Christmas Cowboy (A Standalone Holiday Romance Novel)

by Claire Adams

  He patted me on the back, and I grabbed three donuts and a napkin before returning to my dad's office.

  "You want one?" I lifted my hand to show two of the donuts hanging from my fingers.

  "No. I want them both." He reached out and took them, giving me a wicked smile and shoving a whole one in his mouth. "Sit."

  "Shit?" I asked, tilting my head to the side.

  "No. Sit," he mumbled around the donut and reached for his massive mug of coffee that went wherever he did.

  "No shit?"

  I sat down and smiled, unable to help myself. It was rare for my father to be in a good mood, and he wasn't that morning, either, but I'd take anything I could get.

  "Did Cliff talk with you?"

  "Yes, sir. I switched with him."

  "And, he's paying you to do that, right?" My father lifted his eyebrow.

  "He wanted to, but I'm good. He's got kids at home, and I don't mind the manual labor. Keeps me in shape for the ladies." I rubbed my chest and wagged my eyebrows.

  "You moved out two months ago and have had to borrow money each month to make your rent. You need to stop being so damn nice and start getting paid for all of these favors, Finn. A real businessman makes money, not gives it away."

  I nodded. "I know, I just couldn't take it from him. I'll pay you back. I'll pick up a few extra days on the schedule."

  "That'll work." My father glanced down before looking back up at me like he had something else to say.

  "What?"

  "You spending Christmas at the house?"

  "Of course, Dad. I'll be there on Christmas Eve and that morning. Don't expect nothing big, though. My boss is a stingy mother fucker." I stood up and leaned over, rustling some of the papers on his desk.

  "Get out of here. Pain in my ass." He kept his face turned down, but I could see the hint of a smile on his lips. It made my day.

  I stopped by the supply room, stole a pair of thick gloves and lifted three shovels from the bin that held them before walking back out into the freezing cold wind. We'd had a great snow a few days back, which was kick ass for the slopes and the tourists, but for those of us who worked and lived on the big mountain, not so much.

  "Be safe out there, Finn," Milly called to me as she walked out of the front door of the warehouse.

  My dad's secretary would have made him a perfect girlfriend, but he saw her as a business associate and nothing else. The woman was beautiful, with long blonde hair that she braided down one side of her shoulder and big blue eyes. Her body was a little on the thick side, but curvy and feminine. If she wasn't twenty years my senior and so good to my father, I'd have already taken her to bed.

  "Yes, ma'am. Take care of my father? Make sure the old bat eats something healthy today."

  "Will do, baby. Just be safe."

  I smiled and climbed into the truck. I had to find a way to get them together soon. Milly was starting to grow restless in life and would do what most women who didn't get what they wanted did...she'd leave and find it elsewhere. That would be a huge loss for my father.

  I popped my cellphone into the hands-free device and hit the button for my best friend Brian before turning on my lights and windshield wipers. The snow had started to fall again, which would make for a long and painfully cold day.

  "Hey, buddy. Why are you calling me so damn early? Not all of us work our asses off for a hot meal and warm body to sleep next to."

  I shook my head at the bastard. "Right. I forgot that some of us sleep with men in suits to make millions. Remind me next time you've got your head up some old guy’s ass and I'm fucking the hottest thing in Aspen. Who's got it better?”

  "Point taken," Brian laughed. "What's up? You wanna grab a beer tonight?"

  "Maybe tomorrow. I have a full schedule today and had a long night last night."

  "Did you score with that Terri girl?"

  "Was that her name? I kept having to call her baby because I couldn't remember. Embarrassing."

  I turned down a long back street that had more snow than I should have been able to traverse through, but having done it all my life, it was nothing new.

  "Man whore."

  "You know it." I pulled off into the driveway and left the truck running idle. "Are we getting together with the guys next weekend?"

  "Yeah. Jared's bachelor party is here, remember? They fly in Saturday morning, but he's gotta go see his folks for most of the day. Let's plan on taking him to the club that night. Play a few games with the old bastard.”

  I chuckled and realized that we were likely to never grow up. "Sounds like a plan to me. I'm going to win, but you know that."

  "I do, but Jared doesn't. Let's let him be surprised at how well you've honed in your sexual prowess."

  "Sexual prowess? You're starting to sound like one of those suits you wear." I chuckled. "Besides, I'm still shoveling snow for a living. I need the right woman to sweep me off my feet and pay for my shit."

  "Naw, you're just in a slump, buddy. You're going to keep saving up, and when the time comes, we'll get your resort up and running. Don't let the dream die. They happen to be one of the only free things in life."

  "Ski resorts?" I teased him.

  "No. Dreams, you bastard. I'm going to go live someone else's now. See you later."

  "Later."

  I hung up and got out of the truck as the wind slammed against me. I wasn't living a dream, but a nightmare. Thankfully, it only lasted eight hours a day.

  Chapter Three

  Chloe

  My alarm decided not to go off the next morning, which had me running around our small dorm room like my butt was on fire. Jessie worked to help me get things together, but between the two of us, I was still going to barely make my flight.

  "I'll take you. You can't take the car, anyway." She opened the door and pulled the largest of my suitcases out into the hall.

  I manhandled the other three somehow and growled under my breath as hip hop music filled the hall.

  "Why did we have a whole bottle of wine last night? Who thought that was a good idea?"

  I moved behind her as fast as I could, luckily only stumbling over my luggage three times, but never actually hitting the ground.

  "Chloe! Where are you going?" Three girls from the cheerleading squad moved out into the hall behind me.

  "Home for the holidays. You guys have fun."

  "We will!" they yelled in unison, and I had to force myself to return their enthusiasm with a big smile.

  "Wine is good for the heart," Jessie mumbled and moved out of the building, holding the door for me. "Maybe it was just supposed to be a glass, but just think, we're all good now for at least a few weeks."

  I smirked and flinched thanks to the sharp pain that laced my skull. "I'm praying I get a seat next to a businessman who reads the paper the entire time."

  "You in coach or are you flying with the wealthy today?"

  "First class. You know how my father is."

  I loaded my stuff in the trunk and got in the car as quickly as I was able. Wine had never been a good choice for me, but it was Jessie's favorite, so I had relented the night before. The queasiness that sat in the center of my stomach reminded me why I should have denied her.

  "Are you excited about seeing your brother?" She got in the car and pulled out of the driveway before punching the gas. I buckled quickly and gave her a wide-eyed look only to get a laugh in response.

  "Yeah. He's a total gamer, but I was when I was younger, too. I still play with him, but no one knows that."

  "Your secret is safe with me." She winked and nodded to the Starbucks. "Want a coffee?"

  "No, my stomach is killing me. We're never going to make it in time, are we?"

  "Nope. Might want to let your dad know." She pulled into the Starbucks anyway. "I need something if we're not in a huge rush."

  "Get me a peppermint hot chocolate and I'll pay." I handed her my card. She knew better than to combat me on it. My father had enough money to go around, a
nd the majority of my monthly budget went untouched. Therefore, I paid—a lot.

  She ordered while I dug my phone out of my purse and took a deep breath. Calling my father for something good was hard, but having to tell him I hadn't met his expectations in any way, shape, or form sucked horribly.

  "Chloe. What's wrong?" His voice was deep and filled with parental sternness.

  "Missed my flight."

  "How is that possible, seeing that it leaves in forty minutes?"

  "My alarm didn't go off, Dad. I set it, and of course on the only day this week that it mattered, it didn't work." I pressed my fingers to my forehead and closed my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do was start an argument with my dad over the damn alarm clock, but no doubt we were quickly headed that way.

  "Then you should have set two alarms. The flight won't wait on you. It's called being responsible. These things cost money." His tone darkened, leaving me feeling like a child again.

  "I'll pay for the flight change," I spoke through clenched teeth.

  Jessie reached over and squeezed my hand, mouthing, “It’s okay. Just breathe.”

  "With what money, Chloe? Your card is linked to my account. You're not working, remember?"

  "I'll see you when I get to Aspen, Dad. I'll text Parker just before I get on whatever flight I end up on. Thanks for understanding. Hugs and kisses." I hung up and turned my phone on silent as anger burst through me and tears filled my eyes. "Why the fuck am I even going there?"

  "Because you need to see your brother, and this is going to be a great way to get starter money for your company."

  "I don't want his money. He's going to be up the crack of my ass the entire holiday, and then he'll tell me why I have something else to prove before he cuts me the check." I took my drink as Jessie extended it to me. "And you know what else?"

  "Tell me."

  "Him investing in my company is a horrible idea. That means he has some kind of control over it. Over me!" I was being overly dramatic, but I couldn't help it. The bastard had been nothing but a thorn in my side and a constant whisper over my shoulder that I wasn't good enough.

  "Take a deep breath and drink your hot chocolate. This is a win-win situation, and your dad will always be the kind of guy he is."

  "He didn't used to be." I reached up and wiped at my tears, thankful that I had no makeup on due to my lack of time to apply it. "When my mom was alive, he was..." My throat tightened, and I shook my head. "Never mind. I don't want to talk about this."

  My mother's death had changed us all, but it having happened so long ago, I would have thought we could all move past it enough to reconnect as a family. Parker and I had, but my father was a lonely island.

  "Maybe it's time to forgive each other and help him start dating again. It's been eight years since you lost your mom?"

  "Yeah. I was sixteen." I wiped the back of my long-sleeve t-shirt across my face. "I don't even know if he's dated anyone."

  "Maybe he's bitter, Chloe." She offered me a kind smile, and I nodded, hating the painful emotions that raged through me.

  "Maybe. I'm grateful for his money, but I think I'm just so pissed that he has nothing else to offer." I sniffled and leaned back in my seat, unsure of what to think about the upcoming events that had the power to change my life. "He's all I have, you know?"

  "I don't know, but I'm here for you. Find the fun and the good in this trip, okay? I know you, and if nothing else, you're a positive person."

  I nodded again and closed my eyes, laying my hand on top of hers and trying to steel my resolve to be the bigger person, no matter what.

  * * * *

  "I'm sorry about your situation this morning, Miss Burke." The pretty flight attendant glanced up from her computer to me and back down again.

  "It's my fault. I should have set two alarms, I guess." I shrugged and offered the woman a warm smile.

  "No. These things happen to us all." She pressed her finger to her lips and clicked a few buttons on her keypad. "We have two more flights today. One leaves in three hours and the next around five tonight. It's a late flight, which you might not want, but it's up to you."

  "A three hour wait or a nine hour wait? I'm going with the three hour."

  I pulled out my phone to text my father, but decided against it. If something happened, God-forbid, and I had to text him again, he would blow a gasket that was likely to hit me all the way in California.

  "Sounds good. I'll change your ticket, and we'll see you at gate B-25 in a few hours. Let’s get your bags checked in for the new flight, then you can go grab yourself a good book and try to relax."

  She handed me the new boarding pass. Getting my luggage checked in was a nightmare and a half, but everything had to get out of the dorms. They closed down during the week of Christmas for cleaning. Besides, I was done at UCLA, anyway. My time there was over, and I was on the road full speed ahead to growing up.

  The thought was exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time.

  I took her suggestion after getting through security. A romance novel and a Snickers bar would be more than enough fun to get me through the short wait. My father would be angry, but he would get over it. Besides, there would certainly be something else to stoke his angst over before too long. Nothing I ever did was right. How anyone worked for him was beyond me.

  I checked my phone again as I slumped down in a cold plastic chair and saw that I had a few texts from Jessie and one from Seth, but nothing from my dad. Me expecting him to start caring any minute about how it might feel for me to be stuck at the airport alone was stupid. I was a grown-ass woman, as he had reminded me many times over the last few years, and honestly, he was right. I was twenty-three with a Master’s degree. I'd say that was pretty much grown.

  After spending the first hour trying to get into the romance novel and not getting anywhere, I pulled out my small sketch pad and let out a long breath. I needed to work on a few new designs for my spring line that I wanted to kick off my new venture with. I let my eyes wander around, taking in the styles and color palates of the better dressed females walking through the airport and let my mind explode with options.

  My fingers scribbled furiously as I sketched out three new tops and a short summer dress that would only do well in warm weather states.

  "Attention all United passengers on Flight 2543. We're looking for anyone who might take a two-hundred-dollar voucher to move to the five o'clock flight. We're a packed flight today, and we have a standby passenger who's in need of getting home. If you're willing, please come visit us at the desk."

  "Nope," I muttered and turned my attention back to my drawing.

  Someone dropped down in the seat next to me with a loud sigh, and I glanced over at the young guy appearing to be nineteen or twenty.

  He looked my way and nodded. "Hi."

  "Hi." I returned to my project, not wanting to start a conversation with a stranger. I didn't like half my friends and most of my family. Strangers were definitely out.

  "That's pretty." He leaned a little closer as his dark gray eyes moved across my sketch pad. He was attractive, but in a rock star sort of way. The tats on his arms were done in various colors, some of them beautiful and some not so much. He had to have let a drunken friend do a few of them.

  "Oh. Thanks." I set the pad down in my lap and turned to him, resigning myself to a short conversation. "You heading home for the holidays?"

  "Trying to." He lifted a can of Sprite to his lips and took a long drink. "My parents are in Maine, and for some damn reason, I'm supposed to stop through Colorado to get there. I've been bumped from the flight, so it looks like a long afternoon."

  "Sorry to hear that." I crossed my legs and glanced down at my sketch pad, not really sorry at all.

  "Yeah. That call they put over the intercom was for me."

  That got my attention. "Why are you so desperate to get on this next flight? Are the connector flights all booked up if you don't make this one?"

  "There's t
hat, and the fact that my mother is going into emergency surgery at seven tonight." He shrugged, turning his gaze away from me.

  "Oh. That's not good." I didn't want to dive into her personal business, but he was leaving me little choice in the matter.

  "She's been battling cancer for the last two years, but I guess it's metastasized. She's not doing well." He reached up and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose as my heart ran cold.

  His story was a little too similar to mine.

  "I'm so sorry. Maybe this surgery will be exactly what she needs." My phone buzzed, and I lifted it to my face to read the text, grateful for the momentary break.

  Dad: The change in flight was $200. I'll add that to your ever-expanding tab.

  "How much was the voucher for someone willing to go later?" I moved to the edge of my seat as the desire to do something good left me overwhelmed.

  "Two hundred dollars, but it’s okay. I'm sure it will all get worked out."

  "Watch my stuff." I got up and walked up to the podium, sliding my ticket across to the flight attendant. "I'd like to give up my seat to that guy over there, and I'll take the later flight."

  "Are you sure, Miss Burke? You were scheduled on the earlier flight and are already going to be arriving late."

  "I'm sure."

  "It's first class, and the next flight only has coach."

  "That's okay. I don't mind at all. Just apply the voucher to the fee you charged my father for me missing the first flight. Less for me to hear about later," I laughed, feeling good about my decision.

  "The fee has been waived, and we'll just give you the voucher for your kindness."

  "Oh no, I don't want it. Apply it to the guy over there. Give him a break. I'm blessed as it is."

  Her smile was filled with warmth as she nodded. "Will do. Merry Christmas."

  "You, too." I walked back over and reached out, patting the stranger on the hand. "It's all fixed. You're in my seat, and the drinks are free. If you look as young as you are, no asking for one."

  He sat up as tears filled his eyes. "Are you shitting me?"