Butler, Vermont Series Boxed Set, Books 1-3

by Marie Force

  On the ride to the family’s tree farm, Grayson tried not to think about what Noah had told him, but he couldn’t seem to let it go no matter how badly he wanted to. That their father would even ask such a thing of them was unbelievable. He wished he’d told Noah not to inform their six siblings. Let their father go straight to hell, for all he cared.

  When he arrived at the tree farm stables, Lucas already had the barn doors open for him.

  Grayson took a moment to calm down and get back into the right frame of mind to orchestrate a fun outing for Emma and Simone. Under no circumstances would he ever want either of them to see the rage that only his father could generate in him. He took a deep breath and let it out before he emerged from the car.

  As he approached the building, Lucas came out to greet him, gesturing to the horse-drawn sleigh they kept on hand for the holiday season at the farm. He already had the horses harnessed and everything ready to go.

  “You already did all the work,” Grayson said to his younger cousin.

  “I can do it in my sleep,” Lucas said. “What would take you an hour took minutes for me.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  “You remember how to drive this rig, city boy?”

  His family loved to call him that, and Grayson knew better than to admit that it bugged him sometimes. That would only encourage them. “It’s like riding a bike. Once you know, you never forget.”

  “Where you heading?”

  “Back to your parents’ house to pick up Emma and Simone and then to the trails in the back woods.”

  “That’ll be nice today.”

  “I thought so, too.”

  “So… You and Emma, huh?”

  “I was hoping you’d missed that part.”

  “No such luck. She’s really sweet, and her daughter is, too.”

  “So I’ve noticed.”

  “Landon and I tried to get her to fall in love with us, but it wasn’t to be, and then Colton ruined all our fun and told us we had to leave her alone.”

  Hearing Lucas had wanted Emma made Grayson want to punch the smirk off his cousin’s face. Apparently, he didn’t hide his reaction very well.

  Laughing, Lucas held up his hands. “All in good fun. I swear.”

  “I hear you.”

  “You really like her, huh?”

  “I really do.”

  “That’s cool. Good for you. If she’s anything like Lucy, you’re a lucky man.”

  Eager to move on from talking about his love life, Grayson said, “Thanks again for this.”

  “Any time. I’ll be around when you get back to help you put up the horses.”

  “I can do it if you’ve got other stuff to do.”

  “Nothing much going on today except visiting my new niece later. I don’t mind helping.”

  “Appreciate it.”

  “You guys be nice to Grayson,” Lucas said to the horses. “He’s out of practice. Don’t take advantage.”

  “I heard that,” Grayson called after him.

  Lucas’s laughter echoed through the barn.

  Grayson took a seat on the bench and snapped the reins to get the horses moving toward the path through the woods that would deliver him to Lincoln and Molly’s backyard. The bells on the horses’ harness were the only sound other than the glide of the blades through the fresh powder. As a kid growing up here, this had been one of his favorite things to do after a snowstorm, and he was hoping Simone and Emma would love it as much as he did.

  In spite of his desire to focus on his plans with them, Grayson couldn’t seem to think about anything other than the bomb Noah had dropped on him. What would his other siblings say when they heard this news? Would they agree to be tested?

  Despite the cheerful jingle of the sleigh bells, Grayson couldn’t shake the sense of dread-laced anxiety that came over him any time he had to deal with a past he’d much rather forget than have to confront once again.

  He navigated the final turn before Linc and Molly’s yard came into view and reminded himself that today was about Emma and her daughter. There’d be plenty of time after they went home for him to confront the anxiety and despair this news had resurrected in him.

  This was a day for lighthearted fun and for giving Simone an experience she hopefully wouldn’t soon forget. It was most definitely not the time to allow his painful past to intrude on the best week he’d ever had. He drove the sleigh into the yard, where the jingle of the bells immediately caught the attention of George and Ringo, who’d been frolicking in the snow. Grayson was amused by the way the horses totally ignored the barking dogs.

  Apparently, Emma and Simone had been watching for him, because they came out of the mudroom door to greet him, both wearing huge smiles at the sight of the horse-drawn sleigh.

  “Who would like to go for a ride?” he asked.

  “Me,” Simone shouted, raising her good arm. The other was in a sling that she wore over her coat.

  “Me, too,” Emma said with a warm smile for him that reminded him of the pleasure they’d found in each other’s arms.

  “Let’s put you on this side, Simone, so nothing bumps your sore arm.” After he got her settled under the blanket, he helped Emma up and then followed her, taking the middle seat. Grayson tucked the blanket in around Simone and then tended to Emma, who placed a hand on his thigh under the blanket. That was all it took to make him hard for her. Jesus… If she moved that hand even a fraction of an inch, she’d be able to tell what her touch had done to him.

  Thankfully, she kept her hand where it was as he snapped the reins to get the horses moving.

  “This is so awesome,” Emma said. “Where’d you get the sleigh?”

  “From the family Christmas tree farm. Lucas uses it to give rides during tree-harvesting season and leases it out for groups during the winter.”

  “You seem to know what you’re doing…”

  He laughed. “Driving this rig was my job every Saturday in December all through high school.”

  “I love how you all work for the family business in some way or another,” Emma said. “Izzy was telling me how she’s shooting the new catalog for the store after the first of the year.”

  “Did she tell you how they’re expecting us to be their models?” He rolled his eyes. “Can you imagine what a calamity that will be?”

  “After game night, I can picture it.” She leaned in closer to him. “But you’d be a very sexy model.”

  “This is family day,” he said, tipping his head toward Simone. “Behave.”

  “I am behaving.” She squeezed his leg for emphasis.

  He’d never been so hot for anyone, especially when he was also freezing. “What do you think of the sleigh, Simone?”

  “I love it. I wish I could drive.”

  “You can help me.” He handed her the right-side rein while keeping a tight grip on the left side and showed her how to guide the team with small corrections. “No big moves. That’s the secret. You got this.” He loved the way she concentrated so intently on what she was doing.

  Emma squeezed his leg again, and Grayson resigned himself to being hard any time she touched him.

  “Are you guys going out now?” Simone asked.

  Grayson had no idea what to say to that. “Ahhh…”

  “What if we are?” Emma asked her daughter. “Would that be okay?”

  “Of course it would. Auntie Lu and I have been telling you for years that you need a boyfriend.”

  Emma laughed at her daughter’s bluntness. “Yes, you have.”

  “Is Grayson nice to you?” Simone asked.

  “He’s very nice to me,” Emma said with another squeeze that made him want to whimper.

  “Then he should be your boyfriend.”

  “What about the fact that he lives here and we live in New York?” Emma asked, as if he wasn’t sitting between them, listening to their conversation.

  “Lucy and Colton figured that out, and so did Will and Cameron. You can, too.”

/>   “None of them had a girl named Simone to think about when they were working it out.”

  “That’s true.”

  “That’s all you’ve got? That’s true?”

  “For now. Give me time to think about it, will you?”

  Grayson laughed at Simone’s saucy reply. “Yeah, Mom. Give her some time, will you?”

  Emma smiled at him, and he was so focused on her adorably red cheeks and big blue eyes that he nearly missed the huge obstruction standing before them.

  He brought the team to a stop about three feet from a collision with Fred the moose.

  “Oh my God,” Simone whispered. “Is that him? Is that Fred?”

  “That’s him.”

  “He’s huge!”

  Fred let out a loud moo that had Emma moving closer to Grayson, if that was possible.

  “No wonder Cameron’s car was totally smooshed,” Simone whispered.

  “She’s lucky all she had were two black eyes from the air bags,” Emma said in the same whisper. “Do we need to be afraid of him attacking us?”

  “Absolutely not,” Grayson said. “He’s a pussycat.”

  “Right,” Emma said sarcastically. “A thousand-pound pussycat.”

  One of the horses whinnied, and Fred took a long, measuring look at them before ambling into the woods.

  Emma released a sigh of relief. “He’s way bigger than advertised.”

  “And totally harmless,” Grayson said as they began to move forward again. “Ask anyone around here.”

  Emma cast a wary glance at the woods into which Fred had disappeared. “I can’t believe Cameron survived running into him,” she said with a shudder.

  “He’s totally forgiven her. They’re old friends now.”

  “I know,” Emma said. “I was there when Fred crashed her wedding.”

  Simone giggled. “That was so funny. He came right into the tent.”

  “I was sorry to miss it. I was away on work travel.” Another perk to self-employment was that he’d never again have to miss an important event due to something his partners decided “couldn’t be avoided.” Whatever. Life was too short for that nonsense.

  They completed one big loop around the trails that surrounded Butler. “Do you want to go with me to the barn to put these guys up?” Grayson asked his passengers.

  “You feel up to it, Simone?”

  “I’m fine. I’d love to go.”

  Grayson loved her spunk and how she was up for any adventure even when nursing an injury. “Then let’s go home.” He guided the team toward the Christmas tree farm and relaxed to enjoy the ride and the company.

  “This was fun,” Emma said. “Thank you so much.”

  “I enjoyed it, too. It’s been far too long since I did this.”

  “You haven’t forgotten how.” She surprised and pleased him when she leaned her head on his shoulder, and then Simone did the same thing on the other side. For a guy who’d spent his entire adult life avoiding commitment, he ought to be feeling panicked to have the two of them leaning on him. But it wasn’t panic he felt but rather a pervasive sense of contentment, a feeling so strong and so pure, he wanted to hold on to it with everything he had.

  Then he remembered they were leaving tomorrow, and the contentment evaporated into a messy mix of anxiety and sadness. How would he bear to let them go?

  Chapter 13

  Love is an irresistible desire

  to be irresistibly desired.

  —Robert Frost

  Emma wished they could stay in this magical place forever. Leaning against Grayson felt so natural and comfortable. After years of flying solo, she’d fallen into coupledom with remarkable ease, especially since Simone had expressed her approval. If only they weren’t due to leave right when things were getting interesting.

  Though it would be hard to leave him, she had no regrets after the most amazing week of her life. Who knew that when she came for Christmas and Hunter’s wedding that she’d meet someone like Grayson and have her entire life turned upside down in the course of a few unforgettable days? Things like that didn’t happen to her. They happened to other people, like Cameron and Lucy. Not her.

  Emma was pragmatic enough to know that one didn’t make major decisions after a whirlwind holiday romance. That would be foolish, and she was anything but. While she wasn’t about to write off what they had together as hopeless, she had to be realistic. She and Simone had a life in the city. She had a job that paid the bills, put food on the table and provided affordable health insurance for both of them. They also had the significant support of friends and other parents who made it possible for Simone to participate in a wide range of after-school activities and who covered for Emma when she needed an assist. Not to mention, her dad was nearby in case of emergencies and was always willing to lend a hand with Simone.

  A single mother didn’t walk away from a network like that, not even for someone as appealing as Grayson Coleman. Was she tempted to say to hell with it and go all-in with him? Absolutely. Would she do it? Absolutely not.

  She blinked back tears that couldn’t be blamed entirely on the cold. It sure had felt good to feel like a desirable woman again and to have someone to talk to about the things that weighed heavily on her heart, not to mention the laughter, the tenderness, the passion…

  Emma took a deep breath of cold air, determined to keep her emotions in check, especially in front of Simone, who would tune right in to her distress. There was no hiding from a perceptive nine-year-old.

  “There’s Will and Cam’s place,” Grayson said, gesturing to the log cabin, where a plume of smoke rose from the chimney.

  “Can we stop to see them?” Simone asked.

  “Ahh, they might be ‘busy,’” Grayson said, making Emma snort with laughter.

  “Doing what?” Simone asked.

  “Yes, Grayson, do tell us what they might be busy doing,” Emma said, smiling at him.

  “Um, ah, well, they said something about doing the laundry today.”

  Emma choked back a laugh.

  “Oh, that’s boring,” Simone said. “I hate when Mommy makes me fold the laundry.”

  “Folding is definitely the worst part,” Grayson said, giving Emma a playful glare that nearly had her laughing out loud.

  A few minutes later, he drove the sleigh into the gates of the Stillman/Abbott Family Christmas Tree Farm, and after they’d traveled down a long road, he brought it to a stop in front of a big red barn.

  “This is a Christmas tree farm?” Simone asked. “Like with chickens and stuff?”

  “No chickens or cows. Just trees. You know the ones you see for sale in the city?”

  She nodded.

  “They come from places like this.” He gestured to the acres of trees planted in neat rows.

  “That’s so cool. I never thought about where they came from.”

  “You want to help me put the horses away?”

  “If I can,” she said, scowling at the sling.

  “There’s a lot you can do with one hand. Wait for me to help you down.”

  He helped Emma down and then went around for Simone, lifting her off the sled effortlessly. Under normal circumstances, her fiercely independent daughter would’ve scurried down on her own and told him she didn’t need the help.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  “No problem.” He talked Simone through the steps of putting up the horses and stashing the sleigh. They’d removed the bridle on the first horse when Lucas appeared on a snowmobile.

  He cut the engine. “Did you guys have fun?” he asked.

  “It was so fun,” Simone said.

  “Let me give you a hand with the horses,” Lucas said as he got off the snowmobile. “Maybe you can help us brush them.”

  “Can I, Grayson?” she asked, looking up at him with big eyes full of excitement and wonder.

  “Of course. You can be in charge of the brushing.”

  Emma wished she could bottle him and take him home with her. If
only it were that simple. She kept a close eye on Simone to make sure she wasn’t underfoot or in danger of further injury, but she needn’t have worried. Grayson kept an even closer eye on her and let her do as much as she could to help.

  When they’d fed and watered the horses and stashed the sleigh inside the barn, Lucas said, “I was thinking about building a snowman, Simone. You want to help me?”

  “Can I, Mom?”

  “If you’re careful of your sore arm.”

  “She can do the decorating,” Lucas said. “I’ll do the rolling.” To Simone, he said, “Run into the office over there and grab the snowman kit on the bookshelf.”

  She took off toward the office.

  “You and Emma want to take the snowmobile for a ride?” Lucas asked Grayson.

  Was Lucas trying to give them some time alone? Was he really that perceptive, or were they really that obvious?

  “What do you think, Em?” Grayson asked. “Want to go for a ride?” He waggled his brows and made her laugh.

  “Um, sure. That sounds fun.”

  Simone returned with the brightly painted box that she opened to show her mother the orange wooden carrot, the black buttons, red scarf and black felt hat contained within. “It’s everything we need to make a snowman,” Simone said. “How cool is that?”

  “Very cool. Grayson was going to take me for a ride on the snowmobile. Is that okay with you?”

  “Yep. I’ve got to help Lucas with the snowman.”

  “Take your time,” Lucas said. “We’ll go upstairs to make hot chocolate when we’re done.”

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?” Emma asked him.

  “I’m sure. I’m on vacation this week. Nothing but time.”

  “Okay, then. You guys have fun.” She kissed Simone’s cold, rosy cheek. “We’ll be back soon.” To Grayson, she said, “Do we need helmets?”

  “We’ll go slow.”

  Since she trusted him implicitly, she got on behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “Hold on nice and tight,” he said suggestively.