Home For Christmas (A Copper Mountain Christmas) (10 page)

The way he could read her so well bothered Rachel. A person should be able to keep her lustful, hopeful, insane thoughts to herself. They'd known each other only a few days. Her discomfort increased tenfold. "You keep going out of your way for me. I get helping me sell gingerbread because of Ty, but lunch…"

"Can't you just say thank you?"

"I said thank you."

"Okay, you did," Nate admitted. "Why does there have to be a reason? Can't a person do something nice? It's Christmas. The season of giving." He studied her. "You don't seem like the bah-humbug type."

"I'm not. I love the holidays, but I'm—"

"Cautious. Skeptical. Suspicious."

Scared. She added two more cookies from the container of extras to the table. "You make me sound paranoid."

He gave her a look.

She raised her hands. "Okay, maybe I am."

"Not that I blame you, except when it comes to me."

"That makes you sound like the fox in the henhouse."

He winked. "You are a chick."

Rachel imagined most breathing females, married or single, would call Nate Vaughn a fox. He qualified, though she preferred the term hottie in spite of the falling snow and below freezing temperature. "I shouldn't encourage you."

"Too late."

"Too late for what?" Ty asked, approaching the booth.

Zach Harris was at her brother's side. "I hope we're not too late for cookies. The ones you left at the ranch are… gone." He threw a nasty look at Ty.

Rachel ignored it, but the flattery these guys heaped on her cooking built her confidence. She'd smiled more this week than in the entire year before. She motioned to the plastic containers on the back table. "Take your pick, Zack. And thank you for—"

"You're going to be selling the cookies and houses that took hours for Rachel to create," Nate addressed Ty and Zach with a firm voice. "Not stuffing your faces. Got it?"

Ty snagged a gingerbread angel, then reached into his pocket and tossed a dollar on the table. "Sure thing, boss. Looks like business is good, sis."

"No complaints," she said.

Zack eyed a cookie. "We'll sell tons of stuff."

She handed him an angel to eat. "The price list is on the back table along with extra stock, supplies, and the cash box. If someone buys cookies, pick them up with the tongs, wrap them in tissue paper and put them into a white box. Tie a ribbon around it."

Zach frowned. "No one mentioned anything about ribbon tying. Only gingerbread. And snow bunnies." He shot another evil look at Ty.

What was it with these two?

Ty rolled his eyes. "I'll tie the ribbons. I've tied enough in Rachel's hair."

"That was years ago," she said.

"Doesn't seem that long ago." Ty moved behind the table. "You must be hungry if those are the only instructions you're giving us."

She placed her hands on her hips. "So one of you thinks I'm paranoid, and the other thinks I'm bossy."

Zach made the timeout sign. "I'm staying out of this one. I had to make my own lunch today. I'm not used to that since Rachel came. I'm mentally and physically exhausted."

"Yes, you're bossy." Ty didn't spare his buddy a glance. "But only when something matters to you. Go eat. Zach and I have everything under control."

"Damn straight we do." The cowboy grinned. "Especially the cookies."

She took a step back toward her booth. "Maybe—"

"Nope." Nate took her arm. "They only need to be told once. You're coming with me."

Rachel found herself being pulled past the tree shaker machine, the twining machine and the long line for a ride in a quaint, horse drawn sleigh driven by Carson. The horse, a pretty chestnut mare named Star, wore bells.

In between a line of trees decorated with multicolored lights, she glimpsed tables. A family sat at one drinking cocoa and eating her cookies. "I didn't know there was a picnic area."

"You haven't had a chance to walk around."

"It's been busy this morning."

"Good thing you've got me to show you." He led her through the trees then placed the cooler on one of the empty tables. "Sit."

Rachel did, because having someone else make her meal was a treat she was determined to savor. "What's on the menu?"

Nate removed a plastic container and spoon. "Chili."

"One of my favorites."

"I know. I asked Ty."

Rachel didn't want to be impressed, but she was. She was also starving and would rather eat than question Nate. She removed the lid and dug in.

"It's not homemade," he said.

"Doesn't matter." The chili heated her from the inside out. "Tastes great. Perfect for a winter day like today."

He handed her a rectangle wrapped in aluminum foil. "Cornbread. I made it with a mix. Added can of jalapenos. Yours is better."

"Don't be so sure of that." Mix or not, cornbread—the entire lunch—took effort.

Thought.

Her chest tightened. A lump burned in her throat. Nate made her feel so special. This whole day—trip, really—had been one gift after another. Rachel unwrapped the cornbread, focusing on the foil to keep herself from crying or gushing over him. She noticed had had no lunch in front of him. "Aren't you eating?"

"I ate at the ranch, but I'll keep you company."

A thrill shot through her. "If you have to be somewhere…"

"I don't."

Good. She liked his company. They'd eaten other meals together. She took a bite of the cornbread. "Yummy, with a little heat from the peppers."

"There's more if you want it." A satisfied smile graced his lips. "Are you going to need more gingerbread for tomorrow?"

"Depends." She wiped her mouth. "If sales keep up this afternoon, I will. If you don't mind."

"Don't mind, but that'll make for a late drive back to town. You and Ty should stay at the ranch. No use driving to town and back when time will be tight and you're tired."

"That would make things easier, but I don't want to be an inconvenience."

"You're not. There's plenty of space at the house for you."

Her brother would be staying in his room at the bunkhouse. That would leave her alone in the big house with Nate.

All. Night. Long.

The idea appealed to her in more ways than it should, ways that had nothing to do with his gourmet kitchen or driving distances.

Rachel ate another bite of cornbread. She followed that with a spoonful of chili. A little spicy.

Like her thoughts.

But starting anything with Nate when her life was such a mess would be a bad idea, a risky one. "Um, sure. I'll talk to Ty. Make sure the logistics work."

"Good idea," Nate agreed. "I know the perfect room for you. Fireplace, private bath, king-sized bed, gorgeous view of the mountains."

"Sounds lovely."

"It's two doors down from mine." His smile crinkled the corners of his eyes.

Rachel's heart skipped two beats, one for each door that would be separating them. Maybe she was mistaking the invitation in Nate's voice, in his eyes. But maybe not. She swallowed. "Great."

Only it wasn't.

Two doors down from mine.

If Ty had any idea where her mind was going right now, he'd think this was a bad idea. Not that she needed his permission to stay…

Two doors down from mine.

Staying at the ranch would be more convenient. Ty wouldn't have any concerns about her being in the house with Nate alone. Her brother trusted her.

Two doors down from mine.

The question was did Rachel trust herself with Nate?

Back at the gingerbread booth with Rachel, Nate adjusted his gloves, waiting to hear what Ty thought about staying at the Bar V5. This was the next step in Operation: Hansel & Gretel. He'd increased visibility and sales with his first two ideas. Now he wanted to immerse Rachel into the Montana way of life by having her at the ranch 24x7.

"Sounds good to me. I'll be able to drop Rachel off here in the morning and get back to the ranch faster." Ty picked up one of the extra pieces of cornbread. "Dusty will be happy if I'm at the bunkhouse tonight. Damn dog chased my truck nearly to the road yesterday afternoon. He doesn't like when I leave."

Nate made a mental note to buy Dusty an extra special bone. He didn't like when everyone said goodbye, either. The ranch house felt emptier after having Rachel in the kitchen cooking all day and the boys coming in and out for food.

Another idea formed, crystalized. Nate exhaled. "You're welcome to stay more than one night."

Rachel inhaled sharply. Worry flashed across her face. But her forced smile didn't waver.

"If you think that would help Dusty and make things easier," Nate added.

"Sure would save on gas and driving time." Ty looked at Rachel. "What do you think, kiddo?"

"Let's see how tonight goes," she said. "Make sure I'm not intruding on Nate too much."

He wanted her to intrude. That was part of his problem. He wanted her around as much as he wanted Ty.

More, actually. In a different way.

Ty's sister, Nate reminded himself. "It's up to you."

If it were up to him, he would her drive to Marietta after she finished up here and help her pack.

"Right now, I need to sell gingerbread." She shooed them away as if her hands were a horse's tail and they were flies. "Get back to the Bar V5. Do whatever cowboys do."

Nate needed to check the room she'd be using. A housecleaner came twice a week during the off-season, but he would turn on the gas fireplace and set a chocolate on her pillow to make her feel welcome.

"Come on, boss." Ty slapped Nate's shoulder. "The kid has spoken. If we listen to her, we might get a hot breakfast tomorrow morning before she has to be back here."

Zach's grin took ten years off his face. "Chocolate chip pancakes are my favorite."

The guy acted like a big kid even after all those Middle East deployments and being wounded. When Zack arrived at the ranch looking for work, Ty had hired him on the spot. A very good call, one Nate wasn't sure he would have made. That was why he needed Ty as a partner. "Omelets and hash browns are mine."

Rachel released an exaggerated sigh that hung on the air. "The only reason you want me to spend the night is so you can have breakfast."

Ty snickered. "She's onto you, Nate."

He hoped not. "Breakfast would be an added bonus. It's not required."

"Like lunch," Zach teased. "Though if you're going to be there, dinner would be nice."

She shook her head and hid a smile. "I'll see what I can do. But remember, I'm a baker, not a short order cook. Now go."

Nate fought the urge to glance back at Rachel. Not a good idea with Ty right next to him.

"Looks like that guy could use a hand." Zach ran to help a man get his tree on top of his car.

Ty pulled out a toothpick from his pocket then stuck it in his mouth. "You're going out of your way for Rachel."

"That's the plan. Convince her to stay." So Ty wouldn't move back to Phoenix.

"This is all about Rachel's gingerbread business."

It wasn't a question. Nate rubbed his neck. "And you. You're the one who has to drive her back and forth. If she wasn't here, you'd be staying at the ranch during the week."

"I would, but I want to make sure nothing's changed."

"Nothing has. I told you about Operation: Hansel & Gretel. I've been working on that like we agreed." Except as Nate said the words, he kept seeing Rachel's smiling face, the way she ate as if the chili were haute cuisine, because he'd brought it for her. He felt a few inches taller with Rachel, but smaller with his best friend. This wasn't going to end well. "Anything else?"

"No. Just make sure your goal is to keep Hansel here, not get Gretel."

"Hey—"

Ty raised his hand, cutting him off. "I worry about my little sis."

"Rachel isn't a kid. Someday, she's going to meet a guy and want to get serious. No checking in with big brother first."