by Box Set
Now, she had done something for herself, and she was so glad she had taken the leap and been mistaken about the cabin. She knew in her heart, if she had realized before she booked the vacation, she would have backed out. She was so happy she hadn’t. In this last week, she had found more warmth and honesty than she’d ever had her entire life. Not only had she found him, the man who made her feel like a beautiful, sexy desirable woman, but a man who showed her what making love was supposed to be like, how beautiful and fabulous sex could be.
In two weeks, she would walk away from him, from them, and go back to the life that had been her reality. She didn’t know if she could go back to being that woman again. She could go for the clothes business she wanted to try. Who cared if she didn’t make it big? She could try it. This man showed her that she could try anything.
She kissed him softly, trying to show him with this one kiss, the promise and hope she felt when she was with him. When she finally broke away, she touched his face again. “Thank you, cowboy. Will you give me a bit to freshen up before I go downstairs? I need a few moments.”
“Sure, I’ll tell Ma and Clare you’ll be down in a bit. I’ll see you when I come back from the barn.”
She watched him as he sauntered out of the room. Man she loved that cocky walk of his and the way those jeans outlined that sexy ass of his. She closed her door, took a change of clothes out of her dresser, and stripped before walking into her bathroom, feeling the need to wash off more than the day’s cold. Lathering up her hair, she closed her eyes and thought of how many blessings she had been given and how much she had missed all at the same time. She wished she could do something even more special for him. Suddenly, it dawned on her. She finished her shower in record time, dried off, wrapped the towel around herself, and hurried into her room, grabbing her phone and the piece of paper out of her purse.
She dialed the number and prayed Cindy would answer. On the third ring, she picked up. “Thompson’s, Cindy speaking.”
“Hi, Cindy. This is Holly Kane. I was out there earlier today with Preston Carson, looking at the puppy, Harry, he’s buying from you?”
“Oh yes, hello Holly. How are you?”
“I’m wonderful. I was wondering if I could discuss something with you as a Christmas gift for Preston?”
“Sure, what do you have in mind?”
Holly could tell she had gotten the woman’s attention. “I was wondering two things actually. The first, how close is your husband to finishing the pup’s training?”
“Oh, Harry is smart as a whip, one of the smartest dogs we’ve ever raised. I think he is about done with that boy’s training. And what was your second question?”
“I was wondering how much more he owes on Harry?” She crossed her fingers, praying the number wasn’t too high.
“If you’ll hold on a moment, I can check my records for you. I’ve had two people making payments today so I don’t want to quote you wrong.”
Holly heard her lay the phone down and waited as she heard rustling and the phone being picked back up. “Okay, it looks like he still owes another four hundred and fifty dollars.”
Holly closed her eyes, it was a bit more than she hoped, but she could afford it. “Okay, wonderful. If I pay him off, could you deliver him the weekend after Christmas? Also, could you please not tell Preston I’m paying him off? It’s a surprise for the family.”
“No, that wouldn’t be a problem at all on any of those things.” Cindy giggled. “They’re such a nice family, and it’s sweet of you to do that for your friends. This pup will be a big help for Preston with the cattle. Did you want to come back by to pay for him next weekend?”
“Well, I was hoping I could give you my card over the phone and pay for him then we could set up the delivery time.” Holly crossed her fingers wondering if that was too much to ask for a small business.
“Sure.”
“Great. Let me give you the information.” A few minutes later, with her confirmation number in hand, Holly tucked everything into her purse. She fixed her hair, put on some mascara and eye shadow before adding a touch of lip-gloss to her mouth. She dressed quickly in the black jeans and light gray, fitted sweater then turned to look at herself in the mirror. Not bad. She slipped into the silver ballerina shoes she’d picked up to go along with the outfit, took a deep breath, and headed downstairs.
When she entered the kitchen, everyone looked her way and Clare smiled. “Holly, you look amazing in that outfit. Where did you find that sweater? It is so cute!” She squealed as she walked around Holly. “I love your shoes, too. Mom, look at how pretty she looks.”
“You look lovely, Holly.” Tamra raised a brow. “You going somewhere tonight?”
“No, I just thought I’d dress up a little for dinner. Although, I don’t know if you can call jeans dressing up.”
“Seriously, where did you get that sweater? I want one.” Clare touched the sleeve. “It’s so soft.”
“This one I designed, and the only place you can buy it is at a boutique near where I live. If you tell me your size and color, I can have one sent to you.”
“You designed it? Wow, that’s so cool.” Clare turned to her mom. “Can I get one?”
Tamra shrugged. “I think that will depend on how much it is, honey.” Holly watched her turn red. “How much does it cost?’
“It retails for twenty-nine and some change but of course, since I designed it, I could get it for my cost.”
Clare squealed again. “Mom, please. I’d be the only one in school with one, and my birthday is next month so it could be my birthday present.”
She glanced at Preston to see him leaning against the counter, arms folded as a smile crossed his face. “Ma, we can afford to get her the sweater.” He glanced at Holly and winked. “What color do you want?”
Clare ran to him and threw her arms around his waist. “I love you, Preston. Thanks. I know you work hard to take care of us, and I really do appreciate it.” She spun around to look at Holly, her eyes shining brightly with joy. “What colors does it come in?”
Tamra giggled. “That girl is spoiled rotten.”
“Yeah, she is,” Preston said, shaking his head. “But she’s the only kid sister I have. How much will the shipping be to have that sent to her?”
“Not much. I’ll give them a call tomorrow and we can get the total then.” Holly was surprised that a teenager would like her stuff. She thought it was geared more toward adults. Maybe she needed to broaden her reach. “Clare, would you mind if we looked at some of my designs later, and you could tell me if you and your friends would like them?”
“Really? That would be awesome. I’ve never known anyone who designed clothes before. Preston, can we use your laptop? It works better than mine.”
“Sure, if I can watch.”
“I’d love to show all of you my designs. Would you like to join us Tamra?”
“Certainly, it would be fun. How do you think up your designs?”
“I try to find things that work for us, and when I say us, I mean women who are not stick thin, with the bodies the magazines and modeling world try to shove down our throats. I hate the frumpy clothes they sell, and I’m a bit ashamed to say up until recently, I was one of those women who dressed frumpy. I designed these clothes, but I never bought them or wore them.”
“Why?” Clare asked as she flopped down into her seat and pulled the bowl of potato salad toward her, heaping a glob onto her plate.
“You know, I’m not sure.”
“Well, you should wear them all the time. You look so pretty in them. Mom, you should try getting your hair cut short, too.”
Holly watched as Tamra touched her hair. “You know, it might be a nice change of pace for me. But the problem is, the salon in town doesn’t have anyone working for them that I’d trust to cut my hair.”
“What about the next town over? Is there anyone there?” Holly asked.
All three of them laughed.
“What?”
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“It’s a bit of a haul, especially this time of year. I wouldn’t even attempt it.” Tamra sighed. “One of the tradeoffs of living in seclusion, I guess.”
“Mom, you haven’t been to town for a haircut in six years. How do you know there’s no one that could cut your hair?” Clare rolled her eyes.
“If you want, I’d be happy to go with you. Maybe we could see about getting it cut in a cute style for you.” Holly smiled. “I was so afraid to cut mine but I love it.”
“We could take you tomorrow. I don’t mind driving y’all into town.”
“Let me think on it. I’m not sure what difference it would make. Who’d see me anyway?”
“You would see yourself, Mom. We’d see you, and I’d love to see you with something new for a change.” Clare jumped up and hugged her tight.
“I agree, Ma. Call tomorrow and make an appointment. You do deserve it.” He winked at his mother.
Chapter 14
All is Calm
Preston woke for the first time in over a year, feeling at peace. He wondered if it was fate that brought this woman to their home because the change in Ma, his sister, and him was something he had not seen happening. She was like a breath of fresh air in the life that he realized they had been stumbling through. Whatever it was that had caused her to pick their home for her holiday, he gave thanks that she had.
Rolling out of bed, he took a quick shower, dressed, and headed downstairs to find Ma in the kitchen making the pot of coffee. “What are you doing up so early?” He kissed her cheek and grabbed two mugs down from the cabinet.
“I couldn’t sleep.” She shrugged, grabbed the cookie sheet of homemade biscuits, and slid them into the oven.
“Why not?” He rubbed her shoulders feeling how tense they were. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m worried about things.” She set the timer and scooted around him.
“What things? I told you I’m handling everything.”
“That’s just it, Preston. I appreciate everything you’re doing for us, but you shouldn’t be the one carrying this burden. I’m so pissed off at your brother for running.”
“I don’t consider you and Clare a burden. I love it here. Hell, one day I’m hoping this is mine.”
“I know you do and I want to give this to you. But I worry about you. You haven’t dated seriously in over two years, and now with what happened with your dad, I haven’t seen you even try to get a date. I was worried you’d given up on love. Heck, the happiest I’ve seen you in a year has been since Holly is here. This is the happiest I’ve seen your sister in a while, too.” Something crossed her face. “Goodness, this is the happiest I’ve been in a while. I just feel like I’ve been failing you.” A tear slid down her face.
He took her face in his hands and wiped it away. “She has brought happiness into the house again. Clare’s smiles reach her eyes now. So do yours. I think it’s a blessing that she came here. But don’t ever let it cross your mind that you have failed us. Not even once.”
Tamra looked into his eyes. “I guess renting out a room wasn’t such a bad idea after all.”
“No, I think we just got lucky this time. We could have had some smelly, cigar smoking, fat man rent the room.”
“Stop it.” She laughed playfully, giving him a shove. “I don’t want to make poor Holly follow me to the hair salon today. How about you two take me, we can see what she thinks about the stylist, and then you can show her some more of the town?”
“The town isn’t that big. I think we pretty much saw everything yesterday.”
“Well then, you can take her out to the canyon and show her how pretty that is while I’m getting my haircut.”
“Ma, I don’t think it will take that long to do your hair.” He laughed.
“I know, but I have some shopping to do, and I figure I’ll be a few hours so you can show her the canyon.”
Preston got the feeling there was more to Ma’s suggestion than wanting to do some shopping after a haircut. His forehead scrunched. “Ma, what’s really going on? Are you trying to get rid of us?”
“I have to pick up a couple of gifts for Holly, and I don’t want her to be with me when I’m shopping. So can you humor me, please?”
“Anything for you. I’m going to go feed the horses.” He turned to see Holly walk in. “Good morning. I’m just heading to the barn to feed the horses if you want to tag along.”
“Morning, Preston. I’d love to unless you need some help, Tamra?”
“Nope, I’m going to grab a cup of coffee and whip up some breakfast before we head to town. You two run along.”
Holly slipped on the barn boots and grabbed Tamra’s barn coat off the hook before heading to the barn with Preston. “How’re you feeling this morning?
“I’m good. How about you, darlin’? Did you sleep all right?”
“Like a baby.”
He pushed the barn door open just enough for them to make their way through then closed it behind him. One of the mares neighed softly. He turned and took her face in his hands before kissing her lips greedily. “I wanted to come to you last night, but I thought I should give you some space.”
She stepped into his arms, wrapping her hands behind his neck and pulling him down to her lips. “You should have come. I didn’t need the sleep that badly,” she whispered against his lips.
Preston pushed her against the barn door, kissing her until they were both panting. He pushed himself against her so she could feel what she was doing to him. “You’re killing me here.” He crushed his mouth against hers. “Tonight, I’m coming to you. He kissed her neck just below her ear and thought he’d lose it right there as a moan escaped from deep in her throat. Pulling himself away, he shook his head as she stood there smiling up at him through her lashes.
“Not playing fair, little lady,” he growled as he pushed her up against the barn door again.
She fumbled with the zipper on his jeans, freeing him from his boxers, moaning again as she stroked him slowly. “How long?” she gasped as her head fell back when he kissed her neck.
“About twenty minutes, tops.” His heard the gravel in his voice from his desire. “Not long enough for what I want to do to you.”
“Oh?” She glanced up at him as a wicked little smile turned up her lips. “Maybe enough time for me to do what I want to do to you.” She yanked his pants down a little and dropped to her knees, taking him into her mouth.
“Oh fuck,” he growled watching her lick and suck his dick as she slid it in and out of her beautiful mouth. Her hand stroked and teased the parts of him her mouth couldn’t reach. His heart raced as he felt his desire building. “Darlin’.” His head fell back. “I can’t hold back any longer.” His voice sounded far away, as he glanced down and saw her looking up at him, working his dick faster. He came so hard, he saw stars. He grabbed the barn door to keep from falling over. “Shit, that must be a record.”
She stood up licking her lips. “What’s a record?” She leaned up and kissed him hard.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been that turned on or come that fast or hard. I think I almost passed out.”
She giggled.
“I’m not kidding you. I saw fucking stars when I came.” He pulled his pants back up with trembling hands. “Damn woman, do you know how sexy you are?” He pulled his cell out of his pocket to check the time. “We’ve got a little more time before Ma is going to wonder what the hell we’re doing.”
“What are you thinking?” she purred.
Without saying a word, he unzipped her jeans and slipped his hand down the front of her pants, working her clit with his finger. He moved his fingers underneath her panties. “You’re already so wet,” he whispered as he slid two fingers into her. Holly moved against his hand, moaning as he moved faster, keeping friction on her sweet spot. She came minutes later as he kissed her to stifle her yelling his name. “That should keep things calm until tonight,” he whispered as he kissed her softly. “Now, we better double
time it to get these horses fed and getting back to the house.”
“Yes, sir.” She sauntered past him and he slapped her ass.
They hurried back into the house, stopping in the mudroom to kick off their boots, hang up the coats, and wash up. “You better stop smiling like that or Ma will know something’s up,” he whispered.
“Well, you better wipe your own smile off because you look like the cat who just ate the canary,” she whispered into his ear, her warm breath sending a jolt of desire straight to his dick.
“Unless you want everyone to know, you better back away before I’ve got to duck walk into the kitchen.”
Her eyes went wide as she turned and went quickly into the kitchen. “Something smells good.” He heard her declare.
He adjusted himself and followed her into the kitchen, heading straight to the coffee pot. “You want some coffee, Holly?”
“Sure.”
“How are the horses this morning?” Tamra asked as a smile spread over her face and her eyes twinkled.
“Same as always. Sampson was extra loving this morning. You know how he gets.” He set Holly’s mug down and sat in his chair, taking his time spreading his napkin on his lap so he could get his damn expression adjusted before he looked up at Ma again. Were they gone too long? He didn’t know if she suspected something or if she was ready to go into town to get her hair cut. He looked up and met her gaze. “Your little mare was a bit sassy this morning, too.” He winked.
“Well, that doesn’t surprise me. If you guys don’t mind, I’m going to go run a brush through this mop on my head before we head to town. Eat up and I’ll be back down in a minute.”
He waited until he heard her footsteps going up the stairs before he pushed his chair back and all but tiptoed to the door. He turned and made his was back quickly, whispering, “Do you think she suspected something?”
