by Box Set
“No, tea is fine.” Tamra turned towards Preston and whispered, “Aren’t you going to tell your sister?”
“Ma, she’s been through a lot this last year. I don’t want her getting her hopes up”
Clare stopped, her mouth hanging open, her head whipping back and forth between them as if she were watching a tennis match. “What’s going on with you two? Why are you whispering, and what would get my hopes up?”
“Ma.” He shook his head as he saw his mother about to speak. He heard his name and glanced over his shoulder to see Holly standing there with her hands folded, eyes wide. “ Holly, you’re right on time, Ma made a wonderful dinner. Come on, sit down, and join us.” Preston hugged his sister. “Everything is fine,” he said softly.
He pulled out a chair next to him and motioned with Holly to sit. She walked in, quickly moving to his side of the table and sat down. “I hope you’re hungry. Ma makes a mouthwatering roast. You’re in for a treat.”
Tamra cleared her throat. “You don’t mind your beef medium rare, do you?”
Holly smiled gently before shaking her head.
Tamra returned the smile before facing him again. “Preston, make sure to slice the roast thinly.”
He looked up at Ma and saw her smiling at Holly. “I will.” He smiled, winked at his Ma, and started slicing the roast. His stomach growled as the aroma wafted through the air. Once he had enough for each of them to have a couple of slices apiece, he lifted the platter and held it out for his mother.
“Thank you.” She speared a slice and placed it on her plate before dishing out some mashed potatoes and gravy. “It does smell heavenly, if I say so myself. Nothing like a good piece of roast, potatoes, and green beans.”
“Especially the way you make it, Mom.” Clare turned to Holly. “I’m really excited tomorrow is Christmas Eve, aren’t you?”
“I am. Where do you open the presents?” She smiled at Clare.
“We’re doing them in the great room this year,” Tamra answered.
Preston turned to her, brow raised, and his mouth set in a thin line.
“I thought it would be nice to have Clare play some carols that morning for us before we open our gifts. We could all sing. Don’t you think that would be fun, Holly?”
“Yes, ma’am, I do. Thank you again for including me in your family Christmas. It means more to me than you know.”
“It means a lot to us too.” Tamra smiled. This time, Preston noticed it reached Ma’s eyes.
Chapter 20
The Most Joyous Christmas
Preston pulled Holly close. “Ma is happy for us. She was worried about me leaving like I did, but it had nothing to do with you. She didn’t hesitate to ask you because we’ve been spending so much time together. She likes you a lot.”
“She seemed to be genuine when she was speaking to me last night. I never meant for any of this to happen, and I didn’t want to hurt or upset her.”
“I didn’t mean for it to happen either. Hell darlin’, I was pretty rude to you when you first came. I didn’t want anyone in our home. But because of you, all of us have been happier. I know this would have been a horrible year if it was just the three of us.”
“It’s tough during the holidays when you’ve lost someone. It’s why I couldn’t stay home this year with neither of the kids coming home.” She pushed away and sat up. “I’m very happy that I chose to come here. I feel like I’ve gained another family.”
“Ma likes you a lot, so does Clare. You know how I feel about you.” He reached and pulled her back against his chest, kissing the top of her head. “We’d better get going. I need to feed the horses and turn them out for a bit, and Ma and Clare will be getting up soon. Let me walk you to your room so you can get ready for the day.” He threw the covers off them and whistled. “Damn woman, you’re so fucking hot.” Grabbing one of his T-shirts, he tossed it to her. “You better put that on or we won’t make it downstairs anytime soon.”
Holly giggled and slid into his shirt. When he helped her off the bed, he felt the smile spread over his lips at the sight of her. The shirt was so big, the sleeves hung past her elbows, and the shirt hit her at her mid-thigh but he loved the way it looked on her. He pulled her against him, marveling at the feel of her softness and curves against his hard chest.
“Looks perfect on you.”
“Only you would think that, cowboy,” she whispered just before his mouth found hers. She moaned and moved closer against him.
“You feel what you’re doing to me?” He pushed his erection against her. “Now you’re going to have to scoot to your room by yourself. I can’t be walking down the hall like this. Hurry up now.” Opening the door, he glanced towards his Ma and sister’s rooms. “Go quickly.” He swatted her ass playfully as he pushed her gently out the door. This time he moaned, watching her ass swaying from side to side as her long legs peeked out from under his shirt.
Holly flashed him a big grin over her shoulder just before she disappeared through the doorway of her room. He backed into his room and closed his door before heading to the shower. His mind was whirling with thoughts of the two of them waking every morning together and building a life here in Colorado. Why couldn’t he have his cake and eat it, too? She loved it here, he loved her, and she said she loved him. He knew Clare and Ma would have no problem accepting Holly.
Preston slid into the shower, feeling the effects from last night. He wasn’t sure how he’d managed to keep up with that woman’s sex drive. Thank god, he was young. He chuckled, thinking about some of the things they had experimented with and thankful she hadn’t been offended or turned off when he suggested trying something different. Hell, it seemed to turn her on.
After a quick shower, he dressed in record time so he could get the horses turned out. The weatherman said it would be unseasonably warm, and he figured the horses would enjoy being outside for the day. Plus, he didn’t want to miss any time with Holly. She was going to help Ma and Clare in the kitchen this morning, getting cookies and pies done for Christmas dinner.
He leaned against Sampson’s stall door for a second. This was new territory for him. Spending Christmas with Holly was going to make it the most enjoyable he’d ever had. The thought made his heart ache all the more. He had to find a way to keep her here. He chuckled when Sampson blew on his head. “I know, I’m putting you out. Calm down, big guy.”
After getting all of them out in the pasture, he mucked stalls and headed back inside to find the girls in the kitchen laughing and talking about tonight. He stood for a moment in the doorway, taking it all in, his mind wanting to capture the memory forever. Holly turned and winked at him as Clare squealed when Ma smacked her hand away from the cookies.
“Clare, stop eating them! You’re supposed to be frosting not eating,” Tamra teased. “Preston get in here and take charge of your sister.”
He strode into the kitchen. “Clare, stop eating the cookies, you know Ma doesn’t like it when you do that.” He picked up the closet cookie and took a bite.
“Preston River!” Tamra shook her head. “No wonder that girl doesn’t listen, what a fine example you are.”
“Sorry Ma but they taste so good.” He picked her up and spun her in a circle before setting her down on her feet again. “It’s so nice outside, I put the horses into the pasture for a bit. Are we doing a light dinner tonight?”
“We are. I want to get up early tomorrow. I have a lot to do, which means I need an early bedtime tonight.”
“I can help if you’d like.” Holly spread the last of her frosting on the Christmas tree cookie and sprinkled some green sugar over it. “I don’t mind.”
“I’d love the help. For some reason, Clare doesn’t seem to be able to move on Christmas morning and Preston tries to help but…” She shrugged.
“What do you mean, I try to help? You always chase me out.”
This morning, Tamra was acting like her old self and genuinely seemed happy to have her helping with the cookies.
She even agreed to share her recipe for the anise ones. They were sharing Christmas Eve stories and laughing when Preston showed up. Holly winked at him before his mother hollered at Clare for eating another cookie.
But when Preston strolled in and grabbed one off the table, she thought Tamra would certainly lose it. However, when he picked her up and spun her in a circle she saw the joy in their faces and knew everything would be just fine now.
Holly found herself stealing glances at her handsome cowboy. God, she was going to miss him. Hell, who was she kidding? She was going to miss all of this when she went back to her mundane life.
She pulled herself out of her thoughts when she heard Tamra say she was going to try to turn in early tonight because she had a lot to do tomorrow. “I can help if you like.” She was used to getting up early on Christmas to fix the big dinner she always made. She finished her cookie and set it on the rack to finish setting.
“Tamra?”
“Yes?” she replied without looking Holly’s way as she carefully lifted the cooling cookies off the cookie sheet onto the clean tea towels spread over the frosting table.
“About the gifts, when do you all put them out?”
“Oh, usually before we go to bed for the evening. It’s sad not having any little ones around anymore who believe in Santa.”
“Would it be all right with you if I put mine under the tree tonight as well?” Holly mixed some food color into her bowl to frost another tree.
“Sure. I hope you know, you didn’t need to get anything for us.” Tamra looked at Preston with her brow raised.
He put his hands up. “I was only the driver and the bag carrier. She asked me to take her to buy some gifts for you and Clare. It wasn’t any of my doing.” He grinned and winked at his Ma. “She listens to me like you and Clare.”
“I know I didn’t have to get you anything but I wanted to. I wanted to do a little something for you. I honestly hope you don’t mind. I wouldn’t want to offend you in any way.”
“Oh, you won’t!” Clare squealed. “I’m so excited.” She ran to Holly, throwing her arms around her. “Thank you so much! This is going to be the best Christmas ever.”
Holly hugged her tight as tears threatened to spill over. “I think it will.” She felt Clare shudder and realized she was crying. “Don’t cry, honey,” Holly whispered as she held her closer.
“I’m just so happy you’re here,” she whispered.
“Come on, let’s get these cookies finished before your mom gets ahead of us.” She looked up to see Tamra and Preston watching them. Holly looked over to see that Tamra had indeed gotten ahead of them somehow. “See what I mean? Your mom has put another two more dozen down for us to decorate.”
Clare rolled her eyes. “Mom, how many cookies do we need for four people? Ugh, it will be dinner time before we’re finished.”
“That was the last two dozen. I wanted to make sure there was enough for Holly to take some home with her.”
“Thank you. That’s sweet of you.” They flew through the last two-dozen quickly as Preston helped his mother clean up. Holly couldn’t help but sneak glances at him, thinking how hot he was from every angle.
Clare’s shoulder bumped hers.
“Sorry, did you say something?”
Clare nodded and leaned close. “So you have it bad for my brother, don’t you?”
Holly felt her jaw drop. Oh crap, was she that obvious? “I think your brother is very nice.”
“Yeah, he can be. But I think you like him. The way you keep staring at him and smiling.” She giggled. “You look like some of the girls at school when the new boy comes in.”
“You’re reading too much into it.” Holly patted her arm.
Clare grinned. “Sure.”
Chapter 21
The Greatest Gift of All
The day passed swiftly, and before he knew it, Ma declared it was time to put the gifts under the tree and sing some carols before she headed to bed. Preston made quick work of making a small fire in the great room, knowing how much Holly would enjoy it. He hoped she liked the gift he’d chosen for her. He swallowed hard, wondering when he would get the perfect time to present her with it.
Hearing a noise behind him, he turned to see his Ma loaded down with bags full of gifts. He jumped to his feet and rushed to her. “You know I would have helped you. Why are you carrying these all by yourself?”
“Because I don’t want to make any more trips than I have to. Anyway, don’t you have your own gifts to worry about?”
“Yes, but I can still help you with yours. How many more bags do you have, and where are they?”
“They’re in the closet in the back room. I can manage.” Her face fell as tears formed in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” He reached to remove the bags from her right hand and placed them by the tree.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for everyone this year. I’m sad because your father isn’t here. I’m sad because your brother isn’t coming home. I sound pathetic.” She wiped her hand over her eyes.
“No, you sound perfectly fine. With everything we’ve had to deal with this past year, you’re doing great. I don’t care about gifts. I’m happy to be here with you.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “Don’t be sad Ma. Your oldest son is a dick, you’ve always known that.”
“Preston! Watch your mouth.” She shook her head. “You’re turning into a real gutter-mouth.”
“Well, you know where I got it from.” He chuckled. His Pa had one hell of a sailor’s mouth on him, and he’d grown up with it. You’d think it wouldn’t bother her so much. “Let’s get these under the tree and I’ll help you with the others. I think I’m going to wait until you and Clare go to bed before I put mine out.” He winked. “You know I like to surprise you two.”
Preston started handing her packages so she could place them just where she wanted them. For some reason, she was very particular about how she put gifts under the tree. Thinking back, he guessed it had always been like that with her.
“Why are you so picky where everything goes?” He watched as she placed another one under the tree.
“One, it has to look nice. Two, I want to make sure they are lined up so each row contains something for everyone who is here on Christmas day. I hate having to sort through them or have someone sitting while others have gifts to open.”
Why hadn’t I realized that before? He folded up the empty bag and pulled another one closer to him. “That’s a good idea. I don’t know why I didn’t notice before.”
“Because I never made it obvious.” She glanced over her shoulder and winked at him. “I never wanted to see any of you kids upset on such a special day.”
Preston couldn’t believe how much Ma had gone through year after year, just to make sure her kids had a special Christmas. He swore that next year he was going to do something bigger for her.
Just as she placed the last of the gifts, Clare came in lugging handfuls of bags. “My turn!” She stopped when she saw all the beautifully wrapped packages placed neatly under the tree. “Mom, you hardly left any room for anyone else to put their stuff,” she whined. “Preston, you might want to go help Holly, she has a ton of gifts.”
“Looks like you and Ma had tons yourself.” He laughed at the look on his Ma’s face when she glanced at Clare’s bags.
“Clare, what is all that?”
“You’ll see tomorrow. No shaking boxes or peeking.”
Tamra shook her head at her daughter’s demand. “I’m going to go make us some hot chocolate.” She got to the door and glanced over her shoulder. “Preston, go help Holly. I don’t need her falling down the stairs.”
Shaking his own head, he made his way to the door. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move any of Ma’s gifts she put under the tree.” He glanced back to see her filling in areas around his Ma’s gifts with hers. “I mean it, she’ll know.”
“I won’t.”
Preston walked upstairs to find Ho
lly placing gifts carefully in a couple of large laundry baskets she borrowed from his ma. He knocked on her open door. “Do you need some help with those?”
“I do. I don’t want to mess up the ribbons. I love pretty wrapped gifts, don’t you?”
When she looked up at him, it took his breath away. How could she look so innocent and sexy at the same time? “We’ll have to make a few trips then.”
“Thank you. I can’t wait to see everyone’s faces tomorrow.” She stopped and looked at him. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I think this is going to be the best Christmas of my life.”
“I hope so. Do you think your mom and Clare will think so as well? I want them to have a wonderful Christmas.”
“They will. How could they not? You being here has lightened all of our hearts, and I think it is going to be a big help, especially tomorrow.”
“I hope so.” She leaned in, placing her hands around his neck to pull him down for a kiss.
“We’d better get these downstairs so we can sing a few carols before Ma goes to bed.” He grabbed two baskets and headed out the door. “Be careful, Ma will be upset if you fall down the stairs.”
“Thanks, cowboy.” He heard her giggle. “Well, don’t get too far ahead of me then. If I trip, you’ll break my fall.”
“Funny, darlin’. Don’t you even think about falling, because it would ruin my Christmas if anything happened to you.”
“I think it would ruin my Christmas as well if I fell. I wouldn’t want to spend it in the hospital.”
They found Ma and Clare sitting in the great room, drinking hot chocolate, and chatting about the gifts under the tree. “Hey Clare, can you start helping Holly while I make another trip upstairs to get the rest of her gifts?”
“Sure.” Clare jumped up and grabbed one of the totes. “This is so exciting.”
“No peeking at the tags.” Holly laughed. “Preston, be careful not to mess up any of the ribbons!”