EXCERPT

A Cowboy For Christmas

by

Kristen Bailey

Chapter One

 If her name meant anything to the tall cowboy who leaned against the porch rail, he didn’t react. Instead, he appraised her with sky blue eyes while the afternoon light slanted against him. She’d pulled up to the house and introduced herself, and now waited for his name or a hello.

“The name ain’t ringing a bell,” he said quietly as he looked her up and down. “And believe me, I’d remember your face.”

Would you now? It sounded like a compliment, but he didn’t smile with it. Missy wasn’t sure what to make of him.

His voice carried like a gentle breeze. The man, however, looked rough as the landscape around them; hard stance, set jaw, arms folded. His long, lean body might be perfect for pressing against a woman, but his eyes were distrusting.

The sign clearly said Ocean View Stables, so she knew she had the right place.

“Melissa Nelson,” she repeated. This was awkward. “Ben may have called me Missy.” Come on, nothing? She rubbed her arms through her jacket, chilled from the cool Oregon weather and this overly warm welcome. “I’m Ben’s sister. Aren’t you Mr. Hatcher?”

“Nope.” He tilted his head and stared some more, like he’d never seen a woman before. The daylight darkened. Raindrops plopped on her while she waited for some kind of answer. Any kind of answer would be nice. “Ben’s lawyer called you,” he added, “And you came right over. I see.”

He wore a tan Stetson on his head, a rich blue shirt with sleeves rolled up, snug Wranglers, and boots. He’d make a great bedroom poster, something to ogle on lonely nights, but his too sexy look only distracted her.

Did she really lose her train of thought while checking him out? “I flew in from Nevada. He asked me to come.” She almost added that Mr. Hatcher was supposed to meet her here. Wouldn’t this guy know that?

“Come on in then.” Without introducing himself, he turned to the front door and led the way in. Inside, she fought off a shiver. It wasn’t the cold this time, but a reaction to his nearness. His eyes were so intent on her, she could scarcely breathe.

Scents of leather and pine met her inside his home. A man’s home, for sure. “How did you know Ben?” she asked.

He opened a closet door and gestured to her coat. She wanted an answer, but decided to shrug out of her coat since it was thin and wet anyway.

With his brows creased at her, he took it. “We went in fifty-fifty on this place.”

Oh, no. She hadn’t considered there would be other investors. That explained why he was here. “So you live here?”

“Yup.” He faced her and rested his hands on his hips in a lazy manner. Irritated, she turned and glanced around at the open floor plan.

She spotted a kitchen nook off to her left. What kind of man had a kitchen nook? To her right, a fire smoldered in the large brick fireplace in the living room. What she could see of that room gave an impression of comfort, where a family could gather

His house was beautiful, but it looked more like a family home than a bachelor’s place. Well, it could be with some personal touches. At least it was warm and dry, unlike the misty weather outside.

Since he blocked her way, she couldn’t ignore him any longer. “What?” The word burst out, and sounded desperate to her own ears.

“You look like him.”

Well, he knew her late brother, but she didn’t know enough about Ben’s life to guess who this guy could be. She asked, “Were you close to my brother?”

“Friends, business partners,” he said with a shrug as if it didn’t matter.

He moved toward the kitchen, but turned back around and looked her over again. “Ben never talked about any sister.”

Ouch. “Well...We weren’t raised together. We didn’t even know about each other until our father died three years ago.” Since she could loose herself in the hurtful past, she tried to ignore it.

“Missed the funeral, you know.” Arms folded, he leaned back against the counter. She couldn’t pinpoint anything about him that would make a shiver race up her back, though one did.

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