A Cadence Creek Christmas (Cadence Creek Cowboys)

by Alward, Donna

  “You try driving that little thing out there before the plows make another pass and you’re sure to slide off into the ditch.” He shook his head. “There aren’t even snow tires on it, just all-seasons. I’ll take you out there in the morning.”

  She didn’t want to rely on Rhys too much, especially since he seemed very adept at prying into her business. “Jack’s rental’s a 4x4. I’m sure he’ll run me out if the roads are bad.”

  “Suit yourself.” He didn’t sound too put out by her refusal, which was a relief. “But for now, you’d best let me take you home.”

  Home being the B&B. She didn’t have a choice. There was no way her car was going to be unstuck tonight and she really didn’t feel like walking through the snowdrifts at this hour.

  Rhys unlocked the door to his truck and waited while she got in, then jogged around the front and hopped in the driver’s side. He started the engine and let everything warm up for a few minutes while Taylor stared at the clouds her breath was making in the air.

  The heater kicked in and the air around her feet began to warm. “Gosh, it’s cold. I’m so used to the coast. This is full-on winter.”

  “Complete with whiteouts and a snow removal system that operates at the speed of a slug.” Rhys grinned. “Still, with this good dump of snow there’ll be lots of sledding happening over the holidays.”

  “Sledding?”

  “Snowmobiles,” he confirmed. “Lots of wide-open space here, but a lot of the guys like to go into the mountains and into the backcountry.”

  “That sounds like something Jack would love.”

  Rhys grinned. “He might have said something about coming back for a trip later this winter. If he can drag Callum away from his new bride. I get the feeling that Jack’s a little more adventurous than Callum.”

  “Just in a different way,” she replied, rubbing her gloved hands together. “Callum got all the adventure he wanted in the army, I think, and he was ready to settle down. Jack’s more of a daredevil. Anyway, hopefully this will let up by the morning so nothing interferes with the wedding.”

  He put the truck in gear. “Right. Well, let’s get you home so you can get your beauty sleep.”

  It took no time at all, even at crawling speed, to reach the B&B. The front porch light was on and white Christmas lights twinkled through the snow that had settled on the porch and railings. Rhys put the truck in Park and left the engine running.

  Taylor faced him; saw his face illuminated by the dashboard lights. The snow on his hair had melted, making it darker than usual, almost black. Who was Rhys Bullock anyway? Horse trainer, sure. And clearly devoted to his mother, which was another plus. But what made him tick? What were his thoughts, his views? What went on in that complicated male mind of his? On one hand he claimed he didn’t want to be tied down, but there was no doubt in her mind that he’d put down roots in Cadence Creek. What was that about?

  Why on earth did she care?

  “I, uh, thanks for the drive.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “And for making me eat. And...” She wet her lips. “Well, for noticing what no one else did.”

  There was an awkward pause as if he were deliberating over his next words. “You don’t need to prove anything to your family, you know,” he finally said quietly. “As long as you’re squared away with yourself, that’s all that matters.”

  Her lips dropped open. How could he possibly know that she’d always felt like she came up short? Her dad was always talking about how the boys made him proud. She always felt a few steps behind. There was something in Rhys’s voice, too. Something that said that he was familiar with those words. Like maybe he’d said them to himself a time or two. Why?

  “Rhys.”

  She’d unbuckled her seat belt and for several heartbeats the air in the cab held, as if wondering if she were going to stay in or get out. Their gazes met and things got ten times more complicated as neither of them seemed capable of looking away. Somehow they drifted closer. Closer...

  She wanted to kiss him. The notion was strange and wonderful and slightly terrifying. Nothing could ever come of this, but he was feeling it, too. He must be, because she saw him swallow as he blindly reached around and undid his seat belt, his dark gaze never leaving hers. Nothing was holding him back now and still the fear and excitement waved over her, amplified in the small space of the truck cab. She didn’t do this. She didn’t get personal. And still she had the urge to touch, the desire to explore.

  “You’re going to have to meet me halfway,” he murmured, his voice deep and inviting. There was no doubt now, was there? With those words he’d told her that they were on exactly the same page. The air between them sizzled.

  “This is probably a mistake,” she answered, dropping her gaze, breaking the connection. “I should go inside.”

  She didn’t want to, though. And her pulse leaped wildly as he slid across the seat and reached out with his left hand, curling it around her hip and pulling her across the upholstery. “Hush,” he said, and then cupped her cheek in that same hand. “We’re both sitting here wondering, so why don’t we get this out of the way?”

  When his lips came down on hers, it stole her breath. Nothing could have prepared her for the warm insistence of his mouth or the reaction rocketing through her body. One taste and the whole kiss exploded into something wild and demanding. She reached out and gripped the front of his jacket and his arms came around her, pulling her so close she was nearly on his lap. A squeak escaped her lips as he looped one arm beneath her bottom and tugged so she was sprawled across his legs, cushioned by a strong arm as the kiss went on and on, her body ached with trembling need and her head was clouded with sheer desire.

  Except somewhere in the fog was the understanding that this couldn’t go any farther. She pulled away first, shaking with the intensity of their connection. “Wow,” she whispered, their limbs still tangled. Despite the truck being left running, the windows had already fogged up as the sound of their breathing filled the cab.

  He let out a soft curse. “I didn’t expect that,” he said, running his hand over his hair. “God, Taylor.”

  She had to get some of her bravado back or he’d see exactly how rattled she was. “Too much?” she asked innocently.

  “Too much?” He gaped at her for a second, but she wasn’t fooled. There was a fire in the dark depths of his eyes that was tremendously exciting.

  His voice held a rasp that shivered over her nerve endings. “When I was eighteen I would have been digging for the condom in my wallet by now and heading for the privacy of the gravel pit.”

  She giggled. He had a condom in his wallet? Or did he mean hypothetically? What was most surprising was how badly she wanted to. Wanted him. That if he’d seriously asked she would have actually considered it even though she totally wasn’t into casual anything.

  It was too much. Too fast. “That sounds romantic,” she replied, the words injected with a healthy dose of sarcasm. She pushed off his lap and back onto the seat of the truck.

  “I’m not eighteen anymore,” he admitted, letting out a breath. “I’d like to think I’ve learned some finesse since then. And a quickie in the cab of my truck...” He hesitated, let the thought linger.

  Would never be enough. He didn’t need to say it for her to hear the words. “I’d better go,” she said, sliding all the way over to the door and grabbing her purse. Get out before she changed her mind and crawled into his arms again. “This wasn’t such a good idea.”

  “Because I’m a small-town hick, right?”

  She frowned, brought up short. Did he really think she was such a snob? “I didn’t say that. It just doesn’t make sense to start something when I’m only here until Boxing Day. Then I go back to my world and you stay here in yours. Anything else is just fooling ourselves, Rhys, and you know it.”
<
br />   There was a long, awkward silence. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning and take you to the club,” he offered, but his voice was tight, like she’d somehow offended him.

  “Jack will take me.”

  Rhys let out a frustrated sigh. “Will you call if you need anything?”

  She squared her shoulders. “I won’t. Thanks for the lift. See you at the church.”

  She opened the door and hopped down, her boots sinking into eight inches of fresh snow. She wouldn’t look back at him. He’d know. Know that if he said the right thing or made the slightest move she’d be in the middle of that bench seat, holding on to his arm as he drove out to the pit or wherever people went parking these days, snowstorm be damned. And she never did things like that. In fact, she hadn’t been involved with anyone that way since John. Since he’d said all those hurtful things before slamming the door. She’d put all her energy into the business instead.

  Without looking back, she started up the walk to the porch. Rhys gunned the engine the slightest bit—did “Mr. Uptight Pants” have a bit of a rebellious side after all?—and pulled away, driving off into the night.

  She tiptoed up the steps and carefully opened the door—a single light glowed from the front window but Taylor expected everyone would be in bed. She’d have to apologize in the morning for coming in so late.

  “Aren’t you a little old to be parking?” came a voice on her right.

  She jumped, pressed a hand to her heart. “Jack. What are you doing up?”

  “Big brother was waiting for you. What took you so long?”

  She recalled Rhys’s criticism of her family and felt her temper flicker. “Someone had to stay and clean up.”

  “Isn’t that the owner’s job? What’s her name? Martha?”

  “Rhys’s mother, yes. And considering she was a staff of one tonight and still managed to put on a great dinner for us at a moment’s notice, I certainly wasn’t going to walk out of there and leave her with a mess. Not that anyone else seemed to mind.”

  He came forward and frowned down at her. “Touchy,” he remarked. “This have anything to do with why you were in Rhys’s truck for so long, and with the windows steamed up?”

  She didn’t want to blush, but the heat crept up her neck and into her cheeks anyway. “That is none of your business.”

  “Be careful is all I’m saying. He’s not your type.”

  “How would you know what my type is?”

  He straightened and it seemed to her that he puffed out his chest. “Oh, I know. You go for the pretty boys who work downtown in two-thousand-dollar suits.”

  “Men like you, you mean?”

  His eyes glittered. “Hardly. You pick guys who aren’t a challenge and who don’t challenge you. Guys like Rhys Bullock won’t let you away with your usual tricks, sis.”

  She had to keep a lid on her temper before she said something she’d regret. Jack had such a tendency to be cocky and normally she just brushed it off. Tonight it irritated. Could she not do anything right? “Then how convenient for you that he just gave me a lift home after helping me clear away the dishes. Oh, and he reminded me I hadn’t had time to eat at the dinner, either, and fixed me a plate. And when we finally went to leave, my rental was completely blocked in by a snowbank so he offered me a drive home. My type or not, Rhys Bullock was very supportive this evening. So you can put that in your pipe and smoke it, Jackson Frederick Shepard.”

  Unperturbed, Jack merely folded his arms and raised an eyebrow at her.

  “I’m going to bed,” she announced. “I recommend you do the same. You’re taking me to the golf club at eight-thirty so I can be sure it’s ready for the reception.”

  Without waiting for an answer, she swept up the stairs, her pride wrapped around her. It was only when she was settled in her room, dressed in flannel pajamas and curled under the covers that she let down her guard and closed her eyes.

  Behind her lids she saw Rhys. And she saw what might have happened—if only they were different people, in a different place and time.

  * * *

  The church was beautiful.

  Taylor let out a relieved sigh as she peeked through the nearly closed door leading through the sanctuary. It had taken longer than she’d anticipated, making sure the reception venue was all on schedule and then it had been time to head to Molly Diamond’s, where all the bridesmaids were meeting to get ready and have pictures taken. Taylor gave the thumbs-up to the photographer, Jim, who had flown in from Victoria to do the wedding as a personal favor. He was set up at the front of the church, ready for Avery’s walk down the aisle.

  Taylor’s worries about the decorations had been pointless. She wasn’t sure how Melissa Stone had managed it, but the end of each pew held a stunning but simple decoration consisting of a red satin bow and a small cedar bough. Not only did it look festive, but the smell was incredible.

  And Clara had come through with the sills, too. On each one was a small rectangular plate with three white pillar candles of varying heights. It was incredibly romantic and the warm light radiated through the church. She couldn’t have come up with anything more suitable on her own.

  With a lump in her throat, she turned to Clara and smiled. “How on earth did you manage that?” she asked. “It’s perfect!”

  Clara laughed lightly. “I called the owner of the dollar store last night and asked if we could go in early this morning.”

  The dollar store. Heaven forbid any of her clients ever found out! She gave an unladylike snort and patted Clara’s arm. “I swear I need to stop underestimating the women of this town. First Martha with the dinner, then you with the candles and Melissa with the pew markers. I’m starting to feel rather irrelevant.”

  Avery heard and her face fell with concern. “Oh, don’t say that, Taylor! We put this together in such a short time that if it weren’t for you we’d be standing in front of the Justice of the Peace and having a potluck. I never dreamed I’d have a wedding day like this. It would never have happened without you.”

  Taylor’s eyes stung. This was so different from anything she’d ever experienced. She hadn’t even had to ask for help. Without even knowing her, people had stepped up because it was the right and neighborly thing to do. Maybe Cadence Creek wasn’t the hub of excitement Taylor was used to, but never had she ever been made to feel like she belonged so easily. She was starting to understand why Callum was so happy here.

  “It was my pleasure, I promise. Now let me check to see what’s going on.”

  Because Avery had no family, they’d decided to forgo the official ushering in of the parents. Instead Taylor’s mom and dad sat at the front, with an adorable Nell, dressed in white ruffles, on their laps. Taylor turned her attention to the side door as it opened and the minister and men came through. At last night’s rehearsal it had become glaringly apparent that everyone had an escort up the aisle but the bride. They’d made a quick change of plans, and the women would be walking up the aisle alone with the groomsmen waiting at the front.

  Taylor’s heart beat a little faster as Rhys appeared, looking so very handsome and exciting in the black tux and tie. The men lined up along their side of the altar, with Rhys positioned right after Jack. The pianist began to play Gounod’s “Ave Maria,” the signal for the women to begin their walk.

  “This is it, girls.” Taylor quickly got them in order and then took her place behind Angela. She gave the man at the door a quick nod and it opened, and the procession began.

  Clara went first, radiant in dark green, glowing with pregnancy and holding her bouquet in front of her rounded tummy. Then Angela, smiling at her husband at the other end, and then, in the middle of the procession, Taylor.

  She stepped on to the white runner, her emerald satin heels sinking slightly into the carpet. She kept slow time with the music, a smile on her face
as she winked at her brother who was waiting rather impatiently for his bride. Jack was beside him, grinning like a fool and then...

  And then there was Rhys, watching her with an intensity that made her weak at the knees. The smile on her lips flickered until she purposefully pasted it there, but she couldn’t deny the jolt that had rushed through her that second their eyes met. Her chest cramped as her breath caught, and then his lips curved the tiniest bit and his gaze warmed with approval. And she was back in the truck last night, feeling his hands on her body and his lips on her lips and she got hot all over.

  Then she was in her place, Denise followed and the music changed.

  Taylor forgot all about Rhys the moment Avery stepped to the door and on the carpet. Her lace dress was classic and romantic, her solid red rose bouquet perfect. Taylor’s throat tightened as she took one quick glance at her brother and found his eyes shining with tears. She couldn’t cry. She wouldn’t. She never did at these things. But today was different. She knew how Callum had had his heart broken before and how incredible it was that he was even standing here today. Nell stood on her grandfather’s lap and everyone chuckled when she bounced and said “Mumm mumm mumm.”

  Avery reached Callum, and he held out his hand. She took it and they faced the minister together.

  The prayers were short and heartfelt, the “I Do’s” immediate and clear so that they echoed to the farthest pew. It was when Avery handed her bouquet to Denise and took Callum’s fingers in hers that Taylor wished she’d tucked a tissue into the handle of her bouquet.

  The vows were simple and traditional, the words solid and true as they filled the candlelit church. “I Callum, take you Avery, to be my wife. To have and to hold from this day forward.”

  A lump formed in Taylor’s throat as she tried to swallow.

  “For better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.”

  Taylor took a fortifying breath and told herself to hold it together. But it was so hard, because she could see the look on Callum’s face as he gazed into the eyes of his bride. He was so in love. So sure. The promises were the most important he’d make in his life, but they came easily because he loved Avery that much. Taylor had never experienced anything like that. Sometimes she doubted she ever would...if she was actually that...lovable.