A Maverick for Christmas

He wrinkled his already deeply furrowed forehead and wiggled his shaggy gray eyebrows. “What do you mean? You’re a pretty girl. I’m sure you turn quite a few heads.”

“Thank you very much,” she said. “That means a lot coming from you.”

“It’s true. I’ve never been known for a silver tongue. My Geraldine, rest her soul, would tell you the same. Although she was the prettiest woman to ever walk the streets of Thunder Canyon. I still miss her.”

Abby slid her hand over Mr. Henson’s. “I’m so sorry. How long were you married?”

“Fifty-three years,” he said. “That’s why I keep working. If I sit at home, I’ll just pine. Better to be moving around, doing something.”

“But you could afford to take a break every now and then. We don’t want anything happening to you,” she said and made a mental note to stop in and visit Mr. Henson. His loneliness tugged at her heart.

He shrugged. “I’ll go when the good Lord says I’m ready, and not a minute before.” He glanced outside the window. “Looks like Cade’s finished changing my tire. We should go now. Let me pay the bill. And don’t you argue with me,” he said when she’d barely let out a sound. “I don’t get to share some hot chocolate with a girl as pretty as you very often these days.”

“And you said you didn’t have a silver tongue,” she said. “Thank you.”

The two left the café and caught up with Cade, who appeared to be looking for a place to wipe some of the grease off his hands. Abby offered the paper napkin she’d wrapped around her cup of hot chocolate.

He made do with it. “Thanks,” he said then glanced at the truck again. “It’s no wonder you had trouble with those bolts. I had to bang on them to get them loose. You’ll get that tire repaired soon, won’t you?” he asked.

“I’ll get to it. I’ll get to it,” Henson said in a testy voice as he inspected the job Cade had done changing his tire. “Thank you,” he said with a nod. “What do I owe you?”

Cade shook his head. “Nothing,” he said.

“Aw, come on. I gotta give you something for your trouble,” Henson said.

“Okay, I’ll tell you what you can give me,” Cade said. “You can stay out of trouble.”

Henson glared at Cade for a moment then laughed. “I’ll see what I can do. Thank you again. And, uh—” He glanced at Abby. “Take care of that pretty girl. You shouldn’t let a good one like her get away.”

Abby shot a quick look at Cade’s disconcerted expression. Her face flamed with heat and she quickly focused her attention on her hot chocolate—blowing on it, sipping. “Thanks for the hot chocolate, Mr. Henson. Good night, now,” she said.

She stood beside Cade as the old man got into the car and drove away.

“I’ll give you a ride home. My car’s just down the street. That Henson is a character, isn’t he?” Cade muttered, leading her to his vehicle.

“I have to agree. So are you,” she said, wishing the evening wouldn’t end.

He opened the car door and glanced at her. “Me?”

“Yes, you,” she said. “You’re always trying to stay in the background, but here you go again saving the day.”

“What do you mean?” he asked as he started the car.

“I mean you’re always rescuing somebody. It’s just what you do. White Knight syndrome?”

He looked at her for a long moment with an expression on his face that made her breath stop in her chest. He looked at her as if he were seeing her as more than Laila’s little sister. “I didn’t think anyone noticed,” he finally said.

“Of course I notice,” she managed in a voice that sounded breathless to her own ears.

He glanced away and put the car in gear, driving toward her home. Abby was torn between relief and disappointment. She had wanted that sliver of a moment to continue, yet she could breathe a little better now.

“Is that an official diagnosis? White Knight syndrome?” he asked, his mouth lifting in a half grin of amusement.

“No. I don’t think you’re clinically maladjusted. You’re just a good man,” she said, although good was putting it lightly. Cade was much more than a good man.

He glanced at her and chuckled. “Thank you. I feel better.”

“That will be five dollars,” she said and laughed at his sideways glance at her. “Just kidding. I’m not licensed to practice.”

They approached her street and her stomach knotted. She tried to think of a way to continue this special time. She didn’t want it to end. “I always thought that was strange. A doctor practices medicine. An attorney practices law. What if they have a lousy day practicing?”

Cade pulled the car to a slow stop and shifted into Park. “Good point. I try to avoid both if possible.”

Abby drank in the sight of him, meeting his watchful blue gaze and noting the vapor of his breath from his mouth. His strong chin matched his character and determination and his broad shoulders had always made her think he could carry anything life threw at him. He’d suffered some deep losses. She knew that beneath that sheepskin jacket, his muscles were well developed from the times he’d played touch football with her extended family in the backyard.

She knew a lot about him, but she wanted to know so much more. She wanted to slide underneath that jacket and feel him against her. Maybe it was time to take a chance. A crazy chance. Her heart raced so fast she felt lightheaded.

“I’ve always liked your eyes,” she said in a low voice.

His gaze widened in surprise. “What?”

“I’ve always liked your eyes,” she repeated. “They say so much about you. You have this combination of strength and compassion and the first place you see it is in your eyes.” She bit her lip then leaned closer to him. “Of course, the rest of you isn’t bad, either.”

“It’s not?” he echoed. She saw a lot of curiosity and flickers of sensuality in his gaze.

“Not bad at all,” she said, sliding her hand up the front of his jacket. Taking her courage in her hand, she tugged at his jacket to bring his head closer to hers. Then she pressed her mouth against his, relishing the sensation of his closeness and his lips meshed with hers. He rubbed his mouth against hers and she suddenly felt his hand at her back, drawing her breasts against his chest.

His response sent a flash of electricity throughout her and she opened her lips to deepen the kiss. He took advantage, sliding his tongue inside her. Craving more, she gave what she knew he was asking. Despite the cold temperature, she felt herself grow warmer with every passing second of his caress. Warm enough to strip off her coat and…

Cade suddenly pulled his mouth from hers and stared at her in shock. “What the—” He shook his head and swore, taking a giant step away from her. “I’m sorry.” He swore again. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“But you didn’t start it,” she said, her heart sinking at his response.

He held up his hands. “No, really. I shouldn’t—” He cleared his throat. “You go on home, now. I’ll watch from here.”

“But, Cade—”

“Go inside, Abby,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument.

Still tempted to argue, Abby had pushed her courage as far as it would go tonight. She swung away from him, hopped out of the car and slammed the door behind her. Striding home, she was caught between euphoria and despair. He had kissed her back and he sure seemed to like it. For those few seconds, he had treated her like a woman he desired. This time she hadn’t imagined the way he tasted, the way his lips felt against hers, his hand at her back, urging her closer. This time, it had been real.

But then the man had apologized for kissing her. The knowledge made her want to scream in frustration. Was she back where she’d started? Was she back to being Laila’s little sister?

Chapter Two

Cade would have mainlined his third cup of coffee after lunch if it had been possible. He hadn’t slept well last night and had felt off all day. He stripped another screw for the designer desk he was making for an entertainment hotshot in L.A., and swore under his breath.

His father and partner, Hank, was talking, but Cade was trying to focus on the desk instead of the way Laila’s sister had kissed him last night. And worse yet, he thought, closing his eyes in deep regret, the way he’d kissed her back.