Her Mistletoe Cowboy (13 page)

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“Y
ou’ve gone quiet.
Are you thinking again?”

Ivy raised her voice above the carol singers and examined the silent man who walked beside her. The brightness of the Christmas lights surrounding them failed to dispel the shadows that now clouded Rhett’s eyes. It was as though in a heartbeat the smiling and jovial cowboy she was having fun with had been replaced with the guarded man she’d first met. Through the thick layer of his coat sleeve she could feel the tension locking his muscles.

“Definitely no thoughts are in my head, just Christmas carols.”

His smile failed to reach his eyes.

They stopped to give way to a woman pushing a pram. Ivy squeezed his arm. “Are you … missing your mom?”

“No, but thanks for asking.” He looked toward the domed courthouse. “Perfect timing. The hay wagon is on its return run from the rodeo fairgrounds and it doesn’t look like there’s much of a queue outside the library waiting for the next ride.”

Ivy nodded as together they wove through the strolling crowd to join the small queue. The change in subject did little to convince her he was okay. She cast him another quick look. He caught her glance. This time his smile reached his eyes.

“I’m fine. Honestly.” He pulled his arm free from her hold, slipped it around her waist and tugged her close. “Now any preference to where you want to sit in the hay wagon?”

“No preference.” Anywhere by his side suited her just fine.

The clip clop of hard hooves sounded as two horses pulling a wagon came into sight. Just like the streetscape, the wagon was swathed in bright garlands and the horses had red bows attached to their bridles.

The people ahead of them in the small queue all watched the horses approach, with the exception of a small boy. Dark-haired and pale-faced he stared at the ground, a gloved hand hanging onto his father’s coat. From the man’s hat and boots Ivy knew his father was a cowboy. Ivy again looked at the child. Every other child here tonight skipped and laughed but not this little boy.

Rhett followed her gaze. “We’re not the only ones to be missing loved ones this Christmas. That’s Finn and his Uncle Zane. Zane owns Hollyhock Creek Ranch and it’s his wood I’m using to repair the barn. Zane’s brother and his wife were killed in a light plane crash and Zane now has custody of Finn.”

She swallowed past the emotion scratching her throat. “Poor Finn. I know just how he feels losing his family.”

Rhett tugged her closer and kissed the top of her head. “He will be all right. Zane mightn’t talk much, but he’s the man you want on your side when the going gets tough. He’ll soon get the hang of being a dad, even if he is a confirmed bachelor.”

“He’s brought Finn here tonight, so that has to be a good start.”

The small boy turned his head to watch the dog in the pink coat Ivy had seen earlier. His blank expression didn’t alter but from the way he tracked the dog until she was lost in the crowd Ivy knew Finn was a dog fan.

The wagon rolled to a stop and as the passengers disembarked Zane’s hand hovered behind the boy’s shoulder to make sure he didn’t fall behind when the queue moved forward. Rhett was right. The cowboy would take care of his nephew.

When it came their turn to go up the wagon steps and sit on the blanket-covered hay, Rhett’s hand settled into the small of her back to ensure she had no trouble climbing aboard. As he sat next to her, she scooted close to allow another passenger room on the hay bale. Rhett’s arm came around her and when the wagon lurched forward she grabbed his jean-covered leg to steady herself. Then, leaving her hand where it was, she settled back to enjoy the ride. Silence fell between them as they took in the magic of the Christmas wonderland they travelled through.

All too soon the wagon retraced its path to the library and Ivy had to pry her hand free from Rhett’s thigh. The crowd had thinned but still Rhett linked his gloved fingers with hers to ensure she wouldn’t be jostled. She had no idea such a basic thing as holding hands could make her feel so cherished.

This time they strolled along the other side of Main Street, making a sweet-smelling stop at Copper Mountain Chocolates. Rhett bought Kendall a large box of handmade Christmas chocolates and Ivy bought the same for Trinity. A block down they stopped again to enjoy a hot cocoa followed by crisp and crunchy caramel apples.

The crowds petered out as they left the town center and the lights of Community Park beckoned. Ivy’s feet dragged and not from tiredness. The night would soon be over and tomorrow there’d be no more hand-holding with Rhett. After spending the evening attached to Rhett’s strength and warmth she was loath to let him go. The need to again feel the weight of his arm around her was going to be hard to suppress.

They ambled past her car and the place on the sidewalk where she’d earlier met Rhett and his family. Ahead of them, a rainbow of color twinkled from Community Park.

When they reached the edge of the display, they stopped to admire a child-sized Snow White and a collection of her dwarfs. Beyond the figures, ornaments glowed and sparkled and ribbons of festive light glittered.

“Rhett, this is awesome. No wonder you all rallied to save the collection.”

“It does look good, doesn’t it?”

“Look, there’s the reindeer you painted with Henry.” Ivy pointed to her left and pulled Rhett along the sidewalk. “And the cowboy elf I finished with Payton.”

She climbed onto the pile of snow that lined the cleared sidewalk to get a better view. Her foot slipped and Rhett came to her side, his arm encircling her waist to steady her. She put her arm around his shoulder.

“It looks almost the same as when Mom would take us to see the collection at Jethro’s house in Bramble Lane,” he said, turning to her, his grin content.

With her standing on the bank of snow, their eyes were at the same level. She nodded, not wanting to speak and stop the happy memories from flickering over his face like a slideshow. Whatever had caused Rhett concern before the wagon ride, had appeared to have disappeared.

“And now another generation can enjoy Jethro’s gift to the children of Marietta,” he said, looking back at the lights.

“They sure can. Thanks to you and all the other volunteers.”

After the closeness of the evening, it seemed only natural to lean forward and brush Rhett’s cheek in a kiss of celebration. But before she could do so, he turned his head. Their gazes locked and held. His eyes darkened and his grip on her waist tightened before his mouth claimed hers in a kiss that was in no way platonic. She aligned herself against him and lost herself in a world of heat, hunger and need.

“That’s so gross,” a childish voice said somewhere to her right. “Why do gown-ups do that?”

“I have no idea,” another child answered. “If they don’t stop soon they’ll miss all the lights changing in that Christmas tree over there.”

Breathing ragged, she pulled away and stared at the cowboy before her. The only lights she wanted to see were the ones in his eyes. And she wasn’t disappointed. Blue fire burned in his gaze.

“We need to go somewhere private,” she said.

She couldn’t believe she’d vocalized the words her hormones shouted, or that the breathless voice was hers.

“You’ve read my mind,” Rhett said, his own voice hoarse and chest heaving.

He lifted her off the snow bank and secured her by his side. Arms around each other, they walked quickly toward her car. The muffled ring of his phone sounded from his jacket pocket.

Rhett slowed their pace and dug out his cell. “Hey, Kendall.”

As he listened to his twin’s reply his mouth found the sweet spot below Ivy’s ear. She shivered at the warmth of his lips on her sensitive skin. Then he stilled, before slowly straightening.

“No, it’s fine. I think it’s a great idea. You haven’t been out for ages. Yes, go to Grey’s with Izzy. I’ll come and sit with Dad.” He paused. “Yes, I’m sure Ivy won’t mind dropping me off.” His shoulders moved in a silent sigh. “Now.”

She nodded knowing how much he worried about Kendall. Going somewhere private could wait.

“Ivy says that’s no problem. And no, don’t rush back. Stay as late as you want. I can bunk in the spare room if I have too. Rusty is already over at Ivy’s.”

He ended the call and returned his phone to his pocket. Regret sobered his gaze.

“I’m sorry.” He pulled her close.

“It’s okay.” She smiled, kissed her fingers and pressed the kiss to his lips. “Tonight. Tomorrow. Whenever you get home. I’ll be waiting.”

*

Rhett awoke to
an empty bed and the glimmer of blue sky through the window of the Bramble Lane spare room. Kendall had been late home. He rubbed a hand over his whiskered chin, then reached for his phone from off the bedside table. While his testosterone had cursed all night that he wasn’t with Ivy, the clear light of a new day brought with it concern and caution.

What had he been thinking grabbing Ivy and kissing her like a man starved? He was supposed to be keeping his hands off her. He hadn’t been thinking, that was the problem. When she’d gone to give him a friendly kiss born of a moment of happiness, he’d wanted more. Heat fired in his blood. And man, he’d gotten more. She tasted as sweet as caramel apples and kissed like she was pure dynamite.

But sleeping with Ivy wasn’t going to heal her, ease his rebound concerns or guarantee she’d stay past Christmas. It also wouldn’t solve the issue of where her career could take her. When her emotional fog cleared any decision she made now could simply prove that in her grief she hadn’t been thinking straight. No matter how much his hormones staged a revolt, he had to slow down things. And he’d start by giving her a legitimate reason to see Montana as part of her future.

He texted her as he’d been doing until midnight. She appeared interested in learning about the land of her forebears so before the cold front arrived this afternoon he had a small window in which to show her around. Perhaps the more connected she felt to the ranch her family had settled perhaps the stronger the pull to stay?

Her reply to his question as to whether she’d like to ride out and see the line cabin this morning, had been instant.

Yes. Please.

Rhett turned to check Ivy was okay riding Cherry. Ivy’s beautiful and happy smile said she was more than fine. His heart warmed. Taking her out on the range to show her the ranch had been a good choice. Even if the tension in his muscles let him know all his body wanted to do was pick up from where they’d left off at the Stroll.

“You’re not feeling the cold?” he asked.

“Not at all. The thermals Kendall sent are super warm and her cowgirl boots are nice and snug with two pairs of thick socks.”

She gazed around. “I could get used to this. It’s incredible up here. The air is so fresh, the snow so white and the sky so blue.”

His heart warmed again. “Yes, it is.” He pointed to the cluster of buildings in the valley below. “There’s the ranch.” He then nodded toward a small log building just visible through the pine trees ahead of them. “And over there is the line cabin.”

Side by side the horses headed up the slight slope.

“Sorry again about last night,” he said, his gaze seeking hers.

“It really is okay. Did Kendall have fun?”

“She did. She needs to hang out with people her own age and not just with Dad.”

“I take it there’s no man on the scene?”

Rhett slowed Tucker’s pace as the big buckskin stepped ahead of Cherry.

“No. She won’t ever admit it but she had a crush on my high school friend, Brent, but after his father died he went overseas and nobody’s heard from him since. She doesn’t seem to be interested in anyone else.”

“Kendall has her hands full with your father but perhaps now with him being happy to leave the house she might have a chance for a social life? Does Peta has a special cowboy?”

“No. I wish. There’s been plenty of cowboys interested but she’s so focused on proving to Dad she can run Bluebell Falls like any man, I can’t remember when she last went on a date.”

He reined Tucker to a stop, intending to show Ivy the snowshoe hare tracks in the fresh snow beside them. But when Ivy stopped beside him, her cheeks and lips a pretty pink, he gave into the need to kiss her. He leaned over and snuck what he promised himself would only be a slow and sweet kiss. And it was until Ivy’s mouth parted beneath his. Then everything turned molten and hot real fast until Tucker stomped his hard hoof in the snow.