The Maverick's Holiday Surprise

Bella stopped in the break room the following morning for a bottle of water to take to her desk. She was surprised to see Hudson there, opening a carton he’d set on a side table. Every time she looked at him, a little tremor started inside her and she wished she could will it away. It wasn’t like she ogled calendars with pictures of buff firemen or handsomely suited GQ models for a little female thrill. But whenever she looked at Hudson, she felt a quiver of excitement.

She wasn’t sure if it was caused by his long, jeans-clad legs—those jeans fit him oh so well—or the Western-cut shirt with its open collar where a few chest hairs peeked out. He was long-waisted and lean, and she could imagine exactly how he’d look seated on a horse. His brown leather boots made him seem even taller. Even without his tan Stetson, there was a rugged-Montana-guy feel to him that had to do with the lines of his face, the jut of his jaw, his dark brows. His thick hair waved a bit as it crossed his brow, and she found her fingers itched to ruffle it.

Crazy.

He smiled at her now as he flipped open the carton and took out...a blue teddy bear. Then he dipped his hand inside again and produced a green one and then a brown one.

She couldn’t help but smile, too. “What are those?”

“Christmas presents for the young’uns. The day before Christmas they can each take one home.”

“Did you do this?”

“Do you mean did I pick them out and order them? Yes, I did. It seemed like a great idea. There are three more boxes of them out in my truck. I’ll stow them in the storeroom until Christmas Eve.”

She approached him, telling herself she just had to pass by him to get to the refrigerator. When she did walk past him, she caught scent of his aftershave, something woodsy that made her think of pine forests.

She took a closer look at the bears. “They look child safe with their embroidered eyes and noses.”

“That’s what the online description said,” he assured her. “I know how careful the teachers and parents are about those things. I learned that the first week I was here.”

“You had a crash course in child rearing from the teachers.”

“I did, along with the most tactful way to speak with parents. But it’s darn tiring being politically correct all the time. It’s much easier just to say what you think.”

“You usually say what you think?”

“I try to. Less misunderstanding that way. I’ve had a few sharp lessons in life, teaching me to get to the bottom of people’s motives really quick. Straight speaking does that.”

She nodded, opened the small refrigerator and pulled a bottle of water from the shelf.

Now he moved a few steps closer to her. She wrapped her hand around the cold bottle of water, suddenly feeling hot. He unsettled her so, and she didn’t know what to do about it.

“You were busy all morning, and I didn’t want to interrupt you. I spoke with Jazzy Smith, and she’d like to see your photos.”

Bella had considered the project but had doubts about becoming involved in it. “I don’t know, Hudson. I don’t even have a professional camera, and I don’t know when I’d have the time.”

Hudson gave her a long studying look. She had a feeling he was debating whether to say something. But then he said it. “You’re around babies and kids all day at the center, and you’re around your brother and the triplets the rest of the time. Don’t you think you deserve something of your own?”

She didn’t know why his comments felt like criticism of her life. She’d had a whole ton of criticism from her grandmother and her grandfather. She didn’t need any more from outside sources, making her second-guess what she was doing. Even her friends had been judgmental when she’d quit college to help Jamie. So before she thought better of it, she decided to say what she thought.

“You’ve no right to tell me how to live my life.”

He didn’t look shocked or even surprised, but rather he just gave her that same steady stare. “No, I don’t have any right to tell you how to live your life. But maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t hurt for you to talk about it with someone.” After closing the flap, he hefted the box of teddy bears into his arms and left the break room, heading for the storage closet.

See? she thought, mentally chastising herself. Say what you think and it causes tension. Yet on the other hand, her retort wasn’t quite fair, not when he’d just seemed to be looking out for her. She sighed and went after him.

He was shuffling things around in the closet, apparently making room for the teddy bears.

Teddy bears. How many men would have thought of that? Let alone gone ahead and taken care of it.

He didn’t look her way as she entered the closet, so she went right over to him and stood in his path.

“Hudson, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have responded like that. I guess you just hit a sore spot. That was my rebellious teenage side making an appearance.”

He didn’t seem angry. In fact, the look in his eyes made her breath hitch a little when he remarked, “I can’t see you as a rebellious teenager.” His lips twitched up a little in amusement.

If only she hadn’t been, her life might be so much different now.

“You have no idea,” she told him. As soon as she said that, she was afraid he’d ask questions. To forestall those, she said simply, “I’d like to meet Jazzy Smith. Did she have a particular time in mind?”

“Matter of fact, she said this evening would be good. If you’re free.”

Bella thought about it. “I’ll have to call Jamie and make sure he has help for dinner.”

“No problem. Just let me know. I can pick you up at your brother’s. No reason for us to take two vehicles.”

She considered riding in Hudson’s truck, maybe finding a common interest that didn’t include diapers and rattles.

“I’ll call him now,” she assured him and took her phone from her pocket, heading back to her desk. She could think better and breathe easier when she wasn’t in Hudson’s presence.

* * *

When Hudson picked up Bella a few hours later, Jamie was upstairs giving Henry a bath while Fallon finished feeding Katie and Jared downstairs. She called upstairs to her brother that she was leaving.

Bella explained to Hudson, “Giving a baby a bath can be tricky. Henry has his full attention.”

“I’ll meet him another time,” Hudson assured her.

But Bella wasn’t all that sure she wanted Jamie and Hudson to meet. Jamie was too intuitive, and her brother would sense her attraction to the man and zero in on it. She didn’t want that happening. It was difficult enough to deal with her reaction to Hudson, let alone Jamie’s reaction, too.

Hudson easily made conversation with Fallon. “I suppose you’re getting ready for the holidays at Country Kids, too.”

“We are. Artwork turkeys everywhere.”

Hudson laughed.

“Fallon’s such a good help with the triplets because she knows exactly what to do most of the time,” Bella explained.

“Experience definitely helps when you cope with kids,” Fallon agreed.

“I’m surprised you stop in here after work,” Hudson noted. “Kids can be draining. I admire the way Bella works and then comes home and helps with the triplets.”

“It’s easy for me just to stop in on my way home,” Fallon said. “And, like Bella, I love kids.”

Katie banged her spoon on her high chair tray while Jared pushed round cereal pieces into his mouth.

“Are you sure you’re okay for me to leave?” Bella asked.