Page 20 of Winter Wishlist
“Ahh, you two must be our newest couple checking in this evening.” A tall, imposing figure of a cowboy steps in front of us. Dressed in flannel and wranglers, with long, unruly chestnut hair tied up in a bun. Dark eyes glint, and his stubbled mouth twitches with mischief; focus pinballing between the two of us.
“Couldn’t let me get two feet inside the door, could ya?” Reid pinches the bridge of his nose. “Mia, this is Ford Tanner.”
The man before me develops a grin a mile wide as he slaps Reid on the shoulder, chuckles, then turns his attention to me. Swiping my free hand, he clasps it between both of his big palms.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to have you and yourboyfriendstaying with us for the holidays, Mia.”
Ohhh. This one is pure trouble wrapped up in a six-foot-five flannel bow. A cowboy with charm that I’m sure reduces many an unsuspecting female to a puddle at a single glance. It only takes one second of being in his presence to recognize the glint in his eyes and quirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He’s handsome as sin and radiates the type of confident swagger I’m sure leaves a wreckage of hearts in his wake.
“Tanner.” Reid issues a grunt before clearing his throat.
“It’s lovely to meet you.” I bite back a smile. He might be devilishly good-looking, but he’s certainly not the particular cowboy I’m interested in exploring. “Thank you for playing along,” I add, voice dropping into a hushed whisper.
“Don’t mention it. Anything for our boy Reid.” He touches the tip of his tongue to his incisor, looking over at the cowboy beside me. “Buuuuut…you’re gonna owe me, big fella.”
Reid curses softly beneath his breath. Clearly, these two know each other well, and it’s kind of endearing to see Ford teasing him in a way that feels natural. It’s nothing malicious, just a genuine friendship there. While nothing seems to make sense so far today, I feel like I can trust him.
What kind of magic spell lives in the snowflakes coating this mountain village?
“Lovely Mia, let me reassure you that I’m here to willingly play along, no questions asked. I’ll have you know this is going to be the best gift you could give me this Christmas—Reid Landon walking through my front door looking bashful and wearing… what is this…?” He pinches the fabric of Reid’s shirt at the shoulder. “Did you take yourself shopping today, or something, old man?”
“Isn’t it about time you made yourself scarce?” He growls in return and lifts his shoulder in a subtle effort to swat Ford’s hand away.
“Don’t think I’ve ever seen you in anything but those threadbare old work shirts of yours from the nineteen eighties.”
I have to stifle a giggle.
“Mia, I’m impressed. You’ve got this cowboy wearing a shirt made from modern-day materials. Not something sewn before you were bor?—”
“Alright.Enough already.” Reid coughs, interrupting the rest of that statement, and tugs on my hand.
My cheeks glow with warmth, as even though Ford’s only teasing, he’s absolutely correct. There are undoubtedly more than a few years between us in age. Though I don’t care about that in the slightest. If anything, the fact that this cowboy—the man currently holding my hand tighter than ever, securely towing me with him as we head across the room—is older than I am feels like it’s setting my blood alight.
He’s so goddamn sexy, I can hardly think clearly.
Maybe that’s the true magic of what we’re doing here? Perhaps that’s what I need to do for once in my life?Notoverthink everything. Can I let go and drift like a snowflake on the night sky for once, without a plan, without carefully considering every angle and option?
Looks like I’m throwing myself into the wind and hoping for the best.
We reach impressive glass doors, leading out onto a covered porch scattered with armchairs and outdoor heaters. Just beyond the perimeter of the homestead is an area set up for tonight’s activity.Ax-throwing.
“Shall we?” Reid lays a big hand on the door, ready to lead us outside.
“Be prepared to be mortified. I’m going to suck at this,” I mutter.
Reid chuckles, a deep rumbling tone that Ifeelvibrating through my bloodstream just as much as I hear. “You’re a librarian. You carry stacks of heavy books around all day. I have faith in your upper body strength. How’s your throwing arm?”
I shake my head, even though he’s being sweet, I can’t deny that I am not blessed with any remotely sporting bones in my body. “A big ol’ F circled in red on my best day.”
“Lucky thing you’ve got me then.”
Sigh. He doesn’t know just how true that statement is.
The metal ax head embeds into the wooden target with the most satisfying of thunks.Bullseye.
“God, you’re really good at this.” I exhale. I’m really trying to behave and at least attempt to stay within the parameters of our arrangement. Trying exceptionally hard not to outright stare at Reid’s backside in those jeans he wears all too well.
Each couple taking part has its own target set up, with plenty of distance and partitions between everyone to avoid stray flying metal going off course. Each of his first five throws has been on the button. If not sailing directly to the middle of the target—as if he’s got them on a string, simply obeying his every command—they’ve skimmed the center, missing only by a hair.
