All I Want for Christmas Is You (30 page)

“True enough.”

“And I don’t know what kind of struggles you and your family have gone through. That’s really none of my business.”

“Right.”

“But it doesn’t take much more than 20/20 vision to look around here and figure out you could use a little help.”

He rolled his eyes and stepped off the porch stairs. “I’m not looking for charity.”

“You need money,” she said to his back.

Stoney swung around to face her again, tossing her a cool look. “And you’re just the person to open the check book.”

She cocked her head. “Don’t be foolish. This could help both of us. You don’t look like the type of man to shy away from honest money.”

He drew in a deep breath and could hardly look her in the eye. She knew he wouldn’t step anywhere near her request if it held the stench of a handout. Men like Stoney were as complicated as the earth was old and the ground ran deep. For him, it had to be honest and earned. Nothing less would do.

“I’m not looking for you to carry my bags or draw the bath water,” she said when he didn’t respond.

His laugh was rich and hard and he dipped his gaze beneath his dusty leather hat, shaking his head. When he lifted his head again, she saw them. He had dimples. Deep, and completely adorable. Her heart betrayed her confidence and fluttered wildly.

“Good, because you’d be sadly disappointed.”

She forced air into her lungs and placed her hand on her chest to steady her rampant heartbeat. “I’ve checked out the prices the other outfitters are charging for extended trailing. It’s only right that I pay a little more since I’m asking for a personal guide. This isn’t a handout, just a fair business arrangement. I’m prepared to make the same offer to one of the other outfitters, too. That is if you’re stubborn enough to decline.”

He took a long appraising look at her, much like a man does when he finds a woman attractive, as if he was weighing the option to pass her by or dip his head and kiss her waiting lips. It filled her with a strange sense of longing she couldn’t define.

“I may be stubborn, lady, but I’m far from dumb.”

Her eyes widened, almost afraid to believe her good fortune. “So what are you saying? Will you help me?”

He rolled his dark eyes, kicked his dusty cowboy boot in the hard, dry dirt, and said almost under his breath, “I’m gonna live to regret this.” Then looking at her straight on with sapphire eyes as dark as a moonless night, he said, “You’ve got yourself a guide.”

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Look for The Knight and Maggie’s Baby, The Marriage Contract and Nothing But Trouble September 2011