Page 12 of Cowboy Stolen Kiss for Christmas

“I’m gonna be an uncle!” Flint’s delighted crow filled the cab.

“You’re not the only one.” Ames felt a grin pull at his mouth. It was impossible to remain in a grumpy mood in the face of such incredible news.

A little over a year ago, Nash had lost his right arm about an inch above the elbow in a highway accident that had nearly claimed his life. It had been touch and go for a few hours. The following days, weeks, and months had been full of even more challenges for the young bronc champion turned amputee. He’d assumed his rodeo career was over, but that was before the offer to come perform at Castellano’s indoor rodeo had arrived in the mail.

Fourteen months later, Nash was straddling two home addresses between Dallas and Pinetop, Arizona — serving as a rodeo rider, ranch manager, brother, husband, and now a father-to-be. He was a living, breathing miracle in cowboy boots. Someone Ames looked up to more than anyone else in the world. After losing their parents in their teens, Nash had also been serving as something of a father figure to Ames and Flint.

Ames continued to steal glances at his oldest brother as he drove them to Pinetop’s busiest downtown area. While Flint cracked a steady stream of new uncle jokes, Nash sat there looking genuinely happy. It was nothing less than he and Noelle deserved. The two of them had started off as friends, really good ones, before falling in love. As far as Ames was concerned, they’d set the gold standard for relationships. He could only hope and pray that he and Laura would be able to build something similar on their own incredible friendship.

He was so immersed in his thoughts that he almost missed the turn into the parking lot of the Peppermint Palace. He had to stop the truck and back up a few feet to avoid hitting the curb.

Flint indulged them with the sound of whooshing air brakes, following by the mechanical beeps of a work truck backing up in a construction zone.

“Do you mind?” Ames sent him a dark look.

Flint immediately launched into the sound of police sirens. He made it sound so real that Ames actually ducked a quick glance into his rearview mirror.

“Gotcha, sucker!” Flint pointed at him and burst out laughing.

Ames shook his head at Nash. “You do realize he’s gonna be the uncle who buys drum sets, corn poppers, and all the other most annoying toys ever invented?”

Nash chuckled. “Guess it’s a good thing we’re friends with a family of heirloom toy makers.” He elbowed Ames knowingly as he drove across the nearly empty parking lot to claim one of the front row spots. “Maybe you can put a bug in their ears to steer a certain young uncle accordingly?”

“Sure thing on the bug.” Ames rolled his eyes. “No promises on the steering. It’s Flint we’re talking about.”

“I’m right here, bros,” the brother in question reminded cheerfully.

“Only because you invited yourself,” Ames shot back.

“Technically, I invited Nash,” Flint corrected with a smirk. “I’m the stowaway you don’t think you need, but I’m about to prove you wrong.”

“Or,” Ames countered testily as he pushed open his door, “you can play the part of a silent observer before I do you bodily harm.”

“Eh, what’s the fun in that?” Looking unphased by the threat, Flint opened his door and hopped down to the pavement with a jackrabbit sized bounce. “Oh, wait! I know the answer to that question. Without me, you’d have no idea that ex-Romeo is gonna be running a good ten minutes late to the par-tay.” He drew out the word playfully. “That’s because someone gave him the wrong directions. Oh, and Lucy dropped Laura off right before we pulled up, so she’s already waiting inside the building all by her lonesome.”

Though Ames didn’t know how his youngest brother had scraped up the information about Brex Morrison’s arrival time, it didn’t take a genius to figure out he’d been talking to Lucy about the last item. With a growl of irritation, he tossed his truck keys to Nash and took off jogging, clearing the peppermint drawbridge in front of the silly looking restaurant well ahead of his brothers. He gritted his teeth as he entered the cylindrical building that had been painted to resemble a gigantic stack of pancakes. It felt like stepping onto the set of a cartoon television show.

Just as Flint had promised, Laura was standing alone in the wide front waiting area. Though cushioned benches lined the walls on three sides of it, she was standing a few feet away from the hostess booth, nervously twisting the corner of her thick cardigan sweater.

When the front door jingled to announce Ames’ entrance, she whirled in his direction. “Oh! Hi, Ames!” If anyone had been watching the way her tired expression lit up, they’d have assumed she’d been waiting for him instead of someone else.

He strode her way, ignoring the fact that he was supposed to be remaining in the background. “Hey, you!” He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her to spin her in a full circle. “Fancy running into you here,” he teased as he set her down. The shadows beneath her eyes tugged at his heartstrings. It didn’t look like she’d gotten any more sleep than he had.

She still looked amazing, though. Forcing his arms back to his sides, he drank her in like a man dying of thirst. Her dark hair was pulled back in a sassy ponytail that made his fingers itch to give it a yank. There was no stopping the low whistle of admiration that escaped him. She looked that good in jeans and boots, something he rarely got to see her in. Most of the time, she was wearing an elf costume, the standard uniform at Santa’s Toy Factory where she worked. And unlike last night, her jeans weren’t sporting a coffee stain the size of Utah.

She stepped closer to hiss, “Did you just wolf whistle at me, Ames Carson?”

“What if I did?” He gazed down at her for an unguarded moment, allowing her to read everything he was thinking and feeling.

“You look ready to steal that kiss you keep talking about.” She gave a breathy giggle and took a step back.

“Darling, I was born ready for that.” He winked at her.

“Probably not a good idea to start your life of crime this morning.” She whirled to face the front door as it jingled again, instinctively backing up a step in his direction.

He doubted she’d even realized what she’d done. It made his heart sing to know she felt safe with him. He bent to speak directly in her ear. “Relax. It’s just my brothers.”

She slumped in relief against him, briefly tipping her head against his chest. He wanted so badly to hold her that it was all he could do to keep his arms at his sides. However, Brex Morrison could walk in at any moment.

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