Leo stood by the bed fastening the metal button on his jeans. He pulled up the zipper slowly, as if trying to make as little noise as possible.
“You don’t have to be quiet. I’m awake.”
“Sorry. Next time I’ll get dressed in the bathroom.”
“I don’t want you to sneak out of here without waking me. I like being able to tell you goodbye.”
He chuckled. “Just saying it might work. Kissing you goodbye leads to trouble.” He picked up his jacket from the chair. “The gang is going to the Moose for Christmas Eve. We’re starting early, might be there by four-thirty or five.”
“Good to know.”
“Okay if I show up here around ten?”
“I was hoping you would.”
“Don’t suppose I can talk you into dropping by the Moose before that.”
“No, I’m afraid you can’t.”
“Both your buddies will be there. We invited Jared and Beth to hang out with us.”
“They should fit right in.”
“So would—”
“Leo.” She smiled. “Give it up.”
“All right.” He leaned down. “I want to kiss you, after all. Don’t grab my head. Keep your hands to yourself.”
She laughed. “Okay.” She lifted her face to his.
He touched down gently, his lips soft against hers. Then he cupped her face in both hands and put a little more into the kiss. It stayed sweet for about two seconds. Then his tongue got involved.
By the time he groaned and dropped to his knees by the bed, she’d abandoned his rules and shoved her fingers into his thick hair. He pressed her back onto the pillow and thrust his tongue deep.
The trill of his phone alarm penetrated the sound of their ragged breathing. With an even louder groan, he ended the kiss and pushed himself to his feet. “Epic fail.”
“Not my fault.”
“It’s mine. Zero willpower.” Chest heaving, he backed away from the bed. ”I don’t know what it is about you.”
“I do.”
“I do, too. You’re irresistible.” His voice softened. “See you around ten, Fi. Maybe sooner.”
“Looking forward to it.”
He headed for the door. “If you change your mind about the Moose, just show up.”
“I won’t.”
“Okay, then. See you soon.” His steps beat a staccato rhythm as he bounded down the stairs. Her eager lover didn’t see the obvious reason for his infatuation. Or didn’t want to.
What if he found her irresistible because they only met during these late-night trysts? In the dark.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lights glowed from the windows of the bunkhouse when Leo pulled in. He crossed to the front door, his boots crunching on the hard-packed snow in the parking area where several trucks sat, their windshields covered with ice. The scent of coffee and the sound of laughter drifted toward him on a frigid breeze.
Last winter this had been the normal routine as the Brotherhood started a new day. A wave of nostalgia washed over him. Good thing Matt had come up with the plan for monthly overnights.
He walked into a typical bunkhouse morning scene—the early birds slugging down coffee in the kitchen and telling jokes, the night owls, namely Jake and CJ, slowly dragging on their clothes. The wood stove was crackling and putting out heat. Leo quickly closed the door and took off his jacket.
Jake sat on his bunk wearing his jeans and a shirt which he hadn’t buttoned yet. His bleary-eyed glance and lopsided smile were evidence of a late night and several bottles of cider. “Welcome home, bro.”
CJ had ear buds in and his back to the door as he tucked in his shirt. He turned, plucked out the ear buds, shoved them in his pocket and grinned. “Greetings.” Then he raised his voice. “Hey, bros. Lover boy just showed up.”
The ruckus in the kitchen stopped as the coffee drinkers wandered out, mugs in hand. Nick’s eyebrows lifted. “How’d it go?”
“Pretty damn obvious how it went,” Rafe said. “His shirt’s buttoned up wrong.”
Leo checked. Yep. “Not a priority.” He turned back to CJ. “Any word from Isabel?”
“She texted me about ten minutes ago. The women are having fun and she thinks Jake and I should stay and cook breakfast for you guys, give Garrett a break.”
“That’s fine,” Garrett said, “but I don’t want to sit and do nothing. I’ll go down to the barn with the rest of you.”
“Glad to have the help.” Matt glanced around. “It’ll be a gorgeous day. We could saddle up after we’re done with breakfast and chores. Take a nice long ride.”
Rafe nodded. “I’m in. And Kate will probably want to—”
“Right,” CJ said. “The ladies will want to go, too, so I’ll stay behind with Isabel.”
“Not necessary, baby-daddy.” Matt gave him a smile. “I just talked to Lucy and the ladies plan to hang out in their pajamas, paint their nails and watch Christmas movies until we all leave for the Moose.”
“Count me out of the ride,” Nick said. “Eva’s finished at the salon at eleven, so after I help muck out stalls, I need to head on home.”
“Oh, Nick, I forgot. That’s the other part of Lucy’s message. Eva’s driving out here and bringing her nail polish. She has a better selection than the rest of them and she wants to watch movies, too.”
Jake stood and joined the group. “I can take a hint. Vacation time has created a little too much togetherness. They want a break from our manly testosterone.”
“Well…” Matt chuckled. “That’s basically what Lucy said, but I was trying to be diplomatic.”
“Yeah,” CJ said, “but if we ride off into the wilderness, and Izzy goes into labor, what—”
“I’ll put you in charge of monitoring cell service on the way out and back.” Matt gazed at him. “We won’t venture out far enough to lose it. We’ll be notified if Isabel thinks it’s time. And she’ll have four capable women who can get her to the hospital if need be.”
Rafe heaved a sigh. “Much as it pains me to admit this, they’d be calmer and more efficient than any of us.”
“Good point.” CJ rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay. I’ll go. That’s settled. I could use a cup of coffee if there’s any left.”
“I started a new pot.” Garrett stepped aside to let him by. “Leo, you’re probably ready for coffee.”
“You know it.” He followed CJ into the kitchen with Jake right behind him. “So what’d you guys do after I left?”
“The usual,” Jake said. “Strippers, drugs, naked dancing by the fire. Like we do.”
Matt came into the kitchen for a refill. “We played cards.”
“Some of us better than others,” Rafe called from the other room.
“So who was the big winner?”
“Garrett.” Nick came through the door and walked over to the coffee pot. “He’s a master of the bluff.”
Garrett leaned in the doorway. “I got lucky.”
“Oh, I think there’s some serious skill involved.” Matt lifted his coffee mug in Garrett’s direction. “Well done.”
“But enough about us.” Nick poured himself some coffee. “Did you talk Fiona into coming to Henri’s for Christmas dinner?”
“No.” Leo nudged back his hat. “That first date was more traumatic than I realized. She’s convinced hanging out with me under normal circumstances will make her freeze up like she did that night.”
“But she was fine at Ed’s party after the auction,” Matt said.
“Because she drank a lot of Ed’s champagne. I won’t ask her to deliberately get wasted so she can navigate Christmas dinner.”
CJ gazed at him. “What if you invite her to go to the Moose with us tonight? That would be kind of like Ed’s party. She can have a few drinks, relax with all of us, maybe get over this.”
“I mentioned it. She wasn’t on board with the idea.”
“There has to be a solution.” Garrett sipped his coffee. “There always is.”
“Hey.” CJ stared at him. “That’s freaky.”
Matt nodded. “Very.”
Garrett frowned in confusion. “What’s freaky?”
Leo met his gaze. “Charley used to say that all the time.”
“Yeah,” CJ said. “And then sure as the world he’d come up with an answer.”
“Goes to show you’re one of us, bro.” Leo gave him a smile. “You’re quoting Charley without even knowing it.”
* * *
Matt talked them into riding down to the barn in his truck.
“We’re turning into pansies,” Rafe complained from the front seat. “It’s not that cold.”
“Speak for yourself.” Nick was wedged in the middle between Garrett and Leo. “Normally I’d object to being stuffed into the backseat like sardines, but it’s nice and toasty back here.”
Rafe snorted. “I’m surprised you didn’t bring your blankie and your teddy bear.”
“Speaking of teddy bears.” Matt glanced in the rearview mirror. “I’ve heard all about how the disguise worked out, but what about Operation Santa? What can we look forward to on the video tomorrow?”
“You’ll love it. This one family came out on the front porch and sang We Wish You a Merry Christmas. And there was this little redheaded girl, Jackie, who is going to be president of something one of these days. Could be a big company. Maybe even president of the country.”
“Just had an idea,” Garrett said. “Did you take the Santa suit to the cleaners yet?”
“Haven’t gotten around to it, why?”
“I might have a plan that would work, but you’ll need the suit.”
“I see where he’s going with this,” Nick said. “You could wear it for Christmas dinner. Fiona might come if you—”
“I doubt that would help as much now that she knows it’s me. Besides, I couldn’t eat with it on. I’d make a mess of the beard and I might spill on the suit. Thanks for the thought, though.”
“You’re right about the drawbacks,” Garrett said. “I’ll keep thinking.”
“I appreciate it, but I doubt this will be a quick fix, no matter what I do.”
“You never know.” Nick pulled on his gloves as Matt brought the truck to a slow stop in front of the barn. “It’s Christmas, after all.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Fiona wandered over to the front window of her apartment for the millionth time and gazed across the square. Christmas lights strung around the entrance and the street-side windows of the Choosy Moose reflected on the row of trucks parked diagonally in front of the bar.
Leo’s wasn’t one of them. Either he wasn’t there—doubtful—or he’d parked in the back lot. Why not in front of her place? That would have made more sense.
She checked her phone. Almost nine. Would he decide to head over earlier than ten? With her windows closed tight, she couldn’t hear the music from here, but by now the place would be rocking.
Every so often the door opened and she held her breath. Then a couple would come out and hurry down the sidewalk toward one of the trucks parked there.
Leo was still inside, joking with his brothers, maybe sipping a bottle of hard cider. Or he might be dancing. Line dancing at the very least. That had been a popular choice at the party following the auction.
Nick’s truck sat close to the entrance and Jared’s was a couple spaces down. Would Eva and Beth order mistletoe martinis tonight? Guaranteed those two would be dancing. They’d—
Wait. Was that Leo? Her heartbeat sped up. Sure did look like him, but instead of walking in her direction, he took off down the sidewalk and veered right at the alley leading to the back parking lot.
He must have bought her a gift and had gone to get it before he came over. She’d debated whether to give him one and had settled on a bottle of flavored body oil. She’d tucked it into a small gift bag and had left it under the little tree.
She stayed by the window watching for him to come back. Instead her phone pinged with a text.
Would you be willing to take a Christmas Eve stroll around the square with Santa?
She gulped. Change of plans. Alarm bells jangled. He was up to something, but what? She took a guess. Followed by a brief stop at the Moose?
That’s one option. We could pop in for a minute so you could see the decorations. Or we can go back to your place.
Popping in could go south fast.
Just a stroll, then. It’s nice out tonight, not too cold. I’ll have the suit and the beard.
So he’d gone to his truck for the suit. But I’ll know it’s you.
And you know it’s me in the dark. What do you say, Galadriel?
He would have to call her that. It was a reminder of the fun they’d had, but he’d likely meant it as a challenge, too. Galadriel was very brave.
She wanted to be. In the end, that tipped the scales. She could handle a walk around the square if that would make him happy. But going into the Moose would probably be too much.
She took a deep breath and typed a response. I can be ready in five minutes.
Great. Meet you by the gazebo.
See you there.
Dashing back to her bedroom, she flipped on the overhead, threw off her bathrobe and grabbed underwear out of her dresser drawer. She chose a sweater, jeans and boots.
Although he’d said it wasn’t that cold, she put on her red wool coat, a plaid scarf, her red knit hat and gloves. She was from Phoenix, after all. When she walked out the front door, music from the Moose provided a distant soundtrack. A quick glance toward the gazebo revealed a slimmed-down version of Santa leaning against the railing.
Turning, she fumbled the door-locking process, her rapid breathing fogging the air. Get a grip, girl. At last the lock clicked and she put the key in her coat pocket.
Leo’s gaze held hers as she cut across the square. He’d left off the glasses. The Christmas tree in the gazebo combined with the streetlamps provided a surprising amount of light. The closer she came, the more mesmerizing those blue eyes were.
She paused a few feet away to catch her breath. “You’ve lost weight, Santa.”
“Cut out carbs.”
“Switched to Western boots, too, I see.”
“Always wanted to be a cowboy.” He stepped toward her and held out his gloved hand. “Thanks for agreeing to take a walk with me.”
“You’re welcome.” She put her hand in his and absorbed the familiar jolt of energy that surged whenever they touched. “If you hadn’t worn those fake glasses during Operation Santa, I would have recognized you.”
“Think so?” Squeezing her hand, he headed back across the square to the street.
“I know so. That electric blue makes an impression.”
“I have the specs in my pocket. Want me to put them on?”
She hesitated. Her heart was racing, but maybe she’d get it under control in a minute. “Not yet. I’ll let you know.”
“Okay. Might as well walk in the street. Nobody’s driving around tonight.” Stepping onto a pavement shiny with melted snow, he led her away from her shop.
Away from safety. Her stomach churned. “I think the whole town’s at the Moose.”
“That’s about right. Wall-to-wall people. The dance floor’s packed, too.”
“Did you dance?”
“A couple of line dances. It’s a Brotherhood tradition, especially on Christmas Eve. Gotta do Run, Rudolph, Run.”
“Is the Buckskin gang still there?” The music was fainter, now.
“So far nobody’s bailed. CJ made noises about taking Isabel home early, but she doesn’t want to go. Ben keeps hinting that something special’s coming up soon, so she wants to stay until whatever it is happens.”
“Should you be out here with me? You could miss it.”
“He said it wouldn’t be for another twenty minutes or so.”
Her pulse rate spiked. “Leo, I don’t think I’m ready to go in there with you.”
“What if I put on the
glasses?”
“I’m not sure that would—”
“I’ll put ’em on and you can see what you think.” He let go of her hand and paused to dig them out of his pocket. He carefully slid them on without disturbing his beard. Then he turned. “Better?”
Light reflected off the lenses, obscuring his eyes. Her anxiety level dipped a little. “I guess so.”
He took her hand. “Let’s keep walking while you think about it. I’d hate for you to miss Christmas Eve at the Moose, and whatever this thing is Ben’s talking about.”
“You know it’s not just going in there, right? It’s going in with you and remembering what that felt like last time.” Down the block, someone came out of the Moose and the beat of a country tune poured from the open door until it closed again, muffling the sound. She shivered.
“But I’m wearing the suit.”
“You’re not Clark Smith anymore, though.”
“I thought maybe going into the Moose tonight would be a good transition. Then you’d feel better about going to Henri’s tomorrow, at least to watch the video with all of us.”
“You know what? I’m not sure I could go to Henri’s anyway.” An obvious reason had been staring her in the face. “I have something I need to do and I don’t know how long it’ll take.”
“What?”
She hesitated. “If I tell you, you have to promise to keep it to yourself. Well, I guess Nick and Jared already know, but it can’t go any farther.”
“I won’t say anything.”
“Okay, then.” She gave him a brief overview of her quest to identify Miss Barton’s secret lover.
“Wow, that’s quite a story. Nick’s definitely keeping mum. He hasn’t said a word about this.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Even if I find out who it is tomorrow evening, I’ll only tell Eva and Beth. I’m sure Nick and Jared will hear it from them and I’ll tell you, too, but it can’t become town gossip. That would be so unfair.”
“How long will you stay out there waiting?”
“I’m not sure.” She glanced ahead and her stomach tightened. The Moose was only a few yards away.
Secret-Santa Cowboy: The Buckskin Brotherhood Page 14