A McCree Christmas (Chasing McCree) (7 page)

Briar

New Year’s Eve

“Happy New Year!”

People were already shouting and carrying on as we entered t
he Callahan’s
barn. Lights and streamers hung from the rafters, and the band played on an elevated platform. Confetti covered the crowded dance floor. It was going to be a party that lasted all night, from the look of things.

“Damn, who is that?” Lexi fanned herself and eyed a few of our friends on the side of the barn. “He’s tall, dark, handsome…and wearing chaps!”

Oh, boy. “That’s Dustin.”

“Perfect.” Lexi grinned. “Is he single?”

“Who’s asking?” a voice said from behind us.

Dustin’s sister, Maria, stood behind me when I turned. “This is my friend Lexi.”

“Hi.” She said. “My brother’s not looking to date right now.”

“I’m sure Dustin can decide that for himself.” Lexi smiled sweetly, but she wasn’t about to let his little sister boss her around. Not that Maria was the bossy sort, or that Lexi was a mean person. When it came to family and boys, though, all bets were off.

“How about Tuck?” I pointed across the room. Lexi gave him the once over. She wasn’t as impressed, but her interest was piqued.

“He’s okay.”

Maria gaped, her face going red. “He’s more than okay. He’s amazing.”

Right, this conversation was not going the way I’d planned. “Hey, why don’t we meet Ellie—”

“So spill, sister,” Lexi said, throwing an arm around Maria’s shoulders. “Why isn’t Dustin looking to date?”

She sighed dramatically. “He’s in love with someone who doesn’t love him, that’s why.”

“Oh, sounds interesting. I need more. So where is she? Is she pretty?” Lexi searched the room.

I was kind of interested, too. Dustin being in love with someone was news to me. I didn’t think he was the falling-in-love type—at least, not before he hit thirty and had gone through half the girls in Montana.

Maria smiled, shaking her brown curls. “She’s not pretty. She’s the most beautiful girl, I think, maybe ever. She was on the front of a magazine last month.”

Lexi snorted. “I bet you ten bucks they airbrushed her.”

“Wait,” I said. “Dustin is in love with a famous girl he’s never met?”

“No way,” Lexi squealed. “So he’s hot and crazy? How exciting, and I mean that in the best way possible.”

“Will you shut up?” Maria snapped. “My brother isn’t crazy. He’s in love with Kate Kelly.”

Lexi had been in France, and a little out of touch with our side of the world. It took her a minute to figure out whom Dustin was pining for. “You don’t mean, Kaitlin Kelly. The country singer?”

“Yep, that’s her.”

I glanced at Chase’s friend, trying to get a better read on him. “Honestly, I thought Dustin wasn’t crazy.”

“Kaitlin used to live down the road from us. Before she was famous, she went to school with Dustin and Chase.” Maria said.

“Oh, this is too good.” Lexi had her game face on. “I’m going to flirt with him to see if he takes my bait. If he flirts back, he has to be over her.”

Maria followed my friend across the room. “He’s not going to fall for it. Trust me on this. He’s tried dating and it hasn’t worked. Just ask the last girl, Willa.”

“May I have this dance?” A strong, work-roughened hand appeared at my side and I smiled.

“Yes, most certainly.”

Chase laughed, twirling me onto the floor. “I was wondering if Lexi would ever give you back.”

I stood on my tiptoes, lacing my fingers behind his neck, and swayed to the slow song with him. “She’s with Maria.”

“Poor kid.” He bent close and brushed his lips against mine in a feather light kiss.

“Chase, I heard that you know Kate Kelly.”

“Did Maria tell you that?”

I nodded, “She said she used to live here, and go to school with you guys.”

“I haven’t seen Kaitlin in two years. That’s when she left for Nashville to sing.” He rested his forehead against mine. “There’s something I never told you. It wasn’t on purpose; I just never had a reason to.”

“What?”

He seemed to hesitate, unsure about his words. “My dad wasn’t alone when the helicopter crashed.” He lowered his voice and swallowed hard. “Kate’s mom was with him. They’d been seeing each other quietly for a while. I later found out they were thinking of getting married.”

I held him tight. “Oh, God. Chase, I’m so sorry.”

“It was a long time ago.” He kissed my cheek and rested his chin on the top of my head.

“I also heard that Dustin is in love with her.”

He snorted. “That’s one I haven’t heard before. Does Maria think he is?”

“Yeah, she’s telling Lexi to stay away from him.”

“I’m not sure Dustin is in love with Kaitlin, and if he is, I don’t think she’s aware of it. He’s back on with Willa last I heard. Not that he wouldn’t leave Willa for Lexi. They fight all the time.”

I was thinking I’d give Lexi the green light, tell her Dustin was fair game, when I saw her out of the corner of my eye. She tugged Tuck onto the dance floor, and he looked as wide-eyed and bewildered as ever.

“Oh well.” Chase dipped me and kissed me. “Lexi’s occupied; that’s all that matters. Now I’ve really got you all to myself.”

I kissed him back. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Maria. She was pouting on the edge of the dance floor, eyeing Tuck. It was clear she did not like Lexi on her turf.

“Come with me?” Chase slowed, coming to a full stop in the middle of the dance floor.

I nodded, letting him pull me out of the throng of people toward the ladder up to the hay loft. I wondered what he was planning, but followed him up anyway. It was warm in the loft, and the hay tickled my nose. I sat on the edge next to Chase, dangling my legs over the side.

“I wanted to give you this.” He pulled a small, red silk pouch out of his pocket.

I took the little bag from him and pulled the green ribbon free. My fingers slipped easily inside, and a cold, delicate chain wound around them. I pulled out a gold bracelet with a shimmering horseshoe charm. “Chase, it’s beautiful.”

“You like it?”

I ran my fingertips over it, feeling warmth in my chest and so much love in my heart for him. “I love it. Thank you.”

He gently clasped it around my wrist. “Happy New Year, Briar.”

I leaned toward him. “Happy New Year, Chase.”

He looked up and smiled. “I’ve never kissed anyone at midnight before.”

I wound my arms around his neck, smiling, and the people dancing and cheering below us began the count down to
the New Year. “Neither have I.”

Thank you for reading
A
McCree
Christmas
by J.C. Isabella.

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