A Cowboy's Christmas Promise (7 page)

“No.”

She turned Apollo back down the barn. “You should sometime. You might even like it.”

Right.
“Sure. Maybe.”

He felt his eyes grow heavy again as he leaned against the wall, and knew if they didn't keep talking, he might just fall asleep standing up.

Hayley's voice floated toward him. “Okay, your turn for a question. Doesn't even have to be a good one. Just anything to help us stay awake.”

Watching her body as she kept passing him, inhaling the sweet scent she left in her wake was giving him plenty of ideas how to stay awake, but they were completely inappropriate. For Christ's sake, he'd just met the woman, and for double-Christ's sake, he didn't do that crap.

Not that he hadn't had plenty of opportunities since Katie's death. He'd actually found it disgusting how magnetic a recently-widowed single dad was, and he'd gotten scary good at rebuffing subtle—and not-so-subtle—advances in the past two years.

But Hayley wasn't making any advances. She was simply his friend's bridesmaid, out here in Big Sky for two weeks, and then back on a plane. He was one hundred percent sure she had no interest in anything here but the horses, and he needed to stop thinking about her as anything but a casual acquaintance who would be gone before he even knew her.

“Okay, I'll help you, Daniel. Say
‘what's your favorite color?'
”

An-nd now she wanted to play friggin' Twenty Questions at four o'clock in the morning. This might be easier if he had any small talk skills whatsoever. He wracked his brain. “I'll do my own question, thanks. I already know your favorite color's green.”

“How'd you—”

“Am I right?”

Her eyebrows came together. “Yes. But how?”

“Lucky guess. Okay, if you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?”
Great. Now he sounded like a speed-dating nerd.

“Australia.”

“You didn't even have to think? Why Australia?”

“Because it is very, very far away from where I
do
live, and there's no way I could be expected to make it home for Christmas. Plus, koala bears.”

“Have you ever been there?”

She shook her head. “Nope. I consider myself lucky if I have time to cross into New Hampshire these days.”

“So how'd you swing two weeks all the way out here?”

“I haven't had a day off since
last
year when we were here, so I figured I'd earned it.”

He motioned toward Apollo. “And within days, here you are working again. You're not very good at vacationing, are you?”

“Are you kidding? This
is
vacation. These are
real
animals. Do you have any idea how nice it is to hang out with an animal bigger than my foot? Hollywood needs to stop glamourizing super tiny pets.”

“Totally agree.”

“It's kind of ironic, since they make such an effort out there to make everything else—bigger.”

Daniel laughed as she held pretend bowling balls to her chest. “Absolutely.”

He watched her gaze out the stable door into the quiet darkness. Then she turned toward him. “So where would
you
live, if you could go anywhere?”

“Right here.”

“Really? You're that happy here? You don't long for tropical white sands? Or the hum of a city? Or koala bears?”

He laughed. “Koalas just sleep all the time. Kind of boring.” He shrugged. “I'm where I want to be. Good people, good everything. And I prefer grizzlies. They're big and bad and you'll never catch
them
sleeping.”

Hayley did three more laps in silence, and he struggled to keep his eyes on the floor as her delicious backside passed into view each time. Was it the late hour? Lack-of-sleep delirium? Why was he suddenly having visions of her beside him in the hayloft, blankets and clothing in a clumsy heap? He stretched his hands, shaking his head as subtly as possible. Sleep deprivation was obviously taking its toll if he was having literal roll-in-the-hay fantasies about a woman he'd just met.

She turned toward him again. Her chatter would border on annoying if it didn't give him an excuse to watch her gorgeous, full lips.

“Okay,” she said. “Keep talking. Since you're already freakishly content with where you live, tell me something you wish you could do someday.”

“Hmm. So many ways I could answer that one.”

Especially since my brain has apparently gone on autopilot. Or south.

“Keep it clean, mister.”

He cleared his throat. “Let's see. I've always wanted to learn how to whitewater raft.”

“Seriously? You live out here and you've never done that?”

“Never found the time, I guess.”

She made her eyebrows bounce up and down. “It's not that you're…scared?”

“Nope. I actually think it would be a rush. Have you ever done it?”

“No. And I have no plans to start now.”

“Scared?” He mimicked her teasing tone.

“Smart. There is no way that stupid little helmet is going to protect you if you go crashing down those boulders at fifty miles an hour.”

“Just stay in the boat.”

“Says the guy who's never tried it.”

He watched her as she made the turn closest to him. “So what's something
you
wish you could do?”

“Whistle.”

He laughed aloud. “You can't whistle?”

“Not a note.”

“I don't think I've ever met someone who doesn't know how to whistle.”

“Well, congratulations. Now you have. I keep hearing you whistle, and I'm suffering from intense jealousy.”

He paused, trying to tear his eyes from her lips. “I'll teach you.”

Daniel saw her shoulders startle, probably at the way his voice had gone all deep and husky without him meaning for it to.

Her voice was a little heated as she replied. “I'm a tough student.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“No?” Her cheeks flamed. “Maybe?”

“Well…you've never had me as a teacher.”

Then there was a long pause in which he could hear only Apollo's hooves dragging on the stable floor in slow, rhythmic steps.

“Here. Take a break for a minute.” Daniel stood up and reached for Apollo's reins. “I've got him.” He tied the reins to a ring outside the stall, and Apollo hung his head. “We'll give him a couple of minutes.”

Hayley swallowed hard after she handed him the reins. Suddenly, she wasn't feeling nearly so tired.

She sat gingerly on the hay bale where he'd thrown a blanket, determined to keep things light. He probably hadn't meant to sound like he was inviting more than a whistling lesson. She'd probably heard him wrong.

He sat down beside her and his thigh bumped hers. She didn't move away.

She took a deep breath, not looking at him for fear she'd just lose all sense of reason and kiss him or something.

What was
with this ranch?

She finally dared to turn her head, and found him eyeing her curiously. He chuckled softly. “You okay?”

“Yup. Good. Sure. Fine.”

“Really.”

“Yup.” She stood up, not trusting herself to sit beside him. Despite the fact that the man had been on the job since early this morning, and despite the fact that he worked with animals all day long, he smelled way too good. Like cinnamon and soap.

He reached out a hand, pulling her back down beside him. “Settle. I don't bite.”

There was a long silence as they stared at each other, heat building between them where their hands were joined. His thumb stroked the back of her hand, leaving arcs of tiny flames wherever he touched.

Oh, no.

“You sure you're okay?” His voice was soft, deep, amused. It made her want to lean into him, to feel his lips on hers.

Instead, she shook her head slowly.

“You're supposed to be a cowboy.”

He chuckled as he squeezed her hand and gently pulled her closer.
Oh, God. He was going to kiss her.
“Cowboys are overrated. Trust me.”

Before she could answer, his lips touched hers, sending fireworks and warm honey to every nerve ending in her body, but just as she was about to melt into an embarrassing puddle, Cole's voice snapped them apart as he strode through the door at the other end of the barn. Thank God Apollo stood between them and Cole.

“Good morning, varmints! And you horses, too!”

He came closer and stopped short, glancing suspiciously from Daniel to her, then smiling broadly. “All right, you two. Go get some sleep. I'll take over now.” He grabbed Apollo's lead from the ring and disappeared from view as he checked out the horse's stomach. “How we doing, old boy? You gonna pull through?”

“He's, uh, looking good.” Daniel squeezed Hayley's hand, then made himself busy gathering his coffee cup and cooler. “Thanks for relieving us.”

“Least I could do after you did the night shift for us.” Cole ducked under Apollo's head, looking from one of them to the other again, and Hayley swore she could feel a rush of redness heat her face. “Long night?”

Hayley nodded quickly, suddenly desperate to get out of the barn. “Yup, but we're good. All good.” She picked up their dishes and her sweatshirt and made for the big door at the end of the stable.

She didn't turn to see if Daniel followed.

“So?” Kyla handed Hayley a glass of lemonade and joined her on the porch swing of her little cabin later that afternoon.

“So,” Hayley echoed. After Daniel had left this morning, she'd expected to be too jangled up to sleep, but instead, she'd flopped on her bed and never opened an eyelid until four o'clock in the afternoon. Now it was five, but the ranch was eerily quiet. Moose lay snoozing under the swing, happy to have her bare feet buried in his soft fur.

“Really? You're not going to give me anything here? You spend the entire night with Daniel, and you've got nothing to report? I've been waiting all day!”

“You say that like we were on a hot date. We were—quote—
spending the entire night
in a
barn
because your horse went colicky.”

“Still, though.”

“Just because you and Decker shared your first real kiss on a hay bale in a stable doesn't mean that everyone gets busy in the barn.”

Hayley gulped as she heard her own words.

Kyla laughed. “I never meant to imply that you should. Just curious. You guys looked kind of cozy this morning as he left. Makes a girl wonder, that's all.”

“We were walking zombies. I barely found my way back to the cabin.”

“And yet you skipped a little.”

“I. Did. Not. Skip.”

What?! Had she?!

“Did too.” Kyla couldn't suppress her grin as she pointed to Hayley's face. “So what happened? I need details!”

Hayley sighed, looking out over the barnyard.
No way was she sharing any details. Not yet. Not until she figured out what it all meant…if anything.

“Where is everyone?”

“Day Three trail ride. Did he kiss you?”

Hayley choked on her coffee. “Jeez, Kyla.”

“You're not planning to date him and dump him, are you?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you've practically patented the procedure?”

Ouch.

Hayley tried not to be hurt by Kyla's words. After all, they were pointedly, perfectly true. But still. It made her sound all hard-edged and scratchy.

She sighed. “You're the one who introduced me to him. Did you
not
want me to be interested?”

“I definitely want you to be interested. I just don't want you to grow
dis
interested.”

“Fling, Kyla. I just wanted to come out here and maybe have a little ego-boosting fling. With a cowboy, remember?”

“Daniel's not fling material, Hayls.”

“Then why'd you introduce us?”

“Because maybe I hope…maybe this time it could be different for you. He's not like any guy you've ever known, I promise.”

“Reality probably says otherwise.”

Kyla tipped her head downward. “Not that you're jaded about these things.”

“Maybe a little.” Hayley squeezed her thumb and forefinger together.

“Here's an idea: just relax and see what happens. Dump some of that forever-armor and see what the week brings. Maybe Daniel could turn out to be more than a fling.”

Hayley swallowed hard. She didn't do long-term. Wouldn't know how to even if she
was
willing to believe these things ever worked out well.

“I don't know, Kyla.”

“Give it a chance, okay? You'll never know if you don't try it. Relax and let things take their course, maybe.”

“I'm relaxed! Look at me! Lemonade! Porch swing! Barefoot! Slept all day! I don't
get
any more relaxed than this!”

Suddenly, she startled and sat up straight, watching a black truck meander down the long driveway toward the main lodge.

Kyla turned to see what she was looking at, and barely managed to shut down her grin before it took over her face. “Not
so
relaxed. Looks like Daniel's back.”

Hayley roped her out-of-control curls into a quick ponytail, striving to look casual while she did so. “He said he'd probably come back to check on Apollo this afternoon.”

“You know, Decker and Cole are perfectly capable of keeping an eye on Apollo now that he's through the worst of it. And Daniel knows we have a vet right on premises this week, so he knows we can probably handle anything that might come up…without his assistance.”

“I'm not actually qualified to treat your size animals, Kyla. Honestly.”

“Aren't you trained on pretty much everything?”

“Trained? Yes. Qualified? No. It's like doing a first-year kidney class in med school and then performing a kidney transplant. Not a good idea.”

“Well, he's a very dedicated vet. Maybe he's really here just to check on the horse.” Kyla looked her up and down. “Wouldn't hurt to maybe go grab a quick shower, though, in case he's got another reason to be here.”

“I hate you.”

“I know.” She grinned again, hopping up from the porch swing as Daniel's truck pulled up to the barn. “But eventually you'll thank me.” She headed down the stairs. “And put on a dress. I'm going to invite him to stay for dinner.”

“Kyla.”

“Don't make me play the bride card here. You're supposed to be doing whatever I ask this week, remember?”

“Related to the wedding.”

“You're both
in
my wedding. It counts.”

Half an hour later, Hayley cursed as she put a tiny drop of vanilla behind each ear and adjusted her sparkly hair band once again. Despite the thousands of dollars she'd probably invested in hair products over the years, she had yet to find one that was a match for her curls, so she'd finally started using a collection of clips and hair bands to do the trick.

She cursed again as a curl sprung loose at her temple, then cursed herself for cursing. Why did she care what she looked like? Who was she trying to impress, anyway? She sniffed her wrists, where she'd put more vanilla, then felt a tiny bit smug. Every woman knew that a man's favorite scent was bacon, not froofy flowers and spices.

So, see? If she'd wanted to get his attention for real, she would have rubbed some bacon bits behind her ears.

She took a deep breath, dashed some raspberry lip gloss on her lips, and headed out the door before she could change her mind. It was just dinner at a big long table with lots of other people she already knew and loved. There was
no
reason for these stupid grasshoppers-on
-speed to have taken up residence in her stomach.

“Relax, relax, relax,” she repeated as she mounted the steps to the main lodge two minutes later. She stopped at the top, looking down at the sundress Jess had insisted she buy last weekend. Its alternating splashes of blues and greens were actually gorgeous, and the way it flowed around her legs made her feel sort of princess-y. Paired with the sparkly silver sandals that matched her hairband, Jess had clasped her hands together and sighed. “Irresistible,” she'd said, then led Hayley to the cash register.

Irresistible, my foot.

If there was anything Hayley excelled at, it was being resistible.

“So how's the mother-in-law situation? Evelyn driving you crazy yet?” Cole tipped his beer bottle to clink with Daniel's as they leaned against the bar he and Decker had installed in the lodge's great room over the winter. The ranch guests had eaten early and were off to their cabins, and now Ma was banging around in the kitchen, but insisted she didn't want any help.

Daniel had come back to Whisper Creek to check on Apollo one last time, and Kyla had insisted he stay for dinner while Cole had pointedly
not
mentioned Hayley's name. Since Evelyn had taken the girls into town for dinner, it was either head home for mac 'n' cheese, or sit at a table with Hayley, and eat Ma's cooking.

Some contest.

The wedding was in three days, and Evelyn had taken up residence in Daniel's guest room—and everywhere else in his house. Somehow its walls seemed to close in while she was there, her hawk eyes peering into every corner, looking for things he was doing wrong.

“No more crazy than usual, I guess.” Daniel shook his head and sighed heavily.

“She tell you yet what she wants to talk about? Besides boarding school?”

“I think she's too busy trying to convince the girls she's the coolest grandma on the planet. I also might be avoiding her.”

“It's a strategy.” Cole took a slug of his beer. “What about Patrick? Can't her own husband talk some sense into her?”

Daniel shrugged. “I wish I knew. Once again, he bowed out of the trip up here.”

“So what do you think? Are they still going to try to get the girls back in Denver?”

“Definitely. I just don't know
how
they're going to try. Butter wouldn't melt in that woman's mouth this week.”

“Be afraid.”

“I am. She's like the classic wolf in grandma's clothing, looking around, checking things out, hoping for problems.” Daniel pictured his almost-empty fridge this morning, along with Evelyn's raised eyebrows as she'd relayed the message from the pediatrician's office reminding him to schedule the girls' overdue physicals.

“Y'know, if she's so hell-bent on spending more time with the girls, why doesn't she move up here?”

“Because that would mean uprooting their entire Denver lifestyle, and that's apparently not an option. They're the country club set, and we are woefully lacking a country club. Or polo ponies. Or a spa.” He shook his head. “Moving here isn't an option. They want the girls back in Denver. I'm just not sure how far they'll go to try to make that happen.”

When the screen door swung open, Daniel saw Cole's eyes widen, and then felt his do the same as he watched Hayley walk into the room. Too quiet for her to hear, Cole whispered, “
Who
is
that
? And what did she do to Hayley?”