Carter Bravo's Christmas Bride Read online

  Maybe a little.

  But he’d felt driven to seal the deal with her. And he was glad that he had. He wanted this, with her. He wanted it a lot. Wanted it so much that he had to be careful not to overthink it. His mother had been right, though he would never admit that out loud. He distrusted strong emotions, especially when he felt them about a woman.

  But then again, the woman in question here was Paige. Paige could keep a level head even when the L word was involved. She’d always amazed him, the cool she had at her command.

  Except in bed. She really came apart in bed. Which was the one place he didn’t care how touchy-feely and explosive things got.

  Yeah. He just knew it would all work out fine.

  One thing nagged at him, though.

  With all the tension between them, they hadn’t been talking much in the past several days. He’d yet to tell her that Willow had bought the property on Arrowhead Drive, that she’d offered it to him as a bribe, an incentive to get married.

  He needed to let Paige in on that, ASAP.

  But who knew how she’d react? She could get cold feet, start wondering if he only wanted to marry her for the deed to the property. He could lose the ground he’d finally gained.

  Maybe he should hold off on telling her. Just for a little while. She’d said she wouldn’t be checking in with the Realtor again until after the holidays, so he had some leeway. He could wait a few days before he brought it up.

  Right now the top priority was showing her just exactly how good they would be together.

  In his arms, she sighed and a cute little snoring sound escaped her. Grinning, he tucked the covers over her and then slid carefully from the bed so as not to disturb her. She had her own private bathroom, a good thing, or he’d have to take a chance on wandering the upper hall, maybe disturbing Dawn.

  When he came back to Paige, she was still sound asleep. The clock by the bed showed five minutes of four. He knew he should leave.

  But damn, she looked so sweet and peaceful. He wanted to wrap himself around her, snuggle in tight and close his eyes. Just for a little while. He could sleep with her for an hour, then get up and go, come back and get Biscuit, take him out with Sally for their morning walk.

  Then he’d make breakfast for the three of them, just like always. All nice and discreet, the way Paige wanted it. Dawn would have no clue of where he’d spent the night...

  * * *

  Carter woke to morning light shining in the window he’d climbed through the night before.

  Paige slept on, sprawled on her stomach, one slim, soft arm thrown across his chest, her head turned toward him. So tempting, her hair tangled across the pillow, lips softly parted, totally conked out. He wanted to turn her over and kiss her awake.

  But no.

  She wouldn’t be happy if she found him in her bed when he’d promised to be long gone by now. He needed to get out of there before she realized he’d blown it.

  It took a lifetime, easing out from under her arm and inching his way toward the edge of the mattress. He took a lot of care not to let any cool air get in under the blankets. At one point, she sighed and stirred. He froze with one foot on the rug and the other still on the bed, holding his breath, certain he was about to be busted.

  But she only turned her head the other way and went on sleeping.

  She didn’t even move after that. He made it out of the bed and into his clothes. Shrugging his jacket on, he turned to the window and slowly, carefully, slid it wide.

  Cold morning air flowed in. He worried that the change in temperature might wake her.

  But she didn’t stir. He hoisted himself over the sill and out to the roof. As quietly as possible, he eased the window shut. Crouched outside, his breath a white mist, he peered through the glass.

  No movement from the bed. Excellent. But she’d be waking up any minute now. Time to get the hell out of there.

  He considered leaving the way he’d come, going up the gable and dropping to the roof of the garage, crossing it and using that big tree in the far corner to climb down into the front yard.

  But going out through the backyard would be safer. He could slip out the side gate and avoid the possibility of one of her neighbors coming out to grab the morning paper and spotting him wandering around on Paige’s roof.

  So he went the other way, staying low to avoid detection, moving quickly to the covered porch that ran along the back of the house. He scuttled down the porch roof to the edge of the shingles, which was only about ten feet from the ground.

  He could make that jump, no problem. So he launched himself outward, staying clear of the guttering, neatly landing and rolling, coming up in a crouch.

  At which point, from behind him, Biscuit started barking.

  He whirled, rising, as the beagle zipped out the kitchen door that Dawn had just opened for him.

  Busted.

  “Hey.” Carter gave Dawn a sheepish wave, then dropped to a crouch again to greet the panting dog.

  Dawn, looking half-asleep in pajamas, a giant sweater and heavy socks, folded her arms across her middle and tipped her head to the side. “Carter, what’s going on?” she asked on a yawn.

  He scratched Biscuit’s floppy ears. “Thought I’d drop in.”

  “From the roof?”

  He tried for humor. “I considered the chimney...” When she just looked at him, he made it worse. “Ho-ho-ho?”

  For that he got a hard sigh and a definite eye roll. “Where’s Sally?”

  “Sally?”

  “Yeah, Carter. Skinny red dog? Lives at your house?”

  “Right. Sally. Well, see, I, uh...” He cast about for a plausible lie. Nothing came to mind. And then Biscuit took off, sniffing his way toward the back fence. Carter still had nothing, so he offered, “How ’bout some coffee?”

  Shaking her head, Dawn turned from the doorway. At least she left it open for him to follow her in.

  * * *

  Paige entered the kitchen to find Dawn sitting at the breakfast bar watching Carter make the coffee.

  She knew instantly that things weren’t quite right. The dogs were not sprawled on the floor as usual after their morning walk; Carter still wore the same jeans and T-shirt he’d worn when he climbed in her window five hours earlier; and Dawn was too quiet—she had a strange, thoughtful look on her face as she watched Carter spooning grounds into the filter.

  Dawn glanced over and spotted Paige in the doorway. She squinted and frowned. “What’s that on your neck?”

  “Where?” She pressed her hand randomly to the left side of her throat.

  “No, the other side...”

  By then Carter had started the coffeemaker and turned around so Paige could see his face. The guilty look he wore said way more than Paige wanted to know. He cleared his throat nervously. “Ahem. It kind of looks like a bruise...”

  “Oh. My. God.” Dawn blinked as disbelief slowly turned to understanding.

  Paige slapped a hand over the spot. She couldn’t believe it. Damn Carter and that sexy mouth of his. She glared at him.

  He muttered, “Sorry...”

  And Dawn accused, “Down the chimney. Right.” She swung her gaze to Paige again. “I just caught Carter jumping off the roof.”

  Paige sent her brand-new fiancé another dirty look. He’d not only given her a hickey; he’d failed to keep his promise and go home before daylight. “What am I going to do with you?”

  Dawn was the one who answered. “Have sex with him, apparently.” She snorted. “I just might be scarred for life, knowing that.”

  Paige went on glaring at Carter, who responded with “Come on, Paige. We need to tell her what’s going on.”

  “Yeah,” Dawn agreed. “The truth. Novel concept.”

  Paige left the door
way and went to sit on the stool next to Dawn. When Dawn sent her a grumpy look, she wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. “I wanted to be discreet for your sake.”

  “With Carter involved?” Dawn gave her a fond head butt. “Good luck.”

  “Hey,” Carter groused. “I can do discreet.”

  Paige and Dawn made identical scoffing sounds. And then Paige said, “Carter’s asked me to marry him...”

  It was really pretty sweet the way Dawn’s eyes lit up. “And...?”

  Carter stood a little straighter. “She said yes.”

  Dawn threw both arms wide, almost whacking Paige across the face. “At last!” And then she grabbed Paige and hugged her. “Oh, I knew this would happen eventually. Finally! This is totally amazing. Not to mention wonderful, terrific and just about perfect.”

  Was it? Paige hugged Dawn back and slid a warning glance at Carter over her shoulder. He’d better not start in about how they were test-driving their relationship. Dawn didn’t even need to hear that.

  Either he took the hint or didn’t want to get into that part of their arrangement any more than Paige did, because he only said proudly, “I am one lucky man.”

  Dawn let out a giddy squeal of laughter, flew off the stool, zipped around the end of the snack bar and headed straight for Carter. He opened his arms to take her in.

  She hugged him as hard as she’d hugged Paige. “You’re moving in here, right?”

  He caught her face between his hands and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “That’s the plan. Eventually.”

  She looked at him sideways. “Did you actually climb in my sister’s bedroom window last night?”

  He busted to it. “Yeah. I kinda did.”

  “Because you didn’t want to freak me out, right?”

  “Yeah, pretty much.”

  “From now on, just pick a door, will you?”

  “Okay, sunshine. I can do that.”

  “Good.”

  He let her go. “So, what do you want for breakfast?”

  “Pancakes?”

  “You got ’em.”

  Dawn asked, “How long has Sally been at home alone?”

  “Too long.”

  “We should go get her.”

  “I’ll do it.” Paige slid off the stool. She was still in her pajamas and robe, but she’d only be out of the car long enough to run up and down Carter’s front walk.

  She headed for the garage, grabbing her purse from the closet in the front hall on the way.

  So much for total discretion around Dawn, she thought as she drove to Carter’s house. But then, why sneak around, really? It wouldn’t work with Dawn, anyway. She was too smart for that. And she’d taken the news of the engagement well.

  Better than well. Dawn had been so happy for them.

  How bad would it be for her if things didn’t work out, if the cons outweighed the pros when Paige and Carter evaluated their “test drive”?

  Oh, please. Dawn would be fine. She’d survived and thrived even after losing both her parents way too young. She could no doubt rise above her big sister screwing up with Carter.

  And was this a screwup?

  On the rational level, it certainly felt like it. A tryout engagement? Pretty much a big helping of ludicrous drizzled in crazy sauce.

  But on that other level, the level that had to do with Paige’s hungry heart and her yearning body, with all the parts of her that felt, the parts that wanted and needed and burned, the parts of her she’d been denying ever since Jim Kellogg cut out her heart and then walked all over it?

  On that level, desire had the lead now. She’d let Carter in her bedroom window and taken him to her bed.

  It was done. She had loved it. She wanted more.

  And she wouldn’t focus on the negative, she promised herself as she pulled up in front of Carter’s house. She was in this now. She was Carter’s bride-to-be.

  If she ended up crying by New Year’s, so be it. She was going to love every minute of being Carter Bravo’s Christmas bride.

  Chapter Eight

  That day was the annual Justice Creek shopping bazaar known as Rocky Mountain Christmas. Then, in the evening, they were going to the Holiday Ball at the Haltersham Hotel. Carter decided to take the whole day off work and spend it with Paige. He called Mona to tell her he wasn’t coming in, then he went home to shower and change.

  He was back within the hour and he brought a suitcase. Paige came down the stairs to meet him wearing her favorite soft white sweater, skinny jeans, knee boots and a bright red scarf.

  He held up the suitcase. “I thought I’d bring a few things over. You know, for any time I stay the night...”

  Was he pushing things too fast?

  Without a doubt.

  Did she care in the least?

  Heck, no. She was glad. She smirked, “Moving right in, huh?”

  “Oh, you bet.” He was looking at her mouth. Something flared in his eyes. He dropped the suitcase and reached for her, dragging her close and nuzzling her neck. “You smell amazing.”

  She went to mush, just at the feel of his hard arms wrapped around her.

  Dawn and Molly were already over on Central Street enjoying Rocky Mountain Christmas, so Paige didn’t pull back when his kiss turned hot and deep.

  And wonderfully slow.

  When he finally let go of her mouth, he asked, “Dawn?”

  “Gone with Molly.”

  “Perfect.” He grabbed the suitcase in one hand and her in the other and dragged her back up the stairs to her room, both dogs following behind.

  In the bedroom, he ordered Sally and Biscuit to lie down by the window. They did, without him having to say it twice.

  He turned to her. “Now, where were we?”

  “Why don’t you tell me?”

  “How ’bout I show you, instead?”

  And he did. He took off everything she’d just put on and they spent a very satisfying hour doing what came naturally.

  Then she pulled on a robe and helped him put his stuff away. There were empty drawers in the bathroom and plenty of space in the walk-in closet, including an empty bureau that had once been her dad’s. The unpacking accomplished, he took the dogs downstairs and she got ready all over again to go to Rocky Mountain Christmas.

  When she went back downstairs, she followed the close harmonies of the Puppini Sisters singing “Santa Baby” and found him sitting in the living room with the fire going, looking at the tree.

  He rose when she entered the room. “There you are. Close your eyes.”

  What was he up to now? “Why?”

  He chuckled. She did love the sound of his laughter. In some ways, he didn’t have a clue. But in others, well, he was one of a kind in a very special way. “Come on, give me some trust, Paige. Work with me here.”

  “Oh, all right.” She shut her eyes. He moved behind her and put both his hands over her closed eyelids. “What? You think I’ll cheat and peek?”

  “You just might. You’re sneaky that way.”

  She laughed and tried to elbow him.

  But he only dipped out of range—and kept those big hot hands of his covering her eyes. “Behave.”

  “Okay. I surrender. Do with me what you will.”

  “Now you’re talkin’.”

  “Except not right here in the living room. Dawn may be open-minded, but that doesn’t mean she needs to see us cavorting naked in the parlor.”

  “I can’t believe you just said ‘cavorting.’ And ‘parlor,’ too.”

  “Cavorting can mean either leaping and dancing around excitedly or applying oneself enthusiastically to sexual or disreputable pursuits.”

  He grunted. “I may not have gotten past junior college, but I do
know what cavorting means.”

  “Just so you also know, we’re not doing any of that here in the living room.” Right then she felt his lips on the back of her neck, and a delicious shiver skittered down her spine and bloomed sweet and hot in her belly. “Stop that.”

  He chuckled. The sound was so lovely, rich and low and rough. He advised, “Then stop talking and let me do this thing—or I’ll be forced to carry you back upstairs where we can cavort in private.”

  The idea of going upstairs again held great appeal. But they couldn’t spend all of their time in bed. “Do the thing, then. Whatever it is.”

  He still had his hands over her eyes. “Turn around slowly.” She did. He stayed behind her, covering her eyes. “Stop.” She obeyed. “Now move forward.”

  “Toward the tree?”

  “Are you peeking?”

  “Of course not. But it is my living room and I know you turned me around a hundred and eighty degrees and that would mean I’m now facing the tree.”

  He laughed again.

  “Why is that funny?” she demanded.

  “It’s just...you, Paige. Always with the calm and reasonable deductions.” She would have asked him what, exactly, he meant by that. But then he added, “And I mean that in the best possible way.”

  She decided to be mollified. “So, then. Move forward, you said...?”

  “Yeah. Move forward toward the tree until I tell you to stop.”

  She started walking. He came right along with her, his hands over her eyes.

  By her estimation, they were maybe a foot from the tree when he said, “Perfect. Stop.” She stopped, the shin of her right leg just brushing the sharp tip of what she recognized by feel as a lower branch. “One step to the right.” She stepped. “That’s too far. Take half a step back.” She did. “Bingo.” His hands dropped away. “Now open your eyes.”

  She opened them and found herself staring directly into the brightly lit and heavily ornamented branches of the tree. “Wow. My Christmas tree. Who would have guessed?”

  He put his hands on her shoulders. She felt his warm breath in her ear. “You’re not paying attention.”

  Of course she was paying attention. She was staring right where he’d told her to look...