The Christmas Cowboy Hero

by Donna Grant

“I certainly don’t.”

  “Then we’d be delighted to stay.”

  The smile he flashed her could’ve lit up a room. He replaced his hat and bowed his head. “I’ll let her know. Is there anything you need?”

  Why was the first response that sprang to mind “you?”

  It was all Caleb’s fault. If he hadn’t told her about Clayton staring at her the night before, she wouldn’t be a nervous wreck around him. Now, she was very aware of him.

  Actually, that was a lie. She’d been aware of him from the moment she realized he was in that room with her at the sheriff’s station.

  Clayton’s raised brow reminded her that she hadn’t answered him. She jerked, embarrassed to find herself gawking at him. But, my God, the man was so damn gorgeous he was lickable.

  And that made her think of tangled limbs, sighs of contentment, and moans of pleasure. Her body heated instantly, while her sex clenched.

  “I’m fine,” she finally said.

  But it came out like a needy whisper.

  Damn her body for revealing what she was trying so desperately to keep hidden from everyone—including herself. She was lonely. Extremely so.

  To have someone hold her, comfort her, was something she dreamed about every night. She didn’t remember what it felt like to have a man’s arms around her, much less the taste and feel of a kiss.

  Was kissing like riding a bike? Would she remember how to do it? Or would she need to relearn all over again? The thought made her groan inwardly.

  She was pathetic. On an epic scale.

  “I should get to work,” she said and turned to the desk.

  She walked to the chair and soon realized that Clayton had moved with her. Her head lifted as she met his gaze. He was standing so close, she could lean to the side and rub her shoulder against him. And it was such a tempting thought.

  “Let me move this out of your way,” he said.

  Abby looked down to see him reaching for a stack of papers. And here she thought he’d wanted to be beside her. She quickly moved out of the way, her embarrassment growing by the second.

  “You’ve worked a long day,” Clayton said. “Maybe it’s too much asking you to come every night.”

  She shook her head, forcing a smile. “It’s not that, but thank you all the same. I want to do this for you and your family.”

  “Because you feel like you owe me?”

  He wore a smile, but she couldn’t help but suspect there was more to his words than he let on. “There is that, yes. It’s also nice to test myself and put what I know from work and what I’m learning in college into action. I’m making lots of notes for you to then take to the next CPA you hire.”

  “Right. Another CPA.” Clayton glanced away and blew out a breath. “I’m not in a hurry to do that after what happened with Gilroy.”

  “But I’m not licensed. I don’t even have my degree. This is the kind of work I do every day, but my boss, the CPA, looks over things after me to make sure I caught everything.”

  Clayton’s head cocked to the side. “You mean you do her work and she takes credit for it?”

  “Well … yeah. She’s the one with the degree and certification.”

  He grunted, which could mean anything. She didn’t know him well enough to understand all his intricacies. But she wished she did.

  “You should have your degree,” he said.

  She shrugged, trying to look as nonchalant as possibly. “I wish I did, but I’m making do. I’ll get there eventually.”

  “I’ve no doubt.”

  He held her gaze for a long minute before he tipped his hat to her, said her name in a low murmur, and walked out.

  A shiver went through her. The man was perfection.

  “Damn,” she whispered.

  He reminded her of a placid tiger who watched everything with belied interest. But if anyone stirred the animal, then there would be a lethal show of force.

  Abby sat and managed to focus her mind on the books. She’d only been studying them for half an hour before there was a knock on the open door. She looked up to find Justine.

  “Hi,” Abby said, waving her inside. “I should’ve come to say hello, but Clayton led me straight here.”

  Justine smiled and set a mug of hot chocolate near her. “He is very bossy. He gets it from his father.”

  Abby chuckled. “I want to thank you for the dinner invitation again, but you don’t need to do that.”

  “Why not?” Justine asked. “You’re here, your brothers are here, and it’ll be dinner time when they finish their chores. I have to cook for my two men anyway so there will be plenty of food. This way, you don’t have to worry about cooking after working all day and then coming here to work some more.”

  Abby had a feeling that there weren’t many arguments that Justine lost. “We appreciate it. And if there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”

  “Sweetheart, you’re doing it already,” Justine said with a smile. “And, I confess, I’m almost glad all this happened. I’m not happy that my husband was hospitalized, but it’s made him slow down. It brought my son home, and it’s brought you and your brothers here.”

  Unable to help herself, Abby asked, “Where was Clayton?”

  “South Africa.” Justine sighed and walked to the sofa. She sat and crossed one leg over the other. “Clayton fought for his country. Although he won’t tell me much of anything about it, I’ve read enough in the news and seen movies to know that, as a SEAL, he did some dangerous things.”

  Abby was so shocked, she barely found the words to ask, “He’s a SEAL?”

  “Was. He resigned from the Navy after many tours. Hell, I don’t even know all the places he was stationed. I just know that somehow, my son survived. And when we thought he’d return home, he chose instead to take a job guarding wildlife in South Africa.” Justine paused, her eyes filling up with tears. “The day we lost Landon, we lost Clayton in another way entirely.”

  Abby rose and walked to Justine. She took the older woman’s hands in her own. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Clayton didn’t smile for the first three days he was here. Then you arrived. He’s different around you. Almost the way he used to be.”

  Abby wasn’t sure what to say to that declaration. “I haven’t done anything.”

  “That’s the blessing, my dear. It’s not what you’ve done or said. It’s you. All you.”

  Chapter 13

  The haunting, gentle melody of the fiddle in the distance filled the air. How many times had Clayton sat on the back porch and listened to the ranch hands playing after dinner?

  “It’s beautiful. But sad.”

  He turned his head at the sound of Abby’s voice as she walked from the house. “Haven’t you heard? All country songs are sad. Even when they’re upbeat.”

  She grinned and moved to stand beside him with her hands in her coat pockets. “I suppose you’re right. Do they always play?”

  “Nearly every night.”

  “How many live on the ranch?”

  He shrugged and looped a thumb through his belt loop. “Only a handful now. Most have families they return to. Those who stay are the ones who are divorced or never got married.”

  “And Shane?” she asked.

  “Never married.” Clayton looked into the distance. “That’s him playing.”

  She was silent for a long while as she listened to the music. “He seems like a nice guy.”

  “One of the best. It’s not right that he’s alone.”

  Abby turned to lean back against one of the columns to face him. “You can’t say that and leave me hanging,” she replied with a quick grin.

  Clayton chuckled softly. “No, I don’t suppose I can.” He ran a hand over his jaw. “Shane fell in love once. Hell, I bet he’s still in love with Irene.”

  “Why didn’t they marry?”

  “She was already married. To his brother.”

  Abby’s face paled. “Oh, God.”

  Cla
yton nodded slowly. “She wanted to leave Shane’s brother, Paul, but Shane wouldn’t have it. Paul was madly in love with Irene, as well, and Shane didn’t want to come between them.”

  “So they’re still together?”

  “That’s how it should’ve ended. But she couldn’t let go of Shane. It wasn’t long before Paul discovered what was going on, and he confronted Shane right here on the ranch.”

  Abby’s blue eyes widened. “You saw it?”

  “All of it. Shane was trying to tell his brother he hadn’t touched her, but Paul was beyond listening to reason. It didn’t help that Irene had run away from Paul and come here to Shane. There was a fight, which was bad enough, but Paul also brought a gun. He got the upper hand because Shane wouldn’t defend himself. Then Paul went to shoot Shane. Instead, Irene stepped between them and took the bullet. She died in Shane’s arms. That was twenty years ago. Shane and Paul haven’t spoken since.”

  “That’s so tragic.”

  “I don’t think Shane has ever recovered from it.”

  Abby looked toward the bunkhouse where the music came from. “I don’t think many people would.”

  Clayton glanced behind him through the wall of windows to see his mother in the kitchen. “Mom has tried to set Shane up multiple times. She thinks he should find someone and be happy.”

  “I agree with her. Don’t you?”

  “I do, actually.” At Abby’s raised brows, Clayton found himself grinning. “Did I surprise you?”

  She laughed and nodded. “You did. I was expecting you to say something like ‘perhaps the past won’t let go of Shane.’”

  Clayton knew for a fact that the past never let go, but he didn’t tell her that. Abby had her own worries. There was no need to drag her into the mire with his.

  “Did you make a lot of headway tonight with the books?” he asked, wanting to change the subject.

  She wrinkled her nose as she lifted her shoulders to her ears. “I wish I could say yes, but your mom came into the office.”

  “No need to say more,” he interrupted her. “Mom loves to talk.”

  “We had a nice chat until she went to cook dinner. I did get to work some then. I’m sorry it’s taking so long.”

  He wasn’t. The longer it took her, the more he got to see her. He probably shouldn’t ask her to come every day so she could rest, but Clayton couldn’t quite get the words out. “Don’t think twice about it.”

  “I’ll work harder this weekend.”

  He grinned in response because he didn’t intend to let her work all weekend. But there was no need to tell her that. Abby would just argue.

  “Walk with me?” he said as he stepped down from the porch. He held her gaze, silently daring her to find a reason to object.

  To his surprise, she said, “Okay.”

  He waited until she stepped from the porch, and then they leisurely strolled the grounds in comfortable silence. They stopped beside a paddock and watched some yearlings that were being sold to fill other rancher’s stock.

  “Your mom told me you were working in South Africa before you returned,” Abby said. “Do you plan to go back?”

  If she’d asked him three days ago, his answer would’ve been a firm yes. Now, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. “The longer I’m here, the more I remember how much I love this place.”

  “Then maybe you’re meant to stay,” she said, looking up at him.

  “Maybe.”

  She tucked her hair behind her ear and swallowed. “I might be out of line for saying this, but you look as if you belong here.”

  He shot her a smile and motioned for her to follow him into one of the barns. Clayton took her back to the white mare she’d petted the day before. He’d seen the way Abby had connected with the animal, and he wanted to build on that bond.

  As soon as Abby saw the mare, the smile that pulled at her lips displayed her joy. She oohed and ahhed over the horse.

  “Her name is Diamond.”

  “Diamond,” Abby repeated as she stroked the horse’s neck. “It fits you.”

  The mare had fallen for Abby almost immediately, and Clayton could understand why. There was something about the woman that drew people and animals. She was quiet and unassuming. He suspected that might be because so many people overlooked her. That was their loss because there was so much about Abby that was intriguing.

  “You’re staring,” she said as she cut her eyes to him.

  Clayton lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I like what I see.”

  She paused in her caress of the mare. Then she took a step back, and then another and another before she turned and walked away.

  He frowned as anger spiked through him. He’d moved too fast. Abby was like a spooked mare. He should’ve trodden slowly. Earned her trust first.

  When Abby reached the back of the barn, she stopped and looked at him over her shoulder. It was the seductive curve of her lips that halted his thoughts. As soon as she turned the corner, he started after her.

  His blood rushed through him in a frenzy before pooling in his cock. With his heart beating furiously, he found her leaning back against the barn.

  Clayton stood before her. His palms ached to feel her skin, to hold her glorious curves against him. He couldn’t seem to catch his breath, and as he took a step closer to her, he realized that it had been years since he’d hungered to kiss anyone as he did Abby.

  Her lips parted, drawing his attention to her mouth. The longing he’d suppressed for days consumed him. He took the final step that brought their bodies close. The soft light from over the barn couldn’t reach them in the shadows.

  He held her gaze and put a hand on her waist before slowly pulling her against him. Her palms landed on his upper arms. Then she lifted her face to him. That was all it took to push him over the edge.

  Clayton lowered his head, her eyes drifting shut right before their lips met. He softly plied her mouth with light kisses until her hands moved up his arms and twined around his neck. When she sighed, he slid his tongue against her lips.

  As her mouth opened, and their tongues met, need coursed through him. The desire, the yearning to have her seized him, overwhelmed him as the kiss deepened. He wound one hand into her long hair while his other splayed over her back. With each lick, each sigh, each moan, the hunger grew. Without a doubt, he had to have her. Not because he was in need, but because he ached for her.

  But now wasn’t the time. He wouldn’t have their first time together be against the back of the barn in the shadows so no one saw them. He wasn’t ashamed of Abby, and he wanted her to know that. He cared about her.

  That in and of itself shocked him, but he accepted it. What choice did he have, really?

  Clayton knew he had to end the kiss now before he was past the point of no return. Already he was circling down that drain. He forced himself to pull back. Then he saw her heavy-lidded eyes and the way her chest heaved.

  He ran his thumb over her swollen lips and briefly thought of picking her up and riding somewhere where no one could find them. Luckily, there was enough sanity left in him that he was able to keep dominion over his desire.

  “Why did you stop?” she asked.

  He was glad she didn’t know how easily she could’ve broken through his restraint by simply pulling his head down for another kiss. That was all it would’ve taken. He wanted her so badly he shook with it.

  “I’m already walking a tightrope, Abby,” he confessed. “If I keep kissing you, I won’t stop.”

  “I don’t want you to stop.”

  He groaned at her husky words. If he wanted to stay in control, he had to reason with her, and he knew just the thing to say.

  “You don’t want your brothers finding us, do you?”

  Just as he expected, it was as if she were doused with cold water. “Or your parents.”

  He forced a smile even as he missed the sexy woman who had been begging for more kisses a moment before. But he’d find her again soon enough. “Exactl
y.”

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve kissed anyone.”

  “Their loss. My gain.” And damn if he didn’t feel male pride at having her in his arms.

  She glanced at the ground as she smiled. Then her gaze met his as she pulled her hands down to rest on his chest. “Be careful, Clayton East, I might realize you’re a good guy.”

  “I can promise you that I’m not.”

  Her grin widened. “You’re wrong.”

  He drew in a breath and took a step back, separating their bodies. There were no more words needed as they began their walk back to the house. No sooner had they reached the porch than her brothers opened the back door to look for her.

  “I’m so full my stomach hurts,” Caleb said, looking a bit green.

  Brice rolled his eyes. “You shouldn’t have eaten that slice of cake after the pie and the four cookies.”

  “Caleb,” Abby admonished with a roll of her eyes.

  Her youngest brother put one hand over his stomach as he raised the other, palm out. “Give me five minutes, and I can eat the ice cream Mrs. Justine offered.”

  “Oh, no you’re not,” Abby said. “You’ve had more than enough.”

  Caleb’s face crumbled in a frown. “Abby, that’s not fair. Brice ate just as much as I did. And he had the ice cream.”

  Clayton hid his smile as Abby swung her perturbed gaze to Brice.

  The teen merely grinned and shrugged. “What? I can hold my food better.”

  “Oh, my God, you two,” Abby mumbled. “Grab your coats. We need to get going.”

  When the boys went back into the house, Clayton grabbed her hand before she could follow them. Abby turned to him. As her big blue eyes met his, he grinned.

  She gave him a wink in return. He reluctantly released her hand as they entered the house. There was a round of good-byes with his parents before he walked her to the door.

  Right before she closed the car door, he said, “Be careful.”

  “Always,” she replied.

  Chapter 14

  Kissing had never felt so good before. Abby looked at her lips in the bathroom mirror at work. Or maybe it was that it had been more years than she wanted to think about since her last kiss.