LITMIR.BIZ

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don’t you go get her a drink of water? That might help.”

      Maddie looked at her mother uncertainly then hurried out of their rooms to the kitchen.

      “What is it?” he asked Eliza, after her daughter disappeared. “Do you completely hate the idea? We haven’t gone forward with anything, as of now. It’s just a concept. I can stop the whole thing this minute.”

      “No. No. I love it. It’s amazing. You’re amazing.”

      Well, that was something. He tipped her chin up to search her gaze. “So why the tears?”

      She looked at him out of green eyes that looked soft, dazed, overwhelmed. “You did this for me.”

      He shrugged, uncomfortable. “I investigated it for you, initially. But I followed through because I could see the potential right away. It’s a good idea. It’s going to make me a lot of money, El.”

      She gave a watery laugh. “Well, that’s something. It’s not the only reason, though, is it?”

      The way she was looking at him made him feel as if he could race to the highest peak of the Redemption Mountains and back without breaking a sweat, even as tired as he was.

      “Like I said, I wanted you to have options. I don’t want you to ever again feel like you have to go to work for the next idiot who runs you down in the street.”

      “Oh, Aidan.” She gave a soft, sweet sigh. “Is it any wonder I love you so very much?”

      He almost toppled her from his lap onto the floor as shock and joy burst through him like exploding Christmas tree bulbs. “What?”

      She laughed. “I love you. But then you’re the genius. You must have already figured that out.”

      Love. A short time ago, just the word might have sent him running. Now he wanted to hold her close and have her whisper it in his ear, over and over.

      “I hoped. I didn’t know.”

      “Now you do. I love you. I woke up this morning, hating that my time here was ending and I was going to have to leave Snow Angel Cove and you.”

      A soft, seductive peace seemed to settle over him and he wanted to close his eyes and savor every moment of it. “You can’t leave. As your boss, I’m ordering you to stay.”

      “Ha. Too bad. I quit. You’re not the boss of me anymore, to quote your sister.” She held up the check. “Rumor has it, I don’t have to work a day in my life, if I don’t want to.”

      “I suppose that’s true.”

      He hesitated as the other idea that had been running through his mind since the night of the Lights on the Lake Festival pushed its way to the fore. “I do have another job for you, though, if you’ll take it.”

      “What’s that?”

      “You’ve done wonders at turning Snow Angel Cove into a warm, welcoming home. How would you feel about doing the same thing to a town?”

      Her eyes widened. “Haven Point?”

      He nodded. “This town needs help, someone to pour life and joy and hope back into it like you’ve done for this house and for me. I can’t imagine anyone better suited to the task. What do you think?”

      “Oh. Yes! I would love that!” She gave a happy little laugh and he couldn’t help himself, he kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him eagerly. It was Christmas morning, he remembered, and right now he felt like a kid who had awakened to find every single thing he had ever dreamed of asking for and a whole hell of a lot he never even knew he wanted.

      “For the record, I love you,” he murmured. “And Maddie, too. You do know I’m never going to let you go now, right?”

      Her smile was incandescent with joy. “I’m counting on it, Geek Boy.”

      He laughed and kissed her again. He wasn’t sure how long they sat that way by the twinkly lights of her little Christmas tree, but sometime later, he heard a throat being cleared nearby.

      He wrenched his mouth away and found Maddie in her little red nightgown standing in the doorway. She was holding a glass of water with one hand and his father’s fingers in the other. Dermot beamed at him, looking pleased as pie.

      “Can I come in now?” Maddie demanded. “Grandpop said I have to make sure you’re done kissing.”

      Aidan grinned. “Oh, we are not done kissing, kiddo. Not by a long shot. I suppose we can stop for now, though.”

      Eliza hopped off his lap, fiery red, and accepted the water glass from her daughter and a hug from his father.

      “Merry Christmas, my dear,” Dermot said with his Irish brogue more pronounced than usual.

      “And to you,” she murmured.

      As he watched them, Aidan thought of the gnarled, twisted journey he had traveled the past five months and how it had changed him. He hoped he never had to endure the uncertainty, the pain, the fear of anything like that again.

      He thought of what his father had said, that a person had to survive the dark in order to fully appreciate the light—the joy and love and miracle of life.

      Eliza was his light, his miracle, his joy.

      His love.

      * * * * *

       Smooth-Talking Cowboy

      Maisey Yates

      Welcome to Gold Valley, Oregon, where a rough-and-tumble rancher and the girl next door are about to learn that opposites attract

      Olivia Logan has a plan: win back her ex by making him see what he’s missing. But first she needs to find a man who’s willing to play along. With his laid-back cowboy charm and knack for getting under her skin, Luke Hollister is an unlikely hero—but he wants her help convincing her father to sell him land, which means he needs her as much as she needs him.

      Luke likes his life—and his women—uncomplicated. So why does good girl Olivia heat his blood like no one else? She’s always been off-limits, but the more time they spend as Gold Valley’s hottest new “couple,” the more real it’s starting to feel. Luke was supposed to help her win back another man…not keep her in his arms. But now that he has her there, he’s not sure he’ll ever let go.

      Also includes a bonus novel, Seduce Me, Cowboy!

       Also By Maisey Yates

      Welcome to Gold Valley, Oregon, where the cowboys are tough to tame, until they meet the women who can lasso their hearts:

      Cowboy Christmas Blues (ebook novella)

      Smooth-Talking Cowboy

      In Copper Ridge, Oregon, lasting love with a cowboy is only a happily-ever-after away. Don’t miss any of Maisey Yates’s Copper Ridge tales, available now!

      Shoulda Been a Cowboy (prequel novella)

      Part Time Cowboy

      Brokedown Cowboy

      Bad News Cowboy

      A Copper Ridge Christmas (ebook novella)

      The Cowboy Way

      Hometown Heartbreaker (ebook novella)

      One Night Charmer

      Tough Luck Hero

      Last Chance Rebel

      Slow Burn Cowboy

      Down Home Cowboy

      Wild Ride Cowboy

      Christmastime

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