The Maverick's Snowbound Christmas

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The Maverick's Snowbound Christmas Page 15

by Karen Rose Smith


  He laughed and clasped her a little closer. His fingers encircled hers as he brought her hand to his chest. She took in a breath, suddenly filled with the desire to do more than dance. That desire made her notice everything about him, from his clean-shaven jaw, to his hair dipping over his brow, to the lines around his eyes that came from squinting into the sun...or from laughter. She had a feeling there had been lots of laughter in Eli’s life with his brothers and his sisters. He enjoyed his life now, that was obvious.

  They navigated around other couples on the dance floor, including Levi and Claire, but Hadley didn’t really notice them. She and Eli seemed to be moving in their own world to music soft and sultry meant only for them. At this moment Hadley couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.

  One dance faded into two, and they molded to each other even more closely. He brushed his cheek against hers, and she wanted to kiss him right then and there. As the dance ended, Eli did place a light kiss on her lips. It was a promise of more to come.

  He said close to her ear, “I like dancing with you, but you know what I’d like even more?”

  She could hardly get the word out. “What?”

  “I want to be alone with you. Will you come back to my place with me?”

  She said the only word that was in her head. “Yes.”

  * * *

  An hour later, back at his cabin with Hadley, Eli realized all his experience with women hadn’t taught him how to handle tonight with Hadley. As they’d danced, he’d been sure she wanted the same thing he did. But she’d gotten very quiet on the drive here. Not that he’d been a chatterbox himself. After all, they knew what they were going to do, didn’t they?

  Once they’d come inside, he’d taken her coat from her and told her to make herself comfortable. Now she was sitting on the sofa with Winks and Whisper, giving all of her attention to them. She seemed fidgety to him.

  Earlier, he’d laid the fire in the fireplace, ready to be set with a flick of a match. Now he did that and watched as the flames took hold. Maybe a little conversation would go a long way. Maybe he could coax her to open up. If she did, he’d know she was ready for whatever tonight brought.

  Going to the sofa, he sat beside her. The kitten ran back and forth between their laps, and they both smiled. He settled his arm around her shoulders and brought her close. She didn’t resist.

  “I read the signals right tonight, didn’t I?” he asked. “You wanted to come back here with me?”

  She looked up at him, but there was a slight furrow in her brow. “I did want to come back here with you. That’s why I said yes.”

  “You don’t seem comfortable, though. Are you having doubts? We can just sit by the fire and talk.”

  She nodded, seeming to agree with him about that. “What do you want to talk about?”

  Momma cat and baby settled in a corner of the sofa watching them.

  He brushed his fingers down Hadley’s arm. He knew what he wanted to ask her. “Why are you willing to work on Christmas, which is a family time?”

  That brought a deeper furrow to her brow. She was quiet so long he wasn’t sure she was going to answer him. But then she said, “It is a family time, and I do enjoy that part of it. But ever since—” She stopped.

  “Ever since what?”

  “For me the holidays have become associated with disappointment and shame.”

  He wasn’t sure what to say to that. So he stroked her arm again and listened.

  “I broke up with my ex the day before Christmas.”

  “Oh, Hadley, I’m sorry.” He couldn’t imagine why a man would break up with her. Or had she broken it off? “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

  “I met Justin at a veterinary convention in Las Vegas three years ago. He swept me off my feet. He was a pharmaceutical rep with a lot of charm, and I guess I fell for it. It didn’t last long,” she said.

  Being around Hadley as much as he had been, especially having her sleep in his arms with complete vulnerability, Eli realized she still hadn’t let her guard down completely. He didn’t think she’d given him the whole story, but that story was hers to tell when she trusted him.

  “Any man who would walk away from you or let you walk away from him would have to be some kind of fool,” he assured her.

  Her cheeks reddened a little, and he saw her eyes tear up. “It was complicated.”

  “And you still hurt from it.”

  She nodded.

  He held her closer then and swiped away the single tear that was rolling down her cheek. He couldn’t keep from kissing her. He knew she wanted that kiss, too, when her arms rounded his neck and her fingers laced in his hair. He’d been anticipating the kiss and longing to take it somewhere else. Yet he knew he couldn’t hurry her. He couldn’t hurry this. When he leaned back, she moaned a little. He smiled and used his tongue to outline her lips. He could feel her tremble and knew she liked it. He was certain of it when her hand went under his shirt placket and she touched bare skin.

  “Hadley,” he groaned.

  “What?”

  “Do you want to take this up to the bedroom?”

  She nodded again against his chest. That was the only signal he needed. He swooped her up into his arms, strode to the stairs and carried her up to the loft. They were in a big, king-size bed in no time, and all he wanted to do was strip her clothes off her and rid himself of his. But, again, he didn’t want to rush. He didn’t know how he could keep from rushing, but that was the plan.

  Hadley didn’t hesitate now. Her hands went to the buttons on his shirt. She pulled his shirt out of his slacks, and he figured it would give her a measure of confidence for him to disrobe first. So he let her take off his shirt and skim it down his arms. He couldn’t help but suck in a breath when she leaned forward and kissed his chest.

  He said huskily, “We’ve got to get your clothes off, too.”

  “Mine are easier,” she said simply. And he had to laugh. He could see what she meant. There was one zipper down the back of her dress. He didn’t even have to turn her around to reach it and pull it down. The dress slipped from her shoulders, and she was standing before him in a bra that seemed a filmy bit of nothing and panties that were the same. They were under her pantyhose, but he could tell. Had she anticipated tonight, too?

  “Shoes,” he whispered before he peeled them down her hips and then her legs. She held on to his shoulder as he pulled off one foot and then the other and tossed the pantyhose aside.

  “The rest of your clothes,” she breathed.

  Once she had unbuttoned his belt buckle, ridding himself of the rest of his clothes didn’t take long at all. In a matter of seconds, they were in his bed and he’d laid a condom on the nightstand.

  “Are you on the pill?” he asked.

  “No,” she said simply, and he suspected what that meant. She hadn’t dated recently. She hadn’t seen anyone seriously recently. But still he wanted to know. “Have you been involved with anyone since your ex?”

  “No.”

  That meant he was right about going slow. He was right about taking precious care of her. And he did. Although Hadley was impatient, he kept it slow, and she soon fell into the experience with him, making it more sensual. He kissed her cheek. She kissed his. He kissed her jawline. She kissed his. He kissed her collarbone. She kissed his. And so it went until she was at his waist and he couldn’t take it any longer.

  Applying the condom first, he rose above her. He stroked her thighs apart and could tell she was ready for him. “I want you, Hadley.”

  “I want you, Eli.”

  And so they had each other until he saw stars, she shouted his name...and the whole universe seemed to explode.

  Chapter Eleven

  Hadley awakened in Eli’s arms. This experience was so different from wh
en they’d awakened in the tack room with all their clothes on. He was cuddling her close, and his chest hair brushed her nose. She felt the tips of his fingers along the crest of her shoulder, and she shivered, remembering everything from last night.

  “Are you cold?” he whispered, close to her ear.

  “Anything but,” she assured him, burrowing her nose into his chest. She’d been free with him last night and so hungry for him. That embarrassed her a bit now.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, giving her a look that said he wanted the truth.

  “Last night was wonderful.” She hurried to explain, “But I’ve never been quite like that. I just feel a bit embarrassed this morning, that I was so—”

  “Sensual? Hungry for me like I was for you? There’s nothing wrong with that, Hadley. In fact, that’s what made it so electric and...fun.”

  She poked him in the ribs. “Fun?”

  He laughed. “Don’t you want to have fun in bed?”

  When she thought about Justin, she didn’t think about fun. She thought about lust. She thought about chemistry and where that had gotten her. She had chemistry with Eli, that was for sure. But there was more, too, and that’s what puzzled her. Her feelings for him were becoming so much more expansive than a simple attraction.

  “Your mind’s going. I can hear the wheels turning,” he teased.

  “Stop them from turning,” she said.

  “Gladly.”

  When his lips came down on hers, pleasure seemed to fill every bit of her. As his tongue stroked her mouth, she passed her hands down his back, felt the strong muscles there as well as his spine. She raked her nails across his skin, and he groaned. His caresses were more than touches. They were embedded with caring. She felt that as well as the desire to arouse her.

  When she stroked his hip, he said, “I have trouble restraining myself around you.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t think about restraints this morning,” she suggested. That caused another groan.

  She found herself wanting to look at him as well as touch him. But that was hard to do when he was determined to make her melt. When both of them were panting and glazed with desire, he prepared himself, stretched out on top of her and slowly let their lower bodies touch. It was a teasing ritual that made her frantic to have him. But he wasn’t ready to take her yet. He concentrated on her breasts. His mouth on them made her dizzy with need.

  She’d never ever felt like this. Last night they’d been seriously sensual and seriously hungry for each other. But this morning, they both tantalized and teased, having some of that fun Eli had mentioned. Finally, finally, he entered her. She took him in, glorying in every sensation. They seemed to melt into each other as heat wrapped them in an embrace. Before she knew it, she was reaching for the same stars she’d claimed last night, only this morning she seemed to reach higher and farther until she felt their glimmer through every nerve ending. Her climax rocked her. She felt his rock him.

  Just what did this mean for either of them?

  She wasn’t going to think about that now.

  She decided not to think about it two hours later, either, after they showered together, dressed, looked after the horses and driven to Kalispell. The mall was bustling with pre-Christmas activity. They stopped at Santa’s Workshop in the middle of the mall, where children and parents lined up so their kids could sit on Santa’s knee.

  “How many do you want someday?” Eli asked.

  She gave him a quick look, but his question had seemed nonchalant as if he was just gathering information.

  “Kids? I haven’t really thought about it,” she said. “I always thought I’d have pets sooner than kids. How about you?”

  “Two or three,” he answered reasonably. “Enough that they’d have each other, not too many that they don’t get enough attention.”

  That was a well-thought-out answer. Eli had spent time thinking about it, whereas she hadn’t. Because she thought it would never happen? Because trusting a man again had seemed so impossible? When they walked away from the line of children and parents, she had a lot to think about.

  They wandered in and out of shops until Hadley spotted something that might be the perfect gift for Rita Dalton. She took Eli’s arm and pulled him toward a display of wooden keepsake boxes. One had a beautiful carving of a horse on the lid.

  She asked, “Do you think you could coax your brothers and sisters to do something special for your mom?”

  “That depends,” he said warily. “What would they have to do?”

  “What if each of you put a note or letter in here about what she means to you. I can’t think of a Christmas gift that would be more appreciated.”

  Eli first discriminately studied the box. He opened the lid and saw its blue velvet-lined interior. Then his gaze fell on Hadley. “You haven’t known my mother very long, but you’re right. That would be a very precious gift to her.”

  “To any mother,” Hadley assured him.

  “You’ve found the perfect gift. Now all I have to do is make sure my family cooperates.”

  “I don’t think you’ll have a problem with that.”

  Eli was a leader, and she expected that his brothers and sisters respected him enough to see the wisdom in what he asked.

  Hadley’s cell phone buzzed. She’d texted Claire this morning and told her where she was and what she’d be doing...for the most part.

  Eli said, “Go ahead and answer it. I’ll take this up to the counter.”

  As he carried the box up to the sales clerk, Hadley stepped to a quiet corner and checked the screen on her phone. It wasn’t Claire. However, she knew the name on the caller ID. She just hadn’t heard from him in a few months. Greg Fordham had gone to vet school with her. The last time she’d heard from him this summer, he’d still been practicing in St. Louis.

  She answered, “Hadley Strickland here.”

  “Hadley, it’s Greg.”

  “Hi. It’s been a while.” She waited, wondering what he wanted.

  “I’m flying into Kalispell tomorrow and I’d like to have dinner with you.”

  “Dinner? Why?”

  He laughed. “That’s what I like about you, Hadley. You ask the tough questions. I want to consult with you about something.”

  “I see,” she said, though she really didn’t. “I’m working with a vet in Rust Creek Falls while I’m in town.”

  “I can drive there if it’s more convenient for you.”

  She thought about Eli and whether they’d be spending more time together, maybe tomorrow evening.

  “There aren’t many food choices here, but there’s a great rustic place called the Ace in the Hole.”

  He laughed. “Will I get into a bar fight?”

  “Not if you behave yourself.”

  “All right. That sounds like a plan. What time should I meet you there?”

  “About six?” she asked. “If I’m going to be tied up, I’ll give you a call back.”

  “You have my number. I should be getting into Kalispell around noon. I’ll text you where I’m staying in case you need that.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me what this is about?” she asked, still puzzled by his call.

  “No, I’d rather discuss it in person. I’ll see you tomorrow at the Ace in the Hole.”

  The call ended and Hadley once more belted her phone. Just what did Greg Fordham want with her?

  * * *

  When Greg walked into the Ace in the Hole, he looked totally out of place. But that wasn’t a surprise to Hadley. He was wearing an expensive suit, which he usually did. He came from money and he had a trust fund, but he’d become a veterinarian because he loved animals. Because of that, they had connected.

  She stood and waved to him, and he spotted her easily. There
weren’t that many people at Ace in the Hole right now.

  As soon as Greg sat down, a waitress came over to their table. Hadley ordered a cranberry spritzer. He ordered an expensive shot of whiskey.

  “Same old Hadley,” he said, teasingly.

  “Same old Greg.”

  Hadley happened to look up at the door when the next person strode in. That person was Derek. She thought about waving to him but then considered not doing it. If he came over to the table, she’d be friendly. But she and Derek mixed like oil and water.

  The waitress soon brought their drinks, and she and Greg ordered from the menu. It was obvious Greg was waiting until they didn’t have interruptions to speak with her.

  “You were right about no gourmet food,” he said. “Tell me it’s the best burger in Montana.”

  “It’s the best burger in Montana,” she said with a straight face.

  He laughed. “That’s another thing I like about you, Hadley. You make me laugh.”

  She was tired of waiting and wanted to know why he’d come. “So tell me, why this visit to Rust Creek Falls?”

  “I have a proposition for you.”

  She studied him. There had never been anything romantic between them. Greg had preconceived ideas and could be a bit of a snob. But he’d always been kind to her and they agreed on veterinary medicine practices.

  “But first I have one important question for you,” he said.

  “Shoot.”

  “Haven’t you always wanted your own practice?”

  “Sure, I want my own practice.”

  “How about having it right now? How about a partnership? How would you like to come to St. Louis and form a successful practice with me?”

  “You’re serious?”

  “I know you, Hadley. You’re interested in more than a practice in Bozeman. Think about the cultural advantages of St. Louis and a chance to see and live in another place. Big-city life would be an experience for you.”

  It certainly would. Hadn’t she wanted to experience big-city life someday? But a practice with Greg?

 

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