“Kaley?” she heard Cort’s voice rumble above her head.
“Hmm?”
“Will you go out on a date with me? The kind where we find a babysitter for Jacob, eat in a restaurant, and go to a movie.”
Kaley leaned back so she could look at Cort’s face. The fact he seemed nervous made her smile. Apparently, the man full of confidence wasn’t sure she’d say yes to something she was, in fact, quite eager to experience.
With her gaze turned downward, she hid her smile and forced her voice to sound disinterested. “I suppose I could try to work that into my schedule. Maybe we can plan on it after Christmas.”
He stared at her for a moment, registering the words along with her teasing, before chuckling. “You almost had me for a minute.”
“Yeah, I did.” She swallowed a squeal of surprise when he twirled her around and dropped her into a deep dip.
With her bent over his arm, while the fire turned her hair from a deep shade of brown into a curtain of mahogany waves, Cort knew for the first time in his life he had fallen deeply and irrevocably in love.
Her lips teased him while her alluring fragrance tempted him. He was completely wrapped up in a spell she didn’t even understand had been cast.
Slowly raising her up, he continued their dance although every fiber in his being wanted to lay her down on the couch and cover her in kisses.
When Baby It’s Cold Outside began to play, Cort started singing along in a rich baritone. Kaley joined in and the two of them danced around the living room, lost to the rest of the world as they found each other.
“Since Halloween, it’s been awfully nippy around here.” Cort moved her in slow, achingly enticing circles as they swayed to the music. “Unless I’m mistaken, I’ve been sensing a warming trend.”
“How very astute of you, Mr. McGraw. Maybe you can get a job doing the weather on the news.” The smile she turned on him made heat sear through his veins as he tugged her even closer. “You’d have to lose the cowboy look and get a suit.”
“Which do you prefer?”
“I haven’t seen you in a suit, so I’ll wait to share my opinion.” Kaley thought nothing could compare to seeing Cort in a pair of snug jeans and boots. A shirt was entirely optional.
As she tried not to stare at the sculpted muscles of his chest through the thin fabric of his shirt, she relished the feel of them beneath her cheek.
Cort cleared his throat. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
Kaley braced herself for whatever he wanted to ask. “Sure.”
“How old are you?” She’d been so serious and sad when he first met her, she seemed older. Now that she smiled more and let herself relax, learning to laugh and enjoy life, she seemed years younger.
“I turned twenty-eight on my last birthday,” Kaley said, hoping Cort didn’t think her too young, or too old. “How old are you?”
“Thirty-three. However, if you ask my sister, I’m perpetually going on twelve.”
She laughed and looked at Cort’s infectious grin. “How tall are you, anyway?” He seemed to tower over her and she reached almost five-nine.
“Six-three. A little more when I wear my boots. Why?”
“To me, and I think Jacob would agree, you seem ten-feet tall.” Kaley studied the man who had so quickly become not only her hero, but also her friend.
“I’m glad you think so.” Cort stared at her mouth, no longer willing to fight the urge to claim Kaley’s lips as his own.
He dropped his head to hers, kissing her with all the passion she ignited in him, all the longing she created, all the love she inspired.
Long moments later, when they stopped to draw in ragged gulps of air, Kaley knew if her arms hadn’t been wrapped around Cort’s neck, if his powerful arms hadn’t held her so closely, she’d have slid into a puddle on the living room floor.
“Cort that was…” She couldn’t think of accurate words to describe the incredible wonder of his kiss.
“Yeah, baby, it was.” He leaned his forehead against hers and kissed her nose. “In case I haven’t mentioned it before, I kind of like you.”
Kaley let out a choppy laugh, one filled with emotion and joy and a newfound happiness. “I kind of like you, too.”
He lifted her up until her lips were level with his. “I’m glad. It makes it real convenient to do this.” He kissed her again, deeply and thoroughly, leaving her light-headed and desperate for more.
When he began to lift his head, she pulled it back down. “Don’t stop, Cort,” she whispered against his lips. “Please, don’t stop.”
“Kaley, girl,” he growled swinging her around while his lips seared the smooth skin beneath her ear.
A quiet giggle slammed them both back into reality.
“Jacob!” Together, they turned toward the kitchen. The little boy peeked around the corner watching them.
“Jacob Aaron Peters, you get yourself right back to bed this instant!” Kaley shook a finger in the direction of the hall behind him as she marched toward him. When she reached the corner, she looked back at Cort and blew him a kiss before telling him good night.
Cort went outside and unplugged the lights, hoping the below zero temperature would cool him off because there was no way he’d get any sleep in his current condition.
Chapter Thirteen
The one Sunday Kaley was in a rush to get home, the pastor wanted to chat, Jacob joined in a group of boys playing tag in the snow, and Cort disappeared to help move some pews from the basement to the back of the church.
Frustrated, she tapped her foot impatiently. Kaley’s irritability had little to do with the unexpected delays in getting back to the ranch and everything to do with it being the anniversary of Dean and Ed’s death. It was a stark reminder of all she’d lost and the day her baby stopped talking.
Early that morning, she drove to the cemetery while Cort and Jacob slept. In the pre-dawn darkness, with a bone-chilling breeze blowing around her, she knelt at Dean’s grave and placed an evergreen wreath against the gravestone. After leaving similar wreaths on the graves of his parents and brother, she lingered only a moment before driving home, half-frozen and maudlin.
Cort stood in the kitchen, drinking from a mug of hot coffee when she returned. He gave her a questioning glance when she walked in, but didn’t press her for details.
Had he asked, she couldn’t have responded anyway. Her emotions jumbled together too much to be able to formulate thoughts that made any sense.
Kaley didn’t have time to linger on the events of two years ago as she worked to make sure everything was ready for their lunch guests.
Now, as she waited to leave the church, she tried to keep her thoughts from slipping into her past. When Kenzie approached carrying Gideon, she forced a smile to her face.
“It was so sweet of you to invite us for lunch today.” Kenzie gave her a one-armed hug along with a friendly smile.
Gideon reached out to her, so Kaley took him from his mother and kissed his rosy cheek.
“I’m so glad you can come. It’s my turn to have you over for a meal. I just hope it isn’t past the point of being edible by the time we get home.” Kaley glanced around, trying to spy Jacob and Cort in the crowd milling outside the church.
“Tate and Cort are still helping move the pews,” Kenzie said, reading her thoughts. “Why don’t we head to your place and the guys can ride together?”
“That’s a great idea, if you don’t mind.” Kaley gently poked Gideon’s tummy, making him giggle. She loved watching the dimples pop out in his little cheeks. His belly laugh could make even the most miserly scrooge smile.
“I’ll let Tate know to ride with Cort and to watch over Jacob.” Kenzie took out her phone as they walked toward the parking lot.
Kaley put Gideon in his car seat then climbed in the passenger side while Kenzie finished her call with Tate and slid behind the wheel.
“Tate said they shouldn’t be much longer, and that they’d make sure to k
eep an eye on Jacob.” After backing out of the parking space, Kenzie pulled out onto the road. “Cort said you did some decorating yesterday. Sounds like you had fun.”
“It was a lot of fun.” The craft projects she created gave her a great sense of satisfaction. Cort and Jacob’s efforts outside were an unexpected surprise. However, none of that compared to the way she felt when Cort held her close and kissed her.
No, the end of her day wasn’t what she’d call fun, but it had been unforgettably wonderful. She wouldn’t have pegged Cort as a romantic, but she thought firelight, dancing, and his serenade quite impressive.
She pulled her thoughts back to the present instead of lingering on what might have happened if Jacob hadn’t interrupted. “It’s my first time decorating for the holidays, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know.”
Kenzie studied her for a moment, offering a warm smile. “You’re so good at everything, I’m sure it all looks fabulous!”
Mulling over Kenzie’s words as they drove to her house, she wondered if the woman honestly thought she possessed useful skills and talents. Kaley often felt so woefully inadequate around others.
Kenzie had a talent for cooking and making her house into a home. Her friend was also a smart career woman, working for an established direct-sales company from home where she developed training programs for the consultants.
Kaley didn’t even understand half of what Kenzie did with the business, but admired her for balancing work, home, and family with what appeared to be ease.
“Oh, wow! I love the sled by the door. Where did you find that?” Kenzie asked as she parked at the end of the walk and opened her door. Kaley took Gideon out of his car seat and carried him down the walk. He wiggled, wanting down when he saw Buford.
At Kenzie’s nod granting permission, she set the toddler on his feet. He ran to the dog, wrapping his little arms around Buford’s furry neck.
When he said the dog’s name, Kaley and Kenzie couldn’t help but laugh. Buford came out sounding like “buedord,” but the dog appeared to enjoy the attention. Kenzie picked up Gideon when Buford began washing his face with licks. She walked onto the porch, admiring the sled and other decorations.
“I found that in the storage shed. It must have belonged to Dean or Todd although I guess it may have been Ed’s as a boy.” Kaley opened the front door and motioned for Kenzie to step inside the warmth of the house.
Kenzie glanced around at the decorations, a smile wreathing her face. “Oh, Kaley, everything is lovely!”
Once she removed Gideon’s snowsuit and boots, she set the little boy down, admonishing him not to touch anything. Kaley got a few of Jacob’s toys out of a box she kept at the end of the couch and set them in the middle of the floor.
Gideon latched onto a big green tractor and pushed it around, making rumbling noises.
Kenzie indulgently grinned at her son. “I hate to say it, but I don’t think we’ll have to worry about Gideon leaving the ranch when he grows up. He lives and breathes farming and ranching. Tate took him out to the barn one afternoon and set him down for a second. When he turned around, Gid had snuck into a stall and was trying to get on one of the horses to go for a ride. Thank goodness it was my Goldie and not one of the other horses or we could have been in trouble.”
“He’s getting to that age where they are so inquisitive and want to see and touch and taste everything.” Kaley hung up Kenzie and Gideon’s coats then motioned them into the kitchen. Kenzie sat Gideon with his toy on the floor by the table and offered to help Kaley with lunch.
After handing her a stack of plates, Kaley dished up the food and made a pot of coffee while Kenzie set the table. The familiar stamp of boots at the back door made Kaley grin while Gideon ran to the door.
“Jake!” he yelled, hugging his friend when he walked inside with Cort and Tate.
Pleased by the greeting, Jacob grinned at Gideon. Quickly removing his hat, coat, and gloves, he turned his gaze to his mother.
“Sure, Jacob, you can play in your room for a few minutes.” Kaley inclined her head in the direction of the hall.
Jacob took Gideon’s hand in his, leading him to his bedroom. Gideon’s lively chatter more than made up for Jacob’s silence.
“He’s so good with Gid, and they appear to have worked out their own way of communicating,” Tate observed, washing his hands at the sink while smiling at Kaley.
“I’m grateful he and Jacob enjoy playing with each other. My poor son gets kind of lonely with just ol’ Mom around.” Kaley removed a pan of rolls from the oven and dropped them into a basket. A cloth covering went over the top before she handed it to Cort to set on the table.
The way the two of them worked in harmony didn’t escape Tate or Kenzie’s notice. Tate grinned knowingly at his wife, waggling an eyebrow.
After lunch and dessert, the two couples sat around the table drinking coffee while Gideon and Jacob played in the living room. The sound of their giggling and the rumbling of tractor noises let the adults know the boys were having a good time.
“I was wondering…” Cort looked first at Kenzie then Tate, “We were hoping you wouldn’t mind watching Jacob so we could go out on a date. A real date. In town. With other adults, and sit-down restaurant food, and a movie.”
Kaley wanted to kick Cort under the table. She had no intention of asking their friends to babysit Jacob. They’d already done so much to help her, she couldn’t ask anything else of them.
Cort didn’t share her hesitancy to burden his friends with her responsibilities.
“Of course. We’d love to have Jacob at our house. Just say when.” Kenzie smiled encouragingly at Kaley.
“Does tomorrow work for you?” Cort asked, surprising everyone at the table.
While Kenzie agreed, Kaley coughed and choked on the coffee she’d been sipping.
She could be wrong, but Cort hadn’t asked her when she wanted to go out, just if she would. Although she wanted to go on a date with him, she didn’t like being caught off guard.
“Is that not a good day for you?” Cort asked as he gently patted her back.
“It’s fine,” she said between coughs. “I didn’t realize it was what you had planned.”
Tate laughed and leaned back in his chair. “It’s only fair to warn you that Cort is unpredictable, spontaneous, bossy, and holds the title as king of flying by the seat of his pants.”
“Thanks, man. That totally helps the situation.” Cort glared at his friend. He wouldn’t be surprised if Kaley refused to go out with him after that sterling referral.
“I’ve already figured that out,” she said, when she could speak again. “You forgot to include erratic and fickle.”
Tate and Kenzie both laughed while Cort pretended to sulk.
Smugly crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned toward Kaley. “In that case, I won’t tell you what time we’re leaving or where we’re going. It’ll come as a big surprise.”
“Fine by me.” Kaley enjoyed their teasing banter. She knew wherever they went, she’d have fun because she’d be with Cort.
After clearing away the dishes, the guys went to the living room to watch football while Kaley took Kenzie back to her craft room to show her a few of her current projects.
Someday she hoped to have the room organized with shelves, drawers, and cubbies for all her many supplies. For now, she had boxes full of material, buttons, thread, yarn, paint, and other supplies stacked against one wall. While it was neat, it was far from the orderly, inspiring room she envisioned in her dreams for the space.
“This is adorable,” Kenzie said, picking up a quilt Kaley worked on for Jacob.
The quilt made from snowman-printed fabric could be used all winter, not just for Christmas. Jacob was still young enough, he’d enjoy it for several years before he outgrew the jolly snowmen pattern.
“I’d love to make Gid a quilt but sewing is not one of my talents,” Kenzie said, fingering the fabric.
“I’m just tyi
ng this one. It’s nothing special.” Kaley showed her friend the blue thread she planned to use to hold the quilt to the batting and backing.
“How can you say, that, Kaley? Jacob will love this, not because it’s so cute, but because his mama made it with love.”
Kaley felt tears prick her eyes again and had to swallow before she could speak.
“Thank you, Kenzie. If you’d like me to make Gideon a quilt, go ahead and pick out some fabric. It wouldn’t take long to make one.” Kaley pulled out a box of Christmas fabric. Trips to yard sales amassed quite a collection of fabric. One good haul last summer resulted in yards and yards of different Christmas material. She had a blast digging into it yesterday with her craft projects.
“I couldn’t,” Kenzie said, although she began eagerly delving into the fabric.
“Yes, you can.” Kaley giggled when Kenzie held up a piece like she’d unearthed a winning lottery ticket.
“If you’re sure, this one is perfect.” Kenzie handed her the fabric with a broad smile.
“I’m sure. Now, what size do you want it?”
“For a twin bed, please, if you’re positive it’s no bother.” Kenzie’s face glowed with excitement.
“It’s no bother at all and I agree that the fabric is perfect.” Kaley rubbed her hand across the material that featured blocks of farm animals standing in the snow in front of a red barn with a Christmas tree. A red border with white snowflakes separated each block. “Gideon will love this.”
“I know. I can hardly wait to see his face. Why don’t you and Jacob give it to him as a gift? That will make it even better.”
“I’ll have Jacob help me with it. I know he’d like to make something special for his little friend.”
Kaley set the fabric on a small table and returned the rest of the pieces to the storage box.
“It’s great that you have this room to do craft projects. All country women need a place to escape.”
“Yes, they do.”
Wrestlin' Christmas: (Sweet Western Holiday Romance) (Rodeo Romance Book 2) Page 18