by Em Petrova
“Shh.” He leaned in and claimed her mouth. The full lips under his were capable of mass destruction—of his heart. His eyes drifted shut as he pressed more firmly, raising a small moan from her.
Oh God, this wasn’t going to go well for him. He liked her far too much and she’d be leaving after the holidays. But it didn’t matter. Case wasn’t about to let this moment slip by.
As he angled his head to deepen the kiss, she rested a hand on his chest. Did she feel his heart pounding? Was hers pounding just as hard?
He eased his tongue out and probed the seam of her lips. Tasting sweetness like he’d never known. Aunt Maggie’s award-winning peach pie had nothing on Annabelle.
With a groan, he anchored her to him, a palm stretched across her back. She parted her lips on a gasp, and he flicked his tongue over hers like a question.
Will you?
Another moan slipped from her, and he couldn’t hold back anymore. He tugged her flush against his body and kissed her like he’d wanted to since the first moment he set eyes on her.
Long sweeps of his tongue through her sweet mouth, tasting an unbridled passion he’d only seen glimpses of. But the way she threw herself into everything she did told him there was much more to this woman.
* * * * *
Annabelle’s body was full of liquid fire. She felt herself melting against Case with each flick of his tongue. Low in her belly, a tingling sensation spread through her. She squeezed her thighs together and opened her mouth wider to accept the invasion of his tongue.
Sweet Lord, he tasted so good. Better than she’d ever imagined those times she’d found herself staring too long at his hard, full lips.
And his hands on her… Damn, he hadn’t done more than touch the small of her back and waist and she was ready to tear off her clothes and beg him for more.
She brought her hand up to cup his cheek. The stubble under her palm pulled a shocked gasp from her lips. Each flip of his tongue was sending her shooting toward the big night sky of Texas hanging over the ranch, spangled with a million stars.
Inside, the strains of children practicing their hymns for the church play reached her, but all she knew at this moment was Case Dalton.
He slowed the kiss, lips probingly soft, making her dream of so much more with this man. Of how gentle he’d be as a lover, though perfectly rough when passion called for it.
A shiver ran through her.
He pulled away slowly and searched her eyes. His were dark glittering gems in the dim lighting of the porch. She rasped her thumb over his jawline.
“Been wantin’ to do that all day.”
A breath trickled from her lips. He’d been thinking of kissing her all the time she’d felt like an annoying pain in the rump, taking forever to choose gifts for his family?
This was all silliness—she was caught up in the magic of the holiday and enveloped by warm fuzzy feelings of family. Case was an extension of that.
But if she was honest with herself—he’d been the one to offer the most welcome. Charlotte was great and they’d shared some good chats so far, but she couldn’t deny Case had welcomed her so completely, made her feel a part of it all.
“Case…”
He dragged the pad of his thumb over her lower lip, tugging the skin lightly. “Shh. I can see you’re overthinking this. It’s a stolen kiss. I’m not putting demands on your time, okay?”
What if she wanted him to?
Jeez, she was in worse shape than she’d thought.
She started to speak and a creak on the other side of the door made her jump away from Case. Cold air gathered around her, and she wrapped her arms around herself. Behind him, the door opened, and they pivoted to see his cousin Witt standing there.
Witt cleared his throat. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt anythin’.”
“You’re not,” Case said smoothly.
“Goin’ out to the barn to hitch the team to the wagon. Sleigh ride time, Texas-style,” he said with a grin toward Annabelle.
She smiled back, aware that she was standing in a puddle of warm yellow light from the mudroom and Witt could clearly see her features. She couldn’t look like she’d just been confused as hell by Case’s kisses.
“I’ll help out.” Case threw Annabelle a meaningful look. In her dazzled eyes, it said I’m not finished kissing you.
But no, she couldn’t let it happen again.
Could she?
The only thing stopping her from throwing herself at the hunky cowboy family man was that she lived in another state and wouldn’t see him again, at least not anytime soon.
Witt moved off the porch and took the steps in two long strides. With his back to them, Case grabbed Annabelle’s arm and tugged her near. His warm breath washed across her lips, and she was helpless against the need rising inside her again. She wanted to jump into his arms and kiss him all night and long into the morning.
“I’ll see you on the wagon?” he asked, low.
Unable to think straight, she nodded.
A crooked grin cut a path across his cheek, and his eyes glowed. She swallowed a hiccup of excitement, unable to stop her own smile.
She watched him follow Witt and seconds later, the ruckus in the mudroom had her thrown into the swirl of activity again. She went inside to help the little ones get on their boots and coats, while the parents grabbed blankets and hats.
She pulled her coat off the peg, and seeing Case’s Carhartt next to it, she grabbed it down too. He’d forgotten it and would need it against the chill air. Though he was tough enough to withstand the cold, and she swore he had his own furnace inside his body. In his arms, she’d felt so warm.
With his heavy jacket draped over her arm, she started out the door. Charlotte caught her eye and looked down at the coat.
“Case forgot it,” she said lamely.
“How nice of you to grab it for him. C’mon. You can sit by me and we can talk. This is a Christmas tradition on the ranch, and you’re going to love it. It’s one of my favorites!”
When they got outside, everybody gathered at the base of the steps waiting for the wagon to pull up. As it came through the darkness, jangling with bells and draped in greenery, she could see why everybody was so excited. It was pure magic.
The wagon was actually a hay cart, and six horses were hitched to it instead of a tractor. She imagined it would be a nicer ride than sucking down diesel fumes. The inside of the cart was lined with bales of hay for people to sit on, and she took her place next to Charlotte. Charlotte’s little girl, who’d been sick just a day or so ago, came to curl up on her momma’s lap.
Witt had gone off to hitch the team to the wagon, but he jumped in the back with his wife and children while Case took the reins.
Annabelle’s breath stuttered as she set eyes on his strong back and muscular shoulders. He twisted to toss a grin at them over his shoulder. “All aboaaaaarrrrd the Dalton Express! Remember, kids, keep your eyes to the skies because you just might see Santa’s reindeer practicing their Christmas Eve run!”
Annabelle laughed as all the children craned their necks, eyes fixed in wonder on the starry sky.
“I think that’s Rudolph!” one kid squealed, pointing to a blinking airplane light moving rapidly across the sky.
“Hold on tight,” Case called, and the wagon lurched forward in his capable hands.
She folded her hands in her lap and snuggled into her coat. She realized suddenly that Case’s jacket was still draped over her knees—she’d forgotten to give it to him.
A glance at him showed he didn’t appear to be bothered by the cold. Yes, he had to have his own personal furnace burning inside him. She wished she could snuggle up next to him on that bench behind the team and talk quietly together as they drove all over the ranch.
“You forgot to give that to Case.” Charlotte eyed her.
“Don’t look at me that way. Innocent mistake.”
“What way am I looking at you?”
“Like you think
I just wanted to cuddle with Case’s jacket,” she whispered.
Lacey reached out a chubby hand, and Annabelle wrapped it in her own, smiling down at the child lying across her mother’s lap.
“I’m glad she’s feeling better,” Annabelle said, changing the subject.
Charlotte didn’t look ready to let go of the question of Case, but she rolled with the conversation. “Yes, she had a really good night’s sleep. I think the antibiotics are working already.”
Keeping the child’s hand in her own, Annabelle looked out on the ranch. Fields lying quiet, silver in the moonlight. Cattle stood in small clumps, and in the far corner of one field was a wooden shelter like a big manger. The fence that ran for miles was completely familiar to her since walking it with Case.
Her gaze drifted to him again. She wished she could see his hands with the reins wrapped around them, the tendons of his forearms flexing. Each place he’d laid his hands on her body, she still felt his touch. Surely, that wasn’t just part of Christmas magic in Paradise Valley, was it?
Charlotte caught her looking and gave a knowing smile.
Annabelle elbowed her lightly in the ribs. “Stop that.”
“Stop what? He’s good-looking. Admit it. These Dalton men all are. Though Hank’s the best.”
At her side, Hank was deep in conversation with Beck, talking about ranch work and cattle auctions, oblivious to his wife’s praise. Though the couple looked happy enough that Annabelle was sure he knew what his wife thought of him.
When Annabelle didn’t respond, Charlotte pushed on. “What were you doing on the porch?”
Giving her the side-eye, she said, “Just talking about the gifts we’d bought and where he hid them when we got home.”
“Ah.” Charlotte didn’t believe her, and no wonder. Annabelle was a terrible liar.
“Momma, I’m tired.” Lacey’s eyelids were dipping low. The jostling of the wagon was lulling her to sleep.
Looking around, Annabelle saw other children already passed out in the arms of their mothers. Mr. and Mrs. Dalton were huddled together, a thick blanket draped around them, enclosing them in a private cocoon. How they must feel to look around themselves and see what they’d created—the big family, the happiness. The future.
What did Annabelle have going back in Illinois? She didn’t see anything like this for herself. The thought left her melancholy as they rode over the ranch. At Hank and Charlotte’s house, her friend got off the wagon with the heavy sleeping child draped over her shoulder.
“We’ll talk more about the porch tomorrow. I’m going to put her to bed,” Charlotte said as she left.
Hank asked his wife if she wanted him to come along with the other children, and she waved a hand. “Enjoy yourselves. I’ll see you in a while.”
With the space next to Annabelle empty, she imagined Case there. What would they talk about?
He drove along, passing Witt’s and Cash’s homes. Then at Kade’s, they stopped and everybody piled out.
Kade and his stunning redheaded wife Ryan ran into the house and came out with jugs of apple cider and a package of plastic cups, along with a big plastic tub of Christmas cookies. Everybody got their snack, which energized the kids again with a dose of sugar. Case didn’t dismount from the team, and Annabelle trembled a little as she approached him with a cup of cider and two cookies in her palm.
When she neared, his faraway expression faded and he pinned her in his gaze. “What’s this?”
She handed him the cup and cookies. “I thought the driver could use some refreshment as well.”
“I appreciate it.” As he accepted the cup, he stroked his thumb over the backs of her fingers. White heat slithered down between her thighs and her stomach knotted.
He brought a cookie to his lips and stopped. “You have my coat.”
Realizing she’d draped it over her shoulder, she pulled it down into her arms, loving the musky smell of the owner on it. “I thought you might need it, but I forgot to give it to you before the wagon started moving.”
“You’re so damn sweet, Annabelle.” His words were laced with more than gratitude.
Their gazes locked and both of them forgot the cookies in their hands. She didn’t realize how long they stared at each other, but soon everybody was climbing back into the wagon and they were left holding full cups and uneaten cookies.
Case shoved both in his mouth and gulped the cider. She took the cup from him and watched him shrug into his coat before swallowing her own goodies and getting back into her spot on the wagon.
“This is a mighty quiet ride tonight. I think we’d better sing some Christmas carols, let Santa know we’re ready for him. What do you say, kids?” Case called back.
“Yeahhhh!” a chorus of cheers went up from the little ones.
Case started off a rendition of Jingle Bells, so off-key that the hairs on Annabelle’s forearms stood on end. She found herself giggling through the lyrics and liking the cowboy even more.
Oh yeah, she was driving into dangerous territory. Nobody had warned her that Paradise Valley at Christmastime would mean finding the perfect man she couldn’t have.
Chapter Five
Case had a few hours before afternoon chores, and he slipped back into the house unnoticed to grab a shower. He wanted to ask Annabelle to help him wrap his gifts, and he doubted she’d do it with him smelling like a barn.
Since the wagon ride, he hadn’t seen her. She’d gotten caught up in helping the kids gather their things and load them into their respective vehicles to go home. By the time he’d unhitched the team and treated the horses, her bedroom door was already closed.
He hoped she wasn’t avoiding him after their kiss. Or kisses. It was all he’d thought about. Too many hours lying awake wondering what it would be like to have her in his bed, her sweet body underneath his.
He’d restrained himself the best he could so far, but he was about through with pretending he didn’t want her.
After dressing in clean clothes, he went to find her. But the kitchen was empty with only a cookie jar in the middle of the table. He grabbed a handful of oatmeal raisin cookies and searched the rest of the house. Nobody was around.
Then he heard a clunk from upstairs. Since Aunt Maggie and Uncle Ted’s bedroom was downstairs, it could only mean Annabelle was up there.
He dropped the cookies to the table to eat later and ran back upstairs.
With a pounding heart, he knocked on her door.
Picturing her in only a bra and panties, preparing to dress. Those ripe curves ready to fill his hands and—
“Come in.”
His need was bulging the front of his jeans as he opened the door and peeked in.
Annabelle’s eyes widened at sight of him and a flush crept up her throat. “Case.”
She sat in the center of a mess of wrapping paper and ribbons, bags of gifts spread around her.
“I see you found my stash.”
She giggled. “Mrs. Dalton showed me where you put everything. I would have asked you, but you were out working.”
He nodded and stepped into the room. The plush carpet under his socks felt as soft as a cloud. Easy to lay her back on the floor and claim her.
He shook himself. “I’m glad I found you wrapping presents because I came to ask a favor.”
She arched a brow. Sitting cross-legged, her hair in a thick braid over one shoulder, wearing slim jeans and a red sweater, she couldn’t look more beautiful. “You wanted me to wrap your gifts too?”
“Nope. I’m a man who finishes things I start.”
That statement fell between them, leaving her silent.
“I mean, I’d like to wrap my own gifts. With your help, if you don’t mind.”
He’d also like to finish what they’d started on the porch, taking those kisses to a whole other level.
“Oh.” Was that disappointment in her tone or relief? He studied her pink cheeks and bright eyes. “Of course I’ll help you.” She pushed to her fe
et and Case couldn’t keep his gaze off her soft body if he tried. He licked over each curve—hips, waist, breasts—up to her face.
They’d been dancing around each other since she’d come to Paradise Valley, like stallion and mare chasing each other in the field. Eventually, they’d come together with a clash. Or she’d run off before he got a chance.
His swallowed hard around the rising knot in his throat. “I’ll just grab the gifts.”
“I’ll help.”
They went to the other bedroom closet, where he’d stowed all the bags after their shopping trip. He left one bag in the closet and took the rest. She carried a few too and they made their way back to her bedroom.
Seated across from her with way too much cushiony carpet between them for his liking, he said, “Let’s work on yours first.”
“All right.”
Watching her cut a sheet of paper off the roll and the nimble way her fingers worked over creating the folds only made his body tense. He wanted her, without a doubt. But not in a one-night sort of way. She’d gotten into his system in a very short time. Things like that didn’t happen, did they?
He recalled how some of his cousins had met their wives and known right off that they were destined for more. Though that didn’t happen often, and definitely wouldn’t happen to Case. Would it?
Annabelle’s braid swayed against her shoulder. He clenched his fingers to avoid touching that thick bundle of hair and drawing her head back to kiss her. God, he could still taste her. Had barely wanted to eat today and wash away those flavors.
She finished two packages and wrote out gift tags for them before he realized he was just sitting there watching her.
He reached for a roll of paper and stretched it out. The sheet was short and the roll empty. He did what any grown man with the heart of a twelve-year-old boy would and smacked her over the head with the empty tube.
Her mouth fell open on an O of surprise and she lunged for him. She wrested the tube from his hand and struck him in the ear. His eardrum echoed with the thwap, and laughter boomed from him.
“You’re in for it.” He grabbed a full roll and in one exaggerated flip of his arm, sent the paper sprawling over the carpet and leaving him with an empty tube.
