LITMIR.BIZ

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right direction.”

      Well, that was clear enough. Mary definitely wasn’t talking about the time Faith was taking to get ready. He gave her a searching look. Maybe he hadn’t been as careful as he thought about not wearing his heart on his sleeve.

      He loved Faith’s aunt, who had opened her home and her heart to Faith and her sisters after the horrible events before they came to Pine Gulch. She and Claude had offered a safe haven for three grieving girls but they had provided much more than that. Through steady love and care, the couple had helped the girls begin to heal.

      Mary had truly been a lifesaver after Travis’s death, as well. She had moved back into the ranch house and stepped up to help with the children while Faith struggled to juggle widowhood and single motherhood while suddenly saddled with the responsibilities of running a big cattle ranch on her own.

      “I’m just saying,” Mary went on, “maybe it’s time to get off your duff and make a move.”

      He could feel tension spread out from his head to his shoulders. “That’s the plan. What do you think tonight is about?”

      “I was hoping.”

      She frowned, blue eyes troubled. “Just between me and you and that Christmas tree, I’ve got a feeling that might be the reason why a certain person just came in from the barn only a half hour ago, even though she knew all day you were on the way and exactly what time she would need to start getting ready.”

      Did that mean Mary thought Faith was avoiding the idea of going on a real date with him? He couldn’t tell and before he had the chance to ask for clarification, Flynn Delaney came into the living room.

      The other man did a double take when he spotted Chase talking to Mary. “Wow. A tie and everything.”

      Chase shrugged, though he could feel his skin prickle. “A Christmas party for the local stockgrowers association might not be a red-carpet Hollywood affair, but it’s still a pretty big deal around here.”

      “Take it from me—it will be much more enjoyable for everyone involved.”

      He wasn’t so sure about that, especially if Faith was showing reluctance about the evening.

      “Sometime this week, Rafe and I are planning to spruce up the set we used last year for the Christmas show. If you want to lend a hand, we’ll pay you in beer.”

      He had come to truly enjoy the company of both of Faith’s brothers-in-law. They were both decent men who, as far as he was concerned, were almost good enough for her sisters.

      “Addie’s in town right now and I feel bad enough about leaving her tonight when our time together is limited. I’ll have to see what she wants to do but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind coming out again and riding horses with Lou.”

      “I get it. Believe me.”

      Flynn had been a divorced father, too. He and his famous actress wife had been divorced several years before she was eventually killed so tragically.

      The other man looked down the hallway, apparently to make sure none of the kids were in earshot. “I hear a certain H-O-R-S-E is safely ensconced at your place now.”

      “Lou is twelve years old and can spell, you know,” Mary said with a snort.

      Flynn grinned at the older woman. “Yeah. But will she slow down long enough to bother taking time to do it? That’s the question.”

      Chase had to laugh. The horse and Louisa would be perfect for each other. “Yeah. She’s a beauty. Louisa is going to be thrilled, I think. You all are in for a fun Christmas morning.”

      “You’ll come over for breakfast like you usually do, won’t you?” Mary asked.

      He wasn’t so sure about that. Maybe he would have to see how that evening went first. He hoped like hell that he wasn’t about to ruin all his most important relationships with Faith’s family by muddying the water with her.

      “I hope so,” he started to say, but the words died when he heard a commotion on the stairs and a moment later, Faith hurried down them wearing a silver-and-blue dress that made her look like a snow princess.

      “Sorry. I’m so sorry I’m late,” Faith exclaimed as she fastened a dangly silver earring.

      He couldn’t have responded, since his brain seemed to have shut down.

      She looked absolutely stunning, with her hair piled on top of her head in a messy, sexy bun, strands artfully escaping in delectable ways. She wore a rosy lipstick and more eye makeup than usual, with mascara and eyeliner that made her eyes look huge and exotically slanted.

      The dress hugged her shape, with a neckline that revealed just a hint of cleavage. She wore strappy sandals that made him wonder if he was going to have to scoop her up and carry her through the snow.

      He was so used to seeing her in jeans and a T-shirt and boots, wearing a ponytail and little makeup except lip balm.

      She was beautiful either way.

      He swallowed, realizing he had to say something and not just stand there like an idiot.

      “You’re worth the wait,” he said.

      His voice came out rough and she flashed him a startled look before he saw color climb her cheeks.

      “I don’t know about that. It’s been a crazy day and I feel like I’ve been running since five a.m. I’ll probably fall asleep the moment I get into your truck.”

      He would love to have her curl up beside him and sleep. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time.

      “I’ll have to see what I can do to keep you awake,” he murmured.

      “Driving with the windows down and the music cranked always helps me,” Flynn offered.

      “I spent too long fixing that hair for you to mess it up with a wind tunnel,” Celeste Nichols Delaney said as she followed her sister down the stairs.

      Her words brought Chase to his senses and he realized he had been standing in the entryway, gaping at her like he’d never seen a beautiful woman before.

      He cleared his throat and forced himself to smile at Celeste. “We can’t have that. You did a great job.”

      “I did, especially with Faith trying to send three emails, put on her makeup and help Barrett with his English homework at the same time.”

      “I appreciate your hard work,” Faith said. “I think I’m finally ready. I just need my coat.”

      She made it the rest of the way down the stairs on the high heels and reached inside the closet in the entryway, but before she could pull off the serviceable ranch coat she always wore, Celeste slapped her hand away. “Oh, no you don’t.”

      Faith frowned at her sister. “Why not? This is a stockgrowers’ dinner. You think they’ve never seen a ranch coat before?”

      “Not with that dress, they haven’t. That’s why I brought over this.”

      She pulled a soft fawn coat reverently from the arm of the sofa. “I bought this last month in New York when Hope and I were there meeting with our publisher.”

      “I don’t want to wear your fancy coat.”

      “Too bad. You’re going to.”

      Celeste could be as stubborn as the other sisters. “Fine,” Faith finally sighed, reaching for the coat that looked cashmere and expensive. With a subtle wink, Celeste ignored her sister’s outstretched hand and gave it to Chase instead. It was soft as a newborn kitten. He felt inordinately breathless as he moved behind Faith and helped her into it.

      She smelled...different. Usually she smelled of vanilla and oranges from her favorite soap but this was a little more intense, with a low, flowery note that made him want to bury his face in her neck and inhale.

      “There

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