A Texas Cowboy's Christmas

скачать книгу бесплатно


Luckily he didn’t read any extra meaning into her impulsive gesture. An affable grin deepened the crinkles around his eyes. “Sure you don’t mind?”

Remembering what her late mother had told her—that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach—Molly shrugged off the importance. “I’ll be baking all month long.”

His gaze skimmed her appreciatively. “In that case—” he winked “—I’ll have to remember to come around more often.”

Molly caught her breath at the implication.

Was he truly interested in her?

She knew she desired him. Always had. Even though they were clearly all wrong for each other. Still...

“All done, Mommy!”

Switching quickly back to parenting mode, Molly gently wiped the sugar from her son’s hands and face. Braden reclaimed the Rudolph and sleigh, along with his favorite blue blankie. Yawning, he snuggled on the sofa.

Chance arched an inquisitive brow. “Nap time?”

“Two hours ago,” Molly confirmed softly, watching Braden struggle to keep his eyes open.

“Oh.” A wealth of emotion—and understanding—in a single word.

“Yeah. I was hoping—” Molly moved closer to Chance, whispering even more quietly “—he’d be able to get through the day without one. Especially since it’s so late.”

Chance shook his head fondly. Putting an easy hand on Molly’s shoulder, he nodded in the direction of the couch. “Looks like he’s already asleep.”

Molly took in the sight of her child, blissfully cuddled up, auburn lashes fanning across his cheek. She sighed. “Indeed, he is.”

Chance caressed her shoulder lightly. “That’s a problem?”

Molly’s heart raced at the casual contact. “He’ll be grouchy when I do wake him up before dinner and may have trouble falling asleep tonight.”

“Anything I can do?”

If you were here, sure. You won’t be. Molly looked up at Chance. Time seemed to suspend. Suddenly there was just the two of them. “Cross your fingers for me?”

His eyes darkened. He brushed his thumb across her lower lip and continued to regard her steadily. “How about something even better?” he said huskily, lifting her hand to his lips. He pressed a kiss across her knuckles. She caught her breath. And then she was in his arms. Wrapping both his hands around her small waist, he caught her against him, so they were length to length.

Molly’s breath hitched again.

“Chance,” she whispered.

His head lowered. Slowly. Purposefully. “Just one, darlin’...” He tunneled his hands through her hair and his eyes shuttered. “That’s all I’m asking.”

Molly saw the kiss coming, and she knew she should do something to stop it. She was attracted to Chance enough already. If his lips were to actually touch hers...

With a small, sharp intake of breath, she lifted both hands and spread them across the muscular warmth of his broad chest. His heart was beating, strong and steady. His head lowered even more. And then there was no stopping it. Their lips connected, and a shiver of pure delight went through her. Her usual caution gone, she opened her mouth to the seductive pressure of his. He tasted like rich black coffee and freshly baked stollen. And man. And she could no more deny him than she could deny herself. It was Thanksgiving, after all. A day to count blessings. Be happy. Thankful. At ease. And she’d never felt more at ease than she did at that very moment.

Chance knew he was taking advantage, that Molly deserved a lot better than the overture he was making. He also knew opportunities like this did not come along all that often.

Molly had a wall around her heart, strong enough to keep the entire male species at bay. She was driven by fierce ambition. And a robust little chaperone that kept her on the straight and narrow.

Had he spent time with her before now, he would have realized what a beautiful, complicated and magnificent woman she was.

He would have known there was a lot more to her than her need for tremendous financial security, and the social status that came with it. But he hadn’t, so he had squandered the two years he had resided in Laramie County. Two years in which he could have pursued her like she was meant to be pursued.

Fortunately, he still had a month left.

He wasn’t going to waste it.

Or make any more mistakes.

So he kissed her passionately until she kissed him back and curled against him. And it was only then, when they started to make the kind of connection that rocked both their worlds, that she suddenly gasped and wrenched her lips from his.

* * *

“IS THIS THE POINT where you haul off and slap me across the face?” Chance joked.

It was definitely the point where she gave herself a good hard shake, Molly thought. What in all Texas had gotten into her? She couldn’t start getting involved with someone! Or even have a fling. Not when she was getting ready to leave rural Laramie County and build a life in the city.

Reluctantly, she stepped out of the warm cocoon of Chance’s strong arms. She went to a drawer on the opposite side of the kitchen and pulled out a roll of plastic wrap.

Her lips and body still throbbing from the thrilling contact, she lifted a staying hand and admitted softly, “That was my fault every bit as much as it was yours.”

“Fault?” With displeasure, he zeroed in on her low, censoring tone.

“Holidays can be really lonely.”

He gave her a considering look. “They don’t have to be.”

Irritated he saw so much of her feelings when she wanted him to see so little, Molly admitted, “It’s easy to find yourself reaching out in ways you normally wouldn’t.”

His eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and compassion. “Is that what happened with Braden’s daddy?”

“No,” Molly said, trying hard not to succumb to the unexpected tenderness in Chance’s expression.

He leaned against the counter, arms folded in front of him, and continued to study her. “Then?”

Maybe if Chance knew the worst about her, he would forget the sizzling physical attraction between them and realize their backgrounds were too diverse for them to ever be more than casual friends.

Molly drew a deep breath. “I don’t want to go down the wrong path again.”

“With me.”

It upset her to bring this up, but she knew for both their sakes, it had to be said. Chance had to start facing the fact they were and always would be all wrong for each other. “With anyone who was born outside my social standing.”

His brow furrowed. “You really think I’m that much of a snob?”

She flushed and dropped her gaze to his muscular chest. “I think, in this respect, you might be as naive as I once was.”

“I’m listening,” he said.

Molly grabbed the spray cleaner and paper towels, then began scrubbing down the counters. “I never really dated much after my dad died. I was too busy trying to put myself through school and get my business going.”

He moved so she could reach behind him. But not quite enough. As she reached, her shoulder lightly brushed his bicep. “Sounds like you had to grow up pretty fast.”

Molly straightened. “All that changed when Aaron Powell III came to Laramie to look for lakeside property that could be flipped.” She grimaced at the memory. “I was asked to give a bid. I did and won the work on several houses that he and his family purchased.” She removed her apron and hung it back on the hook. Recalling her first taste of unfettered luxury, she admitted reluctantly, “I’d never been friends with anyone that ostentatiously wealthy, and Aaron swept me off my feet.”

Chance’s expression relaxed in understanding. “How long were you together?”

“About three months.”

Taking her by the hand, he guided her onto the stool. Sat down beside her. “You didn’t expect it to end?”

Molly shrugged, still wishing she hadn’t been quite so naive. Shifting so the two of them faced each other, she said, “I knew Aaron’s life was in Houston, that his shuttling back and forth continuously would stop when my work was done and the lake properties were listed. But I was okay with that. I was perfectly willing to move where he was.”

Chance’s expression darkened. “He didn’t want that.”

Humiliation clogged Molly’s throat. “He didn’t think that would go over so well with his fiancée.”

An awkward silence fell.

“You had no idea,” Chance guessed in a low, even tone.

“None,” Molly was forced to admit. Restless, she got up and began to pace the confines of the kitchen. “Unfortunately, I was pregnant by then. And I’d already told him.”

Giving Chance no more opportunity to ask questions, Molly rushed on. “The next thing I know the Powell family lawyer is at my door with a contract for me to sign. All I have to do is agree—in writing—not to ever publicly acknowledge paternity and a nice six-figure check is mine.”

Jaw taut, Chance stood. “I’m pretty sure that’s not legal.”

Molly nodded as he circled the counter and strode closer.

“I could have forced the issue in court. I also knew if I did that, Aaron and his attorneys would use my modest financial circumstances to allege I was a gold digger and make our lives a living hell. My only priority was to protect my child from hurt.”

The compassion in Chance’s hazel eyes spurred her to go on.

“So I hired a lawyer and countered with an offer of my own. I would never pursue any claims of paternity, or child support, if Aaron would promise to do the same and allow me to raise Braden completely on my own.” She drew a breath. “Aaron was more than happy with that, since he didn’t really want children, never mind a bastard son from a woman from a lower social echelon.” Molly wrung her hands and lifted her chin defiantly. “So we signed an agreement...and that was that.”

Chance searched her face. “Did you ever regret it?”

Wasn’t that the million-dollar question!

Molly shrugged, the barriers coming up to protect her heart once again. Steadily, she held Chance’s gaze. “I regret mistaking big, expensive romantic gestures for love. And the fact that Braden doesn’t have the devoted daddy he deserves.”

His gaze drifted over her, igniting wildfires wherever it landed. “The latter could be fixed,” he pointed out matter-of-factly.

Maybe someday. For the first time, she was beginning to see that.

In the meantime, she had the next phase of her life plan to execute. Molly handed Chance the wrapped, freshly baked stollen and escorted him to the door. Wary of her still-sleeping son, she eased it open, then stepped with him all the way out onto the porch. It was unseasonably warm, and the sun sparkled down on them.

“The point is, even if fate works against us and Braden never gets the loving daddy he deserves, I still have to support my son to the very best of my ability.”

“Which means?” Chance prodded, suddenly looking a lot less pleased.

Molly said determinedly, “I’ve got to move to a place where I can make a lot more money than I am now. And give Braden the kind of boundless future that he deserves.”

And that meant no more getting too friendly with Chance.

And definitely no more kissing him!

Chapter Four (#u982082ef-b2f2-5b56-a1e1-45ec4787a150)

“How was your Thanksgiving?” Chance asked the two newest members of the Bullhaven family, now temporarily quartered in a private pasture at the Circle H.

“Mine was the best I’ve ever had.” He set out premium feed. “You think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not.”

Even though Molly had sort of kicked him out at the end, he’d left with a warm feeling in his chest that had continued through the night and had still lingered there when he woke up, maybe because he was going to see her again soon.

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right. I’ve got it bad...” But there were worse things than knowing what you wanted. And what he wanted right now was a Christmas holiday spent with Molly. And her adorable son.