Capturing Christmas

by Shanna Hatfield

  Celia planned to be there, too. He hoped he’d have the opportunity to spend time with her. If not, he would make time to see her once the rodeo was over.

  After taking an exit off the freeway, it wasn’t long until Kash pulled his pickup into Celia’s apartment complex parking lot.

  He tugged down his hat and turned up the collar of his coat against the frigid November air as he hurried across the asphalt and up the steps. At the door, he punched in the passcode Celia gave him a while back, telling him to stop anytime he happened to be in the area. When a light turned green and the lock beeped, he pulled the door open and hurried inside.

  The building seemed eerily quiet as he waited for the elevator. He supposed most if not all the residents were asleep, especially since a good portion of them seemed to be middle-aged and older.

  Celia told him she liked that most of her neighbors were past the point of wanting to have wild parties. She appreciated the quiet, calm atmosphere of their complex.

  When the elevator stopped on her floor, Kash hurried around the corner and down the hall. The last time he’d been there, he’d kissed Celia until he could barely think straight.

  As he stepped up to her door, he reminded himself it would be a quick hello and goodbye because he needed to get back on the road and head home.

  Quickly surmising the doorbell would be less likely to wake her neighbors than him pounding on her door, he pressed the button and waited. Again, he pressed it and listened for any sound of movement inside her apartment.

  It was possible she wasn’t even home. She might have spent the night out at the farm, or gone to visit Cort and Kaley, although she hadn’t mentioned a trip in any of their texts or phone conversations.

  The idea that she might be out with a man crossed his mind and he clenched his jaw. It wasn’t like they had verbally made a commitment to each other, but from the first day he’d set eyes on her, he had no interest in any other woman. A whisper in his heart confirmed Celia was the only woman for him.

  The thought of her out with another man, of someone else savoring those luscious lips, caused an irrational desire for him to punch something.

  Before he drove a fist through the wall in the hallway, he turned around and marched toward the elevator.

  He’d only taken half a dozen steps when a door clicked behind him.

  “Kash?” Celia asked, half-awake and fuzzyheaded. The sound of her doorbell ringing had rudely ended a wonderful dream about Kash. By the time she’d awakened enough to slip on a robe, grab a can of pepper spray, and open the door, he was already partway down the hall. “Kash? Is that you?”

  He spun around and grinned. In a flash, he was there, holding her in his arms, covering her face with kisses.

  “Hi, there, Red. Mind if I come in?”

  His low, husky voice sent delicious shivers racing through Celia. She grabbed his coat collar in her fists and walked backward, pulling him inside. The moment the door closed behind him, she tugged his head down and pressed her lips against his.

  On sensory overload from the beautiful woman intent on scattering his ability to have a rational thought, he tightened his arms around her and lifted her off the floor.

  Celia’s scent invaded his nose, the decadent flavor of her mouth tantalized his, and the womanly softness of her veered his thoughts in a dangerous direction.

  Between heated, mind-frying kisses, she caught her breath and tried to regain enough focus to speak. Finally, she pulled back and stared into his face, trying to see him in the darkness of her apartment. “What are you doing here, Kash?”

  He nuzzled her neck. “Aren’t you glad to see me? If you’d rather I leave, I can just…”

  Aware he was teasing, she silenced him with a kiss he was sure would melt the boots right off his feet. At some point in their frenzy of kisses, she’d knocked off his hat.

  Reluctantly, he set her down and removed his coat, leaving it and his hat by the door.

  Celia took his hand and led him into her kitchen then flicked on a light. “Are you hungry? Can I make you a sandwich? Warm up some leftovers?”

  “I stopped to see you, but I wouldn’t be averse to something to eat. I skipped dinner.” Kash washed his hands at her sink while she opened the refrigerator and began setting food on the counter.

  She dished something onto a plate, covered it and popped it into the microwave. When it finished heating, she set it on the counter and motioned for Kash to take a seat on a barstool.

  As he took a bite of the lasagna, he nodded his approval. “Did you make this?”

  Celia gave him an indulgent look as she set two mugs of water in the microwave to heat. “Not even close. I had dinner at the farm and Mom gave me some leftovers. If you’re a good boy, I’ll even share the spice cake she sent home.”

  Kash snaked out his arm and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her against his side before he lavished her with kisses.

  Breathless and on the verge of completely losing his control, Kash let her go and returned his attention to the lasagna. “You should know by now that I’m always good.”

  The heated glance she gave him as she dumped packets into the mugs and stirred them made his temperature climb even higher. A few more notches and he wondered if he might ignite from the inside out.

  “Good-looking, a good kisser, and good at tempting me do not count.” She set a mug of hot chocolate, complete with little marshmallows floating on top, in front of him.

  It had been years since he’d enjoyed the simple treat, mostly because he didn’t slow down enough to allow himself the pleasure of indulging in things like hot chocolate and stolen midnight kisses.

  Celia kissed him just below his ear and he nearly dropped the fork in his hand on the floor. She offered him a self-satisfied smile then sat next to him. “You still haven’t told me what you’re doing here. I thought you’d be on your way to Utah by now.”

  “I am, in a roundabout way. The meetings today went longer than planned so I got a late start. I wanted to stop by the ranch and check on everything before I head to Utah, so here I am.”

  She leaned her head against his arm as he finished the lasagna and dug into the cake she set in front of him. “I’m really, really glad you’re here. Did you try to call earlier?”

  “Yep. I left you a voice message and thought about staying on the road instead of stopping when you didn’t answer, but I wanted to see you.”

  “How many times did you ring the doorbell?” Celia sat up and looked at him. “I’m usually not a sound sleeper.”

  “Only twice.”

  “You mean after not seeing each other for almost two months, you’d only ring the doorbell twice before giving up?” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you didn’t really miss me.”

  Whether it was exhaustion or the fact she’d addled his senses, he blurted out the truth. “I thought maybe you weren’t home, out with some other guy, and I guess it made me kind of mad.”

  She smacked his arm. “You boneheaded boob! There are no other guys. Just you.” Her pointed look held a hint of warning. “And you’ll get crossed off that very short list if you keep making stupid assumptions like that.”

  While she picked up his dirty dishes and carried them to the sink in a huff, Kash popped a mint into his mouth. He turned around on the stool, letting his gaze travel from her mussed hair flowing down her back to the soft burgundy robe enshrouding her from neck to ankle.

  For a moment, he allowed himself to speculate what he’d find beneath that plush covering. His gut tightened and the temperature in her kitchen seemed tropical as she wiped her hands on a dishtowel.

  “And another thing,” she said as she faced him. The look on his face, one of pure longing, made her eyes widen while her thoughts scattered like snowflakes in a blizzard.

  “Come here.” Kash held a hand out toward her.

  Slowly, she moved close enough to grasp his work-roughened hand. When she did, he tugged her up again
st the stool between his solid legs and wrapped her up in his arms.

  “No more fussin’. Not tonight. I just want to hold you for a minute or two before I have to leave.”

  The next thing she knew, he’d carried her into the living room and sat down on the couch with her across his lap. She recalled the last time they’d been in the exact some position and the heated kisses that ensued.

  The tip of her tongue darted out to moisten her suddenly dry lips.

  Kash moaned. “Red, you’re driving me crazy.”

  Her eyes glowed in the light from the kitchen. “I don’t mean to, Kash. You can add it to the list of my talents you admire.”

  A husky chuckle rumbled out of his chest, and he buried his face in her fragrant hair. “I missed you so bad, Celia. I hate being away from you. It’s one thing when I know I’ll run into you at a rodeo, but something else altogether when I have to spend weeks waiting to see your smile or hear your laugh.”

  “You’ve heard me laugh on the phone plenty of times,” she said, trailing her lips along his jaw.

  “It’s not the same and you know it.” Kash captivated her mouth with a kiss that made her wonder if the couch might start smoking. Only when she gasped for a breath did he stretch out and pull her down beside him.

  “Just let me hold you a few minutes, Red, then I have to get on the road.”

  Celia flipped a fleece throw over them and snuggled against his chest, more secure than she’d ever felt in her life.

  Hours later, she awoke cozy and content. She started to stretch but something beside her moved.

  Stifling a shriek, her eyes popped open and she stared at the Rockin’ K logo on Kash’s shirt.

  Swiftly recalling his late visit and plans to leave soon after he arrived, she glanced at the clock across the room.

  Nearly seven in the morning, she wondered how they’d both fallen asleep on the couch.

  Careful to get up without awakening Kash, Celia took a quick shower and squeezed the moisture from her hair, leaving it to air dry. She dressed in a navy sweatshirt, jeans, and her favorite pair of worn boots. After adding a touch of mascara and a splash of perfume, she went to the kitchen and made a pot of coffee.

  She took eggs out of the refrigerator and was about to crack one into a skillet when a pair of muscular arms pulled her back against a hard body.

  “Morning, beautiful.” Kash pushed aside her damp hair and kissed her neck. “I could get used to waking up in the same house as you with no problem at all.”

  The egg in her hand almost slipped out of her fingers before she set it on the counter and turned around so she faced Kash. “You shouldn’t say things you don’t mean, handsome.”

  “I wasn’t teasing, baby.” Kash kissed her cheek. “I really didn’t mean to fall asleep on your couch and I definitely need to get on the road. Don’t worry about making me breakfast.”

  “Oh, cool your heels, cowboy. What’s another thirty minutes when you’re already four hours behind schedule?” Celia grinned and pointed in the direction of the bathroom. “Go splash some water on your face to wake up while I make eggs and toast.”

  She turned back to her skillet, but Kash nibbled on her ear, making her squirm. “I can think of a better way to wake up than cold water on my face, but you’re probably right.” His lips caressed her neck again before he walked out of the kitchen. She heard the bathroom door click shut.

  Air blew out in a long breath as she leaned against the counter and gathered her composure. When she felt like she’d regained control of her senses, she cracked eggs into the skillet with such force, one shell was completely obliterated before the egg made it into the pan.

  As she used a paper towel to wipe up the mess, she muttered to herself. “Smokin’ hot cowboy goes around smelling like ten different kinds of wonderful temptation, and he has to be a sweetheart to boot. He’s like a loveable teddy bear stuffed into the body of a Greek god. How’s a girl supposed to resist that kind of unbelievably enticing package?”

  “You on the phone, Celia?” Kash asked as he opened the bathroom door.

  Guilt assaulted her for speaking her thoughts aloud as she grabbed a spatula and applied it without mercy to the eggs in the pan.

  “Nope. Just talking to myself.”

  Kash walked into the kitchen and took down two mugs from the cupboard then filled them both with coffee. He set one beside her and took a sip of the dark brew. A caffeine jolt would get his head back on straight. He’d eat a quick bite with Celia, get on the road, and call his dad to let him know he’d be home soon.

  “As long as you don’t answer yourself, I won’t start shopping for a straight jacket,” he teased. Rather than respond, she pointed her spatula to a loaf of bread and the toaster. He dropped in slices and took another sip of coffee.

  While he waited for the bread to heat, he racked his numb brain for a safe topic of discussion. “You haven’t mentioned any problems with your pickup lately. Is it running any better?”

  Celia glanced up from scooping eggs onto two plates. “Yes, thank goodness. I had the alignment done, a new alternator installed, and the heater repaired because the AC kicked on every time I tried to get it to blow warm air.”

  She poured glasses of juice. “If one more thing falls apart or needs to be fixed, I’m going to surrender to the inevitable and get a new vehicle.”

  “Surely you wouldn’t do anything that desperate,” Kash joked as he grabbed the toast when it shot up out of the toaster. Celia slid the butter his direction then set a jar of jam on the counter beside their plates.

  Part of Kash felt antsy, mindful of the fact he should have been on the road hours ago. The other part of him, the part completely loopy for the beautiful, sassy woman sitting beside him, enjoyed this unexpected time together.

  “You’re still planning to go to Vegas for the finals aren’t you?” he asked, spreading a thick layer of berry jam on his toast.

  “Yeah, I guess I am.”

  At the disappointed sound of her voice, he glanced over at her. “What’s wrong? You don’t sound very excited to go.”

  “It’s just that this year I hoped to be one of the official rodeo photographers and yet again, I’m not. Honestly, I’m a little miffed about the whole thing. If it wasn’t such a great opportunity to make contacts, I’d just stay home.” Celia looked up at him with a wry grin. “Well, that and you’ll be there. You might even take fifteen minutes out of your ridiculously busy schedule to have lunch with me one day if I follow you around and mercilessly beg for a scrap of your attention.”

  He squeezed her hand then lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of it. “I’m sorry, Celia. I know you hoped to be selected this year. There’s always next year. And just because you’re not official doesn’t mean you can’t take photos of some of the other stuff going on that week. Why don’t you go as a photographer there for fun and see what sort of things happen instead of focusing on just the rodeo?”

  “Thanks, Kash. I may listen to your sage advice, once I finish pouting.” She stuck out her delectable bottom lip and Kash groaned inwardly, forcing himself not to abandon his half-eaten breakfast and kiss her for the rest of his life.

  In an effort to direct her thoughts toward something that would take her mind off her disappointment, he steered the conversation to Thanksgiving. “Are Cort, Kaley, and Jacob still planning to come next week for Thanksgiving?”

  “Yes. We’re so excited. Mom and I have the menu all planned, and Dad has been working on fixing an old pedal tractor Cort used to play with when he was a kid. It’s our first official Thanksgiving with Kaley and Jacob so we want it to be special.” Celia sipped her coffee then tipped her head to Kash. “The only thing that would make it better is if you could join us.”

  “As much as I wish I could, I’ll be busy getting ready to head to Las Vegas. Besides, I’d hate to leave Barb stuck with just Dad and Ransom for company. They spend all day glued to the television watching football and forget someone has to slave
away in the kitchen to make all the food they inhale in a matter of minutes during halftime of one of the games.”

  Celia laughed. “I didn’t realize you were so anti-sports.”

  “I’m not. I like football and baseball as much as the next guy, but Ransom is obsessive when it comes to football.” Kash sighed and ran a hand over his mussed hair. “I wish he could muster even a little of that enthusiasm for the stock contracting business.” He glanced at the clock on the stove and got to his feet. After setting his dishes in the sink, he rinsed off his hands then pulled Celia to her feet and enfolded her in a loving embrace.

  “Do you have to go?” she whispered, pressing herself tightly against him.

  “You know I do.” Kash released her just enough so he could kiss her eyelids, her cheeks and her nose before tenderly brushing his mouth across her lips. “I hate saying goodbye to you, but I have to leave.”

  “I know.” Celia squeezed his hand and held onto it as he walked to the front door.

  He shrugged into his coat and settled the hat on his head before he bent down and kissed her cheek again. Inhaling a deep breath, her scent filled his nose while her love filled his heart.

  Even if neither of them said the words, he knew she cared. Love shone from the light in her eyes, in the touch of her hand as she rubbed it across his cheek, in her voice as she reminded him to drive carefully and call her when he arrived home.

  “Just two weeks, Red, and I’ll see you in Las Vegas. Be a good girl and I might even carve out a whole hour to take you to dinner.”

  “I’m counting on it, handsome. You be safe driving down there.”

  He kissed her palm and hurried out the door. Everything in him wanted to kiss her with all the passion she stirred in him, but if he did, he’d forget about all his responsibilities, the rodeo stock, and his family. There wouldn’t be anything except Celia and his love for her.

  But no matter how much he loved her, he still wasn’t sure he could trust her.

  Chapter Thirteen