Page 3 of Cowboy Stolen Kiss for Christmas

“Thanks!” He moved to the driver’s side of the sleigh to catch the postman’s eye. “I’ll be right back with Laura.” Jogging up the snowy sidewalk to the front porch, he was a little surprised to discover that no one had cleared the walkway. Normally, Mr. Lee was fastidious about details like that. Though the sun was dipping on the horizon, there was no porch light on, either.

Hoping everything was okay, he used the toe of his boot to clear a path up the short flight of stairs that would make it all the easier to escort Laura back down them. Before he could tap the doorbell button, the porch light flickered on. The front door popped open.

“Hey!” Laura stepped outside and pulled the door shut behind her. “You made it!” Though she had her face averted, it was impossible to miss the fact that her eyelids were puffy from crying.

Since it wasn’t in Ames’ DNA to play games, he stepped directly in her path and reached for her shoulders. “What’s wrong?” Though he suspected her ex was what was wrong, he preferred to hear it from the horse’s mouth.

Despite the shadows beneath her eyes, she looked amazing in a white puff jacket with a matching beanie and mittens. Her wavy hair tumbled past her shoulders like a dark waterfall. To him, she was the most beautiful woman in the country, splotchy cheeks and all. That was how bad he had it for her.

She gave a damp sniffle. “Can we please not talk about it right now? I just…” She glanced around his shoulder. “I just want to enjoy our sleigh ride, okay?”

“Okay.” Unable to resist the urge to comfort her, he tugged her closer for a quick, reassuring hug. When he lowered his arms, she gave a squeak of pain.

Her head jerked back a little, making him realize that the little plastic hook on his gloves had gotten caught in her hair. It was the hook that clasped his gloves together when he wasn’t wearing them.

“I’m sorry.” He fumbled with the hook and managed to make her wince again. Gritting his teeth, he had to remove his other glove with his teeth to bare his fingers. Only then did he achieve the dexterity required to release the silky strand of hair that had become snagged.

Her eyes were shimmering with a fresh round of unshed tears by the time he finished. “Listen, I’m really sorry,” he muttered again, hating himself a little for being so clumsy.

“It’s okay.” She smiled through the mist at him. “No good deed goes unpunished, huh?” In a playful attempt to help him put his glove back on, she leaned his way at the same time he bent his head to accomplish the same task.

Their foreheads collided.

Her gasp went straight to his heart, nearly strangling it. “I’m such an idiot,” he groaned.

“No, you’re not!” She tugged his glove the rest of the way on while he was still blinking away stars. “You’re my best friend in the universe.”

Ouch! Ames wasn’t sure if the sharp pain shooting through his skull was from bumping noggins or from being slammed solidly back into the friend zone. However, tonight wasn’t about him, his needs, or his wants. It was about serving up the kind of evening Laura deserved. He wanted to pamper and spoil her in ways that no one else had ever done. He wanted to show her what it was like to be with a guy who truly cared about her. He wanted tonight to be a night she’d never forget.

It was certainly shaping up to be unforgettable, just not in the way he’d hoped. At this very moment, he’d gladly settle for one thing going right. Just one thing!

As she moved down the porch stairs ahead of him, her left hand shot toward the railing. “Oh!” Her gasp filled his ears as her snow boots scissored out from beneath her.

He lunged her way and reached for her elbow to steady her. In the process, his left boot shot out from beneath him on the slick stairs. His taller, broader frame catapulted toward hers, threatening to crush her.

It was all he could do to skid his long legs beneath hers in order to absorb the brunt of their tumble. He grunted in discomfort as her weight slipped and slid against him, jamming him more fully into the hard edge of the stairs.

“Oh, my goodness! Are you okay?” Laura slithered like a wet eel against him to twist around and crane anxiously up at him.

He’d probably have bruises the size of San Antonio on his shoulders and backside tomorrow, but he managed to give her an affirmative nod.

“Liar!” She spat out the word, struggling to her feet and reaching for him with both hands.

Since he’d already established the fact that he was an idiot, he accepted her help and tried not to groan too loudly as she helped pull him upright. He took a tentative step to make sure nothing was broken. “Please assure me you’re alright.”

“I’m, er…” She leaned into him, pressing her face to his chest. Her shoulders started to shake.

“Laura, darling!” He gathered her close, careful to keep his arms snaked around her waist to avoid snagging her hair again. “Talk to me.”

A muffled sound erupted from her, then another one. That’s when he realized she was laughing, not crying.

His shoulders slumped in relief. “Man! You had me going there for a sec.” He spoke against the top of her head, enjoying her flowery scent and nearness. Though he’d come close to breaking a few bones in the process, having her in his arms like this was worth every bruise rising on his body.

“Thank you.” She slid from his embrace and took a shaky step back.

“For what?” He met her gaze ruefully. “Nearly yanking your hair out by the roots or almost breaking your neck?”

“None of the above, you dork.” She punched him lightly in the chest. “Thanks for making me laugh. I needed that.” By some miracle, her tears had vanished, and the splotchiness staining her cheeks was fast fading.

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