reversed out of her parking spot and joined the line of vehicles leaving the lot. As she drove back to the hotel, she could still feel his lips on hers.

  Chapter Nine

  Amanda moved through Sunday alternately daydreaming about that incredible kiss and trying to puzzle out why Eli had changed so swiftly. Ultimately, she decided to ask him when she saw him on Monday. Fretting and wondering were driving her crazy and she wasn’t a person who could go very long without confronting her problems head-on.

  She was determined to have a conversation with Eli the moment she saw him on Monday. But when she drove into the ranch yard a little before 10:00 a.m., his truck wasn’t parked in front of the house.

  Disappointed, she waited a few moments and then climbed the steps to the front porch and knocked on the ranch house door. But there was no response.

  “Where is he?” she muttered aloud, turning to scan the nearby buildings. She couldn’t see his pickup truck anywhere. In fact, Zach’s and Cade’s trucks weren’t there, either. The ranch yard seemed deserted, and she wondered if Eli and his brothers were out working cattle or riding fence.

  A horse nickered. Jiggs stood at the corral fence, ears pricked as he stared at her.

  The big black horse reminded her of Shakira. Perhaps Eli was in the barn with the mare. Amanda left the porch and walked briskly across the gravel ranch yard. The big sliding door stood partially ajar and the barn was blessedly shady and cool when she stepped inside.

  “Eli?” she called, waiting for a reply. But the silence in the barn was complete, broken only by the rustle of straw bedding.

  Shakira’s head appeared over the top of her stall door. She nickered, bobbing her head, and Amanda could swear the horse was glad to see her and asking for company.

  She turned back and peered out the open door at the buildings and gravel space once more. There was no sign of Eli. Nothing moved; it was quiet as a tomb. Should she be worried?

  Glancing at her watch, Amanda left the doorway and walked into the tack room. She found the apples easily enough but it took longer to locate a knife. A worn but sharp-bladed butcher knife lay on a shelf above the rubber container that held the grain and it sliced the apple with smooth efficiency. Amanda returned it to the shelf, gathered up the apple slices and left the tack room. She detoured to check outside once more, but the wide gravel yard between house and barn was still empty of vehicles and no one was in sight.

  As she walked down the aisle, Shakira nickered and shifted, rattling the stall gate.

  “Hi, pretty girl,” Amanda crooned, laughing when the mare stretched her neck over the gate until she could nudge her muzzle against Amanda’s shoulder. “I brought you treats.”

  Bearing in mind Eli’s instructions about feeding the mare, Amanda held out her hand and the mare delicately lipped the apple from Amanda’s palm.

  Outside the barn and across the gravel yard, Eli stepped out of the machine shop, where he’d been working on his truck, just in time to see Amanda disappear inside the barn. Before he could call her name, she was gone.

  He stepped back inside, collected the cowboy hat he’d found for her, and crossed the lot to the barn. As he stepped inside, he heard Amanda talking to Shakira.

  “You are such a sweetheart,” she crooned, petting the horse and combing her fingers through the wiry black forelock. “No wonder everyone loves you. You’re pretty and sweet. What’s not to love?”

  Eli leaned his shoulder against the wall just inside the door and watched Amanda and the mare, grinning at wha
t was clearly mutual affection. Who would have thought the city girl would get so much enjoyment out of his horse?

  Shakira leaned into Amanda’s touch as she rubbed behind her ears.

  “Oh, you like that, do you?”

  The mare bent her head, nuzzling and lipping at Amanda’s free hand.

  “Oh, ick. Stop that. You’re getting horse spit on me.”

  Eli burst out laughing when Amanda scrubbed her palm down her jeans and frowned at the mare.

  His laughter brought Amanda spinning around, her startled expression quickly replaced by guilt. He shoved away from the wall and walked toward her.

  “Hi,” Amanda said with a touch of nervousness. “I, um, I know you told me anyplace beyond the studio was off-limits. But I couldn’t find you when I arrived, so I looked for you in the barn, but you weren’t here, either. So…I thought I’d spend a little time with Shakira while I waited.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he told her, joining her and patting the mare as she nuzzled his shoulder. “I don’t mind. In fact, I think it’s kind of cute that you seem to get along so well with Shakira.”

  “Oh, well…” Amanda shrugged self-consciously. “I fed her an apple. I suspect she loves anybody who feeds her, especially apples.”

  “Maybe,” Eli conceded. “But it looked like the two of you were getting along really well.”

  Amanda beamed, clearly delighted. “I think she recognized me when I came in,” she confided.

  “I’m sure she did,” he said gravely. He raised his hand to brush her hair back over her shoulder and realized he was holding the cowboy hat. “I almost forgot.” He set the hat on her head, pleased when it fit. “I wore it when I was about twelve, I think.” He adjusted the hat, tilting the brim back, and cupped her chin. “But it never looked this good on me.”

  He bent his head, her lips soft and warm beneath his. She leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her to pull her flush against him. She melted against him, her hands slipping around his neck to hold him close.