A Christmas Cowboy to Keep

by Hebby Roman

  For starters she had no idea if there were any rules against friends or family buying the auctioned off steer. She doubted it, but refused to chance losing George. Secondly, she didn’t want to have to explain her actions to Cole. He obviously felt much differently than she did.

  She refrained from stopping and childishly stuck her tongue out instead as she passed his ranch. Tomorrow, would be another thing entirely. She may be begging Cole to take the animal.

  A few more miles and she’d reached her house. Coasting down the long drive she was reminded there’d be no one to welcome her home and how lonely the house seemed with only her there. A fleeting thought to run somewhere new, possibly back to Billings where Laney was, overcame her, but she somehow managed to cast the notion aside.

  A thickness formed in her throat, promising the onset of tears. Her eyes blurred, hazing the landscape with obscure lines. What the hell was wrong with her? She rarely felt sorry for herself. Frustrated, she brushed away the tears with the back of her hand. Tomorrow would change everything. At least then she’d have something to come home to.

  Even if it was a thirteen hundred pound steer.

  Kristen’s phone rang, interrupting her thoughts with a j0lly holiday tune. She reached over to her purse, fumbling through the large bag until her fingers grazed the compact hand held device. Pulling the phone free, she glanced at the screen. A picture of her sister stared back at her.

  Kristen bit her bottom lip, debating whether or not to answer the call. Things had been tense between the two of them since she’d left Billings. However, the move had been necessary. She couldn’t stomach seeing Laney’s boyfriend continue to break her sister’s heart. And after months of trying to talk Laney into moving back home with her, she’d finally given up on the losing battle.

  “Merry Christmas,” she answered, a little too joyfully in hopes of not starting another fight. A long pause startled her. Before she could question her sister’s silence, Laney finally spoke, saying the words Kristen had been longing to hear.

  “I’m coming home.”

  Chapter Eight

  A loud banging woke Kristen from a deep sleep. She glanced at the small alarm clock on her nightstand. Who would be knocking on her door at 6 a.m.? A familiar voice followed, swiftly solving the mystery.

  “Open up, Kristen. I know you are home.”

  Cole? What the hell was he doing here? Shaking off the dregs of sleep, her thoughts cleared and she remembered the auction. She glanced at the clock again. If Cole was on her porch at this hour, whatever he wanted couldn’t be good.

  Her body tensed and for a moment, she considered staying put. At least until he cooled down. It was far too early to argue.

  Fists thundered on the hard wood again and she came to her senses. She had no reason to hide. She’d done nothing wrong. Kristen jumped out of bed, slipped on the silky robe draped over the footboard, and hurried down the hall.

  Thrusting open the door, she faced the angry cowboy on the other side. “Do you have any idea what time it is? What could you possibly want?”

  His nostrils flared. And her stare was drawn to a pulsing vein at his temple. Curling his lips, he growled through gritted teeth, “Want? How about you tell me what possessed you to buy Chrissy’s steer?”

  Ignoring the harshness of his tone, she opened the door wider in an attempt to peek past him. “Is it here?”

  “No,” his voice lowered to barely a gravel. “Should be any minute though. The auction house likes to get the deliveries done early. Unless you plan on having him sent straight to the slaughter house.”

  “What? No. The only reason I bought George was so he wouldn’t be slaughtered. Consider it an early Christmas gift,” she defended her actions. “It’s not like you left me any other choice. I had to do something. You weren’t going to.” Planting both hands on her hips, she stood her ground. Just who did he think he was anyway? This was his fault. Not hers. He’d been willing to let the steer go to slaughter, far too blind to see how much the animal had meant to his own niece. “It’s a little too late to be a hero now.”

  “A Christmas gift? Hero? Are you kidding? I spent most of my night consoling Chrissy. The only reason I’m here is to take George home.”

  Standing her ground, she fired back. “I was hoping you’d see my point.”

  “I see your point all right. Two of them.” He nodded, roaming the length of her with a heated gaze.

  She glanced down, noting the hardened nubs of her nipples pressing against the silk fabric of her chemise. Suddenly aware of her clothing, or lack of, she clutched the robe closed with one hand while searching for the tie with the other. Not finding the belt, she glanced behind her realizing it must’ve slipped free during her race to answer the door.

  “And just for the record, I had this covered. You were the one who outbid my foreman.”

  She folded her arms across her chest as his words settled in. “Your foreman? What are you talking about?”

  His stare lingered down the length of her, stationing on her bare thighs. “That’s not much better. I’m not going to stand here and have a conversation with you while you’re half-dressed. Plus, it’s freezing. Not that I feel the cold with you dressed like you are.” Strong fingers clamped onto her arm as he nudged her back into the house. Closing the door behind them, he inhaled a deep breath before scalding her with his fiery gaze again. “You have any idea what a get-up like that does to a man?”

  * * *

  After a long night, Cole had finally cooled down enough to confront Kristen without wanting to wring the brunette beauty’s pretty little neck. But when she’d answered the door half dressed, rage quickly fused into another emotion.

  Hands on hips and a defiant tilt of her chin opened the robe and offered a glimpse of silk barely covering her curves. Sable hair mussed from sleep and piercing green eyes added to the assault.

  A strong surge of desire wracked through him and all thoughts of Chrissy and the steer were quickly forgotten. Before he knew it, he’d grasped Kristen’s arm and stepped inside the house.

  Now, she stood with her backside to the door, continuing to challenge him with a rebellious glare. Flattening his palms on the wood, he embraced the outline of her body without touching her. “You don’t have a clue, do you, Kit Kat? You have no idea how sexy you are.”

  Only a few inches of space separated them. He leaned in and her breath quickened. Whispers of warm air tickled his neck with every rise and fall of her chest.

  Though he wanted nothing more than to allow his lust free reign, a part of him held back, knowing how easily the little filly spooked. Especially when it came to him. However, administering the rigid control came at a price. The effort nearly killed him, testing every ounce of restraint he could render.

  Gently, he tilted her chin, trailing the pad of his thumb along the fullness of her bottom lip. She followed his touch with her tongue, wetting her lips in a silent dare. Locking gazes, he noted the same heat in her stare. The strong yearning to kiss her trumped all limits of self-control.

  His mouth met hers. She kissed him with a passion equaling his as an urgent need thrummed through his body, demanding more. He grasped her hips, pulling her closer, and she welcomed the embrace, tangling her arms around his neck, the effort fitting the soft mounds of her breasts into his chest. He slipped his hands under her robe and the heat of her skin scorched his palms despite the silk barrier.

  Cupping a breast, he circled the nipple with the pad of his thumb and was instantly rewarded with a low moan. He continued to tease, kissing a trail down to the hardened nubs until a strangled whimper escaped her lips.

  A loud knock interrupted the heavy petting. Abruptly, he raised his head locking gazes with Kristen, her eyes darkened with desire.

  “Go away,” Cole ordered, returning his mouth the tender part of her neck. Another soft moan escaped Kristen.

  “We have a delivery for Miss Kelly,” a muffled voice replied fr
om the other side.

  “Take the steer to 19557 Canton River Road,” Cole demanded. He continued a trail of kisses to the soft part of her ear lobe and nibbled.

  Another knock, louder and more persistent, rattled the wood. “It’ll cost you. Plus, I need a signature.”

  “You deal with him.” Kristen pressed her palms against his chest. “I’m going to take a shower and get dressed. Then, you can take me to breakfast. I’m famished.” She smiled sweetly.

  Before he had time to argue, she’d already slipped under his arm and was halfway down the hall. Frustrated, he watched as she turned the corner and disappeared with a flounce of her silk robe.

  “Son of a—,” he cursed, feeling as castrated as the steer being delivered.

  Chapter Nine

  After handing over a twenty dollar bill and sending the delivery driver on his way, Cole searched for the kitchen. Why go out when he could just whip up some eggs or something? Besides cooking had a calming effect. And at the moment, he needed as much serenity as he could get.

  He found the small galley kitchen toward the back of the house on the other side of the living room. She didn’t have much food, but a few moments spent foraging in the fridge produced eggs, half a package of bacon, and some freezer-burnt hash browns. He then scoured through the cupboards and came up with a can of Folgers and a frying pan.

  He poured water into the coffee maker, filled it with grounds, and started brewing. Then, he fried the bacon while scrambling up the eggs. By the time Kristen had walked in, the meal was ready.

  “Oh my,” she exclaimed as she entered the room. “You made breakfast?”

  Cole nodded as he piled a large scoop of eggs on her plate. “Yep. I hope you don’t mind. It’s the least I can do for making an ass out of myself about the steer. In a way, I’m thankful you bought him. If you hadn’t, Denny may have been outbid by someone else and I’d be hunting down that person instead of trying like hell to find something in your cupboards to cook. You really should get some groceries.” A playful grin pulled at the corners of his mouth. “Before I forget, this should cover your expenses.” He placed a check beside the plate.

  Kristen glanced down at the payment. “Thanks. I had no idea what I was going to do with George. That being said, I’m impressed. I like a man who can find his way around a kitchen. I like a man who apologizes when he’s wrong even more,” she sassed. Opening a cabinet, Kristen pulled out two mugs, then filled them both with coffee. “I don’t have any cream or milk. Honestly, I’m surprised you found anything to make. I’m not much of a cook. Nor do I have a lot of time for grocery shopping. Your sister keeps me pretty busy at the clinic. And when I’m not there, I’m trying to fix this place up.”

  “I see. Looks like we are going to make a great team. I’m pretty handy around the house.” He cast a pointed glance in her direction.

  “I’m sure you are,” she mumbled under her breath. “Are you ever going to stop teasing me? Or is this just what couples do in your grand scheme of wooing?”

  Cole didn’t answer, but he couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from tugging into a grin. The woman didn’t miss a beat. Just one of the many reasons he found Kristen so appealing. Filling up another plate, he then headed to the table. “I kind of figured you were doing some home improvements. I tripped over a few paint cans in the hallway.”

  “I bet. They’re practically in every room. You should see my office and laundry rooms. So far they are my catch all slash storage rooms. In fact, I have a washer blocking the back door that I need to get rid of.”

  “Maybe you should tend to it first. That’s a fire hazard.”

  “I say theft deterrent. No one can get in the door.”

  “Or out,” he stated poignantly.

  She shrugged. “I’ll get to it. Eventually. I have other things I want to do first. I love fixer uppers, but I might’ve bit off more than I can chew.” She placed one of the mugs in front of Cole before settling in the chair across from him. “I was planning on tackling this room today. I’d like to paint it a warm, buttery yellow I think.”

  “The kitchen is the least of your problems. This house is going to need more than a few coats of paint. I’m not sure why you bought this damn place.”

  “Out of spite,” she confessed. “This used to be my mom and dad’s house. For a short time at least. I never would’ve known they’d moved had I not gotten a flyer in the mail about foreclosed properties.” She shifted in her seat before continuing. “Mom and I got into a big fight and I haven’t heard from them since. It’s a long story. Anyway, the flyer was junk mail I was going to throw out, but a picture of the house caught my eye and as soon as I saw the address, I knew it was my folks’ place. I called the bank immediately. Bought it without a second thought.”

  “A flyer, huh? Any idea who would have sent it?”

  “No. There wasn’t a return address. I’m pretty sure it was one of those mass mailings that get sent out. However, everything else seemed to fall into place easily too. For instance, seeing the help wanted sign outside the clinic then Miranda hiring me on the spot.” She bit her lip, as if considering what he said. “As far as the repairs, I figured there’d be a lot of them. There are a few spots in the flooring that may be weak enough to fall through. And with the way the house creaks, I’ve been wondering if the roof is going to hold through the winter.”

  “I’ve been wondering the same thing. What about your parents? You have any idea where they are?”

  She shook her head, fidgeting under his stare. “I haven’t heard from them in over six months.”

  “That’s a tough blow, but I get it. My dad and I never saw eye to eye about anything. You don’t have to work today?”

  “I’m used to it. This is just what my parents do. They never stay put for long.” Kristen responded with another shake of her head. “And I’m officially off work for the next two weeks. Miranda closed for the holidays. We are on call for emergencies only.”

  “Yeah. She does that every year.”

  “To be honest, I’m thankful for the time off. I can use it to try and get this house in order,” Kristen admitted.

  “You may need more than a couple of weeks.” Cole scoured the room, then took a sip of his coffee. He returned the mug to the table. Grabbing his fork, he filled it with hash brown and ate a large bite. “I’ll take a look around. Maybe there’s something I can fix,” he offered.

  “And?” she questioned, probing him with a skeptical gaze. “What’s the catch?”

  “And nothing.” He shrugged. He took another bite, then swallowed. “I could help. That’s all.”

  She tore the strip of bacon in half and nibbled on it. “I can’t afford to pay you much.”

  “I think you can. I’ll take my payment in kisses.” He waggled his eyebrows up and down. “A dollar a kiss. I should be paid off in no time.”

  The remark turned her cheeks a pretty pink shade. Truth was he simply wanted to spend more time with her. A few kisses here and there would only be icing on the cake. Especially if things got hot and heavy again like before they’d been so rudely interrupted.

  “In fact, now that the George situation is handled, we could start today. I’d like to check out the weak spots in the floor first. I know there’s at least one in the living room.”

  The fine arch of her brow furrowed. “So, does this mean you’re not still steamed about George?” Kristen questioned.

  “No. Maybe a little. You did undermine my plans.”

  She shook her head, then glanced down at her plate. Using the prongs of her fork, she toyed with her food. “I had no idea. I guess you were doing something,” she mumbled as if in deep thought.

  Her reaction caused a pang of guilt. “I wasn’t. Not until you pointed it out,” he admitted. “I had no idea Chrissy was taking it so hard. And then I remembered how I felt when I lost Odie.”

  Raising her head, she locked him in her forest green gaze. A hint of a
smile pulled at her lips. “Oh my, Cole. Is that…what’s the word I’m looking for? Compassion?” She teased.

  The smart response made him chuckle. “Ha. Ha. See? I’m not always an ass.” He took another drink from his cup before continuing. “You sure you’re up for this? Once we start tearing into the flooring we will probably open up a bigger mess. We may even find a few critters living here.”

  A visible shudder wracked her petite frame. “That’d explain the scratching and scuffling sounds in the middle of the night. I have to do something. I’m not ready to give up on this place yet. Eventually, I’d like to remove that wall and open up the space.” She pointed to the wall separating the kitchen from the living room.

  He raised a brow in question.

  “This room feels a little closed in.”

  “I did the same at my house. It made a world of difference.” Cole stood. He walked over to the wall and tapped the sheetrock with his knuckles to find a stud. “I’ll check if it’s a load-bearing wall. If it isn’t, knocking it down won’t be a problem.”

  “Thanks.” Kristen released a heavy sigh. “I’m trying my best to break the family tradition and stay put. A solid foundation may be kind of nice. I think we must’ve lived in just about every rental house in all of Sander’s County. We moved so much, I even questioned your address.”

  Cole nodded, not knowing what to say. He remembered the many times she’d moved. Every school year there’d been a new address. Ironically, this is what had drawn him to her in the first place. As a kid he’d been envious she lived in so many different places while he was stuck in the same home his father had been born in.

  It used to eat him up inside, resulting in the need to torment her. After his father died, all of those feelings changed. Suffering from grief, he’d occupied his time by fixing up the ranch. Though the endeavor helped him deal with the loss, it also proved nothing he did would ever gain praise from his father.

  “I used to think my folks ran out of money or were skipping out on back rent or something. But my dad always held a good job, so I’m sure that wasn’t why we moved around so much. I think they were just looking for a special place that felt like theirs. A home. I guess this wasn’t it,” she paused, glancing around the room. “And now they’re gone again. It hurts, but I still have Laney.” Pain edged her words.