“You wouldn’t consider fixing me a sandwich, would you?” Hunter asked.
Sally paused. Then she looked at him again. “Of course, I can do that. You’ve worked hard today.” It couldn’t hurt to extend their evening just a little longer and Sally smiled in return and led the way to the back door, stopping to collect her coat and purse and keys. Hunter grabbed his coat and followed her.
Outside, he waited until she’d locked the door. Then he walked across the street with her to her home. He was beginning to love the home as well as the lady. He couldn’t believe he was thinking about not going back to Denver. But life in Bailey fit him like a glove, as much as Sally fit him.
Inside the house, Sally turned on lights as they moved through to the kitchen.
“This room has such nice smells,” he announced.
Sally smiled at him. “Yes, it does. I think it’s all the baking I’ve been doing lately.”
“Like my grandmother’s kitchen. After she died, almost no one used the kitchen and the smell eventually faded away, just like her memory.”
“That must have been difficult, but you still remember her.”
“Yeah. But I remember her more when I’m here.”
“That’s nice, Hunter. I’m glad my home makes you feel so comfortable.” She turned to the fridge and took several dishes out and set them on the counter. “I think instead of a sandwich we’ll finish off the roast beef with some veggies. Is that okay?”
“It sounds great,” he said with enthusiasm.
“It had better be to make up for turning Susie down.”
“That wasn’t even a strain. She doesn’t interest me.”
“She is cute, you know,” Sally teased.
“Yeah, for a teenager, I guess so. I’m more interested in older ladies,” he said, giving her a sexy look.
“Oh. Shall I warn Mrs Grabowski that you’ve got your eye on her?”
“Not quite that old. I’m thinking somewhere around twenty-five, close to twenty-six.”
“Nice try, but I’m not falling for any of that big city talk.”
“Damn, where did I go wrong?”
She laughed, hoping it hid her heartache. “You underestimated your audience.” She put the roast beef in the microwave and took out a skillet and filled it with mixed vegetables.
“Shall I set the table?” he asked.
“Yes, please. Napkins are in the pantry.”
It didn’t take him long to set two places. Then he got out two glasses and filled them with ice. Taking the pitcher out of the refrigerator, he poured the two glasses full and set them on the table.
“Anything else I can do?”
“No, that’s all. This will be ready in a few minutes.”
He introduced several topics related to the store and they talked business until the meal was ready.
When she joined him at the table, she took a big sip of her iced tea. “Oh, that tastes good.”
“Yeah. I like the way you keep a pitcher in the fridge, always ready.”
“Mom did that when I became a teen. She’d encourage me to drink tea rather than always drinking colas.”
“Smart lady.”
“Yeah, she and her brother were quite bright. Dad was, too, but he always teased Mom that he chose her for her brains.”
“I find that hard to believe if she looked anything like you,” he said with a smile.
“Another example of your city slicker ways!” she exclaimed. “I know you’ve seen the pictures of my mom in the den.”
“That I have. Like you, she was a beauty. Do you and your cousin look alike?”
“Not really. Penny is a little taller than me and she has dark hair.”
“Really? I would’ve thought you looked alike.”
“No. We think a lot alike, though.”
“So she’s resistant to city slicker talk, too?”
“I don’t know. Right now, I think she’s listening to a ranch manager who’s mighty good-looking.”
“You like him?” Hunter asked, suddenly looking grim.
“Me? No, of course not!”
“Good.” He smiled and took a bite of roast beef. “This meat is really good, and tender, too.”
After dinner, he insisted on helping clean up.
“You’re certainly easy to work with, Hunter.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I think I could say the same thing about you. Well, I think I better be making a move, it’s getting late.”
She smiled and as he gathered his belongings Sally escorted him to the door to send him on his way.
At the door, he suddenly turned and took her by her shoulders. Then he bent and kissed her good night.
Sally knew she should protest and pushing slightly on his wide chest she said his name, “Hunter—”
That was all she managed before he kissed her again, a deep, soul-touching kiss this time and Sally knew that if she didn’t draw away now, she’d never be able to.
“Hunter. I—I have to—to go to bed, now.”
“Alone?” he whispered.
“Yes! Yes, alone. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay. Tomorrow.” Then he kissed her again, before he walked through her front door, closing it behind him.
Then she heard him walk away.
CHAPTER NINE
FRIDAY morning, they finished decorating the tree.
“Hey, you know, this tree looks pretty good,” Hunter said as he stood in front of it.
“Yes, it does, doesn’t it? Of course, the tree itself is magnificent.”
“Yeah. Penny did a good job picking it out.”
“Yes, she did,” Sally said with a sigh.
“What’s wrong?” Hunter hurriedly asked, taking a step closer to Sally.
“Nothing! But—but I was concerned that we couldn’t pull off all the Christmas stuff that our parents managed every year. And it looks like we will. It’s a relief, if things go well tomorrow night.”
Hunter put his arm around her and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “I think you and Penny have been superb. You’ve managed to run the store by yourself, with satisfied customers, as far as I can tell, and pulled together the town Festival. What more could you do?”
“Probably a lot. I haven’t even put up a tree at the house, but I’m so seldom there,” she admitted with another sigh.
“It would look nice in the living room, near the fireplace.”
She turned to stare at him. “That’s where we always put it. Then, when we got home, Dad would turn on the lights. It made the room look magical.”
“There’s still time. Christmas isn’t until Thursday.”
“No, I don’t think I have the energy. Besides, decorating a tree by myself doesn’t seem—I’m being silly. Let’s go have lunch,” she said, stepping away from his arm.
“Sure, that’s a good idea. I’m really hungry today.”
“I brought your lunch again today. It isn’t roast beef, but I hope you’ll like it.”
“Now I can truly say I always like your cooking, Sally,” he said with a big grin.
She smiled at him and led the way to the store. When they entered, the store was exceptionally busy. “Let’s go take off our coats and see if we can help out a little before we eat.”
“Okay,” he agreed, not complaining about the delay of lunch.
It was almost an hour before Sally sent Susie and Mary to eat their lunch. Technically they should’ve received a half hour lunch, but Mary came back to work after fifteen minutes.
“Thank you, Mary,” Sally said with a smile. “I’ll try to give you a break when things slow down.”
“I’m fine.” Mary started helping customers.
Sally suggested Hunter and Ethel go to lunch next. Ethel headed for the break room at once. Hunter, however, said he would wait for her.
“Hunter, you really should go now. Susie is almost due back on the floor, and Ethel is in the break room, which should restrain Susie’s conversation a little.”
“I thought I was the one who was hardheaded?” she demanded in exasperation.
“I learned from the very best,” he said with a grin and turned back to help another customer.
Sally, too, returned to helping customers, but she had a smile on her face, put there by Hunter’s response.
Finally, when all three women had returned to work, Sally waved to Hunter and headed for the break room. He finished with his customer and followed Sally.
“You’re doing incredible business today,” he said with a sigh as he sat down.
“I know. I don’t think it’s ever been this busy. I thought tomorrow would be our busiest day.”
“It may yet be, but we’ve finished the Christmas tree. At least we have that out of the way.”
“True, but the store will be busy when you’re playing Santa Claus, too.”
“You are coming out with me, aren’t you?”
“I guess so. It doesn’t seem fair to throw you to the wolves all alone.”
Hunter looked at her from under his brows. “I should think not!”
“I’ll call Penny tonight. She can be Jake’s assistant and I’ll be yours.”
“Good. That will make everything easier.”
She took out her sandwich and started to eat, afraid she wouldn’t get her full half hour. Hunter, too, began eating, with sporadic conversation.
Sally had only been there ten minutes when Susie entered the break room saying she had a problem and needed her to come help.
“I’ll wrap up what’s left and put it in the fridge before I come out,” Hunter told her.
Sally got up and left the room. By the time she’d satisfied the shopper, who had been offended by Susie’s attitude, there were lines forming in front of her for service. She was tempted to call Hunter to help her, but she was becoming too dependent on the man. And he’d be leaving after Christmas.
She tried to erase that thought, but it lingered in her mind. When Hunter suddenly appeared and took some of those waiting in line, she smiled at him, but she kept reminding herself she’d have to learn to manage on her own.
Neither of them got to eat supper that evening, until she’d locked the front door on the last customer. Mary, Susie and Ethel had left at eight o’clock, but they had a couple of late shoppers and she and Hunter had stayed to serve them.
“Thanks for staying so late, Hunter,” Sally said as she turned away from the locked front door.
“You know I’m not going to leave you alone.”
“I know, but there won’t be anyone to stay with me after you leave. I should get used to handling things on my own.”
“Hmm. That may be true, but until I’m gone, I’ll stay with you and see you home. I want to be sure you’re safe.”
“I know,” she said softly, thinking how nice that sounded. She’d never thought she would lean on someone as she was with Hunter. She hoped he didn’t mind.
When they crossed to her house, she hesitantly invited him in for a late supper. It was becoming something of a tradition between the two of them. To her surprise, he shook his head.
“But where are you going to get some supper?”
“The Diamond Back is still open. I can drop by there and get some dinner. Go on in and get some rest.” Then he bent and kissed her lips. “Now go.”
She went into the house alone and locked the door. Then she heard him call, “Good night.”
It seemed senseless to fix a real meal for just herself. Instead she made a little bowl of oatmeal for her dinner. After her uninspired meal, she curled up on the sofa in front of the fire in the living room. Slowly she looked around the room and imagined how it had felt only a couple of nights ago when she and Hunter had sat drinking coffee. They had talked about business and their family and Sally thought she had never felt so content. If only Hunter was staying for a little while longer, who knows what might have happened between them.
Finally she gave up. Why bother? He was going to be gone by Christmas. Had she fallen for him simply because she was feeling alone? After considering that idea, she rejected it. No, she’d fallen for him because—because he fit her like a glove. He understood her work, and he’d made such a thing of “keeping her safe.” She knew she was safe here in Bailey, but with Hunter around she felt even more so, more than she had ever done before.
Laying her head on the back of the sofa and staring into the fire, she decided she couldn’t explain her feelings. How she wished her parents were with her so that she could talk to them about her feelings. Maybe she could talk to Penny about Hunter…on Christmas Day. They were supposed to have Christmas dinner then, here in town. Just the two of them.
Sally shed a few more tears for her parents. Then she wiped away her tears and went to bed. She was so very tired tonight.
Saturday morning, people were lined up outside the store waiting for them to open so Sally and Hunter had their hands full.
Sally took a minute to call both Mary and Ethel and told them any help they could give her would be greatly appreciated.
Ethel arrived fifteen minutes later. Mary and Susie got there by ten o’clock.
All the customers praised Sally for getting the tree decorated. She told all of them she couldn’t have done it without Hunter’s assistance.
There was a festive air in the store that day. Sally knew they were doing an incredible business. Which only made her miss her parents more. But at least she hadn’t let them down. She’d managed to pull off everything.
As the time grew closer to the beginning of the Christmas Festival, the store grew even more crowded. She managed to give each of the ladies assisting her an hour’s rest, because they would be on their own from six-thirty to eight. And Sally was staying open an extra hour this evening.
She’d dug out her father’s Santa suit and the disguise makeup, preparing it for Hunter. She couldn’t help smiling, thinking about her father in the Santa suit. She’d been six when she finally figured out who played Santa. She first figured out that her uncle was the early Santa. So she’d switched to the later Santa, and found out it was her dad.
Tonight, there would be two new Santas.
But at least they were having Santas. Her mother and father would be proud of her, she knew. And Penny, too. Together, they’d managed to continue on, as she knew her parents, and Penny’s, too, had expected them to do.
At four-thirty, Penny and her ranch manager, Jake, arrived at the store, ready to change him into Santa. Sally slipped back to the break room to help them. “Are you ready to be Santa, Jake?” she asked.
“I guess. I’m a little worried about it.”
“Don’t be. You’ll have Penny with you.”
After she sent them out to the town circle, which had tables set up around it to offer used goods and the refreshments they provided, she returned to the front of the store.
“Hunter, if you want some time at the Festival before your start as Santa, you can go,” she whispered to him.
“I’ll go out when they turn on the tree lights,” he whispered back before he helped another customer.
Sally wanted to go out then, too. But when Hunter slipped out, the store was still crowded. She didn’t feel she could leave the store.
Hunter came in a few minutes later. “The tree looks great, Sally.”
“Good. You need to get in the Santa suit. I’ll come help in just a minute.”
When she got to the break room, he had the Santa suit on, the pillows properly stuffed into place. She smiled. The costume certainly changed Hunter’s appearance. “Ready for your beard and eyebrows?”
“Yeah. Do your worst,” he said, sitting down so she could attach the white hair.
With great care, she used glue from her makeup kit and started with the eyebrows. Then she added the beard. Suddenly Hunter had completely disappeared, transformed into dear old Santa. She added the Santa hat with white hair attached.
“Okay, you’re done,” S
ally said, offering a mirror to Hunter.
“Is that me?”
“It had better be.”
Just then the door opened and they found themselves facing a second Santa Claus.
Sally introduced Hunter to Penny and Jake. Then, with a Santa hat on her head and a red sweater on, she led Hunter out to the big seat by the tree that Jake had abandoned.
“Some of these kids look a little older,” Hunter whispered as he sat down in the chair.
“Yes, the younger ones are usually the first to come because of their early bedtimes. Then the slightly older ones come, even if they don’t believe in Santa anymore.”
Sally motioned for the first child to step up to Santa’s chair, and they began.
When they had finally ended, Hunter had handled his role perfectly, but he was ready for it to be over. Sally pushed Hunter back toward the store. “Okay, Santa, you go and get changed now and then I’ve got to get back and see how everyone is doing,” she reminded Hunter.
They got in the store but before Hunter could discard his costume, Susie threw her arms around his neck.
“Santa! Don’t you want to know what I want for Christmas?”
Hunter tried to dislodge Susie’s arms, but she whispered in his ear something that disconcerted him. His eyes widened, but he renewed his efforts to get her to turn loose. Sally knew the person to help him. She signaled for Mary.
Mary immediately called her daughter to order. “Susie, turn loose of him at once!”
After planting a big kiss on Santa, Susie released him and whirled away to wait on customers.
Hunter reached the back room, with Sally following.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m just glad she didn’t climb into my lap out there.”
“What did she whisper in your ear?” Sally asked curiously.
“More of the same stuff she’s been offering all along, only a little more—more personal this time.”
Snowbound with Mr. Right Page 10
