Slow Hand (Hot Cowboy Nights, #1)(80)

He released her slowly, murmuring hotly against her mouth. “It always will be with us, sweetheart… As good as it gets.”





Epilogue


A crash sounded outside her apartment, sending Nikki racing to the front door. She flung it open to find Shelby dragging a gargantuan fir tree up the steps.

“What the heck are you doing, Shel?”

Shelby looked up, her Santa hat askew. “What does it look like? The trees were on clearance at the Home Depot, so I thought I’d buy one and spread some Christmas cheer.”

Nikki scrunched her face. “Don’t you think it’s a bit too big for the apartment? That thing must be seven feet tall!”

Shelby shrugged. “I wanted the best one. Though I think it’s going to look more like a Charlie Brown tree by the time I get it in the door.”

On closer examination, the tree was pretty dried up and its needles formed a trail of green all the way from the apartment steps to the parking lot.

“How on earth did you even get it home?” Nikki asked.

“Got a ride from the guy working in the garden department. I also have a date now for New Year’s Eve.” Shelby winked. “It was kind of a trade.”

“Glad to know one of us will be having a good time.”

“So, you still can’t get a flight out?”

“No,” Nikki sighed. “And I miss Wade horribly. We were supposed to spend New Year’s Eve together, but the airlines are completely booked until the weekend after the holiday. I’ve called every day and put myself on all the waiting lists. I had no idea Montana is such a popular Christmas destination.”

“You could always drive there,” Shelby suggested.

Nikki shook her head. “Not on your life. I’ve never driven in snow before, let alone snow-and ice-covered mountains. The idea of it terrifies me even more than flying. Besides, I was going to leave you my car since you still don’t have one.”

“That old piece of—”

Nikki silenced her with a look. “It’s still better than the one you don’t have, isn’t it?” she retorted, hands on her hips. “A little appreciation might not be out of order.”

“Quit acting like my mother.”

“Then don’t be such an ungrateful little brat.”

Shelby dropped the tree and threw her hands in the air. “Fine! I’m outta here!”

“C’mon, Shel,” Nikki cajoled. “Let’s not get into it again. It’s Christmas Eve. I’d rather have eggnog than arguments.”

Shelby’s scowl softened. “You’re right. And I could go for a drink. You got anything good to spike it with? Or do I need to go back out and hit the package store?”

“I’ve got a bottle of Bacardi stashed away.”

“Had,” Shelby corrected.

“You drank it?”

Shelby shrugged. “Mojitos go really good with Jerry Springer.”

“I can’t believe anyone with your IQ watches that crap!”

“It’s highly entertaining…not to mention culturally enlightening.”

Nikki shook her head. “If that’s true, I’d rather stay in the dark, thank you very much. C’mon. Let’s get this pathetic tree inside, although with all my stuff packed up, I’m not sure what we’ll decorate it with.”

Shelby grinned. “Don’t worry. I bought a bunch of Christmas thongs on clearance.”

*

“I’m so sad,” Nikki whispered tearily into her phone. “I tried every flight but it’s impossible. I really miss you, Wade.”

“Me too, darlin’,” Wade replied. “More than you know. I can’t wait to show you just how much. We’ll make up for all the lost time when I see you.”

“You promise?” Nikki asked.

“Yeah. I promise.”

“How are you going to make it up?”

“You really want me to tell you?”

“Yeah. In explicit detail, but maybe I should take this conversation into the bedroom first.”

“That might be a good idea,” Shelby replied, rolling her eyes and upending the empty bottle of Captain Morgan.

The doorbell rang. Nikki stared at her watch with a scowl. It was almost midnight. Who would be dropping by at this time of night? The bell chimed a second time. She covered the phone and hissed to Shelby who was sprawled across the sofa watching a marathon of A Christmas Story. “Get it, will you? I’m kinda busy right now.”

Shelby protested, “But this is the part where he gets his tongue stuck to the flagpole.”

When Shelby still made no move to answer it, Nikki jerked her head toward the door. “All right already!” Shelby muted the movie before heaving herself up to answer the bell.

“I’ll be counting the days,” Nikki continued to Wade.

“That so? Well, I’m counting the seconds now. I’m hoping it’s not more than thirty before you answer the door.”

“What?” Nikki bolted out of her chair. “Are you saying—”

Shelby flung the door open. “Well, boy howdy, Nikki! Just look at what Santa dropped off!”

Wade stepped through the doorway, tipping his hat with a mile-wide grin. “Merry Christmas.”