Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
“Here you go,” he said, wiping the mess we’d made. “I am grateful, you know. I’m not thanking you for sex—that would be weird. But…thank you for coming by every day this week. It was above and beyond, and I appreciate it.”
I captured his wrist and waited for him to meet my gaze. “It was my pleasure.”
He nodded and yes, blushed again. “Nonetheless, if I can do anything to repay your kindness, let me know.”
I reclaimed my hat as I sat up. “Help me buy a Christmas tree.”
Moody frowned. “You were serious.”
“Yep. It’s just a tree, Moody.”
“Think of something else…or better yet, get back to me in January.” He fixed his glasses and put his hands on his hips.
I rescued my boxer briefs and jeans. “Nope, that’s the favor I’m collecting for soup duty. I’m open pretty much every day next week. Check your schedule and—”
“I’m busy! It’s that dreaded mistletoe and holly and ho-ho-ho time of year. People buy books and gifts and…stuff.”
“Make time for me, Moody.” I planted a rough kiss on his mouth and squeezed his bare ass. “I promise to make it worth your while.”
I plucked my shirt from the chair, grabbed my socks and boots, and redressed on my way to the front door. I heard muffled grumbling and groaning, and then—
“Fine, but I’m not going to like it. Not one bit.”
I froze, my hand on the doorknob and a big ol’ grin on my face. “Don’t be so sure about that,” I called out.
He probably had a snarky reply, but I got the hell out of there, pulling my socks on and stuffing my feet into my boots in the foyer on the way to my truck. Hey, I was playing with fire and possibly asking more of the grumpiest elf in town than I should have dared. That was a chance I was willing to take.
Don’t get me wrong—I wouldn’t force him to go anywhere with me.
All I wanted was a reason to be with Moody. If a damn tree was my ticket, I’d happily buy two.
10
HUDSON
Tanner Spade was one of those naturally engaging people who seemed to have a genuine lust for life. He couldn’t just say a simple good morning. He had to smack you on the back and ask how you were doing, usually while in the middle of grooming a horse or examining a cow, or today, cradling a two-month-old goat kid.
“Is this a bright and beautiful day, or what?” Tanner grinned, crooking his chin to the furry white burden in his arms. “Say hi to Nelly. She’s a feisty little thing. I caught her nibbling on her brother’s ear and terrorizing the cats.”
“Hiya, Nelly. We’ve already met. She followed me home yesterday…or as far as the fence, anyway.”
Tanner chuckled softly. “She’s a friendly one, aren’t ya, girl?”
I scratched under Nelly’s chin. “I was on my way to check the equipment list at the stable and—”
“You don’t have to do that. It’s one of my chores for later…after Mills takes our urban cowboys out for their ride,” he said, gesturing to the group of vacationing clients huddled around a stall, listening to a spiel about how to properly mount a horse.
I glanced over at the group of corporate big shots preparing for a day on the ranch. Some wore bolo ties, belt buckles the size of dinner plates, and jeans tight enough to constrict blood flow. That wasn’t gonna be comfortable.
I had to admit the dude ranch was the only aspect I wasn’t truly sold on. I didn’t have a problem with it, per se. I just couldn’t see myself playing tour guide to millionaires wearing thousand-dollar boots that probably wouldn’t see the light of day after one trip.
“Good idea, but I’m happy to do it. Or I can take Nelly off your hands,” I offered.
“Okay, suit yourself.” He passed the goat to me and brushed his palms on his jeans. “Be good, Nell. No biting. I don’t want Hudson to regret that he didn’t hightail it to Christmas Town when he had the chance.”
I stroked the kid’s ears and scratched the top of its head as I studied my new business partner. Tanner was my height but outweighed me by at least twenty pounds. He was a good-looking guy with wavy sandy-brown hair, green eyes, and an affable smile. His cheery disposition and positive attitude permeated every facet of the ranch.
I’d liked him from day one. And I’d learned a long time ago that you could tell a lot about folks based on how they treated animals. Tanner was the quintessential animal lover. He was the type who’d give a hungry dog his own dinner, use his shirt to fashion a tourniquet for an injured sheep, and stay awake till the wee hours of the morning to comfort a laboring horse.