by Vivian Arend
“Once upon a time, that was my writing desk. Hans told me he’d left me a present on it, and I—well, I had a slight mishap and bumped into it when I ran to see. I found a flower and some chocolate. Both of which I enjoyed very much and said thank you for. But when I never mentioned the ring, he thought I was ignoring him—”
“Damn woman not only told me there was no ring, but that if I thought I could propose without one, I had another think coming.” Hans grinned again. “We got some good mileage out of that fight, I’m telling you.”
“This was supposed to be your engagement ring?” Yvette carefully curled her fingers around it. “I’ll put it somewhere safe for you. I’m glad we found it.”
“I’m glad too. Of course, if Alex wants it, I don’t mind sharing…” Glenda waggled her brows suggestively then laughed again. “I’ll stop. You two set your own pace.”
“But she’s serious,” Hans whispered. “Never doubt that.”
“I’ve got it covered,” Alex told them with dry amusement.
Children laughed in the background, and Yvette let the happiness of the moment flow through her as she held Alex’s hand. “We’d love to chat some more, but we should let you get back to your family.”
“You are family,” Glenda said smoothly. “Welcome, Yvette. Alex, we love you. You two enjoy the rest of the holidays.”
“Love you too. Chat soon,” Alex promised.
It was all Yvette could do to keep a smile in place until the call cut off and she could safely bury her face against Alex’s neck. His strong arms wrapped around her and held her as, once again, tears fell.
“I’m not this weepy all the time,” she insisted when the tearing jag faded.
“Never apologize for letting your feelings show.” He wiped away a tear of his own. “They’re real family. You have people who love you. Never doubt that.”
They ended up at Brooke and Mack’s for a couple of hours, all their group gathered around the firepit in the backyard. The temperature was just below freezing, and the warmth of friends was nearly as strong as the fire’s glow.
They all sang happy birthday to Talia, then she and Crissy went to make snow angels in the backyard, their dads helping as required. Brooke eased forward in her seat so she could talk to Yvette around Hanna, who held her sleeping two-year-old in her arms. Madison stared into the fire with a Madonna-like smile on her face, having been bundled up by Ryan and their daughter before the kids took off to play.
It was a gathering full of happiness and warmth.
Yvette’s entire day had been bursting with joy from the first minute she’d rolled over and seen Alex’s eyes. Seen the love in them.
A couple hours later, they were back at Yvette’s, curling up in front of the fire. She wasn’t sure her heart could hold much more.
Only, she was curious about one thing. Her magpie nature had heard a shiny comment, and now she wanted to know more.
She linked her fingers with Alex’s. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Your dad said something about adding it to the list.” Yvette gestured. “This afternoon when we chatted.”
His expression grew serious. “I did some hard thinking when I left here last spring. I’d figured out we belonged together, but making it happen still needed work. So I made a list.”
She frowned. “You made a countdown calendar.”
“Yes, but first I made a list.” He pulled a card from his pocket and held it out to her. Tidy handwriting, the edges of the paper well worn.
* * *
She’s got a generous heart, but she’s tender as well. Be kind, be giving. Let her give back.
She likes shiny things, surprises.
She won’t want expensive gifts but thoughtful ones.
She needs to be listened to.
She needs a man as honest and trustworthy as she is.
She needs to know how much I appreciate her skills and her opinion.
She needs to see what’s important to me by what I do—and that means:
She needs to know she’s important to me by how I treat her.
So stop being an ass!
* * *
Yvette pressed a hand to his cheek. “You’re amazing.”
“So are you. Which is why I made the list.” He twisted his head until he could kiss her palm. “You still have one drawer to open. We weren’t here for day twenty-four.”
Since she didn’t need to worry about finding an empty space where she’d thought the ring she’d found belonged, Yvette’s enthusiasm shot to high. “I’m going to be really sad now that the holidays are over. I like having secrets to open.”
His grin seemed far too bright. “Hurry up. Let’s go.”
Standing on the porch, twenty-five days after starting this adventure, it felt as if far more time had passed. As if Alex standing at her side, fingers linked, was how they’d always been.
The final key ring was a rainbow. The key itself was bright blue. Yvette surveyed the drawers, trying to remember which one she hadn’t opened yet.
One of the smallest drawers under the rolltop had a blue lock.
“I see it.” Yvette hurried to open the drawer, humming happily as she discovered another charm for her bracelet. “A rainbow. Oh, Alex, I love it.”
She picked it up, pausing as paper ruffled.
An envelope lay at the bottom of the drawer.
Alex’s expression was mischief and happiness. “Merry Christmas.”
“What’s this?” She ripped the envelope open and gasped. “Another key?”
“Well, you did say you were sad you didn’t have any more secrets to look forward to.”
Oh no. “What does it open?” Yvette asked, suspicion rising.
“A secret that you’ll receive in a month or so.” Alex held up his hands as if he were a magician. “Ta-da. You now have something to look forward to.”
She was going to kill him. Or kiss him. One of those two. “You are terrible, and wonderful, and so terribly wonderful that I’m going to have to keep a close eye on you from now on.”
“Fine with me.” Alex breathed out a happy sigh, pulling her into his arms and holding her tight.
The mystery key in her fingers sent the right kind of excitement through her. The warmth of his body, the right kind of connection.
The look in his eyes, the perfect kind of love.
Yvette kissed her cowboy, so grateful he’d been willing to make his list. To work to bring them from their past into what she was certain would be a wonderful future. One precious day at a time.
Epilogue
Jan 1, Heart Falls
Quiet hung on the air in the empty church, a still, solemn hush broken only by the faint sound of wind whistling against the tall steeple. Sunlight streamed in the stained-glass windows, sending brightly coloured patches dancing down the aisle all the way to where Ashton Stewart stood.
Dressed in his best suit with polished boots and his hair combed back as neatly as it ever got, he would’ve felt like a fool except for the pounding in his heart.
He glanced at his watch. Three minutes to noon.
Three more minutes to wait.
Such a short time to wait to discover if he’d finally figured out the truth that would stop his heart from breaking.
Three minutes until Sonora arrived.
Or didn’t—
I hope you enjoyed this story for Alex and Yvette. Thanks so much for reading, and if you do have a few minutes to leave a review for others, I’d appreciate it.
There’s also audio for this series.
This means, of course, that there’s only one more holiday story left. Poor Ashton! Preorder the final installment of the series now: A Rancher’s Christmas Kiss.
The next thing in Heart Falls is still in development. I have some evil ideas—I mean, some really fun mischief in mind. It will involve more of the friends you’ve gotten to know in the past, but I have nothing specific to share yet. (Evil plans, tho
ugh. Just saying. Sexy, sexy, evil plans with happily-ever-afters for brilliant IT hackers, brilliant doctors, brilliant bakers…)
So make sure you’re on my mailing list to stay up to date on these and future stories. The mailing list really is the best way to get information because I’m not very active on social media.
About the Author
With over 2.5 million books sold, Vivian Arend is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 60 contemporary and paranormal romance books, including the Six Pack Ranch and Granite Lake Wolves.
Her books are all standalone reads with no cliffhangers. They’re humorous yet emotional, with sexy-times and happily-ever-afters. Vivian pretty much thinks she’s got the best job in the world, and she’s looking forward to giving readers more HEAs. She lives in B.C. Canada with her husband of many years and a fluffy attack Shih-tzu named Luna who ignores everyone except when treats are deployed.
www.vivianarend.com
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
A Cowboy’s Christmas List
Copyright © 2021 by Arend Publishing Inc.
ISBN: 9781989507261
Edited by Manuela Velasco
Cover Design © Damonza
Proofed by Angie Ramey & Linda Levy
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations.
First electronic publication: November 2021
www.vivianarend.com
