Page 49 of Cowboy Stolen Kiss for Christmas

“Brex Morrison is more or less coat tailing off my family’s success in the toy making business. The snowman nutcrackers he’s currently selling were originally my design. He stole the plans from me and started making them without my knowledge or permission. Ames Carson found out about it and wanted to report him to the vendor oversight committee to get him permanently banned from selling his products in Pinetop. I asked Ames to hold off reporting Brex, only because I happened to be aware that Brex is using the money to pay his grandparents’ nursing home bills.”

Intrigue rippled through the sheriff the way it always did when he knew he was close to unraveling a case. “Have you ever met Mr. Morrison’s grandparents, Miss Lee?”

“No, sir.”

Probably because they don’t exist. He couldn’t wait to start digging into the whereabouts of the grandparents. Maybe his search would finally lead to something that would connect the seemingly unrelated crimes peppering his once peaceful hometown.

“It’s possible my parents met them at some point,” Laura Lee offered after a pause. “I could ask them.”

“How about I do it?”

“If that’s what you prefer, sir.”

It most definitely was. “Thank you for your time, Miss Lee. I appreciate your cooperation with the investigation.”

“Of course! If there’s anything else I can help with, just let me know.” She sounded like a woman with nothing to hide. She certainly had plenty to lose, though, if the crime spree sweeping its way through Pinetop was allowed to continue.

They all did.

CHAPTER 10: OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

August

Laura gazed out the windows in the cockpit as the Dallas skyline drew into view. “It’s never going to get old seeing everything from way up here,” she breathed, gazing at the world below them. The buildings were still postcard sized. The cars in stop-and-go traffic on the highways were no bigger than ants. Interstate loops waved and twirled like roller coasters.

Ames looked pleased as he spoke to the air traffic control tower through the mouthpiece on his headset. He banked left and curled around to get the jet into position over the runway. Lowering the landing gear, he started to descend.

It was the third time Laura had flown with him to Dallas after their near disastrous first attempt, and this was fast becoming her favorite part of the trip — the swift, panoramic view of the city, followed by the inexplicable sensation of returning home. She didn’t know why she felt that way about Canyon Creek Ranch after only a few visits. Maybe it was because she’d never had a place to call home until her family’s move to Pinetop. Or maybe it was because Dallas was home to the man she’d fallen so deeply and desperately in love with. Or maybe it was something else entirely.

Texas was a diverse state in terms of climate and terrain. In her opinion, the Carson brothers enjoyed the best of it all by living on the outskirts of a big city. They could enjoy the sights and sounds of the metropolitan area, then leave it all behind in minutes. They owned more than a hundred very private, wooded, fenced-in acres.

She couldn’t wait to be back behind their tall ranch gates. She always felt safer there.

Ames landed the plane on the runway and applied the brakes.

She experienced the pressure of being pushed back in her seat, coupled with the thrill of another successful arrival. After her first harrowing flight with him, she no longer took those things for granted.

Before long, they were rolling their suitcases to his truck parked outside the hangar. Ames gave her cutoff jean shorts and cowgirl boots an appreciative sideways glance.

“I saw that.” She chuckled.

“It’s your fault for being so beautiful.” He unashamedly checked her out again. “Can’t take my eyes off you today. Talk about distracted flying!”

“Are you angling for an apology?” She tipped her face up to him as they reached the driver’s side of the truck. It was a brand spanking new Ford pickup with dual tires and an extended bed. In true Carson brother style, it also boasted a midnight blue paint job, one with a diamond sparkle finish. Definitely custom work.

He tossed their suitcases in the back. “More like a kiss.” He backed her against the side of the truck and swooped in for a very tender, very thorough kiss.

“Wow,” she whispered against his lips.

“Exactly what I was thinking.” He kissed her again. “I’m so glad you’re finally mine.” He gently bumped noses with her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thanks for not giving up on me.” He’d been so incredibly patient with her while she’d moped through the emotional fallout from her broken engagement. His friendship had been a very big, very important, and very precious part of her efforts to move on with her life.

“Never!” He kissed her again. “You’ll always be worth fighting for, darling.”

She leaned into his kiss, reveling in the way he always made her feel. “I’m so happy that it scares me sometimes, Ames.”

He studied her through heavy lids. “What are you afraid of?”

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