A Snowbound Cowboy Christmas Read online

  Dressed and downstairs by half past four, she was surprised when Belle pulled in front of the lodge instead of Dylan. She tried telling herself it eliminated the pressure of being alone with him in the car, but even she couldn’t deny the fact she was disappointed. Belle was great company, though and if she lived in town, they’d probably be fast friends.

  Emma could hear little kids screeching from inside Jax’s house the moment she stepped out of Belle’s truck. At least hers was a relatively normal height off the ground.

  “Are you ready for this?” Belle asked. “Because I’m not sure if I am.”

  “Why not?” Emma was surprised to see Belle hesitate at the front door. “This is my first Christmas with the Slades since I was a teenager. I haven’t seen Garrett since my first wedding to Harlan, which was a no-go because he left me at the altar.”

  “Harlan left you at the altar? And you married him anyway?” And she thought she and Dylan had problems.

  “I let him suffer for eight years before we tried it again. It’s a long story. Remind me to tell you about it someday.”

  “Here I thought I was the only nervous one tonight.” Emma peered through the window on the other side of the door. “I’ll tell you what. You have my back and I’ll have yours.”

  “You have a deal.” The women shook on it before walking into the madhouse known as the Slade family Christmas.

  “I’m glad you made it.” Dylan kissed her lightly on the cheek. “I had my doubts you would show up.”

  “I’m curious to see how the other half lives.”

  “The other half?”

  “My parents never did much for the holidays. Don’t get me wrong, we had a good time and it was special, but it wasn’t anything like this.” She couldn’t imagine children and pets running around her parents’ townhouse, or people eating off paper plates and drinking out of red plastic cups. “We celebrated Christmas, but the tree went up and came down within a matter of days. When I was home for the holidays, it was just my parents and myself since I’m an only child.”

  “You don’t have any other family?”

  “I have family scattered across the country, but none that live in Illinois. My father moved there for his hospital residency and they never left. Then I came along.”

  “Thank God for small favors.”

  “Ha!” Emma laughed so hard, she thought the butter bean would make an appearance. “A week ago you thought I was the worst person on earth.”

  “I wouldn’t exactly say the worst.” Ivy ran between them followed by another little girl and boy. “That’s Kacey and Bryce, my brother Garrett’s two kids. Kacey’s seven and Bryce is four. Let me introduce you.”

  * * *

  DYLAN HADN’T SEEN Emma laugh since, well, ever. And when she did, she cried. Actual tears. Harlan had taken her aside shortly after her arrival and apologized for meddling in her business. Between the children’s fascination with her and Belle’s baby bellies and Ivy’s dog Elvis’s fixation on Emma’s plate, the woman barely managed a mouthful here and there. None of it appeared to bother her. Except when it came time to sing "Jingle Bells." Emma turned a brilliant red every time they sang the line “Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.”

  Their magical moonlight romp would forever remain their secret and their secret alone. Dylan couldn’t imagine spending that moment with anyone other than Emma. It would forever remain his favorite memory of all time. He didn’t think anything could possibly beat it.

  When the children were busy playing near the large stone fireplace, Dylan motioned for Emma to follow him into the bedroom. He had both of their costumes hidden in the back of the closet for fear the little ones would stumble across them during a game of hide-and-seek. While he was sure Bryce still believed in Santa, he wasn’t so sure he could fool Kacey and Ivy. Especially Ivy, since he spent the most time around her.

  Dylan closed the door behind them, giving them a moment alone while they changed. “Um, I didn’t think this part through.” He turned and faced the corner. “You go ahead. I’ll stay here and give you your privacy.”

  “I appreciate it, but it’s not necessary. When you’re pregnant, you lose your inhibitions about people seeing you in various stages of undress real quick. Besides, you’re probably going to have to help me get these bloomer things on. I wasn’t expecting this intricate of a costume.”

  Dylan faced Emma who had managed to get her head and one arm into Mrs. Claus’s dress before realizing it had a zipper down the back. “Oh crap! Help me already.”

  “Stop flailing around like a catfish on a dock.” Dylan lowered the zipper and eased the red and white apron dress over her curves. “See, that wasn’t so bad.”

  “For you. Why do I have two pairs of bloomers? You just have to put on pants and a jacket.”

  “If I remember correctly, one pair of bloomers is shorter than the other to allow for the dress to pouf out.”

  “Oh, sure. That’s just what I need. To look even pouffier than I already do.” Emma eyed his bare abs as he tugged off his shirt. “Let me tell you something, Santa. You better shove a pillow or two under that jacket so I don’t look like roly-poly Mrs. Claus.”

  Dylan stepped into the red velour pants and adjusted the suspenders. “I think you make a sexy Mrs. Claus.” He braved a quick peck on her lips.

  “I think you’ve been sipping too much eggnog.” Emma attempted to step into the second pair of bloomers and almost fell onto the bed. “See, I told you.”

  Dylan picked the bloomers up off the floor and knelt before her. He widened one leg opening and held it out for her to step into before doing the same with the other. He eased the white cotton up her thighs before settling them on her hips. The costume may be corny, but the intimacy left him wanting more. The swell of her belly and breasts pressed against him, her lips inches from his own. He wanted to brand her with his mouth and claim her body and soul before she had a chance to leave him again.

  “Santa?” A soft rap emanated from the other side of the door, interrupting the moment. “It’s me, Belle. I have the naughty and nice list.”

  Dylan unlocked the door. Belle eased it open with one hand over her eyes. “Okay you two, put your clothes back on.”

  “Ha, ha. Very funny. I’ll have you know I’m wearing two pairs of bloomers. Santa can’t get through these.”

  “You wanna bet?” Dylan sidled up next to her until she swatted him away. “Hey, Belle, why do you look so frazzled? Are the kids getting the best of you?”

  “There are so many of them.”

  “There’s three,” Emma laughed.

  “Yes, but when they’re together, it’s like they multiply.” Belle collapsed on the bed. “You two go without me. Tell everyone I’m guarding Santa’s sleigh. They’ll understand.”

  “Oh no you don’t.” Emma grabbed her hand and began pulling her off the bed. “You’re not sending me in there without backup.”

  “Dylan’s your backup. I’m pooped.”

  “Come on, Belle.” He reached for her other hand. “Someone has to distract the kids while we sneak outside.”

  “Outside?” Emma and Belle said in unison.

  “It’s cold out there. You hadn’t mentioned anything about going outside in my bloomers when I agreed to this.”

  “Okay, fine.” One pregnant woman was enough, let alone two. “Belle, you just distract them and we’ll pretend we came in from outside. When you’re ready just say something like, Do I hear Santa Claus? And we’ll take it from there.”

  They turned out the bedroom lights and waited in the darkness for Belle’s signal. Even a white-haired wig and wire-rimmed glasses couldn’t abate the feelings he had for Emma. He just hoped her jovial mood continued until tomorrow morning, because he had a special surprise planned for her and the butter bean.

&
nbsp; “Did you hear that?” Belle said from the living room. “I think I heard reindeer on the roof. Who wants to run upstairs and check it out for me?”

  “I will, I will,” the kids shouted. They waited until they heard tiny footsteps on the staircase before emerging from the bedroom.

  “Ho, ho, ho!” Dylan belted in his deepest voice as he and Emma walked toward the fireplace.

  “We probably should’ve put the fire out before we did this. They’re never going to believe we came down that thing.” Emma squeezed beside him. “Ho, ho, ho!” She leaned closer and asked, “Mrs. Claus says, ‘ho, ho, ho,’ right?”

  “Every time she catches Santa at the strip joint,” Wes offered. “Be careful you don’t set your bloomers on fire.”

  Belle started to laugh. “Then we can call you hot-pants.”

  Emma stuck her tongue out.

  “Who’s been naughty and who’s been nice?” Dylan chuckled in his best Santa impression.

  “I swear to God,” Emma said with a hiss. “If any of you say anything, I’ll make sure there’s a lump of coal in your stocking tomorrow morning.”

  At least they were all laughing when the kids clambered down the stairs. After twenty minutes of beard pulling, questions about reindeer poop and Elvis almost attacking his jingle bells, Dylan had enough Santa for the year.

  Once they had changed and the kids were tucked into their beds for the night, Dylan drove Emma back to the lodge and walked her to her door.

  “Thank you for inviting me tonight. I really enjoyed spending time with your family.”

  “The pleasure was all mine. Thank you for letting this rift between us go for the holiday.”

  “Maybe peace on earth could spread past tomorrow.” Emma looked up at him. “I would love to ask you in, but I’m afraid I don’t have the strength or the stamina to give you what you want.”

  Dylan took her hand in his and lifted it to his mouth, kissing the top of it. “The only thing I want is your happiness. Merry Christmas, Emma.” His lips brushed hers in a brief yet tender kiss. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Merry Christmas, Dylan. Thank you for making tonight special.”

  Dylan felt like he was walking on air by the time he reached the lobby. After three days of silence, he finally felt hopeful again. His Christmas wish: a lifetime with Emma and her daughter.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Christmas morning, Emma awoke happier than she had been in years. After watching Dylan with the children last night, she had fallen asleep wondering what it would be like if he were her daughter’s father. She had missed Dylan more than she’d been willing to admit, and after spending time with him and his family, she wasn’t too eager to go back to the way things were.

  She assumed she would hate the silence of the country. She had lived in the city for so long, the twenty-four-hour bustle had become second nature. But the Montana silence had grown on her and she actually found it quite relaxing. It wasn’t all tranquility, though. She loved Dylan’s brand of loud. Children playing, brothers arguing good-naturedly, a sister-in-law clearly not ready to have a baby. She wanted it all. And she wanted it by Dylan’s side.

  He still hadn’t given Emma an answer to her final proposal. At least she wouldn’t accept their last conversation about it as a final answer. That would determine her next course of action.

  Or, would it?

  She didn’t need Dylan’s answer to decide if she wanted to make a new life in Montana. It didn’t matter either way. Dylan was here. Granted, he could always sell the ranch and move to Wyoming. He had mentioned it once. So what? She could go with him. The spark was still there between them. She had felt the passion last night without the physical touch or the words. Although, she certainly wouldn’t thumb her nose at those.

  Her parents would probably die of humiliation and her friends would probably try to have her committed, because moving to Montana was insane.

  Absolutely...the best idea she’d had in a long time.

  Emma’s phone dinged. She checked her messages only to find one from Luke. He was heading over to see Billy Johnson’s family this morning and said he would take the gifts she’d bought. She originally wanted to bring them there herself then she decided it was best if they were anonymous, the same with the donation her company gave them. Charlie hadn’t seen it that way, but he reluctantly agreed. She hadn’t spoken to the office since Friday, after agreeing to reconvene on Tuesday morning. She already dreaded it. One more reason to move to Montana.

  She had hoped to hear from Dylan since he had mentioned having a surprise for her. She couldn’t wait to see what it was. Although, she didn’t have anything for him and certainly didn’t expect a gift.

  Someone began knocking jingle bells against her door. She flew to it, well, as fast as a woman with twenty-five extra pounds and swollen feet could, and threw the door open.

  “Luke, it’s only you.” She stepped aside so he could enter the room.

  “Merry Christmas to you, too.”

  “I’m sorry, Merry Christmas.” She gave him a hug. “I didn’t mean to be rude. When you knocked that way I just assumed you were Dylan.”

  “I haven’t seen him yet this morning. Did you get my message? I’m ready to take those packages over to the Johnsons.”

  “They’re right here.” Emma waved her arm at the wall. She had originally bought a few things for the children then decided his wife deserved gifts, too.

  Luke removed his hat and placed it over his heart. “My word, are these all for the Johnson family?”

  Emma hoped she didn’t offend anyone with the number of gifts. Due to her predicament, they were the only ones she’d purchased this year. “Yes, they are.”

  “And you’re sure you don’t want them to know they came from you.”

  “Considering the role I played in all of this, I think it’s best.” Emma enjoyed playing secret Santa and made a vow to adopt a family every year from now on.

  “You have a big heart. Thank you.” Luke set his hat back atop his head and looked around. “This might take a few trips.”

  “I can help you bring some of them down.”

  “You will do no such thing.” Luke ushered her toward the door. “Leave me your room key, and I will bring these downstairs while you grab some breakfast before the French toast is all gone.”

  “Sounds like a plan. The key is on the dresser. I’ll see you a little later.”

  “Oh, and, Emma, you might want to bring your coat and gloves. It’s a bit chilly down there this morning. Something’s wrong with the heat.”

  “Okay, thanks. That’s kind of rough on Christmas day. The rest of the lodge will stay warm, won’t it?”

  “Sure. The dining and great room are on a separate system.”

  Emma slipped on her coat and jammed her gloves in the pockets. If it was too cold, she’d bring her breakfast back to the room. No sense in freezing when she didn’t need to.

  “Merry Christmas,” one of the guests said as they passed her in the hallway.

  That was odd. They weren’t wearing their coats. As she descended the stairs overlooking the great room, she noticed nobody had a coat on. “What was Luke talking about?”

  And then she saw him. Dylan walked through the glass doors and met her at the foot of the stairs. “Good morning, beautiful.” He kissed the back of her hand. “And Merry Christmas. Your chariot awaits.” He swept his arm to the side, revealing a double-row red sleigh with a team of two Belgian draft horses parked in front of the lodge.

  “Merry Christmas.” She bounced up and down. “What have you done?”

  He held the door open for her. “You’re about to find out.”

  Emma attempted to peek into the second row of the sleigh, but Dylan caught her mid-act. “Everything is covered up back the
re so you’re wasting your time.”

  She settled beneath the sleigh’s blankets, eager to see what he had planned next. Maybe it was the slight drop in the overnight temperature or the magic of Christmas, but Emma swore everything twinkled, from the trees to the ground itself as the sleigh glided across the snow. They stopped at their special place overlooking Saddle Ridge. Even the town sparkled in the morning light.

  Dylan reached behind them and lifted a large insulated picnic basket. “This morning we dine alfresco.” He sat the basket on the floor. “I will have you know, I had to look up that word just for this occasion.”

  He withdrew two insulated mugs and handed one to her before setting his on the floor. “Homemade hot chocolate, made by yours truly.” And then he handed her a large covered insulated plate. He removed the cover revealing a piping hot stack of French toast with a side of maple syrup. “Also made by yours truly.”

  “I can’t believe you did all of this. Not even in my wildest dreams could I have envisioned breakfast on a horse-drawn sleigh. You truly are a man of many talents.”

  Dylan smiled at her. “Oh, you have no idea.”

  After they ate, Emma enjoyed snuggling with Dylan beneath the layers of blankets as the sun warmed their faces. His strong arms enveloped her, making her feel safe and secure against the uncertainty of tomorrow. This was what she wanted. She knew every day wouldn’t be French toast and sleigh rides. And that was okay. It was the company of the man beside her that made it special.

  She rested her head against his shoulders and sighed at the serenity that had become her new norm. “I never want to leave this place.”

  Dylan nuzzled his face against her hair. “Neither do I, but I have another surprise for you.”

  Every inch of her body tingled in anticipation. “You’ve already done so much. What more could you possibly have planned?”

  “Do you want to find out?”

  Emma twisted to look in the seat behind them. “Yes, yes I do.” Emma thought her face would crack from smiling so big.