His Christmas Cinderella

by Christy Jeffries

  “You were right,” she said as he walked around the fencing toward her. “This place certainly looks different without the huge party tent and all the cars. Where is everyone?”

  “My dad and Jessica are at church, which is usually followed by brunch at the Association. I have no idea where my brother, Brandon, is.”

  “Only four of you live here?” At first she sounded amazed. Yet, there was no missing the teasing in her tone when she nodded at the house on the other side of the driveway and said, “Are you sure there’s enough room for everyone?”

  “Well, we also have employees who live on-site.” He didn’t admit that the stable hands stayed in the bunkhouse and the household staff had private quarters not attached to the main house. “But most of them have today off.”

  “Where are your uncles and their families? I thought all the Taylors lived on the compound.”

  “My dad, being the oldest, inherited the main house, and then each brother got their own corner of the ranch for their family spreads. We could spend the entire day exploring the property and still not run into any of them.”

  Camilla let out a small whistle. “Quite the kingdom. Is this the part where you impress me by showing me around?”

  “No. I already know you won’t be impressed by any of that. This is the part where I see if you can saddle your own horse. Did you borrow those boots?”

  “Unlike the last time I came here, these particular shoes are actually my own.” She stomped some dirt off one of the heels. “My dad grew up around horses in a small town outside of Guadalajara. He insisted that if his children were going to grow up in Montana, then they needed to know how to ride. We spent summers on my uncle’s ranch in Jalisco and, during the rest of the year, all of us kids took lessons when my parents could afford it. In fact, not to toot my own horn, but I even did some barrel racing in high school and was the junior rodeo queen at the Bronco State Fair back in the day.”

  “Really?” He shook his head as she surprised him once again. “My family sponsors the Future Farmers of America building at that fair every year.”

  “I know.” Her pointed look conveyed the unspoken words. Everyone knew who he was, yet he didn’t have a clue who most of them were. Had he really been that out of touch with his own community?

  “I’ve never been riding with a high school rodeo star before,” he said, not regretting his decision to meet her away from the unrelatable wealth and privilege of the main house. “I better get you on a horse to prove you’ve still got it.”

  * * *

  The challenge was exactly what Camilla needed to turn her attention away from the non-stop thoughts of continuing yesterday’s kiss. Or of how amazing Jordan looked in that gray cowboy hat. It was no surprise that he obviously belonged on this ranch just as much as he belonged in the board room. It was getting harder and harder to prove that their worlds were too different when the man was like a damn chameleon fitting in everywhere he went.

  She followed him into the stables and stood on the lower rungs of a stall as he saddled the horses he’d already chosen for them to ride. “Do they have names?”

  He stroked the white mare’s nose just above her bridle. “This little beauty is Leia, named after the princess, obviously.”

  “And I’m guessing the black stallion is named Darth?” she asked. “After the guy with the mask and the red light saber?”

  “Actually, it’s Palpatine, after the emperor of the dark side.” Jordan handed her a set of reins. “I bet your social media sources didn’t tell you I was such a big Star Wars fan, did they?”

  “Wait.” She took a cautious breath while trying not to compare the size differences between the two animals as she walked between them. “I’m riding the big black stallion and you’re taking the smaller female horse?”

  “Don’t let his name fool you. Palp is a real sweetheart and will go anywhere you ask. Leia, on the other hand—” the white mare snorted at Jordan and then pranced to the side as he tried to lead her out of the stable “—is exactly like her namesake. A real rebel, aren’t you, girl?”

  Camilla used the stirrup to mount the stallion easily enough despite how high off the ground she was. It took Jordan two tries and some sweet talking before Leia finally let him on her back. There was a whole stable full of animals he could ride, yet he insisted on taking the one who would give him the most trouble. Because of course he would.

  As they rode their horses to the dirt trail heading east, Camilla took another glance over her shoulder at the house that didn’t look any smaller from this distance. “Your parents must love the fact that you still live at home.”

  Jordan adjusted his hat. “It’s just what we Taylors do. It’s practically ingrained in us from birth. We work in the family business and live in the family home until we get married. I mean, not Daphne, of course, because she’s smarter than all of us. But every other Taylor for the past several generations has done it.”

  “My parents are the same way. Minus the global family business part, obviously. But if they could’ve kept all of us at home, they would have. As you saw, though, our house is a bit more cramped than this one. By the time I finished college, I was too accustomed to living on my own and, even though it would’ve saved me a ton in rent money, I resisted their attempts to entice me back home. Although, it’s such a small town I end up running into someone from my family pretty much every day. So it still kinda feels as though we all live together.”

  She watched his face beneath the brim of his hat, but he kept staring off straight ahead. “When my dad and Jessica first got married a couple of years ago, it seemed like the perfect time to move out. To give the newlyweds their space and all that. But then Daphne beat me to the punch and I didn’t want Jessica to feel like we were all leaving because of her.”

  “So she’s not the evil stepmother?” Camilla asked. Thankfully, Palpatine was docile enough that she could hold the reins loosely.

  Jordan, on the other hand, kept a tighter hold on Leia, who kept sidestepping toward them, all but challenging the stallion to go faster. “Nah, she’s nice enough and means well. But she tries too hard to please my dad instead of putting him in his place. It’s like those signs at the campgrounds near Yellowstone Park warning people not to feed the bears because it only makes the bears more bold and more dependent on having their needs met. Jessica is the inexperienced camper who feeds the bear.”

  “Interesting analogy.” Camilla appreciated the fact that Jordan wasn’t badmouthing the woman, even though many in his position could resent the fact that their father was married to someone so much younger. “But even more interesting is the fact that you’ve been to a campground.”

  “I’m not so pampered that I haven’t been camping,” he told her.

  She gestured at the full trees and rolling green hills surrounding them. “No, I mean, why would you go to a campground when you have the great outdoors in your own backyard?”

  Leia seemed to want to pick up speed and Camilla didn’t believe in taming anyone or anything’s spirit. So she nudged Palpatine faster and they cantered beside each other until they reached the crest of a hill that overlooked the house and several miles of pastures, which probably only represented half the Taylor holdings.

  She was so blown away by the view that Camilla sighed. “Your ranch is truly beautiful.”

  He nodded, for once agreeing with her. “Obviously, I can’t take credit for something I was born into. But I do love living here. Whenever my old man was going through a divorce or had a business deal fall through, being able to saddle a horse and get away on a ride was one of the few things that made living in his shadow bearable.”

  “If it’s so frustrating living with your dad and working with him, why don’t you take a page out of Daphne’s book and move out? Surely Jessica would understand by now that it’s not her.”

  “I’ve thought about it. Man
y times. In fact, lately I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a place in BH247—you know, that new condo complex in Bronco Heights—for no other reason than to stand in solidarity with Daph so she’s not the only Taylor living off the ranch. I could even start a ranch of my own, but that would really send my father over the edge. And as overbearing as he can be, I do love him and don’t want to be the one responsible for giving him high blood pressure. Besides, when I’m not at the office, I have the eastern suite of rooms to myself and a full-time cook and housekeeper to take care of everything else. If you ever meet my assistant, Mac, you will believe me when I say I hate hiring new staff.”

  “Gee. Only the eastern suite to yourself? How do you even manage?” she asked sarcastically with a friendly undertone. Instead of being properly chastised, though, he flashed those dimples and wiggled his dark eyebrows.

  “See? You’re the only person I’ve dated who will tell me things straight, no sugarcoating. I need that kind of honesty in my life, Camilla.” Leia snorted, then whinnied, as though in agreement. “This is why you’re good for me.”

  “Maybe so.” She turned Palpatine around, ready to let the antsy white mare beside them finally have the run she’d been itching for. As she took off racing, Camilla added to herself, “That doesn’t mean you’re any good for me.”

  Chapter Six

  As they returned from the ride, Camilla saw the luxury car parked next to her older model compact sedan. Her heart rate had already been elevated from the fast pace Jordan and his mare had set. But when she saw who was sitting inside the vehicle, her pulse skipped a few beats. And not in a good way.

  She caught the slight crease on Jordan’s forehead before he managed to quickly wipe it away. He let out a breath, and kept his horse moving forward. “Looks like they skipped brunch, after all.”

  Cornelius Taylor and his much younger wife were exiting the vehicle as they rode up, and Camilla’s stomach twisted into a thousand knots. She expected Jordan to avoid the couple by cutting behind the corral and riding toward the rear of the stables. But he continued toward the driveway, giving her no choice but to follow.

  Jordan dismounted first, which allowed Camilla to hear Jessica whisper to a squinting Cornelius, “I think it’s one of Jordan’s lady friends.”

  The older man apparently needed glasses more than he wanted to admit because with his wife’s explanation, his face went from slightly annoyed to almost welcoming, and Camilla immediately wondered if he was about to put on an act for a visiting guest.

  “Dad. Jessica.” Jordan greeted each of them as Camilla dismounted by awkwardly sliding down Palpatine’s very tall frame. “I don’t know if you remember Camilla from the Denim and Diamonds fundraiser the other night?”

  “Of course.” Cornelius smiled at her, his perfectly set teeth very square and very white. “You’re Jose’s daughter.”

  “No, Dad. This is Camilla Sanchez, not Balthazar.”

  “I’m Aaron and Denise’s daughter,” Camilla felt obliged to point out to this man, who seemed to take so much stock in family legacies.

  “Of course,” Cornelius said with a confident nod, although Camilla was certain he didn’t have a clue who her parents were.

  Nobody said anything for a few awkward moments and then Jessica, probably in an attempt to break the tension, said to Camilla, “I really loved the dress you wore to the gala. The gold one? Several people commented on a picture of it on my social media post asking who the designer was.”

  “Oh. Thank you. I...um...don’t really remember.” Which was truthful enough without admitting that she’d actually borrowed the dress.

  The silence stretched between them again and Camilla pressed her lips together as she prayed that Jordan wasn’t suddenly regretting inviting her to the ranch. Seeing Jordan around his family would be much more eye-opening than seeing him around hers. She hoped he wouldn’t start acting like a kid who’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. The good news was, his face certainly didn’t show a trace of shame. But then again, it never did.

  “So, you’re back from church early,” Jordan finally said.

  “Your father thought today’s sermon on forgiveness was—” Jessica started, but Cornelius used his elbow to lightly nudge her arm.

  “The sermon was so boring I could barely stay awake. It didn’t help that Jessica kept me up half the night watching those home decorating reality shows she loves. You know how women are, son. You can give them all this—” he spread out his arms to encompass the massive house “—but still they want more.”

  Thankfully, Jordan didn’t admit that he in fact knew how women were. Nor did he display an ounce of guilt for bringing a commoner like her to the Taylors’ royal palace. His smile was polite, despite the fact that it lacked all his usual charm. “I was just about to invite Camilla inside and make her a sandwich. Would you like to join us?”

  Camilla glanced down in time to see Cornelius briefly squeeze his wife’s hand. She gave her husband a reassuring pat on the arm. “Actually, we should both probably have a little rest.”

  “Nice meeting you, Carol,” Cornelius said before turning toward the front door.

  “Dad, it’s Camilla,” Jordan corrected him. “Jeez.”

  He took off his hat to run his hand through his hair and probably didn’t see Jessica mouth the word sorry to Camilla before following her husband.

  “Well, that was awkward,” Jordan offered, staring at the older man walking away. “My dad is usually way more charming. He must have really hated that sermon on forgiveness, especially since the minister’s wife volunteers regularly at Daphne’s animal sanctuary.”

  Camilla didn’t want to point out that Cornelius Taylor’s rift with his daughter hadn’t kept him from smiling at his unexpected guest until after he’d found out that Camilla wasn’t in fact related to the Balthazars. That was when the older man stopped any pretense of being charming. However, pointing out such a thing would only compel Jordan to attempt to prove her wrong, which would in turn bring more attention to an already awkward situation. So she just kept quiet as she walked her horse toward the stables to cool him down and give him some water.

  Jordan, with Leia in tow, caught up to them. “I can understand why you wouldn’t want to come inside for a sandwich now. Why don’t I drive you into town and we can grab something to eat?”

  Camilla stretched her back. It’d been a while since she’d ridden a horse, and she still needed to do some errands and even a bit of homework before dinner at her parents’ house tonight.

  “Maybe we should just call it a day.”

  “Sure, if you want.” Jordan’s agreement came a bit too readily as he tethered his mare to a post near a water trough. “But if we don’t eat, then it doesn’t count as a date.”

  So that was his game. She gave a snort of disbelief before picking up a currying brush. “Remind me how we came to the conclusion that our dates have to include food?”

  “Because you like food?” He smiled at her.

  “Do you want to rephrase that?”

  “Why?” He dumped some oats into a hanging bucket for Leia, who immediately began chomping. “This old gal likes food, too. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

  Camilla watched him caress the horse’s silky nose as he murmured sweet words to her. A ping of envy darted through her as she thought about the way his very capable hands had similarly stroked her yesterday during their goodbye kiss.

  She wasn’t actually jealous of a horse, was she?

  Leia, probably like many females before her, abandoned her treat to nuzzle against Jordan’s hand. Well, Camilla certainly wouldn’t be like the contrary mare and choose a little physical affection over a good lunch.

  “That’s because food is more reliable than men.” She made eye contact with the horse, who continued to nuzzle against Jordan, refusing to be shamed. Camilla pointed a finger
at the mare. “If you ever had the cornbread slathered in homemade honey butter they serve over at the BBQ Barn, you’d know that already.”

  Jordan laughed. “Looks like we’re going to the BBQ Barn, then.”

  * * *

  “So, what do you have planned after this?” Jordan asked when Camilla wiped her hands on a paper napkin from the dispenser. Instead of handing her another one, he used his thumb to wipe the tangy sauce off her cheek. He would’ve used his tongue if there wasn’t anyone else in the restaurant.

  “I’m supposed to go to my parents’ house tonight. But after all those ribs, who has room for dinner?”

  He looked at his watch, not quite ready to say goodbye. “I mean between now and then?”

  “A nap sounds good.” She pushed away from the wooden picnic-style table. “But I’m worried that if I fall asleep now, I’ll end up in a food coma and won’t wake up until tomorrow.”

  “So then it’s up to me to keep you moving and alert. How about a basketball game?” he asked.

  She held her still flat stomach and groaned. “Are you crazy? I feel like a basketball that just got slam-dunked.”

  “Not to play,” he laughed. “To watch. My assistant is filling in as a substitute youth coach over at the rec center and she has a game today. It would mean a lot if we came out and supported her.”

  “You know, my dad is the ref for those basketball games. Or at least he was. He took off this season because of his bunion surgery. He’s been telling our neighbors all about that wine basket, by the way. He didn’t earn any points with Mrs. Waters when he told her it was way more therapeutic than her casseroles.”

  “I’ll have to send him another one, then. Maybe one to Mrs. Waters, as well.”

  She rolled her eyes. He was getting used to the gesture whenever she wanted to convey that he was being over the top.

  Before she could give him another excuse about being busy, he stood up and grabbed their plastic trays. “Come on. I’ll drive.”