“If it was me with that pretty little redhead waiting inside, I sure wouldn’t be out here chilling my toes in the snow.”
Kash grinned at Mark. “I’m heading in, but it’s kind of nice to admire the view.”
“Like I said, I’d do more than admire it, if it was me. I’d be in there making sure I was part of it.” Mark gave him a nudge forward. “Go on, boss man. We can handle anything that comes up this evening.”
Kash walked around to the back door and left his things in the hall. When he ventured into the kitchen, Ransom and his dad set supper on the table. After washing his hands, Kash went to get Celia from the front room and found her hanging a garland she’d made from old jingle bells and jute string across the mantle.
“That looks nice, my little ding-a-ling.”
Celia looked over at him and grinned. “Who are you calling a ding-a-ling, handsome? Then again,” she finished hanging the garland and turned to face him, “you are the one who keeps ringing my bell.”
“Get over here and I’ll do my best to ring it again.” Kash reached out for her and she dodged away from him, giggling. They spent a few minutes playing cat and mouse in the front room.
“Are you two gonna keep horsin’ around or eat dinner while it’s hot?” Frank stood at the door with an odd, bemused sparkle in his eye.
“I’m starving. Let’s eat.” Celia linked arms with Frank and started down the hall. When she looked back at Kash with a sizzling smile, he almost tripped over his own feet. Throughout dinner, he answered questions and offered appropriate responses, but his thoughts centered on the playful, tantalizing woman seated next to him.
Since she appeared to be recovered from whatever malady had befallen her, Kash didn’t know how much longer he could hang on to his self-control with her under the same roof, just three doors down the hall from his.
With two photo shoots scheduled early the following week, she would soon return to Boise. In addition, her family expected her to go with them to Cort’s for Christmas. That only left him a few days to convince her she needed to become a permanent resident at the ranch.
Once they finished dinner and the kitchen was set to rights, Ransom disappeared upstairs to search through apartment listings while Frank retired to the family room to watch a football game he’d previously recorded.
Kash built a fire in the fireplace while Celia surfed through channels.
“I’m sorry about missing the holiday concert in Boise tonight. If you still want to go, I think there’s an encore performance Sunday afternoon,” he said as the fire took off and he added more wood.
Celia smiled at him. “It wasn’t so much about the concert as spending time with you. It’s not a problem that we missed it.” She continued flipping through channels and squealed. “Oh, my gosh. I can’t believe this is on. It’s one of my favorite movies, ever.”
He leaned back and glanced up at the screen as Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye performed in the opening scene of White Christmas.
“Want me to make some popcorn?” Kash asked as he turned off the overhead lights and moved to the couch where she relaxed against the cushions.
“No, I’m still full from dinner. The casserole was great and I’m glad you boys played nice and ate the broccoli I cooked.”
Kash wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. She settled against his side with a sigh.
“Just don’t make a habit of it. Ransom and I both think it tastes like cooked shrubbery, only not quite as flavorful.”
Celia giggled and rubbed her hand over his thigh, igniting a fire Kash thought might burn hotter than the one crackling in the fireplace. Determined to behave, he focused on the television instead of the woman at his side.
Absorbed in the movie, they watched in silence until the scene where Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen danced to The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing.
“Isn’t she beautiful?” Celia whispered. “I wish we still dressed like that, acted like that. It’s so much more romantic than jeans and sweaters.”
“Potato sack, cardboard box — it wouldn’t matter, Red. You look beautiful in everything.” Kash leaned near her ear. “I can picture you in a dress like that and you’d be a knock-out.”
A blush colored her cheeks as she tugged on his hand. “Dance with me, Kash. Please?”
Reluctantly, he got to his feet. “If Ransom or Dad walk in, you know I’ll never hear the end of this.”
She laughed and led him to the open space of floor between the coffee table and fireplace. “I saw the daggers you shot at Ransom when he whisked me around the kitchen earlier. If you don’t want some other cowboy cutting in with your girl, you better move those feet out on the dance floor.”
Kash pushed a button on the remote and rewound the movie. He took her hand in his, pressing his other hand to the middle of her back.
Swaying back and forth, they danced in the amber glow from the fire and the soft lights of the Christmas tree while music from the movie played around them.
Kash watched the flicker from the fire reflect in her green eyes and fell into their depths. It was like tumbling headlong into a lush, green forest and never wanting to find his way out.
“Celia, I love you,” he whispered before his lips gently caressed hers, teasing and tempting. His hand dropped further down her back as he pressed her closer against him. Both her hands slid behind his neck.
With a groan, he lifted her off her feet and carried her back to the couch. As they sank into the cushions, his mouth plundered hers with increasing ardor until she pulled back, panting for breath.
“Kash, either we stop this and go back to watching the movie, or I’m going upstairs to bed. If you kiss me like that just one more time… We need to stop. Right now.” Celia sat up and took a deep breath, fighting to regain her composure.
A frustrated sigh escaped, and he moved away from her. “I know I’ve mentioned it a few times, but you are killing me. If you don’t drive me completely mad, I’m gonna die from other painful causes.”
She laughed and squeezed his hand. “On that note, I better tell you good night now.”
Kash wanted to argue with her, wanted to push her down on the couch and pick up where they left off, but he didn’t.
Instead, he kissed the back of her fingers while melding his gaze to hers.
She blinked twice, swallowed hard, and got to her feet. “I love you, Kash Kressley. Have a good night and I’ll see you in the morning. If you boys behave, I might even make you breakfast.”
“Sweet dreams, Celia.”
Kash watched her leave the room then stared into the fire, wondering how fast he could talk Celia into marrying him.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The scent of cinnamon wafted in the morning air as Kash stamped snow from his boots and stepped inside the back hallway.
Quickly shrugging out of his coat, he hung it along with his hat on hooks by the back door before strolling into the kitchen.
Celia stood at the stove, flipping a slice of ham in a big cast iron skillet. Kash entirely liked the idea of finding her in his house every single morning.
Her hair swayed in tantalizing waves down her back. For a moment, he allowed his gaze to roam over the deep blue of her sweatshirt, the way her jeans fit her curves just right.
As hot as his blood ran, he was sure Ransom must have messed with the thermostat again.
Quietly moving across the floor, he pushed her hair away from her neck and pressed a moist kiss to her exposed skin.
“Mmm. That’s nice.” When she spoke, her voice sounded like a soft purr. “Give me another one of those kisses before Kash walks in.”
Kash took a step back and scowled while she glanced up at him with an impish grin. “Gotcha.”
“Do not ever tease me like that. I don’t think you or Ransom would appreciate the consequences,” Kash warned, swatting her on the rear before he went to the sink to wash his hands.
“I knew it was you the moment the back do
or opened.” She lifted a waffle from the waffle maker on the counter and added it to a stack she kept warm in the oven.
“How did you know it was me?”
After she placed three cinnamon rolls from a tube of refrigerated dough into the waffle maker, she closed the lid. “Your spurs gave you away, cowboy. Ransom doesn’t wear them, and your dad stopped by a few minutes ago to get a cup of coffee before he went into the office. Since the crew rarely come to the house, that left you. Even without the spurs or your scent tipping me off, I would have known it was you as soon as you touched me.”
Kash poured a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter, giving her a curious look.
Celia cracked eggs into a hot skillet. “You have the gentlest hands, even if they are twice as big as mine. Besides, your touch makes my nerve endings start to jitterbug and no one else does that.”
He set down the coffee cup and wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her neck before kissing her full on the mouth. She tasted like cinnamon, coffee, and her own decadent flavor. Kash couldn’t get enough of her and deepened the kiss until a throat clearing from the doorway caught them by surprise.
She blushed and pushed at Kash’s chest, but he held on, grinning as he looked at his brother.
“What’s up with the bag, bro?” he asked as Ransom tossed a duffle bag on the floor near the table.
“I’m heading to Portland today. I lined up appointments to check out half a dozen apartments.” Ransom took a mug out of the cupboard and poured a cup of coffee. “I didn’t think you or Dad would care.”
“Nope. Just be careful on the roads. The freeway can get bad between Baker City and Pendleton.” Kash kissed Celia’s cheek then turned her loose. She hurried to rescue the waffle before it burned and handed him the spatula to turn the eggs.
Together, they finished making the meal and sat down to enjoy the breakfast she prepared as soon as Frank joined them.
“These waffles are incredible,” Kash said as he helped himself to a second one, drizzled with cream cheese frosting.
“Seriously, you guys can make these. Just open one of those many tubes of cinnamon roll dough you have in the fridge and put three in the waffle maker. Nuke the frosting about twelve seconds and pour it over the top when the waffle is cooked, and there you are.” Celia pointed a fork at Kash. “Simple as that.”
Frank winked at her. “We appreciate you making breakfast for us this morning, honey. What’s on your agenda today? More decorating? Anyone want to go into town to do a little Christmas shopping?”
“That sounds like great fun. I’d be game for that,” Celia said. The jingle bell ringtone of her phone made everyone smile. She pulled it out of her pocket and answered the call since it was one of her clients.
Knots tightened his stomach and chased away his appetite as Kash listened to the conversation. Celia needed to head back to Boise. Immediately.
She disconnected the call and looked around the table. “I’ll have to take a rain check on the shopping, Frank. I completely forgot I promised a family from our church that I’d take family portraits with them this afternoon. I’ve got to get back to Boise.”
“I can take you,” Ransom volunteered as he cut off a bite of ham.
All eyes shifted to him. He shrugged his shoulders and grinned. “What? I’m heading through Boise this morning anyway. It’s not a big deal and I kind of owe Celia for past transgressions.”
“If you’re sure you don’t mind, Ransom, I’d appreciate the ride.” Disappointment washed over her. She wanted Kash to take her home, to spend the two-hour drive with him, but it didn’t make sense for him to drive her when Ransom was already driving almost past her door.
“I don’t mind. It will give me time to fill you in on all the stupid things my brother did as a kid. You won’t believe some of the stunts he pulled. Why, one time…”
“I’ll take her home,” Kash growled, shooting Ransom a cool glare.
“Oh, let your brother drive her, Kash. It might be good for her to hear about some of your youthful adventures that you won’t ever get around to sharing.” Frank smiled at Celia. “He wasn’t always the upstanding citizen you see today.”
Celia laughed and finished her breakfast, wishing she didn’t have to go, wanting Kash to ask her to stay.
Frank volunteered to do the dishes while Celia went upstairs to pack. She stripped the bed and gathered the towels from the bathroom, carrying them down to the laundry room. After she stuffed the sheets inside the washing machine and turned it on, she hurried back to the guest room and finished packing her suitcase.
At the top of the stairs, she debated if it would roll down the steps or she’d have to carry it. Suddenly, Kash appeared beside her and lifted it in one hand then held the other out to her.
Meshing their fingers together, they walked down the stairs and Kash carried her suitcase out to Ransom’s car. Celia gathered her camera equipment and outerwear from the hall closet.
Frank ambled down the hall as she finished buttoning her coat. He wrapped her in a big hug. “It was a pure pleasure to have you stay with us, honey. Thank you for bringing Christmas to our house.”
“Thank you for your hospitality and taking such good care of me while I was sick. And it was my pleasure to help deck the halls.” She glanced back into the living room with the towering tree, decorations placed around the room, and the garland of bells draped across the mantle. It appeared festive and cheerful without taking away from the masculine, western atmosphere of the room.
“You come back anytime, Celia. Your room will be ready and waiting.” Frank kissed her cheek then hefted her camera bags and carried them out to the car.
Kash returned, stamping snow from his boots. He took one look at her and opened his arms. She rushed into them and buried her face against the canvas of his coat. A deep breath filled her nose with a scent redolent of snowfall and winter fires, mingled with leather and fresh air.
“I don’t want to leave, Kash.”
“I don’t want you to go. If I get down on my knees and beg, would you stay?” He pressed kisses into her hair.
A sigh escaped her and she tipped her head back to look at him. “You know I would if I could. It’s been wonderful to pretend I belong here, but it’s time for me to go back to reality.” She smoothed her hand along his cheek, already rough with stubble although she knew he’d shaved last night. “I kind of hoped when the time came, you’d take me home, but this will save you a trip.”
“I don’t care about that. Just say the word and I’ll go warm up my truck.”
“No. A busy day is ahead of you. You’ve already spent far too much of your time in the house taking care of me. I appreciate everything you’ve done, Kash. You’ve been such a good friend.”
“You make it sound like you’re never going to see me again. If you don’t have any objections, I’ll drive into Boise tomorrow. Maybe we can catch a movie, do a little Christmas shopping, or just hang out. I’ll bring along all the stuff we cleaned out of your pickup.”
“I’d like that. Come anytime tomorrow. If you get there in the morning, you can join us for church.”
Kash kissed her forehead and her nose. “I’ll see how early I can get away. As soon as I’m ready to hit the road, I’ll let you know.” He slid one hand beneath her hair to the back of her neck while his gaze melted into hers. “I love you, Red.”
“And I love you, handsome. Kiss me goodbye before your dad and brother come to see what’s taking us so long.”
Celia didn’t know how one kiss could leave her so thoroughly discombobulated, but it did. When Ransom opened the door and stuck his head inside, her breath puffed out in little gasps and her equilibrium hadn’t yet returned.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
Unable to speak, Celia nodded her head, although she wanted to hold onto Kash forever.
He ignored his brother’s impatient prompting and gave Celia one more kiss that erased every thought from her mind except the good-lookin
g cowboy holding her in his strong arms.
Finally, he released her. She took a step back and did her best to gather her wits enough to walk outside to Ransom’s car.
“You go on outside, baby. I’ll be right there.” Kash nudged her out the door then glared at his brother. “If you so much as harm one hair on her head, I will hunt you down like a rabid raccoon. Understood?”
Ransom grinned and slapped Kash on the back. “You don’t have to worry, bro. I’m truly sorry for what I did to Celia, and to you. I promise to get her home in one piece, with a smile on her face.”
“I’m counting on it, Ransom.” Unexpectedly, Kash turned and gave his brother a bear hug. “Be careful and have a good trip.”
“I will. Thanks, Kash.” Ransom rushed outside and around his car while Frank hugged Celia again. Kash gave her a hug, crushing her to his chest as he kissed her temple and whispered words of love in her ear.
“Call me as soon as you get home.” He opened the passenger door and helped her inside.
“I will. I promise.” Celia squeezed his hand, fighting to keep the tears burning her eyes from spilling over her cheeks.
Kash shut the door and stepped back before he yanked it open and pulled her out of the car, refusing to let her out of his sight.
She blew him a kiss as Ransom started down the driveway. Kash caught it and made a show of slipping it into his pocket, to save for later.
His dad, along with the crew who’d come out to bid her farewell, sent him looks that attested to his pathetic state.
“Are you gonna marry that girl or not?” Frank asked.
“I’m working out the logistics, Dad. Besides, we’ve hardly spent any time together.” Kash walked with his father back up the porch steps.
Frank disdainfully snorted at him. “You’ve spent enough time with her to know she’s the one and you love her so much it fries your brain and makes your heart hurt. What else is there to know?”
Kash sighed. “If she feels the same way I do.”
Celia wanted to take her dad’s rifle and shoot every bull Kash owned. Well, maybe not Wild Willie, but the rest of them she would happily turn into hamburger.
Capturing Christmas Page 26
