Page 34 of Christmas with Three Cowboys

“I didn’t think he was ready.”

“Tamara had been gone for two years, right?”

I nod again. “Yeah, but Sammy was still healing. He was just looking for company, somebody to warm his bed. He’d go into town and get himself a new gal every week. Some younger, some his age. Some paid, some charmed. It didn’t really matter to him. I felt that Sammy got with Darla more because he couldn’t stand being alone. Darla could sense it.”

“Oh, I’m sure she did,” Melissa confirms. “Most women can.”

“I told Sammy to cool it with Darla for a few months at least. He shot me down. Said I didn’t know what I was talking about. A year later, Darla broke it off with him. He was restless and she didn’t have patience to nurse wounds he should’ve taken care of by himself. We were all sorry when they broke up. Hell, I walked on eggshells for months after that.”

Melissa smiles. “Let me guess. Darla was a powder keg.”

“And then some. Sammy actively avoided being in the same room with her. The fact that they can talk to each other now is a minor miracle.”

“Maybe we’ll get another miracle this Christmas,” she says, her gaze softening as she glances out the window. “You never know.”

Giant snowflakes drift loosely across the backyard. At least the latest blizzard’s over and we can work around the ranch without going snow blind. It’s eerily peaceful out there, as if the land is quietly preparing for Christmas. I suddenly decide I want to do something special for Melissa for the holiday.

“I think we already got our Christmas miracle with you,” I say to Melissa, then lean in and plant a kiss on her lips.

She stills, then responds, letting my tongue slip through.

I taste coffee and brown sugar and a hint of the berries she nibbled on while making our breakfast. I smell the jasmine in her hair and the roses from the shower gel she uses every morning.

“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me,” Melissa replies as I slowly pull back.

“It’s the truth,” I say. “And I’ll prove it.”

I get up from the table and gulp down the rest of my coffee, then head out. But before I leave the kitchen, I stop in the doorway and give her one last look. “By the way, I loved what I saw last night,” I tell her. “I look forward to what comes next.”

She’s speechless, flustered. And judging by the darkness in her eyes, she’s also turned on. Nothing adds a kick to my heels better than the thought that I’m able to turn her on with such ease. Her lips stretch into a smile, and I give her a playful wink.

Once I’m outside, I zip up my coat and take a deep breath, spending a few moments on the porch before I head over to the stables. The cold air fills my lungs. The mornings are rough but beautiful out here. I wouldn’t trade them for anything, especially knowing I’ll be coming back to Melissa and a nice tall cupof mulled wine this evening. I can almost smell the red wine bubbling and the spices as they melt into the pot.

I imagine that gorgeous woman simmering in my arms, naked and wanting. I want her full surrender. Her complete abandonment of self. I want to protect her and make her smile, and should the weather turn stormy, I want to be her safe haven.

9

Melissa

“I’ve never seen ranchers take their cattle out in the winter,” I say, riding my darling Isabella next to Colton’s Apex.

Ethan and Mitch circle the herd with their horses, dogs running around to keep the cattle in check. We’re in the southern pasture, with the partially frozen creek acting as fence of sorts, keeping the animals from wandering off.

“Some ranchers leave them out to pasture all winter, but we like to keep ours sheltered so the grass can have a chance to grow back. Luckily, we’re blessed with a bit of good weather today. Temperatures just a smidge above freezing,” Colton says, smiling as he watches his brothers wrangling and laughing when one of the calves tries to explore the snow away from the herd. “We figured we’d get the big girls moving a bit before they’re mostly confined for the next few months.”

“You keep your animals happy.”

He nods once. “It’s the right thing to do. I know most people don’t agree with our approach, but we’re able to up the priceswithin a reasonable range and nobody ever bats an eye. Hell, if anything, our orders double in the spring.”

“Was it always like this?” I ask.

“Nah, my brothers and I implemented this practice when we took over. Our father ran the ranch the old-fashioned way. There wasn’t anything wrong with it, but the competition was slowly crushing us. Ethan’s the one who suggested we figure out ways to keep our cows happy. It sounded silly at first.”

“But then it started to make sense.”

“Mmm.” He gives me a long, curious look. “You like it here, don’t you?”

“I love it,” I quickly reply. “It’s beautiful. The air is fresh and clean. I’m surrounded by good people. What’s not to like?”

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