Take a Mountain Man Home for Christmas: A Mountain Man Romance Christmas Collection

by Crowne, K. C.

  “Then I will sit at your table,” he said a matter-of-factly.

  “I don’t know,” I stammered.

  “I can do that? Right. Just add my name tag to the chair next to yours,” he suggested.

  “Um,” I began. “It’s not that easy. Congresswoman Stone won’t approve of that change,” I informed him.

  I didn’t know for certain but was pretty sure that she would not be happy with her son sitting with strangers.

  “I’ll tell my mother,” he said.

  “Why?” I asked him.

  “Because I’d rather sit by a beautiful woman and I don’t really like Bethany’s family or friends too much anyway,” he confessed. “Don’t tell anyone that I said that, though,” he whispered with his hand to his mouth as if he was telling me a big secret.

  I smiled and said, “I would never tell. But it’s really not up to me to move nametags around. You’d have to ask Oakley and I guarantee you that she’ll say no.”

  Cooper wasn’t taking no for an answer. “What if,” he said, thinking. “What if you were my date?” he asked, grinning.

  “Your date!” I yelled out.

  Cooper nodded his head. “Be my date.”

  I shook my head at him. “I’m flattered but I can’t be anyone’s date. I’m working.”

  His invitation made me smile, though.

  “You’re not working during dinner. The restaurant's servers will be taking care of us. And I’ll even help tear down this place afterward,” he offered.

  I chuckled. “You're something else, Cooper Stone. But I still can’t oblige.”

  “I’m not used to not getting what I want,” he informed me with a bogus frown. “This is terribly upsetting. Do you want to be the one who is solely responsible for upsetting a guest?” he asked me, deepening his already exaggerated frown.

  I giggled.

  His frown turned into a smile. “So? I can take that as a yes?”

  “No! I can’t be your date and I can’t help you change around nametags! Maybe we can talk after dinner during the party though?” I suggested.

  “Hmm, maybe that can work. I’m going to hold you to that; you know that right?”

  “Okay, I agreed, grinning.

  “Okay, Hailey. I’m looking forward to seeing you tonight.” And with that, he flashed me a grin and walked out of the room.

  “What just happened?” I wondered out loud.

  “Was that Cooper Stone?” Oakley asked coming out of the kitchen’s swinging doors carrying a stack of white plates. A server followed with a second stack.

  “Yeah,” I replied, still looking toward the door.

  “What did he want?” Oakley asked.

  “Checking to see what time dinner was. Said he forgot to ask, and he had some things to do beforehand,” I lied.

  Oakley just raised her eyebrow at me as if asking why he would stop in to ask. He could just call his mother, I knew.

  I shrugged, trying to play it off.

  I hated to lie. I especially hated to lie to Oakley. And I knew the excuse that I gave her sounded stupid. But I wasn’t ready to say anything about Cooper to her yet. Not to anybody.

  What was there to really say, anyway?

  If I told her that Cooper was hitting on me, she would just worry about it. And I wouldn’t blame her for that. This was a well-publicized event, and I shouldn’t be hooking up with the guests. It would make her wedding planning business look unprofessional.

  I’d told myself that over and over.

  Anyway, I had to wait until later to tell Oakley about it. If I ever told her at all.

  The DJ came in and Brad and Angela Hunter came to greet him. Brad showed him where he could set up so Oakley and I didn’t have to worry about that.

  Angela was snapping some pre-party photos. She smiled at us and nodded as she came over and told us what a great job we’d done on the room.

  Looking around, Oakley and I looked at each other.

  “It does look lovely,” I told Oakley.

  “It does, doesn’t it,” she agreed with a big grin. “Perfect, in fact.”

  Perfect would be if we could get through the night without the best man getting in my panties.

  * * *

  Back at our cabin, we dressed for the dinner party. I chose an elegant, flowing, knee-length, white and gray floral satin dress.

  I matched it with a sterling silver necklace and bracelet. I put my hair up in a fancy bun and added red lipstick to offset the grey. Red pumps matched my lips.

  Oakley was dressed in a cream-colored, tulle over silk, v-neck blouse attached to a flowing black skirt. She too wore her hair up in a fancy bun-style and added some shiny earrings to match.

  We checked ourselves out in the mirror once more before Dax came to pick us up.

  “Wow,” I exclaimed.

  “Yeah, we look good,” agreed Oakley.

  “Better than good,” I giggled. “More like gorgeous.”

  She giggled and we went to the door to greet Dax when we heard a soft knock.

  “Wowzer!” Dax whistled. “How did I get so lucky to be the one who escorts two knockouts to the dinner party?” he asked when he got a look at us.

  I smiled at his compliment. “You’re gonna be turning some heads, yourself, Dax,” I returned his praise.

  Dax was all spiffed out wearing a black tuxedo jacket, white dress shirt, black tie, and black dress pants.

  “The only head I want to turn is Oakley’s,” he said, beaming at her. His eyes said he was in love.

  I smiled at Oakley. I thought that she was lucky to have found a man like Dax. Strong, supportive, protective, and caring. Oh, and he was as sexy as they came. The perfect package.

  Dax had borrowed Angela’s car that night to take us to the dinner party. I was glad that neither of us had to squish into the tight back seat of his truck.

  Once at the resort, Dax, the perfect gentleman that he was, offered each Oakley and me an arm and walked us into the dining room.

  The Stones had already arrived. No big deal since each setting was lined with a name tag. Head Chef Michael had the servers brought out hors-d'oeuvres and there was a bowl of fruit punch on a self-serve table along with a bartender tending the lounge bar.

  The DJ played soft music and the lights had been dimmed. Candlelight lit the room and bounced from the walls and ceiling. Beautiful purple and white floral arrangements decorated each table. With all of the elegantly dressed guests, the room’s ambiance was exquisite.

  My eyes moved around the room looking for Cooper. I should have known that he would have been watching for me to enter. When I found him, his gaze was on me and our eyes locked.

  He flashed me a wide, sexy grin and moved toward me. When he reached me, I thanked Dax and turned to Cooper. Dax and Oakley gave me a “what’s up” glance but continued on to the bar, leaving me to face Cooper alone.

  “You are stunning,” Cooper remarked, eyeing me up and down. “Just beautiful.”

  I blushed. “You don’t look too bad yourself,” I told him.

  He grinned and took my arm and led me to the bar. “Let’s get a drink.”

  I could not notice all of Cooper’s family’s and friends’ eyes upon us. On me, I realized. I started to feel uneasy.

  Cooper looked around and noticed them also.

  He frowned at someone and then turned to me. “Ignore them,” he said sternly.

  I took a deep breath to try and calm my nerves but then smiled at Cooper when I saw him giving me a gentle look.

  “Seriously, do not worry about them. They are always all up in my business. What I do does not concern them.”

  I nodded, but I was afraid that it did concern them. Because as I looked around the room, his soon to be sister-in-law’s family and friends were looking at us and whispering to each other as well. They were not even trying to hide that they were doing it.

  Thank goodness Congresswoman Stone hadn’t seemed to notice... yet.

  Cooper put hi
s hand on my chin and slowly turned my face to look at his. His blue eyes were piercing, and his look was sincere.

  “Look at me,” he said. “Only me.”

  I nodded. Looking at him was easy.

  “What do you like to drink?” he asked me.

  “A glass of Merlot would be nice,” I answered.

  Cooper ordered me a wine and himself a bottle of beer. I sipped on the drink and the alcohol took the edge off my nerves and made me feel a little bit better.

  We sat at the bar for a bit and talked small talk before it was time for speeches, a toast, and dinner. Cooper quickly ordered us both another drink before leading me to my seat at the Hunter’s table.

  “I’ll see you after dinner,” he told me as he helped me get seated and then headed to his own table.

  Being the best man, Cooper was the first to give a speech. He was extremely confident as he stood up in front of everyone and talked about his older brother. I could see the lawyer in him coming through.

  In fact, I could see Cooper Stone, Esquire, giving a similar speech to a jury. I bet he was very convincing and good at his job.

  That brought another thing to mind. Cooper was a successful corporate lawyer from what I could make of the initials following his name on his business card. I think that he had a Masters in Business, as well.

  He did realize that I was a simple Wedding Planner's assistant, right? I felt way out of his league and I was sure that this was one of the things that his family was whispering about.

  I started to worry about the situation again. What did he see in me anyway? Was he just looking for a fling?

  I wished that I could talk about it with my best friend but now wasn’t the time. If I told her what was going on, she would tell me to not go there. And I would know that she was right. I should not go anywhere near there.

  As I looked over at her, she was smiling up at Dax. I could see their hands secretly locked together under the table. But one thing was certain, fraternizing with the resort’s owner was one thing. Consorting with a client's guest, was totally something else. I didn’t need Oakley to tell me that as I told myself for the hundredth time.

  I sighed and sipped on my wine. When the server came around and asked me if I wanted another glass, I didn’t hesitate to tell her that I did.

  I was glad when Cooper’s long speech and toast were over. He sat back down, and his back was to me. At least, I could eat without being stared at.

  Appetizers, salads, and freshly baked loaves of bread were served right at the tables. Three main courses, two types of meat and one pasta, along with a nice variety of side dishes were set out at the long buffet table. Another white-clothed table was filled with tiers of deserts.

  After appetizers and salads, the Stones table went up to the buffet first. They filled their plates as they were laughing and talking with each other. I noticed that Cooper was the only one not socializing. Maybe, he really didn’t like his sister-in-law’s family and friends? He actually looked annoyed when one of the pretty bridesmaids started talking with him.

  Was she flirting? Hitting on him? Jealousy filled me and I instantly looked away from him, despising the feeling. I tried to push the jealousy aside.

  What the heck is wrong with me?

  But I couldn’t stop myself from looking back up at them. The pretty girl was still chatting away at Cooper. She was wearing an elegant designer dress; I could tell from its quality. In fact, the entire bridal party was wearing designer attire. I could tell they all came from money.

  And here I was a simple working woman, making it from paycheck to paycheck. The type of girl who didn’t even own her own house yet and drove a ten-year-old car.

  I felt small and lonely as I watched the bridesmaid flirt with Cooper. He didn’t flirt back, but now he was looking into her eyes and nodding. I was glad when the line moved forward, and she had to turn to get her food.

  When the girl turned away from him, I noticed Cooper start to turn toward me. Before his eyes reached me, I quickly looked away.

  I didn’t want him to catch me watching him, or for him to see the dejected look on my face.

  Again, I was relieved when Cooper made it through the line and returned to his table to eat. I made sure to not go down the aisle close to his chair and instead took the long way to the buffet line.

  I didn’t look in his direction the entire time I waited in line or when I returned to my table. I wasn’t sure how to proceed with Cooper. I knew as soon as dinner was over, he would return.

  I ate slowly and made small talk with Lindsay and Cole Hunter, and Reid and Bryce Hunter, Brad’s sons, who were sitting the closest to me. Oakley was on my other side with Dax beside her.

  Brad’s twin sons were amazingly polite and smart teenagers. They were talking to us about their plans after high school as they were getting close to graduation. Both were good-looking boys, and I could see their father, Brad, in each one of them along with the Hunter family trait of blue eyes and a burly build.

  I wished that I could get more into the conversation. I was getting a bit annoyed with Cooper Stone who was making me miserable. I knew he didn’t mean to, but it was still happening.

  And I hated it even more that I was allowing a man to do this to me. Even if the man was confident, successful, and sexy as hell.

  Cooper

  Oh my God, the girls wouldn’t stop talking to me. All day long. Earlier, when we were skiing, they’d followed me up the slope and back down. At one point, one of them pretended to wipe out right in front of me. I guess she was expecting me to act like a gentleman and stop to pick her up. Maybe even give her some pointers.

  Not me. Nope. And I didn’t care what they thought of me.

  I eventually lied my way to the advanced slope even though I was in no way an advanced skier.

  I’d rather ski in peace and chance breaking a leg than come down the slope with three of them attached to my hip.

  When were they going to get the hint that I was not interested in them or their nonsense? When would they give up? It wasn’t the first time around with them, either.

  At every single social event that my parents or brother and Bethany threw, I was tossing off females left and right. My mother had set me up on a blind date with at least half of them. She was always so upset when I came home and told her that I had a horrible time.

  I could get any woman that I wanted. I didn’t need my mom to set me up. I guess that she wasn’t aware of this fact and really thought that I needed her help.

  She always asked me. “Cooper, when are you going to find a nice lady and settle down?”

  A nice lady? These “ladies” that she was referring to were nothing but spoiled brats. Spoiled from their family’s money and would always expect everything to be handed to them on a golden platter.

  I couldn’t stand that. And I wouldn’t settle for it.

  The problem was that because of my career, the type of woman that I worked with and dealt with all day, every day, fit into my “Spoiled Brat” category. There was nowhere to meet a nice, down to Earth lady.

  I also knew that when I did finally meet someone that actually interested me, my mother was not going to approve. I’d seen what Jackson had gone through before he’d met Bethany.

  I certainly was in a pickle.

  At least on that particular day, there were only a few bridesmaids. More vapid women would show up for the actual ceremony looking to snag a husband of their own.

  I sighed heavily at the thought of it.

  At some parties, there were slews of females throwing themselves at me. I should feel lucky that this weekend there wouldn't be a “slew” of them. But still too many.

  Now, as I stood in line, Elsie, one of Bethany’s bridesmaids was giving it a whirl. She was chatting my ear off. I tried to look away, but she didn’t take the hint. I nodded in reply, not even knowing what she was saying.

  As Elsie was jabbering on and on, I was thinking of Hailey. Something told me that Hail
ey could be the nice, down to Earth lady that I have been searching for.

  Elsie turned away to get a plate and I stole a glance at Hailey. Had she seen Elsie flirting with me? I had hoped not. I didn’t want to come across as a player, or anything. I wasn’t sure how I was going to avoid that happening the entire weekend, either.

  But when I looked, I thought that I saw Hailey turn her head quickly.

  Did she just look away? I sighed. Getting Hailey to trust me was not going to be an easy feat.

  I got my food and went back to my table. I didn’t speak to anyone as I ate my dinner. I just wanted the meal to be over so that I could go and sit with Hailey. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mother giving me a concerned look.

  As soon as I was done eating, I turned to see that Hailey was still nibbling on her food. She looked sad and I hoped that it wasn’t because of me.

  Sighing, I turned back around and waited for dinner to come to a conclusion. Finally, the DJ upped the beat and people started to grab drinks, dessert, and to even dance.

  Now was my chance.

  I got up and looked to find Hailey. To my dismay, she was gone. I looked around and saw her friend Oakley with Dax Hunter. All the other Hunter’s seemed to be present, as well, so where had she gone?

  Maybe to the restroom? She couldn’t just get up and leave. I knew that for sure. I decided to go and sit at the bar and wait for her to come back.

  I sat in silence and sipped on my beer. Every few minutes, I glanced around the room for Hailey. Nope. Still missing.

  I finished my beer. I was going to order another one when I decided that I’d had enough of it. She was avoiding me.

  I need to go and find her.

  I headed out of the restaurant and looked around. There she was, in the common room by the fireplace. She was sipping on a glass of wine and watching the fire.

  “Hailey,” I called out to her.

  She looked startled to see me. Did she really think that she could avoid me this easily?

  “What are you doing out here?” I asked her.

  “Just thinking. Getting away from everything for a minute. I was going to come back in,” she smiled warily.