Her breath was shallow. “I can’t believe, after what I’ve done, that you believe in me.”
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
She put a hand on his arm and stepped closer. “You’re not wrong.”
Both of his hands came up, and he took her by the waist, moving her a quarter of a turn, then looking up. “I think someone is standing under the mistletoe.”
She backed up just a little and tugged at his jacket until he stood where she had just been. “Looks like someone else is under it now.”
“I’m waiting. Maybe you can be a little faster than I was. I seem to have missed my opportunity.”
Her hands reached up, going around his neck, and she stretched up against him. He lowered his head, pulling her close and breathing her in before their lips met.
He’d known it wouldn’t be enough to have a gentle touching of lips, but he hadn’t been prepared for the tidal desire to have her closer. He tilted his head, fitting their mouths more perfectly together, and buried one hand in her hair.
His fingers tingled, and he couldn’t breathe, but he found he didn’t want to, just wanted Angela, and she seemed to want him too, because she pushed closer, putting pressure on the back of his head that he didn’t even try to fight. Actually, in some part of his mind, it spoke to his male vanity, and he thrilled in the fact that she wanted him.
An unknown amount of time later, he pulled away, resting his temple and cheek against hers, catching his breath, and trying to remember what planet he was on.
“I knew kissing you was going to be good, but I hadn’t realized how good.” He finally spoke but still didn’t move.
She didn’t say anything but rubbed her cheek gently over his stubble, like she didn’t want to stop touching him.
“I had some important things I wanted to talk to you about, but I’m not sure what my name is right now.” He spoke with a smile in his voice.
“Maybe it’s better if we don’t talk,” she whispered.
He laughed, his breath forming a cloud in the cold night air. “I think that might be where our trouble started. I should have confessed to you what Mav said, and that I agreed, but loving you had nothing to do with any bet or what anyone else thought.” He pulled back a little, touching her cheek and running his hands into her hair. “I love you. I think it’s how easily you laughed. Every time I hear your laughter, I can feel my heart being pulled to you.”
“Mmm. You live on a higher plane than I do. I totally fell in love with the way you look in a wet t-shirt.”
That time, his laughter wasn’t soft. “It was the swimming pool? I should have known. God knew what he was doing with that blown tire.”
“I was kidding. I love how you’ve moved past what you used to be and become someone better, with no one making you. Just your own decision.” Her fingers ran softly over the back of his neck. “Aren’t you even curious about the money?”
“I don’t believe you were after me for any money. That had to have come in the mail with my parents, and you wouldn’t have seen it until just before or just after our trip. Either way, I think you liked me quite a lot before the letter.”
Her fingers stilled. “I can’t believe you have that much faith in me.”
“I’m not the only one who’s changed.”
Her face relaxed into a smile. “Thank you.”
It would be nice to just hold her. It would be even nicer to go home and take her coat off and feel real curves and slender lines, but he had a more serious topic he needed to broach with her.
“I talked to my sister.”
“Oh? Good. The girls and their future have been on my mind. What did she say?”
“Apparently she’s convinced her ex to take her back, and he’s agreed to allow her to move in with him and his new girlfriend. I didn’t want specifics about that, but bottom line, they’re not his kids and he doesn’t want them. So, basically, she doesn’t want the girls.”
“What happens to them?”
“My parents can’t take them. So, either I do, or I assume child services will put them into foster care.”
“Are you going to?”
“I want to. But I thought...that should be a decision we make together. I can’t run the harvest crew and take care of two preschoolers.”
“Are you still buying Clay’s business? With a billion dollars, you could get your own ranch.”
“I’d have to be married.” His thumb traced down her cheek and along her jaw. “I want you. And I don’t care how long I have to wait until you’re divorced and ready to take a chance on a different man.”
“I’d told you I wondered if kissing a man I loved would be different than kissing a man I didn’t.”
“Yeah.”
“It is.”
He grunted. He could have told her that. Kissing Angela had been worlds better than kissing any of the other girls he’d ever been with.
He didn’t really see what that had to do with the girls and the money and how long it would take her to want to get married again.
“I’m saying I don’t want to go back to the kind of marriage I just got out of, but being with you isn’t the same.”
He stared down at her, trying to figure out what she was saying.
“You’ll marry me? Soon?”
“Yes.”
“And we’ll work on getting custody of the girls?”
“Yes.”
“And we’ll buy ground and set up our own spread, and Mav can have the business?”
“Whatever you decide. I think I’d like to open a bake shop in Sweet Water if we stay. Or maybe work out a deal with Patty on the diner.”
“That sounds more perfect than I had ever thought it could.”
“Maybe we could kiss on it.” She put her hands on his waist. “There.” She nodded at the mistletoe above his head. “This means I get to kiss you.”
“I guess I have no choice but to let you take advantage of me.”
“Exactly.”
“Then have at it, lady. I’m all yours.”
Epilogue
ROSALEEN HOOKED THE big Percheron’s bridle to the hitching post. It wasn’t strictly necessary because Cord’s horses were well-trained. Not to mention, Percherons, like most draft horses, were calm and gentle. They weren’t going anywhere.
But it was a safety measure that helped ensure that nothing would go wrong. Rosaleen was happy to help him.
She grinned at Cord, sitting on the high seat, holding the reins, as she walked around. He returned her grin. They didn’t really need words. They’d grown up together and, along with her twin sister, Rosalin, made up twenty percent of their high school graduating class.
Unfortunately, Rosaleen had fallen in love with Cord, while Cord had fallen in love with her twin. And who knew what Rosalin loved. Chicago, maybe.
But she’d agreed to marry Cord, and she said she wanted to come back to Sweet Water and live. Rosaleen thought that might be true in theory, since Rosalin had trouble even coming back for a visit.
But they’d set a date, Rosaleen had a maid-of-honor dress and Cord seemed happy that Rosalin had finally made up her mind to come home and make their on-again, off-again relationship permanent.
Rosaleen was Cord’s best friend – there had been some discussion about having her be best man, although Cord had five brothers – but Roaslin was the one he loved.
And most of the time, Rosaleen was happy for her twin.
The Christmas festival was still going strong and the next family had climbed into the sleigh. Rosaleen made sure they were settled before walking up and unhooking the Percherons’ tie.
“Easy, there, Sadie,” Rosaleen said as she walked around the giant black horse. Sadie was double hitched with Sam, and Rosaleen made sure to stroke his nose, too, before she untied them and stepped out of the way.
Just because her sister was marrying Cord, didn’t mean that Rosaleen had to stop admiring the confident way he handled his team, although she probably should keep h
er eyes from lingering on his shoulders and the square set of his chin.
She lifted a hand as he drove the sleigh past. He jerked his chin, his eyes twinkling. He owned a small ranch outside of town, and spent most of his waking hours working on it, but the Percherons were his passion and he had a gift with them. Rosaleen would never tire of watching him with them, and outside of running her little library, there was nothing more she’d rather do than help Cord on his spread.
She had three months until his wedding. At that point she really should find something else to do.
Her mom was a teacher at the local high school and her dad was a janitor and drove a bus, but maybe Rosaleen should move away. Somewhere she wouldn’t have to see Cord and Rosalin together, even though she wished them the very best.
Yeah. She’d always heard Montana was pretty. She had three months to find a place, before she needed to leave.
Thanks so much for reading! If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review. To order Rosaleen and Cord’s story, Cowboys Don’t Marry the Wrong Sister, click HERE.
Cowboys Don't Stand Under the Mistletoe (Sweet Water Ranch Western Cowboy Romance Book 10) Page 17