Cowboy Unwrapped. Vicki Thompson Lewis

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      He remembered how she liked to tease, especially in bed. “No! I was going to contact you, but then I thought about your family and how you probably wouldn’t have time, so—”

      “I understand.” Her gaze gentled. “I was kidding you. It’s not like we had an ironclad agreement. Christmas is busy.”

      “But I’d love to spend time with you.” He couldn’t help saying it. She looked more beautiful than ever and he had vivid memories of how she felt in his arms. He wanted her there again.

      “I’d love to spend time with you, too.” The flicker of awareness in her eyes sent an unmistakable message.

      It went straight to his groin. “But I don’t know when. Tonight’s out. I just got here.”

      “I couldn’t anyway. Family dinner.”

      “And tomorrow night’s Christmas Eve. That’s a big deal at the ranch. Maybe you’d like to come out there?”

      “That’s a possibility. Our big celebration is on Christmas Day. But I’d need to check with my folks and see what’s planned. You know how it is.”

      “Absolutely. That’s why I didn’t contact you. I knew it could be dicey.”

      “True, but there has to be some free time.” She brightened. “Maybe tomorrow during the day?”

      He was encouraged by her eagerness to see him. “I have some stuff to do with the guys in the morning, but how about tomorrow afternoon? If you’d be willing to drive out to the ranch in the early afternoon, we could—” He thought fast. “Go for a sleigh ride. How about that?”

      “Sounds like fun! What time?”

      “Let’s say around two. That’ll give me time to get the sleigh hitched up.” And find one somewhere. Thunder Mountain didn’t have one, but surely someone in the area would. A sleigh ride down the snowy Forest Service road sounded like a terrific holiday idea—lots of blankets and maybe some privacy.

      “Great. I’ll be there. Listen, I have to go. I saw you walk in here and followed you so I could say hi, but my sister’s coming into town tonight and—”

      “Coming into town? I thought she was living with you.”

      “Not anymore. I have another woman sharing the house.”

      “Oh.” That didn’t help.

      “But she’s gone for the holidays.”

      That perked him up fast. “Is that right?”

      Amethyst laughed. “You should see your face.”

      “Sorry. It’s just that—”

      “I know.” Merriment danced in her blue eyes. “We’ll talk tomorrow. Maybe we can work something out.” Grabbing his arm for balance, she stood on tiptoe and pressed a quick kiss to his mouth. “See you then.” She turned and left the store.

      He wasn’t sure how long he stood there gazing after her while his fevered brain processed her brief but potent kiss and the information about her absent roommate. Okay, so she had to be with her family during the bulk of the holiday, but at some point she’d go home to bed. He’d be with his peeps at Thunder Mountain, but once everyone was sleeping, it wouldn’t matter whether he was there or not.

      “Sir, can I help you with something?”

      He snapped out of his daze and turned toward the hardware store clerk. “Yes, you sure can. For starters I’ll take...let me see...seven of these smoke alarms and if you have holiday bags to put them in that would be great.” Now that he’d be seeing Amethyst he might as well get her one.

      The clerk stacked them into the crook of his arm. “I’ll take these up to the counter. Our store bags have a little holly on them.”

      “That’ll do. I also need several outdoor extension cords and whatever LED Christmas lights you have left.”

      “We moved all the cords and lights to the Christmas decoration section against the far wall.”

      “Thanks.”

      “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

      “Do you know anyone with a sleigh for rent?”

      “You mean like a business that provides sleigh rides? I think one of the guest ranches is offering—”

      “No, not the whole ride. I have access to a horse. I just need the sleigh.”

      “Then I’m afraid I don’t know anybody. Sorry.”

      “No problem. Just thought I’d ask.” He wasn’t worried. Somebody would have a sleigh he could use. Amethyst was in town and eager to spend time with him. Christmas had just become a whole lot more festive.

2

      AMETHYST DROVE TO her parents’ house singing at the top of her lungs. She couldn’t wait to tell Sapphire that Jake Ramsey was in town. Her sister was the only person on the planet besides Jake who knew about that hot night in Jackson Hole. Talking about it, when it might never happen again, seemed like a mistake. Sapphire had promised to keep it to herself.

      Ah, but Amethyst had so hoped it would happen again. She had a gig in Jackson Hole for New Year’s Eve and she’d planned to contact him. She’d decided to wait until the last minute, though, in case he was off duty and had a date for New Year’s. What they’d shared didn’t fit in the category of dating and that made it twenty times more exciting.

      But she’d been aware that he could meet someone in Jackson Hole who didn’t have big dreams of a recording contract and was willing to work around his shifts at the fire station. Amethyst didn’t want to stand in the way of him getting his happily-ever-after even though she wasn’t in the market.

      He hadn’t found anyone, though, or he wouldn’t have asked her to come out to the ranch for a sleigh ride. The boy she’d known in high school and the man she’d enjoyed one scorching night with wasn’t a cheater. Far from it. With his sun-bleached hair, green eyes and firefighter physique he was the all-American good guy.

      She was a little surprised that some woman in Jackson Hole hadn’t snapped him up, but since no one had, she hoped to make use of whatever stolen moments were available while he was here. A sleigh ride into a snowy landscape dotted with pine trees and devoid of people was a good start.

      Grady Magee’s truck in her parents’ driveway told her that he and Sapphire had arrived from Cody. Amethyst was thrilled for her sister, a talented ceramic artist who’d vowed never to become involved with a creative guy again after several debacles. But Grady, whose recycled metal sculptures had taken the art world by storm, had changed her mind.

      Coincidentally, Grady and his older brother Liam had also lived at Thunder Mountain for a couple of years while their mom had recovered from a debilitating car accident. Grady had been at the ranch when Jake had lived there, so as she parked behind Grady’s truck she decided to immediately mention seeing Jake instead of waiting for a private СКАЧАТЬ