Alyssa’s face fell and he wondered what he’d said wrong. He hadn’t said something offensive now, had he? She put the little box down next to her on the bed, and took his face in her hands, her soft, warm hands. He’d missed the touch of her skin on his.
“Sean.” Her stare was intense and deep, and it reached down to his heart. “I’ve been surrounded by stiff, posh men in tailored suits and I ran away from it all because I hated it. I love you because of who you are: a loving, smart and funny man in worn jeans and cowboy hat. I wouldn’t want it any other way, Sean. Don’t you ever try to change who you are to please me, because you’d have the opposite effect.”
Sean closed his eyes when her thumbs started tracing circles on his cheeks, and wondered how he’d ended up being so lucky. She was a smart, beautiful and sophisticated woman and she loved him; she’d given up her life for him. Somehow, he still thought he didn’t deserve her.
Her lips brushed his in a soft peck, reassuring him.
“I love you, you stubborn, pigheaded cowboy,” she whispered against his lips, her warm breath making his heart rate pick up. “I just wish you’d understand how special you are.”
He opened his eyes and their gazes locked. He saw no doubt in her eyes, no cheating, nothing but love, the same kind of love he felt for her.
“You’re the special one, Alyssa.” He reached up for her hair and stroked it gently. “And I’m the luckiest man in the whole wide world to have the privilege to love you and call you my girl. I may not always be very good with words, and I may never be able to afford to take you to a fancy restaurant on a date, but I will love you and show you every single day how much you mean to me.”
Alyssa smiled and her eyes veiled with tears. “I don’t need anything else but your love, Sean. And this,” she said, lifting the velvet box with the necklace, “this is the most precious gift I’ve ever received and I will treasure it forever.”
Sean wiped away a single tear that had rolled down her cheek and rested his forehead against hers. He closed his eyes and inhaled her delicious smell, the sweet mix of expensive perfume and floral shampoo. His lips locked with hers and he knew right then that his life was finally complete.
Chapter 49
Christmas day
Alyssa woke up and smiled as she took in her surroundings. This room felt more like home than her apartment in New York ever had. Last night, the Maclaines’ family dinner had warmed her heart. They were a fantastic family; they were so close and cared so much about one another, they almost acted like one of those families from some famous TV series.
Although they had barely heard the news about her and Sean, they’d already made her feel part of the family, and she could swear she’d never felt more at home in her life. Maybe this was where she belonged, after all: not only with Sean, but with his family, too. For the first time in her life, she believed that things might actually work out.
She knew things weren’t going to be easy; she’d be a fool to think this was going to be a bed of roses, but she was sure that somehow she’d manage. As long as she had Sean within arm’s reach she’d be fine. The moment she’d seen him outside the barn the day before, she realized that she’d never love anyone else the way she loved Sean. He was the one.
She hadn’t considered the possibility that living so close and seeing each other every weekend could cause their relationship to whither or for things to change. Although she knew that there wouldn’t always be violins playing and romantic sunsets awaiting them, she hoped they’d be able to overcome the difficulties and their differences to build something everlasting. Their stubbornness sure would help with that.
In her haste of leaving it all behind and chasing her dream she’d decided not to plan far ahead. She was going to take one day at the time, enjoy what she would get, and sort problems out when they came up. She wasn’t going to start worrying about what would happen in a year, or in a month or even in a day. She was sure she and Sean were meant to be, and that they’d be able to overcome any difficulties as long as their love was strong.
She rolled on her side, and took the small box Sean had given her last night; the emerald-encrusted heart charm on a silver necklace was one of the most beautiful gifts she’d ever received.
She smiled remembering the mask of nervousness he’d worn when she’d unwrapped the silver paper and had opened the small velvet box; no matter how many times she’d told him how much she loved him he still thought he couldn’t compete with her old life, with the men she was used to frequenting in her social circle. Once she’d reassured him that she loved him just the way he was, and had proven it with a long, heated kiss, he’d looked a little more relaxed and she’d sent him back to his room before clothes were torn off.
She suddenly felt the urge to see him. Knowing she only had to take a few steps to have those strong arms wrapped around her caused her body to tingle. She kicked off the blanket, ran into the bathroom and within fifteen minutes she was striding down the corridor toward the kitchen.
When she entered the room, she found it was empty. Although Mrs. Maclaine had told her to make herself at home, she didn’t feel comfortable opening cupboards and making breakfast, so she went back to her room, put on her parka and woolen hat, and stepped out into the cold Wyoming morning.
Sean had been up since dawn. He didn’t mind the fact that he couldn’t sleep in on Christmas day. The sooner he was finished with his daily routine, the sooner he’d be free to spend time with Alyssa. It would be a busy day and he wouldn’t have much time to be alone with her, with the big lunch planned for the day, just like it had been every year since they were all kids.
Andy would be coming over with his family and, as much as he loved his nephew and niece, they were a handful and would probably stick to him all day long. His mother’s sister and her family would be coming over from Cheyenne. He was looking forward to his cousin Melanie meeting Alyssa; she was the same age as her, and he was sure the girls would bond immediately. Alyssa would need some friends to hang out with once he’d be back to his full-time schedule on the ranch and, if he knew his cousin well, she would take Alyssa on a shopping spree soon enough. No better way for girls to bond than over shopping.
What he wasn’t looking forward to was his cousin Joe seeing Alyssa, though. He’d always been a ladies man and, with his golden-blond curls and sea-blue eyes, Joe had always been a magnet for girls all through college. Sean and Joe were the same age and hung out together the years Sean had spent in Cheyenne; Joe had helped him meet lots of chicks at the time, but his cousin was always the one who won their hearts eventually.
He was so lost in thought that he didn’t even hear the door of the barn opening and closing, so he gave a start when two arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
“Whoops, didn’t mean to scare you,” Alyssa said in a cheery tone. He turned back and looked at her, marveling at her beauty that early in the morning. “I thought nothing could scare a tough cowboy.”
“Well, nothing but a beautiful woman like you can; you actually give me the creeps.”
Alyssa put on a fake pout and loosened her grip on his waist, pretending to move away. He gripped her arms and put them back in place, encircling her waist immediately afterward.
“But there’s nothing like a good ol’ fright first thing in the morning to keep the heart working properly, so thank you,” he said with a smirk before dipping his head for a kiss.
Her lips were cold and soft, and she tasted of mint, reminding him of a fresh breath of wintry mountain air. Her body molded against his and a minute into the kiss he’d completely forgotten how freezing cold he’d been only a few minutes before.
“I love you,” he said when they pulled back to breathe. He kissed her brow softly and took a step back. “But you’d better get back inside before you freeze to death. Besides, I’ll never get anything done if you stay here, and I need to finish everything so I can get dressed up for lunch.”
Alyssa smiled and looped her arms aro
und his neck, placing a soft kiss on his lips. “Oookay, Cowboy.”
She spun on her heels and he slapped her bottom just before she was out reach, eliciting a giggle from her as she sashayed toward the door. Having her so close still felt like a dream; he couldn’t wait to be finished with his tasks so he could cuddle her for a while before the crazy family reunion.
In spite of Mrs. Maclaine’s objections, Alyssa spent most of the morning helping her cook lunch, and the rest of the morning she helped Tammy arrange the dining room. They had moved all the small square tables that were used by guests into a big rectangular dining table in the middle of the room. Candles and holly centerpieces created the perfect Christmas setting; the fire crackling in the hearth and the big Christmas tree in the corner gave it a homey feeling.
Once everything was ready, Mrs. Maclaine shooed her away so she went back into her room and carefully got dressed. She picked a dark-green knit dress she’d bought a few days ago while she was in Cheyenne, with a turtleneck and three-quarter sleeves; she took out Sean’s necklace from the box and put it on, admiring its delicate beauty in the mirror. She’d received so many expensive gifts over the years, but none of them would ever compare to this simple, yet beautiful, heart-shaped charm.
She brushed her hair and pinned it at the sides of her head with sparkly clips; she put on a little green eye-shadow, a brush of mascara and red lipstick, and completed it all with a generous spray of her favorite perfume, the one Sean had told her made him want to smother her with kisses.
She smiled at the reflection in the mirror; she’d never looked happier in her life.
A knock on the door made her heart flutter; it was his trademark knock, a sort of a code, he’d said, that would make her understand who it was even before she opened the door. Not that she would need a knock, though; it seemed like every time he was near her body simply knew it. She got tingles all over and her heart rate picked up. It was as if they were magnets attracting each other.
She opened the door with a smile on her face, and his jaw dropped.
“Um… wow.” He stared wide-eyed at her from her head down to her toes and up again. “I… you…”
He rubbed a hand across his face, and unbuttoned the first button on his white shirt, the one she’d bought for him when they were in New York. She’d almost forgotten how gorgeous he looked in it.
“You’re a tease, City Girl. I kinda hate you right now.” Alyssa quirked an eyebrow and he smiled. “It’s gonna be so hard for me to keep my hands to myself, now. You’re… you’re… unbelievably gorgeous. I’ll definitely have to keep an eye on Joe today.”
“Who’s Joe?”
He stepped inside the room and pulled her into a hug, taking a long whiff of her perfume.
“Just my cousin. He’s quite a heartthrob, and used to steal all the girls’ hearts when we were in college.”
Alyssa smiled and brushed his cheek. “Don’t worry; he won’t be able to steal mine, since it already belongs to someone else.”
His face cracked into a big grin and she couldn’t help kissing him, even though she knew she’d smear her lipstick. He responded eagerly to the kiss, not seeming to care about her lipstick either.
When he pulled back, she laughed at the way the color of his lips mirrored hers only a minute before.
“Christmas Cherry’s just your color, you know,” she said, brushing her thumb across his lips to remove any trace of lipstick there. “Must buy you one the next time I’m in town.”
He bit her thumb the moment it brushed his bottom lip and she let out a squeal. When she was sure she’d removed every bit of color from his lips, she turned back toward the mirror and applied more lipstick to her swollen lips.
“Gorgeous,” he said with a nod of appreciation. “But now we really have to get out of this room; I’m not sure how long I can be alone with you in here. You’re tempting and I’m not that strong when I’m around you.”
With a playful slap on her behind, which was something she was starting to love about him, he spun back and walked out of the room with Alyssa following in tow.
“Hey there, stranger. I thought you’d never show up.” Melanie flung her arms around Sean’s neck as soon as he walked into the living room. “Merry Christmas, Cuz.”
She planted a loud kiss on his cheek, and for the first time in his life, her display of affection made him feel uneasy. They’d always been close—Sean, Melanie, Joe and Andy—when they were kids. When Sean and Joe were just about to start their junior year in high school, Sean’s uncle got a job offer in Cheyenne and they all moved there, so they didn’t see much of one another until Sean went to college. His aunt insisted on having him stay at their house and they became one big happy family again.
Sean had never minded Melanie’s hugs and kisses before, but now that Alyssa was standing only a few feet away, he wondered if she would find it strange or if it would annoy her.
“Merry Christmas, Mellie,” he said, knowing just how much she hated that nickname he and Joe had created when they were in high school and wanted to tease her. She was only three years younger than them, but they’d always treated her as if she were a baby.
Melanie scrunched up her nose and punched him in the shoulder.
“Jerk.”
“He sure is.” Joe stepped forward, looking like a model, his golden curls styled to perfection and his face cleanly shaven, unlike Sean’s, who didn’t want to get rid of his five o’clock shadow, especially since Alyssa had told him he looked very manly and sexy.
Even though he trusted Alyssa’s judgment and feelings, he couldn’t help feeling underdressed and plain ugly compared to his cousin. Even with a simple dark sweater and a pair of dress pants Joe looked a million dollars.
“Watch your mouth, Joey boy, if you don’t want me to start telling stories about your high school mischief while we’re all having lunch. I’m sure your parents would love to hear some of that.”
Joe let out a loud laugh, and finally settled his eyes on Alyssa, who’d been standing in the doorway watching the banter between the three of them.
“And who’s this gorgeous lady?” Joe stepped around Sean and went straight for Alyssa’s hand, kissing it in the old-fashioned way he always used to charm all women. Sean bowed his head; Joe hadn’t changed a bit.
Alyssa’s cheeks flushed and he felt the urge to protect her from his cousin’s claws, although he knew Joe would never do such a slimy thing as to steal Sean’s girl.
“That’s my girlfriend, buddy, so retract your claws and leave her alone if you care for your life.”
Joe laughed and winked at Alyssa. “I’m Joe, Sean’s dearest cousin. I’m extremely pleased to meet you.”
“And I’m Melanie, his sister.” Melanie bumped him away with her hip and he staggered, letting out another laugh. “Don’t mind him; he thinks he’s so cool, but he’s harmless, really. Tammy said you’ve just moved from New York? It must be quite different for you here.”
Alyssa nodded and told her a little about her decision to move to Wind Creek. When she reached the point where she said she’d be attending college in Cheyenne and had been looking at apartments before coming here, Melanie exploded like fireworks.
“Move in with me!” she said, jumping up and down like a little girl. “Move in with me; I’ve just rented an apartment in town, close to college. Our parents’ house is on the outskirts of Cheyenne and I couldn’t be bothered traveling all the way to work every morning. Besides,” her voice lowered conspiratorially, “I really wanted to move out, get some privacy, you know? I’ve been dating this amazing guy for almost a year now, and we do need a little space.”
Alyssa smiled and her shoulders relaxed; his friendly cousin had already bonded with her after five minutes of knowing her. That was just how Melanie was; she could tell within a minute from being introduced to somebody whether she liked them or not and if she did, she’d be their best friend before long.
He’d hoped once Alyssa moved to Cheyenne, Mel
would help her settle in and spend some time with her so she wouldn’t be totally alone; moving in with her would be a fantastic solution. He was sure they’d be great friends—in a way, they were pretty alike, even though they came from totally different backgrounds.
“I promise even if my boyfriend stays the night, you won’t even know he’s there. We’re reeeaaally quiet,” Melanie said with a cheeky smirk, then she turned to look at Sean. “And obviously Sean can come and stay anytime. It’d be fun to hang out together. I know it’s not like New York, but there are lots of nice shops in Cheyenne. I’d show you around, introduce you to all my friends, and—”
“Mel, there’s plenty of time to talk about that,” Sean cut in when he felt Melanie’s enthusiasm starting to become overwhelming. “Alyssa’s not going anywhere right now; after the holidays I can drive her down to Cheyenne and she can take a look at your place and decide, okay?”
Alyssa smiled. “That sounds like a plan.”
“Sorry, I tend to get carried away at times.” Melanie looked apologetically at Alyssa.
“Yeah, just a little bit, Sis; just a little bit.” Joe wrapped an arm around his sister’s shoulder and smiled. “Now, anyone else starving here? ’Cause I think I could eat a whole turkey right now. Shall we?”
Joe nodded back toward the dining room and everyone followed his lead to where the big family party was going on.
Sean walked with his hand on the small of Alyssa’s back and felt the heat radiating through the warm fabric of her dress. He’d gone back to his room last night without complaining because he was totally wrecked, but there was no way he wouldn’t spend some time with her tonight. A smile curled the corners of his lips, and when Alyssa turned to look at him over her shoulder and gave him a puzzled frown, he simply shrugged and kissed the tip of her nose. If only she knew the thoughts that had been racing through his mind only seconds before…
Hold on to Love Page 34