by D'Ann Lindun
“Practicing,” he said through gritted teeth.
“For what, Christmas Eve?” She chortled.
“As a matter-of-fact, yes.” Ignoring her giggles, he dug in his pocket for his cell phone. He dialed his brother’s number with frozen fingers. “Yeah, it’s me. Someone ran me off the road. Can you bring the truck and pull me out? Yeah, we’re okay. Thanks.” He hit END and stuffed the phone back in his pocket. “Help’s on the way. You can leave us here.”
She finally stopped laughing long enough to ask, “Should we exchange insurance information, or something?”
“We’re good,” he said dryly. “No one’s hurt.”
“I don’t feel right leaving you here like this.” She hugged her middle.
“You’re not dressed for standing around in the cold. I’ll be okay.” Nick didn’t know why he was giving her a pass. Her reckless driving could have killed him and the horses, but her big, blue eyes and full lips stole his ire. “Just slow down, okay.”
“I will.” She took a few steps toward her car, then spun around. “Wait. I didn’t get your name.”
“Nick.”
“Okay…Nick.” With one last look of disbelief, she climbed in her red sports car and pulled onto the road.
He thought he saw her shake her head as she sped away like a NASCAR driver on the last lap.
Turning his thoughts to his team and sleigh, he placed a comforting hand on Jingles’ warm neck. “Stand still, girls, while I get you unhitched.”
By the time he had the mares unhooked, his brother arrived.
R.J. hopped out of his pickup. “What happened? You okay?” He shoved a mug at Nick. “Dad sent coffee.”
“We’re fine.” Nick took the cup and sipped the hot brew gratefully. “That’s good. Some damn idiot came flying over the hill and almost ran into us. I turned the team into the snow bank to avoid a head-on collision.”
“Damn tourists,” R.J. muttered.
“Yeah. Back up and hook the chain to the sleigh, will ya? I’m colder than a reindeer’s nose out here.”
R.J. jumped to comply, and in a matter of minutes the sleigh stood upright and back on the road. To their relief, the antique vehicle hadn’t been damaged, and they quickly hitched up the mares. Nick climbed aboard and picked up the heavy leather lines. “Follow me with your flashers on, so no other out-of-control driver runs into the back of us, okay?”
“You bet.” R.J. turned away, then stopped. “Who left you out here all alone? Not a local, surely?”
“No. Some woman in a dress so short it should be illegal. Long, dark blonde hair, almost brown. Big, blue eyes.” Lips made for kissing, nipples standing at attention in the cold air. He stopped at R.J.’s grin. “What’s so funny?”
“What was this snow angel driving?”
“A late model red Mustang. Why?” Nick got a funny feeling he wasn’t going to like the answer.
“That sounds a lot like Noelle.” At Nick’s puzzled look, he elaborated. “Amity’s best friend and maid-of-honor.” R.J. laughed and swung into his truck. “I met her when I went to Denver for Thanksgiving. She’s city through-and-through.”
For a minute, Nick sat stunned. Noelle. Amity’s best friend. With a grin, he lifted the lines and snapped them. “Get up, Jingle. Hup, Bell.”
Before he’d gone half a mile his good mood had vanished. It was unlikely a slick city girl like Noelle would be interested in a country boy. And especially one who was a twenty-five-year-old virgin.
~*~
Noelle found Amity’s house with little trouble. Of course, in a town the size of a postage stamp, getting lost wasn’t an option. She pulled her beloved Mustang into the driveway next to Amity’s bright yellow corvette and turned off the ignition. Only after the motor went silent did she notice her shaking hands. She could have killed the cowboy and his horses. Not her fault he was in the middle of a highway, but still…
Before she could give them any more thought, the door opened, and a golden light spilled over driveway. Amity stood silhouetted in the doorway for a moment before she bounded across the yard like a rabbit.
Noelle opened her car door, and they fell into each other’s arms, laughing and crying. She stood back and took a long look at her best friend. She looked wonderful. Always stunning, her whole being seemed to glow with happiness. “You look amazing.”
“So do you. I can’t believe you’re finally here.”
“Barely.”
“What do you mean?” Amity grabbed her hands. “What happened?”
“I almost ran into some delusional guy outside of town. He was in the middle of the road—” She shook her head. “Never mind. Forget him. I want to see your house and talk about wedding plans.”
“I’ll let you off the hook only because it’s dark and freezing out here, but after we get inside and I feed you I want to hear all about this crazy guy.” Amity dragged her toward the house.
Noelle dug in her heels. “Wait.”
“What?”
“My suitcase.” She ran to the trunk and popped it open. Grabbing her bag, she wheeled it up the sidewalk. Amity grabbed the handle, and together, they pulled it inside. The mouthwatering scents of lasagna, garlic bread and apple pie filled the air reminding Noelle she hadn’t eaten since a snack at Vail, around two.
“Smells wonderful in here.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
Amity hugged her again before waving a hand in a circle. “Welcome to my house. I’m staying here until the wedding, although I don’t know why since R.J. and I got together the first time we met.” She blushed bright red. “Lord. What was I thinking? Oh, I know. That he’s the hottest man I’ve ever seen.” She flapped a hand in front of her red face. “Enough of that. Come in and get settled while I take the lasagna out of the oven.”
After Amity dashed into the kitchen, Noelle wandered around the small, neat living room, taking in the chintz covered sofa and matching chairs, the cherry writing desk and the floral curtains. A decorated tree sat in front of bay windows facing the street. Cozy, but nothing like the ultra-modern apartment they’d shared in Fort Collins while they attended college there, or Amity’s townhouse.
Amity returned carrying two mugs. “A few more minutes before we eat. Sit down and tell me about this crazy guy in the road.”
Noelle took the cup and sipped. Spiked eggnog. She sank onto the sofa and sighed. “I came up this little hill, and there was a guy with a team of horses and a sleigh in the road. I sent them into the ditch—”
“Were they hurt?” Amity’s eyes grew huge as she sat at the opposite end of the couch.
“No, no. Of course not.” Noelle slowly set her cup on the coffee table. “Come to think of it, maybe the guy did sustain a head injury.”
“What do you mean?” Amity arched a perfect brow.
“He said he was practicing for Christmas Eve.” Technically, she’d said that, but he’d agreed with her. “He thinks he’s old Saint Nick. At least that’s what he called himself when I asked his name.”
“What does this guy look like?” Amity sipped her drink.
“It was hard to say, but he had on a plaid bomber-type hat, red coat, jeans and black boots.” She picked up her mug. “Oh. He wore glasses, but he had the most amazing blue eyes…”
Amity straightened. “Glasses?”
“Yes. Round ones. Kind of old-fashioned—”
“That is Nick,” Amity said.
“Is everyone in this town Christmas crazy?” Noelle set her cup down with a little more force than necessary. “Some guy thinks he’s Saint Nicholas and you’re going along with his delusions—”
“Not Saint Nicholas.” Amity’s lips curved up. “Nick Hadley. R.J.’s brother.”
“What?” Noelle shook her head. “R.J.’s brother? But he said he was practicing for Christmas Eve…”
“He is.” Amity laughed. “Nick’s going to drive us from the wedding to the reception in his sleigh. He said he was going
to work the horses so they’re ready and don’t give him any problems that night.”
Noelle flopped against the cushions and covered her burning face with her hands. “I’m so embarrassed. How can I ever face him again?”
“I don’t know,” Amity said. “But you better find a way because he’s the best man.”
CHAPTER TWO
Noelle took extra time with her makeup. Amity’s sisters had planned a brunch shower and she wanted to look good for all the strangers. When Amity had run away from her wedding to the house her grandmother left her, she’d inherited a whole bunch of half-sisters she hadn’t known she had.
Today, Noelle would meet them for the first time. Her stomach knotted. Would they like her, too?
She chose a white cashmere sweater she loved, paired with skinny jeans in a dark wash. A pair of chestnut riding boots completed her look. She walked into the living room and Amity whistled.
“Wow, girl. You look fantastic.”
“I’m okay?”
“You look great,” Amity assured her.
“I didn’t know…will these women be in Wranglers and boots?” She motioned toward Amity’s silk blouse and dress pants. “Or more like you?”
“Don’t be a snob,” Amity chided gently. “Some will dress up, some won’t. Starla looks like a model, and she dresses the part. Shiloh’s a music star with her own stylist. All of them are great. You’re going to love them, no matter what they’re wearing.”
Although she wasn’t so sure, Noelle kept her thoughts to herself. What could she possibly have in common with any of these women? According to Amity, most of them were into horses and the country thing. Noelle loved the city life, including good restaurants, clubs and museums. She especially loved her job as a party planner.
She could get into Nick Hadley.
The thought rocked her.
He was attractive, but so far removed from what she normally went for it wasn’t even funny. She doubted he even owned a suit. If she said Armani or Hugo Boss to him he’d probably think she was speaking a foreign language.
Why the instant attraction, then? Probably because he was so different. Didn’t people always want to know what the other side was like?
“Is R.J.’s brother seeing anyone?” she asked casually.
Amity chuckled. “Nope. No one seems to have caught his eye.”
A strange bubble of happiness filled her stomach. “Why not?”
“You interested? I could set you up.”
Noelle forced a laugh. “What? Of course not.”
“Just don’t hurt him if you do decide to date him. He’s a nice guy.”
“What could I do to him?” She grabbed her purse. “He’s a grown man.”
“He’s a grown man, but—” Amity turned away and pulled on her coat. “Never mind. You ready?”
“Yeah, ready as I’ll ever be.” She wondered what Amity had been about to tell her but shrugged it off. Outside, biting cold made her shiver although the sun shone brightly. “Your car, or mine?”
“Mine.” Amity headed for her bright yellow corvette. “I don’t want you running into anyone with your speeding.”
“Ha, ha. Funny.” Noelle slid into the passenger seat. “Where are we going?”
“To Starla’s house. She’s the leader of the Jamieson pack.”
“She’s the eldest sister?”
Amity shifted gears. “Yes. And married to R.J.’s best friend, Trevor.”
Noelle’s head spun with all the family ties and cross-ties. She looked out the window toward the brick buildings lining Main Street, most with Christmas decorations in the windows. “Do you ever miss home?”
“This is my home now.” Amity glanced her way. “I miss you, though. Why don’t you move up here?”
“And do what? You know my job’s in Denver.”
“You sound exactly like me before I fell for R.J.” Amity turned off Main, onto a side street lined by brightly painted Victorians. “But I bet you could find plenty of parties to plan in Telluride and it’s less than an hour away.”
Noelle changed the subject. “Wow, I love these houses.”
“Aren’t they gorgeous?”
“Stunning.”
“You could buy one…” Amity let the sentence hang.
“Maybe for a vacation home.” The idea excited Noelle more than she cared to admit. “What are you going to do with your grandma’s place?”
“Why? You want it?”
“Possibly.” She said the word before she thought it through, but why not? Black Mountain was close enough to Denver that she could visit once or twice a year. Although not exactly a hotbed of excitement, she could probably stand a little downtime once in a while.
They drove into the countryside. The road was lined by pastures, some with cattle and horses in them.
Noelle glanced at Amity. “You live out here now?”
“Right there.” She pointed to her right, toward a log ranch house in the distance. It looked like a postcard.
“Beautiful,” Noelle said truthfully. Her own apartment in LODO—lower downtown Denver—was a far cry from the peaceful scene.
Amity turned off the highway onto a plowed, paved road. She paused under an arch and punched in some numbers. In a moment, the gate swung open.
“Where are we?” Noelle looked around. Both sides of the lane were lined by split rail fences and enormous snow-covered fields.
“This is Dillon and Shiloh Travers’ place. Trevor and Starla live here, too, in the caretaker’s house.”
As they grew close to the mansion on the hill, a trio of cowboys galloped across one of the open fields. Snow flew up from under the horse’s hooves and their manes and tails flew behind them. The scene looked like something straight from a western movie.
Amity pulled to a stop and peered through the windshield. “That’s R.J. and Trevor. Who’s with them? Oh, it’s Nick. What are they doing here?” She stepped out of the car and moved to the fence to meet the horsemen.
Noelle followed her friend until she climbed the fence and launched herself into her fiancé’s arms. Noelle stopped at the fence and averted her gaze as her friend and her man kissed like they’d been apart days instead of overnight.
A tall, good looking cowboy urged his big horse forward. “You must be Noelle.” At her affirmative nod, he said, “I’m Trevor Lee.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Lee.”
The tan horse danced, and he quieted it with a slight lift of the reins. “Trevor.”
“Call me Noelle.” Her gaze went to the third man. Nick. He wore the red coat and black boots again, but this time he had on a white Stetson instead of the plaid bomber hat. “We meet again.”
He nodded and urged his horse to the fence. “You run into anyone else before you got to Amity’s place?”
“Just a snowman, or two,” she shot back.
His lips lifted a fraction.
“You two know each other?” Trevor looked between them.
“No,” Noelle said.
“We’ve met,” Nick said.
Trevor leaned forward and rested his elbows on his saddlehorn. “Yes? No? Maybe? Which is it, exactly?”
“I accidently ran him off the road last night. We didn’t take time for formal introductions.” She lifted her chin and met Nick’s amused blue eyes. She wondered what had ever made her think he resembled Saint Nick. His hair and brows were dark, and he sat tall in the saddle with broad shoulders and slim hips. Only his nose, pink from the cold, reminded her of the jolly old elf.
Stepping off his horse, he moved to the fence and peeled off a leather glove. “Nick Hadley. Nice to meet you.”
She took his calloused, warm hand and something flipped over in her stomach. “Noelle Jackson.”
Amity finally managed to drag her lips from R.J.’s mouth. “What are you guys doing out in the snow?”
“Taking a gift to Laney and Cody for the baby,” he said. “Hi, Noelle. Nice to see you again.”
“You,
too.” She smiled at him. No matter what her doubts might be, the guy was drop dead gorgeous. He oozed sex appeal. The complete opposite of his brother. Although just as hot, Nick didn’t have his sexy on full display like R.J. did. Younger brother reminded her of a dormant volcano—quiet, but red hot underneath.
“What gift?” Amity looked at the trio of men with arched brows. “I didn’t know anything about this.”
Trevor reached into his saddlebags and pulled out a pair of tiny, baby size boots with a smashed silver bow attached. “These. We thought since you all were having a hen party we’d go keep Cody company and take a gift while we were at it. A few of the guys are meeting us there. Garrett, Braden, Russ…even Luke’s in town.”
“Oh my gosh.” Amity reached for the present. “Where did you find these? They are so cute. Laney is going to flip.” She glanced at Noelle. “She’ll be at the party even though she gave birth to a baby boy just a few days ago.”
“Wait until she gets a load of my present,” R.J. said proudly. “I have a pair of chaps just the right size for a baby, but they’re wrapped.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Who wrapped them?”
“The company where I ordered them. They came that way.” He grinned at her. “Maybe I ordered a few other things for my bride, too. Also wrapped, so you can’t peek.”
Amity squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” They locked lips again.
“Okay, lovebirds, break it up.” Trevor grinned at them. “Save some for the honeymoon. Besides you’re embarrassing Nick.”
He wasn’t kidding, Noelle thought. The guy looked like he wanted to crawl under his horse. Red climbed up his cheeks and he shifted uncomfortably. If a little kissing embarrassed him she wondered how he’d take to a nightclub where some of the couples ground on each other like they were in the privacy of a bedroom.
“How come none of you are working?” Amity asked after she pried her lips from R.J.’s.
“We are working,” Trevor looked at Noelle. “We’re riding some of Dillon’s horses to see if their gentle enough for new homes. He rescues and rehabilitates as many horses as he can. Many would have been sent to slaughter if not for his kindness. I manage the ranch for him, so he can concentrate on his music.
