A Montana Daddies Christmas

by Laylah Roberts

  He grinned up at her. He had got the message loud and clear that she didn’t think much of that particular gift. He, on the other hand, thought it was freaking adorable. “No, you’ll like this surprise. I promise.”

  He grabbed the footstool and set it next to the bed. “Sit here while I do your hair, baby girl.”

  She moved onto the stool and he sat behind her on the bed as he brushed her hair and put a sparkly clip in it. “There. You look adorable.”

  Even the pout she had going on was cute. He took her hand, leading her downstairs, where he put on her hat, jacket and gloves. Then he picked her up and held her against his chest as he walked out to the truck.

  “Daddy, I can walk.”

  “It’s been snowing and it’s slippery. Just stay still and hold onto me.” He opened the front passenger seat and placed her in the car seat that he’d recently bought for her. Another surprise she wasn’t overly fond of. But while she was taller than Abby or Charlie, who both had car seats, she was still his little girl. He wanted her as safe and comfortable as possible.

  He carefully fastened her seat belt then hopped in the driver’s side and drove them down to the big house. He could tell she was dying of curiosity, especially when she saw Kent’s truck was already there. He lifted her out, and carried her up the steps.

  They entered the warmth of the house and he set her down then quickly divested them both of their cold weather gear before tucking her under his arm and leading her towards the living room that had been taken over the other night for Ellie’s hen party.

  When they walked in, the enormous Christmas tree in one corner nearly blinded him. Gifts were piled under the tree. Along the mantel, stockings were hung with the names Charlie, Eden and Clint written on them. He had to bite back a grin. He bet Clint loved that.

  “Daisy!” Ellie leapt up and came running towards his girl. “You’re here.” She took Daisy into her arms and squeezed her tight. He felt the tension in Daisy ease. Clint was sitting in one armchair, Charlie on his knee while Abby lay against Kent on the sofa.

  “Guess what?” Ellie told her, bouncing up and down. Bear, who was leaning against the mantel, grinned at his girl indulgently.

  “What?” Daisy asked.

  “Santa’s coming!”

  “Um, yeah, in two days on Christmas day,” Daisy said, looking confused.

  Ellie took her hand. “No, I mean now! Santa’s coming now.”

  Daisy looked back at him, eyes wide. “Really?”

  He grinned. “Really. Do you like this surprise?”

  Her smile told him everything he needed to know then she wrapped her arms around him, her face lighting with pleasure. “Nope, I don’t. I love it!”

  “And he’s bringing us all presents. And we get to sit on his knee and have our photo taken. Abby got sad the other day ‘cause she’s never had her photo taken with Santa but we all gets a turn.” Ellie clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling then she turned and raced back to Bear, who grabbed hold of her and lifted her up onto his hip.

  “I’m so excited!” Ellie said loudly and everyone laughed.

  Then Daisy looked up at him worriedly. “He won’t make fun of us?”

  “What?” He frowned. “Who?”

  “Whoever is playing Santa. He won’t make fun of us. Of them.” She waved her hand out over her friends.

  He cupped the side of her face with his hand. “Do you think I’d ever allow you to be around someone who would make fun of you?”

  She blinked then shook her head, the tension easing from her body. “No, Daddy.”

  “That’s right. So just enjoy the moment.” He kissed her lips lightly. “Besides, this is Santa. Santa doesn’t make fun of little boys and girls.”

  “Ho-ho-ho, Merry Christmas!” Someone boomed from behind them.

  She startled and turned to stare at the man who walked into the room. “I hear I’ve got some little girls here who are waiting to see Santa.”

  “Santa!” Ellie practically jumped out of Bear’s arms and raced at Santa, who luckily caught hold of her. The others followed more slowly, but they all walked over to greet Santa, even Daisy. She turned back to give him a tentative smile and he winked at her. Santa talked to each of them then sat in the chair that Clint showed him to.

  Abby went first. Perching shyly on his knee, she quietly asked for what she wanted. But you could see the happiness in her face and when she finished, she moved quickly over to Kent, sitting on his knee and burying her face in his neck.

  Ellie was next. She didn’t hold back. She also had a long list of gifts. Jed glanced up at Bear to find him rolling his eyes and shaking his head. She bounced off his knee after posing for her photo. He was pleased to see she wasn’t letting that stuff with her parents upset her.

  Charlie went third. She wrapped her arm around Santa’s shoulders and whispered in his ear. Santa grinned over at Clint as he listened. “Well, that’s an interesting gift, but I’m not sure that Santa can make your daddy stop spanking you, little girl.”

  Charlie pouted while Clint smirked. “Only one way to stop getting spanked, little one. And that’s by behaving.”

  She heaved a defeated sigh but smiled for her photo.

  Then it was Daisy’s turn. She gave him another unsure look and he walked over to her, wrapping his arm around her and kissing the top of her head. “You don’t have to do this, baby. It’s just for fun.”

  “I know,” she whispered.

  Santa smiled at her kindly as she climbed onto his knee.

  “Well, Miss Daisy, and what would you like for Christmas?”

  She tapped her lip thoughtfully. “Can my new time-out chair end up as kindling?”

  Santa boomed out a laugh. “Hmm, let Santa see what he can do.”

  Jed narrowed his gaze at Santa. Santa’s eyes danced with amusement.

  “Anything else, baby girl?” he asked her.

  “Well, I’d really like some candy.” She glanced slyly over at Jed. “My own stash that Daddy isn’t allowed to touch.”

  “Wish granted.”

  “Hey, Santa, think we should discuss that first,” Jed said half-teasingly.

  Daisy grinned over at him, then moved her gaze to the camera as Clint took her photo. She gave Santa a kiss on the cheek before climbing off and moving to Jed. He thought he saw a flash of something in Santa’s eyes. Sadness. Longing.

  He hoped it wouldn’t be long until the other man found his own Little.

  “Right, baby girls, I want you all to sit with your daddies. Santa has some gifts for you all before he has to go.” Santa moved around the room, distributing gifts to each girl.

  He watched with an indulgent smile as Daisy slowly unwrapped her presents. Ellie tore at hers with her usual enthusiasm. But Daisy took her time. She looked up at him as she saw the new nighties. Four of them, each with a different animal on them. Then she opened up another gift. This one had some new dresses in it. When she opened the last gift and saw the jewelry box she paused for a moment. Then she pulled open the lid of the velvet box. Inside was a delicate silver necklace. There was a round charm attached and written on the charm, in flowing script was, Daddy’s Heart.

  She took in a sharp breath. “Oh, Daddy, it’s absolutely gorgeous. Thank you. Thank you!”

  “Don’t thank me. It was Santa.”

  She stood and climbed into his lap to kiss him. The kiss turned hotter than he’d expected, her tongue slipping between his lips to tease his. Then she pulled back and leaned close to his ear.

  “Somehow, I don’t think Macca would know exactly what to buy me.”

  He grinned. No one thought Macca would fool any of the girls in that Santa outfit. Still, as he looked around at the happy, squealing Littles, he knew that this was also going to become a new Christmas tradition at Sanctuary Ranch.

  “Daisy, did you get a necklace too?” Ellie asked, coming to stand next to them. She was already proudly wearing a gold necklace. “Mine says, Daddy’s baby girl. ‘Cause tha
t’s what I am.” She smiled.

  “These are so cool. We have nearly matching necklaces. What’s yours say, Charlie?” Ellie turned to Charlie, who walked forward. Charlie’s necklace was copper colored.

  “It says, Daddy’s darling,” Charlie told them.

  Daisy grinned at Charlie who smiled happily back.

  “Come on, Abby, show us yours.”

  Daisy looked over to find Abby sitting on Kent’s lap, kissing him. The other girl blushed as everyone turned to look at her. Then she wiggled off his lap and walked over to show them hers. Abby’s necklace was rose gold.

  “It says Daddy’s sweet girl,” she told them all shyly.

  “Tomorrow is a big day, with the wedding, so this is the last day for our special new advent calendar tradition,” Jed told her.

  She slid her arms around her neck. “Best Christmas ever.”

  12

  Bear and Ellie

  Ellie stared out at Aunt Rose’s house. It was a quarter to four on Christmas Eve.

  Her wedding day.

  Tears threatened but she didn’t let them fall. Not only because of her make-up, but because this was meant to be a happy day, not a sad one.

  “Ellie, you okay?” Linc turned in his seat to look back at her. Both Charlie, who was sitting up front and Abby who was sitting next to her, turned to stare at her as well.

  “I’m okay,” she told them with a shaky smile. “Just can’t believe it’s really here. I’m getting married.”

  Abby reached over and squeezed her hand with a grin. “You sure are.”

  Both Abby and Charlie had on purple-gray dresses with a lace bodice and skirts that flowed out from their waists. “You guys look so beautiful,” she told them.

  Charlie giggled. “I think that’s meant to be our line.”

  “Thanks for doing this with me. I couldn’t do it without you guys.” They were the best friends a girl could ask for and she was so glad she’d found them. Caring for her parents, she’d felt so isolated and alone, but not anymore. Now she had a man who adored and loved her, and friends who were family.

  She had everything.

  “We have ten minutes and it will take me that long to get you all out of the truck,” Linc told them. “And if we’re late, Bear will kill me.”

  Ellie giggled. He would. He was waiting around the back of the house. Even though it was cold, she’d really wanted to have an outdoor wedding, so they’d erected a big tent in the backyard and put several heaters inside to warm it up.

  “Each of you wait until I get you out, understand? No one moves without me,” Linc bossed.

  Abby handed them both faux fur pale pink cloaks before wrapping one around herself.

  Charlie’s door opened and Linc was there, lifting her down. “Go wait on the pavement, Charlie.”

  Abby was next. Then Linc opened her door and lifted her down.

  “Ready, honey?”

  “Oh yes,” she breathed.

  She followed the others around the side of the house. Then Linc left to tell the minister she was here. As the sound of Die a Happy Man filled the air that was their cue. Abby left first. Charlie turned to her and gave her a wink.

  “Love you.”

  “Love you too,” Ellie said.

  And it didn’t matter that her parents weren’t there. That she essentially had no blood relatives there. Because Aunt Rose was looking down at her and she knew that tent was filled with her family.

  The one she’d chosen. The one who had chosen her.

  As she followed Charlie toward the festive tent, the music changed to A Thousand Years.

  She, Charlie, Abby and Daisy had spent most of yesterday decorating the tent. And it looked beautiful. Classy and simple. They’d set up rows of white chairs, each with a big pale pink bow at the back. Those chairs were now filled with their guests, all of whom stood to look at her. But she only had eyes for one man.

  Bear turned, looked at her and the love shone from his face, almost blinding her. Tears welled in her eyes and she had to blink them back. Kent and Clint stood next to him, across from Abby and Charlie. They all looked gorgeous in their dark pin-stripped suits. But they soon blurred into the background.

  She took one step forward, then another, towards the man of her dreams.

  Hours later, after the wedding ceremony was over and the twinkling lights in the trees had flickered on, Ellie danced in Bear’s arms. She had never felt happier in her life.

  “Mrs. Bear Macall,” she said dreamily.

  His chest moved as he chuckled silently. “I like the sound of that.”

  “Me too,” she sighed. “Wasn’t the ceremony perfect?”

  “All of it was, baby girl. But the most perfect part was when you said, ‘I do’.”

  She looked up at him with a sigh. “Yeah, I liked that part too.”

  This time his laughter wasn’t silent. Around them people turned and smiled, but they were too busy staring at each other.

  The chairs had been cleared away and tables brought in for people to first sit and eat the food that had been catered. Then to sit and talk. A large space had been kept clear up front for the band and dance floor.

  “You didn’t miss having your parents here?” he asked carefully.

  “I didn’t. I mean, I felt a little sad on the drive here, thinking that it would have been nice having my dad with me to give me away. Or my mom to help me get ready. But the reality is that that they didn’t want to be here for me. They only contacted me because they wanted something. Even if they had been here, they would have made the day about them. And who needs them? Not me. I have everything I could ever need.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “So do I.”

  She looked around at the people dancing with them, the others sitting at the tables which all had white tablecloths with small Christmas trees as the centerpieces. The trees were decorated with glittery pink and silver snowflakes.

  The guys had managed to string fairy lights across the ceiling of the tent so when it grew dark, the tent was lit with thousands of tiny lights.

  It was gorgeous.

  “Everyone who I wanted to be here is here. Everyone who really means something to me.”

  He squeezed her tight. He spun her out then pulled her back and she giggled in delight. For such a big man, he was surprisingly light on his feet.

  “I can’t believe I didn’t know you were such a good dancer.”

  “You never realized I have rhythm?” he asked with a wink.

  “Oh, I knew you had rhythm,” she murmured back. “Just didn’t realize that rhythm was present when you were vertical as well as horizontal.”

  This time, he threw back his head as he laughed. A big, booming laugh that filled the tent. He’d trimmed his beard for the big day, but she wouldn’t hear of him shaving it all off. She loved her Daddy Bear just the way he was.

  “Can you believe that they gave us a honeymoon?” she asked with wonder in her voice. Everyone on the ranch had chipped in to give them not only first-class tickets to LA, but ten nights at a Disneyland resort and tickets to the park. “I’m going to Disneyland for my honeymoon.” Her big side got a very adult wedding ceremony and party, but her honeymoon was all for her Little. Well, there would be plenty of big girl time too.

  “I’m not wearing Mickey Mouse ears,” Bear said quickly.

  She grinned. He so would. And then she’d take a photo for evidence for the girls.

  “Never thought when I moved here to make a new life for myself, I’d find my everything.”

  He leaned in and kissed her gently. She glanced around and nearly came to a standstill as she saw across the way, in the shadows, that Zeke had Eden pressed against him, her feet weren’t touching the ground, his arm was tucked beneath her ass holding her up. But he was swaying, holding her tight.

  “Hope those two finally figure things out,” she said to Bear.

  He just grunted.

  “Maybe I should—”

  “Nope,�
�� he swung her around.

  “But—”

  “Nope. I forbid it.”

  “Darn. I knew I should have put my foot down about obey being included in the wedding vows.”

  He grinned down at her. “Too late now, baby girl. You’re mine.”

  She sighed happily. “All yours.”

  How West was Won

  Haven, Texas

  Coming January, 2020

  Theirs was a love story like no other. . .

  Or at least it was in Flick O’Malley’s mind. All she’d ever wanted was a man to love her. A family to adore her. Protect her. And she’d do the same in return.

  Oh, she knew West Malone wasn’t your typical Prince Charming. He was blunt. He was gruff. Sometimes, he was downright scary. But she knew he’d never let anyone mess with someone he claimed as his.

  And she wanted to be his.

  She also wanted his rough, wild, insane family to be hers.

  West Malone’s core was dark. His world, full of gray. He existed. He didn’t live.

  And that’s the way he liked it.

  Until Felicity O’Malley decided to blind him with that the light that was all her, with her sweetness, her innocence. But West had loved once before. And he’d failed her.

  Wasn’t ever happening again.

  By the time West realizes he’s not the villain in this story but the hero, will he be to late to save the girl?