Page 93 of The Holiday Gift

She would never be a gourmet chef, but she enjoyed creating meals her family enjoyed. Warm rolls slathered in her homemade jam were her specialty. She still used the recipe her mother had taught her in this very kitchen when she was about Destry’s age.

Her life was pretty darn good, she thought as she worked the elastic dough in a kitchen that was warm and comfortable and already smelled delicious from the roast beef that was cooking. She had family and friends, a couple of jobs she enjoyed, a home she loved, a dog who was on the mend.

She didn’t need Ben Caldwell blowing into her world, bringing that sweet, rare smile and those stunning kisses, making her feel as if something vital was missing.

“Can I turn on the radio?” Destry asked after a few more minutes.

“Sure. Something we can dance to,” she said, pushing away thoughts of Ben with a smile. A moment later, the kitchen filled with music—upbeat Christmas songs. Not really what she had in mind, but what could she do?

Destry was singing “Winter Wonderland” at the top of her lungs and jigging from side to side when the door opened and Ridge came in, stomping snow off his boots.

“It’s coming down pretty hard out there. You might be in for a chilly sleigh ride, kiddo.”

Destry grinned. “Snow is perfect. What could be more fun? Aunt Caidy already said she would make some of her good hot cocoa and we’re going to mix up dough for oatmeal raisin cookies so we can put them in the oven right before we go. That way they’ll still be hot on the wagon.”

“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.”

“It’s going to begreat!Thanks so much for agreeing to take us. You’re awesome, Dad.”

“You’re welcome, kid.”

He smiled at his daughter for a moment then turned to Caidy. She noticed with no small degree of apprehension the deceptively casual expression on her brother’s rugged features. “Hey, how would you feel if we added a few more at dinner?”

It wasn’t a completely unusual request. Ridge had a habit of inviting in strays. She took care of the four-legged kind, and he often focused on the human variety.

“Shouldn’t be a problem. It’s a big roast and I can always throw in a few more potatoes and add more carrots. Who did you invite?”

He shrugged. “Just the new vet and his kids.”

Justthe new vet? The man she happened to have tangled lips with in this very kitchen twelve hours earlier? The very man she was trying to shove out of her brain. She opened her mouth to answer but nothing came out except an embarrassing sort of squeak.

“He was out shoveling when I cleared the drive with the tractor and we started chatting. I mentioned dinner and then the sleigh ride after and asked if they would like to join us.”

She suddenly wanted to take the ball of dough in her hand and fling it at her brother. How could he do this to her? She had warned him not to get any ideas in his head about matchmaking, yet here he was doing exactly that.

She supposed she shouldn’t be so surprised. All three of her brothers seemed to think their mission in life was to set her up with some big, gorgeous cowboy. Ben wasn’t exactly a cowboy, but he had the big and gorgeous parts down.

How was she supposed to sit across the dinner table from the man when all she could remember was the silky slide of his tongue against hers, the hardness of those muscles against her, his sexy, ragged breathing as he tasted her mouth?

“You don’t mind, do you?”

She would have laughed if she suddenly wasn’t feeling queasy.

“No. Why should I mind?” she muttered, while in her head she went through about a dozen reasons. Starting and ending with that kiss.

“That’s what I figured. You and Becca and Laura are always making way too much food. Inviting the vet and his family for dinner seemed like a nice way to welcome them to the ranch. And I figured his kids might get a charge out of going with us on the sleigh ride later.”

Of all her three brothers, Ridge was the most taciturn. His failed marriage and the burden of responsibility that came with running the family ranch while the twins pursued other interests made him seem hard sometimes, but he also showed these flashes of kindness that tugged at her heart.

“I’m sure they will. It’s bound to be something new and exciting for a couple of kids from California. They probably don’t have much snow where they’re from.”

“Awesome!” Destry exclaimed. “I hope they’re good singers.”

Right. Singing and Ben Caldwell. Two things she should avoid at all costs thrown right in her face. This should prove to be a very interesting evening.

Chapter 7

“Do you think Alex and Maya will be there?”

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