The Maverick's Holiday Surprise

by Karen Rose Smith

  He put down the wing he was about to eat. “Maybe I do. That kiss just didn’t happen out of the blue. There’s been something simmering since we met. Don’t you agree?”

  She looked flustered. “I don’t know what you mean. I—”

  “Bella, tell me the truth. If you can honestly say you don’t feel any sparks between us, I’ll drop the whole thing, take you home, not approach you again with anything in my mind other than a boss-and-employee relationship.”

  “That’s what we should have,” she reminded him.

  “Maybe. Are you going to answer my question?”

  Stalling for time, she spooned potato salad onto her plate. Then she looked up at him with guileless brown eyes. “Yes, I feel the sparks, but I’ve been doing my best to ignore them.”

  He pushed the broccoli salad dish toward her. “That’s only going to work for so long.”

  She sighed and took a sip of her sparkling water. Then she said, “Can we table this discussion for now?”

  “Am I making you uncomfortable?”

  “No. It’s just I have my mind on getting home because I know Jamie’s going to need my help.”

  “And you’re afraid if we get embroiled in this type of discussion, you won’t get home soon enough.”

  She picked up a wing. “Yes.”

  He nodded. “Okay, let’s eat.”

  They were quiet as they ate but still aware of each other. Their gazes met often. Their fingers brushed when they reached for another wing at the same time. He noticed the pulse at the hollow of Bella’s neck. He caught her studying the scar under his eye.

  “I fell out of a tree house when I was a kid,” he said, “and got scraped up pretty good.”

  She blushed a little. “Stitches?” she asked.

  “Yep, twelve of them. How about you? Were you adventurous when you were a kid?”

  She was silent for a few moments, then she said, “Not in the tree-climbing kind of way.” She hesitated. “But after Jamie and I went to live with our grandparents, I was difficult—acting out, truancy, that kind of thing.”

  She looked as if there was a lot more to that story, but he didn’t press. He just responded, “You don’t look like the type. Now you seem to want to go by the book and obey every rule.”

  “Maybe because I stepped over the line one too many times.” With that conclusion, she stood and carried her plate to the sink. Then she asked, “Can you point me to the powder room?”

  He waved down the hall. “It’s right across from the office.”

  She nodded and went that way.

  He cleaned up in the kitchen, still wondering about her “acting out” escapades. When he heard her in the hall off the foyer, he met her there and pointed to the office. “Did you peek in there?”

  “No.”

  “Not the nosy type?” he asked with a grin.

  “Not usually,” she answered agreeably.

  “I’d like to show you the paintings in there. Come on. It will only take a minute.”

  He led her into the office, and when she joined him, she gave a little gasp of pleasure. “Oh my. Are they originals?”

  “They are. Clive considers Barclay the best Western painter in America.”

  He gave his attention to the landscape of a Montana ranch near Billings, then another near Missoula—mountains with a stream running through.

  “I noticed the wall hangings in the family room right away when I walked in. They’re beautiful, too. Mr. Bickler has wonderful taste and deep pockets.”

  “Deep pockets can’t buy taste,” Hudson assured her. “But, yes, Clive has both. I’m fortunate this place was available when I was looking around to find somewhere to live. I thought you might appreciate these.”

  “I do.”

  He pointed to a vase sitting on a wide windowsill. “Most of his pottery is signed, too.”

  She came closer to the window to examine the vase. The darkness outside and the quietness of the house wrapped them in a type of intimacy. He was very aware of the master suite right down the hall.

  When Bella looked up at him, he wanted to kiss her so badly that he could remember her taste. But he didn’t want to scare her away. He was afraid another kiss right now might just do that. Timing, he knew, was everything.

  His voice was husky when he said, “I’ll take you back to the day care center, then I’m going to follow you home to make sure you get there safely.” He put his forefinger to her lips. “And don’t say I don’t have to do that. I know I don’t. I want to.”

  Her lips under his finger were warm, pliable, sexy, and he knew exactly how sweet. When he removed his finger, she was still looking at him. He suspected there was a depth to Bella that not many people probed. She kept up a wall of reserve, and that held them at bay. But he was going to break through that reserve.

  One day.

  * * *

  A short time later, Hudson and Bella stood next to his truck at Jamie’s ranch. Bella didn’t know how to thank Hudson for what he’d done for her this afternoon. He confused her. She hadn’t expected the kindness that seemed an innate part of his nature. She felt she had to return that kindness and maybe even take a figurative step toward him, toward admitting those sparks they both knew they felt.

  “Can you come in for a few minutes?” she asked. “I’d like you to meet my brother.” If Jamie saw the attraction between her and Hudson, he could help her sort it out.

  There was a bright moon in the sky, and even though his face was shadowed, she caught the surprise on it. “I’d like that,” he said.

  And just like that, Hudson took her hand and they walked toward the door. He let go as she opened it. Inside the house, the TV was blaring. Paige Dalton Traub was on the sofa playing with Katie. Jamie was on the floor with Henry and Jared building a structure with colored blocks. He looked up when Bella came in.

  “I’m glad you got some dinner,” he said. “It was hit-and-miss here.”

  She’d texted him about the wings and eating with Hudson. She and Jamie had no secrets from each other.

  Jared crawled quickly toward Bella. Bella dropped her purse, shrugged out of her coat and laid it over a chair. Then she scooped up the baby, hugging him close.

  “Hi there, big boy. I hope you’re not giving your dad too much trouble.”

  “He and Katie aren’t as fussy today,” Jamie said, getting to his feet and hauling Henry into his arms. “I’m hoping the teething crisis is over.”

  Bella introduced the two men.

  They shook hands, and Bella noticed they seemed to be sizing each other up. They were about the same height and supremely fit from their outdoor work, though Hudson was a bit huskier. Then Jamie introduced Paige—Sutter Traub’s wife, elementary school teacher and mom—to Hudson.

  Paige said, “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get this little girl started on her bath.”

  Jared suddenly leaned toward Hudson, holding his arms out. Not sure how Hudson would react, Bella said, “You don’t have to—”

  But Hudson didn’t hesitate. He lifted the little boy from Bella and held him high in the air. “Hi there, big guy. I hear you’ve been stealing sleep from your dad and your aunt. I hope those teeth have settled down.”

  “Until the next one pops up,” Jamie said wryly.

  Hudson transferred Jared to the crook of his arm, and the little boy seemed satisfied to stay there for the moment. “I can’t imagine caring for three of them,” he said to Jamie with a shake of his head. “This is like having your own day care.”

  “I hope Bella’s told you we have nothing against Just Us Kids. But since the triplets were preemies, I don’t want to take the chance of putting them in day care yet. You understand, don’t you?”

  “Of course I do. And they’re in good hands from wha
t I hear.”

  “Our helpers are the best,” Jamie said. “And so is Bella,” he tacked on.

  It was easy to see the bond between brother and sister and the way they communicated with their eyes, with a gesture, with no words at all. Jamie deposited Henry in his play saucer and then held out his arms for Jared.

  Placing him in another saucer, he said, “Come on, fella, you’re going to be next for a bath.”

  “I’d better be going,” Hudson said. “It was good to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” Jamie agreed with a nod. And then he maneuvered the two saucers into the kitchen.

  Bella walked Hudson to the door. “It’s always chaos here.”

  “Just like the day care center,” Hudson said with a smile.

  They were standing very close, and neither of them seemed to want to move away. Bella wasn’t sure how to say goodbye to Hudson. She wasn’t sure where they were headed. They were in between a working relationship and a personal one, and she wasn’t even sure she should step into the personal one. But when she looked into Hudson’s eyes, she wanted to.

  “Thank you for this afternoon,” she said sincerely. “I needed the sleep and the quiet, and those great wings.”

  Hudson chuckled. “Here I thought you were going to say you needed supper with me.”

  “All of it was really kind of you.”

  Hudson reached out and touched her cheek. “It was more than kindness, Bella. Sometime we’ll continue the discussion we started over dinner.”

  Then he was stepping away from her, opening the door and leaving. She stood in the doorway, watching him until he drove away.

  She found herself disappointed he hadn’t kissed her.

  Confusion? Thy name was Bella.

  Chapter Five

  On Saturday morning Hudson rose before sunrise. After downing a protein shake along with one of Greta’s cinnamon rolls, he went for a ride on Breeze, contemplating his day. He considered what Bella had said about purpose and realized except for handling the day care’s PR problems, he didn’t have one. He thought about last evening, meeting Jamie and watching him handle the triplets, as well as his ranch. The guy needed more than a baby chain. Since he’d noticed fencing on Jamie’s ranch that needed to be repaired, Hudson decided what he was going to do with his day before bad weather moved in. Throughout his adult life, he’d never had to consult anyone when he wanted to go somewhere or do something. So he didn’t now.

  He drove his truck to the lumberyard, bought the supplies he needed and headed out to the Stockton ranch, down a rutted road on the side field. The ground was frozen, so he couldn’t repost fence. But he could replace slats and make repairs that would keep cattle in and horses safe.

  Before 9 a.m. he was working on the fence line, the physical labor feeling good. He’d missed it. After an hour, he sat inside his truck, warmed up with another cinnamon roll, then went back at it. It was noon when he spotted Jamie rushing out the back of the house and across the field. Hudson didn’t at all expect the reaction he got when Jamie was within earshot of him.

  The rancher asked, “What are you doing out here?”

  “I thought you needed help with the fence line. You don’t want your cattle or horses getting out, do you?”

  Hudson could see the angry expression on Jamie Stockton’s face now that he was closer. “Of course I don’t want them getting out. But I don’t want you doing my work.”

  “I was trying to help out, just like the baby chain helps you with the triplets.”

  Jamie’s words puffed white in the almost frigid air. “That’s different. I have to accept help so Katie, Henry and Jared stay healthy and happy and content. But as far as the ranch goes, I can handle it on my own. Did Bella tell you I needed help out here?”

  “No,” Hudson said honestly and quickly. “I saw it when we drove by. Your fence slats are falling off. Your posts are leaning. I would have helped with those, but I can’t with the ground frozen. If the snow rots them and takes them down, you might have to put up something temporary.”

  “That’s my worry, not yours.”

  To top things off, Hudson caught sight of Bella running toward them. He could see she hadn’t even taken time to zip her parka. She jogged toward them and came to an abrupt stop. When she did, he saw how troubled she looked. He hadn’t meant to make things harder for her or for her brother.

  He addressed Jamie again. “I understand if you want me to stop. But I already bought the supplies. What if I unload them in your barn?”

  “I don’t need charity,” Jamie insisted stubbornly. “You can take your planks and nails and leave.”

  Bella went to her brother and put her hand on his arm. “Jamie.”

  “I mean it, Jones,” Jamie said tersely. “You took over the day care center under Bella’s nose when she’d done nothing wrong. Maybe you had to because you were invested in it. But you have no investment here. Just let me and mine take care of ourselves.”

  Hudson knew about pride. Walker had been the big brother who bailed Hudson out of scrapes and then tried to tell him what to do. Hudson had always balked and his pride got in the way of a good relationship with Walker.

  Jamie had lost his wife. He had to juggle more than a man should have to. At the end of the day, his pride was a valuable asset.

  So Hudson didn’t argue with him. He just tipped his Stetson to Bella, nodded to Jamie and said, “I understand. I’m out of here.”

  He gathered up the few supplies he had lying about and stowed them in the back of the truck. When he stole a glance at Bella, he saw she was caught in the middle. He wouldn’t want to be in her position. She had to support her brother, and if that meant watching him turn down help, then that’s what she had to do.

  Hudson climbed in his truck, and as he drove away, he peered into the rearview mirror. Bella looked appalled that he was leaving like this. But he’d had no choice. He’d miscalculated badly. What was that old saying? No good deed goes unpunished.

  He’d found that out today. Wandering, rambling, not being connected to anyone seemed to be the easier road to take. Yet he realized now it might be a road that no longer satisfied him, a road that had kept him from forming real connections and friendships.

  * * *

  The Monday morning influx of babies and children under the age of five was the ultimate mayhem. But somehow Bella managed it and kept everybody, from parents to kids to teachers, smiling when she did it.

  Hudson hadn’t had a chance to talk to her, and he wasn’t sure she’d want to talk to him. Now when he looked back on what he’d done, he saw how it could be misconstrued. His actions could be considered high-handed, arrogant, maybe even condescending. She might want to stay far away from him. So he was surprised when, after the last child was logged in for the morning, Bella came to his office and rapped on the open door.

  He stood and came around his desk, not wanting a barrier between them. It seemed as if they had enough of those, though he wasn’t even sure what some of them were.

  “I wanted to talk to you,” she said, looking as if she had something serious on her mind.

  “I wanted to talk to you,” he returned.

  They were about two feet apart, and Bella looked lovely today in a pale blue sweater and navy slacks. She’d worn boots, too, no doubt in anticipation of the snow that was predicted for later. It seemed Bella was the type who liked to be prepared.

  They both said “I’m sorry” at the same time. He stopped and waved at her to go first. “Go ahead,” he said. “But you have nothing to be sorry for.”

  “I’m sorry for Jamie’s behavior,” she apologized.

  “His behavior was my fault,” Hudson assured her.

  Shaking her head vigorously, she responded, “No, it wasn’t. One thing I’ve learned is that we have to own our act
ions. Jamie simply overreacted. It was a wonderful thing you tried to do.”

  Hudson stuffed his hands in his pockets so he didn’t think as much about reaching out and touching her. “Wonderful didn’t turn out so well.”

  “It’s nothing against you, Hudson. Jamie’s already accepting so much help with the triplets, he’s touchy about it. He feels as if his life is running him instead of him running his life. Do you know what I mean?”

  Thinking about what she’d said, he nodded. “Yes, I do. I can see the responsibilities he has sitting on his shoulders. They’re wearing him down. I think they’re wearing you down a bit, too.”

  “I’m fine,” she assured him. “But I am worried about Jamie. I had a break on Friday, thanks to you. I really needed that afternoon nap. And that dinner. But Jamie won’t take a break.”

  “Maybe he feels if he does, everything will fall apart. I should have discussed fixing that fence with him before I did it. I never meant to cause such a ruckus.”

  “You did fix the worst part, and whether he realizes it or not, he’s going to be grateful when he thinks about it.” She took a step closer to Hudson, and he felt his heart beating faster.

  Before he realized what she was going to do, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. That kiss was as light as the touch of a butterfly’s wings, but he felt it in every fiber of his being.

  When she stepped away, she said simply, “Thank you,” and then she was gone from his office.

  Hudson brushed his fingers over the place on his cheek where her lips had touched his skin.

  He did that often over the next hour, aware that he’d been touched by that gesture as he hadn’t by anything in a long time.

  Throughout the morning, he found himself staring out the window more than at his computer. Around noon he watched the first snowflakes begin to fall. They didn’t start lightly but multiplied quickly, coating the grass and the pavement in no time.

  The phone began ringing, and he knew why. Parents would want to pick up their kids early. To his surprise, every single one of them did. Usually there were stragglers but not today. And that gave Hudson an idea.