The Holiday Gift

His daughter let out a little shriek when he pulled up and turned off the engine.

“This is going to be so fun!” she repeated.

He had to smile as he climbed out and walked around to open the door. He never got tired of seeing the joy his daughter found in the simple things in life.

“Hand me your suitcase.”

“Here. You don’t have to carry everything, though. I can take the rest.”

After pulling her suitcase from behind the seat, she hopped out with her pillow and sleeping bag.

“Careful. It’s icy,” he said as they headed up the sidewalk to the sprawling ranch house.

She sent him an appraising look as they reached the front door. “You look really good, Dad,” she declared. “Like, Nick Jonas good.”

“That’s quite a compliment.” Or it would be if he had more than the vaguest idea who Nick Jonas was.

“It’s true. I bet you’ll be the hottest guy at the party, especially since everyone else will be a bunch of married old dudes, right?”

He wasn’t sure about that. Justin Hartford was a famous—though retired—movie star and Seth Dalton had once been quite a lady’s man in these parts.

“You’re sweet, kiddo,” he said, kissing the top of her head that smelled like grape-scented shampoo.

Man, he loved this kid and missed her like crazy when she was staying with her mother.

“Doesn’t their house look pretty?” she said cheerfully as she rang the doorbell.

The Star N ranch house was ablaze with multicolored Christmas lights around the windows and along the roofline, and their Christmas tree glowed merrily in the front bay window.

It was warm and welcoming against the cold, starry night.

The first year after Travis died, Faith had refused to hang any outside Christmas lights on the house and had only had a Christmas tree because Chase had decorated her Christmas tree with the kids and Aunt Mary. Faith hadn’t been up to it and had claimed ranch business elsewhere while they did it.

Last year, he and Rafe had hung the outside Christmas lights.

This year, Faith herself had hung the lights, with Barrett and Lou helping her.

He wanted to think there was some symbolism in that, one more example that she was moving forward with her life.

Addie was about to ring the doorbell again when it suddenly opened. Faith’s aunt stood on the other side and at the sight of him, Mary gave a low, appreciative whistle that made him feel extremely self-conscious.

“I should yell at you for ringing the doorbell when I’ve told you a hundred times you’re family, but you look so good, I was about to ask Miss Addie what handsome stranger brought her to our door.”

His daughter giggled and kissed the wrinkled cheek Mary offered. “Hi, Aunt Mary. It’s just my dad. But I told him on the way that he looked super hot. For an old guy, anyway.”

He felt hot in his suit and tie, but probably not the way she meant. Mary grinned. “You’re absolutely right,” she said. “Nice to see you dressed up for once.”

“Thanks,” he answered.

Before he could say more, Louisa burst into the room and started dancing around Addie. “You’re here! You’re here! I’ve been dying to see you and do more than just talk on the phone and text and stuff. It feels like forever since you’ve been here.”

The girls hugged as if they had been separated for months.

“Need me to carry your stuff to your room?” he asked.

“It’s just a suitcase and sleeping bag, Dad. I think we can handle it.”

“Let’s hurry, before Barrett finds out you’re here and starts bugging us,” Louisa said.

Poor Barrett, who until recently had been completely outnumbered by all the women in his life. At least now he had a couple of uncles and an honorary cousin in Rafe’s nephew, Joey.

“Faith only came in from the barn about half an hour ago so she’s still getting ready,” Mary said, her plump features tight with disapproval for a moment before she wiped the expression away and gave him a smile instead. “I heard the shower turn off a few minutes ago so it shouldn’t be long now.”

He tried not to picture Faith climbing out of the shower, all creamy skin with her tight, slender body covered in water droplets. Once the image bloomed there, it was tough to get it out of his head again to focus on anything else.

“It’s fine,” he answered. “We’ve got plenty of time.”

“You’re too patient,” Mary said. Her voice had an unusually barbed tone to it that made him think she wasn’t necessarily talking about him waiting for Faith to get dressed for their night out.

“Maybe I just don’t want to make anybody feel rushed,” he answered carefully—also talking about more than just that evening.

Mary sniffed. “That’s all well and good, but sometimes time can be your worst enemy, son. People get set in their ways and can’t see the world is still brimming over with possibilities. Sometimes they need a sharp boot in the keister to point them in the right direction.”

Well, that was clear enough. Mary definitely wasn’t talking about the time Faith was taking to get ready. He gave her a searching look. Maybe he hadn’t been as careful as he thought about not wearing his heart on his sleeve.

He loved Faith’s aunt, who had opened her home and her heart to Faith and her sisters after the horrible events before they came to Pine Gulch. She and Claude had offered a safe haven for three grieving girls but they had provided much more than that. Through steady love and care, the couple had helped the girls begin to heal.

Mary had truly been a lifesaver after Travis’s death, as well. She had moved back into the ranch house and stepped up to help with the children while Faith struggled to juggle widowhood and single motherhood while suddenly saddled with the responsibilities of running a big cattle ranch on her own.

“I’m just saying,” Mary went on, “maybe it’s time to get off your duff and make a move.”

He could feel tension spread out from his head to his shoulders. “That’s the plan. What do you think tonight is about?”

“I was hoping.”

She frowned, blue eyes troubled. “Just between me and you and that Christmas tree, I’ve got a feeling that might be the reason why a certain person just came in from the barn only a half hour ago, even though she knew all day you were on the way and exactly what time she would need to start getting ready.”

Did that mean Mary thought Faith was avoiding the idea of going on a real date with him? He couldn’t tell and before he had the chance to ask for clarification, Flynn Delaney came into the living room.

The other man did a double take when he spotted Chase talking to Mary. “Wow. A tie and everything.”

Chase shrugged, though he could feel his skin prickle. “A Christmas party for the local stockgrowers association might not be a red-carpet Hollywood affair, but it’s still a pretty big deal around here.”

“Take it from me—it will be much more enjoyable for everyone involved.”

He wasn’t so sure about that, especially if Faith was showing reluctance about the evening.

“Sometime this week, Rafe and I are planning to spruce up the set we used last year for the Christmas show. If you want to lend a hand, we’ll pay you in beer.”