AspenTrilogy (Boxed Set)

by Cindy Stark

  She'd gotten her wish, and her old man currently rotted in jail. There were a few in the Trasatti organization that were trying to piece together their outfit, but the vultures were circling, and it wouldn't be long before someone else took over their territory.

  Milo kicked a clump of snow into the river and turned toward home. Christmas would be a bitch this year. He'd lied to his friends, telling them Ariana had gone to take care of a sick father. At first, they'd commented on what a kind and thoughtful daughter she was. Now, months later, they no longer asked about her. Only his mother knew the truth.

  If he could bypass that holiday and fast forward to spring when he could occupy himself by biking or fishing, things would surely be easier. He knew from experience time would heal, but he'd dug deep and had not been blessed with patience.

  The scent of burning wood caught his attention as he stepped inside the kitchen door. A quick glance told him nothing in the kitchen was on fire. He rushed into the living room.

  He froze when he saw her.

  She sat on the couch, wearing a soft black sweater. She turned, her turquoise eyes flaring to life when she caught sight of him. She'd kept her dark hair, and an infectious smile tilted her lips. A bright fire roared in the fireplace.

  "I let myself in. I hope you don't mind."

  He said nothing as he crossed the room in three quick strides. She stood as he reached her, and he crushed her in his embrace, burying his nose in her soft hair.

  He held her like that for a long time, afraid to open his eyes, afraid she wasn't real.

  She released a soft chuckle as she leaned back and captured his gaze. "I'm glad you're happy to see me. I wasn't sure after everything that had happened."

  He captured her lips in a kiss. Sometimes actions could speak louder than words. Her scent, the taste of her, the feel of her next to him scorched away the chill he'd held inside him for far too long. "Where have you been?"

  A touch of weariness settled on her features. "The trial took a while. Then Quinn arranged for me to spend some time with Kenzie before I had to leave again." She sighed. "Plus, it took me some time to figure out where I wanted to go, what I wanted to be when I grow up." She smiled. "Quinn's amazing. He arranged for me to be a school teacher, just like I requested."

  "I see. So why are you here? To say goodbye to me, too?" The thought kicked him in the gut like a wild mustang.

  She placed a hand on his cheek, emotion watering in her eyes. "Goodbye? I'm here because I missed you. Isn't that what you said as I left? Miss me, darlin'?"

  An incredulous hope rose inside him. "I didn't think you heard me."

  She placed a soft kiss on his lips. "I did. Or I read your lips. Or something. Somehow, I heard what you said." She kissed him again, this time not so softly. "I've thought of that moment every day since. Prayed you wouldn't forget me before I could come home."

  "Home? You're staying?"

  "I hope this can be my home. Quinn is going to be really angry with me if I have to ask him to place me somewhere else." She lifted her left hand, and his grandmother's diamond winked at him. "I'm really hoping I can keep this."

  It seemed impossible could be possible after all. "Are you asking me to marry you, darlin'?"

  A brilliant smile lit her face. "I believe I am, Deputy Sykes."

  The End

  COWBOYS AND ANGELS

  A Holiday Story

  (Aspen Series #3)

  By Cindy Stark

  AMAZON KDP EDITION

  PUBLISHED BY

  C. Nielsen

  www.cindystark.com

  Cowboys and Angels © 2012 C. Nielsen

  All rights reserved

  DEDICATION

  To my family for the many warm and wonderful Christmases we've shared together.

  To those who will not be with their families this Christmas because they are protecting our country or serving others.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Katy Rivers blinked, trying to keep her focus on the near white-out conditions flashing between her rapidly moving windshield wipers that fought to keep the view clear. The snowstorm had snuck in overnight, turning a light scattering of snow into a blinding mass of winter. If her monthly expense reports weren't already overdue, she would have stayed tucked in bed in her little two-bedroom house that she'd inherited from her grandmother. But bosses didn't care about things like life-threatening road conditions when money was concerned. Especially not in Pinecone, Utah, where serious snowstorms during December were an expected occurrence.

  One at a time, she wiped her sweat-soaked palms on her skirt and then rolled her shoulders. Trying to keep her little Rio on the slippery road had been no easy feat. Another half mile and her normal twenty-minute-turned-one-hour commute would be at an end.

  A pair of headlights emerged in her rearview mirror and bore down on her at a fast pace. She glanced between the snow-packed road ahead and the mirror, her pulse increasing as the space between the vehicles lessened. The driver had to be insane going so fast in icy conditions.

  When the SUV appeared to be inches from her bumper, the driver switched to the oncoming lane and flew past her crawling little car in a haze of dark blue metal and swirling snow. Katy let off the gas to increase the distance between them.

  Idiot. Just because a vehicle had four-wheel drive, didn't mean it couldn't slide off the road.

  A few minutes later, grateful relief settled her anxiety as yellow lights from the medical center broke through the white haze. The two-story building had been erected at the northern edge of town on a large open space that would allow for growth over time. That had been twenty-five years ago, and her mother had been one of the first women to give birth at the new facility. Years had passed, and the time for the first upgrade to the medical center was currently underway, as evidenced by the dump truck in the oncoming lane, waiting for its turn to enter the parking lot.

  Katy signaled to turn and pressed on her brakes, preparing to take a slow and easy entrance into the snow-covered lot. She turned the steering wheel. Instead of her car moving toward the right, the back end swung toward the parking lot, the front end now aiming at the massive yellow truck.

  Panic flared. She pushed harder on the pedal, the sound of her anti-lock brakes echoing around her as she tried to steer her way out of the slide. Her car would have none of it.

  She gripped the wheel and cringed as her car hit the truck with a thud and bounced off, her body mimicking the action.

  Then it was over.

  The roar of nerves inside her head stopped, and quiet descended around her like the fluffy snowflakes falling from the sky.

  A man appeared at her window, his face dusted with brown and gray whiskers, his head covered by a greasy blue ball cap. "You okay?" he called through the glass.

  She opened her car door, the sharp chill of winter kissing her face and sneaking beneath her wool coat as she stepped outside. Snowflakes flew at her from all directions, and she pulled her hood over her hair. She wished she'd worn a thick jacket and insulated work pants like the man had instead of her fashionable black skirt and knee-high boots, but when she'd dressed that morning, she'd only intended to be outdoors as long as it took to get from her car to the medical center. She took one step and slipped, the burly construction worker catching her before she fell. "Oh, my gosh. Thank you."

  "Careful. It's slick out this morning."

  The urge to remind him she was well aware of that fact disappeared when she caught sight of the battered front end of her car. Yellow paint mixed with the maroon color of her Rio, leaving a nice bruise on the dented and scratched front end. Remnants of glass from her car's headlight sparkled on the ground like the fresh-fallen snow.

  "Doesn't look too bad, miss."

  But it did. His vehicle seemed to have fared a little better with only a few smudges of maroon paint on the front bumper. "I am so sorry. I don't know what happened. One second, I had everything under control. The next..." She shrugged and sighed. "I have insurance
to cover the damage."

  "It's just a few scrapes. Happens all the time in the construction business."

  "Still, I insist on paying to have it fixed." Her insurance man wouldn't be happy to hear about this. Her rates would go sky high, and it wasn't like she was a careless driver at all. But that's what her record would show.

  "You'll have to talk to my boss about that."

  "Fine. Let's exchange information, and I'll call him when I get inside to my desk."

  "He's in your building, in a meeting. Probably shouldn't bug him right now. Give me your name and number, and I'll have him call you if he wants to fix it. Your car took the brunt of the damage anyway."

  Her poor little baby. Her Rio had been the first new car she'd owned. She'd bought it straight off the lot after she'd received her first paycheck from the Mt. Uintah Medical Center. She'd been lucky to land herself a job so close to home right after finishing her accounting degree.

  Katy dug through her purse and found a scrap of paper. Her hand shook as she tried to write her name and number. Apparently, she was more upset about the crash than she'd realized.

  She gave her information to the worker. "Again, I'm so sorry. Please have your boss call me."

  Luckily, the damage to her car was superficial, and she didn't have to have it towed. With nervous, careful movements, she drove her car from the middle of the road, into the parking lot. She'd call her insurance rep as soon as his office opened.

  It appeared the maintenance men had been waylaid by the weather, too. A good foot of snow still covered the parking lot and sidewalks. Katy sloshed her way through, trying to keep her face away from the cold wind. From beneath her hood, she caught sight of the dark blue SUV that had flown past her earlier and gave a disgruntled huff. The truck sat without a scratch on it, its driver already safe inside her building.

  The irony of the situation couldn't be ignored.

  In this case, playing it safe hadn't paid at all.

  If she stopped to think about it, she wasn't sure it had done her much good for most of her life, either. She'd faithfully followed her parent's guidance. She'd stayed out of trouble and finished college in record time, but she also had the distinct feeling she was missing out on far too many of life's experiences.

  Inside, a blast of warm air instantly melted the snowflakes that had landed on her, leaving her coat with a damp film of moisture. She slid the hood off her hair, trying to fluff her flattened tresses.

  She pushed through the second set of doors, her gaze snagging on a taller man who stood at the front desk, speaking to the receptionist. As she moved closer, his gaze connected with hers, recognition beaming inside her.

  Scott Beckstead. The ultimate bad boy. At least as far as her little town was concerned. During high school, he'd been the one to sluff, had gotten caught with a beer in his locker, and he'd been accused of taking the principal's car for a joy ride, although she didn't think that last one had ever been proven.

  It might have been several years since she'd seen Scott, but he looked as hot and dangerous as ever in his black leather jacket with rugged boots peeking from beneath well-fitting jeans. The sight of him thrilled her and frightened her, just like it had all those years ago. Short, dark hair. Sexy, sinful eyes. A neatly trimmed goatee that outlined a very kissable mouth. Her friends used to joke that five minutes was the longest a girl could be in his company and still keep her virginity. She wasn't sure she didn't still believe that today.

  She tightened the sash on her coat and forced her gaze to a painting of a waterfall cascading through majestic pines that hung on the opposite wall.

  But, she couldn't resist glancing in his direction one last time as she passed him.

  He stared at her, one corner of his delicious mouth curving upward as he gave her a nod.

  Her mouth betrayed her, smiling in return, before she jerked away her gaze as though she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't.

  The temperature in the building suddenly felt unbearably hot, and she undid her coat as she headed toward the elevator. She pressed the up button and waited for the elevator car to arrive. The rise in temperature had nothing to do with her attraction to Scott Beckstead and was more likely caused by maintenance turning up the heat because of the blizzard outside.

  "Heard about your news, Katy."

  She cringed, every nerve inside her firing red, as the woman who'd made it her job to make Katy's days miserable joined her. Katy knew she shouldn't let Nina get to her, but she didn't know how to protect herself from the barbs her nemesis continually flung in her direction. Katy did a great job psyching herself up for Nina's attacks when she wasn't around, but the second she showed her flawless face, all of Katy's defenses jumped ship. Katy turned, facing Nina and her chic blond haircut, cunning gaze and designer blouse. The woman had her eye on the top of the corporate ladder and didn't hesitate to undercut anyone who got in her way.

  "And what would that be, Nina?" The only "news" she had was that she'd broken up with Will. No one knew about that except Will and her mother.

  The doors slid open, and she stepped into the elevator. Nina followed. The doors started to close, but a very masculine hand reached inside, stopping them. In the next second, the hottest guy in town joined her and Nina, increasing the tension in the small space. He nodded at Nina and took a place next to Katy. His musky cologne made her want to purr with appreciation.

  "Hi." The smile he gave her warmed every inch of her that the first blast of warm air had missed.

  "Morning," she offered, little jitters of excitement percolating inside her.

  "I heard the news you crashed your poor little car this morning," Nina said with a gleeful tone. "Right into a big, ol' dump truck." Of course Nina would try to steal Scott's attention. If she could embarrass Katy in the process, all the better.

  She fired a searing gaze at Nina, but refused to answer.

  "What an awful way to start your morning," Nina continued. "Especially after the way Will dumped you last night."

  Katy gasped as both she and Scott swiveled their heads toward Nina. This was not happening. "That's really none of your business, Nina."

  Scott smiled, and she tried to shut off that tender part of her that was so easily wounded by ridicule. "Besides, he didn't dump me. I'm the one who called it quits."

  "Well, if that's true, you're a fool." Nina batted her eyes at Scott before turning back to Katy. "At your age, chances of meeting a decent, single guy who'll want to marry you are slim."

  Nina was an expert at throwing together words. Had she meant it was hard to find a man who wanted to get married? Or was it a personal attack, and she meant that Katy would have a hard time?

  Either way, she was correct. Most of the girls in her little town were married by the time they'd hit twenty-three. Here she was ready to turn twenty-six, and she hadn't been able to find a good man to look in her direction. Okay, Will had been decent. But he bored her to tears. She'd thought she'd convinced herself that the initial attraction didn't matter. It would fade in the first few years, and it was better to have a stable man who would help provide for their family.

  Then she'd come to the conclusion she'd wither if she stayed with him. Sometimes life threw a person a curveball, and she would be forced to endure a hardship, but it was downright asinine to throw one at herself.

  Her mother had been horrified about what the town gossips would say. Or rather, were already saying.

  Katy narrowed her gaze at Nina, unable to find the words to put her in her place. Embarrassed heat singed her cheeks. Of course, Nina would pick the most humiliating moment to throw her ugly opinion at Katy.

  "I wouldn't be worrying yourself about that, miss."

  The sound of Scott's voice surprised both women. Katy followed Nina's gaze to find Scott watching Nina with a sharp eye. Then he turned to her. "Right, sweetheart?" He slid a supportive hand around Katy's waist and tugged her to him.

  Surprise warred with titillation as she stared into
his midnight eyes. It would take nothing but a smile from him to seduce her, she realized. "Right." She hesitated only a second before she leaned into him for show. A little voice in the back of her mind asked her what the hell she was doing, but she couldn't let Nina win this round.

  The warmth of his body reached out through his t-shirt and soaked into the silk of her blouse. Humor sparked in his eyes as she played along with his game, but she froze when he slanted his head and kissed her.

  Soft, sensuous lips played over hers, warm and inviting. He tasted of cinnamon and something dangerously seductive that she couldn't name.

  The sound of the elevator dinging penetrated her haze, and Nina exhaled a sigh of disgust. Katy couldn't pull herself from the most tantalizing kiss she'd ever encountered.

  A man cleared his throat, and Scott pulled away. Katy blinked, trying to anchor herself back in the present. One of the pediatricians eyed her with annoyance.

  Scott grinned at him and held her hand as he led her from the elevator. Several people, including Nina watched as they emerged. "I'll see you later. Have a good day."

  "Okay," she managed to whisper.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Scott Beckstead had kissed her…right in front of Nina. Katy still couldn't wrap her mind around it.

  She'd spent the past two hours working through a haze thicker than the snow storm that raged outside, trying to finish her expense reports. She hoped he'd only been messing with Nina, giving her a dose of her own nasty medicine. She couldn't imagine he'd actually kissed her because he'd been attracted to her. He hadn't given her anything more than cursory glances back in school. Or maybe he'd picked up on her attraction to him. If so, she needed to do a better job of hiding her feelings. The last thing she needed in her life was a bad boy playing with her.