by Kim Redford
She smelled the tantalizing aroma of fresh-brewed coffee wafting upstairs from the kitchen. She doubted Trey knew her favorite coffee was Texas Pecan, but any dark rich brew would be good right about now. And she figured he knew exactly how to make it since he did everything so well.
When she heard his footsteps on the staircase, she just knew he was greeting her with a mug of delicious coffee first thing on Christmas. She loved the idea, particularly because he’d be holding the mug in his big strong hand and looking better than any fancy wrapped package.
She tried to hide her disappointment when he arrived in the bedroom carrying only a yellow sticky note.
“Merry Christmas.” He wore nothing but a big grin on his face, an expanse of bronze, muscular chest, and reindeer sleep pants slung low on his narrow hips.
“Merry Christmas to you, too.” She forgot all about the coffee. He looked good enough to be a luscious, satisfying breakfast all by his own self. She licked her lower lip in anticipation and patted the crimson sheet beside her. “Why don’t you come back to bed?”
“Plenty of time for that later.”
Again, he surprised her. Maybe he needed more enticement. She gave him a hot look and a suggestive smile.
He sat down on the edge of the bed with a mischievous grin. He shook the yellow sticky note as if to get her attention, then held the piece of paper out to her. “I want you to see my Christmas list.”
“Okay.” She took the note from him, deciding they could make up for lost time in bed soon. For now he wanted to share something with her and she was happy to do it. “Only two items?”
“That’s right. But they’re all I wanted for Christmas.”
She set up to take a better look, wearing only his soft, cotton T-shirt in a rich lapis color. “Brrrr.” She shivered. “Did you turn up the AC?”
He grinned even bigger. “Why don’t you look at my list?”
“Number One,” she read aloud. “Misty Reynolds.”
“Notice that wish is checked off.”
She cocked her head, trying to decide whether to laugh at his audacity or not. “When did you add my name?”
“First day I met you.”
She did laugh then. “Cocky cowboy.”
“Hopeful, that was it.”
“I’m glad you got your wish.”
He gave her a searing look with his hazel eyes, then glanced at the yellow note. “Notice I checked off my second wish, too.”
“But Trey, you wrote down ‘snow.’ Did you decide to fudge this morning just so you could check off both items?”
“Fudge on a Christmas list?” He sounded horrified at the sacrilege. He walked over to the windows and snapped open the thick drapes.
Misty gasped, dropped the note, jumped off the bed, and rushed over to the sliding glass door. “Snow!” She slid open the door and stepped outside onto the cold, white, fluffy stuff. “I can hardly believe it.” Bright sunlight sparkling across a blanket of snow had turned the ranch into a winter wonderland.
He followed her outside. “Blue Norther came through last night.”
“And we didn’t hear it?”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against the furnace of his body. “We were making plenty of noise of our own.”
“I wouldn’t have noticed anything but you.” She snuggled back against him, enjoying the cold on one side of her body and the heat on the other. “Crazy Blue Northers. Sleet first. Then snow. If the temperature stays cold, no telling how long it’ll take that snow to melt.”
“Could be we’re snowed in all day. Good thing Greg already volunteered to make sure the herds had food and water.”
“Generous of him.”
“He might’ve thought I’d be a tad distracted today.”
Misty chuckled. “Can’t imagine why.” She snuggled her bottom against Trey and felt a satisfying hardness in response.
He wrapped his hands around her stomach, cradling her against him. “No telling what kind of fun we can get up to in the snow.”
She spun around and thrust her hands into his thick hair. “Why don’t we find out right now?”
He gave her a quick, hot kiss. “I’ve got a better surprise downstairs.”
“Better?” She didn’t know that could be possible, but Trey’s surprises were usually wonderful.
“Yep. And this one won’t wait.”
He grasped her hand, led her back inside, and closed the door behind them. He rummaged around in a drawer and pulled out a pair of cotton sweatpants. “These are too big, but I don’t want you catching cold.”
“Thanks.” She pulled them up under the big T-shirt and rolled them around her waist. She loved being wrapped in his clothes and his scent.
“Don’t forget this.” He picked up the macramé necklace from the nightstand and held it out to her.
“You’re right.” She slipped the necklace over her head and centered the angel pendant near her heart.
“Looks perfect.” He grinned at her, excitement shining in his eyes like a little kid on Christmas morning. “Let’s go.”
She led the way downstairs, a little excited, a little apprehensive. At the bottom of the stairs, she turned around to look at him. “If you got me a Christmas gift, I didn’t get you one. I’m sorry.”
“Misty, you’re all the gift I could ever want.”
“But—”
“Come on.” And he walked with a determined stride toward the Christmas tree.
She hesitated as she took in the wonderful scene. Colorful lights glowed in the deep green of the fragrant cedar. A roaring fire of red-orange flames danced in the fireplace and sent out delicious warmth. The Bluebird of Happiness gleamed on the coffee table. A pristine white landscape stretched to the Red River on the outside of the windows. But nothing was as fine as Trey Duval.
As she walked over, she saw that he’d knelt in front of the Christmas tree. He pulled a cardboard box with holes in its sides from under the tree. He reached inside, murmured something, and looked up at her.
“What have you got there?” She leaned down to get a closer look.
He raised a small bundle of black and white fur up to her. “Merry Christmas.”
“Oh, Trey!” She sat down beside him, took the kitten into her hands, and nestled the little one in the crook of her arm. She kissed the top of the kitty’s head and he gave a soft, contented meow in response. “Slim decided I could raise this kitten?”
“Yes. Sue Ann told Slim about your request. He’s more than happy for you to enjoy the kitten you saved.”
“You saved this little one, too.”
Trey nodded. “We’ll need to bottle-feed him since he was separated from his mother too early. Sue Ann will know what to do, so we can ask her about it.”
“I’ll be happy to do whatever is necessary to help this kitty.”
“Me too. Now, what are you going to name him?”
“That’s a big responsibility. But there’s really only one name that suits this kitten. Noel.”
“That’s just right.” Trey hesitated, as if not quite sure. “Misty, I know we haven’t known each other long, but I’ve got no doubt. Will you look at Noel’s collar?”
Puzzled, she stroked the green-and-white Christmas collar. “Pretty.”
“There’s something on it.”
She looked closer and tugged loose a beautiful ring. Sparkling diamonds surrounded a large oval emerald set in rose gold. She glanced up at his face in confusion—but also hope.
“Will you marry me? I’m totally in love with you.”
She gasped, feeling her heart race with excitement.
“That’s my great-grandmother’s wedding ring.” His hazel eyes—ringed with gold, brown, and green—grew dark with concern. “If you don’t like it, we can get something new.”
“Not like it?” She felt tears of happiness fill her eyes. “I love it.” She quickly set Noel gently on her lap, where he snuggled into the soft fabric. Then she threw her arms around Trey’s neck. “I love you. Yes, oh yes, I’ll marry you.”
He pressed fervent kisses across her face, lingering on her lips, before he looked deep into her eyes. “We’ll figure out your job, my ranch, everything later. So long as we’re together, we can work out the rest.”
She smiled as she held out the ring to him, wanting him to be the one to first place her engagement ring on her finger.
He solemnly slipped the ring onto the third finger of her left hand, and then he gave her a tender kiss.
She cupped his beloved face with her palm, watching her wonderful ring sparkle in the light of the Christmas tree. “I’m happy to make any plans you like—just so long as we have a cowboy wedding.”
Acknowledgments
Support, encouragement, advice, and laughter got me on down the road in writing A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas, so thanks go to C. Dean Andersson, Elaine English, Elisabeth Fairchild, and Deb Werksman for always being there.
A very special shout-out goes to the Clayton Volunteer Fire Department for saving the real Twin Oaks from a wind-whipped wildfire.
About the Author
Kim Redford draws her inspiration from a Texas lifestyle of cowboys, cowgirls, horses, cattle, rodeos, and small towns to create her bestselling novels. When she’s not writing steamy romances, she’s a rescue cat wrangler and a horseback rider. She divides her time between Texas and Oklahoma. A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas is first in her Smokin’ Hot Cowboys series with Blazing Hot Cowboy coming soon. Visit her at www.kimredford.com.
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