Wrestlin' Christmas: (Sweet Western Holiday Romance) (Rodeo Romance Book 2)

by Hatfield, Shanna

  Buford followed him up the porch steps and he patted the dog’s head before opening the kitchen door. Kaley helped Jacob on with his coat. The little boy tugged his favorite ball cap on his head before running outside.

  “Thank you, so much, for driving us today.” Kaley squeezed Cort’s hand as they walked out the door and down the steps. Cort opened Kaley’s door and helped her in then lifted Jacob up to climb in the new booster seat he’d installed a few days earlier.

  As long as he worked at the Hanging P, Jacob would be able to climb in and go with him without worrying about transferring the seat from Kaley’s car. He purchased a black one and had a friend of Kenzie’s make a special cover for it out of bucking horse material.

  Jacob beamed as he sat in the seat and fastened his seat belt. He produced a small notepad and pencil from his pocket, scribbling something and leaning forward to hand it to Cort.

  Cort grinned at the smiley face the boy had drawn along with the word “thanks” then passed the notebook back to Jacob. “You’re welcome, partner.” He winked at Kaley when she mouthed thank you and turned to smile at her son.

  In the last month, Jacob had learned to write some basic words and draw a few symbols, making it so much easier for him to communicate with others.

  When they arrived at the doctor’s office, Cort planned to wait in the truck, but Jacob had other ideas. He’d handed him the little notebook with the word “please” written on the page.

  “Sure, partner. I’ll come in with you.” Cort took Jacob’s hand in his on the way to the door. Kaley went to the receptionist to let them know Jacob was there for his appointment while Cort and the boy took seats on brightly colored chairs and waited.

  Time moved at a sluggish pace until the nurse called Jacob’s name. Kaley didn’t like him playing with the toys, since so many of the children who did were sick. Instead, she’d brought a few of Jacob’s favorite storybooks. He sat on Cort’s lap silently studying the pages until it was his turn to visit the doctor. Kaley took his hand when Cort set him on his feet and guided him to follow the nurse.

  The look he gave Cort over his little shoulder before he disappeared down the hall made the man’s chest ache all over again.

  In the doctor’s office, it was impossible to rid himself of the awful, tense mood, surrounded by children and the sounds of their chatter. It made Cort reflect on the pervading silence in Jacob’s life.

  Just when he thought he couldn’t stand to sit there another moment, the nurse brought Jacob out to him. Kaley requested he watch him a moment while she spoke with the doctor.

  “Why don’t we go outside to the truck, partner?” Cort took Jacob’s hand in his, walking him out the door. He lifted him up to the front seat then slid in. Jacob climbed over onto his lap, sitting behind the wheel, pretending he drove Cort’s big pickup.

  Although he expected Jacob to be sullen and withdrawn, the boy seemed in good spirits.

  Jacob pointed to things on the dashboard, so Cort explained to him what they were. He was showing him how the buttons worked on the satellite radio when Kaley opened the passenger door and climbed inside. The fear and worry that had eaten away at her that morning was gone as she turned a radiant gaze his direction.

  Cort was sure the sun had fallen from the sky and taken up residence in her face, shining through her eyes and smile.

  “Good news?” he asked, picking up Jacob and setting him in the backseat. The boy hurried to fasten the belt on his booster seat, looking expectantly at his mother and Cort.

  “Exceptionally good news. The doctor said he made huge improvements since the last visit. He said Jacob’s written communication is a wonderful sign and he noticed Jacob seemed much happier and relaxed than he has before.” Tears filled her eyes as she reached across the seat, placing her hand on top of Cort’s. The jolt sizzled all the way to her toes at the touch, but she kept her hand on his anyway. “Thank you for that, Cort. He’s been different since you came and for that I’ll be forever grateful.”

  “I didn’t do anything.” Cort shrugged his broad shoulders as he raised Kaley’s hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. In an effort to lighten the mood, he turned to look at Jacob. “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry. How about some lunch?”

  Jacob nodded his head then hurried to write something in his notebook, handing it to his mother. She glanced at the drawing and finally figured out what it was.

  “Burgers? You want a hamburger for lunch?” she asked, turning to look at Jacob.

  He nodded again, grinning.

  “Burgers it is!” Cort said, driving through Kennewick, past the mall to a kid-friendly restaurant that generally had good food.

  Jacob unfastened his seatbelt and had the back seat door open before Kaley could pick up her purse.

  “Hang on there, partner. Let’s wait for your mama.” Cort took Jacob’s hand in his to keep the boy from running across the parking lot. Kaley smiled as she hurried up beside them, taking Jacob’s other hand in hers.

  After stepping inside, it didn’t take long for a hostess to seat them in a booth and a waiter to take their orders.

  All three of them enjoyed their lunch, relieved by the news from the doctor. Jacob finished his burger and fries then slurped on a thick, creamy milkshake he shared with Cort.

  Kaley’s heart filled with thankfulness as her little boy sat beside the brawny, handsome man with the engaging silvery eyes.

  For the first time since the accident, there was hope her son would speak again. She owed that to Cort — to the attention and care he’d showered on a boy he hardly knew.

  Since his arrival at the Hanging P, Cort had shown more interest in and love for Jacob than his father ever had. Dean loved her and their son, but he followed the example his father set too closely.

  Ed had treated his wife like a slave. He gave her no respect, showed her no love, and expected her to do whatever he told her without an opinion or thought of her own.

  The poor woman died a year after Kaley and Dean wed. Kaley had always thought it was from being overworked combined with having her heart and spirit broken by the man she loved.

  While Dean had never been as narrow-minded or cruel when it came to women as Ed, he still liked things done his way.

  At first, Kaley bowed to his wishes, so full of gratitude to Dean for marrying her. A few years into the marriage, she realized she died a little more each day under his chauvinistic attitude.

  In one horrible fight, she informed Dean he had to treat her like a human and give her the respect she deserved or she’d leave. He stormed out of the house and stayed gone all night, but after that, things slightly improved.

  Then they had Jacob. So tiny and perfect, they’d both loved him, although Dean always struggled to know how to show his love. All too often, he was impatient and sharp with their son.

  Jacob learned early on not to cry or both his father and grandfather would make it into an issue.

  She hated when they did that. Little ones needed to cry sometimes, especially when they had such tender hearts, like her son.

  As she watched Cort and Jacob, with their heads bent together, she wanted to make believe they were a family. She wanted to pretend they belonged to each other and would always be together.

  Unfortunately, that was an unrealistic dream.

  One day, she’d wake up and find Cort gone and the emptiness in her heart might devour her completely.

  The loss of her husband had been tragic, painful, and one of the worst experiences of her life, but it hadn’t broken her heart.

  Although she loved Dean for giving her a home, albeit one ruled by his father, she’d never been in love with him.

  Not like she was with Cort.

  Electric currents never flowed through her at Dean’s touch like they did when Cort did something as simple as brush her hand.

  Thoughts of Dean never consumed her the way they did with the former rodeo cowboy. She dreamed of him most every night and found her though
ts lingering on him during the day.

  She’d been a faithful, devoted wife to Dean, but she’d never experienced the wild craving for him that raced through her every time Cort walked into a room.

  The intensity of her hunger for Cort made her feel traitorous to her husband’s memory. Upset by her thoughts, Kaley finished her glass of lemonade and declared it time to go.

  When Cort started to pay the bill, she snatched it from his hand and hurried to the cashier.

  She stuffed the receipt in her purse and turned around as one of the staff handed Jacob a balloon at the door. Cort tied a loop on the end so it would fit over her son’s hand then showed him how to make the string bounce.

  Not for the first time, she wished Cort were her son’s father. Kaley tamped down her maudlin thoughts and smiled as she walked with them out the door.

  The suggestion she offered to go to the grocery store then head home went unheeded. Cort had something else far more entertaining in mind.

  He drove to the freeway then took an exit at Pasco that led them out of town. They hadn’t gone far when he turned off the road and pulled into a parking lot of a country store where visitors strolled through a corn maze and pumpkin patch.

  As Cort stopped the truck, she gave him a disbelieving look. “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.” The flirty grin he shot her direction as he got out of the truck and held the door open for Jacob made her knees wobbly.

  Kaley took some money from her wallet and stuffed her purse under the truck seat before joining her two men.

  Despite her best intentions, she couldn’t help but think of Cort as hers. Uncertain if he felt the same way, she didn’t want to worry over the unknown.

  On a beautiful, sunny autumn afternoon, she just wanted to enjoy the experience of going through her first corn maze with an incredibly attractive man and her excited little boy.

  “I didn’t even know this was here,” she said as Cort paid for their admission and led the way to the opening of the maze.

  Since it was early afternoon, there weren’t many people wandering around. The maze didn’t get scary until dark. Cort and Tate had gone through it many times in their younger years, terrorizing each other and a few girls.

  Glancing at Kaley, Cort decided to be on his best behavior. He tipped his head toward the maze and held out his arm to her. “Come on, if you dare.”

  “I dare,” she said, wrapping her arm around his bicep. Briefly processing the thought that it was nearly as big around as her thigh, she didn’t have time to dwell on it when Jacob giggled and tugged on her other hand, pulling them forward.

  Cort let her and Jacob lead the way, which resulted in them getting lost at least half a dozen times. After an hour of wandering in circles, Cort took pity on them. He boosted Jacob onto his shoulders, grabbed her hand in his, and guided them out in a matter of minutes.

  “Show off,” Kaley said as he led them to the pumpkin patch. They each selected a pumpkin and then went inside the small store to get a cup of hot apple cider and a cookie.

  After finishing the treat, they loaded their pumpkins into Cort’s pickup then he drove to Kaley’s favorite grocery store.

  “Jacob and I can wait here while you shop.” Cort glanced at Jacob, asleep in the backseat.

  “Thanks.” Kaley looked at her sleeping son with her heart in her eyes. Once again, Cort had given the little boy such a fun adventure he’d fallen asleep with a smile on his face. “I’ll hurry.”

  “Take your time. We’re not going anywhere.” Cort pulled out his phone as she closed the pickup door.

  He often talked to Tate and Kenzie. When he first arrived, he hadn’t mentioned any family, but since the Round-Up, he often talked to his sister and he’d even mentioned getting in touch with his mom and dad recently. She wondered if he had a girl back in Boise.

  If so, she had no business thinking any of the thoughts he’d conjured since the day he knocked on her front door.

  Had it really been a little more than a month since he arrived at the Hanging P, turning her bleak existence into one filled with unexpected bursts of light?

  It seemed as if she’d known him forever, yet, at the same time, she didn’t know much about him. Tate shared some humorous stories with her about adventures from their childhood and rodeo days.

  The important things about Cort she’d learned by watching him. He worked hard, was honest and trustworthy, a dedicated friend, and enjoyed life. He loved to laugh and tease, and brought a sense of fun to the ranch that had never existed.

  There were still things she needed to know. Like what Cort wanted to do with his future. Would he ever consider being a rancher? Had he ever fallen in love? Would he ever date a widow with a little boy who didn’t speak?

  The thoughts that kept circling around her mind left her confused and uncertain so she hurried to finish her grocery shopping and return to Cort’s truck.

  As she approached, he got out to help her load the groceries. He returned the cart while she climbed in the front seat and discovered a bouquet of orange and yellow roses wrapped in florist paper.

  From behind her, Jacob grinned and pointed to the flowers.

  “Did you pick these out?” she asked.

  Jacob shook his head and pointed at Cort as he opened the door and slid behind the wheel.

  “These are beautiful flowers.” Kaley held them in front of her, admiring the fragrant blooms.

  “I’m glad you like them, since they’re for you.” The look in his liquid gray eyes was every bit as fiery as the roses in her hand.

  Burying her nose in the bouquet, she gave Cort a sidelong glance that conveyed her sentiments to the man driving them home. It was the first time she’d received a bouquet of flowers and would be a day she’d always remember.

  “Thank you, again, for the flowers. They’re gorgeous.” Kaley stared at the vase of roses she’d set on a side table in the living room, visible from her seat on the couch. She’d placed them there after tucking Jacob into bed an hour ago.

  Cort sat beside her with their entwined fingers resting on his hard thigh.

  His nearness left her unsettled while conflicting emotions warred within her.

  She wanted, more than anything, to pursue a relationship with Cort and see where it led. Loyalty to her husband combined with a fear of how it would affect Jacob if things didn’t work out with Cort made her cautious. And frightened. So frightened.

  This longing for him, to be with him and know his heart, was something new and foreign to Kaley.

  Nothing in her childhood or her marriage to Dean prepared her for the swirling emotions she encountered every time she set eyes on the good-looking cowboy or heard his voice. Mere thoughts of him stirred her in a way she’d never dreamed possible.

  Fairytale stories or one of the few romances she’d read in her teen years provided her only basis for comparison. In her world, she existed as best she could from one day to the next without expectation of anything better. Cort came along and brought out something inside her that made her feel vibrantly alive. He gave her hope, made her dream.

  He raised her hand to his lips and placed a heated kiss on her palm. Blissful shivers raced up and down her spine.

  “You’re welcome. They’re a bribe of sorts.” His silvery eyes, filled with warmth and desire, drew her attention and held her captive. She couldn’t move, even if she wanted to.

  “A bribe?” she finally managed to ask, although making her mouth form words seemed nearly impossible.

  “Kaley, you’ve got to know how much I want to kiss you.” The husky rasp of his voice made goosebumps erupt on her arms. He dropped his head until his lips, those tantalizing lips, caressed the tender skin beneath her ear.

  She tipped her head to the side, giving him better access, not even aware of what she’d done. The hand that wasn’t holding hers brushed softly along her jaw, turning her head as his lips worked their way to hers.

  “Cort, you shou…”

  He press
ed his mouth to her lips, effectively silencing her.

  Brief and sweet, his first kiss lasted only a moment. He raised his head and looked into her eyes, seeking acceptance, wanting permission. Before she could think better of it, she reached up and pulled his head back down to hers, kissing him softly, shyly.

  “Kaley, are you sure?” Cort’s lips teasingly touched hers, igniting a spark that would quickly escalate into an out-of-control flame.

  That unique scent of his, of man and musk, slowly infiltrated her nose, engaging sensations she’d never experienced. Every place he touched with his fingers and lips created a sizzling response she wanted to explore.

  “Sure of what?” she whispered, utterly distracted by his titillating presence.

  “Of doing this.” Cort kissed one side of her mouth then the other with such agonizing perfection, Kaley briefly thought she might die right there on her living room couch.

  “Cort,” she moaned on a ragged breath that blew across his neck in a beguiling invitation, providing all the encouragement he needed.

  His next kiss, unlike anything she had ever known, blended passion and tenderness with desire and love as his lips moved skillfully over hers.

  Willingly lost in the moment, Kaley didn’t want to think about anything except how good, how right it felt to be with Cort. Her longing for him went far beyond his exceedingly handsome face and magnificently formed body.

  It went to his heart, to the goodness she saw in him over and over again, to the gentleness in his spirit she’d witnessed so many times.

  She wanted a part of that, a part of him, for her very own.

  Abruptly sitting up, she drew in a sharp breath as her thoughts tripped on how much she wanted the man beside her. She wanted him more than she’d ever wanted anyone or anything.

  Rapidly rising to her feet, she turned her back to Cort, trying to calm her pounding heart and jumbled feelings.

  “I can’t do this, Cort. I have to think of Jacob, of my… I can’t do this. I’m so sorry.” She rushed from the room before he could stop her.