Spring in Snow Valley

by Cindy Roland Anderson

  “How is she?”

  “Humbled—at least for a little while. She’s actually being civilized.”

  “Will she really call her lawyer?” Cynthia asked. The thought of Nicole trying to take away Colby’s visitation rights sent a wave of anger through her.

  “Nah.” Colby shook his head. “She’s all talk. Usually I can handle it, but last night I was so worried and so—” He sighed. “It felt good to have someone have my back, you know?” He glanced toward the vending machines in the corner. “Are you hungry?”

  Cynthia nodded. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until he mentioned it.

  Colby went to the machines and returned with a bottle of chocolate milk and a package of white powdered doughnuts. “Cafeteria’s not open yet, so this will have to do,” he apologized as he resumed his seat.

  “It looks fantastic.” Cynthia broke the seal on the milk and took a long drink.

  Colby shifted in the uncomfortable chair. “You actually slept in this?”

  “From the looks of it, I slept better than you did,” Cynthia replied. Colby’s eyes were bloodshot and shadowed and his skin had a haggard, pallid hue. “Are you doing okay?”

  He shrugged. “Not entirely. I feel so responsible; I want to be the one to take care of her, not hurt her.”

  “You did take care of her; you brought her here,” Cynthia insisted, starting on the doughnuts. “You can’t shield her from everything.”

  “That’s what I keep telling myself. But I guess there’s always a part of you that wants to always protect them, isn’t there?”

  “Yes, even when they’re older,” Cynthia said.

  “Yeah ... about Anoria.” Colby sighed. “Cynthia, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how she would misconstrue things.”

  She nodded toward his phone, now sitting dark on the table. “Well, it looks you fixed that one too.” She rolled her eyes. “Of course she’ll listen to you when I’ve been telling her the exact same thing for weeks. But do you think she’d listen to me?”

  Colby grinned. “It’s a gift.” He plucked the milk from Cynthia’s grasp and took a swig.

  “Anoria has a point though,” Cynthia said, giving him a sly look. “I’m definitely too old for you.”

  “Oh, really?” he said, raising one eyebrow. “Well, luckily for you, I happen to be very mature for my age.”

  She swatted his arm. “Or, luckily for you, I happen to be very immature for mine.”

  He set the chocolate milk on the side table and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her closer in spite of the bumpy chairs. “Good,” he murmured. “It’s about time you had some fun.”

  Her nerves zinged and as he bent his head to hers, she couldn’t help smiling. The past was over, it was time to live—and love.

  Additional Works

  By Jeanette Lewis

  Coming in April 2016 from Jeanette Lewis

  The Rebellious One

  The Billionaire Bride Pact

  About the Author

  Jeanette Lewis

  Jeanette Lewis is an Amazon best-selling author of clean romance and a dedicated chocoholic. Dreaming up stories has always been one of Jeanette’s favorite things. Other favorites include family, friends, crisp Autumn days, having adventures, and frozen gummy bears.

  Visit Jeanette’s website for more information, to join her newsletter, and enter contests for special prizes: authorjeanettelewis.wordpress.com

  Running From the Cowboy

  Cami Checketts

  Dedication

  To my Snow Valley girls. Thank you for including me in this fabulous journey and being the best virtual friends a girl could have. I love you like sisters.

  Chapter 1

  Missy Horman darted into the back door of the stately church. She shouldn’t be so nervous about helping teach the youth Sunday School class. She’d been a teenager less than ten years ago. She should be able to relate to these young people and hopefully Pastor James was right and this would help her out of the funk she’d been in since her divorce. Her career as an online marital advice columnist was fulfilling, but she hungered for interaction with people outside of her family. Besides, getting away from her mother for an extra hour on Sunday morning was a huge bonus.

  The confidence she felt when she walked out the door in her knee-length floral dress with wedge sandals giving her an extra inch of height and her blonde hair curled fled as she clung to the door handle. Pressing a hand to her stomach, she willed it to stop rolling.

  Pasting on a smile, Missy forced herself to walk into the large room and immediately stuttered to a stop, digging her fingernails into her palms. Oh, no. Porter Wilson. He stood at the front of the class, talking with one of the teenage boys. No man had a right to look that good in Wranglers. With his wavy dark blond hair that hit the collar of his white shirt, those green eyes any woman would want to get lost in, and ruggedly tanned skin, he was like a poster man for Cowboys R Us. He could run the company singlehandedly and every woman would want stock in it.

  She used to enjoy being around Porter, because he was a fun flirt and a cowboy, but those were two qualities she could not stomach now.

  Just looking at him with his tight black Wranglers and cowboy boots made her stomach fill up with butterflies. Ugh. She was done with men, but especially with flirtatious cowboy who were so much of a man they made her knees knock together.

  Porter saw her lurking at the back of the room and gave her his signature smile—charming, flirtatious, and just a bit on the reckless side. “Look who’s here, beautiful Missy Horman. How are you darlin’?”

  She ignored the leap of joy from Porter calling her beautiful. He called every woman from two to a hundred beautiful. “I’m nobody’s darlin’ anymore, Port.”

  His mouth formed an O as the students jeered. “Ooh, snap! She sure told you Brother Wilson,” a tall, dark-haired boy said.

  “Yes, she did, Sam. Can I help you with something Sister Horman?” All traces of warmth had left his voice. Dang. No, that was good. That was exactly what she wanted.

  She swallowed and advanced into the room. “Pastor James asked me to help teach your class?” She hated that she’d ended with a question mark. Be confident. You can do this. These children need you. You need them.

  His eyebrows arched. “Is that a fact? Maybe we don’t need any help.”

  “He said you do.” Missy folded her arms across her chest.

  “Hmm.” Porter surveyed her slowly and her cheeks filled with color. “I think what we should try is a little friendly competition to see if we need any help. What do you say class?”

  They all cheered their agreement while Missy wondered if a friendly competition meant they would be betting in church. What was Porter teaching these innocent children?

  “If anyone in this class cannot recite all Ten Commandments, Miss Horman can stay and help me teach.” Porter stared pointedly at her as if daring her to back out.

  Okay, that was a pretty safe bet and probably not out of line for church. Some of the class members were whispering to each other and not even paying attention to their little interchange. No way all of these teenagers knew The Ten Commandments from heart.

  “Wait,” Sam interjected. “What if everyone in the class knows The Ten Commandments? Doesn’t she have to do something then?”

  Porter arched an eyebrow. “That’s a great idea, Sam. What are you thinking?”

  Missy squirmed under his penetrating stare, shadowed by long, brown lashes. She’d dated Porter’s brother, Luke, all through high school, so she’d always looked at Porter as simply a funny, flirtatious younger brother. He was all man now and she had to keep reminding herself that womanizing cowboys were definitely not her type.

  “I think she should have to give me a kiss if we all know them,” Sam said, grinning at his brilliance, even though his cheeks turned red and he couldn’t meet Missy’s eye.

  The class exploded. The other boys demanded they should get a kiss too while the girls
squealed about how lame and immature boys were.

  Missy sighed. Helping in a class full of teenagers with Porter Wilson. This was Pastor James’ big idea to help her get out of the funk she’d been in since her divorce? “Serve somebody else and you’ll forget about yourself and find true joy,” he’d claimed. As if she didn’t log enough service hours with her mother. She looked around the classroom of gangly boys and giggly girls. This was true joy? Yet, she wanted what Pastor James and so many in the church had—that glow and peace, the acceptance of life that emanated from serving. She needed it because she’d had it once and now she knew what it was like to live without it—it stunk.

  “No.” Porter’s voice cut through the din. “She has to give me a kiss if you all know them. I’m the one who taught them to you.”

  Missy’s breath caught. She’d rather kiss the teenager. Unlike Sam, Porter’s cheeks didn’t go red and he didn’t look away. Instead, his eyes held hers, partially teasing and all temptation. She was pretty sure this wasn’t the kind of teaching Pastor James had in mind. What kind of a role model was Porter anyway? It was obvious they needed her.

  Her shoulders straightened and she met Porter’s gaze with a challenge of her own. She was sick of people pushing her around, specifically her mom and Tate, she wouldn’t back down today. She was going to help these teenagers if it killed her and if Porter won the bet, she’d kiss him on the cheek and show him she wasn’t afraid of any man. Not anymore.

  The teenagers stopped squabbling and as a group nodded in agreement. The boys watched Porter with hero worship and the girls all obviously had a crush on him. Some of them shot her jealous glares, but most of them kept their focus on their handsome teacher. One thin girl with beautiful brown hair kept sneaking glances at Porter, then looking away. It was hard to blame the girls, she’d been there once. Sadly, Missy was more mature now and knew exactly which kind of men to be leery around.

  “You agree to the terms?” Porter asked Missy.

  The room around them faded away. Oh, my, his eyes were really green. She imagined him staring deeply into her eyes as he leaned in and… Porter arched an eyebrow and Missy blinked out of her daydreams and tried to remember where she was. “What was the question?”

  “Do you agree to the terms?” Porter’s mouth quirked with a smile.

  She was agreeing to kiss those lips. Oh. My. Heavens! “Yes,” she whispered.

  The class erupted in cheers. Porter held out a hand. “Come stand by me, pretty girl.”

  Missy’s spine stiffened and she marched to the front of the room. He’s just a flirt… he’s just a flirt, she kept repeating to herself. Don’t let him affect you.

  Porter reached down and wrapped his hand around her much smaller fingers. The warmth and strength of his touch sent shivers up her arm and she almost jerked away. She needed some distance to save her sanity, but she didn’t want to make a spectacle in front of the kids.

  “Okay, Sam, start us off,” Porter said.

  Sam stood and recited The Ten Commandments so quickly Missy wasn’t sure if he’d made a mistake or not.

  “Jamie.” Porter nodded to a pretty blonde.

  She gave him a coy smile before rattling off the Ten Commandments without a hitch.

  “Ryan.”

  Porter squeezed Missy’s hand as yet another flawless recitation ended. “I know you’ve always wanted a chance to kiss me,” he murmured in that low, sexy voice of his.

  Missy’s breath whooshed out of her and she about fell over. She forced herself to yank her hand free and fold her arms across her chest. “In your dreams.”

  He leaned in close and his warm breath brushed her ear before he whispered, “You have no idea, darlin’.”

  Missy had to take a step away or risk turning into his lips right then. He talks like this to every girl. He doesn’t mean it. The words didn’t have the strengthening power she needed.

  Five more students cruised through the commandments. They were to their last teenager, a scrawny boy who reminded her of Afalfa from The Little Rugrats with spiky brown hair, freckles, and a huge smile.

  “Finish us off, Grant.”

  “Sure thing, Brother Wilson.”

  Missy’s stomach and hands clenched tighter and tighter as the boy looked straight at her and slowly ticked off the commandments, his perma-grin never wavering. She glanced around the room and realized every eye was on Grant. He was the youngest of the bunch and her heart went out to him. If he messed up, all the older kids would blame him. But, if he made it, he’d be the hero. As he started the last commandment, she glanced at Porter and saw the pride shining on his face. She realized Porter set Grant up to be the hero and the grin on the kid’s face definitely told a story of needing this boost. Porter obviously knew what he’d done, but he wasn’t making a big deal about his role in building Grant’s confidence within the group. Despite her vow to never look twice at another cowboy, she couldn’t help but be impressed with Porter.

  Everyone cheered when Grant finished. Well, everyone but her.

  “Great job, buddy.” Porter turned to her and the class seemed to hold their breath. His tongue moistened his lips and she hoped she held in the sigh that wanted to escape. Oh, heavens. Did Porter know what he did to women with the smoldering look in those eyes and that face that she would never get tired of looking at? Sadly, with the way he flirted, she suspected he knew all too well.

  “You’re not really going to make me kiss you in the church,” she all but begged.

  Porter’s slow grin made her stomach take flight. She’d been on roller coaster rides that weren’t this exciting.

  “We could make arrangements for a more romantic setting,” he countered. “After our date Friday night.”

  “I am not going on a date with you.” She poked him in the chest and about jammed her finger. Dang cowboy who actually worked for a living and had all those smooth, rounded muscles to prove it.

  “Guess you’ll have to kiss me now then.” Porter slowly closed the distance between them.

  Missy backed up two steps and ran into the wall. Porter stopped right in front of her. Casually, he lifted his arm and rested it on the wall next to her head. “You made the deal,” he said, leaning a few inches closer.

  She glanced at the class to avoid drooling over his muscular form closing in on her. They were watching in rapt attention, like she and Porter were the stars of a movie or something. One of the boys elbowed his friend and they both laughed.

  “Just get it over with,” she muttered, clamping her jaw tight and bravely lifting her face. Porter wasn’t as tall as his brother Luke, and she kind of liked that. She wouldn’t have to stand on tiptoes just to reach his face, but he was still tall enough and so broad he made her feel way too small and feminine.

  Porter took his time, gently brushing his fingers across her cheek as he leaned in. Missy’s knees wobbled from the gentleness of his touch and the focused look in those green eyes was even better than she’d imagined. Porter dropped his hand from the wall and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her into full contact with his body, his much too strong and much too appealing body.

  “You okay, pretty girl?”

  Missy panted for air. “I will be… in a minute,” she ground out. She wanted him to kiss her so badly it was a physical ache. She wished she could claim she wanted the kiss because then she would be done with this silly bet, but she couldn’t lie to herself that well.

  “Yes, you will.” He grinned and lowered his face to hers.

  Missy meant to turn her head so he would just get her cheek, but she wasn’t strong enough. She melted against him the instant his lips touched hers. Then a strength born of the electricity zinging between them had her arching up onto her toes and returning his kiss with a passion she hadn’t felt since the first few times she’d kissed her ex-husband.

  Porter kept one arm around her waist, but used the other hand to tilt her chin and wipe out any sane thought she’d ever had with those oh, so firm, and oh,
so yummy lips.

  Missy entangled her hands in his dark blond hair and returned each movement with pressure and warmth and a joy she couldn’t ever remember feeling.

  Who knows how long the kiss would’ve lasted if they both hadn’t finally registered the cheers and catcalls from their teenage audience. Porter broke the connection, but didn’t let her out of his embrace. “Wow,” he whispered so only she could hear. “I can see why you didn’t want to give me that kiss in church. Luckily Pastor James isn’t here.”

  “Are you going to get married?” one of the girls asked in a dreamy voice.

  Porter quirked an eyebrow at Missy. “Should we?”

  The class all cheered.

  Missy blushed furiously and pulled away from his arms. She couldn’t meet the laughing gazes of anyone in the room. “No, we are not getting married, and I think this means I don’t have to teach with you.” She really wanted to help these children, but it was just too awkward now.

  “I think it means you do have to teach with him and you’d better stop instructing my flock how to kiss,” Pastor James stood at the back of the room.

  “Pastor James!” Missy’s hand flew to her lips. They were, unfortunately, swollen from Porter’s kisses. “Oh, my.”

  Porter strode across the room and grasped the Pastor’s hand. “We had a friendly bet. Missy didn’t believe our students could recite The Ten Commandments, but they nailed every single one. You would’ve been proud.”

  “I’m sure I would.” Pastor James shook Porter’s hand, a smile in his eyes. “I can’t wait to see what else you two teach these young people.”

  Porter glanced her way, his green eyes smoldering at her. “Neither can I.”

  Missy gave them both a weak smile and made an excuse about needing to meet her mother before church. She made it into the chapel without further incident with Porter. Her heart and cheeks would not calm down though. She found her parents and little brother, Jake, sitting in their usual pew. Unfortunately, Porter strode in moments after her and she could see Porter’s profile all too clearly. When had he gotten so big and… so smoking hot? How in the world had he cajoled her into a kiss in front of a classroom full of innocent teenagers? She pressed a shaking hand to her lips.