St. Elmo

by Skye McNeil

  Hopping off the back, he chuckled at the deep snow. It came all the way over his knee, an impressive accumulation this early in the season. He turned around in time to watch Bobbi slide across the path and swerve to a stop. She drove the snowmobile as if it were second nature. For all he knew, it was. She grew up exploring the Colorado Rockies, which only made her more likable. Her periwinkle hat with tassels framing her face almost matched the color of her eyes. Almost, but not quite as stunning. She pulled off the goggles and laughed at Asher when he tumbled off his snowmobile and landed in the fluffy snowdrift.

  “You going to stare all day or what?” Erin teased with a sly grin.

  “Probably. It’s the closest I can get to her with all you girls around.”

  Erin turned on the seat and let out a deep chuckle. “Yeah, we are pretty nosy, to be honest. Most men don’t manage with us.” She cracked her neck. “Why don’t you do something to catch Bobbi off guard? You know, sweep her off her feet and go all abominable snowman and whisk her away to your cave to seduce her with your primitive wiles.”

  Jared scanned the snowy terrain. “You paint a pretty picture.”

  From behind, Erin’s gloved hands rested on each of his shoulders. “Don’t look now, but her scowl would make another priceless candid.”

  He looked anyway and wasn’t disappointed. Bobbi wrinkled her nose and batted at an imaginary bug flying around in the dead of winter when she caught his gaze. She tried to play it cool but failed miserably. It was adorable.

  “What if this doesn’t work? What if she needs some stable guy, like a doctor?”

  “Nah, Bobbi likes to be kept on her toes.” Erin brushed snow from her pants. “Plus, it seems like you’re as stable as anyone. Not like I know much about you, but judging from your family, you’re the right type of guy for her.”

  “Maybe, but she needs a guy who will come home every night and not be shipped out to possible death.” He swept a palm over his chin, liking the stubble there. His eyes met Bobbi’s. Would she like it too? Too many scenarios filled his mind with the simple thought. He shook the dirty images away. “Bobbi doesn’t deserve an unknown fate whenever I leave.”

  “Why don’t you let her decide what she deserves?” Erin replied, high-stepping toward her cousins.

  He should’ve helped. She was assisting him in his ridiculous scheme to win Bobbi back. Instead, he watched Bobbi slide mint lip balm over her wind-chapped lips. He swallowed hard at the other uses he could envision for those pink lips and welcoming mouth.

  Shrugging what he wanted aside, Jared shuffled over to the redhead’s side. “You’re very confident out there. You sure you weren’t born to ride?”

  Bobbi’s lips parted, and her cheeks turned crimson.

  Shit, she thought I meant…

  “First the four-wheeler and now the snowmobile. You’re incredible on both,” he amended with haste.

  “I’m not bad on a horse either.” Bobbi’s eyes bugged almost as if she hadn’t meant to say it. She kicked at the snow with her purple boots. “We’ve been riding some sort of utility vehicle since we could walk. It’s a rite of passage for my family.”

  He nodded toward the snowmobile. It was covered in snow and icicles hung from the front. “You should teach me all your tricks.” Once the words left him, he cursed to himself. He was too eager.

  Bobbi flashed a white smile his way. “Sure. I think we could work it out.” She moved in the direction of her cousins. “You look like a fast learner.”

  She laughed at his reaction. Clearly, his face was comical, but in truth, he was trying to stay at bay. Her body language told him more than enough, but her eyes gave her away. She acted indifferent in front of everyone, but he read the truth in her gaze. She was struggling almost as much as him. Except, he had it worse. He’d seen the luscious body lying beneath her oversized snowsuit, and it was edible, panties or no.

  “It’s set. You’ll be my partner on the way back,” he called as she reached her family.

  She shrugged nonchalance but picked up her pace. Being near her was dangerous, and he loved the adrenaline rush.

  »»•««

  As it turned out, Jared didn’t have the honor of riding bitch with Bobbi. She pulled off her gloves and tossed them on the couch. In fact, the green-eyed man was nowhere to be found after her cousin insisted she be the one to teach him a thing or two about the snowmobile. Gritting her teeth, Bobbi did her best to ignore the shrills of laughter she heard when she arrived at the Davis cabin. Jared and Erin were mid-snowball fight when she pulled into the drive. From the looks of the fluffy white stuff all over Jared’s face, he was losing as well. Instead of joining in the fun, Bobbi opted to return to the guest cabin. Watching her gorgeous cousin flirt with the one man she truly wanted made her stomach sour.

  After flinging her boots to the door, she plopped on the couch face first. The crackle of the nearby fire comforted her as much as it warmed her frozen appendages. “This Christmas sucks,” she complained against the pillow.

  From the confines of her bedroom, the familiar jingle of Clara’s ringtone rang through the cabin. Bobbi hopped up and ran to answer it before the voicemail picked up. “Clara, oh my God, I’m glad to talk to you.”

  “Hey, what’s up? You sound sad. Is Jared being a dick?”

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, she sulked. “No, I wish he was. It’d make it easier to hate him.”

  “Then what’s wrong?”

  “He and my cousin, Erin, are all chummy. It’s annoying.”

  “You mean they’re making out and stuff? What a player!”

  Bobbi sucked in a breath. She doubted she could handle such a sight. “No, they’re just friendly and always around each other.”

  Clara snorted. “So, they’re being human beings and having fun at Christmas?”

  “Well, yeah, I guess.”

  “Girl, your jealousy is getting out of control.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Mhm, keep telling yourself that.” She clucked her tongue. “Have you tried any of the magazine tips?”

  “Sort of. He walked in on me dancing around in my underwear.”

  Giddy laughter came across the line. “Are you serious? Talk about some awesome news. Did he try anything?”

  “No, but he didn’t exactly have the opportunity. My grandma and cousins came over not long after he caught me.”

  “Why didn’t you do anything?”

  “I don’t know. He caught me off guard. I wasn’t going to up and kiss him after he’s getting frisky with my cousin.” She let out a huff. “They were having a snowball fight last I saw them.”

  “And you didn’t join them because…”

  “Because, I want him all to myself, okay? There, I said it.” Bobbi fluffed one of the pillows. “He never showed interest in Erin at the wedding, so I didn’t think he liked her.”

  “Okay, but he also had his tongue down your throat the majority of the week, so since you're standoffish, it makes sense for him to seek out alternative companionship.”

  “I guess you have a point. I'm too vague with my attempts.” She swallowed hard. “I need to try harder if want him.”

  “Bingo. Think you can step up?”

  Thinking about the differences between herself and Erin, Bobbi gnawed on her thumbnail. Erin was more of a cookie cutter girl. What guy wouldn’t want that? Standing, she paced the floor. “We’ll find out.”

  “Atta girl. Now, if you excuse me, I have an emergency room and it won’t run itself. Call you later and chin up. He’s half in love with you, believe me.”

  “Hope so. Later.”

  The moment the call ended, she flipped to the other side of the bed and grabbed the glossy magazine. “All right, let’s see what we can do to turn things around.” She wasn’t about ready to give up on Jared even if his taste in women wavered.

  »»•««

  Wiping the snow off his pants, Jared stomped his feet on the mat outside th
e front door. He could stare at the mountainous views for hours and never tire of them. From the corner of his eye, he saw a small bird perch on the bird feeder. The coloration was beautiful even for him to admit. A combination of brown, white, and black plumage contrasted the white world around him. Deciding frostbite wouldn’t take him over just yet, Jared watched the bird peck at the birdseed. The simple things about Colorado made him glad he was there. Cell service was little to none; the crisp smell of evergreen trees met his nose at each step, and the sounds of the forest overwhelmed him the moment he stepped outside. Jared made a mental note to visit the Rockies during the other seasons. No doubt, spring and fall would be equally stellar. The bird flew off and disappeared into the brush, reminding him how cold he was.

  Asher greeted him once he entered the warmth of the cabin and hung up his coat. “You made it back.” Asher nodded to Erin. “You two have a festive ride through Timberline?”

  Jared glanced to where Erin was playing checkers with her grandmother. “It was all right. This little mountain community is nice. I wouldn’t mind a place up here.”

  Asher grinned. “The plot beside our cabin is for sale.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll hold off for the time being.” He surveyed the room and saw Bobbi hadn’t returned from the guest cabin yet. “I’m waiting for the right girl before I commit to a building permit.”

  “The right girl wouldn’t happen to be Bobbi, now would it?” The two walked to the kitchen and Asher grabbed two coffee mugs.

  “Good possibility, yeah.”

  “And you’re hanging out with Erin because you think it’ll help.” He poured coffee into the cups. “Not the route I would go, but Mina is a little different from her sister.”

  The front door swung open, and a gust of wintry wind filtered all the way to them. Jared’s eyes flicked up in time to see Bobbi hang up her coat. She looked better than when he saw her last. The snowball fight was Erin’s idea, and it worked if Bobbi’s glare earlier meant anything. Still, the woman on his mind didn’t bother to glance his way or acknowledge his existence. He turned back to Asher. “Yeah, Bobbi is something special.”

  “There you are.” Jessie interrupted their conversation and tugged on her husband’s arm. “Come help wrap presents.”

  “I’m being pulled away.” He kissed Jessie’s forehead and winked at Jared. “And I can’t promise this is present-related.”

  “Too much info, Ash,” Jared complained when the two newlyweds shimmied off to their bedroom. “Wrap presents, my ass.”

  “Jared, do you want to play cards with us?” Gretta asked from the kitchen table.

  Moving toward the Davis cousins, he nodded. “Sure, why not?”

  After Daisy explained the rules of Fourteen, they started playing. Midway through the first hand, Bobbi pulled out the chair across from him and sat down. “Room for one more?”

  Erin nudged Jared under the table. He shot her a glare when her hand went a tad higher up his thigh than he was prepared for.

  “Sure,” Gretta said, dealing her in.

  Jared studied his handful of cards. Cards were one of his favorite pastimes. It helped when he was stationed abroad. When there was nothing to do, a deck of cards and a buddy or two made the long shifts livable. The pleasing scent of cinnamon mixed with the freshly brewed coffee. The entire atmosphere made him feel warm and cozy. All he needed was a recliner and blanket, and he’d gladly fall asleep to the hum of the cabin.

  “So, Jared, what’s next for you?” Daisy asked, drawing from the pile of cards.

  Shuffling his cards into a straight, he focused on her. “Well, I’m not entirely sure yet. My contract is up the beginning of next year, and I haven’t decided if I’ll sign again or go another path.”

  “If you weren’t in the Rangers, what would you do?” Gretta asked.

  “I don’t know. I’ve been in the Rangers since straight out of high school.” He bunched his cards together and met Bobbi’s gaze. “I’m good at what I do. I like the action and seeing new places all the time. Settling down to just one job and one place wasn’t what I had in mind for my life.”

  An odd expression covered Bobbi’s face. He didn’t like it one bit when her blue eyes saddened. The fire hissed from behind them, mirroring how he assumed Bobbi felt since her nose scrunched up at his words.

  “Oh, I see.” Daisy and Gretta exchanged a look. “What about going into business with Asher? I’m sure he’d be up for it.”

  Smirking, he nodded. “I’ll bet he would, but do I seriously want to live so close to my big brother?”

  The cousins giggled in unison. His heart lightened at the sound of Bobbi’s laughter. It always knocked him on his ass.

  “Be serious, Jared,” Erin pleaded, now hanging on his arm.

  He cleared his throat and tried not to pry her off him. While his initial thought of having a partner to help him win Bobbi over was a valiant one, he was quickly regretting choosing this particular Davis. Erin was more handsy by the hour.

  “Okay, okay. If I’m honest, I always liked the idea of running my own security business. You know, hiring a group of ex-military men and women and providing the best we can offer.” He took a sip of the coffee. “Then I can stay active and feel like I’m useful to the American people.”

  “Damn. Who knew you were so thoughtful?” Gretta complimented, laying down her cards. The whole table groaned when she discarded the last card in her hand. Gretta was a card shark if he ever saw one.

  “Shocking, I know.” He laughed and managed to get free of Erin’s grasp. He lifted his gaze and held in a sigh of relief. While the rest of the table played out the last round, Jared was content with maintaining eye contact with Bobbi. His honest proclamation seemed to make her happy. Well, good, because I never thought I’d say that stuff out loud. He grinned. The idea of opening a security firm with Spencer and maybe even a few other guys from the Rangers was a pipeline dream. If Asher chipped in a bit of investment dough, Jared just might make the plan work. Plus, then I might be more of an option to Bobbi.

  Daisy shuffled the cards and began dealing them out. No matter what happened between him and Bobbi, Jared wanted to pursue his idea. As to whether he’d still be active duty…it was under advisement.

  ∙•∙

  The scent of cinnamon and evergreen filled the cabin. Bobbi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Jessie and their mom were in the kitchen baking cinnamon rolls. It never smelled so good when I was little, did it? She couldn’t remember. Soft music came from her dad’s guitar, though it was Daisy who was strumming the holiday tune. Nothing could be better. Jared’s deep chuckle met her ears. Well, other than him being snuggled up with me instead of Erin. She cracked open her eyelids and saw the duo setting up the gingerbread house contest in the dining area. So far, it appeared they had every type of candy available, along with the ready-made gingerbread house fixings. This particular event was one of Bobbi’s favorite. Mostly because of all the delicious ways to decorate the houses. Over the years, she managed to snag the winning prize—a gift card to a popular coffee shop—and this year she desperately wanted the success if only to rub it in Erin’s face.

  “It’s time,” Stella Whitaker called, clapping her hands together. “Those who wish to join in on the gingerbread contest better get over here. Myself, Dawn, and Grandma Jane will be the judges. You’ll have ten minutes to put together a gingerbread house to dazzle us.”

  “Any way I can bribe you?” Gretta heckled, as the Davis and Whitaker contestants lined up beside the table. Out of all the cousins, she had the worst creative ability. Nonetheless, she tried her damnedest each year.

  “I like caramel covered chocolates,” Dawn said with a wink.

  Grandma Jane stood and ambled over to the table. “Now, I want a clean contest. No spitting candy at each other like last year.” She eyed Daisy, who in turn blushed. “Ready, go!”

  Bobbi scrambled for the gumdrops, shoving Erin in her wake. Jessie managed to snag the
entire bowl of miniature chocolate chips while Asher’s quick hands found the licorice strands. She didn’t have time to watch everyone else since she was going to win. Standing up the sides of the house, she iced them together faster than the rest of the group.

  “Geez, competitive much, Bobbs?” Jared teased from beside her.

  Taking her eyes off the roof for a split second, she gasped at his proximity. He couldn’t be more than a foot from her, and he didn’t appear to be moving anytime soon. A small part of her warmed at the knowledge of Erin being banished to the other side of the table while she hogged Jared’s attention. His masculine scent overwhelmed her within seconds. Yeah, she could get used to him being so close all the time if he smelled this good.

  “As a matter of fact, yes, I’m very competitive.”

  Jared stuck the walls of his house together and bobbed his head. “Good, I’m counting on it.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Bobbi, your roof is caving in,” Daisy pointed out.

  Ignoring the man to her left, Bobbi let out a disgruntled grunt at her work of art. Slathering more sticky icing on, she started decorating before it was dried. With a piping bag, she quickly squiggled lines of white frosting all over the small house until it was covered.

  “Oh, Jared, I love what you’ve done with the place,” his mom cooed, rounding the table like any good judge would do.

  “Thanks, Mom.” He graced her with a cheeky smile.

  Dawn stopped in front of them. “Oh, yes. I especially like the green mints all over the roof.”

  Jared added a row of green gumdrops along the front. “Thanks. I’m going for a camouflaged cabin. We’ll see how it goes. I don’t have all of what I need.”

  Bobbi’s mouth dropped open when she took in his house. It was ridiculously on point. “Ugh, can you be any more perfect?” She bit her bottom lip and glanced over. Sure, enough, he heard her aggravated mutter.