Chapter 6 Reece #2
I shrugged and sipped my coffee. “It’d be a dick move, but you could.”
He laughed and oh fuck. “Besides, a walk of shame loses its validity without anyone there to witness it.”
“You want to talk about last night?”
“Nope.”
He studied me for a minute then nodded. “Since you’re tree shopping today, do I get the day off or you have a list of things for me to do to earn my breakfast?”
I grinned. “That’s very presumptuous of you to expect breakfast. No list and no day off. We’re tree shopping.”
I had no idea where the hell that thought came from. I had no right to demand his time today but I wanted it. I would bet everything I owned that this man did not give a damn about spending all day riding through a tree farm to select the perfect tree.
“Alright.”
“That was too easy.” I narrowed my eyes at him and he grinned sexily.
“Figured if I cooperate, there might be some eggs and bacon in my immediate future.”
I rolled my eyes. “We can eat at Phoxes Den. Their breakfast is damn near the best in town. I need you focused and ready. We have a lot of work to do.”
“After you get your tree?”
I shook my head. “No, to get the tree. It’s a whole thing.”
“Oh fuck,” he mumbled and I frowned.
“What?”
“I think I’d rather you give me a list of shit to do around here instead.”
“Sorry, cowboy. We’re going tree hunting.” I placed the mug on the counter and hopped down, not missing the way his appreciative gaze locked onto my legs then crawled up my body. I left him in the kitchen to tug my boots on, grab my jacket, and head to the door.
“Be ready in an hour. We can take your truck.”
He nodded, with his focus still on my body. “You keeping my shirt?”
“Yep, I like it. Couldn’t have you wrapped around me last night so I guess this is the next best thing.”
When his eyes narrowed but that sexy smile surfaced seconds later, I had a feeling I was playing with fire, but didn’t care. I turned the lock and shivered when the cool morning air crept in, glancing over my shoulder one last time before I reiterated, “One hour, be ready.”
There was no way on earth to be at Phoxes Den this time of year and not feel transported into holiday euphoria.
At the gate there was a sign acknowledging the location along with an oversized Christmas wreath.
The stone and wood exterior of the lodge combined with the wrap-around porch screamed holiday cheer because of the equally impressive wreaths on the double doors.
My favorite attribute was the gigantic fireplace that expanded from the ceiling to the hardwood floors, which was always decorated with garlands laced with poinsettia.
This morning I was overly giddy to see the larger than life lodge tree decorated in a way that brought to mind a full spread advertisement in a holiday magazine.
Ro didn’t seem moved one way or another aside from his amusement with my elation for all the holiday décor. I didn’t care about curbing my enthusiasm because who the hell cared? There was nothing wrong with being in love with Christmas and I was absolutely enamored by everything about it.
We had breakfast—pancakes with fresh berry syrup, cheese eggs, and beef bacon—which was supposed to be my treat, but Ro managed to slide the server his card while I animatedly prepped him for how the tree selection process would go.
When he seemed to be second guessing agreeing to be my plus one for today’s festivities, I promised not to make it too complicated.
That went straight out the window after we climbed on the ATV with Don, the seasonal help who worked the tree farms. We were already an hour in and the wagon attached to the back of our ATV was still empty.
While I was enjoying the selection process—because how could I not enjoy getting lost out here in the midst of all these beautiful trees—Ro was over me. Don was too but he was paid well to pretend his sole mission in life was to be fully invested in making sure I found the perfect tree.
“Alright, let’s try over here.” He navigated the ATV down another row and parked, turning to me. I grinned and immediately jumped down. When Ro didn’t move, I arched my brow.
“I’ll stay here.”
“Why?” I grinned and he glared at me.
“I know the process. You’ll walk this entire row, thoroughly inspect every single damn tree, and tell him you want to try another spot.” He tipped his hat to Don who smirked and dipped his head to hide his amusement. A side had been chosen and it wasn’t mine.
“Or I might just find the perfect tree for him to cut down and we can leave.” Today was warmer than usual, maybe fortyish, but still freezing. Out here with the trees shading us, it felt more like twentyish. I yanked my gloves out of the pocket of my puffer jacket and shoved my hands into them.
Begrudgingly, he got out of the ATV and strode my way, looking annoyed and sexy in black jeans, boots, and a hoodie with an army green field jacket over it. He looked so sexy and adorably hostile about having to suffer through my tree selection process.
While I moved down the row, carefully examining the trees on both sides, Don hung back at the ATV, typing on his phone, likely complaining to Travis about his indecisive customer.
I grinned at the thought. Ro followed a few steps behind me with his hands shoved into the pocket of his hoodie until I turned toward one of the trees which had to be at least eight to nine feet.
My eyes darted from the tree to Ro a few times before he gave in and asked.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to figure out how tall this tree is. I’m thinking nine feet because you have to be at least six.”
“Six three.”
“See, so nine feet. I want this one. It’s perfect.”
“I want to ask if you’re sure but that would be like shooting myself in the foot. We’re an hour in and I’m ready to get this over with.”
“Well, you don’t have to ask, I’m sure.”
“Alright then, let’s get this one down. I’d rather be scraping paint off the last two sides of the stables than being out here.”
“It’s tree day. No ranch work allowed, and since I’m technically the boss, I’m calling the shots.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned and tipped his hat. “But I’m pretty sure this wasn’t a part of the negotiated terms we discussed. My job is supposed to be helping you patch up your ranch.”
“You can consider this a ranch emergency.”
“Since when did tree hunting become a ranch emergency?”
“Christmas makes me happy. I’m connected to the ranch, so if I’m happy, the ranch is at peace.”
“You’re full of shit.”
“I’m not. Trust me, once you see this beauty all decorated, you’ll completely understand.
” I pulled my eyes from him; a hard task.
The man looked delectable standing there in the middle of a tree farm, agitated but complying with my every demand.
I circled the tree and my smile explanted.
It was absolutely perfect. I was also keenly aware of Ro’s focus on me instead of the tree.
All day I had been astutely aware of him watching me and I had a feeling I was the only reason he was suffering through this process.
It was damn near impossible to pretend I didn’t notice the way he followed my every move or the way I felt warm regardless of how damn cold it was out here each time I felt his attention on me.
“It’s a tree.”
My eyes narrowed. “It’s not just a tree. It’s the tree.”
“It’s green, has needles. What more do you need?”
“Perfection and this is perfection.”
“If perfection means we get to cut it down and get the hell out of this damn cold, then I’m with it.”
“Please don’t simplify my experience.” I grinned and rolled my eyes and he walked up to me, dropping his chin.
“We cut it down, take it to the house, and put lights on it. It’s simple.”
I groaned. “Men and their practical logic. There’s an art to choosing the right tree.”
“Art? For that…” He pointed to my tree because yep, I had already claimed it. “The damn thing is going to drop needles all over my truck and your house. It’s more of a nuisance.”
“And you’re a pessimist.” I shot him an evil glare that held no weight because his stupidly handsome face had me smiling seconds later. “You’re officially the cowboy tree grinch.”
“And you’re stubborn as hell, which I’m guessing you hear a lot.”
“Nope, more like I’m the most agreeable person people have ever met.” I flashed him a smile.
“I’m going to go with your ass isn’t self-aware.”
“I am. Now, can we focus on my baby so I can school you on how to select the perfect tree?” I threw my arm out toward the tree behind me. “Clearly I need to school you because your knowledge is lacking, sir.”
“I’m just here to be your manual labor. I don’t need to expand my knowledge.”
“Oh you absolutely need to be schooled.” I grinned, grabbing his arm, yanking him with me when I neared the tree
“Alright, professor. Tree selection 101. Make that shit quick.”
“Symmetry.” I flicked my wrist, motioning to the tree next to mine. “See how that one is fuller on this side. It doesn’t work. The branches have to be balanced all the way around.”
“What difference does it make? Just turn that side to the wall.”
I dropped my mouth open then smiled. “That’s holiday blasphemy and cheating.”
“Cheating what?”
“The distribution of holiday cheer. We don’t do that around here.”
He smirked. “So now there are rules to this?”
“Everything has rules, cowboy.” I grinned and tipped my hat. I grabbed his hand and pulled him to my side, moving around my tree, hyper aware that he didn’t give a damn about the tree. His attention was, once again, on me.
“Look how full and green it is.” I grabbed a branch. “See how nothing fell off. Needle retention is very important. It means the tree is fresh.”
“They’re all the same, in the ground and green,” he mumbled and I rolled my eyes. His were on me, had been on me.
“You’re not paying attention. Focus on the beauty, sir.” I was speaking about the tree. I blushed because he was not…
“I am,” he said but his eyes remained affixed to my face.
A breeze pushed between the trees and I shivered, making him frown before he shrugged out of his coat. “Take this.”
“No, you need it.”
“I have layers and I’m used to working in the cold.”
I could have argued but had a feeling I wouldn’t win. I extended my hand and accepted the jacket, pushing my arms through the sleeves while he shoved his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. “The only reason I’m agreeing is because you’re delaying the process.”
He smiled smugly and nodded. “We done or are you still schooling me?”
“Last lesson, but the most important. The feeling.” I turned back to the tree and moved closer.
“The feeling?” He was right behind me, his chest at my back.
“Yep, when the tree is yours and it’s right, you just know. The technical stuff is important but the deciding factor is the feeling.”
“So you’re a tree whisperer now?”
I lifted my chin and looked up at him. His eyes were already on me. “I’m serious.”
“I know you are.” He smiled sexily. “So you’re feeling this one?”
“Yes, it’s perfect. What do you think?”
“I think you want it to be perfect, so it’s perfect.”
“You’re humoring me because you’re ready to go.”
He laughed. “Shit yeah, I am. It’s cold as hell out here and you just took one of my layers.”
“You gave me your layer.”
“I did but my mother raised me to be a gentleman. Now can we get this tree down before we both freeze to death?”
“We won’t freeze to death, but yes, we can get the tree down. I’ll get Don…”
He frowned and dropped his chin. “I can cut the tree, Reece.”
My eyes darted past him to the ATV. “Um yeah, but that’s his job. He knows how and you’re not messing up my tree.”
He looked highly amused which made me nervous because this was my tree. The one. “I know how to cut a tree down. It’s not that complicated.”
“Have you done it before?” I rushed out and he laughed.
“Yes, plenty of times. My brother and I used to go with my dad to get ours when we were kids. After a while he decided we could handle it and passed the task down to us. It was kind of our thing. Didn’t take…
” He paused and glanced at his watch. “An hour and twenty two minutes but my mother never complained when we brought her tree home. I can cut the tree, Reece.”
I glanced at the tree then Ro before I conceded. “Fine, but if you mess up my tree…”
“I won’t. Relax.”
He walked back to the ATV and I watched him talking to Don who nodded and pointed to the wagon attached. Ro made his way toward it, lifting a pair of gloves and a handheld saw before returning to me. He tucked the saw under one arm, worked the gloves on, and I delivered one last plea.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure you’re going to annoy the shit out of me if I mess up your tree, which is enough motivation not to.”
I grinned. “At least you know.”
“I definitely know.” He tipped his hat, offering me a sexy, cocky smile before he got to work. He turned his back to me and kneeled low enough to position the saw at the base.
It didn’t take long before the tree started to give way then fell over. When it landed onto the snow covered ground, a smile took over my face. “You just earned yourself dinner, cowboy.”
He chuckled, waving Don over to help get the tree corded and carried to the wagon attached to the ATV. Once they had it secured, I climbed back on first, followed by Don and Ro, so we could head back to the lodge.
We paid, got the tree loaded onto his truck, and were heading back into town twenty minutes later.
“Tree officially acquired.”
Ro nodded, grinning at my enthusiasm.
“We need to get the track for the barn doors. We should stop and do that before heading back.”
“We’re not working today?” I frowned.
“You’re gonna be doing that.” He glanced over his shoulder toward the back of the truck. “I can work on the track.”
“Nope, this is a two-man job. All hands on deck.”
“Well let’s at least get the parts for the barn doors so they’re at the ranch.”
“Okay, but don’t think you’re skipping out on decorating 101.”
He groaned but I shrugged. “Boss’s orders.”