Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas (The Hills of Texas Book 4)

by Kadie Scott

  Then she’d told him about not helping Eric. Granted, her decision had come late, and he’d seen it more as a move to keep the boyfriend ploy going. However, Eric’s confession had also got him thinking and forgiving.

  And then Ashley had shown that video at the wedding. Seemed to him a woman couldn’t put together something so emotional—and make it as nice as she had for Taylor and Eric—if her feelings were still tied up with the guy in question.

  Basically, she had Jennings twisted into knots.

  Late the night after the wedding hadn’t been a good time to talk. And yesterday, one of their cows had gotten wrapped up in a broken barbed wire fence, requiring his and his sister-in-law, who happened to be the local vet, Holly’s full attention until late.

  “May I come in?”

  She appeared nervous, her gaze not quite meeting his. He fought to contain the urge to yank her into his arms and kiss the questions from her eyes. He couldn’t though. What was she doing here?

  He stood to the side and waved her in. “Of course.”

  She stepped inside, and he closed the door behind her. With a deep breath, she pivoted to face him, her sweet, gardenia scent wrapping around him. She searched his face for a moment before he noticed she was holding onto a small square box wrapped for Christmas.

  He glanced at it, then at her. “For me?”

  “Yes.” She thrust it toward him.

  Curious, he ripped the paper off and opened the box to discover an ornament. Three separate pieces of metal hung off a ring. One in silver was shaped like a house, with the words “1st Christmas at Home” etched into it. One was copper and shaped like a key, with the year engraved along the long edge. And the third piece was gold and shaped like a heart with “Hill” engraved in the center.

  Hope and excitement thrummed through him, though he hardly allowed himself to believe. “My first Christmas ornament.” He glanced up from the gift to find her watching.

  She smiled and reached out to run her finger over the heart. “I saw it at the jewelers and had to get it for you after you reminded me about your tradition.”

  “You left your family on Christmas morning to come give me a gift?” He couldn’t help the doubt and confusion shadowing his words.

  Again, she searched his face for a long moment, and he stared back, waiting.

  “I’d like to give you something else, if you’ll have it.”

  He glanced down, but her hands were empty. “Okay. Where is it?”

  In answer, she took his hand and placed it on her chest. “My heart.” The words came out in a choked whisper.

  Every cell in his body froze at her words, his gut clenching in reaction. She’d said she wanted him, but nothing about love.

  His palm warmed despite the soft sweater between her skin and his. He stared at her hard. “I need you to be very clear. What are you saying?”

  She drew back her shoulders, and the sweetest smile curved her lips even as doubts chased themselves through her stormy eyes. “I’m saying I’m in love with you. I’m saying what you thought you saw as longing for Eric was actually for you in a forever kind of way—” She let loose a squeal of delight as he swept her up in his arms.

  “Thank God.” He breathed before claiming her lips. He meant the kiss to celebrate having finally won her, but it quickly caught fire, as the sweet taste of her burst on his tongue.

  Jennings groaned low in his throat but managed to pull back enough to gaze into her beautiful face. “I love you too. I’ve loved you since we were kids. I’ve loved you as a man since we were fourteen. And I’m so in love with you now, I ache with it.”

  Ashley giggled, even as tears sprang to her eyes, the sound and sight shooting straight to his heart. “I hope so. Because if this is how you let a girl down easy, we need to work on your communication skills.”

  He chuckled but shook his head at the same time. “I’m never letting you down again.”

  She reached up to frame his face with her hands. “Let’s get one thing straight… You have never let me down.”

  “I was too harsh. I cut off our friendship—”

  She placed a finger over his lips. “You were a true friend, and you wanted the best for me. I was the one who let our friendship go.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “I was jealous as hell and wanted you for myself.”

  He received a quick kiss for his effort. “Now you have me. What are you going to do with me?”

  He swung her up in his arms, heading for his bedroom with purposeful strides. “I’m going to open my Christmas present.”

  Laughter bubbled out of her. “Both of our families are waiting for us.”

  His steps didn’t even falter. “Mine aren’t. I was going to go over to your house this morning.”

  She unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and laid her hand inside against his skin. “Really? Why?”

  Slowly, he lowered her down onto his bed, her dark hair fanning out on his comforter, a come-hither look in her eyes inviting him to join her. Knowing she was his now, that he’d get to do this with her whenever he wanted—see her lovely face in the mornings, over meals, every day—filled him with a joy that knew no words. Sure, they had some dating to do, and they had to figure out her job in Dallas. However, he didn’t intend to wait long before putting a ring on her finger. He’d waited over ten years for Ashley. They didn’t need a long courtship.

  “To convince you to give me a chance, Hughes.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Why do you always call me Hughes?”

  Jennings laughed. “Ever seen The Princess Bride?” He leaned down and nibbled kisses up the side of her neck.

  “Uh-huh.” Her response came out breathy and distracted, and he smiled against her skin.

  “Hughes is my version of ‘As You Wish.’” He cupped her breast, enjoying the weight of it in his hand.

  She arched into his touch. “But you’ve called me Hughes since high school.”

  He tugged her earlobe with his teeth, delighting in her shudder. “Yes.”

  She pushed at his shoulders, so he leaned back. “You really have been in love with me since high school?”

  “I was going to ask you to Homecoming our sophomore year. But Eric beat me to it.”

  Ashley’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?” she whispered.

  Jennings shrugged. “You seemed happy with him at first, then you never broke up. Besides, I did say something. Lots of somethings, which you took as—”

  “As you criticizing me, lecturing me, and hating me.”

  He smoothed the hair back from her face. “I never hated you. Ever.”

  She licked her lips. “I think I took your disappointment in me hard because I wanted your approval. Maybe I’ve been in love with you this entire time too and was just too blind to see it.”

  Jennings gathered her to him and kissed her with every ounce of love in his heart. He pulled back. “No more looking back, blaming, or wishing. We have our entire lives to be together now.”

  She feathered kisses along his jaw. “You are a good man, Jennings Hill.”

  He shifted position, settling between her legs in a way she couldn’t fail to notice how much he wanted her. “This good man would like to do very bad things with you, Ashley Hughes.”

  She wiggled under him in a delicious way. “I think it’s time to open your present.”

  Epilogue

  Ashley sat on the leather couch in the family room, her computer in her lap as she worked through taxes for her parents’ ranch. The TV was on, set to an old movie on the classics channel, to which she wasn’t paying much attention. Outside, a gorgeous Texas spring day beckoned, with wildflowers filling the landscape with bursts of blues, pinks, reds, and yellows, and blue skies unmarred by clouds.

  The sound of a door being opened and shut had her looking up, listening. Then two thuds of Jennings’s boots hitting the floor in the mudroom reached her, and she smiled. She loved that sound, especially at the end of the d
ay, like now, when she knew what it meant. It meant he was home for the evening. With her.

  Usually, she’d hop up, eager to give him a kiss hello, but today she wanted to play things cool.

  “Hey, Hill.” His low voice skittered down her spine as he came into the room.

  He leaned over the back of the couch and nuzzled her neck.

  Ashley chuckled at the nickname, which he’d switched to calling her, in place of Hughes, the day they got married.

  “Hey, yourself, Hill.”

  He strode around the couch, and she caught sight of him, covered in grime and muck. He also smelled strongly of dirt and hay and the leathery scent of horses and tack. “What happened to you?” she asked.

  “We were working on breaking some of the younger horses today.” He grinned and slapped his thigh, causing a cloud of dust to fly off him.

  Ashley coughed and laughed. Jennings grinned and leaned down for another kiss, but she placed a hand on his chest, holding him at bay. “Slow your roll, cowboy. I’m clean, and I’d like to stay that way.”

  He scowled. “Are you telling me I’m not allowed to kiss my wife until I shower?”

  “Yes.” She wrinkled her nose. “You stink.”

  Jennings gave a low growl, but stood up. “You’d better be off that computer by the time I get back, woman.”

  “We’ll see,” she called after him as he strode away. “It’s tax season, you know.”

  As soon as he was out of sight, she shut down her computer, then hopped up and followed.

  “Ash?” he called from their bedroom, and she picked up her pace.

  “Yeah?”

  “What’s this?”

  She made it to their room and leaned against the door jam, crossing her arms. Jennings stood by their bed holding a small, square package wrapped in red paper that sported silver snowflakes all over it.

  “A Christmas present,” she said, as matter-of-factly as she could while trying to hold in a blissful smile.

  “It’s April,” he pointed out.

  She shrugged. “I didn’t want to wait to give you this one. Consider it an early Christmas gift.”

  He raised a single eyebrow, his expression showing he clearly thought her to be a lunatic. “What is it?”

  She chuckled. “Open it and see.”

  He muttered under his breath, something about women who got him all twisted up, as he ripped away the paper.

  Then he opened the box, and she held her breath.

  Jennings paused and stared into the box for a long moment before he lifted out a silver Christmas ornament she’d had Lucy’s custom order for her this week, as they didn’t have any in stock this time of year.

  The ornament was a moon and stars, with a tiny teddy bear asleep in the curve of the moon. Engraved on the silver trinket were the words, “Baby’s 1st Christmas.”

  He raised his dark gaze to her, shock written across his features. “A baby?” he asked.

  She nodded, unable to keep her smile hidden any longer, glowing with happiness.

  Jennings gave a whoop, dropped the ornament on the bed, and was across the room in two strides. He pulled her into his arms and laid a kiss on her that bent her backwards. As always happened, she melted into him, not even minding the muck and the smell. She laughed as he let her up for air.

  “When?” he asked eagerly.

  “I’m due December twentieth. A true Christmas present.”

  He grinned. “Christmas is fast becoming my favorite holiday ever.”

  They’d found each other at Christmas, married the following one, and now a Christmas baby.

  Ashley gave him a soft kiss. “Mine too.”

  The End

  If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review at your favorite online retailer! Even if it’s just a sentence or two it makes all the difference.

  Thanks for reading Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas by Kadie Scott!

  Discover your next romance at TulePublishing.com.

  The Hills of Texas

  For the Hills of Texas, ranching is a legacy, hard work is a way of life, and having siblings is like having a best friend you can’t get rid of. You know whatever you do, they’ll still be there. Family will stand by you, stand with you, stand behind you, and sometimes give you that needed push. Especially when it comes to finding love.

  Book 1: Saving the Sheriff

  Buy now!

  Book 2: Resisting the Rancher

  Buy now!

  Book 3: Taming the Troublemaker

  Buy now!

  Book 4: Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas

  View the series here!

  Book 5: Coming soon!

  Enjoy an excerpt from

  Taming the Troublemaker

  Kadie Scott

  Book 3 in The Hills of Texas series

  Keep reading below or buy now!

  “I have a proposition to put to you.”

  Autry Hill glanced up from his breakfast, a forkful of eggs hovering in midair halfway to his mouth, to find his father dropping into the seat across the table.

  John Hill didn’t look his age, his hair still dark and thick with only a few grays showing at the temples in recent years. Skin deeply tanned from years working on the ranch only made his eyes appear brighter. The Hill eyes—a striking blue surrounded by a dark rim at the outer edge of the iris that made the color pop even more—were passed down several generations, and well-known in these parts.

  Eyes all of Autry’s siblings had inherited. Just not Autry. He’d gotten his mother’s hazel eyes instead. A fact he was vaguely proud of in a silly way left over from high school. Being one of five kids, anything to help you stand out from the crowd was a good thing.

  Autry liked to stand out in any crowd.

  He glanced around, but his mother, who’d already eaten along with the rest of his family and was working on the breakfast dishes in the sink and humming softly, was the only other person in the room. He was getting a bit of a late start, thanks to a way-too-late night last night. Not his fault. Not that late, either. Darkness still obscured the land outside the windows in the kitchen. Dawn would break soon enough, turning the land gray then hazy pink.

  “You have a proposition for me?” he asked.

  “No, your mother.” His dad rolled his eyes. “Yes. You.”

  Autry put his fork down, curiosity rising up like a dog’s ears pricking at a sound. “Okay.”

  “Your mother and I have been discussing the future of the ranch.” Just like his dad to not beat around the bush.

  Autry straightened in his seat, pricked ears going straight to full alert. This ranch meant more to him than anything else in his life. He lived for the work he did here with his family, was proud of it, and had every intention of growing their already prosperous ranch for the next generations of Hills to come.

  “With you kids getting married and having babies of your own, and us not getting any younger, seems like it’s time for a few changes.”

  His dad was talking about Autry’s siblings, and his dad was right—their family was growing fast. Cash, after a rough start losing his first wife, had married Holly. They had Sophia, his daughter from that first marriage, and now Holly was expecting twins. Pretty soon, in fact. Will had married Rusty, twice since the first ceremony had been a bit of a rush job. Carter was engaged to Brian, though a date still hadn’t been set for the wedding.

  That left only his younger brother, Jennings, only he had his own hang-ups in the love department, and Autry, who’d earned a reputation as the county’s resident bad boy. At least where women were concerned. He’d be the first to admit, he’d sowed more than his fair share of wild oats in his day, but not so much lately.

  “What kind of changes?” he prompted.

  His dad leaned back in his chair. “Well… it mostly has to do with living situation. Cash and Holly live in town. Will and Rusty are only here half the year, with her ranch in Wyoming. Carter will live with Brian, and Jennings is almost done building
the house he’s been working on.”

  Which left Autry. Adrenaline had his heart picking up speed. Was his dad about to offer him the main house? He tried to keep his pulse from leaping to conclusions, but this was a big deal. He’d wanted to be the one to inherit the house since he was about five years old.

  That was when he’d learned about his dad and Uncle Jeremy, and how they’d split things up, his dad getting the house and Jeremy getting a larger portion of the ranch. His uncle eventually decided to leave the family business and moved to Austin. He still owned his majority but was happy to let his brother manage the full enchilada for a portion of the profits.

  Autry loved this house. The memories, the way it smelled of cedar floors, cleaning fluids, and his mother’s cooking. This house was and always would be home base, a place where his soul was settled and happy. Except he was number four of five kids. The odds of his getting it were nil. Until now? Jeremy hadn’t had any kids, which left Autry and his siblings to inherit the full spread and figure out living situations.

  “Your mom has her heart set on the Guthrie place, and it recently went up for sale.”

  They were talking about the house. Would it be juvenile to pump his fist about now? Probably. Autry managed to stop himself.

  “That’s a perfect spot.” He limited his comment and kept his expression serious. “Closer to town for Mom, but still easy driving here for you.”

  “And that gorgeous Victorian architecture.” His mother gave a sigh of bliss.

  Autry turned in his chair, giving her an affectionate grin. “I didn’t know you were such a romantic when it came to houses, Mom.”

  She gave a little sniff. “About that one, I could be.”

  “Anyway,” his dad continued, “we haven’t decided yet what we’re doing, but we’re thinking that the homestead should probably go to you.”