Page 52 of The Holiday Gift

In the fading light, she saw stark relief on his chiseled features. “I’m so glad. I’ve been worried all day. And how is your other little mama?”

It took her a moment to realize he meant Rosie. “All the pups are great. They opened their eyes yesterday. The kids have had so much fun watching them. You’ll have to bring Addie over.”

“I’ll try to do that before she leaves on Wednesday but our schedule’s pretty packed between now and then. I don’t think we’ll even have time for Sunday dinner tomorrow.”

“Oh. That’s too bad,” she said, as he moved away from the horses toward the driver’s seat of the sleigh. “The family will miss you.”

“What about you?” he asked, his voice low and his expression intense.

She swallowed, not knowing what to say. “Yes,” she finally said. “Good thing we’re not having steak or we wouldn’t know how to light the grill.”

“Good thing.” He tipped his hat back. “Is there room for me up there or are you going to make me walk back to the lodge?”

She slid over and he jumped up and took the reins she handed him.

Though there was plenty of space on the bench, she immediately felt crowded, fiercely aware of the heat of him beside her.

Maybesheought to walk back to the lodge.

The thought hardly had time to register before he whistled to the horses and they obediently took off down the drive toward the lodge, bells jingling.

After a moment, she forced herself to relax and enjoy the evening. She could think of worse ways to spend an evening than driving across her beautiful land in the company of her best friend, who just happened to be a gorgeous cowboy.

“Wow, what a beautiful night,” he said after a few moments. “Hard to believe that less than a week ago we were gearing up for that nasty storm.”

“We’re not supposed to have any more snow until Christmas Eve.”

“With what we already have on the ground, I don’t think there’s any question that we’ll have a white Christmas.”

“Who knows? It’s Idaho. We could have a heat wave between now and then.”

“Don’t break out your swimming suit yet,” he advised. “Unless you want to take a dip in Carson and Jenna McRaven’s pool at their annual party this week.”

“Not me. I’m content watching the kids have fun in the pool.”

The McRavens’ holiday party, which would be the nightafterthe show for the senior citizens, had become legendary around these parts, yet another tradition she cherished.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to that one this year,” he said. “It’s my last day with Addie.”

“You’re still doing Christmas Eve the night of the show?”

“That’s the plan.”

It made her heart ache to think of him getting everything ready for his daughter on his own, hanging out stockings and scattering her presents under the tree.

“You’re a wonderful father, Chase,” she said softly.

He frowned as the sleigh’s movement jostled her against him. “Not really. If I were, I might have tried harder to stay married to her mother. Instead, I’ve given my daughter a childhood where she feels constantly torn between the both of us.”

“You did your best to make things work.”

“Did I?”

“It looked that way from the outside.”

“I should never have married her. If she hadn’t been pregnant with Addie, I wouldn’t have.”

He was so rarely open about his marriage and divorce that she was momentarily shocked. The cheery jingle bells seemed discordant and wrong, given his serious tone.

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