A Snow Country Christmas (The Carsons of Mustang Creek #4)(27)

He huffed out a breath. “Raine, you essentially have no terms. I’d walk over thin ice to save Daisy with or without the property, and your grandfather is a hero of mine. I’ll leave the cabin as it is, of course, if you’re serious about this.”

“That will be all you need to do then.”

“Why is it I think arguing with you is just a lesson in futility, but let me try one more time. This is exactly what I’ve been thinking about and then some, but let me have an appraiser put a fair price on it and—”

“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “It’s cathartic, giving it to you. Here, let me show you where I’d put a house.”

They waded through the snow for a few hundred yards and then she pointed. “There.”

The spot was idyllic to say the least, with a stream that was partially frozen right next to it, groves of trees, and a level area with a view that would support a house the size he was considering. A big one. Wraparound porch, a hot tub in the back, second level deck, and maybe three guest suites. He wanted to invite his family, but also use it for business purposes, and inside he wanted the real deal. Log detail, soaring ceilings, stacked fireplace, ultimate bathrooms...

“I agree it’s perfect.” He wanted to invite her to live with him and that was telling of itself. But he wasn’t necessarily there yet, and his spidey senses said she wasn’t either, so he left it alone.

“I assume you won’t go modest, so this would be perfect.” Raine nodded, her cheeks rosy from the cold.

It would be. “Lots of space...yes.”

Only perfect if you choose to share it.

Dangerous thinking for a confirmed bachelor, but the image was still in his mind. “You have artistic vision, so maybe you could help me design the house.”

That brought her head around. “I did study architecture in college. Just a few classes though. Are you serious?”

“Unfortunately, make a note. I’m always serious.”

That was true. He could kid around, but didn’t do it often or spontaneously.

Raine considered him thoughtfully. “If I have artistic vision, you have an artistic soul. Otherwise you wouldn’t catch on to what Slater wants to do so easily. I would love to help design your house here. It’s a dream come true for me. You’ll still need an architect, but we could at least draw up the idea of what you have in mind.”

We have in mind.

He wanted nothing more. “Let’s do it together. That aside, this is my night. Let me cook for you. I’ll have to borrow your kitchen, of course. I asked Harry if Daisy would eat lobster mac and cheese. She seemed to think that would go over very well.”

Of course she argued. “Lobster? You can’t get lobster in Wyoming in December. Last I checked they don’t abound around these parts. The local grocery certainly doesn’t have them.”

“I haven’t been in there but I’ll take your word for it. On the other hand, you can get it if you know the right people.” He tried to not sound smug and failed.

She pounced on it. “Grace.”

“Not Grace so much as her chef.”

“Stephano? He’s making it... Well then, I’m in.”

Such confidence. She was right, of course, Stephano adored Daisy so he’d been right on board when Mick had called. He said with mock indignation, “First you doubt the quality of my voice, and now this. How do you know I can’t cook?”

Raine gave him a gamine grin. “I know he can. You haven’t proven yourself.”

Mick just gave it up with a laugh. “I can’t cook usually but I spent a week in Maine when I was in college, hiking Acadia National Park. One of the rangers recommended this little restaurant and I had lobster mac there for the first time. The owner gave me the recipe when I ordered a second helping and she learned I lived in this godforsaken place called California. She felt sorry for any young man that didn’t live in Maine. The recipe is apparently an old family favorite.”

“My daughter loves lobster and she loves mac and cheese. Daisy will be thrilled.”

“Can we pretend it isn’t the only dish I can make?”

“Um, if you think you can fool her, think again, but go ahead and try. She’s a smart cookie. That kid figured out the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy way before any of her friends. I’m proud to say she let them go on believing but she sure was on to me. When asked flat out, I cannot tell a lie.”

“Good to know.” He said it lightly, but didn’t mean it lightly. Honesty was important to him. He kissed her cool cheek. “I mean that.”

“I take it we need to stop off at the resort before we pick up Daisy. The road crews will have been out by now.”

“We do.” He said it with a straight face. “A lobster waits for no one.”

Raine burst out laughing and picked up a handful of snow and tossed it at him. “Okay, now you do win for the worst line ever.”

He reached down and retaliated. “If you want a snowball fight, I’m in.”

“In that case, I should probably warn you I’m vicious.”

“I have good aim.”

Raine pelted him with another snowball. “Good luck, cowboy. I was born in snow country.”

He needed luck. She was pretty accurate as well. After the third one caught him right in the chest he surrendered, arms in the air. “Mercy.”