The Holiday Gift

He had come to truly enjoy the company of both of Faith’s brothers-in-law. They were both decent men who, as far as he was concerned, were almost good enough for her sisters.

“Addie’s in town right now and I feel bad enough about leaving her tonight when our time together is limited. I’ll have to see what she wants to do but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind coming out again and riding horses with Lou.”

“I get it. Believe me.”

Flynn had been a divorced father, too. He and his famous actress wife had been divorced several years before she was eventually killed so tragically.

The other man looked down the hallway, apparently to make sure none of the kids were in earshot. “I hear a certain H-O-R-S-E is safely ensconced at your place now.”

“Lou is twelve years old and can spell, you know,” Mary said with a snort.

Flynn grinned at the older woman. “Yeah. But will she slow down long enough to bother taking time to do it? That’s the question.”

Chase had to laugh. The horse and Louisa would be perfect for each other. “Yeah. She’s a beauty. Louisa is going to be thrilled, I think. You all are in for a fun Christmas morning.”

“You’ll come over for breakfast like you usually do, won’t you?” Mary asked.

He wasn’t so sure about that. Maybe he would have to see how that evening went first. He hoped like hell that he wasn’t about to ruin all his most important relationships with Faith’s family by muddying the water with her.

“I hope so,” he started to say, but the words died when he heard a commotion on the stairs and a moment later, Faith hurried down them wearing a silver-and-blue dress that made her look like a snow princess.

“Sorry. I’m so sorry I’m late,” Faith exclaimed as she fastened a dangly silver earring.

He couldn’t have responded, since his brain seemed to have shut down.

She looked absolutely stunning, with her hair piled on top of her head in a messy, sexy bun, strands artfully escaping in delectable ways. She wore a rosy lipstick and more eye makeup than usual, with mascara and eyeliner that made her eyes look huge and exotically slanted.

The dress hugged her shape, with a neckline that revealed just a hint of cleavage. She wore strappy sandals that made him wonder if he was going to have to scoop her up and carry her through the snow.

He was so used to seeing her in jeans and a T-shirt and boots, wearing a ponytail and little makeup except lip balm.

She was beautiful either way.

He swallowed, realizing he had to say something and not just stand there like an idiot.

“You’re worth the wait,” he said.

His voice came out rough and she flashed him a startled look before he saw color climb her cheeks.

“I don’t know about that. It’s been a crazy day and I feel like I’ve been running since five a.m. I’ll probably fall asleep the moment I get into your truck.”

He would love to have her curl up beside him and sleep. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time.

“I’ll have to see what I can do to keep you awake,” he murmured.

“Driving with the windows down and the music cranked always helps me,” Flynn offered.

“I spent too long fixing that hair for you to mess it up with a wind tunnel,” Celeste Nichols Delaney said as she followed her sister down the stairs.

Her words brought Chase to his senses and he realized he had been standing in the entryway, gaping at her like he’d never seen a beautiful woman before.

He cleared his throat and forced himself to smile at Celeste. “We can’t have that. You did a great job.”

“I did, especially with Faith trying to send three emails, put on her makeup and help Barrett with his English homework at the same time.”

“I appreciate your hard work,” Faith said. “I think I’m finally ready. I just need my coat.”

She made it the rest of the way down the stairs on the high heels and reached inside the closet in the entryway, but before she could pull off the serviceable ranch coat she always wore, Celeste slapped her hand away. “Oh, no you don’t.”

Faith frowned at her sister. “Why not? This is a stockgrowers’ dinner. You think they’ve never seen a ranch coat before?”

“Not with that dress, they haven’t. That’s why I brought over this.”

She pulled a soft fawn coat reverently from the arm of the sofa. “I bought this last month in New York when Hope and I were there meeting with our publisher.”

“I don’t want to wear your fancy coat.”

“Too bad. You’re going to.”

Celeste could be as stubborn as the other sisters. “Fine,” Faith finally sighed, reaching for the coat that looked cashmere and expensive. With a subtle wink, Celeste ignored her sister’s outstretched hand and gave it to Chase instead. It was soft as a newborn kitten. He felt inordinately breathless as he moved behind Faith and helped her into it.

She smelled...different. Usually she smelled of vanilla and oranges from her favorite soap but this was a little more intense, with a low, flowery note that made him want to bury his face in her neck and inhale.

“There you go,” he said gruffly.

“Thanks.” It was obvious she wasn’t comfortable dressing up, perhaps because so much of her childhood was spent with parents who gave away most of their material possessions to the people they worked with in impoverished countries.

“Are you happy now?” Faith said to her sister.

“Yes. You’re beautiful.” Celeste’s eyes were soft and a little teary. “Sometimes you look so much like Mom.”

“She must have been stunning,” Flynn said, kissing his sister-in-law on the cheek.

Chase cleared away the little catch in his throat. “Breathtaking,” he agreed.

Her cheeks turned pink at the attention. “I still think we’d have much more fun staying home and watching Christmas movies with the kids,” she said. She smiled at the three of them but he was almost certain he saw a flicker of nervousness in her eyes again.

“Now, there’s absolutely no reason for the two of you to rush back,” Celeste assured them. “The three of us have got this covered. The kids will all be fine. Go and have a great time.”

“That’s right,” Mary said. She gave Chase a pointed look, as if to remind him of their conversation earlier. “You ask me, these parties end way too soon. I suppose that’s what you get when you hang out with people who have to wake up early to feed their livestock. So don’t feel like you have to come straight home when it’s over. You could even go catch a movie in town if you wanted or grab drinks at that fancy new bar that opened up on the outskirts of town.”

“The only trouble is we both also have to wake up early to take care of our livestock,” Faith said with a laugh that sounded slightly strained.

“Louisa. Barrett,” she called. “I’m leaving. Come give me a hug.”

All the children, not only her two, hurried down the stairs to join them.

“You look beautiful, Faith,” Addie exclaimed. “What a cute couple you guys are. Wait. Let me get a picture so I can show my friends.”