A Cowboy's Christmas Promise (11 page)

Daniel fought a strange sensation in his gut as he watched Hayley with her arms around his girls at the far end of the aisle. He could see that Bryn had suddenly realized this flower girl thing meant walking down an aisle teeming with strangers on both sides, and she was not at all amused.

But then he saw the slightest smile, and she nodded at Hayley, then hugged her tightly. Next, Gracie did a fist pump and adjusted her dress like a grown-up little princess. And then the yelling. He shook his head, but couldn't stop a smile from taking over his face.

First down the aisle was Jess, looking like a Cherokee princess with her long black hair, dark eyes, and olive skin. Out of the corner of his eye he caught Cole staring like a parched man at a desert mirage, but it seemed too obvious to give him an elbow. Before he could even complete the thought, Hayley started down the aisle, hand closed tightly around Bryn's.

Bryn still looked terrified, but Hayley leaned down and whispered something in her ear, making her giggle, and then she smiled the whole way down the aisle. Daniel shifted his eyes from his daughter to Hayley, and was floored by the zing he felt fly through his body.
What the hell?

She was in a dress she'd called ridiculous, and in all honesty, he'd have to agree with her there. She looked like she was trying out for the part of Maria the governess. But for all of its crazy colors and lines, it set off her red hair and pink cheeks in a way that made her look like a fantasy calendar girl.

They reached the altar end of the aisle, and Bryn looked up at him from under her lashes. He gave her a thumbs-up, and she grinned shyly and returned the gesture. Hayley helped her sit down in the front row beside Gracie, then took her place beside Jess at the altar.

And then the music changed, and Daniel took a deep breath, because this was always the hard part. He'd been to six weddings since Katie's death, and at every single one of them, he'd felt all antsy when the wedding march started. All he could ever think of was Katie, how she'd looked that day as she came down the aisle, how her face had glowed, how she'd taken his hand at the altar, how her voice had shaken through her vows.

As Kyla came down the aisle, looking sweet and gorgeous at the same time in a white gown she'd apparently ordered from some exclusive Boston bridal shop, Daniel's eyes should have been firmly on her.

But instead, they were glued on Hayley. Glued on the way her hair cascaded down her back, the way her pink-painted toenails peeked out from her sparkly sandals, the way her cheeks kept flushing when he caught her eye.

And as Kyla took her place beside Decker, Daniel found himself blinking hard. It was Katie he should be thinking about right now—Katie he should be picturing standing at the altar.

Not Hayley.

“Aww, she's so beautiful,” Jess whispered in Hayley's ear as Kyla made her way slowly toward the altar where they waited. Hayley held her breath, praying that she'd make it all the way down the aisle without tripping. The silk runner was turning out to be a lousy match for the lumpy grass underneath, and Hayley'd almost done another header on
her
way down the aisle. “I think it's so sweet that she asked Roscoe to give her away.”

Hayley ripped her eyes away from Daniel's and grinned as she caught Roscoe's eye. “Well, it's kind of a natural choice. That old cop's the reason they met in the first place, and he's the one who chased her down last year when she tried to leave.”

“So romantic.” Jess fluttered her hand near her throat, and Hayley could see tears in her eyes. “And that dress. We were so right. She looks like a princess.”

“Jess, hold it together. We haven't even gotten to the mushy part.” Hayley blinked her own eyes harder than she should have to right now. What in the world? Jess melted at the sight of a bridal gown even if she didn't know the bride, for goodness sake. But not Hayley. She'd never cried at a wedding.

But this was Kyla, who'd suffered through six levels of hell in the past couple of years and lived to tell the tale—barely. If anyone deserved a happy ending, it was her.
That's
why Hayley was all teary, right?

She dipped her head and did a quick pass to wipe the droplets from her cheek while everyone else was looking at Kyla, but as she raised her head, one set of eyes was focused squarely on her.

She wanted to look away, wanted to
want
to look away, but her eyes had developed their own mind, and they wouldn't let go of his gaze.

“Just a suggestion,” Jess whispered out of the side of her mouth. “But if you want to convince us you're not interested in the guy, you might want to stop staring at him so intently.”

Hayley blinked, then shook her head carefully. “Not staring.”

“So are.”

“Shh. Fix her dress.”

Kyla had reached the altar and Decker, and the glow in her cheeks was matched only by the sparkle in her eyes as she placed a kiss on Roscoe's cheek and took hold of Decker's hand. Roscoe turned to sit, and as she and Jess straightened Kyla's train, Hayley's eyes widened when she realized the old cop was taking out a handkerchief to dab his own eyes.

For the next ten minutes, the minister talked about love and commitment and cherishing and children and family, and usually this was the part Hayley sort of tuned out as she checked out the guests. Today, though, the words found their way through her usual armor and settled themselves uncomfortably in her gut.

Usually she could get through these ceremonies with a minimum of engagement. Just a traditional American rite of passage, she'd think. For which the court system, conveniently, had devised an extraction procedure when things didn't turn out the way starry-eyed newlyweds thought they would.

It wasn't that she didn't wish people well when they got married. It's just that she
more
wished they'd clue in and realize marriage wasn't a solution to some perceived hole in their lives. Wished her female friends would understand that they were stronger on their own than they were as half of a couple.

Jess elbowed her, and Hayley looked up quickly to see Kyla trying to hand Hayley her bouquet. Time for the vows. When Decker pulled out a piece of notebook paper and cleared his throat nervously, Hayley felt her eyes go wide. No way. Decker Driscoll, alpha cowboy of all cowboys, had written his own vows?

“Kyla, I know the last thing you ever expected was that someday you'd marry a cowboy and live in Montana, but I'm humbled and honored that you ever agreed to do either of those things, let alone both. I never expected to be lucky enough to come back here, let alone to get to stay here with the most amazing woman in the world.”

Decker took a deep breath, collecting himself—and Hayley realized she was clutching her bouquet hard enough to snap stems. A pair of chickadees swooped through the wildflower arbor, and Hayley could hear the muted buzz of bees in the meadow around them, but all eyes were on the bride and groom.

Kyla squeezed his hand, and he looked up from his paper, into her eyes. And then there was a moment where it seemed like even the birds stopped singing, and Hayley could swear the guests in their tippy rental chairs stopped breathing all at once.

As Kyla and Decker stood there, seemingly oblivious to their two hundred guests, Hayley put her hand to her chest before she even knew she was doing it, and Jess took hold of her elbow.

Then Decker found his voice again, looking down at the paper, then crumpling it and letting it fall. He took both of Kyla's hands in his and smiled down at her, and Hayley felt her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.

“Kyla, if you'll do me the honor of becoming my wife, I promise to try to be the man you deserve, which is a better man than I currently am. I promise to support your dreams and share mine. I promise to chop enough firewood to keep your freezing feet warm all winter and watch at least one cheesy chick flick per month, whether I want to or not.”

The guests laughed with Kyla as he continued. “I promise I will never let anything come between us, including rogue wildlife, blizzards, or even fire. I will let you win at Monopoly—sometimes. And I will eat your campfire cooking, even if it's terrible. But I will never say it's terrible.”

Hayley watched Kyla as Decker spoke, and a feeling stole over her that she wasn't sure she even recognized. It was like a warm blanket settling on her shoulders, and as she watched Kyla's smile grow wider and wider, and watched Decker's thumbs stroke her hands as he spoke, and watched the love practically leap out of his eyes, she wondered if maybe, just maybe, she'd been wrong all this time.

Maybe there
was
love with staying power, and maybe her best friend had found it.

And maybe, just maybe, watching the two of them at the altar made Hayley feel like, for the first time, being alone wasn't all it was cracked up to be in the end.

She took a shaky breath as Decker paused one last time, then pulled Kyla's hands up to his heart and covered them with his own. “Kyla, if you'll have me, I promise to hold you, cherish you, love you, protect you. Forever. If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”

There was a pregnant pause as he finished, and then Kyla threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Hayley looked out into the congregation and struggled to find a dry eye, which thankfully made her feel less obvious as she swiped at hers.

Ten minutes later, Jess handed her a tissue. “Here. You're getting water spots on your dirndl.”

“Hmm?” Hayley tore her eyes away from the happy couple heading back down the aisle toward the main lodge. “I'm smiling, not crying. I can't believe he quoted Pooh.”

Jess reached up with a tissue and patted Hayley's cheekbones dry. “I think it was Piglet, actually.” Then she motioned Hayley toward the aisle. “Come on. Our turn.”

Jess took Cole's arm and headed back up the aisle, leaving Hayley face-to-face with Daniel, who put out his right arm in a gallant gesture as he winked.

“Shall we, dirndl-girl?”

She hooked her hand around his elbow, but instead of leaving his left hand free, he brought it up to cover her hand with a little squeeze. She darted a glance his way, but it almost seemed like he'd done it without thinking. They waited at the altar until Jess and Cole had made their way down the aisle, then started walking.

“No falling, okay?” He glanced over, a smile tugging at his lips as he whispered.

“I'll do my best.” Hayley looked behind her, where his girls were standing on either side of Michael, ready to take their turn down the aisle. “Bryn and Gracie are a safe distance away this time.”

He squeezed her hand gently. “It's okay. I'd catch you.”

Hayley swallowed hard at his words, so casual, yet so comforting. When they got to the end of the aisle, she started to pull her arm back to her side, but he gave it another squeeze. “Sorry. You're stuck with me until we get inside. My girls haven't managed to break your ankles yet, and I'm not having it on my conscience if it happens on my watch. Plus, we can't let anything happen to that
gorgeous
dress.”

She rolled her eyes. “How many hours 'til I get to take it off?”

“Um…”

Her cheeks heated instantly. “I meant…oh, never mind.”

“Just smile, and no one will even notice the dress.” He squeezed her hand again. “Though, if we're being honest, it's really not that bad.”

“You're definitely not being honest, then.”

He pulled away without letting go, and looked her up and down like a cattle appraiser. “Okay, you're right. I was just trying to be nice.”

Hayley laughed. “Thank you.” They reached the porch, and she knew it was time to separate, but part of her wished she could keep her hand hooked on his arm for just a little bit longer.
Or a lot longer.
But no.
“And now your duties are complete. You've delivered me to the lodge, and didn't even have to catch me once.”

He slid his arm free, smiling. “It's going to be a long reception. There's still time.”

Two hours later, dinner had been cleared, the toasts had been spoken, and the dancing was in full swing in a gigantic tent that had been erected outside the lodge. Kyla and Decker were making their way among the tables, visiting with their guests, and it looked to Hayley like most of Carefree, Montana, was here.

Jess had just headed out onto the dance floor with Cole when Hayley felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Daniel. “So I know you don't whistle—or cook—but do you dance?”

“On occasion.”

“Would this be one of those occasions?” He put out a hand and raised his eyebrows. “Come dance with me, Hayley.”

“Have you lost your other dance partners?” Hayley scanned the room for Gracie and Bryn, who'd had Decker and Michael out on the dance floor numerous times, making cameras flash—and women swoon—all night.

“My mother-in-law took them home, much to their consternation.”

“They did such a great job today. So beyond cute.”

He nodded. “They were thrilled to be part of it.” He put his hand out. “So, dance with me? As friends?”

Hayley swallowed hard, but couldn't resist. She took his hand and let him pull her out of her chair and toward the dance floor. He'd removed his tux jacket and tie, leaving him with just a vest and white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up neatly. As she gazed at his perfectly sculpted shoulders and back, a cool breeze slid through the tent, making her shiver.

Right.

It was the breeze that made her shiver.

As they reached the edge of the dance floor, a fast song was just wrapping up. “All right, folks.” The deejay spoke into his microphone. “Time to slow things down for a couple of songs, so grab somebody special and get on out here.”

Oh, jeez.
Fast songs she could deal with, as they involved no touching. Slow songs, not so much. Before she could figure out a graceful way to head off the floor, Daniel slid his right arm around her and took her hand in his free one. “Don't look so frightened. It's just a dance.”

He swung her around gracefully, and she found herself relaxing in his arms. As he dipped her playfully, he said, “I have an idea.”

“I'm all ears.”

“I think we should just stick together for the evening. It's the perfect way to make sure neither of us has to deal with anyone else.”

Hayley almost laughed, but caught herself. “That's an interesting plan.”

“Admit it. It's got legs. For instance, if you were to look adoringly at me right now, that guy over at table six might take his eyes elsewhere, because it'll be obvious that you're enamored of the dashing groomsman.”

Hayley laughed as she glanced toward the table he indicated, and to her surprise, met the eyes of a ridiculously hot guy who was making no secret about looking right back at her. He was tall, dark, and wowza—but to her surprise, he did nothing for her. He was total fling material, exactly the kind of guy she'd thought she wanted to meet this week, but right now, she didn't feel even one smidgeon of interest.

She looked up at Daniel. “I don't know if I know how to do
adoringly,
especially if I'm faking it.”

Because I'd totally be faking it, obviously.

“Give it your best shot. I'll let you know how you did.”

“Ha. Right. Tell you what. You're so into being a teacher and all. How about
you
show
me
what adoringly looks like.”

“I couldn't.”

“Because?” Hayley felt her eyebrows rise in challenge.

“Because you'd just melt all over me, and then I'd have to carry you out of the room, and then everyone would assume things we don't want them to assume. It could get ugly.”

“Wow. You're that good?”

He shrugged, feigning modesty, then raised his eyebrows to match hers. “You want to test me?”

She swallowed, hoping he didn't notice. “I kind of do, just for research purposes.”

“That much power in the hands of a novice could be dangerous.”

“Novice?”

He swung her out from him, then back in, closer to his body than before, talking low in her ear. “All right. But I warned you. There could be melting.”

“Knees are locked and loaded.” Hayley smiled as she let her body be led by his in the small space they'd carved out on the dance floor.

He slid one hand down the inside of her arm, then linked his fingers with hers and brought their interwoven hands upward while his other arm slid dangerously low on her back. He rocked her silently to the music, then lifted her arm and guided her in a slow spin, twirling her so that she ended up with her back nestled against his chest and her arms crossed in front of her, still linked with his.

His fingers caressed her palms, then danced along her forearms. She couldn't remember a time when it seemed like every nerve ending in her body was zapping with sparking, arcing electricity—but molded against his rock-hard body, with his arms around her, she felt like she was having trouble remembering to breathe.

And then he leaned his head down to whisper in her ear.

“Is it working?”

She puffed out a couple of tiny breaths, hoping he wouldn't notice.

“Ha. Has it started yet?”

He growled and spun her outward, then back in, face-to-face, locking her hands in his and pulling them to his chest like Decker had done with Kyla's only hours before. Hayley swallowed hard, and this time she knew he noticed. His eyes skated from her throat to her lips to her eyes and back to her lips, and at some point, she realized their feet had stopped moving.

She licked her lips, and he closed his eyes, looking pained. He twirled her back around, then gathered her against him like they were spooning, standing up. As they rocked slowly in place, his hands caressed her upper arms. Damn Kyla for choosing a dress with sleeves. How she'd love to feel his work-roughened skin on hers right now.

Then his hands slid downward, and she held her breath, not knowing quite where they'd land. Her body swayed against his, nestling closer as his hands came to rest on her hips. She could feel their heat through the dress as they guided her tiny steps, matching the rhythm of the music as he pulled her ever closer to his body.

With his hands, he twirled her hips around so she was facing him again. In his eyes she could see a heat she'd never experienced before, an intensity she didn't even know she'd longed for.

A regret she really, really didn't want to see.

He slid his hand around her neck and brought her head to his chest, effectively breaking their gaze. They stayed that way for what felt like an entire minute, his thumb stroking her jaw while his fingers tangled in her curls. Then he leaned his mouth toward her ear and placed the lightest, whisper-soft kiss on her earlobe.

“Mercy?”

It took a moment for the word to break through the delicious fog that had enveloped her entire head, but when it did, she popped up, almost bonking him in the jaw. “What?”

He had a sly smile. “I said, mercy?”

She narrowed her eyes. No way that had all been an act. She straightened her spine and put a few inches between their bodies. “I don't do mercy.” Dammit. Her voice should not sound this shaky when she was trying to be in control.

He laughed softly and gathered her close again. “Admit it. You're totally melting.”

“Am not. It's just hot in here.”

“Yeah. It is.” He pulled his head back to look into her eyes. “Do you want to—I don't know—maybe get some air?”

“Um, by air, you mean—”

“Air.”

“Oh.”

“Did you want me to mean something different?” His fingers caressed the back of her neck, rendering her practically unable to form complete sentences.

She swallowed. “Of course not. That would be taking this faking it thing a bit far, wouldn't it?”

“We could just maybe go for a little walk or something. You know, get off this dance floor.”

The last thing Hayley wanted to do was let go of Daniel—and that was an earth-shaking realization. It should have scared her silly and sent her running for her cabin, but instead, she just burrowed her head against his chest and inhaled the scent of his skin and light, spicy aftershave. “You worried what might happen if we stay here?”

He chuckled. “Not a bit. You?”

“Nope.”

Right.

He paused, then pulled her close, ever so slowly, leaning down to touch her ear with his lips. He kissed her once, twice, three times, until she fairly sagged in his arms. Then his deep voice turned whatever bones she had left into mush.

“Come with me, Hayley. I promise you won't regret it.”