“Yes, the dance.”
Stepping away, a little breathless, Abbie whispered, “Oh, no…I’m not going….”
“Why? You’ve probably got every single guy in Philipsburg standing in line to take you.”
Touching her blazing cheek, Abbie jerked her gaze from his. “No…” She laughed, embarrassed. “The wallflower of Philipsburg? I’m afraid you’re wrong, Colt. No, I don’t have anyone….” She grimaced, hating to admit it.
“But you said you were going to attend the celebration this year. Why aren’t you going to the dance?” Colt found himself stunned that Abbie had no man in her life. Hope soared through him. He suddenly felt like a lobo wolf on the trail of finding someone who could ease his loneliness. Abbie. Beautiful, carefree, childlike Abbie, whose smile was sunshine pouring into his devastated soul.
Turning, Abbie forced herself to move a few feet away from Colt. He was too accessible and was opening up to her in a way she could barely say no to. “Well, uh, I just…it’s the past, Colt. I know it’s been two years, and Laura says its time to move on, but I don’t know….”
He stood there, hearing her pain and indecision. “If someone asked you to the dance, would you go?” His heart stood still.
Abbie hung her head, her lower lip tucked between her teeth as she considered his question. Was he asking her? No, that was impossible. Did she want to go to the dance with Colt? Oh, yes! At the mere thought, her heart responded wildly. Casting him a confused look, Abbie whispered, “I know how plain I am. I don’t have a model’s body, my hips are wide and I’m slightly overweight.”
In that moment, Colt felt the doors of his heart swing wide-open. She was so gut-wrenchingly honest. Stepping up to her, he settled his hands on her slumping shoulders. “You’re not overweight. You’re just right, Abbie. You have wide hips to carry a baby easily.” He moved his fingers gently on her shoulders. “Babe, you aren’t plain. I wish you’d quit thinking that about yourself. Any man would be crazy not to appreciate what you bring to his table.” His heart thudded with fear, but Colt forced out the words he thought he’d never say to a woman. “Will you come to the dance with me tonight? Can I pick you up at nine?”
He saw the shock cross her face as she lifted hers to meet his eyes. “You…you want to take me?”
In that moment, Colt wanted to strangle whoever had ingrained in Abbie the belief that she was plain and overweight. Could it have been her husband? The kids at her school? Her parents? He didn’t know, but he wanted to convince her otherwise. Giving her his best, charming smile, he rasped, “Yes, I want to take you to the dance tonight. I’ll pick you up at nine. No arguments.”
The soft jazz music wafted across the crowded dance floor. Abbie sighed and moved slowly, deliciously, in Colt’s arms. There were at least seventy-five people in attendance. The children were laughing and dancing with one another, and with various adults. The Trayhern home rang with happiness. The odors of baked cookies, cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate added to the festive atmosphere. Many people were dressed in red, green, gold or silver, and in Abbie’s eyes, they looked like bright Christmas ornaments moving around the dance floor.
She felt Colt’s arms tighten momentarily on her waist as he swung her around. How handsome he looked in a white cashmere sweater, burnt-sienna corduroy jacket and black wool slacks. She saw where he’d nicked himself shaving, a small cut along his rock-hard jaw. There was such a merry glint in his normally frosty eyes that she found herself drowning in them like a dry sponge in search of water. How long had it been since a man looked at her like that? Wanted her like that? Too long, a little voice whispered inside her heart. Sliding her fingertips along the shoulder of his jacket, she smiled up at him.
“I’m glad you asked me, Colt.”
He preened. “Yeah?”
“Yes. Thank you…”
“You look beautiful in that emerald velvet dress you’re wearing.” And she did. In her hair was an orchid affixed with a bright, apple-green ribbon. The orchid, she had told him earlier, was a cattleya, one of her favorite species. It was a white blossom with a bright green lip and scarlet polka dots along the inside. She had gathered up her curly copper tresses and tamed them into a soft arrangement away from her face. The tiny gold-and-pearl earrings she wore, along with a similar pendant, set off her natural beauty.
“That orchid really makes you look like a wild child,” he teased. The music was low and soft. Colt was having one helluva time keeping Abbie at arms length as they danced. He saw many of the mercs and their wives dancing, their bodies melded together. He wanted to meld his to Abbie’s, but knew it wouldn’t be right.
“Thanks…” Abbie whispered. The look Colt gave her was warm and filled with pride. “Tonight I really feel beautiful. Sort of like Cinderella.” And she did.
Colt’s smile was deep as he met and held her uplifted gaze. “You know how I see you? Like a red-haired fairy princess—maybe an Irish sprite—dancing from one orchid to another. That’s quite a nice little greenhouse you have out back of your cabin. I don’t know much about orchids, but walking in there tonight and seeing their beauty…well, I can understand why you love to raise them.”
Sighing, she turned and eased a little closer to Colt. How badly Abbie wanted to lean her full weight against him and simply relinquish herself to his strong, caring arms. Colt’s tenderness was surprising. She gloried in it. “There’s one orchid I particularly love, but it’s so expensive I’ll never be able to afford it—ever—on my teacher’s salary.”
“Oh?” He saw her eyes light up with sudden enthusiasm. When she moved slightly closer to him, he picked up on her nonverbal signal and drew her more deeply into his arms. The emerald dress she wore was provocative and yet simple in its elegance. It had a scooped neckline, and from the empire waist, which outlined her small breasts, the skirt flared gracefully down to her ankles. The velvet material felt good beneath his hands. How badly he wanted to explore her more.
“You saw the framed print of the orchid in my living room earlier tonight? The one hanging on the wall behind my couch?”
Colt nodded. “Yeah, the white one with the hot pink and gold markings? I think you called it Cattleya rex?”
“That one. Yes.” Abbie sighed languorously. “They call that orchid the ‘treasure of the Incas.’ It’s found only in Peru, high up in the jungle near Machu Picchu, an archeological site that has wonderful Incan ruins. I would give my right arm to have one!” She laughed. “You saw how beautiful they are—the white petals of the orchid so huge and then that gorgeous central lip spilling out with those fuschia and gold colors. It reminds me of a Christmas tree, it’s so breathtaking!”
Spinning her around, Colt absorbed her joy and excitement. The look in her eyes was something to behold, and it made his heart skitter—with happiness. As the music died away, he stopped and opened his arms reluctantly to allow Abbie to step back. To his surprise, she didn’t move very far from him, or let go of his hand.
Morgan and Laura Trayhern walked up to the band podium. As Colt and Abbie turned expectantly, a hush came over the room. Colt saw young Jason Trayhern, dressed in his spit-and-polish, dark blue naval uniform with shiny brass buttons, following his parents rather reluctantly. Colt looked down at Abbie, whose attention was centered on the Trayherns.
“Jason is looking a little stiff and starchy.”
“He hates being the center of attention. Really, he’s very shy underneath it all.” Abbie clasped her hands to her breast. “But doesn’t he look handsome in his uniform! He’s in his second year at the academy. I’m so glad he could get leave and come home! Look how proud Morgan and Laura appear….”
Colt followed his instincts. All around him, couples stood expectantly on the dance floor, their arms wrapped lovingly around one another. Well, he wanted to do the same thing. Mustering the last of his courage and hoping Abbie wouldn’t step away from him, he slowly lifted his arm and placed it tentatively around her shoulders.
Instantly, h
er head jerked up. Her eyes flared as she stared up at him.
Fear shot through him. Colt almost pulled his arm away in that moment of panic as Abbie’s guileless expression turned to one of shock. And then something crazy happened, something Colt never expected. Her eyes grew soft and he saw tears in them for just a moment, before she blinked them back. He thought she would step away, but instead she gave him a tremulous smile of uncertainty and took a step toward him. Her velvet-covered body met his as she slipped beneath his arm.
Colt couldn’t believe his good luck. He had to be dreaming! As Abbie shyly slid her arm around his waist, his heart pounded. The courage it took her was enormous, he realized, as he drowned in her lambent gaze. Tightening his arm around her small shoulders, he smiled down at her. More than anything he wanted to kiss her parted lips.
Colt had to temper his desires. In a corner of his mind, he realized that this was the first time Abbie had had a “date” with a man since her husband’s death. She was unsure. Maybe a little frightened. He couldn’t blame her, and he wanted to do everything he could to make her feel comfortable. Another thought bolted through his spinning senses: Abbie liked him, or she would not have moved against him or slipped her slender arm around him.
Dizzied by what had just happened, Colt tried to listen as the Trayherns welcomed everyone to the party, then proudly introduced their son. Everyone clapped as Jason moved to the microphone to speak. Colt suspected the young man was uncomfortable, but he assumed a stiff military bearing, thanked them in a confident voice and was even able to smile slightly at his proud parents, who stood off to one side, their faces glowing with pleasure. And then Morgan turned and asked the jazz band to strike up another tune. Colt saw Jason quickly flee the podium, relief on his handsome, square face. How much Jason looked like Morgan! Colt thought. He was a younger version, almost a carbon copy, of his heroic father.
Turning, Colt smiled down at Abbie, who had a wistful look in her eyes. “Ready for another dance or am I tiring you out?”
Laughing, she said, “No, I love to dance! I haven’t done it in so long.” And she melted into his arms. How wonderful it was to slide up against Colt’s hard form. With a sigh, she felt his arms go around her, intimate and claiming. This time, her breasts and hips grazed his solid form. “I’ll probably be so sore and tired that when tomorrow’s skiing venture takes place, I’ll be glad to be manning the food shack and not moving around much.”
Chuckling, Colt eased back a little to catch her gaze. “Do you need me to help you?” He suddenly found himself not wanting to be alone anymore. Basking in Abbie’s sunlit warmth was somehow healing him.
“Sure, I’d love to have some help. Day two of our celebration includes skiing from noon until five. All the families gather at Brandy Hill, a great little slope just outside of town. All it has are rope tows to the top—nothing fancy. I always man the food booth for them.”
“Do you ski?”
Wrinkling her nose, Abbie laughed. “Me? Barely. I fall more than I stand on my feet. How about you?” She was deliriously happy with the fact that Colt wanted to be with her tomorrow. Her heart did somersaults and she could scarcely believe all this was happening.
“Skiing isn’t one of my strong points,” Colt admitted in a droll tone. “If it’s okay with you, I’ll help you in the food shack. Keep you company.”
She met and held his smoldering look, which sent heat flowing through her. His arms tightened around her briefly. “It’s more than okay with me….”
Abbie could barely wait for tomorrow. The magic of Christmas had unexpectedly given her a beautiful gift to her…Colt Hamlin.
Chapter 3
December 22—Day 2
The delighted screeches and shouts of the Perseus children filled the winter air as they ran through the twirling snowflakes toward the rope tow located at the base of Brandy Hill. Colt couldn’t help but give Abbie a lopsided grin as they trundled boxes over to the small wooden structure that doubled as a makeshift buffet to feed the hungry families. It was noon, and everyone was starved.
Colt had driven over to Abbie’s earlier to load the aluminum urns filled with coffee and hot, cinnamon-laced apple cider. They’d picked up sandwiches and bags of potato chips from the Trayherns as the hungry, excited crew boarded the bus leased for the occasion.
Last night, Colt had mustered up the courage to give Abbie a chaste, swift kiss on her flushed cheek at the door to her cabin after he’d brought her back from the dance. He’d wanted to do more…much more, but he didn’t want to rush things with Abbie, either. The fact that her eyes grew lustrous after his impromptu kiss had made him feel like he was ten feet tall and walking on air.
Abbie opened the door to the shack. It creaked and groaned in protest. The building was constructed of Douglas fir, the wood grayed with age and from the harsh winters they had in this region of the Rockies. The weather was perfect for the afternoon ski party: the temperature was in the low thirties, and just a bit of snow was falling from a sky that was mostly gray with some spots of blue peeking out. It was a weekday, so the Perseus employees had the normally busy place all to themselves.
Setting the first cardboard box on a table inside the shack, Abbie smiled over at Colt as he brought in a heavier box. How handsome he was! The warmth banked in his eyes thrilled her. He gave her a bashful look, that strong mouth of his hitched in a slight smile for her alone.
Jason Trayhern, now in civilian clothes, jeans, hiking boots, a bright red sweater and a dark blue navy jacket, brought in another box.
“Hey, thanks,” Abbie called to the young man. She saw the dark smudges beneath Jason’s eyes. At nineteen, he stood six foot three inches tall, with his father’s broad shoulders, wide chest and narrow hips. He was almost a carbon copy of Morgan with a square face, wide-set gray eyes and military short black hair. Abbie could see Laura’s influence, however, in Jason’s mouth; it wasn’t as hard looking as Morgan’s. Jason had Laura’s sensitivity, too—a sensitivity that had caused him much angst over the years, Abbie suspected.
“You’re welcome, Ms. Clemens.” Jason stepped aside and helped Colt maneuver the largest, heaviest box onto the table—the one that contained sandwiches for the hungry crew hanging around outside the shack. Jason grinned a little. “I’ll go get the apple cider dispenser for you now, ma’am.”
“Great. Thanks, Jason. I wouldn’t know what to do without your help.” Abbie glanced at Colt, who worked at her side to unpack the boxes. She absorbed his nearness. He was dressed in a bomber jacket that had seen better days, an apple-green sweater, jeans that outlined his heavily muscled thighs to perfection, and hiking boots. A white silk scarf set off his outfit.
She smiled up at him as he met and held her glance. “I’m so glad you’re helping me, too.” Abbie glanced out the counter window, where at least twenty children of varying ages were laughing, playing and running around. The adults were helping them get their skis on so they could use the rope tow, now in operation. “This is a hungry crew we have to feed.”
Nodding, Colt smiled at her and continued opening boxes. In the process, his hand accidentally brushed hers. Abbie had taken off her leather gloves to unpack and get everything set up, and so had he. Her flesh was warm. Inviting. How badly he wanted to continue touching her. “Yeah, those little rug rats out there definitely have a starved look on their faces. A bunch of hungry lookin’ buzzards, if you ask me.”
“Rug rats,” Abbie sniffed. “What an awful name to call children.”
“A loving military term,” Colt assured her in a deep voice. He saw Jason coming with the huge aluminum urn containing the apple cider, and moved to the side door to swing it wide.
“Thanks, Mr. Hamlin,” Jason huffed as he struggled with the huge urn.
Colt helped him place it on the counter where people could easily put a paper cup beneath the spigot to pour out a drink of the warm, fragrant cider.
“I’ll fetch the hot chocolate now,” Jason said, and left quickly.
Abbie sighed. “I know. Poor Jase! I feel so sorry for him. He’s trying so hard to do what his parents expect of him. See the circles under his eyes? I was talking to Laura earlier this morning, and she told me that Jason and Morgan had a big fight.”
“The kid looks like death warmed over,” Colt noted. “It musta been one hell—heck—of a fight.” He took the first tray of sandwiches and placed them on the counter. Instantly, ten children rushed forward, their little hands eagerly grasping for the food.
“I guess his grades at the academy aren’t good,” Abbie murmured, low enough that no one could eavesdrop on their conversation. The last thing she wanted was to embarrass Jason; the youth had enough trouble right now. “He’s doing the same thing he did in high school before I got hold of him—goofing off, partying, not being responsible. Another form of rebellion.”
“Ouch. Not the place to flunk out of,” Colt muttered. He gave her a wink. “Maybe what he needs is another Abbie Clemens at the academy to rescue him and set him straight, like you did here.”
Giving Colt a wistful look, Abbie said softly, “My heart just bleeds for Jase. He’s a complicated child—I mean, young man…. It’s funny, I still think of him as a kid and I shouldn’t. He’s growing up so fast. They always do in their teenage years.” She laughed softly.
The kid had probably not slept much after the argument, Colt guessed, because he had bloodshot eyes, too. Life was hard, Colt knew. And life was gigging Jason right now. Did he have what it took to pull himself up by his own bootstraps? Only Jason could answer that. Colt took a second tray of sandwiches and set them on the counter to replace the emptied one. Adults were ambling over now that the kids had their lunches in hand. The shack was being mobbed by hungry people, and Colt smiled a little as he watched the food disappear quickly from that tray, as well. Turning, he saw Abbie handing him a third tray piled high with sandwiches.
Romancing the Holidays Bundle 2009 Page 20