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A Snowbound Cowboy Christmas
Amanda Renee
Jingle bells…or wedding bells?Some people would have thought getting stranded at the Silver Bells guest ranch in Saddle Ridge, Montana, for Christmas – with the dreamy Dylan Slade – was idyllic. But for real estate acquisitions expert Emma Sheridan, it's a disaster! Because Dylan is standing in the way of the takeover deal that could secure her promotion and her daughter's future.Dylan has no intention of selling. So why does he suddenly care so much about what happens to Emma…and her unborn baby girl? Now, with a preterm labour scare and a serious storm conspiring to keep them snowbound for Christmas, Dylan has two weeks to change her mind about her company's takeover. And maybe even about him!


JINGLE BELLS—OR WEDDING BELLS?
Some people would have thought getting stranded at the Silver Bells guest ranch in Saddle Ridge, Montana, for Christmas—with the dreamy Dylan Slade, no less—was idyllic. But for real estate acquisitions expert Emma Sheridan, it’s a disaster! Because Dylan is standing in the way of the takeover deal that could secure her promotion and her daughter’s future.
Dylan has no intention of selling. So why does he suddenly care so much about what happens to Emma...and her unborn baby girl? Now, with a preterm labor scare and a serious storm conspiring to keep them snowbound for Christmas, Dylan has two weeks to change her mind about her company’s takeover. And maybe even about him!
“I thought my uncle wasn’t much of a gossip—turns out I was wrong.”
“Jax cared for you very much. Part of his reason for selling was so you could have your freedom again.”
Dylan tugged off his gloves. “Well, doesn’t that just beat all? This ranch was my freedom. My home. By taking it away from me, he was taking away every last breath I had.”
“He thought if you had a fresh start on your own ranch without the debt and problems of this place hanging over your head that you’d be able to move on.”
Dylan recoiled at her words. “Oh, you’re good.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Your job is to convince me to sell and you’re using the information my uncle told you against me. I already know my uncle’s final wish was to sell this place. Doesn’t mean I’m going to honor it.”
“Forget I said anything.”
Emma stormed out of the stables, leaving him alone with nothing but a pile of manure.
A Snowbound Cowboy Christmas
Amanda Renee


www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
AMANDA RENEE was raised in the northeast and now wriggles her toes in the warm coastal Carolina sands. Her career began when she was discovered through Mills & Boon So You Think You Can Write contest. When not creating stories about love and laughter, she enjoys the company of her schnoodle, Duffy, camping, playing guitar and piano, photography and anything involving horses. You can visit her at www.amandarenee.com (http://www.amandarenee.com).
To my editor, Johanna Raisanen:
Thank you for your invaluable guidance on this book!
Contents
Cover (#u42077c6c-7ace-50ee-b481-9c73f8e3efa7)
Back Cover Text (#u2004ee9d-81f1-561f-b44c-c778593ba784)
Introduction (#u0bdd6258-dcc1-5836-8eca-7c7e80f8a3af)
Title Page (#u50e3ba93-5446-5ea5-baad-a7a7abe115d5)
About the Author (#u735019b8-4c20-51f1-9ee6-0fb79b213d40)
Dedication (#u425396f3-8bd6-5e74-b8ac-08f179ec0172)
Chapter One (#u8ebb46f2-8ac3-5268-80ed-2395a9970611)
Chapter Two (#u3b8b1178-c0bc-5d77-b17d-21af6b7e23d0)
Chapter Three (#ufc11b7f7-fffa-5ad1-b6b6-eb3143d0215f)
Chapter Four (#ua5b30986-3f5a-5b93-a0a5-02cfc4494350)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#ud0189017-9a4d-50d9-b6a8-1ed4c615f2df)
“I’m not selling you my ranch.”
Emma Sheridan’s skin prickled beneath her down parka at the sound of the voice behind her. She’d recognize it anywhere. Dylan Slade. They’d only met face-to-face once during the summer and had three or four brief phone conversations since, but his masculine resonance was impossible to forget. He was every man’s cowboy and every woman’s fantasy. Okay, maybe not every woman’s, but he had snuck into her dreams a time or ten. Then again, it could just be her pregnancy hormones talking.
Emma handed her credit card to the front desk clerk at the Silver Bells Guest Ranch, and then turned to face Dylan. “Mr. Slade.” Her breath caught at the realization he stood less than an arm’s length away. “Please accept my sincerest sympathies. I only knew your Uncle Jax for a year, but he was a wonderful man with a generous heart.”
“That he was.” Dylan tugged off his work gloves and unzipped his whiskey-colored rancher jacket. “I appreciate your condolences, but it doesn’t explain why you’re here. We received your company’s floral arrangement.”
Emma cringed. She hated the customary funeral-home flowers her firm had sent. They were cold and impersonal. She’d mailed Dylan a hand-written card as well, but he didn’t bother to mention it. Then again, why would he? Her visit wasn’t to relay condolences in person. It was business. Business she needed to settle before her baby was born. She glanced up at him. His dark, well-worn cowboy hat shielded his eyes more than she’d have preferred. It made reading him difficult, which she assumed was intentional.
“I thought if we could talk—”
“You’d what? Change my mind? I’m not selling the ranch.” He shrugged out of his coat as he strode past her, revealing faded snug Wranglers that fit him better than any pair of jeans had a right to. Inwardly, she groaned, relieved when he walked behind the lodge’s rustic cedar-log front desk.
“You’re all set, Ms. Sheridan.” The check-in clerk slid her room key across the marred wood surface. An actual key. Her plans for the ranch included multiple guest-service agents and the latest digital room-entry technology. A guest’s Bluetooth-enabled smartphone would become their room key via a downloadable app. “I’ll have someone bring up your bags. Please help yourself to the complimentary snack bar in the dining room.”
“Why are you staying here?” Dylan tilted back his hat, revealing an errant lock of chestnut-brown hair. There was no mistaking his scowl now. “My decision isn’t up for debate.”
“You never heard my final proposal. At least hear me out.” Emma shifted uncomfortably in her too-tight rubber duck boots. The shoes were far from fashionable, but they were snow-friendly and easy to slip on. At least, they had been before she boarded her red-eye flight from Chicago to Saddle Ridge in northwestern Montana. Now she’d need a crowbar to pry them off. “Besides, Jax told me he hadn’t booked any reservations after December in anticipation of closing this deal on January 2. It doesn’t look like people are waiting in line for you to reopen, so what’s the harm in discussing it?” A sharp internal kick to her ribs caused Emma to inhale. Her daughter had been super active today and the nerve-racking drive in the snow from the airport hadn’t helped matters any. She had read that her unborn baby could sense her emotions and today definitely confirmed it. The doctor had told her it was safe to make the trip, but he had also warned it would be her last until after the baby was born. “I have to sit down.”
As much as she wanted—correction, needed—to discuss the agreement Jax had made to sell the guest ranch, her feet had reached their limit. She tottered toward the lodge’s great room. At thirty-two weeks pregnant, she envied the women who radiated in the pre-baby hormonal glow and managed to survive the entire nine months in a blissfully beautiful state of impending motherhood. She’d trade an ounce of their exuberance for her swollen feet and ankles, not to mention the other parts of her body that had seen better days.
“Are you all right?” Dylan’s closeness startled her again. “Would you like a bottle of water?” He guided her by the arm to the most comfortable-looking chair she’d ever seen. “You look terrible.”
Emma laughed, dropping her handbag at her feet. “You really shouldn’t say that to a woman.” She unfastened her jacket, not bothering to remove it as she sank into the burnished leather chair near the massive granite fireplace. Oh, this is heaven. She’d definitely need help to get up, but she’d worry about that later.
“You’re pregnant.” Dylan’s deep blue eyes grew large as he stared at her protruding belly. “I had no idea.”
Feeling exposed, Emma struggled to pull her parka closed over her fisherman-knit sweater. Of course, now she was sitting on half of the coat, which made the task impossible.
“Eight months.” Emma rested her hands protectively on her stomach. “It’s a girl, but I haven’t chosen a name yet. I’m surprised your uncle didn’t tell you.” Jax had instinctively known, even though she hadn’t begun to show when they’d spoken. He’d said her panicked smile gave it away. Well, that on top of the morning sickness and the constant heartburn she’d had during her visit.
Dylan shook his head. “My uncle may have been somewhat eccentric and unfiltered at times, but he wasn’t a gossiping man. Not that your pregnancy is gossip.”
That wasn’t altogether true. The fact that her boyfriend of six months had ditched her the second he found out she was pregnant had made for great water-cooler gossip around the office. Especially since her job as a commercial real estate analyst hinged on her ability to fly anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice. That ended with this trip.
She traveled as many as twenty days a month and while her job paid well, it didn’t afford her the luxury of a nanny to accompany her and care for her baby while she was scouting resort locations or meeting with clients and investors. Once her daughter was born, she would be unable to meet the travel requirements her job demanded. She had two options: accept a lesser position with less pay or get the acquisitions director promotion she’d been vying for and work solely from their Chicago corporate offices. Acquiring the Silver Bells Ranch almost guaranteed that promotion. She refused to give up now.
“Water would be great. Thank you.” His exit gave her a chance to compose herself a little better and get out of her suffocating coat. The full-length parka was overkill for mid-December, but she wasn’t taking any chances. Plus, wearing it beat trying to stuff it into another piece of luggage. By the time she freed herself from its confines, Dylan had returned and she was perspiring profusely.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” He handed her the bottle.
Emma twisted the cap off and took a long swallow. “I’m fine, thank you. It’s just the warmth of the fireplace and this monstrosity of a coat.”
Standing in front of her silhouetted by the midmorning sun filtering in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Dylan epitomized tall, dark and sexy.
“Good. Then go home. I’m not selling.”
And obstinate to the core. Emma had already decided she liked Dylan much better when he didn’t speak. Unfortunately, getting him to sell his ranch was why she was there. She refused to leave until he did.
* * *
DYLAN HADN’T EVEN grieved yet for the man he had loved as a father. Jax had been in perfect health, which made his sudden heart attack even more shocking. He had wanted to hold on to the ranch and bring in a new business partner, but no one wanted to invest in an aging ranch. Not even his own brothers. A part of him wondered if the bickering he and Jax had done over the sale had contributed to his uncle’s death. Now Silver Bells was his and he had to prove to himself that he’d been right to keep it all along.
Without steady revenue, he had to rely on what was left of his savings to float the business. Jax had stopped taking reservations months ago and Emma was right...no one was beating down their door to get in. They hadn’t been for more than a year—and the instant the ranch had taken a downturn, she had swooped in and offered to buy it.
Emma bordered between a vixen and a cherub. Her intelligence coupled with her persistence had hooked Jax from their first meeting. At five and a half feet, she wasn’t overly tall or bombshell curvaceous. Instead, the brunette had a wicked grin that usually ended in a friendly wink. She exuded charm along with a street-savvy wit that left those around her intoxicated by her performance. And it was a performance designed to lull potential sellers into a euphoric sense of everything would be wonderful once they closed the deal. She was a brilliant saleswoman and Dylan understood why she was so successful, but he could also see right through her.
Today, her perfectly manicured facade had a crack in it. But that crack made her appear more natural and she wore it well, despite her obvious discomfort. She winced for the second time since her arrival. The ranch should be the least of her concerns, and she had to be the least of his. He didn’t have the patience to deal with a pushy pregnant woman, let alone one who should be relaxing at home choosing baby names.
“Isn’t your husband worried about you?”
“Thanks for the concern, but I’m not married, attached or otherwise. It’s just me and the butter bean.”
“Butter bean? That’s what you call your kid?”
Emma rubbed her belly and smiled up at him. Any man worth his salt could get lost in her bourbon-colored eyes if he wasn’t careful. Good thing he’d sworn off women with kids years ago.
“I have craved butter beans since the beginning of my pregnancy. That’s how I found out I was expecting. A friend jokingly asked if I was pregnant. Biggest surprise of my life.”
“And the father?” Dylan held up his hands. “No, I’m sorry. That’s none of my business.”
“It’s no secret. He left two seconds after I told him.” She tilted her chin up defiantly. “I had his parental rights terminated shortly thereafter. He didn’t fight it and my baby is better off this way. I’d never force my daughter on a man who wants nothing to do with her.”
“I give you a lot of credit.” It pained him whenever he heard a man had relinquished his paternal rights to a child. Dylan had wanted kids and a family more than anything. He’d lived that dream, and then he lost it after he’d partnered with Jax on Silver Bells. His ex-wife had warned him she wouldn’t like living on a ranch. Stubbornly, he thought he’d change her mind. Lauren had tried her best, but living in an outdated log cabin away from her family and friends proved to be too much. She packed up his two step-kids and moved back to Bozeman. No way would he raise another man’s child again. It was too heartbreaking when it didn’t work out.
Lauren and the kids leaving, coupled with his father’s death a few months later, damn near broke him. From then on, he devoted every waking hour to the ranch. He and Jax had updated what they could afford to, and the Silver Bells did great until more guest ranches cropped up nearby. They couldn’t compete with the new.
“It’s all good,” she said.
Her robotic response told him otherwise, but he couldn’t allow that to matter. Dylan squatted next to her chair and rested a hand on her arm. He immediately regretted the close contact, even though her bulky sweater separated her skin from his palm. It was bad enough her almond-scented shampoo left him wanting to bury his face in the long silky strands. He found this vulnerable side of Emma endearing when he knew to avoid her. She was off-limits in far too many ways.
“I admire your strength and fortitude to see this deal come to fruition but, Emma, it won’t happen. I went along with my uncle because he owned the majority stake in the business. I didn’t have a choice then. There are a few options I’m mulling over, but selling to you isn’t on the list.” Dylan stood and walked to the windows overlooking the ranch. “This is a guest ranch where people come to be cowboys and cowgirls for a week or two. It will never be the luxurious five-star spa resort you want to turn it into.”
“Um, excuse me. Some help over here,” Emma called behind him.
He turned to find her struggling to stand and couldn’t help but laugh a little. She was cute when she was vulnerable. He closed the distance between them and offered both his hands. Their eyes met as he pulled her to her feet and inadvertently against his body.
“Sorry,” he mumbled before stepping back.
A tinge of pink flooded her cheeks as she smoothed her sweater. “Would you rather turn your employees out on the street?”
The woman didn’t miss a beat. “You and my uncle already have.” Dylan headed toward the front desk, sensing her close behind him. “Some already left to secure work somewhere else. When my uncle announced that the ranch would close its doors on January 1, many of our employees began searching for work elsewhere. Some found positions, while others planned on staying until the end. I’ve already told them Silver Bells isn’t closing, and I’ll do whatever I can to keep them employed here. We have families living on the ranch. Did my uncle tell you that? And some of my employees worked on my father’s ranch before his death. I’ve known many of these people my entire life.”
Emma shook her head. “I didn’t know.”
“I can’t tell you how many marriages have taken place amongst the Silver Bells employees. We have another in a few days, don’t we, Sandy?” Dylan wrapped his arm around a dining-room server who had been passing by. “Sandy’s the one getting married. Her fiancé, Luke, is a ranch hand here.” Dylan continued into the kitchen. “Hopefully this won’t be the last wedding. Many babies have been born here, too. Some of the kids raised on Silver Bells are raising families of their own on the ranch and you want to take that away. I can’t understand why my uncle agreed to any of it. I just thank God he hadn’t finalized anything.”
“We were scheduled to in fifteen days.” Emma lifted her chin. “And your employees can reapply once the renovations are completed.”
Sandy scoffed at her statement. “Your company refused to guarantee us employment. You can’t expect us to go without any income or health insurance for six months.”
“Many of the people working here live paycheck-to-paycheck,” Dylan said over his shoulder as he walked to the pantry. His father had taught him to treat his employees like family and the thought of them suffering aggravated him further. He needed distance from Emma before he said something he’d regret.
“I’m sure we can work something out.” She followed him, unrelenting. “Maybe a severance package.”
“To cover six months? I highly doubt that.” He hoisted a case of water onto his shoulder and faced her. “Listen. I’m not going to change my mind. So please, catch the first flight out of here because you’re wasting your time pursuing this further. If you’ll excuse me, I have a lot to do since we’re shorthanded.”
“Uh, Dylan? She’s not going anywhere,” Sandy said from the kitchen doorway. “Harlan just called. They closed all the roads because of this storm and we’re expecting another foot of snow by tomorrow morning.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” But he knew she wasn’t. His brother was a deputy sheriff and he would have heard the news directly from the Department of Transportation. “We’re snowed in?”
“And here I thought Montana laughed in the face of snow.” Emma stared at him with a confident smile and her arms folded above her baby bump. “The roads wouldn’t be an issue if we owned the property.”
Dylan set the water on the stainless-steel counter. “I have news for you. Saddle Ridge is a small town and we don’t have the equipment to plow roads as fast as Chicago or even Kalispell and Whitefish.”
“That’s why we planned on donating two new snowplows to the town, ensuring the roads leading to the resort would be kept clear.”
“It’s a ranch. Not a resort.” A fact she needed to get through her head. “And who is going to pay for the manpower to run those plows?”
“It’s only two plows, Dylan.” She toddled over to the counter and leaned against it, looking more tired than before. “We’re talking about two drivers, four if they are running two shifts. I doubt it will bankrupt the town. They’re getting new equipment and they are thrilled with the idea.”
“Thrilled? You’ve already spoken with them?” Of course she had. He didn’t think there was anything business-related she had overlooked, except the human side of the equation.
“Months ago. Your uncle even went with me to my Department of Transportation meeting. I assumed you knew.”
“No. No, I didn’t.” He wondered what else he didn’t know about the sale. “It doesn’t matter now. The deal is off.”
“Well, since it doesn’t appear I’m leaving anytime soon, why don’t we talk about that?”
“I hope you enjoy your stay, Ms. Sheridan, but I assure you, we will never have that conversation.” The last thing Dylan needed was to be snowbound with the woman determined to take his ranch. Hell would freeze over before he’d let that happen.
Chapter Two (#ud0189017-9a4d-50d9-b6a8-1ed4c615f2df)
Emma couldn’t believe her luck. If mother nature hadn’t intervened, she was certain Dylan would have tossed her off the ranch. The storm hadn’t been a surprise. She had been carefully watching the weather since last night, hoping the airline wouldn’t cancel her flight. As much as she needed a reason to stay on the ranch, the snowed-in part made her nervous. She hadn’t had any complications with her pregnancy, but she still wanted access to a hospital in case something did happen. Back home in Chicago, her apartment was six blocks from the hospital. The steady stream of sirens and medevac helicopters had become second nature to her. Most of the time she didn’t hear them.
She glanced around the small room. It had seen better decades, but it was clean and tidy. Leaving her bags by the door, she took her laptop case and purse to the small round table by the window. Despite the hardness of the chair, she was happy to sit down again. After prying off her shoes, she propped up her feet on the chair across from her and set up her computer. She wanted to get as much work done as possible in case the lodge lost power. And judging by the looks of the place, the possibility was very real.
She typed a quick text message to her boss.
Made it to Silver Bells. Bad storm. Having hard time getting cell service. Hope this message gets through. Will try calling again later.
Providing no one from her office called the lodge directly, which she doubted they would, her white lie would go unnoticed. She pressed send, shut off her phone and tossed it on the table. Between yesterday’s conference calls with their investors on the project and this morning’s call from her boss when she landed, she’d had all the pressure she could stand. She needed time to work on her strategy. The ranch was still grieving Jax’s death and there was a fine line between being aggressive and being obnoxious. Judging by Sandy’s reaction to her in the dining room, her presence wasn’t a welcome one. And she totally understood where they were coming from. Dylan wanted to protect his livelihood and she wanted to protect hers.
Her daughter thumped against her lower left rib. “Easy, butter bean. You’re going to leave your mommy black and blue before you’re born.” Emma rubbed her belly. “We’ll be home soon. Once I close this deal and get my promotion, your future will be secure and I can spend the rest of my pregnancy shopping for your arrival. I can’t wait to meet you.”
Despite the discomfort, her pregnancy had already gone faster than she had imagined. A little too fast, considering all she had to do. There were only eight weeks left and she hadn’t even started working on the nursery. She had no one to rely on except herself. Until this deal closed, she couldn’t afford to ease up. Raising a baby alone was hard enough. It was even harder in a big city, and she refused to let her daughter down.
She had managed to pick up a few outfits during her business trips. Traveling hadn’t given her much of a chance to shop, but she loved the idea of buying her daughter dresses from all over the world. It was something she wouldn’t be able to do once she got her promotion. She had mixed emotions about not traveling anymore. As much as she loved it, she found it exhausting.
Making plans with friends had become a rare luxury over the years. She’d lost touch with many of them and looked forward to reconnecting with them once she had a more normal schedule. Many had families of their own and play dates with her daughter beat traipsing across the globe any day. But unless she got to work now, none of that would happen. She focused her attention on her laptop screen and began reviewing her notes.
An hour later, Emma stood and stretched. Her skin felt grimy from the flight and she wanted to slip into something less bulky and hot. She peeked into the bathroom. It wasn’t lavish by any means, but it was spotless. And that suited her just fine.
Emma had just finished showering and dressing when she heard a knock on her room door. She opened it, startled to see Dylan holding a miniature decorated Christmas tree.
“This is a surprise.” Emma had heard of waving the white flag, but never waving a Christmas tree. Nonetheless, she appreciated the effort. “How sweet!”
“All of our guests get a tree during the holidays. Normally they are in the room before they arrive, but since we hadn’t booked this room before your unexpected visit, we hadn’t bothered. Everyone deserves a little Christmas cheer.”
Even her. He hadn’t said the words, but they were certainly implied. So much for assuming he had done something just for her. Not that it mattered.
“Thank you.” Emma took the tree from him and sat it on the worn oak dresser. “I’m hoping to be home by Christmas. You don’t really think we’ll still be snowed in then, do you? That’s a week away.” Not that she had any big plans. Her mother always said it was a kids’ holiday and once she became an adult, they didn’t do much to celebrate it. However, she still didn’t want to spend her rare day off stuck in No-Man’s-Land, Montana with the Grinch.
“I certainly hope not. But it has been unusually cold this year and this is our second snow storm of the season. Let’s not even think about the possibility. I’m sure you’ll be back home before you know it. Anyway, that thing lights up.” Dylan crossed the room like he owned the place—which he did—and eased between her and the tree. The slight brush of his body against hers caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end. Of course, he probably wouldn’t have touched her if her belly hadn’t been in the way. She had never felt more unattractive in her life. He wiggled the dresser from the wall to access the outlet and bent over, allowing her the perfect view of his backside. At least that brought a smile to her face.
“There you go.” He moved the dresser back into place and admired the tree as if he’d been the one to invent the electric light. “Now you’re all set.”
Dylan tilted back his hat. “I don’t know if anyone had the chance to tell you our meal schedule around here. Breakfast runs from six to eight, lunch is at noon and dinner at six. Breakfast and lunch are buffets and we serve dinner family-style, where everyone eats together. Although I’m sure you already know what our lodge has to offer. While it’s not sushi and escargot, I assure you it’s stick-to-your-ribs good food.”
“Great.” Emma had never been fond of the whole meat-and-potatoes thing. After wining and dining corporate clients in some of the finest restaurants in the world, her taste buds had been spoiled. She tried to muster some enthusiasm. “I look forward to it.” She was already hungry and at this point, she couldn’t afford to be picky.
“I notified the staff that you may have some extra needs.” Dylan jammed his hands into his pockets and glanced around the room. Was it possible that Mr. Surly was nervous being alone with a pregnant woman? Emma privately laughed at the thought. “We’re not a fancy resort with a twenty-four-hour kitchen, but our head chef said he’d make you some pre-prepared snacks that you will be able to heat up very quickly in the microwave down there. Just tell him your preferences. I know it’s not the greatest, but we haven’t had too many pregnant guests stay here. We’re a little unprepared. I’m sure pre-baby vacations were part of your luxury resort spa, weren’t they?”
“They were.” Emma would give anything for a little pampering. “I appreciate the extra effort you’re making on my behalf, but it’s not necessary. I don’t want to put anybody out.”
“You’re not putting us out.” There was no disguising Dylan’s double meaning. “The staff is good about keeping the walkways clear at all times, but I’ve asked them to be vigilant with the ice melt. So, if you do go outside, you won’t slip and fall. They will continually recheck it during the day, especially in the mornings.”
“Thank you.” Emma thought about her company’s plans for the ranch. It included heated walkways, ensuring guests could safely walk from one area of the resort to the other.
He tugged his hat down low, shielding his eyes. “I’m just being hospitable. After all, this is a guest ranch and you’re a guest.” He turned his back to her and strode to the open door. “Let my staff know if you need anything.”
Before she could respond further, he was gone. Despite his gruffness, she found his gesture endearing. Not that he’d ever admit to it being more than his job. Because they both knew he could have sent anyone up with a tree or forgotten about it altogether. Either way, she was there to convince him to sell the ranch, not make friends.
* * *
DYLAN KICKED HIMSELF for going to her room. The only reason he had was because she’d looked exhausted earlier and he wanted to make sure she was all right. That was his job as the ranch owner. He could’ve insisted an employee drop off the tree and report back to him. The thought had crossed his mind, but he vetoed it because Emma had managed to make quite a few enemies on the ranch. It was hard enough adjusting to life without Jax. Everyone had begun to breathe again when he told them he wasn’t selling Silver Bells. Now her presence brought up myriad speculations. He’d spent the better part of an hour reassuring everyone he hadn’t changed his mind. He didn’t have extra time for that, but he’d had to make the time. Instead, he needed to focus on finding another investor in the ranch if he wanted to keep rooves over his employees’ heads. It irked him that Emma was there. Now he felt responsible for her while they were snowed in and she was one more aggravation he didn’t need.
It was almost noon when Dylan hopped on one of the ranch’s snowmobiles and headed toward the stables. Nothing cured a man’s worries like honest hard work. He shut the engine off in front of the first building. With almost a hundred horses in residence, they had four separate stables in a row with the last building reserved mostly for maintenance. The weathered barn siding had faded to a light gray over the years. They needed updating along with the rest of the ranch. Dylan had tried to allocate money equally between the horses and the lodge, but there just wasn’t enough to go around.
When you didn’t have a whole lot of money, it meant you always had work to do. Considering they were short-staffed after many of their employees had decided to leave when Jax announced the ranch’s imminent closing, Dylan had been pulling double duty. But he needed the distraction of extra work now more than anything.
One of the stables still hadn’t been mucked thanks to Wes once again skipping out on work. In hindsight, he should’ve fired his brother a long time ago, but Dylan and Jax had been the only ranch around willing to put up with his extensive bull-riding schedule. He’d thought after the World Finals that Wes would have returned to work full-time again. He’d been mistaken. At least his brother had the courtesy to send him a text message and say he wasn’t coming in. He didn’t even know where the man was sleeping anymore. He had a cabin on the ranch, but he rarely stayed in it.
He couldn’t blame Wes for not wanting to stick around. Their family had fractured the moment their father had died. Correction, had been killed. His brother, Ryder, had confessed to running over their father after a drunken argument. Four and a half years later and it still didn’t make sense to him. Ryder and their father had always had a great relationship. He had never seen them argue let alone get into a drunken brawl. It didn’t matter now. Dylan had been forced to accept it. He just wished it hadn’t destroyed the rest of his family. He still couldn’t bring himself to visit his brother in prison.
His mother had sold the family ranch and moved to California shortly after the funeral. She’d remarried a year ago and had no plans of returning. His other brother, Garrett, had moved to Wyoming with his wife years earlier and Wes devoted ninety-nine percent of his time to bull riding. That left only Dylan and Harlan in Saddle Ridge. Jax had become a second father to them both. And now he was gone, too.
Dylan reached into his back pocket for his work gloves and realized he’d left them in his truck. He grabbed a spare pair from the tack room and set off in search of the wheelbarrow. He’d already fed the horses that morning. Normally the stalls were empty this time of day, but he’d kept the horses inside when he’d seen the weather report. Mucking stalls when you had to continually move horses around was a pain in the ass. Between that, repairing some tack, ordering supplies and a second attempt at fixing one of their ranch trucks, it would be well past sunset before he finished for the day. Good. That’s what he wanted. No—it’s what he needed.
Over the past six months, Dylan felt like what was left of his family had splintered even further. After Harlan and his ex-wife had split up, whenever he was on late-night patrol as deputy sheriff, Dylan used to babysit his daughter, Ivy. Now that Harlan had married Belle, she watched Ivy when he wasn’t home. There were still rare instances when they both had work or were in desperate need of a date night, but it wasn’t like it used to be. He missed spending time with his niece. Combined with many of his friends leaving the ranch and Jax’s death, he had never felt more alone.
Dylan snatched a shovel from the wall bracket and swung open a stall door. He jammed it into the soiled hay and tossed it into the wheelbarrow. By the time he reached the last stall in the first stable, he no longer felt the cold. Hay and manure replaced the sweet scent of Emma’s hair. A blister had begun to form between his thumb and index finger and he welcomed the ache. If only it would replace the one that had settled deep within his heart.
Five years ago, he had been a man-with-a-plan. He had bought into Silver Bells with the best of intentions. Jax had owned the ranch for three decades and it made a solid income. But he’d had plans to make it better. Together, they were going to create the biggest and best family guest ranch in the state of Montana. His ex, Lauren, had told him repeatedly that she didn’t want to live on a ranch. She wanted to stay in her modern home with sheetrock walls, not rough-hewn cedar logs. She wanted neighbors and a two-car garage, not hundreds of acres for a backyard. And the horses... She’d warned him she wasn’t an animal person, yet he had pushed and pushed until finally she’d pushed back and left.
In hindsight, they couldn’t have been more opposites of each other. It’s what had attracted him to her in the first place. She wasn’t a big city girl like Emma, but she was definitely suburbia. Dylan had made a name for himself training horses and he had set aside every penny he’d made, earning interest. When he’d met Lauren, she’d been divorced for a solid two years already. She had two kids—a boy and a girl, ages three and five. Sweet as the day was long. He loved those kids as if they were his own. And they loved him enough to call him dad. It made her leaving that much harder.
Maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad if their marriage had started on a ranch. If he had let her know from the beginning that this was the life he wanted. Instead, he had moved into her traditional four-bedroom home in Bozeman. The city was touristy, rugged and quaint all in the same breath. He had found work but felt suffocated living in their cookie-cutter housing development. The only time he had felt at home during their marriage was when he was working on someone else’s ranch. So, when Jax had presented him with the opportunity to partner in Silver Bells, he jumped on it.
Lauren had followed him faithfully, despite her protests. The day they sold her house, she bawled like he’d never seen before. That had been his first sign they may not last. Dylan hadn’t touched any of the money from that sale. His conscience wouldn’t allow him to. That decision had given Lauren the financial freedom to leave.
The kids had been seven and nine when they moved to the ranch. They had been excited at first, but had quickly grown bored of ranch life when they realized they couldn’t run down the street to play with their friends. Lauren missed her book club and Board of Education administration position. She’d accepted an office job in town, but she couldn’t relate to the other women and their laid-back country lifestyle. The connection just wasn’t there.
She had stuck it out for a year. An actual year to the day. And then that was it. He hadn’t tried to stop her when she left. There had been no point. She was better off without him. Happier, at least. And the last he’d heard, she had married a Bozeman businessman and had returned to living in a cookie-cutter housing development with manicured lawns and white vinyl fences.
He didn’t blame her. He blamed himself. He’d made her believe he was somebody other than he was. It didn’t make losing her and the kids any easier. Since he hadn’t legally adopted the children, he had no claim to them. He’d been their father for four years and he missed it as much today as he had when she’d left.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a real live cowboy at work.”
Emma’s voice startled him and he almost impaled himself on the shovel.
“Somebody has to do it around here since you ran off my men.” Dylan blew out a hard breath. “I didn’t mean that.”
“Yeah, you kind of did. But I get it. No harm, no f—What is that smell?”
“Manure.”
“Does it always stink so bad?”
Dylan started laughing so hard he had to brace himself against the stall door. “It’s pretty rank, but I think it might smell stronger because you’re pregnant. But don’t throw up in this stall, I just finished cleaning it.”
“I’m way past the morning-sickness stage. Thank God,” she mumbled while trying to hold her breath.
A gentleman would have offered to walk away from the manure-filled wheelbarrow so she could breathe again, but he wasn’t feeling very gentlemanly. Maybe she would hate the smell enough and wait for him in the stable office until he could find someone to drive her back to the lodge.
“What can I do for you, Emma?” He purposely walked close to her as he passed so she could get a good whiff of him, knowing he wasn’t playing very fair. “How did you get out here, anyway?”
“Your brother gave me a ride.”
“Wes is here?” Dylan tugged off his gloves and yanked his phone out of his pocket. “That son of a— He should be the one doing this, not me. Did he come in with you?”
Emma shook her head. “No. He’s plowing the ranch roads. I don’t think he plans on working in the stables right now.”
At least his brother had decided to work after all. “I love how I own the ranch and I’m the one doing the grunt work. So, I guess now you’re stuck out here with me. I don’t have time to drive you back and I certainly don’t have time to entertain you.”
“I’m not asking you to entertain me.”
“Why are you out here, Emma?”
“Kindly lose the attitude. I realize I’m not your favorite person. All I’m asking for is a couple hours of your time to hear my proposal.”
“You have a lot of nerve, sweetheart.” He couldn’t believe her attitude. “I know all about your plans for the ranch.”
“No, Dylan, you don’t. You think you do, but you don’t. How do I know? Because I never pitched them to you, and Jax told me you didn’t want to listen to him. You might feel differently if we talked about it.”
“As you can already see, I don’t have a couple hours to spare.” Dylan tossed his shovel on top of the wheelbarrow and began pushing it down the stable corridor. “Honestly, I’m finding your insistence insulting.”
“I—I never meant to offend you.” Emma backed away from him and straight into one of the open stall doors.
“Be careful.” He sighed. “Listen, I know you’re just doing your job. I apologize for my attitude. You being here is bringing up some memories I would rather have kept in the past. And before you ask, no, I don’t want to talk about them.”
“Is this about your ex-wife?”
Dylan abruptly released the handles of the wheelbarrow, almost causing it to tip over. “How the hell do you know about that?”
“Jax told me your wife and kids left because you moved them out here and that’s a big reason why you didn’t want to sell the ranch.”
“You’re half-right. My wife and her kids. And there’s more to my not wanting to sell than that. Here I thought my uncle wasn’t much of a gossip. Turns out I was wrong.”
“Jax cared for you very much. Part of his reason for selling was so you could have your freedom again.”
Dylan tugged off his gloves. “Well, doesn’t that just beat all? This ranch was my freedom. My home. By taking it away from me, he was taking away the last breath I had. Did he really say that to you?”
Emma nodded slowly, closing the distance between them. “He thought if you had a fresh start on your own ranch without the debt and problems of this place hanging over your head that you’d be able to move on.”
Dylan recoiled at her words. “Oh, you’re good.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Your job is to convince me to sell and you’re using the information my uncle told you against me.” He had known she was a shrewd businesswoman; he hadn’t known she’d take it this far. “I already know my uncle’s final wish was to sell this place. Doesn’t mean I’m going to honor it, and your charms will not convince me otherwise.”
“You want to be mad at me for being here? Go right ahead. You want to be mad that Jax died? Do it. Let it out. Scream, shout, kick something. It’s okay to be mad at the past. But please don’t insult me in the process.”
Emma stormed out of the stables, leaving him alone with nothing but a pile of manure.
* * *
“THE NERVE OF that man,” Emma grumbled to herself as she traipsed down the freshly-plowed road toward the lodge. She could just about make out the roof of the building from where she stood. At least there was a lull in the storm and it had stopped snowing. While the exercise felt good, her feet were beginning to ache and her fingers were cold. She reached inside her pocket for her phone. Maybe if she called the lodge, somebody could come get her.
She pulled off a glove with her teeth and began to scroll through her contacts when she heard an engine coming up behind her. She stepped off the road and into a pile of cold, wet snow that instantly seeped down into her duck boot moccasins. After she’d let out a few choice curse words, the snowmobile stopped in front of her and cut the engine.
Dylan.
“I don’t want to talk to you.” Emma stomped onto the path in a vain attempt to shake the snow from her shoes. She only succeeded in shaking it farther down toward her toes.
“I don’t want to talk to you either, but I’m not going to allow you to freeze out here. You were crazy to think you could walk back to the lodge in this weather.”
Emma wanted to ignore him, but she was too cold and no amount of pride was worth freezing over. “I was just calling the lodge to have someone come and get me.”
“I’m your somebody. Hop on.”
“Hop on where?” While the snowmobile was a decent size, there was no way her and her belly would fit behind him. At least not without her holding on to him for dear life.
Dylan scooted forward to make more room. “Get on. I’ll go slow, I promise.”
Emma raked her hands down her face. She had never been snowmobiling in her life and she didn’t think her doctor back home in Chicago would approve of this little outdoor activity. She climbed on behind him and gripped his hips.
“Wrap your arms around me,” Dylan said over his shoulder.
“I can’t. My stomach is in the way,” Emma muttered.
She didn’t hear or see Dylan laughing, but she felt his body reverberating against hers. She smacked his arm. “It’s not funny. You try being pregnant.”
“I’m sorry.” He continued to laugh. “Can you hold on to my shoulders?”
Emma slid her hands up his back, relishing the solid muscle beneath her palms. “I can handle that.”
“Apparently.” Dylan arched against her as she squeezed his shoulders.
“You stink.” His odor was probably her only saving grace. If he had smelled musky and manly, she might not have been able to control herself. And she wouldn’t have been able to blame it on her pregnancy hormones.
By the time they reached the lodge, she needed another change of clothes. She didn’t want to sit down to dinner smelling like... Dylan. She wanted to make a graceful escape from the back of the snowmobile—unfortunately getting on was easier than getting off. The story of her pregnancy.
After Dylan’s assistance, she managed to break free of him. “Thank you for the ride.” She headed into the lodge. She may have been grateful for the ride, but she was still mad at him.
“Emma, wait.”
She didn’t bother to stop. She’d had enough of Dylan Slade for one day.
Chapter Three (#ud0189017-9a4d-50d9-b6a8-1ed4c615f2df)
Emma hadn’t realized she’d slept through dinner until she heard a soft knock at the door. If her stomach hadn’t been grumbling, she would’ve ignored it. She couldn’t deal with another minute of Dylan this evening. She checked the peephole, surprised to see Sandy standing in the hallway holding a tray.
She unlocked the door and eased it open. “I’m sorry, I fell asleep.”
“That’s okay. I figured that’s what happened so I brought you dinner. May I come in?” Emma stepped aside as the petite brunette entered the room and set the tray on the small table near the window. “I wanted to apologize for the way I spoke to you earlier. I’m a little frazzled with my Christmas Day wedding coming up. It’s no excuse, though.”
“Believe me, I realize I’m the enemy. We’re on opposite sides. It’s cool. I do hope you have the wedding of your dreams.”
“Thanks.” Sandy tucked a piece of hair behind her ear that had worked its way loose from her French braid. “There’s a little bit of everything on here. If you want more, just ring downstairs. I see Dylan brought you up the Christmas tree. I know he’s a little gruff on the outside, but he really is a big teddy bear once you get to know him.”
“Somehow I don’t think anyone’s going to mistake Dylan for a squishable stuffed animal anytime soon.”
“Then I guess you won’t mind me telling you he was the one who fixed your tray.” Sandy winked as she walked into the hallway. “I live here in the lodge. Extension 307. Call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks, I will.” Emma closed the door.
Dylan fixed her tray? She eyed it warily. “I wonder what he did to it.”
She lifted the plate to remove the plastic wrap and found a folded note.
I’m sorry for earlier.
Dylan.
Well, that was unexpected. The smell of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy got the best of her. And then she saw them...butter beans. He remembered. There was also a huge slab of chocolate cake, macaroni and cheese and a slice of meatloaf. Classic comfort food. She’d never desired it until this very moment. And she planned to eat every ounce of it or explode trying.
Halfway through her meal, her text-message tone sounded from the other side of the table. She’d forgotten to turn her phone back off after calling her best friend, Jennie, to help forget her argument with Dylan. She wanted to ignore it, but she was already full anyway. She reached for her phone and tapped the screen to see a message from her boss.
Conference call tomorrow. 1 p.m. Chicago time. Want update.
Her boss had a penchant for caveman text messaging and emails. She didn’t know if she was supposed to call him or he was supposed to call her. Either way, it wouldn’t be a good conversation. At least it gave her the morning to prepare for it. She would have preferred to wait until after Dylan heard her proposal, if she could ever convince him to give her half a chance. Maybe her boss could offer some insight on how to change Dylan’s mind, although that felt as if she were admitting she didn’t have any ideas of her own.
Emma would have preferred staying in her room for the rest of the night, but she didn’t think Silver Bells had tray pick up, especially since they didn’t offer room service. While she was down there, she’d find out about laundry service or the use of a washing machine and dryer.
Carrying her tray down a flight of stairs proved to be more precarious than she’d anticipated. She couldn’t wait for her center of gravity to be back where it belonged. By the time she reached the kitchen, she’d broken out into a cold sweat. Thankfully, she hadn’t made a scene by dropping the tray along the way.
A group of around twenty people had gathered near the fireplace while someone played guitar and sang “Jingle Bell Rock.” She loved that song. It had always put her in a festive holiday mood. She walked toward the small crowd, singing along until she caught a glimpse of who was playing. Dylan. Of course, it had to be Dylan.
A slow easy grin settled over his face as his eyes met hers. He continued to sing, and for a moment, everyone else disappeared. When the song ended, their applause jolted her back to reality. Good thing it was only a fantasy, because the last thing she wanted was to be alone with Dylan again. They’d kissed and made up and that was good enough for her. Kissed? No! She could not think about kissing Dylan Slade.
Absolutely not.
Not going to happen.
Not even in her dreams.
Okay, so she had kissed him in her dreams once before. But that was then and this was now.
He began playing Brooks & Dunn’s “Hangin’ ’Round the Mistletoe,” which sounded dangerously sexy when Dylan sang it. He had a great voice. It didn’t help that he still hadn’t broken eye contact. She wanted to look away first, but she couldn’t will herself to do so. That was until she noticed everyone else was staring at her. Great. Now she felt even more self-conscious. And then she realized why she was the center of attention. Hanging above her head was none other than a sprig of mistletoe. Double crap!
* * *
DYLAN ENDED THE song to a round of applause. He placed the house guitar back on the stand where anyone was welcome to play it. Emma had latched herself on to two other female guests, probably to avoid him. And who could blame her.
The three of them disappeared, leaving him to wonder if he would see Emma again tonight. Dylan attempted to mingle with the ranch’s guests. They didn’t have a full house, but they had managed to fill almost a dozen rooms. Instead of making small talk or thinking about Emma, he needed to focus on finding a new investor. The road closures meant the kids living on the ranch wouldn’t have school. He’d bribe them to muck the stalls tomorrow if his brother didn’t show up for work again. There was no point in saying anything to Wes, because he never stayed around long enough for it to matter. That didn’t mean the responsibility of the horses was going away anytime soon.
He still couldn’t get what Emma had told him about Jax out of his head. Had his uncle truly believed selling the ranch was in Dylan’s best interest? It would have been different if Lauren had left a few months ago. Then maybe he could have salvaged his marriage. In the end, it probably would have only been a temporary bandage. Sometimes you couldn’t fix what wasn’t meant to be.
When Emma reappeared, he could have sworn his heart quickened. But that was impossible, unless it was out of aggravation. A part of him wanted to find out what else Jax had said to her about him, but the other part figured he was better off not knowing. Sandy and Luke interrupted his thoughts when they carried out two large trays of s’mores fixings and told the guests to grab their jackets and follow them outside.
A fire was already burning in the stone fire pit behind the lodge. A light snow continued to fall as flames danced between him and Emma while Sandy showed her how to make the melted chocolate, toasted marshmallow and graham cracker sandwich. For someone as worldly as he thought she was, he found it funny that she had never made s’mores before. Then again, she was a city girl.
At least Sandy had apologized for earlier. Which is what he had hoped she would do when he asked her to bring Emma a tray of food. It was one thing for him to be annoyed she was there, but she was a guest and his employees needed to respect that.
“Oh, my God! These are amazing!” Emma happily squealed. Sandy placed her reindeer antlers headband on Emma’s head as Luke stuck another marshmallow on the end of her stick.
Dylan felt like a kid looking through the window of a birthday party he hadn’t been invited to. He wanted to share in their laughter. Dylan shook the thought from his brain. In a few days, he would never see or speak to Emma again. Good. So why did that thought bother him? She had her life in the big city and he had his in rural Montana. And if there was one thing he knew for sure, the two didn’t mix.
“Thank you for dinner.” Emma managed to startle him once again.
“You really need to stop sneaking up on people.”
“What people? And you were looking right at me.” Emma shook her head. “I won’t take up any of your time. I just wanted to say thank you for your apology and I accept.”
Dylan tried not to laugh at the bells jingling on her antlers as she spoke. “I’m taking some of the guests on a snowcat tour of the ranch in a little while. I have room for one more if you care to join us?”
“Is that the giant red boxy-looking vehicle with the tracks I saw near the stables earlier?”
“Yep. We give tours a couple times a day. We’re just coming off a new moon, and if it was a clear night, you’d be able to see a million stars. And every once in a while, we’re able to see the northern lights. Because of the snow and the low visibility, we’re just driving around the ranch tonight.”
“I’d love to go, but I don’t think I can get my butt up into that thing.”
“There are steps in the back. It’s easy and perfectly safe. We don’t go fast at all.”
“Sure, sounds like fun. It will be another first for me.”
“Like s’mores?” Dylan envisioned Emma having a running checklist of things she had to accomplish in life.
“Hey now, not everyone grew up around campfires.” Jingle, jingle.
“Fair enough. We’ll leave here at ten. The tour is about an hour.”
“Great, I look forward to it.” She gave him a slight wink as she smiled. That was the Emma smile he remembered the first day they met. It had transfixed him even then. He needed to get it out of his head and fast before he found himself agreeing to her ideas as Jax had.
Once Dylan began loading everyone into the snowcat, he realized they had booked more people than he had thought. By the time Emma made it outside, the only place left for her to sit was up front next to him. He had wanted to be hospitable, not have her inches away from him in the cab of his favorite diesel toy.
“I thought you said there were steps.” Emma said as he helped her climb onto the track and into the cab, already regretting her close proximity.
“That’s when I thought fewer people were coming along tonight.” Dylan made a mental note to double-check future reservations before offering to take her along anyplace else. He closed her door and hopped into the driver’s side.
“Where’s the steering wheel?” Emma asked once she settled in her seat.
“There isn’t one.” Dylan laughed. He had asked Jax the same question when he first learned how to drive the vehicle. His uncle had picked it up used at auction for a ridiculously low price. They couldn’t have afforded it any other way. The tours were a nice package addition to offer their guests. Newer ranches might be sprouting up around them, but they didn’t have snowcat tours. And they didn’t have the acreage that Silver Bells had.
Dylan started the engine and gripped both control sticks. “Almost every part of a snowcat is controlled by hydraulics. When I turn left, the right track speeds up and pushes the vehicle to the left. Same thing if we’re turning right.”
“I don’t see a brake pedal.” Emma leaned toward him to get a better look, giving him an inadvertent chance to smell her hair. There it was again. Almonds.
“It doesn’t have that, either. Snowcats are super heavy. By letting off the gas or pulling back on the control sticks, it slows to a stop. It does have a parking brake, though, if that makes you feel any better.”
“I’m surprised how warm it is in here. I expected to freeze.”
“These vehicles are designed for subzero temperatures. Even the windshield is heated to prevent icing. Providing there’s diesel to power it, you’ll stay nice and warm in this thing.”
Emma continued to ask questions until they reached the far side of the ranch, overlooking the town of Saddle Ridge.
“This is normally where I let everyone out to walk around and take some night photography shots. Since the snow is so light, I’m going to check in the back to see if anyone wants to get out.”
“I could stand to get out and walk around a little. I think I’m wearing every item of clothing I brought with me. I’m about ready to roast.”
“Just let me make sure the snow is hard-packed enough. I don’t want to chance you falling.”
Dylan unloaded his passengers out of the back door of the snowcat before returning to Emma. He needed a few minutes of distance to catch his breath. He had never had a woman in his cab before, let alone one who smelled as intoxicating as she did. He didn’t know what she bathed in, but it wasn’t the lodge’s complimentary body wash.
After his nerves had cooled, he tested the ground near Emma’s door and cleared the snow off the tracks so she could exit safely. When he climbed up to open her door, he saw she was sound asleep through the window. He didn’t have the heart to wake her. In hindsight, he probably should’ve waited until tomorrow to ask her to come out with them. He had assumed she traveled all night judging by the time she had arrived. Sandy told him she had fallen asleep before dinner. The woman was exhausted and sleeping for two. A fact he needed to keep reminding himself of.
* * *
EMMA WOKE TO the sound of Dylan climbing in next to her. The question was, what was he climbing into? Considering she was sitting upright, they weren’t in bed together. Although she could have sworn she had been dreaming just that a few minutes ago. She rubbed her eyes and forced herself to open them. Darkness surrounded them.
She reached out in front of her and met the hard steel of the snowcat. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” She attempted to straighten her spine. “Did I fall asleep on your tour?”
“Technically, no. We were already stopped when you fell asleep.”
Emma checked her watch and then realized she’d forgotten to put it on today. “How long was I out?”
“Maybe a half hour. I told everyone you decided to stay inside because it was so cold. This probably wasn’t a good idea after the day you’ve had.” Dylan shifted to face her. “You need your sleep. At least you can stay in bed tomorrow.” He started the snowcat.
“Not quite. I have a conference call with my boss in the afternoon that I need to prepare for. I don’t suppose you could help a girl out and listen to my proposal before then?” Emma hadn’t given up hope yet.
Warmth quickly faded from Dylan’s face. “I don’t think so.”
“You know I had to ask.”
“I wish you wouldn’t. You could have yourself a nice little vacation while we’re snowed in if you would just accept that I’m not selling you the ranch.”
“And I wish it were that simple. Since we’re talking about being snowed in, what happens if a guest has a medical emergency?”
Dylan pushed both control sticks forward as the snowcat began to move. “We’ve had it happen before. We take the snowcat to the nearest paved road and the ambulance or sheriff’s department meets us there. If need be, we can drive this straight to the hospital, but we can’t drive it down Main Street at will.”
At least there was a way to get to the hospital. Emma shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She wished her daughter would settle down for the night. Then again, she probably sensed the movement despite the snowcat’s relatively smooth ride on the freshly fallen snow.
By the time they reached the lodge, the snow had begun falling heavily again. She’d be glad to get back to her room and into bed. She’d start fresh in the morning. And brace herself for the onslaught of her boss.
Dylan hesitated after he helped her out of the snowcat. For a brief moment, she thought he might agree to hear her proposal in the morning.
“Get a good night’s sleep. Do you need me to get someone to help you to your room?”
“Um, no. Thank you.” So much for wishful thinking. She’d try again in the morning. She’d come too far to give up now.
Chapter Four (#ud0189017-9a4d-50d9-b6a8-1ed4c615f2df)
Emma showered, dressed and got downstairs by seven the following morning, eager to eat breakfast and try to persuade Dylan to hear her proposal one last time before her conference call. She had glanced out the window earlier but only saw a sea of white through the darkness. That was all she saw last night before she went to bed, too. It was still snowing. She’d only been on the ranch for one day and she was already homesick. It was one thing to travel and have places to go and see. The prospect of being confined on the ranch for the next few days was less exciting than watching water drip from a faucet.
Her stomach grumbled and the scent of fresh baked muffins beckoned her to the dining area. She knew the ranch had a breakfast buffet, but she hadn’t expected one this large. And there they were...a basket of glorious golden blueberry muffins. She snatched one before she even picked up a plate. Unable to wait until she sat down, she bit into the streusel-covered top. Heaven couldn’t have created a better muffin.
“Oh, my God, French toast!” Carbs! Her body craved them like no tomorrow. She piled four slices on her plate and doused them in real maple syrup. Not the artificial stuff. She would kill for a cup of regular coffee, but settled for a small carton of orange juice, instead. Sugar! Her body craved that, too. Her mother would die if she saw what she had eaten over the past twenty-four hours. Emma didn’t care. She knew pregnancy wasn’t a free pass to eat whatever she wanted, but sometimes you just had to make an exception. She just hoped they didn’t bring out pancakes because then somebody would have to roll her out the door.
“Good morning.” Sandy greeted her at the table. “I didn’t expect to see you up this early. I saw you drooling over the coffee. Would you like a cup of decaf? I brewed a pot a few minutes ago.”
“No thank you. It gives me cotton mouth and just makes me crave the real thing that much more.” Emma unwrapped her silverware from her napkin and began cutting into her French toast. “Please give my compliments to the chef on those muffins. They are amazing. I haven’t tried anything else yet, but I’m sure it will be as good, if not better than it smells.”
“You really like the muffins?” Sandy beamed. “I made them. And Melinda made the French toast. I don’t know if you met her or not last night. She’s another server here.” Sandy looked around the room. “She’s the tall blonde over by the kitchen door. The one that looks like she should be modeling for Sports Illustrated instead of working on a ranch. Rhonda’s also on kitchen duty this morning because the staff still couldn’t make it in due to the road closures. She’s the one with the reddish-purple updo next to Melinda. The chefs don’t live on the ranch like we do.”
“You made this?” Emma waved her fork. “Did you also make last night’s dinner?”
“We sure did. We’re all cross-trained here. I love cooking so it’s always a treat for me to cook for everyone.” Sandy grabbed a heated syrup pitcher from the buffet and set it in front of her. “Here, in case you want some more.”
“This is incredible. You should move into the kitchen instead of serving.”
“I had planned to, but then Jax said he was selling the ranch.” Sandy grimaced. “But now that it’s not for sale, I’ll have that chance again. Unless you changed Dylan’s mind last night.”
“No chance of that.” Guilt crept into Emma’s heart. The woman had dreams and aspirations and she was there to take them away. Wonderful. “Any word on how much snow we had overnight?”
“Eight inches. Not quite the foot they had expected. Normally we don’t see this type of accumulation until late January or early February. But it has been known to happen.”
“So I guess you’re still stuck with me.” Emma tried to smile. The snow worked in her favor at the moment, but unless she could change Dylan’s mind, she’d go stir-crazy on the ranch.
“We’re all in this together. Don’t worry. We have plenty of provisions and the lodge has generators in case we lose power. Dylan’s brother Harlan is a deputy sheriff in town so he’ll keep us updated on the roads.” Sandy pulled out a chair next to her and sat down. “You and Dylan looked awfully cozy in the cab of the snowcat when you pulled out of here last night.”
Emma wiped at her mouth, no longer hungry. “As cozy as two people can get when the driver has both of his hands full steering a multi-ton vehicle across the snow. Believe me when I tell you, Dylan has no plans to sell this place. He won’t even discuss it.”
“I already knew that. I thought maybe there was a romance brewing between you two.”
She pushed her plate aside. “You are out of your mind. Don’t take this the wrong way, but this lifestyle isn’t for me. I’m used to having every amenity available at a moment’s notice. We have road closures, but never like this. At least not where I live in Chicago. I’m blocks away from the hospital so they clear those roads first. This is very—”
“Calming, if you allow it to be.”
Emma covered her mouth for fear she might burst out laughing. The Montana wilderness was not calming to her. It was terrifying in more than one way.
“Maybe he’ll take you out for a private sleigh ride today.” Sandy nibbled her bottom lip. “Can you just imagine?”
Emma had never been the hopeless-romantic type. Even romantic was questionable. She’d read the fairy tales and had hoped her Prince Charming would sweep her off her feet one day. Then she had gotten knocked up and her boyfriend walked out on her. So much for romance. And hopeless? Yeah, she was feeling pretty hopeless right now, considering she couldn’t even convince Dylan to listen to her.
“I think you’re super excited about your wedding and you’re trying to play matchmaker. You’re conveniently forgetting I’m carrying another man’s baby.”
“But I overheard you tell Dylan that he wasn’t in your life.”
“That’s right, he’s not.”
“Then what’s the problem? Dylan loves kids. He still misses the ones he lost when Lauren divorced him. And you challenge each other.”
“How do you know that?” Emma jabbed her fork into a piece of French toast. It would be a shame to let it go to waste. “I’ve only been here for a day.”
“I see the way you look at each other. And the way he sang to you last night.” Sandy fanned herself with her hand. “Now that was hot.”
“It was a Christmas song, not a love song,” Emma protested.
“But you were standing under the mistletoe.”
“An unfortunate misstep on my part. It’s not like he came over and kissed me afterward.”
“And what if I had?” Dylan said from behind her.
Emma froze. Mouth-open, fork-in-hand, syrup-dripping froze. Now, she was going to die.
* * *
DYLAN KNEW HE wasn’t playing fair. Then again, Emma hadn’t played fair since the day they had met.
“I’ll give you two a little privacy.” Sandy stood and held out her chair for him.
Before he even had a chance to sit, Emma rose. “I should be going, too.”
“Going where? The ranch is snowed in.”
Emma’s pinky grazed his. It was innocent and intimate in the same breath. And dammit if it hadn’t left him wanting more. He moved his chair a few inches farther away from hers before he sat down.
“Did you change your mind about hearing my proposal?”
“No.” He shook his head. “But I would like to pick your brain”
Emma’s eyes widened. “About the ranch? Dylan, I have a conference call this afternoon and I have to explain how I can’t convince you to give me a few hours of your time. Yet, you want to pick my brain, as you put it, over the ranch. Yeah, um, I’m sorry. That’s not going to happen.”

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