Chapter Five #2
“I hope so.”
She turned from him, eyes focused outside the window to the falling snow. “Thank you for the request, but I’m taking a break from dating to concentrate on my recent promotion.”
“Congratulations,” he said before pressing on, “Then let me bring lunch to your office. You have to eat.”
Her mouth twitched as she faced him again. “I eat in my car driving to and from home visits or on my way to the hospital.”
That half smile playing at her lips spoke to him louder than her words. “You’re playing hard to get.”
Her chin tipped. “I don’t play at anything.”
His arm along the seat, he traced over the back of her neck, her silky hair catching on his calloused fingertips. “If you’re not interested, then I’ll take you at your word.”
She hesitated an instant too long.
“So you’re interested.” He smiled inside as well as outside.
“Another time in my life, perhaps,” she conceded, eyes turning wistful. Distant. As if she was analyzing something far away from the limo, the backdrop of Christmas lights.
Somehow that concession gave him pause more than if she’d said no flat-out. “You’re really that focused on your job?”
“I have the opportunity to help so many more children.”
The passion in her voice was so intense it took his breath away.
“You’re making me like you even better.” He ached to kiss her, and more.
The limo pulled up outside her town house, and he couldn’t help fantasizing about how this evening could have ended. Perhaps could end someday in the future.
The chauffeur opened her door. She started to step out, then looked over her shoulder. “Meet me in the cafeteria tomorrow at noon. I have a half hour free.”
Victory pulsed through him. “I’ll strive to make it a memorable thirty minutes.”
She raised a delicately arched brow. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Tally wanted to hold on to this magical night until the very last second.
Her weather-resistant, heeled black boots crunched in the new-fallen snow as she followed Marshall along the covered walkway up to the ranch house—his garage was full.
The familiar constellations were covered by thick clouds.
Snowflakes tumbled through the air, collecting in her hair, melting on her cheeks.
Marshall opened the door, warm yellow light beckoning them inside. Stepping out of the cold, she crossed the threshold. Nugget wriggled and jumped, a furry bundle of frenetic excitement. The little dog let out a bark that sounded a lot like hello.
She shrugged out of her cape, the holiday glow of the night still lingering. Riding back together had been so...intimate, somehow. Like they were a couple. She searched for a safe topic. “You have an amazing family. You’re so incredibly lucky.”
“You fit right in.” He took her wrap, his hands brushing hers as she passed it to him, leaving a tingling trail.
“It was an idyllic Christmas outing.”
“And the season’s just beginning.” He draped her cape over the back of the sofa and crossed to the fireplace. “Is there some holiday tradition you would like to include? I hate to think we’re hijacking your whole Christmas.”
The last thing she wanted was to talk about the holidays she’d had with her father passed out on the sofa. “I don’t have traditions other than shopping for ornaments with my mom, so it’s fun seeing yours.”
He started a fire and then adjusted the flames. “If my arm weren’t broken, we would have a lot more outings here to enjoy.”
“Such as?”
He gestured to the two chairs bracketing the fireplace. “Other than horseback riding? Snowmobiling, skiing, ice-skating.”
“Those sound fun.” She sank into the overstuffed seat, tugged off her boots, then wriggled her toes in front of the fire.
“You should take your pick of any of those things. I can sideline coach if you need help.”
How was his glance over her feet so sexy?
“Thank you, but I’m not here for a vacation.” She straightened. “I’m here to work.”
“That’s between you and my stepmother.” He sat across from her, leaning forward.
The flames cast shadows across his face, but the heat in his eyes was unmistakable.
She ached to angle forward and meet him halfway. He stirred something inside her that no one else had. And during the holiday season, it was tougher than ever to be alone.
But she couldn’t afford to succumb to temptation. She needed this job...and she was keeping secrets, too.
Watching Tally walk away the night before had sucker punched Marshall. He’d felt it too deeply in his gut, wanted her too much. So much so, he’d come to his senses and realized he needed help.
He’d called his Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor, then he’d gone to an early-morning meeting.
Now, full of coffee and resolve, he found himself driving to see his oldest brother. Broderick, his wife and their daughter lived at the family compound in a large suite in the mansion Jack Steele had built when they’d outgrown the ranch house.
Set on a lake, the massive Steele family compound was picturesque.
The bulk of Marshall’s family lived here now, but he’d never felt like it was home.
Not like the ranch, where his family had been whole.
Except he wasn’t ready to go back there and spend more time with Tally until he had his head on straight.
Marshall was struck again by how much his older brother, Broderick, resembled their father.
Stetson tipped forward, he looked every bit the cowboy.
Classic dark looks for a classic man. Turning the corner from the stables, Broderick made his way toward him.
Christmas lights glowed in the dark Alaskan winter morning.
His brother waved and shouted a greeting.
Marshall met him halfway. “Do you have time for a walk before you head off to work?”
“Of course. Glenna and I are working from home today, so my schedule’s flexible.”
They moved toward the water, picking their way around a tall, skinny pine tree.
Boots crunched into the freshly fallen snow.
Marshall wished they could ride instead.
The weeks couldn’t fly by fast enough until his cast was off and he could de-stress with a day in the saddle.
Although that would also mark Tally’s departure from his life.
Or maybe uncomplicate things?
Hell, he didn’t know.
He glanced at his brother, the dock lights illuminating their path. “How’s it going with building the new house? I’ve been meaning to stop by to see the progress.”
“Slow but steady. Even though this place is as big as a castle, it’ll be nice to have our own home.” There was an edge to his voice. He scrubbed a gloved hand along his jaw, then said wryly, “Although we’ll sure miss all the on-site babysitting for Fleur. She’s a precious handful.”
“At least you don’t have to parade around in the bachelor auction,” Marshall offered up.
“True, but I had a near brush with appearing in a Santa suit.”
Now that was an image Marshall couldn’t envision, not even since his brother had become a father when he’d adopted little Fleur. “Seriously?”
“Dad vetoed the Santa idea altogether when he heard we were the only two on the ballot to play Saint Nick.”
“Vetoed how?”
“He reminded us—insistently—that it’s an adult event, therefore no red suit needed.”
“Logical argument. Although I think it’s ironic he has been pushing the notion of him and Jeannie stepping out of the leadership roles in the company, but he exerts veto power.
” Jack and Jeannie were easing back from running the company to spend time on their new marriage.
And that made sense on the one hand, but on the other made total chaos for the family by creating a power vacuum that still hadn’t been settled.
“I brought that up,” Broderick continued. “He said he and Jeannie plan to keep their focus on the charitable aspects of the family portfolio.”
“That makes sense...if they’d staged the fund-raiser here instead.”
“The catering staff would be tripping all over us.” He angled a look at Marshall. “And if the party had been here, you wouldn’t have met Tallulah Benson. I wasn’t mistaken in the sparks between you two.”
“Let’s talk about the party,” Marshall said quickly, then wondered why. Hadn’t he come here to talk to his brother about her?
“I thought you hated talking about the party.”
“I do.” Which was another testament to how much he wasn’t ready to talk about his attraction to Tally.
Broderick chuckled good-naturedly. “Fair enough, brother. Fair enough. When are you going to get that cast off?”
“I’m seeing my doctor at the start of the week.”
“Hopefully you’ll have good news.” Broderick clapped him on the shoulder. “Stick around and join me for something to eat before you go. And maybe you’ll tell me why you really came here.”
Opening up was easier for the rest of his family. Probably why they all had been able to live in this family compound together and he’d secluded himself at the ranch.
Alone was easier.
A couple of days without Marshall underfoot should have made her job easier, but there were reminders of him all over his house.
Like his half-finished glasses of water with lemon. His extra Stetson. And heaven help her when she made his bed and the scent of him engulfed her senses.
And then there was his little dog, currently trotting along beside her on her way out to the main barn, the older barn tucked in the distance. She wasn’t sure why he’d been keeping to himself, but he had, citing work commitments. Which made sense. He stayed busy overseeing the ranch and livestock.
Her boots punched through the snow as she strode faster. She knew she might be pushing her luck risking crossing his path, but she had a job to do as well. She reached to slide the barn door, which had an oversize wreath hanging in the middle. Christmas lights framed the rooflines of both barns.
She’d been touring the place for more ideas for decorating and breakout space for the fund-raiser. The new barn posed an intriguing option. And yes, she’d been keeping herself crazy busy in hopes of working herself into exhaustion.