Sleigh Bells in Crimson

by Michelle Major

  Chapter Twelve

  Lucy stood in front of the Christmas tree the following afternoon, reaching out a hand to touch the tip of one of the colorful lights Caden had strung. The scent of pine filled the room, and each of the decorations she’d placed made her heart happy.

  She realized she’d never appreciated the holidays at the various retail shops where she’d worked because the lights and trimmings held no meaning for her. And her mother’s vacillating relationship with Christmas, going all out when she was with a man, then ignoring the holidays completely when it was just her and Lucy, had also tainted the season.

  Her time in Crimson made Lucy understand how special Christmas could be. She understood that the decorations represented years of tradition, of the love between a husband and wife, a mother and son, and later the family Garrett had created with Tyson and Caden.

  For the first time, Lucy wanted to create her own traditions. Caroling on a downtown corner with friends...a raucous snowball fight breaking the quiet of a December night. She pressed her fingers to her chest as her breath caught at the thought of little boys with Caden’s tousled hair and mischievous smile romping through the snow.

  Could that sort of life be possible for her? She’d learned the best way to avoid disappointment and heartache was to keep her expectations low. But Caden made her want a life she believed could make her happy.

  She knew it wouldn’t be easy. Even if her mother truly loved Garrett, Maureen had a tendency to sabotage the good things in their lives. Lucy would have to trust Caden enough to explain fully her mother’s history and hope that he’d understand and allow his father to make his own decisions about his life.

  But she couldn’t go forward until they were both on the same page about her past, the choices Maureen had made and Lucy’s role in protecting her mother when reality got to be too much for Maureen to handle.

  There was another truth she had to make Caden see first, and nerves skittered through her as she heard the front door of the house open and shut.

  He appeared in the doorway a moment later, his color high from the cold. “How fast can you get ready?”

  “For what?”

  A small smile played at the corner of his mouth. “A date.”

  “With you?”

  His grin widened. “Unless you have someone else in mind.”

  She shook her head. “Of course not. I just wasn’t expecting... I hadn’t planned...”

  “New plan.” He stepped forward, lifted her hand to his mouth. “I’d like to take you out on a real date, Lucy. Something special. Will you go with me?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, the weight of the conversation she’d planned to have with him lifting momentarily. They had time to discuss the serious bits later.

  She wanted to believe what she had to tell him wouldn’t change things between them, but there was no doubt it would cast a shadow on their night. Now that she’d become accustomed to basking in the light of her feelings for him, she wasn’t ready to risk giving the darkness an opening.

  She took a quick shower and got ready, borrowing a dark green sweater dress from her mother’s closet. It had long sleeves and fell almost to her knees, so it would be appropriate for December, but the deep V of both the neckline and back added a pinch of sexiness to the outfit.

  She’d packed one pair of high heels, black and strappy, and slipped her feet into them, loving the tiny bows at the ankles. After curling her hair and adding a bit of mascara and lip gloss, she spritzed herself with perfume and turned to the full-length mirror that hung on the closet door.

  The dress was gorgeous, but was it appropriate for whatever Caden had planned? They were still in Colorado in December. He’d said “special,” but for all Lucy knew, that meant a hoedown at the local lodge.

  “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

  She whirled around at the sound of Caden’s deep voice. He stood in the doorway, wearing a dark sports jacket with a crisp white shirt, burgundy tie and pair of navy trousers. A wide-brimmed Western hat was perched on his head, and she’d never seen her high-mountain cowboy look more handsome.

  “Thank you,” she said, “but I think you need to get out more.”

  He shook his head. “I’ve been all over the world. You’re it for me.”

  It felt as though her heart skipped a beat. She knew he was talking about how she looked, but she had trouble not reading more into the words. The way he said them, his tone filled with awe, made her feel like he was choosing her, and nothing had ever meant so much.

  “You look quite handsome yourself,” she said, making her voice light. No sense in letting him see how far gone she was. Not until she was certain he felt the same way. “Cowboy couture suits you.”

  “Cowboy couture,” he repeated with a chuckle. “Is that official retail lingo?”

  She moved toward him. “That’s officially me giving you a compliment.” She tipped up her chin and kissed him. With the heels on, she didn’t need to go up on her toes, although he was still a couple of inches taller than her. He took her hand and led her down the stairs to the front of the house.

  “I’m going to pull the truck to the front porch so you don’t twist an ankle in those shoes walking across the snow.”

  She made a face. “I forgot about the snow. I could change into—”

  “Hell, no,” he interrupted. “Your shoes are the stuff of my wildest fantasies. You can keep them on all night.” He leaned in and nipped at her earlobe. “Maybe later we’ll negotiate you wearing the shoes and nothing else.”

  She sighed. “What do I get in the deal?”

  “Whatever you want.”

  You, she wanted to shout. I want you.

  Her heart pitched at the thought, and she pushed away. “I need to check on Cocoa and the puppies. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  The dog wagged her tail and looked up at Lucy when she came into the laundry room. Thankfully, there’d been no more talk about moving Cocoa to the barn. The puppies were tiny but they were beginning to gain weight and size. “I’ve got a date with a hot cowboy tonight, Cocoa. Wish me luck.”

  The dog yawned and turned to lick the smallest pup. Lucy still hated that they hadn’t been able to save the last puppy, but Cocoa didn’t seem to feel the loss. She had her hands full with her six wriggling bundles.

  “You’ve got more important things to worry about than my love life. I’ll see you when we get back, sweet girl.”

  She slipped into her coat and opened the front door. A gust of frigid air whipped across her bare legs, and for a moment she rethought her decision to wear the dress with no tights. But then she remembered the look in Caden’s eyes when his gaze had swept over her. A minute of cold was definitely worth his reaction.

  He was waiting on the porch, and took her hand as she walked out. “I can make it to the truck,” she told him with a laugh.

  “Give me some credit.” He placed his other hand on the small of her back. “I’m trying to be a gentleman. It’s new for me.”

  She laughed and allowed him to lead her down the steps and help her into the truck.

  “Where are we going?” she asked when he turned out of the driveway in the opposite direction of downtown Crimson.

  “Aspen.”

  Of course Lucy had heard of the ritzy ski town, but she’d never imagined going on a date there. When she’d first come to Crimson, her only purpose had been to protect her mother’s relationship with Garrett.

  In the course of almost two weeks, the town had become her home. She had more of a life here than she’d made in a decade living in Florida. She was so grateful for everything she’d experienced and couldn’t wait to have a night out with Caden. In some strange way, it felt as though this night made what was between them official.

  “You know you
don’t have to try to impress me,” she said quietly, keeping her gaze trained on the guardrail at the edge of the highway. “I’m a sure thing.”

  “Don’t make yourself less than who you are, Lucy.”

  The words were spoken gently, but they felt like a slap to the face.

  “I’m not,” she insisted.

  “Yes, you are.” He reached for her hand, but she pulled away, embarrassed that he could read her so easily. “Even though we started off unconventionally—”

  “Because you hated me,” she muttered.

  “I didn’t trust you,” he clarified. “But now I know who you are, and I want you to see yourself the way I do. I want to woo you. I want you to understand you deserve every good thing. You deserve to be cherished.”

  I deserve to be loved.

  She clasped a hand over her mouth and turned to Caden, afraid she’d spoken out loud her most secret desire.

  “You don’t have to agree with me,” he said, and she could tell by his relaxed manner that she’d only thought that last bit. Thank goodness. “But I hope you can allow yourself to enjoy the night. I know I plan to have a hell of a time.”

  “I can’t wait for whatever you have planned,” she said honestly.

  What he had planned turned out to be dinner at one of the fanciest restaurants in Aspen. La Bonne Maison was an elegant, French-inspired bistro she’d seen mentioned in the tabloids because of its popularity with the celebrities who flocked to Aspen during the ski season.

  “This place is famous,” she whispered as he pulled to a stop at the curb and a uniformed valet immediately opened her door.

  She climbed out of the truck and almost gasped as one of her favorite actresses walked past her and into the restaurant.

  Caden took her hand, squeezing gently.

  She knew she was gaping but couldn’t stop herself. “That was—”

  “I know,” he said quietly. “Aspen is full of Hollywood types, especially during the holidays.”

  “You don’t seem impressed.”

  He shrugged. “You impress me. I bet Ms. A-List Actress couldn’t assist a cantankerous dog through a difficult birth without freaking out.”

  “Cocoa is not cantankerous,” Lucy countered as Caden led her forward. A doorman opened the heavy wooden front door and they walked into the space, with its dark paneled walls and oversize fireplace that took up one whole wall. The lighting of the restaurant was soft, giving it an intimate feel. A woman greeted Caden at the hostess stand, air-kissing each of his cheeks before turning to Lucy.

  “Welcome to La Bonne Maison,” she said in a heavy French accent. “I’m so happy Caden finally had a reason to accept my offer.”

  “I’m excited to be here. As far as your offer...” Lucy threw a questioning glance toward Caden.

  “Louisa owns La Bonne Maison. I helped match her with her dog,” he explained almost sheepishly.

  “Jacques is the best companion I’ve ever had,” the woman said with a nod. “Far more agreeable than my ex-husband. I’ve wanted to thank Caden with a special dinner, but apparently he’s never had a reason to dine with us until you.”

  Caden cleared his throat, appearing uncomfortable at the restaurant owner’s comments. “The ranch keeps me busy,” he muttered.

  “Oui, mon chéri. But you must make time for the joie de vivre.” She took Lucy’s hand. “This one has finally helped you to see that.”

  “Oui,” Caden agreed in an exaggerated accent, making Lucy smile.

  Louisa led them to a small booth that afforded both privacy and a view of the rest of the patrons. “Our best table,” Louisa explained. “Mariah was not pleased...” She shrugged. “But c’est la vie.”

  When she walked away, Lucy leaned across the table. “That must be one incredible dog.”

  Caden grinned. “He’s a good fit for her.”

  “Thank you for taking me here,” Lucy said after a waiter had brought a bottle of wine and poured two glasses.

  He arched a brow. “My father isn’t the only one who can wine and dine a woman.”

  A tendril of unease snaked along Lucy’s spine. “I don’t want you to think I need to be wined and dined. I’m not my mother.”

  Caden set his wineglass on the table and took her hand. “I know that, but I wanted to share this night with you. It’s about us, Lucy. No one else.”

  As was his way, Caden seemed to know exactly what to say to put her mind at ease. Her body relaxed and she smiled at him. “Then let’s have the most amazing evening. Just us.”

  * * *

  “Don’t even tell me my snoring woke you up.”

  Caden smiled as he crawled back under the covers the next morning. “Working a ranch woke me up,” he said, dropping a kiss on her bare shoulder. “But all I could think about was the image of you warm and naked in my bed.”

  She gave a little yelp as his cold fingers brushed the curve of her waist. “You’ve already been out?”

  “It’s almost eight, sleepyhead.”

  She turned to him, wrapping a leg around his hip and making his body pound with need. As beautiful as she’d looked last night in her fancy dress and heels, she was even lovelier with no makeup and her hair tumbling over the pillow. “Someone kept me awake all night. I was catching up on sleep. Are you playing hooky this morning?”

  “For an hour or so,” he answered. “Chad is going to work on the fence line near the edge of the west pasture. I’ll catch up with him later.”

  “Then we’d better make the most of this hour,” she whispered and snuggled closer.

  They both laughed as her stomach gave a low growl. “You’ve been in bed too long,” he said, kissing her hair. “It’s time for breakfast.”

  “I can make something easy,” she told him, keeping the sheet tucked around her gorgeous breasts. “If you need to get back to work...”

  “No sense playing hooky if I don’t make the most of it.” He pulled a navy Henley over his head. “How do you like your eggs?”

  “However you make them.”

  “Butter or jelly on the toast?”

  She smiled. “Butter and jelly.”

  “Got it.” He smoothed a strand of hair away from her face and kissed her again. “Breakfast in fifteen minutes.”

  “I could grow accustomed to the service around here,” she told him.

  He winked. “I sure hope so.” He moved toward the kitchen, passing his father’s bedroom near the top of the staircase. He’d gotten a text early this morning that Garrett and Maureen were rebooked on a flight that would arrive in Denver tomorrow morning. Caden wasn’t sure what that would mean for his relationship with Lucy, but he knew he couldn’t imagine saying goodbye to her now.

  He had no doubt they’d have to get creative with their time together. Caden thought about how he might fix up the small guesthouse situated to the south of the barn. Would Lucy want to get her own apartment in town if she was going to stay in Crimson?

  Could he ask her to stay beyond the holidays? Garrett had always told him Christmas was the time for new beginnings, but Caden never had a reason to believe it since he’d first come to live on Sharpe Ranch, until Lucy.

  He started frying bacon in a pan on the stove, then chopped vegetables and cracked eggs into a mixing bowl to make omelets.

  By the time Lucy appeared in the kitchen, her hair damp and in a loose bun at the back of her neck, he was plating the food. She sat a stack of files on the table and slipped into a seat.

  “You’re an amazing cook,” she said around a bite of omelet. “How am I ever going to go back to cold cereal for breakfast?”

  “Don’t,” he replied immediately and wasn’t sure which one of them was more shocked by the word. “Stay in Crimson,” he said before he lost his nerve. “Stay with me.”


  She studied his face, as if searching for something to help her know how to answer. “Caden, I want to say yes.”

  He sat down across from her. “Then say yes.”

  “I need to talk to you about something before we go any further.” She pushed her plate to the side and grabbed one of the file folders.

  “That sounds ominous,” he said with a smile that she didn’t return. His stomach clenched when she opened the folder to reveal the spreadsheets and ledgers he recognized from the ranch’s finances.

  “Derek Lawson is stealing from you,” she said, then swallowed hard. “I know he was your brother’s friend—”

  “Tyson’s best friend,” Caden clarified, shock and disbelief coursing through him. “Like one of the family.”

  Her chest rose and fell like she couldn’t draw in enough air, but her gaze never left his. “He’s skimming money from Garrett’s accounts, Caden. I can prove—”

  He stood up so suddenly his chair upended, landing on the floor with a clatter. “He warned me you’d do this.”

  Lucy’s dark eyes widened. “He warned you?”

  “He told me you called him and made some veiled accusations that—”

  “I called him to see if he could explain the way he’d been keeping the books. Of course he got defensive because he’s taking advantage of Sharpe Ranch and your dad’s other businesses.”

  Caden paced to the counter, unable to look at her a moment longer. He gripped the edge of the granite until his knuckles turned white. “I bet you have a plan for getting things back on track,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “I have a few ideas,” she agreed. “But first you need to confront Derek. He needs to admit—”

  “No.” Caden whirled around and stalked to the table. He couldn’t allow himself to consider that Derek had betrayed him. Caden had been the one to recommend Tyson’s old friend when Garrett needed help with the finances. If Derek was the villain here, it was once again Caden’s fault for allowing him into their lives. He had to believe Lucy was lying.

  She got out of her seat as he came toward her, not backing down for a moment. “You need to admit that this was your end game the entire time,” he said.