by Robyn Neeley
“Honestly?” She paused so long Blake was about to ask the question again. “I woke up one morning and thought there’s got to be more to life. So I made a list of things I wanted to do someday and things I like to do. The end result became a store of assorted fun items; handmade, Western things that aren’t found in a box store.”
“You opted to be stuck inside on purpose?”
“Didn’t you?”
“That’s another story. Do you like it?”
“It’s been an experience.” She chuckled. “There’s a lot more that goes into having a store than I originally thought.” In a quick change of conversation she pointed out her window. “Check out at that one. Looks like they love green. A lot.” Green bulbs outlined every line of a two-story home and two larger trees in the front yard. Deer and presents, lit in green, sat in between the two trees.
“Whoa. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a blow up Santa wearing a green suit with a green sleigh. Ya think it’s a statement on capitalism or their views on environmentalism?”
“That’s a crap shoot.” Halle rested her arm on the leather console between them.
Blake eyed her slender fingers, but squashed the itch to reach out and lock them into his. He pointed to a ranch style house on his side instead.
“And this neighbor thought he’d make up for it by using all red.”
They both laughed. Blake caught himself. He hadn’t felt this comfortable with someone in a long time—possibly ever. He wasn’t trying to be the person he thought his family, employees, and investors wanted. He was himself, for better or worse. The women he usually dated thought of him as an Ellison, not a real person who might not care about the standing his family name brought. Halle didn’t seem to care about any of that. He grunted a chuckled to himself. That wasn’t the full truth. She did care . . . it was going to get her the loan she wanted. What surprised him was that he didn’t care that’s what she wanted from him. Women using him for what he could get them usually infuriated him. Knowing her cards were all on the table and she wasn’t trying to play him put him at ease. He liked that about her. He could trust her.
He used his blinker and turned up a side road that looked promising. “Thanks for tonight by the way.”
“I see why you wanted someone to accompany you to those things. They are brutal.”
“Yeah. And you’re not even trying to play the politics of it all. I wish some of them would wake up and realize there’s more to life than their pettiness.”
“You’re singin’ to the choir, baby.”
Blake took in a quick breath and looked at Halle. She was sipping her drink looking out her window. Baby. Was that a slip or the way she talks?
“Choir, huh?” He chortled. He liked Halle calling him baby. “You have some strong feelings about the good ole boys in town?”
Halle shifted under her blanket. “Um . . . no. I was just commiserating.”
“Well done. Thank you. I appreciate having someone on my side.”
And she was definitely on his side. If Candace was right, Halle was already giving the stuck-up women at these things the what for on his behalf.
“That you will have for the next, what, four events?” She turned her head toward him and winked. “You may owe me more than a loan by the time we’re done if they’re all like this.”
He blinked and grinned as he tried to concentrate on his driving. Sonuvagun, she’s pretty. Blake reached discretely on his left side to make sure his heater seat was off—it was plenty hot enough in the cab. Halle made his heart flutter. Between that and the heat she stirred in him, he wasn’t sure how to counteract it, or what to do about it.
“The next one will be laid back. It’s at my family’s ranch.”
“Cool. I haven’t been out to a ranch in years. Ya know, I’ve lived in Wyoming my whole life, except for college, and never ridden a horse.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“I have plenty out there. We’ll have to go riding sometime.”
After he said the words, they played back again and again in his head. His gut swirled. Did I just ask her on a date or a friend thing? He was getting way to comfortable with this woman.
“Yeah, that’d be fun. Maybe when the weather is a little nicer, though.”
Thank goodness. Blake breathed a sigh of relief that Halle hadn’t taken his off the cuff remark too seriously.
“No way! Stop!”
He pushed on the brakes. “What?” His eyes frantically scanned Halle.
“Look.” She crunched forward and tapped her finger on the front windshield. “It’s just like Christmas Vacation.”
He pulled to the curb, his heart racing. The woman sure got excited about Christmas lights.
“Should we knock on the door to see if the Griswold’s answer?” he joked as he leaned on the steering wheel to get a better look at the house lined head to toe with white lights, exactly like the holiday movie.
Blake delighted watching Halle’s reaction to the different displays as they continued to mosey through the neighborhoods. They created their own game, aptly titled Christmas Lights and the People Behind Them. Sometimes the decorating motif reasoning was a mystery to them, but it was always nice to laugh with someone and mean it. He got lost in her.
By the time Blake pulled up to Halle’s townhouse, it was late enough that people were starting to turn off their lights. Sadness draped him, head to toe, as he put his truck in park. I wish this night wasn’t ending. That thought struck up irritation. He had rarely ever wanted company to stay. You’ll see her again. She’s a friend . . . uh, business partner, his newfound mantra replayed in his head. Blake cut the engine. The snow had piled up during their holiday light excursion, and Halle’s walkway was nearly knee deep with snow. He walked around to Halle’s door to help her down and opened it as she was folding the blanket.
“Come here.” Blake outstretched his arms. Halle stared at him with her brows furrowed.
“Let me get you to your door without you losing a toe.” He felt like a dork standing with his arms opened wide, offering to carry her inside. Maybe he should’ve thought this through a bit more. He’d made sure her feet were warm before and didn’t want that effort to go to waste now. That was all. He was only being considerate. It was all business.
“I can walk.” The words that came out didn’t match the bright eyed look he was receiving. She wanted him to carry her, and he could tell she was enjoying his attention.
“No. Come here.” He consciously rolled his eyes for effect. He didn’t want to seem overly anxious to have Halle in his arms again. “Grab your stuff.” He scooped her up before she could protest, barely giving her enough time to take hold of her purse.
Her perfume cut through the cold air and he gripped her tighter. This is better than dancing with her. Flares of intense need emanated from his arms, making him acutely aware of just how much he liked having Halle this close to him. Unlike the banquet, he let himself feel the emotions that were coming naturally. He twisted around, shutting the door with a soft back kick of his leg.
Blake peered down at Halle. She was staring at him, her eyes large with a peculiar look on her face. His gaze fell to her lips before he tore his eyes away to watch the path and make sure of his steps so he didn’t slip.
Feeling her hands shuffle around his neck, he caught his breath. She was palm to skin on his nape and it burned . . . he wanted to feel her touch everywhere. You don’t need this right now. Blake swallowed down the internal warfare conflicting his mind and body.
He stole another glance at Halle as he approached her front door. Intending it to be a cursory glance, he found himself lost in her deep, green eyes, unable to look away. Their faces were close . . . so close. Keys . . . I need her keys.
“Keys?” He put a gruff voice to his internal thought.
“Um, yeah . . .” Halle finagled her purse, fished around and presented a key ring with three keys on it. “The green one with dragonflies.”
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She watched as he located her house key and unlocked the door, all while keeping her safe in his arms. She closed her eyes for a moment, sure he wouldn’t see her while he focused on the door. Perfect ending to a perfect night. Halle breathed in his evergreen scent that the snow seemed to make stronger. She could stay in his arms all night long. Maybe even forever.
But even without Blake in her bed tonight she’d sleep well with the memories of a fun-filled night, and a couple more yet to be had.
He pushed the door open and found the light, closing the door with his back. Disappointment dominated her emotions when he set her on her feet. That was quickly replaced with titters of excitement and expectation as it dawned on her that his hands were resting firmly on her hips.
Halle searched the barrage of emotion in his eyes. Her breath was more noticeable as her heart pounded and she couldn’t focus. All she could think about were his lips . . .his lips that looked divine to kiss.
The moment spread out, neither one of them looking away. She felt his hands lift lightly and deciding that was her cue to back away, she turned toward her living room. Holy crap, I was boxing him in. That’s why he didn’t move—he couldn’t. After she was sure there was a safe distance between them, she turned around to wish him a good night and thank him for the drive.
Blake was in the same spot; he hadn’t moved at all when she found his eyes again. The same look was on his face and it was too ambiguous to read.
Halle didn’t say a word. She didn’t want to further embarrass herself. She was new to this situation, a guy just standing in her doorway, doing nothing. Is he trying to figure out how to get out of here? He’s right by the door. The anticipation that was stirring in her turned to frustration. Just turn around and use the door, Blake. She smiled weakly at him.
As if reading her thoughts, he said a soft “good night” and was gone.
Chapter Four
Blake had to pick her up at Just Dandy, and there was no time for her to go home and change. This was the only event he seemed partial to when he’d listed them off the first day they met. Go figure it was at his family’s ranch. Halle wasn’t sure if it was a good old fashion hoedown or not, but he hadn’t mentioned the need to dress fancy.
Winter was in full swing so Halle hedged her bets and grabbed a white, long-sleeved cowgirl shirt with gold paisley designs off her store rack and a comfy, navy blue sweater to go with it. She was already in dark jeans and her camel colored cowboy boots, so she slipped on the new shirt and wrestled her hair into a braid that wrapped around the back of her head and hung off her right shoulder.
Butterflies bounced around in Halle’s belly. It’d been a long week without Blake. Which at first, hadn’t been so bad until the feeling of his strong hands running up her leg was so intense she looked to make sure his fingers weren’t actually there. She knew she had a problem when the way his eyes danced when he laughed his intoxicating deep sound started popping into her mind on a regular basis. She had to keep reminding herself—more often then she’d like to admit—that she could have fun, embrace the moment even, but she needed to keep a clear head about their business deal. And thinking about Blake’s firm hands on her legs was not keepings her head clear.
The other holiday functions seemed like obligations, but this one appeared like fun. And Halle was happy about it because this was more her speed. Hopefully they would be real people who laughed when they found something funny and let you know when they were mad—not the fake types she’d met at the first party.
Blake was right on time, of course, and Halle closed up the store for the night. Once they were in the truck heading west, she asked, “How was your day?” She might as well—she had nothing else to say.
They were just friends, or merely business partners. Blake made that clear when he left the other night. It had bothered her, but by the time the morning light came, she was over it. He had a girlfriend anyway. This was never about dating—this was always about business. And that was alright by her. She needed the loan.
“My day was just dandy.”
She turned her head toward him and chuckled. “Nice.”
“I thought so.” His grin was wide as he kept his eyes on the road. “It was fine. Full of meetings and whatnot. Same ole crap, just another day.”
If he doesn’t like his job or life why doesn’t he just change it? She didn’t understand people who felt trapped. Life was a series of choices, and if you didn’t like the ones you’re making, then change them. She had.
“How about your day?” he asked.
“Busy. The shopping season is in full swing.”
More like booming—she’d looked over the numbers at lunch and she was ahead in her projections. Her family had many shortcomings . . . teaching her the ins and outs of running a successful business had not been one of them. Thankfully.
“That’s great. Still sure you want to move locations?”
“Yep. What do you need from me? Any other paperwork?”
“I shouldn’t. I’ll have your original application in hand soon and will approve it.”
“You approve them?”
“A bank president has that authority, ya know.”
“The what?” He is the bank president? This was a detail that had escaped her attention. She thought the women at the banquet were just gossiping. She hadn’t paid attention to the position Blake was taking over at the bank.
“Is that so shocking?” He swiveled his head and looked at her with taunting wide eyes.
“No, but I didn’t know you were that high up.”
Blake was going to see her entire loan application. No collateral to offer and all. She resisted the urge to fidget in her heated seat. At least she hadn’t put her dad’s name on the application. Will he put two and two together? It didn’t really matter. Blake probably wouldn’t care who her dad was anyway. Halle had been slightly worried that something on his end of the deal would go south—now that she knew his position, it was as good as done.
“Believe it. It’s my life.” His eyes were back on the road and his face blank of emotion.
“If you’re so unhappy then why don’t you change it?” she snipped.
Blake didn’t respond and Halle diverted her attention out of her window at the passing hills, trees, and patches of snow that hadn’t yet melted. They rode in silence the rest of the way. That was just fine with her. She didn’t want to talk about his fantastically bad life anyway. He didn’t know problems. She had problems. She needed that loan to go through.
They finally arrived at the ranch, Blue Prairie, with its many buildings sprawled out for a couple miles.
“Holy smokes, Batman.”
Halle leaned forward to take in the grand holiday scene in the country. White lights hung on the posts and two rail wood fences guided their path down the dirt road. Every other post held a simple green wreath with a red bow in the middle.
“It can really get ya in the mood.”
Blake’s matter of fact statement didn’t begin to describe what she was feeling. This was Christmas. This felt like home.
“It’s amazing,” she whispered as she noticed the barns in the distance lit in different colors and penned areas holding a variety of animals.
At the end was a big cul-de-sac filled with ranching trucks like Blake’s, some old and some new but all dusted with prairie. The main log house was two-story, rustic and grand, strung with multi-colored lights lining the ridges, windows, and wraparound porch. Halle wanted to run up and sit on the porch swing, snuggle in a blanket, and watch the stars for hours.
“The party’s in here.” He cut the engine.
Halle tore her eyes from the majestic main house to a red barn with white trim laced with red and white lights, and a gigantic version of the fence wreaths hung high on the hay door.
She accepted Blake’s hand to get out of the truck. It was warm and big—her whole hand fit inside his. Bits and pieces of what she now called the sock inciden
t floated through her mind. Her skin remembered his hands on her legs and she started to swoon. Instead of leaping into his arms, she planted her feet firmly on the dirt and crossed her arms to keep the cold out. She felt his familiar hand on her back leading the way as they headed toward the barn.
“Hey, Blake,” a lean, older man called out from a finished wooden picnic table as Blake shut the barn door behind them. Halle noticed the difference in temperature instantly and uncrossed her arms.
“Frank.” Blake tipped his head as he guided her to the picnic table to make introductions.
Halle shook the man’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Now that’s still up for debate, isn’t it, darlin’?” Frank had a twinkle in his eye that she appreciated.
She laughed. “True. But, anyone who has Blake’s respect has mine.”
“Ah . . . and how do you know that?”
“A lady never tells.” She demurely shook her head.
“Frank’s been at the ranch since I can remember,” Blake broke in.
They were sitting on one side of the table, Frank across from them. Halle couldn’t help but notice that there was ample room on the bench, because they were the only ones on it, yet Blake was sitting darn near arm to arm with her. She bit into the side of her lower lip at the promise of what skin on skin contact with him did to her. She could smell Blake’s deep forest aroma and she swallowed hard. What would your girlfriend say about this? Halle made a mental note to let Blake know she knew he had a girlfriend—he wasn’t fooling her.
“Yet this is the first time I remember him bringing a lady out here.” Frank’s tanned face sized up Blake. “Tried to teach this boy a thing or two along the way. Don’t think it ever sunk in though.”
“Oh no, no.” A loud voice from behind Frank approached. “What are we talkin’ about? Work? No. Not tonight. Tonight we talk about hunting and fishing and . . .” The jolly round man’s gaze found Halle and proceeded to elongate his words, “Beautiful women. Why hello. I’m Roy.” Roy bowed theatrically and came up smiling.