A Texan for Christmas

by Jules Bennett

  Madelyn cooed and grinned as the swing went back and forth. Scarlett couldn’t help but return the smile. It was impossible to be unhappy around Madelyn. Even when she’d fussed about her sore gums, Scarlett cherished the time. Madelyn was such a special little girl and having a father who cared so deeply made her very fortunate.

  Beau had made a difficult decision to leave his Hollywood home and find out what life he and his daughter should lead.

  Maybe he’d go back to his home in LA, but for now he seemed to be in no hurry. After spending the past several nights in his bed—well, hers—Scarlett wasn’t in too big of a hurry to leave, either.

  But she had to. She couldn’t stay here forever playing house. There was no happily-ever-after for them, no little family. No, Scarlett wasn’t going to get that family...at least not with Beau.

  Maybe one day she’d meet a man and he might have kids already or maybe they’d adopt. She still couldn’t let go of that dream. A new dream had replaced the old one and Scarlett had a blossom of hope.

  Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her out of her thoughts, and Scarlett squealed.

  “It’s just me,” Beau growled in her ear. “Unless you were expecting someone else.”

  Scarlett eyed him over her shoulder. “My other lover was supposed to come by because I thought you were out.”

  He smacked her butt. “There are no other lovers as long as I’m in your bed,” he said with a smile.

  Which would only be for another two weeks.

  Scarlett didn’t want to think of the end coming so soon. Only a few days ago she was counting down until she could hightail it out of town, but now...

  Well, falling into bed with Beau had changed everything.

  “I thought you were with Colt and Hayes looking over résumés for guides for the dude ranch.”

  The new business venture of the Elliott brothers was due to start in early spring. Scarlett had heard Beau discussing how much still needed to be done, she was only sorry she wouldn’t be around to see how magnificent all of this would be. Pebblebrook was a gorgeous, picturesque spread and no doubt they would draw in thousands of people a year.

  Scarlett wondered if Beau and Colt had told their dad about the ranch, about the way they were closing in on making his dream a full reality, when they’d gone to see him yesterday morning. But Beau had been closed off when he’d returned. Scarlett hadn’t wanted to press him on a topic that was obviously so sensitive. She couldn’t imagine that bond father and son had shared growing up and how much this must be hurting Beau.

  Growing up, she did everything to avoid her stepfather and mom. They’d been so caught up in their own worlds anyway, so she went unnoticed.

  “We finished early,” Beau told her. “I told my brothers I needed to get back home to see Madelyn.”

  Scarlett gave the swing another gentle push and turned to face Beau. Those dark eyes, framed by thick lashes, all beneath a black brim only made him seem all the more mysterious. Over the last week she’d found out that there were several sides to him, and she had to admit she liked this Beau.

  The man before her wasn’t the actor she’d seen on-screen or the playboy the media portrayed. This Beau Elliott was a small-town rancher.

  Albeit a billionaire.

  She glanced over at Madelyn. “She woke from a nap about twenty minutes ago, so you’re just in time.”

  Beau slid his hands up her arms, over the slope of her shoulders, and framed her face. “I may have wanted to see you, too.”

  Scarlett couldn’t help the flutter in her chest. The more time she spent with him and his daughter, the more she realized how difficult leaving would be. But she’d be fine. She had to be.

  “I also left because I have a surprise planned for you.”

  “A surprise?” she repeated, shocked he’d think to do anything for her. “What is it?”

  Beau slid his lips softly over hers, then stroked her cheeks with the pad of his thumbs. “If I tell you then it won’t be a surprise.”

  “Oh, come on,” she begged. “You can’t tease me like that.”

  He thrust his pelvis toward hers and smiled. “You weren’t complaining about being teased last night, or the night before, or the night before that.”

  Scarlett slapped him on the chest. “Fine. But you’ll pay for that.”

  Beau grazed his mouth along her jaw and up to the sensitive area just behind her ear. “I’m counting on it.”

  Madelyn let out a fuss, which quickly turned into a cry. Before Scarlett could get the baby from the swing, Beau had moved around her and was unbuckling her.

  Scarlett stepped away and watched as he cooed and offered sweet words and patted her back. Something stirred inside her. An unfamiliar feeling. An undeniable feeling.

  She was falling for Beau.

  How ridiculous that sounded even inside her own mind. But there was no denying the fact. Beau Elliott had worked his way past her defenses and into her personal space, quite possibly her heart. There was no future here and she was a fool for allowing this to happen.

  Of course she didn’t allow anything. There had been no stopping these feelings. From the second Beau showed her just how selfless he was, how caring, Scarlett couldn’t help but fall for him.

  Beau lifted Madelyn over his head and spun in a circle. With the sun off in the distance and the soft rolling hills of the ranch as the backdrop, Scarlett had to tamp down her emotions. The father/daughter duo was picture perfect and maybe neither of them realized how lucky they were to have each other.

  Scarlett let them have their moment as she slipped inside the tiny cabin. As silly as it was, she’d come to think of this little place like home. This was nothing like the massive home she’d grown up in. The place might as well have been a museum with the expensive furniture, priceless art and cold atmosphere.

  Maybe that’s why this cozy cabin touched her so much. There was life here, fun, a family. All the things she’d craved as a child and all the things she wanted as an adult.

  But they weren’t hers...and she needed to remember that.

  Instead of dwelling on those thoughts, Scarlett moved to the kitchen where she’d baked sugar cookies earlier. They were ready to be iced and taken to Annabelle, Alexa and Pepper.

  Scarlett didn’t proclaim to be the best baker, but she did love her sugar cookie recipe. In fact, she’d made extra just for Beau. Maybe part of her wanted to impress him still, which was silly, but she hadn’t been able to help herself. She cared for him, so much. Much more than she should be allowed.

  The man came through the doorway just as her thoughts turned to him once again. Of course, he was never far from her thoughts, just as he was never far from her in this tiny space.

  “I thought I smelled cookies when I came in earlier.” He held Madelyn with one strong arm as he came to stand on the other side of the island. “But it looks as if you have enough to feed a small army. Are we expecting company?”

  Scarlett started separating the icing she’d made into smaller bowls so she could dye it in different colors. “I’m taking a dozen each to your brothers’ houses later. I just... I don’t know. I thought I should do something and I love to bake. I think Christmas just demands the house smell like warm sugar and comfort.”

  She applied two drops of yellow food coloring into the icing for the star cookies, then she put green drops into another bowl for the tree cookies. The silence had her unsettled so she glanced up to find Beau staring at her with a look on his face she’d never seen before.

  “What?” she asked, screwing the lids back on the small bottles of food coloring.

  “You watch my baby all day, you cook, you decorate—”

  “Don’t call that tree in the corner decorating,” she grumbled. “Maybe I baked because I need a chance to redeem myself.”

  He chuckled and s
hifted Madelyn around to sit on the bar and lean back against his chest. He kept one firm hand on her belly.

  “The mantel is beautiful and way more than I’d ever think of doing, and the front porch looks like a real home with the wreath and whatever you did to that planter by the steps.” He slid his hat off and dropped it onto a bar stool. “I don’t know how you do it all. Maybe women are just born with that gene that makes them superhuman.”

  “We are.”

  His smile widened. “And a modesty gene, too, I see.”

  “Of course,” she said without hesitation.

  “Regardless of how you get everything done, I’m grateful.”

  The sincerity of his statement just pulled back another layer of defense she’d tried to wrap herself in. Unfortunately, every time the man opened his mouth, he stripped away more and more. She was losing this fight with herself and before these next couple of weeks were up, she had serious concerns about her heart.

  “How long until the cookies are ready to deliver?” he asked.

  “I just need to ice three dozen.” She glanced behind her to the trays lining the small counter space. “I can ice the dozen for us after I get back.”

  “You made cookies for us, too?”

  Scarlett laughed. “You think I’m baking and not thinking of myself?”

  Madelyn let out a jumble of noises as she patted her father’s hand. Was there anything sexier than a hunky rancher caring for his baby? Because she was having a difficult time thinking of anything.

  “Well, as soon as you get those iced, you’ll get your surprise,” he told her. “This will all work out quite well.”

  “What will?”

  “The deliveries, your surprise.” He leaned in just a bit as his eyes darted to her mouth. “Coming back here later and pleasuring you.”

  Her body heated, not that she needed his promise for such a reaction. Simply thinking of him incited her arousal. But all of the emotions swirling around inside her were so much more than sexual. Her heart had gotten involved in this short span of time. She hadn’t seen that coming. She’d been so worried about not falling for his seduction, she hadn’t thought of falling for the man himself.

  Damn it. She was sinking fast and not even trying to stop herself. Why bother? Why not just enjoy the ride as long as this lasted?

  She deserved to go after what she wanted, no matter how temporary, and she wanted Beau Elliott. Considering he wanted her just as much, there was no reason to let worry in now.

  For the time they had left, she planned on enjoying every single moment of her last job as a nanny.

  As for her heart, well, it had been broken before. But she hadn’t experienced anything like Beau Elliott. Would she ever be able to recover?

  Twelve

  Scarlett put the final lid on the gold Christmas tin. She stacked the festive containers in a tote and went to get Madelyn from her swing in the living room. Thankfully, she wasn’t so fussy with her swollen gums now. The teething ring had helped.

  “All ready?”

  She turned to see Beau. “I’m ready.” Giddiness and anxiousness spiraled through her. “Just what is this surprise?”

  That familiar, naughty smile spread across his face. Beau could make her giddy like a teenager with her first crush and arouse her like a woman who knew exactly what she was getting into. She’d never met a man who could elicit such emotions from her.

  “You’re about to find out,” he promised with a wink. “Let me take the cookies out and I’ll be right back.”

  “I can carry them,” she argued.

  Beau put his hand up. “No. Stay right there with Madelyn. Actually, she’ll need a jacket and hat. It’s cool this evening and we’ll be outside for a bit.”

  Scarlett narrowed her eyes. “We’re not driving to your brothers’ houses?”

  The estate had a ridiculous amount of acreage—she thought she’d heard the number of five thousand thrown out—so the only way around the place was on tractors, four-wheelers, horses or cars.

  With only a smile for her answer, Beau adjusted the wide brim of his black hat before he grabbed the bag stuffed with cookie tins and headed out the front door.

  Scarlett glanced to Madelyn and tapped the tip of her nose.

  “Your daddy is driving me crazy.”

  By the time Scarlett grabbed the jacket and hat for Madelyn from the peg by the door, Beau swept back inside.

  “I’ll finish getting her ready,” he said, taking his daughter. “Take a jacket and hat for yourself, too. I can’t have you shivering or you won’t appreciate the surprise.”

  Scarlett laughed. “You’re making me nervous, Beau.”

  He reached up and stroked one finger down the side of her face. “Trust me.”

  How could she not? She trusted him with her body...and he was closing in on her heart.

  Scarlett smiled, mentally running from the unfamiliar emotions curling through her. “You know I do.”

  She went to her room to get her things. Whatever Beau had planned, he seemed pretty excited about what he’d come up with.

  Warmth spread through her at the thought of him thinking of a way to surprise her. Was this a Christmas present or just because? Or did this surprise involve something he liked, as well? The questions and the unknowns were driving her crazy.

  It was difficult not to read more into this situation because they’d agreed to have just these last couple of weeks of intimacy before she left. So why was he going that extra mile? Why was he treating this like...well, like a relationship?

  Scarlett groaned as she tugged on her red knit hat. Her thoughts were trying to rob her happy time here. She had one of the sexiest men in the world waiting to give her something he’d planned just for her. And she’d simply enjoy it.

  She slid on her matching red jacket, perfect for the holiday season and delivering Christmas cookies. For another added bit of flair, she grabbed her black-and-white snowflake scarf and knotted it around her neck.

  When she stepped back into the living room, Beau held Madelyn in one hand and extended his other toward her. He kept that sneaky grin on his face and she just knew he was loving every minute of torturing her.

  Giddy with anticipation, Scarlett slid her hand in his. She had to admit, she liked the look of her darker skin against his. Her bright red nails were quite the contrast with his rough fingertips from working on the ranch.

  Beau tugged her forward until she fell against his side and he covered her mouth with his. The short yet heated kiss had her blinking up at him and wondering how he kept knocking her off her feet. She never knew what he’d do next, but he continued to have her wanting more.

  “Everything’s ready,” he told her. “Go on outside.”

  She couldn’t wait another second. Scarlett reached around him and opened the door. The moment her eyes focused on the sight before her, she blinked, wondering if this was a dream.

  “Beau,” she gasped. “What did you do?”

  Directly in front of the porch were two chocolate-brown horses in front of a wide wooden sled. A sled decorated with garland and lights. On the seat she saw plaid blankets. There was evergreen garland wrapped around the reins, and the horses stood stoic and stared straight ahead as they waited for their orders.

  Scarlett spun back around and threw her arms around Beau, careful of how she sandwiched Madelyn in the middle.

  “I can’t believe you did this,” she squealed. “How on earth did you manage it?”

  Beau took her hand in his and led her to the sled. “I have my ways and that’s all you need to know.”

  Scarlett didn’t hesitate as she carefully climbed into the sled. Once she nestled against the cushioned seat, she reached down for Madelyn.

  The sled jostled slightly as Beau stepped up into it and folded his long, lean frame next to her. He gripped
the reins in hand as Scarlett pulled the cozy blanket up over their laps. She laced her hands around Madelyn and glanced to Beau as he snapped the reins to set the sled in motion.

  “Why did you do all of this?” she asked.

  “Why not?” he countered, shooting her that toe-curling grin and dark gaze. “You mentioned loving Christmas and sleigh rides. I’m just giving you a bit of extra cheer.”

  Scarlett wasn’t quite sure what to say. Beau had put so much thought into this, even though he tried to brush the sweet gesture aside. This full-on reality was so much better than anything she’d ever seen in the movies.

  “I’m glad I made you a dozen cookies, then,” she joked as he headed in the direction of Nolan’s house. “You may even get extra icing.”

  “Is that a euphemism?”

  Scarlett’s body heated, but she laughed because she didn’t want to get all hot and bothered when she was in the midst of this festive family moment.

  The breath in her throat caught and was instantly replaced with thick emotions. Family. This fantasy moment she was living in had thrust her deeper into her job than she’d ever been.

  Feeling like part of the family was often just a perk of being a nanny. But nothing had ever prepared her for falling for the man she worked for, or for his daughter. And how could she not fall for him? He’d been attentive since day one...which really wasn’t all that long ago.

  Still, Beau actually listened to her. He met her needs in the bedroom and out, and she was an absolute fool if she thought she’d walk away at the end of this without a broken heart.

  “So you’ll be leaving at the end of next week for your movie premiere,” she stated, more reminding herself and making sure this stayed out in the open. “Are you sure you’ll be home Christmas Eve?”

  “Positive,” he assured her. “Nobody else is playing Santa to my girl but me.”

  “I wondered if you’d bought presents.”

  He shot her a side glance. “Of course I have. You think I’d let my baby’s first Christmas come and go and not have presents?”