Christmas at Twin Falls (7 page)

His hold tightened for a moment. “You’re…”

“Twenty-nine.”

“Young enough to have babies.” He stroked her belly, and she bit her lip, closing her eyes. For an instant, she imagined having a set of twins but brushed that stupid thought out of her head.

“But I’m not willing to open myself up to the kind of relationship I had with Jeff. We were soul mates.”

“You believe in that?”

“You don’t?” She twisted around to look into his face.

He shrugged. “I suppose I should, given my parents decided it was fate that they found this place. They believed everything about their relationship and each other was meant to be.”

“How so?”

He nodded toward the back of the house as if they had a clear vision of what he referred to. “At the end of our property, where it leads up into Cloud Peak, there are hot springs. Two of them. When my dad found the place, they’d just discovered my mom was pregnant with Beau and me. They decided it was fate and called the ranch Twin Falls to represent us.”

“Wow, that is so romantic. Can I see the springs?”

“If you like.” He hesitated. “Some other time.”

She figured out that he thought she wouldn’t be able to handle it right now what with the way Jeff died. Her heart warmed at his thoughtfulness, and he might be right.

They settled into silence, and Kaleena grabbed a few more cookies. She ate the chocolate chip and fed Cody the peanut butter. Every time she held up a piece, he used it as an excuse to suck her finger along with the treat.

“Seriously?” She laughed.

“Yes, I’m very serious about how good you taste.”

She trembled in delight. “Why did you let me barge in here and stay without any notice?”

“You’re beautiful.”

She smacked his arm. “That’s it? Then any woman would do.”

He shrugged again, and she resisted strangling him. Cody made it clear he would not answer any questions he didn’t want to, and no amount of goading on her part would change his mind.

“Well if you’re going to be like that, I’m going to clean the kitchen.” She moved to stand, but he pulled her back into his arms and kissed the sensitive area behind her ear.

“No…you’re not.”

Chapter Six

Kaleena rushed through most of the work she had to do that day. Excitement bubbled up inside her until she felt like running through the house singing Jingle Bells at the top of her lungs. Every time the urge hit, she had to laugh at herself. One night in a man’s arms, and she’d gone psycho. One would think she was the kind of woman who needed a man, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Kaleena prided herself on taking care of her own business, and until last year, she’d lived on her own, had a job, and never asked anyone for anything.

After she left Wyoming, she’d planned to start her life anew and just put one foot in front of the other until the pain eased and her joy returned. Uncle Cornell was the one to encourage her to stay with him a little longer and to work temp assignments until she felt stronger. She’d seen it as a good idea. The gung-ho plan had meant nothing without the energy, and energy was the one thing she lacked back then. At last, it appeared she’d broken free of the gloom and doom, and Christmas would be a happy time if she had to beat it into submission.

“What are you so happy about?” Cody grumbled when he entered the room where she vacuumed. Kaleena shut off the machine. Sometime in the middle of the night, Cody had carried her to bed, but he hadn’t joined her. She woke up alone, and at first the depression descended like a beast. She’d fought it, and then she found new ammunition against it for her and for Cody. He on the other hand apparently lost the battle.

“I found a party,” she chirped.

He cringed.

“A Christmas party!” She dug into her jeans pocket and fished for the flyer. Cody’s gaze strayed to her breasts, but when he caught her watching him, he looked away. Kaleena bounced over to him. “Check this out. It’s on Third and Apple. Do you know where that is?”

He frowned. “I’m familiar.”

“So we can go, right?”

“I’m not going to a barn party.”

Her eyes widened. “Barn? Like with animals?”

Cody seemed about to turn away and walk out of the room. She latched onto his arm and pressed close. His expression morphed from angry to questioning, but then he shifted it to indifference, one he wore too often for her liking.

“There are no animals there, and as far as I know there never were. The place is built to look like an authentic barn, all wood with a large area of floor space for dancing or tables. People rent it out for Western weddings or any other type of party. This time it happens to be a Christmas party. I’m sure they had a Halloween one in October.”

“Nice! It sounds perfect. So it’s at seven, and I think we should leave at six to get there on time. Do you have something good to wear?” She touched a finger to her lip, wondering if people out this way dressed up for barn parties, or if it was casual. The flyer hadn’t said. She’d been thrilled to find it on the porch that morning when she stepped out to get a breath of fresh air.

“I’ve already said I’m not going, Kaleena. I allowed you to set up all this crap around my house, but I won’t spend an entire evening pretending to be all cheery around a bunch of people doing the same thing.”

“My decorations are not crap, and how do you know those people aren’t happy?”

“Why would they be?”

She huffed. There was no talking to him. If she thought she could come in and snap her fingers and he’d change, she was so wrong. Cody resisted happiness like it was something evil he needed to avoid. Hanging the Christmas decorations depended on her going ahead and doing it, but she couldn’t drag him out of the house, and she didn’t have a ride into town.

While she stood there with the flyer in her hand, she considered what she would do. The number printed on the bottom jumped out at her, and she grabbed her cell phone from the table where she’d laid it while cleaning.

She punched in the numbers. “Hello, is this Jen, the coordinator for the Christmas party?”

“Merry Christmas, dear! Yes, this is Jen. How can I help you?”

Kaleena almost winced at the decibel level the woman decided to speak in and found herself wondering if this was one of the people Cody felt was faking it. She suppressed that thought and asked the question she needed to. ”Hi, Jen. I’m calling because I was wondering if there’s any chance of someone picking me up tonight.”

Kaleena glanced at Cody, but he only frowned and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the wall. Did he think she bluffed, or was he wondering if she intended to get someone to help convince him to come?

“Well, I’m sure we can work something out,” Jen told her. “We always get a couple of volunteers to drive the revelers home, you know, because of the drinking. I don’t see why we can’t convince one of them to get you early. Let’s see. Oh here’s Matt.” Her voice muffled as she spoke to someone in the background, and then a man came on the line.

“Hello, Matt Granger here.”

Kaleena grinned at the deep, sexy tone. Not as hot as Cody’s of course. “Hey, Matt Granger, can you give me a ride to the party? My name is—”

Cody snatched the phone from her. “She has a ride.” He stabbed the End button and tossed her phone onto the table. “Be ready to go at six-thirty, and don’t expect to stay late.”

She followed Cody as he stomped from the room, hands on her hips. “What was that about? You said you weren’t going, so I made other arrangements.”

“I’m taking you now, so drop it.” He kept walking.

“Does it have to do with that guy? What was his name, Matt Granger?”

He whirled on her and grabbed her by the arms. She stared up into his eyes. “Kaleena, I said let it go.”

“Okay, fine.” He released her, and she rubbed the spot where he’d held her arms. “I hope you’re not going to be a grump all night.”

He eyed her hand. “Did I hurt you? I’m sorry. I never meant…”

“It’s okay. I’m not hurt.” She pointed a finger in his chest. “And you’re not stopping my happy, Cody ‘Scrooge’ Everett. I’m going to have a good time.”

* * * *

Kaleena wore over the knee black boots with a purple long-sleeved minidress that form-fitted to every curve. The V neckline plunged low enough to show off a little cleavage but not enough that her boobs would freeze. She curled her hair and styled it high on her head at the back with soft tendrils and bangs to accent her face. Silver diamond shaped earrings hung from her ears, and she matched those with bangles on one wrist. If she did say so herself, she looked hot. Her boots, sexy in design, had a low enough heel that she could dance the night away—or at least until grouchy Cody dragged her home.

She laughed at her reflection in the mirror and then left her room, ready on time. When she walked along the hall, Cody already stood at the end of it near the front door. He’d worn a black turtleneck shirt, material thick enough to keep him warm but not so overwhelming he’d burn in the barn. The dark slacks showed off his hard muscled legs, which she’d gotten plenty of chance to run her hands over when they had sex, but her gaze snagged on the growing tent at the front of his pants. Apparently, he liked her outfit.

Kaleena stopped and spun in a slow circle. She put a hand on her hip and stuck her ass out. “How do I look?”

His green eyes flashed in the hall lighting. “You know you look good.”

“But I like to hear it.” She came closer and rested her hands on his chest, smiling up at him. The big chest rose and fell with his rough breaths.

“You’re beautiful and sexy.”

“Thanks.” She stretched to her toes and kissed his lips. “I’m ready.”

They left for the party, Kaleena curling into Cody’s truck. As they made a U-turn, she spotted the lights on at the house where Cody said his brother lived. She wondered what they were up to and if Beau had a woman or a friend that helped him get off his butt and stop hating Christmas. She hadn’t met Cody’s brother except in passing last year, but he seemed like a good man, and he deserved better. They both did.

When they drew up to the place, Kaleena understood why Cody had called it a barn party. The building looked exactly like a barn, from the two extra wide doors at the front with slats of wood forming Xs decorating them to the walls made from more wood and the slanted roof over the top and the two wings on each side. A gigantic wreath with a red ribbon at the base hung from the upper wall. Barrels held evergreen plants at the entrance. When they drew close, she noticed the doors slid apart on a track rather than opening out like a regular barn. Music blared from the interior, someone playing a fiddle as well as other instruments.

Inside was wall-to-wall people, but Cody didn’t lie about the expansive floor space. Strings of white lights had been strung along the rafter overhead. Wreaths adorned each post. On the walls hung sets of reins as if waiting for a horse and rider.

Kaleena leaned in to Cody. “Is there a bathroom here?”

“At the back.” He nodded in the general direction, and she spotted an opening that might lead to where she saw the left wing of the barn. On the other side, a long table had been pushed to the wall, and a punch bowl adorned the middle. Around it were cups and food. Kegs of beer sat on another table and coolers she assumed held bottles of beer.

“Welcome, welcome, and Merry Christmas!” An older woman in a Mrs. Claus costume strode up to them. She held out little stickers. “I’m Jen, your happy hostess for the evening. Hold onto these stickers because they correspond to the gifts we have from Santa. Now get on in here and enjoy the party.”

Kaleena smiled and thanked her, but she didn’t tell her she’d spoken with her on the phone. The fact that Cody had hung up on her, or rather the other man, was bad enough. She would just enjoy herself. “Come on, Cody. Let’s dance. I feel the need to get my freak on.”

He cast a glance in the direction of the live band, and she laughed taking his hand.

“Hey, it’s a beat. Not really what I listen to, but I can move to just about anything.”

He gave in, and she tugged him toward the middle of the floor. Kaleena snapped her fingers and wiggled her hips to the rhythm. She moved in close to Cody, teasing him, and then backed up. His heated gaze never left her body when she didn’t want it to and locked on her eyes when she caught him there. The entire time, his movements were minimal at best. She laughed and turned her back to him to guide his hands to her hips.

“Move with me,” she coached him.

Her ass brushed his thigh, sending a zing of desire coursing through her veins. He dipped his head low, bringing his mouth close to her ear. Kaleena felt like she could slip away until there was no one but the two of them, but she turned her head and took in the crowd. Through the throng of bodies, she spotted a man standing near the wall with a beer in his hand. On his head, he wore a Santa hat, but his clothes were no different in their casual yet sexy appeal than Cody’s. The man focused on her, and when he caught her looking, he raised his bottle. She offered him a friendly smile and looked away.

A shout went up in the crowd, and a line formed around the tree farther back in the room. “Conga line?” Kaleena laughed. “What the hell. Let’s join them.”

Cody hung back. “I’m getting a beer.”

She saw the tension around his mouth and eyes. He really didn’t like this scene.

“Okay, mind if I do?”

“Enjoy.” He walked away. She balled her hands into fists until her fingernails hurt the soft flesh, then ran over to join the others. If Cody wanted to be a bore, he could do it alone. Falling into line with everyone else, she
whooped
along with them. After that craziness, she didn’t lack for partners, and Cody didn’t return to her side. She caught a glimpse of him cornered by several women and frowned.

“We can’t have that,” someone said to her left. “A beautiful woman should not frown at a party.”

She whirled to face the man she’d seen earlier. His blond hair and blue eyes would have been hot even without the broad shoulders, but there was also insincerity in his bearing. Still, she wasn’t there to find a boyfriend, so he might be fun.