The Maverick's Snowbound Christmas

by Karen Rose Smith

Eli didn’t hesitate to say, “Close enough.”

  The doctor didn’t question him. “Your brother has a concussion. His arm is badly sprained but not broken. He’ll have to wear a sling. He’s protesting that he wants to leave. He can, of course, sign himself out, but it would be better if you convince him to stay overnight for observation.”

  “I’ll try to do that,” Eli said, looking somewhat relieved. “But he can be stubborn.”

  “Young men his age often are. Come on, I’ll show you to his cubicle.”

  “Do you want me to come?” Hadley asked.

  Eli didn’t hesitate. “Yes. We might need two against one.”

  Their gazes met, and Hadley saw more than a common purpose in Eli. She felt her nerve endings light up. Even in these circumstances, the attraction between them pulled like a strong magnet. Eli might have his brother on his mind, but when he looked at her, she could feel the bond that had formed between them. And not only the bond. She couldn’t deny the fact that she wanted to be held in his arms again, wanted to feel another kiss, wanted to kiss him back and maybe more. She’d guarded herself for so long, but somehow Eli had broken through that guard, not forcefully, but gently and persuasively.

  He reached for her hand then as they walked toward Derek’s cubicle. Seeing the man underneath the sexy rancher, she realized that there was so much strength in Eli. She could feel the calluses on his fingers from hard work. But more than that, she felt his warmth. She felt the energy that invigorated her in a way she hadn’t been invigorated before. Just what was it about this tall rancher that made her rethink her past and maybe even her future?

  As she walked into Derek’s cubicle with Eli, she didn’t know what to expect. Certainly not what she found. A pale Derek talking to one of the nurses, smiling at her with that twinkle in his eyes.

  The nurse moved away, and he saw them. “Why are you two looking so serious? I’m still alive and I’m ready to go home.”

  Eli strode over to his brother’s bed and Hadley followed him, knowing this could be a battle.

  “Don’t make light of what happened to you,” Eli warned his brother.

  “I have a headache the size of the state of Montana. I’m not making light of it,” Derek told him. “But my brush with that snowmobile isn’t going to make me an invalid either.”

  “You’ve got to stay the night,” Eli said firmly.

  “I don’t,” Derek protested. “All I have to do is sign a paper and I’m out of here.”

  Eli threw a glance at Hadley and she stepped into the situation, even though she didn’t know if she wanted to. She sank down onto the chair beside Derek’s bed. “Let me tell you what happened, Derek.”

  “I was there. I know what happened,” he said, his smile fading.

  “You know what happened to you, but let me tell you about the rest of the people who care about you. When the call went out that you were missing—”

  “I wasn’t missing,” he mumbled.

  “Well, apparently your cell phone was because it didn’t answer when Eli or your mom and dad repeatedly tried to call you. Anyone in Rust Creek Falls with a snowmobile rushed to the Circle D, including my brother-in-law. That’s how I found out about what was happening. When I arrived, your mom was fluttering around the kitchen like a busy bee trying to hide all her worry. But she couldn’t. She was worried sick, and so was everyone else who was gathering for the search. She and I made sandwiches and coffee to distribute to the searchers as they took breaks. You know it is cold out there. You’re fortunate you didn’t get frostbite.”

  When Derek started to protest, she held up her hand. “Eli was searching the longest, so of course your mom and dad were worried about him, too. With spotty cell phone reception, they couldn’t stay in touch. Can you imagine worrying for that hour or two?”

  Derek’s face showed that, yes, he could.

  “As soon as Eli reports to your parents, your mom and dad are going to drive here to make sure you’re all right. You’re going to prove you are by staying overnight and letting the doctors and nurses fuss over you. Just consider this your chance to acquire a few more females’ phone numbers.” She arched her brows and waited for Derek’s reply.

  He glanced at his brother. “She’s good.”

  Eli placed his hand on her shoulder. “I know she is. Why do you think I let her come along?”

  She eyed Eli and then Derek. “He didn’t let me come along. I jumped into his truck before he knew what was happening. He needed the coffee.”

  Derek laughed out loud. “So you two are a couple. Who would have thought!”

  Neither of them responded to that comment.

  Eli said, “I want to make that call to Mom and Dad. When I tell them you’re going to stay the night, they’ll be here as fast as they can.”

  Derek seemed to regroup, and some of his bravado faded away. “All right,” he said in a resigned tone. “Make the call. I’ll stay.”

  Once Eli had called his mom and dad, it seemed like Charles Dalton must have put the pedal to the metal. They arrived at the hospital in record time. Once Rita was fussing over Derek, Eli gave his brother a wave, took Hadley’s arm and said, “I’ll let Mom take over now.”

  On the return drive to Rust Creek Falls, they didn’t talk much. Eli switched the radio on to a country channel. As they neared town, Hadley said, “I came to your ranch with Levi. You’ll have to drop me at the boardinghouse.”

  But when Eli reached town, he didn’t drive directly to the boardinghouse. He turned off into the parking lot for Wings to Go. He parked in a back corner where the lights weren’t too glaring and let the engine idle.

  “What are we doing here?” she asked.

  “I didn’t want to park in front of the boardinghouse and be interrupted by the porch light going on.” He unfastened his seat belt and then unfastened hers. “Thank you again for what you did with Derek. I don’t think I could have convinced him to stay at the hospital overnight.”

  “Sure, you could have. You’re an older brother. You would have bribed him.”

  Eli laughed out loud at that one. “Maybe I could have, but he’s as stubborn as my dad.”

  “And probably as stubborn as you.”

  “I’m only stubborn when I’m right,” he insisted.

  “I’m sure Derek and your dad think the same thing.”

  She could see only the shadow of Eli’s face, but she thought she saw his lips twitch up.

  “We still have a date tomorrow night, don’t we?” he asked.

  “We do. I even bought a dress.”

  He tilted his head. “That isn’t a weekly occurrence?”

  “I haven’t had much occasion to get dressed up lately.”

  “Sometime, Hadley Strickland, you’re going to tell me what you’re not telling me.”

  Panic assaulted her. She certainly couldn’t tell Eli what she’d never even told her family. And what good would it do if she was going back to Bozeman? He certainly wouldn’t be leaving Rust Creek Falls.

  “Do you think you know me so well?” she asked lightly.

  “Oh, I’m beginning to know you well. Very well,” he murmured as he leaned closer to her. Suddenly she realized she didn’t want to be interrupted by a porch light either. She wanted Eli’s kiss. It wasn’t like they could do more than that here in the parking lot in the cold. At least not very much more.

  When Eli nudged her chin up, she felt him wait a beat as if asking if she wanted this, too. Yes, she did. As he bent his head and set his lips on hers, she knew this wouldn’t be a simple kiss. Whenever Eli kissed, he was all male, all passion, all masterful intensity. Their kiss took her thoughts as easily as it took her breath.

  As his tongue searched her mouth, she felt the fire. He kissed her deeply, and she felt as if she were flying solo into the wi
ld blue yonder. There wasn’t any other exhilaration like it. His arm dropped down to her back to bring her closer, and closer was what she wanted to be. She ran her fingers up the nape of Eli’s neck and felt him shudder. Apparently she had the same power over him that he had over her. A kiss or a touch, and she could go up in flames. Did he feel that way? Even with Justin, she hadn’t felt this kind of sexual hunger. It almost shocked her. But then she realized how selfish Justin’s lovemaking had been. After the fact, she realized how selfish his life had been.

  Why did the thought of Justin always have to interfere?

  Eli deepened the kiss, and she almost forgot where her thoughts had been going. Why couldn’t she just give in to this?

  Because she was too scared to trust her own judgment?

  He pulled back and said huskily, “Not a porch light this time.”

  Although for a while conscious thought had fled, it had returned with a vengeance. Eli had realized her mind had gone somewhere else. She saw it on his face.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  He gently touched her cheek and ran his thumb down her chin. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. This is a two-way street. And speaking of streets, I’d better get you home before the whole town closes down for the night.”

  He was treating the end of their kiss nonchalantly, and she didn’t know if she wanted him to. Before he could fasten his seat belt, she leaned over and kissed his cheek.

  “What was that for?” he asked.

  “For not pushing.”

  “I’m pushing for our date tomorrow night. I’m looking forward to it. Pick you up at seven?”

  “That sounds good.”

  He shifted his truck into Drive and drove out of the parking lot onto the deserted streets. When he pulled up in front of the boardinghouse, the porch light was already on.

  “Somebody wanted to give you a guiding light home,” he said.

  “Levi’s been home for hours. I texted Claire from the hospital, but that doesn’t mean they all won’t worry.”

  When she reached for the door handle, Eli leaned toward her much as she had done to him. He gave her a gentle kiss on the temple. “Sleep well, Hadley.”

  After she hopped out of his truck and started up the steps to the boardinghouse, she looked back over her shoulder and could see his shadow there. She had a feeling she’d sleep a lot better in his arms.

  * * *

  When Eli came to the boardinghouse to pick up Hadley on Saturday evening, he absolutely took her breath away. He was dressed in a Western-cut sports jacket with a white shirt, bolo tie and black jeans and boots. His black Stetson was cocked at the angle she liked best. She was immediately taken back to their phone conversation that morning. She’d called him to find out how Derek was doing. He’d responded with, “Do you know how many girls have called to ask how he is?”

  She’d laughed and said, “I’m just inquiring because I know you’ll feel better when he’s home. Any word from the hospital?”

  “Derek should be discharged this afternoon. Mom will cluck over him until he can’t stand it. Then he’ll escape to my place to get away from her care.”

  “I bet she’ll bake extra goodies for both of you.”

  “There are some benefits,” he’d said with some amusement, and his voice had gone husky when he said again, “I’m so looking forward to dancing with you tonight.”

  Now here he was, looking at her as if he’d never seen a woman in a dress before. She’d bought the dress because she felt pretty in it. It had tight long sleeves, a slim waist, a floaty short skirt and, above all, it was red. She didn’t know how long the two of them stared at each other.

  All of a sudden Old Gene appeared and clapped Eli on the back. “Melba and I thought about going to the dance, but we’re taking care of the young-uns.”

  Melba had slipped up beside Hadley and now she handed her her coat. “You’re going to need this, I think.” Hadley felt foolish, like a schoolgirl lost in a dream or her first date.

  Eli took the coat from her hands and held it for her as she put it on. When she turned to face him, he said in a low voice, “You look beautiful.”

  She’d heard those words before from another man’s lips. But this was Eli, and the look in his eyes said he meant them.

  He held her arm as they descended the steps, then helped her up into his truck. On the short drive to the community center, he asked, “So your sisters will be here tonight?”

  “Tessa and Carson are busy. Claire and Levi are coming. Ever since they solidified their marriage and renewed their commitment to each other, they try to get out more.”

  “And Old Gene and Melba help with that?”

  “They do. It’s nice to see.”

  “I guess after kids come, still maintaining date nights keeps a marriage strong.”

  “I suppose it does.”

  At the community center, Eli parked and then came around the truck for her. He helped her down and made sure he held her arm tightly in case there were any icy spots to walk over. She hadn’t wanted to wear her boots with this dress, opting for heels.

  Once inside, he took her coat for her and hung it on the rack. They wandered into the main room, where the dance was being held.

  Brooks and Jazzy waved to them from one of the tables. “Would you like to sit with them?” Hadley asked.

  “Sure, let’s.”

  She could feel Eli’s hand at the small of her back as he guided her to the table. She liked the feel of his strength and his tall figure beside her.

  After they were seated, Brooks said to her, “Just the person I wanted to see.”

  Jazzy nudged his arm. “You’re not going to talk business, are you?”

  “I thought we might as well get it out of the way first, then we can enjoy the rest of the night.”

  Hadley looked at him with questioning eyes. “What business?”

  “I just want to say again how glad I am you’re going to stay to help out with my practice.”

  “I’m glad to do it. But I have to be back mid-December to cover for my boss. Especially on Christmas Day.”

  “I understand,” Brooks said, shaking his head. “But I wanted to tell you that my dad’s made a decision. He’s going to put his practice and his property up for sale. I wanted you to be the first to know.”

  “Are you sure this is a good time for him to make that decision?” Hadley asked. “Maybe he’s just frustrated he’s not getting better quicker.”

  “I said the same thing,” Brooks admitted. “But he seems pretty sure of himself. He says he’ll continue to help me however he can, but he won’t have the administrative headaches. He won’t have the ranch to care for. I think he’s found he likes being under the same roof as we are. It gives him a feeling of security. Going forward, that’s important for him.”

  “When is he going to close his practice?”

  “He won’t do anything official until spring, but I just wanted you to know.”

  So now she knew. But she wasn’t sure what it meant for her, if anything.

  A DJ up at the front of the room had started the music. A buffet line was forming, and Eli asked, “Do you want to get something to eat?”

  “I do,” she said, not wanting to think about the future tonight.

  During the meal of pulled pork, barbecued beef, twice-baked potatoes, raw veggies and more, they easily chatted with Brooks and Jazzy.

  Jazzy filled them in on what had happened on The Great Roundup episode last night.

  Jazzy explained, “Brenna and Summer were paired up. They had to get two cows and calves off of an island in the middle of the pond! And then, after they swam back to shore, Summer, who’s a flirt, attacked Brenna for being little miss perfect. They actually had a girl fight in the mud!”

 
; Brooks was grinning. “I wish I could have seen that.”

  Hadley knew Brooks had taken his snowmobile to the Circle D to search for Derek, too. Eli’s arm brushed hers, and their eyes met for a brief second.

  Eli broke the eye contact first and asked Jazzy, “So who won last night?”

  With a wide smile, Jazzy proclaimed, “Brenna did. Not only the fight but the challenge.”

  “And what did she win?” Hadley asked.

  “A romantic night for two at the lodge with dinner. She took Trav as her date,” Jazzy answered.

  Although there was lightness on the surface of their conversation, Hadley felt the undercurrent every time her arm brushed Eli’s, every time they glanced each other’s way, every time they reached for a dish and their fingers touched. There was a raw sexuality surrounding Eli that drew her closer without him saying a word or moving a muscle. But when they touched... She imagined Brenna’s night at the lodge with Travis and knew that’s what she wanted with Eli.

  When they’d all finished eating, Eli asked her, “How about a dance?”

  Just the idea of being held in Eli’s arms made her heart flutter erratically. She said yes because this was an adventure she wanted to go on. Nothing too improbable could happen on the dance floor. She’d be safe from her own impulses and his.

  Nevertheless, once he took her into his arms, she rethought that idea. Nothing about being this close to Eli was safe, not when he smelled like a pine woods, not when he looked at her with that smoldering passion in his eyes. Their bodies were just grazing each other, and that was enough to tease her silly.

  “I could use your expertise,” he said.

  At that she studied his face. “My expertise in what?” she asked cautiously.

  He grinned. “How about going shopping with me tomorrow to find a Christmas present for my mom? My dad has no idea what she’d like. She says she has everything she needs, so I need a woman’s point of view. Maybe you can come up with something I can’t.”

  Looking into Eli’s eyes, Hadley almost couldn’t think straight. But his words penetrated, and she realized he really was asking her for a favor. She didn’t have much opportunity to go shopping, but she enjoyed it when she did. “Sure, I’ll go with you,” she said. “Just make sure your wallet’s full.”