Home For a Cowboy Christmas(79)

“Thanks,” he said as he took the plate. If it tasted half as good as it smelled, it would be one of the best meals he’d had in a long time.

Once Cady had her plate and sat, he cut into the steak and took a bite. He shook his head in amazement. Next, he tried a potato.

“Well?” she asked, watching him.

“Can you cook for me again?”

She laughed and touched his arm with her hand. “Gladly. I’m happy you like it.”

“Like it? This is amazing. Are you sure you aren’t a chef?”

“I don’t mind cooking. Usually, I’m too tired after a long day, but I know how. Growing up as we did, we helped Mom out by taking turns cooking. It got to the point that we kept trying to outdo each other. My brother loved it so much, he is a chef.”

Zane continued to stuff food into his mouth as she spoke. The more he learned about her, the more impressed he was with her and her family. It would be hard to say goodbye to her, that was for sure. She had left her mark on him without a doubt.

“Before we part ways, will you tell me your horse story?” he asked.

She swallowed her bite, nodding. “Only if you return the favor and tell me why you hate city people so much.”

“I think your story will be better.”

“If you want mine, I want yours.”

He sighed loudly. “I want your story enough that I’ll agree to that.”

“Perfect,” she said with a smile.

When they finished dinner, they cleaned up together before making their way to the sofa. Their conversations moved easily from one topic to the next. There were silences, but they weren’t uncomfortable. Zane didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with anything, and that was a rare gift indeed.

“It sounds like the storm is done,” she said as she reclined against him.

Zane dreaded this. “There are still flurries, but it should be finished sometime in the night. Clear skies are in the forecast for tomorrow.”

“Christmas Day.”

“That’s right.”

“Do you have to be somewhere?”

He glanced down at her to see her gaze directed at the fire. “I don’t.”

“You said my rental car is probably buried in snow.”

“It will be.”

“It wouldn’t be very nice of me to call someone away from their family on Christmas Day just so I can sit in an airport, trying to get on a flight.”

Hope sprang in Zane’s heart. “That would be the … neighborly … thing to do.”

Her head turned to him. “You don’t mind?”

“I was hoping that’s what you’d want.”

“What about your family?”

Zane lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “My parents passed away some years back. Charlie is in Cheyenne with his girlfriend and her family. It’s just me.”

“What are the odds that neither of us would have plans for the holiday?”

“About as unusual as you taking a wrong turn and ending up on the very road I travel after seeing my neighbor.”

Cady looked away pensively. “I don’t believe in coincidences like that.”

“You think we were destined to meet?”

Her blue gaze swung to him. “Do you have another explanation?”

“Nope. I just know I’m enjoying myself. With a city girl,” he added with a grin.

She rolled her eyes while smiling. “Just for that, you’re going to have to have sex with me again.”

“Oh, the torture,” he said as he bent to kiss her.





Chapter 8


They talked into the wee hours of the morning. Cady didn’t remember falling asleep, but how could she not when Zane held her and kept her warm. When she opened her eyes, she was smiling. And happy.

So very happy.

She couldn’t honestly remember the last time she had felt such joy and elation. And contentment. Some might say it was because of all the sex. That probably had something to do with it, but Cady knew there was more. Something deeper, something more profound had occurred over the last couple of days.

Not only had she been in mortal danger, but she had also faced one of her greatest fears and been more honest with herself—as well as Zane—than she had ever been. And she had let go of all the rules she had always placed on herself. What that had given her was one of the most incredible experiences of her life—one she didn’t want to end.

She lay on Zane’s chest, listening to the beating of his heart and his even breathing. It was quiet, the only sound a log falling in the hearth. It was the first holiday she hadn’t thought about gifting anyone presents or receiving any. This Christmas, she had gotten something even more special—herself.

And Zane.

She knew without a doubt that if they lived near each other, this could turn into something real. She had a horrible habit of trusting too much, but she saw the raw honesty in Zane’s gold eyes. She knew that he wasn’t leading her on or giving her false promises. Neither had spoken any kind of oaths.

Because they knew this was just a holiday romance—something that wasn’t meant to last.

The problem was, she really wanted it to.

He took a deep breath and tightened his arms around her as he rolled her onto her back. Zane smiled down at her. “Merry Christmas.”