Her Christmas Cowboy (2 page)

The beautiful cop had changed his life. He’d
fractured his back in what would become the last rodeo of his life,
and his future had looked uncertain. Then he taught her to ride,
and Daisy made him feel more like a man than he ever had before.
Her faith in him, and her acceptance, had hastened his recovery. It
wasn’t long after he’d fallen for her that he returned to full duty
as a ranch hand and was able to finish building his house.

The six acres he’d bought at the edge of
Breezy Meadows Ranch with the money he’d earned, saved, and
inherited from his grandfather had been divided into sections: One
for his four bedroom, two-story house. Another for a barn with four
stalls, and the rest for grazing. In time, he’d add a garden with
flower and vegetable beds and build a chicken coop. He’d always
known he’d raise a family here with plenty of room for his children
to play. It was just a matter of finding the right wife—and of
being the right husband for her.

Daisy.
A forest
green Jeep Wrangler approached, kicking up dust along the dirt road
leading to his property. Trey put down his nail gun, pulled off his
work gloves, and moved to the steps to greet the woman he’d know
anywhere, even from a hundred yards.

She pulled into the lane leading to his house
and parked next to his pickup. Trey watched her long legs step from
the vehicle and eyed the curve of her hips, the cinch of her waist,
and the press of her breasts against the blue fabric of her
uniform. His gaze lingered on the exposed flesh above the top
button of her blouse and then rested on her lovely, freckled face.
How many times had he kissed that determined chin? That luscious
full mouth? That adorable nose?

He could hardly count the times he’d held
Daisy in his arms and brushed her cheek with his or stared into
those expressive green eyes that had captured his heart bit by bit
until it was completely hers. And yet, though he wanted her more
than he’d ever wanted anyone or anything, including this house or a
return to his old way of life in the rodeo, he’d never told Daisy
he loved her.

Once he said the words, there was no taking
them back. For him, love and commitment meant “forever,” and the
single thing that prevented him from taking that leap…was Daisy.
Fear and indecision flashed in her eyes whenever she talked about
staying in Texas. He’d seen that look a thousand times in the
horses he’d trained, just before they bolted.

Daisy’s adjustment to Southern life and the
mounted police had been spotty at best. Her unsuccessful pairing
with Musket had only added to her misery. Even if she loved him
too, he couldn’t make her stay. He wanted his love to free her, not
bind her. She’d have to come to accept him, his land, and his home
state in her own time and on her own terms.

He watched sunlight play over the natural mix
of copper, blonde, and auburn streaking Daisy’s shoulder-length
hair. She smiled at him with her approach, and Trey grinned,
knowing she’d untied her hair for him after taking off her hat and
removing her gun. She rocked a uniform like nobody’s business, and
he knew he was the luckiest son of a bitch on the planet to have
her, for however long.

Daisy held up a big brown bag and gave it a
shake. “Ready for some lunch, cowboy?”

At the sound of paper rattling, Big Blue
lifted his head, blew through his lips, and began walking toward
the fence that separated the house from the pasture.

Trey’s stomach rumbled. “Can’t say I’d
mind.”

Daisy strolled toward the steps and Trey
continued his descent until they met at the bottom. Trey leaned in
and laid a deep, welcoming kiss on Daisy’s lips. She kissed him
back, tasting like sweet mint and smelling delicious, like
vanilla.

He cupped a hand on her bottom and pulled her
closer, gently squeezing her backside while he pressed his body
tight to hers. Sensations and sounds disappeared outside their
mutual breaths, the texture of their tongues, and the feel of her
mouth against his. Weariness that had crept over him dissolved with
the brush of her breasts against his chest. Desire took its
place.

When they finally broke the kiss, Daisy’s
eyes widened. “Wow. I should bring you roast beef sandwiches more
often.”

Trey had to smile. “I like seeing you in the
middle of the day. Desk duty has its perks. At least you get an
actual lunch break while you wait for your new horse.”

Daisy ran a hand over his bare chest and
thumbed a nipple, immediately bringing it to attention, like the
rest of him. “You keep showing up for lunch half-naked and you’re
going to get me fired. I only have another forty minutes.”

“Two things a man should never do fast is
make love or eat a meal.” He gave her another kiss. “Rain
check?”

She made that low, sexy sound deep in her
throat that always turned his blood on fire. “Rain
or
shine, cowboy.”

Trey took a deep breath and let it out when
she stepped back. This woman was driving him mad. He wanted to
spend more time with her, both in and out of the sack. “Deal.”

She looked past his shoulder at his
handiwork. “The porch looks great. Need some help adding the
stain?”

“I’ve got it handled, thanks. Should be done
by tomorrow.” He took the brown bag from Daisy and looked inside.
“Mmm. Chips. Fruit. Iced tea too.” He planted a kiss on her nose.
“You’re the best.”

Daisy reached in and pulled out an apple. “I
brought an extra for Big Blue.”

Trey set the bag on a step and they walked
together to the fence to greet the horse.

“Remember when I was afraid to touch him?”
Daisy asked, laughing, and the pale pink splotches that formed on
her cheeks made Trey grin.
Terrified
was
more like it, but she’d overcome her fear and learned to ride like
a champion.

Big Blue gave Daisy an affectionate nudge,
and she stroked his face. “Hey, boy. Wish I had a horse like you to
partner with. Trey says you’re the greatest horse that ever lived.”
She placed the apple on her palm and held it out for the stallion.
He crunched the Red Delicious between his large square teeth and
swallowed.

“Sorry things didn’t pan out for you and
Musket,” Trey said. He put his arm around Daisy’s waist and walked
with her back to the house. “I guess jelling with an equine partner
is as hard as working with a human. The fit has to be right.”

As soon as he said the words he wanted to
kick himself in the head. He winced and then glanced over at Daisy.
“I didn’t mean to open old wounds.”

She didn’t reply right away. She bit her
bottom lip and then looked up at him. “Musket was my horse and I
miss
her. I feel like I’m jinxed. Anyone
who partners with me, human or equine, is doomed to fail. At least
this time my partner didn’t die.” She choked on the last word, and
her eyes filled with tears.

“Oh, Jesus.” Trey pulled her close. He kissed
her forehead and rubbed her back. This thing with the horse
couldn’t have come at a worse time. Daisy was still raw over the
shooting death of her partner in Pennsylvania but had appeared to
come to terms with her guilt. Counseling had helped. Or, so he’d
thought. Seemed the barn door hadn’t closed on that subject.

“You haven’t jinxed
me,
right? I’d be your partner in a millisecond.” He
closed his big mouth over his loose tongue. Had he said “partner”
out loud? As in
life
partner? ’Cause
that’s what he’d meant. His Christmas spirit had brought his
feelings for Daisy front and center and he was finding it tougher
to hold them back. The time had come for a serious talk.

She tapped his chest with the palms of her
hands and stepped away. “You’re being sweet, and I appreciate that.
Now let’s eat those sandwiches. I’ve got to get back to the
station.”

Sweet?
Trey gritted
his teeth. Women always liked to use words like that, and he hated
them. Sweet was almost as bad as cute.

He wasn’t about to let her dismiss his
confession so easily. He tucked two fingers under her chin and met
her eyes. “I was being serious. About being partners.”

Daisy’s eyes widened for the second time.
“Oh.”

He wasn’t sure if he should be annoyed that
she hadn’t given his comment a second thought, or mad at himself
for not making his intentions clearer sooner. “Now you know.” He
gave her a quick kiss. “Let’s wash up and eat the food you
brought.”

*****

Partners.
The word
and all its implications rang through Daisy’s head. Their
relationship had taken another meaningful turn…and she liked it.
She liked it a lot.

Daisy sat beside Trey on the front steps of
his porch after cleaning up for lunch because she didn’t trust
herself to sit close to him inside his house. She might tear what
little he wore straight off his body and drag her tongue over every
hard surface of his skin.
Hard.
Surface
.
Yum
.

No. Then she’d be late getting back to work
and her supervisor would write her up. As a rookie she couldn’t
afford mistakes.

She let her gaze wander over Trey’s naked
chest and fall to the zipper of his cutoffs. She’d bet a billion
dollars he went commando under those shorts. Tingles trickled along
her shoulders, down over her breasts, and traveled to her
center.

Clearly, the man had no concept of his effect
on her. When she’d pulled up to his house and saw him standing at
the base of the steps to greet her in nothing but low-slung cutoff
denims and work boots, she’d found it hard to breathe. Suddenly,
Jack Frost and his Pennsylvania winter lost their appeal. Who
needed snow when a smokin’ hot cowboy waited for her? Welcomed her?
Wanted her?

If she hadn’t come to Houston, she wouldn’t
have met the handsome ranch hand who filled her dreams night after
night. Trey had become her single compelling reason to work through
her personal pain. That and the fact that she’d never give up
police work. She’d find a way to succeed, one way or another. It
was hard for a cop to be flexible, since theirs was a structured
world, but she was trying her best to adapt to her new
environment.

Daisy took a bite of her chicken salad while
Trey munched his roast beef. They ate in companionable silence
while Big Blue grazed beyond.

Trey took a swallow of bottled ice tea and
then spoke. “Would you like to spend Christmas Eve together, here?
Maybe help me trim the tree?”

Daisy’s spirit lifted again with the
invitation, though she tried to stay cool. She and Rose had already
been invited to Christmas dinner with Trey’s family, and she’d
promised to bring homemade pumpkin pie and oven-fresh bread. Rose
was making apple pie and a side dish.

Daisy hadn’t expected to spend Christmas Eve
with Trey too, but she was glad he asked. “Sure. I’d like that.”
The heaviness around her heart seemed to break free, and her mood
lifted. She imagined the two of them in an embrace, making love
beneath the twinkling lights of Trey’s Christmas tree, and realized
she was…
happy.

It had been so long since she’d known the
feeling it took seconds to realize what had come over her. She
smiled and savored the moment. Trey made her happy. Spending
Christmas with him was the best gift the season could bring.

There would be no snowfall in Texas. Or
winter’s chill. No downhill sledding, hot cocoa, or ice-covered
boots. There might not be snippets of holly gracing the table, but
there would undoubtedly be mistletoe. And with that final thought,
Daisy leaned over and gave Trey a deep, gotta-get-back-to-work
kiss.

He smiled at her, and just like that Daisy
found her Christmas spirit.

Chapter Three

Text messages:

Trey
: Bring your
pretty face and appetite to my place @ 4 PM Christmas Eve. Wear
riding clothes and boots. We’re taking Big Blue up to the
ranch.

Daisy
: Sounds like
fun, cowboy. See you then. Xox

*****

In her lightweight, long-sleeved cotton
shirt, stretchy jeans, and cowgirl boots, Daisy had to admit she
liked her casual new lifestyle.

As she pulled her Jeep into the parking area
at Trey’s place she remembered her outfit last year. She’d worn
stiletto heels with a slinky green cocktail sheath, clutch bag, and
faux emerald and diamond chandelier earrings for a Christmas Eve
party at an upscale restaurant with her colleagues. Though she’d
held her chin high and looked her best for the event, she might as
well have well been invisible to much of the crowd. Despite
Internal Affairs clearing her of any wrongdoing in the shooting
death of her partner during an armed robbery, her coworkers had
been less forgiving. Cops were expected to take control of a scene.
They weren’t supposed to choke under stress. Flinching was not
allowed.

There’d been more frost inside that party
room than the weather outside. She’d stayed less than half an hour
and submitted her resignation the day after Christmas. By the
following spring she’d landed a spot with the Houston Mounted
Patrol, said good-bye to the friends she’d grown up with, and
moved-in with her sister. That summer, Trey Woods prepared her—a
greenhorn—for police equestrian training.

The warmth of the Texas evening matched the
reception Trey gave her when he opened his front door, looking
ready to ride in denim and boots, and walked outside to greet her.
The air was so clear she could almost see across the state, and the
country scents of grasses and hay, rich soil and clean air filled
her with anticipation. She glanced over at the barn, where the
doors had been propped open, and heard Big Blue whinny from his
stall as if greeting her too.

Trey took quick steps in her direction and
sent her a dazzling smile. Daisy never got tired of that welcoming,
handsome face. Trey knew everything there was to know about her
career-ending disaster and shame, and he cared for her anyway. He
was strong and kind, patient and steady. She couldn’t think of
anywhere else she’d rather be over the holidays than with him.