A Cowboy For Christmas
Page 13
But he sure as hell wasn’t going to sit back and not fight for her.
* * * *
The man mystified her. Didn’t he decide to dig into this? Didn’t he call Nick and ask him to check up on Russ?
She walked along the main road, her hands stuffed deep in her coat pockets, while a cold wind pushed at her back. Why did Brent go to all the trouble he did, then avoid her? Did he want her to accept the position in Las Vegas and leave the stables?
Before she learned about the job, she’d already decided she wouldn’t stay unless he wanted her there. If he loved her.
When had that become the issue? She kicked a rock and turned toward the path to her front door. Inside, she picked up the phone.
He didn’t sound happy when he answered.
“Hey . . . do you still want me to decorate your tree with you?”
“What are you waiting for? You don’t have to call,” he said, his voice sounding more like him. She hung up a minute later, her chest hurting. Her heart hurt.
She loved him.
Did he know that?
She walked to his house. When he opened the door, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, but it felt like he held back.
During the last three days, she’d had trouble finding him. Maybe he thought they were over and this was a goodbye for him.
No, she couldn’t think like that. With his arms around her, she nuzzled into the soft shirt he wore and breathed in his smell.
“Come on, I’ve been waiting.” He led the way to the tree, which stood in front of the window in the living room. It stood in the stand, but without any decorations on it.
He kissed her cheek and said, “I’ll get the decorations.”
She went to the fire while waiting for him. She loved this house, and would miss it if she had to leave. But not anything like how she’d miss Brent.
Music came on and she turned. He carried a huge box over and set it on the floor in front of the tree.
Joining him, she sat while he opened it. She expected him to ask about the job offer or how the trial was progressing. A date had been set and she had a rough idea of when she’d need to fly to Las Vegas to testify. Brent, however, didn’t seem interested. Not enough, anyway, to ask about it.
Or was he afraid? He didn’t look at her like he normally did, and remained quiet as they hung ornaments together. Most were plain globes of red or green, but a few were unique and he told her about them.
Other than that, they didn’t talk. The daylight faded by the time they finished.
“It’s beautiful. Just needs the lights turned on.”
Walking behind the tree, Brent plugged it in and light sparkled forth. It sent colors across the carpet that blended with the glow from the fireplace.
Standing still before it, she stared at the picture it made. She wanted to see his face, to know what he was feeling, but he’d moved back. When she turned, he was laying a blanket out on the carpet.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” he asked.
Taken back by the blanket and his question, she mumbled, “Sure. That’d be nice.”
Wine? A blanket? She’d missed something. Maybe he wasn’t mad at all. Maybe he didn’t want her to leave. Or maybe he wanted to make love one last time before she did.
He returned and set their glasses on an old chest before sitting down. “Come on, join me?”
They sipped wine and looked at the tree. The fire warmed her, and so did sitting next to him. Longing filled her . . . for something more. She'd come to the stables and found a home, but suddenly felt something lacking, especially as she thought about the holidays.
He lay down and gave her arm a small tug.
“Do you think it’s silly?” she asked, leaning back into the crook under his arm. He’d spread the blanket almost under the Christmas tree, so she could look up into the lights.
“Laying here with you? What’s silly about that?”
“I meant the tree, the season.”
“Silly? Celebrating family and being together? No.”
Leaning on his elbow, he looked at her with such love. He showed her everything inside him and looked all the more manly because of it. His strong mouth so temping . . . she brushed her hand down his narrow face, the face she dreamed of at night and thought about during the day.
“I love you, Brent.” She’d caught him off guard and watched his face grow soft, his brows lift.
“Missy, I love you so much it wakes me up at night. I think your name in the shower and have to suck in a breath. I’ll never get you out of my system.”
Tears came to her eyes. She loved him so much, it felt like it’d always been there. She pulled his mouth to hers and kissed him deeply.
He pulled his mouth an inch back from hers. “I have to give you one present early.”
“You have no choice?”
“No, ma’am. The law says so.” He rose and reached for her hand, pulling her to her feet and a step closer to the tree. Still holding her hand, he guided it under a branch near the top to a small box.
How had he hidden it there? The film of liquid in her eyes grew into round tears and rolled over her lashes. She wiped at them. Once he’d settled it into her open hand, she studied it for a long minute.
“Open it.” His whisper brought her back to reality. She slipped the delicate ribbon off and pulled the top open. Little flares of color reflected off the solitaire.
“My word, Brent. Did you sell all the horses to buy this?”
He choked back a laugh, dropping down to one knee. “Missy, I love you and I want to marry you and spend my life with you.”
The tears in her eyes turned the light reflecting off the diamond into streaks. Wiping her eyes, she nodded.
“Is that a yes?”
“Did you ask a question?” She teased him right back, but didn’t laugh.
“Will you stay here? Don’t go back to Las Vegas. Stay with me, be my wife.”
“I’d like that. I never planned on going back, not since I set foot on this place.”
* * * *
If the couple in front of the Christmas tree noticed the lights and the people around them, it didn’t show. Missy stared into Brent’s warm and loving eyes and the preacher lead them through their vows.
“I do,” he whispered, never looking away. She loved his blue eyes, his face, his lips. And now she could look at him every day for the rest of her life.
When her turn came, she said, “I do.”
His lips touched hers, and shivers of joy ran through her. The kiss deepened and her heart quivered. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him like she couldn’t live without him.
Cheers went up. Both Brent and Missy smiled at their guests. She felt so happy seeing the people she cared about around her to share this moment. Through the toasts and laughing, her heart swelled as she watched her new husband. And her body ached for him. When their gazes met, the blaze in his eyes said that he felt the same.
And it showed when the last guest left and Brent swept her into his arms, kissed her neck, and carried her to the bedroom.
“Aren’t you supposed to carry me across the threshold?” she teased, murmuring the words against his mouth, against their kiss.
“You look like you want the bedroom right now!”
“I do, I do!”
Each kiss held tenderness and forever love. “You’re my wife - you’re staying!” he exclaimed with his arms wrapped around her. Brent laid her softly on the bed and kissed her left hand. She looked down at her wedding ring as he kissed up her arm. Slowly, he undressed her, kissing her body all over until she lay naked.
Her stomach flipped with excitement while her body buzzed with love. She ran her hands lightly over his muscled back, finding his body both familiar and exciting. He, too, memorized her body with his hands in a worship of love.
“Remember when we first met?” he asked, looking into her eyes.
“How could I forget?”
“Well, it’s true . .
. I’d never forget a face like yours. I’m so glad you showed up that day.”
She rose onto one elbow. “And fell in love with you?”
After a smile, she kissed his lips lightly. He gazed in to her eyes and told her, “You mean everything to me, Missy.”
“Good, ‘cause I'm sticking around for good!”
The End.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven