Secret-Santa Cowboy: The Buckskin Brotherhood Read online

  Beth picked up her phone. “I’ll text Jared and see if he’s ready to pick us up.”

  “You know what? If he’s not, I could walk. It’s only four blocks.” She needed to talk to Leo ASAP.

  “He’d be mortified if you did that. He’s a cowboy.” She said it as if that explained everything.

  Which it did. Fiona hadn’t lived in Apple Grove as long as Beth, but she’d learned that cowboys were big on keeping their word.

  Beth’s phone chimed. “He’ll be here in five minutes.”

  Fiona and Beth used those five minutes to help Eva clear the table and load the dishwasher with whatever she dared put in there. Didn’t end up being much.

  “You’ve got a lot of dishes to wash by hand,” Fiona said. “I don’t like leaving you with—”

  “Don’t worry about it. I adore taking care of Winifred’s things. Sharing them with you guys has been a blast. We should do a girls’ night Christmas celebration every year.”

  “Absolutely,” Beth said. “You have the premier setup in this house.”

  Fiona smiled. “Look at us. Establishing Christmas traditions. I never thought I would.”

  “But you’re in Apple Grove, now,” Eva said. “Establishing traditions is what we do best.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Fiona was on her way. The wind hadn’t kicked up tonight, so he’d left the shop door unlocked.

  Amazing how sitting in the semi-dark sharpened his hearing. He’d identified the rumble of Jared’s badass truck when he’d pulled up in front. The motor of that big engine continued to vibrate as Fiona came through the door. Once she’d flipped the lock with a popping sound, Jared had backed out and headed away from town, the growl of his truck gradually fading.

  Fiona’s chair that she kept near the bedroom door was now over by the little tree. He’d moved it to give him a place to sit and wait for her. Perching on the bed fully clothed wasn’t any sexier than waiting naked under the covers.

  He’d angled the chair so the light didn’t hit his face and startle her. Anticipation gripped him as she came up the stairs. And yearning. He was tired of living in the shadows. He wanted to see and be seen.

  She appeared in the doorway, her face and body faintly lit by the Christmas tree. “Hi.”

  He stood. “Hi.” The lights on the tree reflected on her pale hair and the gleam of a gold necklace at her throat. She wore a red dress made from some soft material that draped her figure.

  She walked into the room, but paused several feet away. “Eva told me that the other members of the Brotherhood are staying at the bunkhouse tonight. Why didn’t you?”

  “I was going to, but after talking with Nick, I changed my mind.”

  Even in the dim light, her surprise was obvious. “Why?”

  “I was there for the ceremony and stayed for a drink after it was over. I’d made plans with you.”

  “You could have cancelled them. I would have been okay with that.”

  “You would?” Disappointing that she was so casual about it.

  “It doesn’t seem right that you’re with me instead of with your brothers.”

  “Want me to leave?” His chest tightened.

  “Not really. That doesn’t feel so great either.”

  The bands around his chest loosened. “Glad to hear it.”

  She took a deep breath. “I wonder if we should… clarify a few things.”

  “Like what?”

  “Where we see this going. Since it’s only our third night together, I wasn’t too worried about it. But choosing to be with me instead of the Brotherhood—”

  “It’s not as big a deal as it sounds like. This was a spur-of-the-moment plan. Jake realized that after the ceremony and a little celebrating around the fire pit, everyone except Garrett would take off.”

  “And if you hadn’t made plans with me, you would have been there.”

  “Except I did make plans with you.” He crossed the room and reached for her, not sure if she’d let him pull her close.

  But she relaxed into his arms, making that electric contact that jumpstarted his pulse. “Garrett wanted me to keep this date.” He gazed into her shadowed face. “I’m glad I did.”

  “I’m glad you did, too.” She rested her palms on his chest and her voice softened. “But just so you know, I have no expectations.”

  His breath hitched. “Meaning what?”

  “You and I are spur-of-the-moment, too. I was going to send you on your way the night of Operation Santa. Until you kissed me.”

  “And you liked it.” Leaning down, he brushed his mouth across hers. “I could tell.”

  “You rocked my world.” Her arms wound around his neck and she nestled closer. “I wanted you bad.”

  He slid his hands down her back to her firm tush and settled her against his needy package. “Past tense?”

  Her breath caught. “Present tense.”

  “Then let’s do something about that.” He’d encountered the dress’s zipper on the way down. He returned to a spot between her shoulder blades, located the tab and gently pulled as he nibbled on her full mouth.

  “I want to.” She cupped his head in both hands and leaned away from his kiss. “But first I’d like to know we’re on the same wavelength.”

  “Okay.” When the zipper glided past her bra, he paused to unfasten the hooks. Then he kept going. “Start broadcasting and I’ll tune right in.”

  “Hey.” Her fingers pressed into his scalp. “This is important.”

  “And I’m listening.” The zipper ended at the small of her back. He couldn’t resist slipping his hands inside her dress. Where her panties should have been, he encountered warm bare skin and two thin strips of elastic, one at her hips and the other dipping down to disappear between her cheeks. “You’re wearing a thong.”

  “I am, but before we—”

  “Is it new?” He lovingly caressed her sleek bottom.

  “Fairly new. Leo, I—”

  “Thongs turn me on. How did you know that?”

  “I’m psychic. Could we please—”

  “I have an idea.”

  “Does it have anything to do with the part of you currently wedged up against me?”

  “Good guess. How about if we make love first and then discuss the wavelength situation? Your thong just short-circuited my brain.”

  Her sigh of resignation had a hint of amusement. “Okay.” She released him from her iron grip and he was finally able to kiss her and put some heat into it. Her dress and bra came off with almost no effort and she kicked off her shoes.

  He scooped her into his arms, leaving the thong in place and her gold necklace on as he carried her to the bed and laid her down. Stripping off his clothes, he tossed them on the chair.

  His body cast a shadow over her and he moved aside, the better to enjoy the vision that was Fiona. He longed to flood the room with light, but he had to make do with the faint glow from the tree.

  It was enough. The face of a jolly Santa decorated the white satin thong. Grinning, he climbed into bed, braced his hands on either side of her head and leaned down, his mouth inches away from hers. “You bought that thong today.”

  “What makes you say that?” She cupped the back of his neck and urged him closer.

  “It would have been wasted in the dark.”

  “Like it?”

  “I’m about to show you how much.” Capturing her mouth, he reached under the pillow for the condom he’d tucked there. He paused to roll it on before beginning a leisurely journey from her lips all the way down to her toes. He saved the treasures beneath the thong for last.

  By the time he slipped it off, she was on the brink of coming. A few swipes of his tongue pushed her over the edge. Moving over her, he plunged deep and stroked fast to intensify her climax. Must have worked because she sounded very happy with his efforts.

  As her cries began to subside, he shifted the angle and took her up again. This time, he joined her, sinking into her heat wit
h a groan. Riding the wave of his release, he gasped her name. Then he said it again, more slowly as he drifted back to earth. The rush of emotion that followed caught him unprepared. His throat tightened.

  Damn. He’d never had this reaction to coming. He swallowed hard and rested his forehead against her shoulder. Squeezing his eyes shut, he prayed she wouldn’t figure out how close he was to losing it.

  She stroked his head as she trembled in the aftermath of her climax. “I did buy that thong today.” She drew a shaky breath. “I thought you’d get a kick out of it.”

  “Mm.” He didn’t trust himself to speak.

  “First thong ever. Not very comfortable.”

  “Bet not.” His voice sounded raspy, like a guy on the verge of… whatever he was on the verge of. Unmanly behavior, that’s for sure.

  “Leo?”

  “Hm?”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yep.” Still sounded like a frog. “Be back.” He eased away from her, climbed out of bed and made his escape to the bathroom. She’d added something to the décor in there. A nightlight in the shape of a Christmas ornament sent out a soft red glow.

  It allowed him to accomplish the cleanup job without turning on the overhead. Just as well. He didn’t want to look in the mirror and see red-rimmed eyes. He blamed Charley’s video for the state he was in.

  Charley’s video and then making love to Fiona. He was falling for her and she… he didn’t know where she stood. She’d bought that thong to please him, but that only meant she was having fun with this adventure.

  Tonight’s climax had brought him to the brink of an emotional meltdown. Time to face facts. He’d never been in this for fun and games. He wanted something more lasting, like what Charley had found with Henri.

  Armed with that insight, he walked back into the bedroom and settled in beside her, his back to the light from the tree.

  She reached for his hand and wove her fingers through his. “I didn’t ask you how the initiation went. It’s probably a secret ceremony, so I don’t expect you to give me details, but did it work out the way you all hoped?”

  “It did, at least I think so. It’s a private ceremony, but there’s nothing secret about it. We showed him a video Charley made not long before he died.”

  “Was he sick? Did he know he was going to—”

  “Not at all. Henri had bought a new video camera and wanted to test it. She coaxed him into talking about his philosophy of life. He didn’t want to do it, but she kept after him until he agreed.”

  “You all must be glad to have it, now.”

  “We are, but the Brotherhood hasn’t watched it since the funeral four years ago.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Tough?”

  “Yeah.” He took a steadying breath. “What is this thing you wanted to discuss earlier? My brain’s in slightly better shape to process whatever it is.”

  “Maybe this isn’t the time. You’ve already had a taxing evening.”

  “Is this a taxing subject?”

  “I guess it could be.”

  The tightness in his chest had returned. “Is it important?”

  “I think so.”

  “Then lay it on me.”

  “Okay.” She took a deep breath. “I worry that we’re not looking at this relationship the same way.”

  “How could we? We’re two different people.”

  “Point taken. But if our views are widely divergent, then we—”

  “Let’s hope not. I never want to diverge widely with you. That sounds terrible.” Maybe he could joke his way through this.

  She exhaled. “We shouldn’t go into it now.”

  “Sorry. Yes, we should. You said it was important.” The voice of doom was sounding in his head, but he blocked it. Might as well get whatever this was over with.

  “Well, all right. What if I give you my view of the relationship and you can see if it matches up with yours?”

  It wouldn’t. “Go ahead.”

  “To me you’re like Zorro.”

  “What?”

  “You know, the mystery man who wears a mask, like the Lone Ranger. You’re this shadowy figure who shows up, makes fabulous love to me and leaves. You’re a fantasy.”

  That stunned him. It put him in a box he didn’t want to live in. “No, I’m not.”

  “Then how do you see things?”

  “I’m a man who met a fascinating woman. She has a problem with my looks, so I’m dealing with that as best I can because I’m crazy about her. If I’m lucky, she’ll conquer her issue and we’ll have a shot.”

  “At what?”

  “A real relationship, Fi. You have your fantasy and I have mine. I never aspired to be Zorro.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “I don’t mean you’re literally Zorro.” Fiona scrambled to process Leo’s last few comments. He wanted a shot at a real relationship. But what if she couldn’t pull that off? Where did that leave them?

  “That touched a nerve, I guess.” He brought their joined hands to his mouth and kissed the tips of her fingers. “I spent way too much time in the acting world being someone else. I’m Leo Marston, working cowboy. That’s who I am, not—”

  “I promise I don’t imagine Zorro is making love to me. I know it’s you.”

  “Good.”

  “But I’m worried about the other thing you said. That part about a real relationship. I’m not sure I can—”

  “Why not? Don’t get me wrong. Making love in the dark is great. Making love in the light from the tree is even better. But I want more.”

  Her stomach bottomed out. “You could be disappointed.”

  “Not a chance.” He stroked her palm with his thumb.

  “You’re fascinated by the person I am when we make love in the dark. I’m no longer intimidated by your handsome self. I turn into a femme fatale.”

  “I was fascinated with you when you were dressed as an elf. That wasn’t in the dark.”

  “But you were in disguise. In a way, you still are.”

  “Are we back to Zorro?”

  “No, forget about him. This is about me. In the shadows, I can be myself, especially making love. Shine a light on it and we could destroy what we have, what brought us together. I’m not sure I can be myself when we’re in the light.”

  “Keep us in the dark and we have no future.”

  “I know.” And she hated it.

  He went silent for a beat. Then he dragged in a breath. “I want a future with you, Fi. That’s why I put on the Santa suit.”

  “That still blows me away. You went to so much trouble just to—”

  “It got me this far.”

  “What if this is as far as it goes?”

  “I don’t believe that. Which is why I want you to come to Christmas dinner at the Buckskin.”

  Thank goodness she’d discussed this with Beth and Eva so she’d had some time to frame a response. “So I can see the video?”

  “Mostly. How did you—”

  “Beth told me. She had a great time watching it last year.”

  “Last year’s was good. I predict this one will be even better. I can’t wait, especially because this time I know what’s coming.”

  “I’d love to see it, but I don’t need to be at Christmas dinner. Someone can forward the link to me. My email address is on my Planet-Friendly Paper website.”

  “I can get it for you, but that won’t be half as good as watching it with everyone else….”

  “I’d rather not, Leo.”

  “It’ll be so rambunctious you’ll be swept along by it. You’ll forget all about—”

  “I’m not chancing it.”

  “The Brotherhood wrapped all those packages and you should hear them whoop and holler when a kid opens one they wrapped and goes ballistic over the toy.”

  “I’m sure it’s fun.”

  “Beyond fun. And you’ve met those kids and parents face-to-face. Do you want to miss watching Georgie open his presents? Or that fire
cracker of a little redheaded girl, Jackie? Or her little sister Molly? What about those two boys, Jay and Davey?”

  “I won’t miss it if someone sends me the link.” The silence stretched between them.

  “I want you to be there,” he said at last. “Please think about it. You can come at the last minute. You don’t have to notify anyone. You can just show up.”

  “Please don’t expect me.”

  “All right, I won’t expect you. If you don’t make it, I’ll get the link and send it to you.”

  “Thank you.” She hesitated. “You’re upset.”

  “Disappointed.”

  “Because you’re hoping we can have a real relationship, as you called it?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “What if that never happens? Would you rather just—”

  “No.”

  “But—”

  “I don’t want to break it off, Fi. I don’t think I realized how much dinner at the Moose messed with your head. How embarrassed you were by… I almost want to call it stage fright.”

  She wouldn’t know. She’d never been on a stage. “I don’t want to be that frightened woman.”

  He gathered her close. “And I don’t want to give you up. We can stay in the dark if that’s what you need.”

  “But that’s not fair to you. I can tell you’re getting frustrated with it.”

  “I’ll tell you what would frustrate me more.” He cupped her breast and began a lazy massage. “Knowing you were climbing into bed alone every night and I wasn’t allowed to be here.”

  His touch sent heat to every part of her body, setting fire to logic.

  Moving his caress lower, he smoothed a palm over her stomach and reached between her thighs. “Would it frustrate you, lying alone in this bed, longing to hear my footsteps on the stairs?”

  She sucked in a breath as he aroused her with knowing fingers. “Yes.”

  “Then let’s not worry about what the future will bring and concentrate on making each other happy.” Thrusting his fingers deep, he proceeded to make her very happy indeed.

  * * *

  She woke from a dream of walking out on a stage stark naked. No mystery where that dream had come from. She turned her head.