The movie had barely started when Cort began unraveling her composure and chasing away her good sense. First, he tickled her side then he blew softy on her neck. His finger toyed with a curl by her ear. When his hand rested on her knee, she wondered what he’d do if she turned around and kissed him with all the red-hot emotion he ignited in her.
Terrified to act on her longings, she desperately wanted him, wanted to love him.
Although she was married to Dean for more than eight years, he’d never made her feel the way she did with Cort.
Then again, she’d never loved Dean like she did the cowboy who’d shown up on her doorstep a few months ago.
Guilt-ridden, she battled with the voice in her head that taunted her, insinuating her love for Cort betrayed her vows to Dean.
Kaley thought back on all the times her husband neglected her, put her down, and made her believe she was insignificant. She knew she wasn’t betraying him. She was a loyal and faithful wife while he was alive, but he’d been gone for two years.
It was past time for her to move on and start a new life.
One she hoped would include Cort.
When his fingers moved from her knee to slide up her leg a few inches, she playfully slapped his hand.
“You better behave yourself,” she whispered in his ear. “Santa’s watching and you don’t want to end up on the naughty list.”
“Maybe I do want on that list, depending on what puts me there,” Cort growled, nibbling her ear. Surprised by his amorous affection, Kaley almost dumped the popcorn on the floor, making him chuckle quietly.
“Behave,” she warned. Pointedly fastening her gaze on the movie screen, it wasn’t as easy to roll her thoughts away from the handsome, virile man sitting close to her side, tormenting her with his enticing scent and teasing touches.
Cort kept his hands mostly to himself through the remainder of the movie, although he’d nearly had to sit on them to do so. Any number of inappropriate thoughts flitted around his head when he placed his hand on Kaley’s knee. As he trailed his fingers higher along her stocking-clad leg, it was all he could do not to pull her onto his lap and lose himself in her kisses.
When the movie finally ended, he helped her put on her coat and took her hand, walking her out of the theater into the cold.
“The temperature dropped while we were inside.” Kaley tried not to let her teeth chatter as they made their way to the pickup. Cort used his remote starter so it would begin warming up the moment they stepped outside, but she wasn’t accustomed to having her legs exposed to the chilly air.
Although the dress came to her knees and the coat to her mid-calf, the cold chilled her from her toes all the way up her legs.
A laugh bubbled out of her, drawing a questioning gaze from her date.
“I much prefer wearing my boots and jeans in this kind of weather. The breeze isn’t kind to women in skirts.” Kaley sucked in a gasp of frigid air when Cort smiled wickedly, picked her up, and set her in the truck.
“The cold might not be, but I have to tell you, Kaley, those long legs of yours in those heels makes me…” Cort cut himself off before he said something that might frighten or offend her. “Let’s just say I appreciate the view. A lot.”
Not knowing how to respond to his honesty or flattery, Kaley remained silent. The tender glance she cast his direction warmed him from the inside out as he sat behind the wheel and cranked up the heater.
On the drive out of town, they rode in companionable silence, listening to a Christmas station. As they neared the turn-off for the Hanging P, Cort reached across the seat and took her hand in his.
“Have you ever taken a vacation?”
“No.” Kaley wondered why he asked. The question seemed to come out of nowhere.
“Would you like to take one?” Cort asked. She could see his imploring grin across the darkened cab of the truck.
“It depends when, where, and with whom,” she said as he parked at the end of the walk.
Cort turned off the truck and hurried around to open her door. Before she could protest, he scooped her into his arms and carried her up the steps to the front door. Unwillingly, he set her down and waited while she unlocked the door then walked inside.
Rather than turn on all the lights, she plugged in a strand of white lights she’d twined among the garland branches draped across the mantle. Although they didn’t yet have a tree, the house carried the fragrance of Christmas — sugar cookies, cinnamon, and some other scrumptious spicy scent Cort couldn’t define.
He held her coat as she slipped her arms out of the sleeves. Kaley draped it over a chair, along with her gloves, scarf, and handbag.
Cort removed his sports coat and tossed it at the chair then turned, taking Kaley’s arms in his hands, gazing into her lovely face. “Would you take a short trip with me, if Jacob, Kenzie, Tate, and Gideon were going, too?”
If he’d grown a second head or started speaking a foreign language, Kaley couldn’t have looked at him like he was any more bizarre than she did at that moment.
“What are you talking about? Where are you planning to go?” Confused, her voice sounded slightly panicky.
“The rodeo finals start this week and wrap up next weekend. Tate and Kenzie have tickets for the last two performances, enough for all of us to go. We’d just be gone three nights.” Soothingly rubbing her arms, his gaze held hers, compelling her to agree to go. He knew she’d had all too few opportunities to just enjoy life and have fun. He wanted her to experience something he loved, something that was full of excitement and energy.
“I don’t know. I think it’s best if…”
Cort placed two fingers over her mouth, silencing her. His touch on her lips was so disarming, she blinked at him, unmoving.
“Please, Kaley, girl. I want to give you this experience. You and Jacob. I promise you’ll have a good time. We’d fly down on Thursday, go to the rodeo Friday and Saturday, then come home on Sunday. The world won’t end if we’re gone for a few days.” Cort took her stillness for refusal, not understanding the effect he had on her system. “Please? Will you at least think about?”
After what seemed like half an eternity of silence to him, she released a sigh. “What about the chores?”
“I’ll hire some of the neighbor kids to do them. The boys you hired during the summer will be home from college by then.” A glimmer of hope twinkled in her eyes.
“You’re my hired hand. If anyone does any hiring it’ll be me.” Kaley narrowed her gaze at him.
“Fine, but I can make the arrangements, if you like,” he offered, not wanting to wound her pride.
He’d often considered refusing to take her money or not cashing the checks she wrote for his wages. Thanks to his successful rodeo career and good investments, Cort had enough money saved to live comfortably for a long while. He’d carefully managed his money with plans of eventually buying his own place, but lately he thought more and more his place might be beside Kaley.
For all the world, he wouldn’t do anything to damage her stubborn pride. Refusing the wages she paid him would definitely do that.
“Okay,” she said quietly, glancing at Cort uncertainly. “But what about…”
Cort let out a whoop and wrapped his arms around her before pressing his mouth to hers, effectively cutting off her questions.
When he finally raised his head, she clung to him for support with half-closed eyes, her lips puffy from his thorough attention.
“Cort, I...”
“Kaley.” His deep, husky tone made a shiver rake up her spine. She pulled his mouth back to hers and kissed him until she forgot about everything except how much she loved and wanted this man.
“Does that mean you’ll go,” he asked, his lips brushing hers.
She nodded her head and he swung her around the room. As they fell onto the couch, he kissed her neck, her cheeks, and those tantalizing lips.
While her scent enticed his nose and her breath warmed his neck, he thrilled at
the luscious feel of her body pressed against his. Cort closed his eyes and savored the sensations.
Any second, he knew Kaley would do the right thing and push away from him, kiss him good night, and go to her room.
Several excruciating moments later, she continued fanning the embers she’d started burning in him to a rip-roaring fire by trailing scorching kisses along his jaw. She lingered a while at the dimple on his chin, causing tingles to race up his arms and down his legs.
She teased his mouth with playful nips before he took her lips captive again as his fervor reached new heights.
Tightly grasping the last few shreds of sense he possessed, he gently pushed her back then sat up.
When she realized Cort was every bit as lost in the fevered exchange as she’d been, Kaley felt heat sting her cheeks. Scooting away from him, she stared at her hands, tightly clasped in her lap. They trembled slightly from the intensity of the passion Cort stirred in her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about, Kaley.” Cort lifted her chin, staring into her eyes. “When I’m alone with you, I can’t help myself.”
Kaley smiled at his devilish grin and shook her head. “Then I guess we better not spend time alone until we can both keep from losing control.”
“Party pooper.” Cort grinned as he stood then helped her to her feet. Meshing their fingers together, he walked her down the hall to her bedroom door.
One long, involved kiss and a tender hug sapped the remainder of his willpower. “Dream happy dreams, Kaley.”
“I will,” she whispered, walking into the room and starting to close the door. It served as a shield when she lifted her eyes to Cort’s liquid silver gaze. “I’ll be dreaming of you.”
Chapter Fifteen
“I think he might burst from excitement,” Kaley whispered as she and Cort watched Jacob gaze at the city lights from their hotel balcony.
The little boy turned to grin at them before pointing to the flashing lights of a landing plane.
“I did see it, buddy. It’s fun to watch those planes land, isn’t it?” Kaley hugged Jacob from behind, pulling him against her legs. She worried he might try to hang over the edge of the balcony to get a better view. On the nineteenth floor of a posh hotel, Kaley had never imagined such luxury — or dizzying height.
The room they occupied had two queen beds, a separate seating area with a partial kitchen and a huge bathroom with a spa tub. As soon as Jacob was asleep, Kaley intended to make full use of a long soak in hot, bubbly water.
Cort’s room was next door with Kenzie and Tate just down the hall.
Their flight arrived early in the afternoon, giving the group time to explore before going out to eat dinner.
Kaley expected her little farm boy to be exhausted, but Jacob gazed at everything with wide, curious eyes.
“Would you like to go for a walk?” Cort knew Jacob would tag along like a trooper, but he wanted Kaley to enjoy herself, too.
“I’d love to.” She tucked her room key and cell phone into a shoulder bag and held out her hand to her son. Jacob settled the ball cap he’d insisted on bringing on his head then grabbed her hand with a happy grin.
“Let’s go see what adventures we can find.” Cort took Jacob’s other hand as they walked to the elevator then through the lobby to the street outside the door. Guiding them along the busy sidewalk filled with people that kept bumping and shoving into them, Cort finally picked up Jacob and settled him on his shoulders before taking Kaley’s hand in his.
She smiled at him in appreciation, mesmerized by the sights and sounds of the city.
“I think we should wait here a moment.” Cort stopped in front of a large hotel fronted by what appeared to be a pond of water.
“The water is pretty with all the lights shining on it, don’t you think, Jacob?” Kaley smiled at her son. He nodded his head and pointed to holiday decorations festooning the hotel’s exterior.
She jumped when water shot up from fountains, moving in sync to music playing over a loudspeaker. Awed by the sight, she and Jacob enthusiastically clapped their hands as they watched the show.
“That was breathtaking,” she said, holding tightly to Cort’s arm, thrilled he’d talked her into coming.
Her first thought, when he’d suggested the trip, was that it was a crazy idea. She didn’t belong in a big city pretending to be something she wasn’t. Worries about leaving the ranch and concerns over how Jacob would react to the noise and crowds made her want to refuse to go.
Cort and his persuasive words, or maybe it was his kisses, convinced her to agree to accompany him.
Absorbed by the excitement pulsing around her, she couldn’t think of anywhere she’d rather be than right there with her son and the man who’d brought immeasurable joy to them both.
Although Jacob was too young to remember much about his father, Dean and Ed had both been strict with the boy, correcting his every move. Even before he quit speaking, Jacob had never known the love and acceptance Cort offered him so freely.
Tears of gratitude burned behind her eyes. Kaley took a deep breath and smiled at her handsome escort.
“Want to go back to the room?” Cort asked as he stood waiting for a light to change so they could cross the street.
“Not at all. Lead the way, tour guide.” Kaley offered him an impish grin.
Cort kissed her cheek and gazed at her with his silvery eyes aglow. “Then prepare to be amazed, Kaley, girl.”
A few hours later they returned to the room with Jacob wearing a ring of hot chocolate around his mouth as he slept, carried in Cort’s arms. The little guy conked out on their walk back to the hotel after watching another outdoor show and stopping to eat dessert.
“This has been wonderful,” Kaley whispered as Cort gently laid Jacob on one of the beds and helped take off his shoes.
“I’m glad you both enjoyed it.” Cort backed out of the room, knowing if he didn’t leave, he’d be tempted to stay. “Just call or text me when you’re ready to eat breakfast.”
Kaley felt a flicker of disappointment that Cort didn’t wait to kiss her good night, then realized what happened when the two of them were alone and started kissing. He was smart to leave while she tucked Jacob into bed.
“Thank you so much, Cort. You’re the best.” Kaley blew him a kiss over her shoulder as she dug Jacob’s pajamas out of his suitcase.
His chuckle floated back into the bedroom before the sound of the shutting door bathed the room in silence.
After swiping his key and stepping inside his room next door, Cort tossed his hat on the counter and sank onto the couch. He tipped his head back and gazed outside at the city lights, wishing he held Kaley in his arms.
The more time they spent together, the more difficult it was for him to control his incredible yearning for her. He’d never felt like this about a woman before and doubted he would again.
He couldn’t pin down the exact moment that it happened, but he’d fallen in love with the wounded widow and could think of little else but joining their lives together.
Despite the fact they’d only met a few months earlier, he had a drinking problem, she was haunted by her past, and the trauma Jacob suffered left him unable to speak, Cort wanted to marry Kaley.
To some, that might seem like a lot to drag into a marriage, but he felt confident they could overcome anything that stood in the way of their happiness.
Between Tate’s listening ear, the meetings he attended, and his need to walk the straight and narrow, Cort hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol since the day Tate asked him if he’d consider working at the Hanging P Ranch.
The clock on the wall reminded him many of his friends gathered for the rodeo after-party. Surprisingly, he didn’t want to be there with them. Proud of himself for not having even a twinge of desire to go and get a drink, he instead thought about how much he wanted and needed the lovely woman tucking her little boy into bed next door.
He
’d been to Las Vegas many, many times in his years as a steer wrestler, but he’d never enjoyed seeing the sights as much as he had with Kaley and Jacob. It was like experiencing everything for the first time as he watched the wonder and joy on their faces.
Anticipation of showing them around tomorrow left him content as he headed to bed.
Cort, Kaley, and Jacob joined Tate, Kenzie, and Gideon for breakfast then the six of them went to a cowboy Christmas vendor show. Tate and Cort had both signed autographs at various booths over the years, but this was the first year Cort walked through the doors just for fun.
“Oh, my.” Kaley’s eyes widened in shock as she gawked at the hundreds of vendor booths selling everything from artwork and apparel to tack and roasted nuts.
“Where do you want to start?” Tate asked, shifting Gideon in his arms.
“Let’s start in the far corner and work our way back.” Kenzie suggested, pointing to a spot on the vendor map she held in her hand.
Hours later, both Gideon and Jacob slept as the adults made their way to the exit doors. While the men carried the boys, Kenzie and Kaley packed their bags of purchases.
“That was so much fun,” Kaley said, beaming as they stepped outside into the warm afternoon air and Tate hailed a cab. “I’ve never seen such a variety of items for sale in one place before.”
“It is pretty incredible, isn’t it?” Kenzie said as they squeezed into the cab.
“What time do you want to meet for dinner?” Cort glanced over the front seat where he sat next to the driver to look at Tate.
“We should eat early so we can leave for the rodeo by five-thirty. You know how the traffic gets.” Tate recalled the year he almost didn’t make it to the rodeo to compete because he sat stuck in traffic ten blocks from the arena. After that, he made sure to leave the hotel with plenty of time to spare.
“We’ll rest for a while then meet you in the lobby.” Cort paid the cab driver and got out, picking up a sleeping Jacob then offering a hand to Kaley as she climbed from the cab.
As she gathered her purchases, she watched Cort tenderly brush Jacob’s hair away from his face. His fingers lingered over the nasty scar on her son’s forehead.
Wrestlin' Christmas: (Sweet Western Holiday Romance) (Rodeo Romance Book 2) Page 20