THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

In the fifteen years she’s been gone, real estate mogul Bella Biondi forgot how sexy Travis Granger could be. And she can’t afford to remember! She’s back in Briggs to sell her dad’s inn, that’s all. No more tears or heartache, no reminiscing, definitely no kissing.

Travis has other ideas. He’s sure he can crack the hard shell tough-minded Bella’s built around herself. A sleigh ride, a snowball fight, some carols, and the real Bella will emerge. Not this Scrooge who’s out to dismantle a cherished part of the town’s history at all costs, but his childhood sweetheart. The cowgirl. The ice-skater. The girl who loves the holidays in ranch country even more than he does… Can Travis bring Bella back in time to save Christmas?

“Give it up, Bella…”

Travis continued, “You’re too cold, and this seat is way too small for you to act as if we barely know each other. Snuggle up and make yourself comfortable. It’s going to be a long ride.”

She relented and allowed herself to find comfort in the warmth of his body. Being that close to him generated enough heat to instantly do away with her shivers. She hated the undeniable fact she could feel emotions for him after all these years. Living so far away had purged the childhood hurt and had transformed her into a take-charge, hard-as-nails businesswoman who prided herself on being completely in control. Very little fazed her or made her cry anymore. In some circles she was referred to as cold, uncaring and even downright heartless.

Yet here she was on a sleigh, getting all torn up over her close proximity to Travis Granger, so much so that her eyes welled up.

Somehow the words bah humbug didn’t seem right on her lips anymore.

Dear Reader,

Christmas just happens to be my favorite holiday. Some of my fondest memories center around family, friends, amazing dinners and, of course, presents under the tree. It’s when the magic of Christmas heals all wounds and brings together those I cherish most. A year without celebrating Christmas is hard for me to imagine.

That’s what prompted me to write about Bella Biondi and Travis Granger, the youngest of the Granger men. What if these two childhood best friends were forced to deal with each other but came from opposite sides of the Christmas fence? Could they possibly ever find common ground, or would they simply dig in and never see the magic that’s all around them?

I wanted this book to be both poignant and funny, which brought up memories and emotions I thought I’d lost. Instead, I was able to share my memories with my adult children, which only brought us closer. In the rush of our daily lives, we tend to put off taking the time to tell someone we love our own Christmas story. There’s so much more to the holiday than buying someone a present or decorating a tree. It’s all those past Christmases that make up who we are and what brings us to this moment.

I hope you enjoy reading this story and that it prompts you to share some of your most cherished Christmas memories.

You can visit me at www.maryleo.com, where you’ll find some fun facts about Idaho’s Teton Valley and my favorite Christmas cookie recipes. You can also find me on Facebook, where I’ll keep you informed of my latest books.

Best,

Mary Leo

Christmas with

the Rancher

Mary Leo

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MARY LEO grew up in south Chicago in the tangle of a big Italian family. She’s worked in Hollywood, Las Vegas and in Silicon Valley. Currently she lives in San Diego with her husband, author Terry Watkins, and their sweet kitty, Sophie. Visit her website at maryleo.com.

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This book is dedicated to everyone who rediscovers the magic of Christmas.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Prologue

“This is going to be the best Christmas ever,” Bella said as she and Travis leaned out of the small attic window trying to get a better look at downtown Briggs, Idaho.

“That’s because I get to spend it with you,” Travis whispered.

Bella nudged him, giggling at the absurdity of his statement, as if the magic of Christmas depended on whether or not she was with him.

“That’s just silly,” she told him.

He shrugged and continued staring out the window leaving Bella to wonder if he really meant it...if his Christmas depended on her.

She hoped not because there was no telling what would happen when they grew up and she’d hate to think that Travis wasn’t having a happy Christmas because she wasn’t with him.

The thought gave her a shudder.

Or maybe it was the cold seeping in under her shirt.

Twinkling lights decorated every tree and building in the town. Even the giant plaster russet potato perched on the roof of Spud Bank was awash in lights. The life-size heifer in front of Moo Creamery wore a sparkling wreath, and the twenty-foot pine tree in the town square served as a Christmas anchor for the entire festive event. It was Bella’s favorite time of the year, and she intended to spend every free minute of it surrounding herself with everything Christmas and that included Travis Granger, the one boy in the entire town who loved the magic of Christmas as much as she did.

“It’s beautiful from up here,” Travis said. “You’re so lucky to live so close to town. You can walk to all the events. I have to beg my dad or my brother Blake to drive me in. When I grow up I’m going to move off that old family ranch and live right here in the city.”

Bella slipped away from the window, walked over to her antique trunk, opened the lid and plopped down on the floor in front of it. The trunk had once been her maternal grandmother’s hope chest.

“No, you won’t. You’re a cowboy, and cowboys don’t belong in a crowded city. There’s no place to ride a horse. A cowboy belongs in the country on a ranch.”

Travis turned away from the window, closed it and walked over to her.

“Maybe I don’t want to be a cowboy all my life, especially on our ranch where most of the land is dedicated to growing potatoes. Maybe I don’t give one lick about potatoes. Maybe I want to be a carpenter or an astronaut or even a fireman.”

The very idea of Travis Granger wanting to be anything other than what he was born to be gave Bella a chuckle as she slipped a white lacy jacket over her long-sleeved red tee, then wrapped a black lace scarf that had once belonged to her mom’s mom around her neck. She’d never met her grandma, but she loved to dress up in her old clothes and loved to hear her mom tell stories of how her gram had married her grandpa when she was only fifteen because they were in love. Her grandpa was twenty-five.

Her grandma had her first baby while she was still fifteen, but it didn’t live more than a few days, her mama had told her. When Bella asked why, she’d told her he was born premature and his little lungs weren’t developed yet. Her grandma didn’t have another baby until she was almost forty-five. That baby was Bella’s mom.

It made Bella feel as though her grandma was still with her whenever she put on her old clothes.

“That’s just silly talk. Cowboy blood runs through your veins, just like it does with your dad and your two brothers. There ain’t nothin’ you can do about changing what’s already a fact.”

She grabbed her grandpa’s black felt cowboy hat that had seen better days and stuck it on Travis’s head. According to her dad, her grandpa had worn that hat to church every Sunday for as long as her dad could remember. It didn’t quite fit on Travis, falling over his ears, but when he went to pull it off he stopped and thought better of it, knowing darn well how much Bella loved playing dress-up.

He pulled out a piece of white paper from his pocket, unfolded it and showed Bella a sketch of a pretty little ranch-style house.

“Your dad and me have been working on this for a while. What d’ya think?”

“It’s pretty, but what is it?”

“It’s a house. Don’t you know anything?”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course I know it’s a house. But whose is it?”

“It’s my house, or will be when I build it. Your dad is teaching me how to make things and as soon as he thinks I’m ready he’s going to help me build it. So will my dad and maybe those two cantankerous brothers of mine, if I let them. You can help, too. And you can live there if you want to. It’ll be big enough.”

“I might consider it if you build an extra room where it’s Christmas all year long, even in the summertime.”

He snorted and shook his head. “Nobody has a special room just for Christmas. It’s not practical.”

She stood holding her grandfather’s fringed jacket and motioned for him to put it on. It was way too big on him, but Bella still liked the way he looked, like a grown-up rancher going to town. She slipped on the tiara she’d won with her best friend, Jaycee, from when they were eight years old, then glided her feet into a pair of red suede heels her mom had discarded years ago, and pulled a long white skirt that matched her gram’s jacket up over her jeans.

Even though Bella was almost thirteen years old and knew other girls her age didn’t play dress-up anymore, Bella wasn’t ready to give it up. Now more than ever when her parents seemed to be arguing all the time. Sneaking up to the attic and dressing in her grandma’s clothes and making up stories about her gram and grandpa was exactly what she liked to do so she didn’t have to hear them fight.

“I’ll just have to build my own house so I can have a year-round Christmas room,” Bella announced.

Travis moved in closer to her. “You don’t know the first thing about building a house.”

“Then I’ll buy one already built with lots of rooms.”

He suddenly looked sad. “But I want you to live with me.”

“Not if I can’t have my Christmas room.”

He stepped in even closer. “You can have anything you want. I’ll build you two Christmas rooms if that’s what it takes.”

She leaned in and kissed him right on the lips and immediately felt all warm and sugary. The kiss didn’t last more than a few seconds, but she knew they’d be together forever, exactly like her grandma and grandpa.

“Okay, I’ll live in your house, Travis Granger, and you can be my boyfriend.”

A smile bigger than all of Idaho spread across his soft lips, he took his hat off, placed it over his chest, took her hand and kissed it.

Another sugary tingle zipped up her arm and this time goose bumps danced on her skin.

“I would be delighted, fair maiden.”

That’s when they heard her mom’s stern voice echo up the stairs. “Bella, I need you to come down here right this instant.”

Chapter One

Travis Granger stood on the snowy roof of Dream Weaver Inn, holding a string of colored lights in his right hand and a conundrum in his mind. The string of lights were easily dealt with using the hooks he’d installed on the chimney several years ago to accommodate the festive trimming, but the issue of Bella Biondi visiting Briggs after essentially a fifteen-year absence was something this ole cowboy couldn’t seem to wrangle his head around.

Despite the fact that he’d briefly seen her a couple of times in the first five years after she’d left with her mom, and never in the last ten, the memory of her had lingered like a habit he couldn’t break. None of the women he’d dated—and he’d dated quite a few—tugged on his heart like Bella did. Her dad, Nick Biondi, owner of the inn and close family friend, had kept him up to date with Bella’s accomplishments, and the occasional photograph had provided a visual record of how she’d changed from a twelve-year-old tomboy who could ride and rope better than most cowboys, into a twenty-eight-year-old real-estate mogul...a concept that tripped up his memory of her like two bulls living in the same pen.

His fondest recollection was her solid love for everything Christmas. When they were kids, Christmas and the days that led up to it had been elevated to more than just a religious holiday and a visit from the man in a red suit. It meant sleigh rides, ice-skating rinks, caroling in the park, buying or making gifts for just about everyone they knew and magical moments that captured both their imaginations like nothing else. Her family’s inn had been the focal point for the entire town during the month of December. Every event seemed to begin and end at Dream Weaver Inn. There had even been a time when Bella had Travis convinced that Santa himself began his long night of deliveries with a stop at the inn for a cup of hot chocolate and a plate of her dad’s chunky-fudgy cookies, the absolute best cookies ever.

He didn’t know much about her business life out there in Chicago. He’d heard she lived in some fancy condo on north Michigan Avenue, worked 24/7 and rarely took a vacation, probably due to the expense of that high-priced condo. Knowing sweet little Bella, he was dang sure she had to be missing Christmas in Briggs, Idaho. Or why else would she be coming home just days before the main event? He knew her mom had passed away within the last year, and he figured she must be returning to spend the holidays with her dad to soak up some family comfort.

Dream Weaver Inn had hit on some hard times in the past few years with occupancy going down to barely enough to keep the lights on. Travis and his family were trying to change all that, and so far the inn had been coming around with most of the rooms reserved for December and well into January. He was hoping that trend would continue after the holidays, especially now that Bella might be taking an interest. He wanted to try to keep her around for a while and get to know her again.

As soon as he’d heard about her return he dropped everything else going on in his life to complete the Christmas decorations for her homecoming. He wanted the inn to look exactly as it had before she’d left. It had to be perfect for her arrival that evening, and both he and Nick had worked extra hard to accomplish that goal. If she’d given her dad a few days warning instead of twenty-four hours he probably could have gotten all the repairs to the inn done in time. But as it was, the repairs had to be overlooked in favor of more important things—decorations. He’d even enlisted his dad, his brother Colt, plus his wife, Helen, and their four children, to help in the mad dash to make the inn glow like it had when Bella lived there.

“She’s on her way in,” Nick hollered up from somewhere below.

Travis couldn’t see him as he straddled the roof next to the chimney securing the string of lights around it. Earlier that morning he’d set up the life-size Santa sitting in his sleigh and holding the reins to his reindeer, and once he secured the chimney lights the roof would look exactly as it had when Bella lived there. All he needed were a few more hours and everything would be perfect.

“How close?” Travis called down, as he scratched his chin. He always grew a short beard this time of year, but he never seemed to get used to it. The dang thing itched whenever his nerves got the best of him, and at the moment he wanted nothing more than to shave the thing clean off.

“Said she can see the inn.”

Evidently, he didn’t have a few more hours.

Travis called back to Nick. “But she’s not supposed to arrive until late tonight.”

Nick now stood in the front yard out far enough for Travis to see him. He shielded his eyes with his hand as he looked up at Travis. Even though there was a thick layer of clouds hanging over Briggs, the sky, combined with the newly fallen snow, made everything glisten a pearly shade of white. “My girl never was one for clocks. I’m thinking that’s her headed our way.” He turned slightly and pointed out to the road heading into Briggs.

“Darn it all,” Travis cursed. “She always liked to show up early. Be the first one to arrive at a party or an event. I should’ve remembered that.”

His gaze shot across the roof and settled on the road, what he could see of it, and sure enough, a single blue, heavy-duty truck sped its way doing at least seventy-five, with no regard to road conditions or speed limits.

He figured it had to be Bella—she always liked to ride a fast horse. The girl he’d known had been addicted to speed, the acceleration type, not the drug.

A thick blanket of snow had recently covered the valley for as far as Travis could see, turning everything into a white wonderland, exactly the way Travis liked it. The Teton mountain range that spanned the eastern part of the town was shrouded with low-hanging clouds giving the impression they were hills rather than some of the highest peaks in the country. And the normally bustling business section was barely coming to life as a few shopkeepers shoveled the snow off their front sidewalks before their stores opened for business.

“Inn looks good,” his brother Colt shouted as he looked up to the roof from the six-foot high N-O-E-L letters on the massive front lawn. He’d secured them to the ground making sure they wouldn’t come tumbling down in the middle of the night, using stakes that Travis had crafted especially for the task. The inn sat at least seventy-five feet back from the street, so any decorations in the front yard had to be larger than life in order for anyone to see them. “Come on down here, little brother, and greet the girl you’ve been waitin’ on for most of your adult life.”

Travis hurried to finish up, then he plugged the end of the string into the rest of the lights that surrounded Santa’s sleigh. They instantly lit up, assuring him the roof was complete. Now all he had to do was figure out how to get down before she arrived without killing himself, a task that might take some time considering more snow had fallen since he’d first crawled up there. He’d worn a safety harness, and had secured a rope to the ring he’d attached to the roof several years ago, but he sure as heck didn’t want to make use of his precaution, especially now when Bella was only minutes away.

He wished he’d have listened to his dad an hour ago when he’d urged him to come on down before the snow got too thick.

But did he listen?

Not this cowboy.

He knew he had to take his time, but adrenaline shot through his veins as the truck quickly approached. Travis could no more slow down his actions than a young boy could stop himself from opening a gift on Christmas morning. Colt was right. Ever since Bella had moved away he’d been anxiously waiting for her permanent return. She was part of Briggs, Idaho, just like he was, and despite her long absence, he knew deep in her heart she could never settle anywhere else. Nothing could get him to admit any of this, at least not to his two older brothers who would have razzed him without mercy.

“She has her own life in Chicago and I have mine right here. I’m excited to see an old friend, is all,” he said, knowing darn well his brother knew the truth.

Travis took in a deep breath of the crisp air before he slid his butt down the front side of the roof, his tool belt skidding across the snowy gray shingles as he headed for his ladder at the far end. His hands were about frozen despite his wool gloves and if it wasn’t for his new black, genuine beaver cattleman’s hat he surely would have frozen into another roof ornament standing next to Santa.

“Whatever you say, little brother, but that old friend just pulled up to the front curb. You better get your hustle on or you’re going to miss the smile on her pretty little face when she sees the inn all decked out like it used to be.”

“I’m moving as fast as I can, considering all the snow that’s up here,” Travis yelled just as his foot slid out from under him and the only thing that kept him from falling right on his backside was his tight hold on that thick rope.

The sound of small feet running across the wooden porch floor below echoed up to Travis. “Maybe we should’ve brought that old trampoline, Uncle Travis,” Joey, Colt’s youngest boy, called up. He’d jumped off the homestead barn roof onto a trampoline on his fourth birthday. Fortunately, Travis had caught him in midair as he’d taken a leap of faith and the two of them had glided down together.

The trampoline might have been a good idea considering Travis couldn’t seem to keep his footing on the slick roof.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t the kind to admit his shortcomings.

“No need,” Travis yelled back. “I’ve got it all under control.” Then he slid another few inches, causing his heart to jump against his chest. His rubber-soled boots took hold on a dry spot on the roof and he let out the breath he’d been holding.

“You best be careful, son,” Dodge, his white-haired father, called up to him. “Or you’ll be sittin’ out Christmas in traction if you fall off that there roof. ’Sides, that girl’s been citified. No tellin’ how she’s gonna react to you, much less her old homestead. Now you get yourself down here in one piece, ya hear?”

“I will,” Travis hollered, as he oh-so-carefully tried to maneuver closer to his ladder at the edge of the roof. And darn it all, he was determined to make it down one rung at a time before she walked into the front door of the three-story inn.

* * *

DREAM WEAVER INN had loomed out in front of Bella for the last mile, giving her ample time to adjust to seeing it again. Despite the tightness she felt in her chest, the lump in her throat, and the tears she rapidly blinked away, she reminded herself the sight of the inn merely represented another business deal.

Nothing more.

At least that was the mantra she repeated in her head.

The inn sat like an anchor at the edge of town with its pitched roof, redbrick chimney, and three stories of Victorian elegance, the absolute perfect inn for TransGlobal Corporation to add to their string of historic inns across the country. She had brokered several inns for TransGlobal during the last year, and it only made sense that her father’s inn would be one of them. And if her father hadn’t insisted that she show up in person with the paperwork, she could’ve had the deal sewn up a month ago. Right now she would have been lying on a Florida beach spending some of her commission on fine hotels, expensive wine and gourmet meals, and celebrating her promotion instead of stuck in her old hometown for the next twenty-four hours.

A town she couldn’t seem to shake out of her memory.

A town that was holding her back from accepting the promotion at the company she worked for in Chicago.

And most of all, a town where the boy she’d crushed on when she was a kid still held a piece of her heart.

Before she’d left Chicago, she and her shrink had discussed how she would get through seeing the inn, her dad and old friends by concentrating on the task at hand: getting her dad’s signature on the bottom line. She’d started seeing a psychologist soon after her mom had died, to help her through the tough times. And recently she’d seen her a few more times to learn some coping skills to deal with seeing her hometown, a place that she still carried a torch for.

Not that she had any intention of acting on those burning feelings.

She knew exactly what she wanted: the corner office at Ewing Inc., which was all but hers. She only needed to complete this million-dollar sale and the CEO position would be hers. Bella was the best man for the job. The board of directors knew it. Her contemporaries knew it. And the retiring CEO knew it. All she had to do now was convince that pesky country heart of hers, a task she’d somewhat accomplished...at least eighty percent of the way. The other twenty percent dripped nostalgia and never wanted to leave Idaho.

She’d come to the conclusion that the less time she spent in Briggs, the better for everyone concerned, especially since it was a week before Christmas, a holiday she’d grown to dislike more than potatoes, and she absolutely loathed potatoes.

Catching an earlier flight into Idaho Falls had been her idea and a good one despite her shrink’s caution against it. That way, she could get the papers signed early in the day and drive out of town that evening before her dad had a chance to invite her to a Christmas gala of some kind, which she knew the town would have plenty.

Renting the four-by-four had been another sound decision, considering the weather. If there was one thing Bella understood after living in Chicago for the past fifteen years, it was how to deal with winter. When she’d looked up the predicted weather conditions in Briggs, she knew instantly that anything less would never give her the traction she needed for the frozen roads. Bella prided herself on always being prepared no matter what the situation.

Pulling her rig up to the curb, she immediately spotted her dad standing on the shoveled sidewalk in front of the hideously decorated inn. She couldn’t believe he still put up that old Santa and reindeer across the roof. She sighed. It would have to come down and be sold or disposed of before TransGlobal Corporation took ownership. If her father couldn’t manage it, well, she’d have to hire someone from town.

A cowboy stood next to giant N-O-E-L letters that she vaguely recognized from her childhood, with a young boy standing next to him, and another older cowboy who looked familiar standing up on the wraparound porch.

Taking a deep, calming breath and slowly letting it out she turned off the ignition, and slid out of the truck, grabbing her briefcase on the passenger seat. Her bag could stay in the truck. She most certainly wouldn’t be spending the night.

“You’re a mighty fine sight for these sore eyes,” her father said as she quickly walked toward him, careful not to slip on the snow in her new designer boots. She’d hate it if she did something stupid in such an awkward situation.

“Hi, Dad,” she said as she reached out and gave him a quick hug. He still looked ruggedly handsome in his fraying jeans, gray parka and black cowboy boots. He still had that familiar scent of musky spices that she’d always loved on him.

She pulled away almost as soon as her face touched his rough cheek, resisting the urge to linger in his embrace. She’d been video-conferencing him from time to time in the past few years, but she’d only seen him in person four times since she and her mom had left Briggs. Each time it had gotten more and more difficult for her to say goodbye.

“Honey, you remember Dodge Granger,” her dad told her once they parted. She immediately recognized him and memories of him, his ranch, his barn and his sons all came rushing back.

She quickly pushed them aside.

He went to hug her, but, afraid his bear hug would instantly rekindle their friendship she stuck out her leather-clad hand instead. His big, ungloved hand encircled hers and she instantly felt the warmth of his good nature. She missed men like Dodge, genuinely kind and always willing to help. She was certain hugging the man would melt her resolve, like icicles in sunshine.

“Nice to see you again, Mr. Granger,” she told him taking a step back, hoping some distance would help.

“No need to be gettin’ so formal, Bella,” he said. “Dodge is just fine.”

His gruff voice surrounded her memories like a warm blanket. She’d always liked being around Dodge. He’d taught her how to rope before she could ride a horse.

“Dodge it is.”

“I’m sure you remember his son Colt,” her dad said.

Colt tipped his hat, and held out a hand. He wore a friendly grin that she was sure could charm a girl right into his bed. He looked nothing like the tall, skinny boy she remembered, a boy who needed to grow into his big ears. He had that sexy cowboy look going on that worked on most women her age. Fortunately, not on her. She’d learned to prefer a man in a tailored suit rather than a man in jeans and cowboy boots.

“Hope the drive over wasn’t too bad,” he said, while standing next to a young boy.

“It was fine, thanks.”

He patted the boy’s head, mussing up his hair, and the child tried to move away from his touch. Colt grabbed him and the boy squealed with delight.

“This ornery little man is my son Joey.”

Joey sucked in his laughter and held out his hand for her. She’d never met a child with real manners. This was a first. She took his small hand in hers. His grip was firm and confidant, better than some executives she’d met.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Biondi,” Joey said while looking into her eyes.

“You, too,” she answered, giving him a quick smile.

Small talk had never been her forte.

She had hoped no one but a few guests would be at the inn. Why the Granger men were there stumped her. She had specifically asked her dad to make sure Travis Granger was nowhere near the inn. So why he thought it was okay for the other Grangers to show up was beyond her imagination.

No way did she want to run into Travis.

Ever.

Under no circumstances.

If her dad hadn’t agreed to keep him away, she wouldn’t have come. No way could she deal with seeing him again...all grown up...wearing butt-hugging jeans and a cowboy hat.

Nope, she could do very nicely without that meeting.

And just as she thought it, there was a loud clatter coming from up above her.

“Look out!” a male voice yelled.

She stared up as a black cowboy hat came tumbling off the roof followed by a man holding on to a thick white rope. He caught himself on the trellis that crept up the front of the building. Then in what seemed like slow motion, he lost his hold and with more hooting he slid off the trellis and reached for a low-hanging branch of the barren maple tree. He only briefly caught it then slid off that and swung toward the front porch. He put out his hands and grabbed hold of the gutter that ran around the roof of the front porch, finally stopping his momentum.

He hung there, strapped in his red harness, momentarily facing the front door.

No one moved or spoke as he slowly swung himself around to face Bella.

“Woo-hoo! That was one hell of an entrance!” he howled.

Despite the stubbly facial hair, something Bella did not usually like on a man, she knew absolutely she was gawking at a grown-up Travis Granger, and from his entrance, grown-up status had obviously completely eluded him.

She lifted an eyebrow, smirked and said, “I’m not impressed.”

Although, if truth be told, the little girl in her would have loved to be swinging on the harness with him, but she abruptly quashed that childish notion.

She walked away from him and calmly seized her father’s arm, trying her best not to show her anger in front of Travis as she guided her turncoat dad toward the lobby of the inn.

“We need to talk,” she told her dad as they padded around the dangling Travis, who smiled over at her looking every bit as sexy as she had imagined he would be. His hair color hadn’t changed much from a sandy shade of light brown, only the golden sun streaks were gone and he wore it cropped fairly short now. Despite his having worn a hat, she could tell there was a lot of style going on with all that thick hair.

She’d forgotten how gray his eyes were, the color of slate, but she hadn’t forgotten how his lips had once felt on hers, all warm and sexy. No other boy could kiss like Travis Granger. If he’d improved at all on that thirteen-year-old kiss, which looking at him now he most certainly had to, she definitely needed to get out of Briggs before the ink dried on the documents she wanted her father to sign.

Being around Travis again only deepened the wound in her heart. She’d cried enough tears over him when she first left Briggs. She sure as heck wasn’t going to go through that again no matter how perfectly his jeans hugged his butt or how hot he looked dangling in a harness.

* * *

TRAVIS LET OUT another loud whoop once Colt and Dodge rescued him. Bella had disappeared into the inn with her dad and Joey, who had followed close behind.

“That woman is a different kind of fine,” Travis cooed, every cell in his body excited about seeing Bella again.

Bella Biondi had grown into a siren of an Italian beauty with thick black hair, smokin’ hot eyes and an attitude that made him want to know exactly what she kept hidden under all that bluster.

“Maybe so, but that fine lady doesn’t seem to want any part of you,” Colt told him as he helped brush off the snow that Travis was covered in.

“There’s where you’re wrong, brother. She’s begging me to break through that hard shell of hers,” Travis said as he retrieved his hat and dusted off the snow.

“I’m thinking that there shell of hers is thicker than twelve-gauge steel, son,” Dodge said. “You’re gonna need a blowtorch to get through it. And in the end, you might be the one gettin’ burned.”

“I’ve never been afraid of a little heat,” Travis joked. “It keeps things moving along at a fast pace.”

Dodge opened the front door to the inn and the three men walked inside, with Travis honed in on Bella who had removed her coat and knit hat. She looked even more dazzling in a red sweater and tight jeans that showed off every curve of her lean body.

“Everyone, please stop decorating!” Bella announced to Helen, Colt’s wife, and their four kids who were busy trimming the monster blue spruce centered in the front bank of windows. Colt’s toddler must have gotten scared because she dropped the glass ornament she’d been holding. It shattered on the floor and she began to cry.

Her mom whisked her up and comforted her, but there was no calming the tearful child.

Helen threw Bella an angry look and immediately took the children into the empty back dining room. Most of the guests left for the day right after breakfast, so the inn was always deserted in the afternoons.

“That might have been a little harsh, honey,” Nick said, but Bella didn’t flinch.

“I’m sorry, but we have a flight out of here this evening. Decorating is a waste of everyone’s time. Of course, you already knew that, Dad, so I don’t get all of this.”

She opened her black briefcase, pulled out a stack of papers, and carefully placed them on a coffee table in front of the tufted brown leather sofa.

“He wanted everything to be perfect for you,” Travis said. “We’ve been working round the clock to make the inn look like it did when you were a kid.”

“Excuse me,” Colt said and followed after his wife and children into the back dining room. Dodge retreated out the front door.

“Thanks, but that, too, was a total waste of everyone’s time. There will be no Christmas celebrations at the inn this year.” She said it as though she had the final word on the issue instead of Nick.

Travis immediately turned to Nick who placed an elbow on the black walnut mantel at the far end of the room. A fire roared in the hearth behind him, warming the festive room. Nick didn’t flinch, smile or react. He merely stared at his daughter, stone-faced.

Travis decided to take another approach, rubbed his now itchy chin and spread a friendly smile across his face. “I don’t know what you might have planned, but that’s not exactly an option. Your dad and half the town have been gearing up for this Christmas for the last six months. The inn is booked to eighty percent capacity, and every event that takes place in this town for the next week all begin and end right here. It’s going to be the best Christmas Dream Weaver Inn has ever known.”

She folded her arms across her chest, and stuck out a hip. “Apparently my dad hasn’t told anyone that he’s sold the inn. I’ve brought the paperwork he needs to sign to make it official, but that’s only a formality.”

Travis felt as if he’d been sucker-punched in the gut. “That can’t be true. There’s some misunderstanding. Your dad wouldn’t sell his inn and not tell me. I’ve been repairing it—” That stopped him cold and he turned to face Nick. “You didn’t have me put in all that time, all that work so you could sell it, did you? What’s she talking about, Nick? You sold the inn? It can’t be true. You love this place. The town loves this place.”

“It’s complicated,” Nick said and plopped down on the sofa, running a hand through his graying brown hair.

Travis stood his ground. He had a lot invested in this Christmas and most of the planned events were his doing. He was not about to walk away and let hard-shelled Bella Biondi swipe everything away with her paperwork and city boots, no matter how fine she happened to look. He had a sinking feeling even a blowtorch wasn’t quite strong enough to get through to her. A flamethrower might be the weapon of choice.

Travis walked right up to Bella, stared into those gorgeous smoky eyes of hers, turned on the charm as thick as molasses and said, “Define complicated.”

Chapter Two

“This is none of your business, Travis,” Bella said, looking straight into his eyes, as if she could see right through him. As if he was made out of cellophane.

“None of my business? I just spent the better half of two months repairing this place. Not to mention the effort my entire family made to decorate the inn for this holiday, and my sister-in-law Maggie launched a huge ad campaign to drum up business. The place is booked solid for the next two months and you think it’s none of my business? I think I have a right to know what’s going on and if this ‘sale’ you two are talking about is true.”

“Tell him, Dad,” Bella said turning to Nick who sat forward on the sofa as if it were his launching pad and he was about to take off.

“It’s true. I agreed to sell the inn.” His voice squeaked like an old rusty door hinge. Travis had a sinking feeling even Nick didn’t quite believe his own words.

No one spoke while Travis attempted to absorb the full effect of what was now finally sinking in as real.

“Wow. I never saw this train coming. And to think I was excited about your visit.” He slid his hat back on his head then moved it forward again, something he seemed to do whenever he found himself staring down a problem of major proportions. This here certainly constituted one of those moments.

“Can’t imagine why you would be,” she added, sounding as if his feelings didn’t matter.

The statement lay on him like a wet blanket on a cold morning.

He faced Bella. “A lot has changed since the last time I saw you.”

“We grew up.”

“Is that what you think this is?”

“Some of us matured, like fine wine.”

“Never could see all the fuss. I’m more of a beer man, myself.”

She looked him over and he felt a bit naked. “It shows.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You’re twisting my words.”

“You’re twisting my heart.”

“That would mean you still have one.”

“Darlin’, the lack of a heart seems to be your affliction, not mine.”

“There are no emotions in good business. It’s all about the bottom line.”

He stared at her pretty face—those smoky eyes, those full lips—and realized she had not only grown up but she had turned into someone he no longer recognized or wanted to know.

“You’re right,” he said, convinced now there was little hope of trying to understand the situation. “This is none of my business and I’ll be leaving you two to it.”

He turned to leave.

“Wait! Travis, don’t go,” Nick called after him, but Travis no longer wanted to play their game. She’d won this round and he simply had to learn how to cope with the facts. There would be no Christmas at Dream Weaver Inn this year.

Travis headed straight for the front door, opened it and walked outside into the cold, gently closing the door behind him.

* * *

NICK STOOD. A look of anger crossed his face. Bella was prepared for anything he wanted to throw at her. She hadn’t flown all the way out here to be rolled over by her dad and Travis Granger. This was the biggest and most lucrative deal she’d ever put together. There were eight inns across the country involved in this sale, and TransGlobal intended to add five more in the near future. She had the paperwork for the first seven signed by the owners and ready to go. Her father’s signature was all that stood between her and the final sale. It meant everything to her—not only the promotion, but it also affected her credibility in the eyes of high-end clients. Then there was the commission. It was enough to move her into a penthouse on the Golden Mile in Chicago, something she had worked hard to achieve. Something her mom would have been proud of and something her dad obviously did not completely appreciate...yet.

She was sure he’d come around once she had time to show him all this deal would mean both financially and emotionally to both of them.

She’d have to educate him on the finer elements of business, something her dad had never been very good at.

“Now maybe we can get these papers signed.”

She deliberately sat down across from him on one of the well-worn leather club chairs, and straightened out the documents he needed to approve, then she pulled out her Princess Grace De Monaco Mont Blanc pen. It was a pricey present to herself for putting this deal together.

The scent of pine from the blue spruce tree mixed with the aroma of the logs burning in the hearth exploded a memory that stopped her cold.

She couldn’t have been more than four or five years old. It was Christmas morning and she, her mom and dad had walked into their living quarters up on the third floor to open presents. It was the year she’d gotten her first grown-up doll, one all dressed up in a black business suit, high heels and carrying a briefcase. She remembered how disappointed she’d been when she opened the box and how excited her mom seemed to be about the doll. Bella had wanted a grown-up doll dressed like a cowgirl, with tiny cowgirl boots, a cowgirl hat, carrying a lariat. She’d specifically asked Santa for that doll, and had cried for days over not getting it.

That was the Christmas she’d stopped believing in Santa.

“I’m not going to sign anything I haven’t read first.”

Her father used his stern, unwavering voice, but it didn’t scare Bella. When she was a kid, that voice had always struck a chord of fear inside her and she’d instantly relent to his demands.

But she wasn’t a kid anymore.

“Don’t be silly. I have your best interest in mind.”

“That’s your mama talking.”

“She was right. You should have sold the inn years ago. It’s been nothing but a money drain. Because of this deal, you’re getting more than market value. You stand to make a very nice profit.”

She placed her pen down in front of him. The tiny pink topaz stone on the clip caught the light from the fireplace and she thought about what a good purchase that pen had been, that she’d deserved to have something this pretty after all the long hours and hard work she’d put in. At least she’d learned perseverance from him, and for that she would always be grateful.

“That may be true, but it’s my offer to read before I sign.”

Agitation clawed at Bella’s stomach as a clock tick-ticked in the background, a truly annoying sound. “I don’t have time for this, Dad. We need to be on our way out of here in less than two hours.”

“And who’s going to run my inn when I go running off to Orlando?”

“Tampa.”

“Whatever.”

“You should have closed it weeks ago like I asked you to.”

“I couldn’t. I have guests booked who are looking forward to their stay.”

“That’s not your problem.”

Her dad shook his head. “It’s Christmas, Bella. I can’t do that.”

“Surely there’s someone on your staff who can take charge.”

“Wouldn’t be fair to my employees. What you’re asking me to do is impossible. I can leave for one or two nights, but not like this. Not for good. And not a week before Christmas. They all have their own families to attend to. They can’t be doing my job as well as their own.”

She rose and began pacing the wooden floor, each step echoing throughout the lobby. She walked over to the baby grand piano in the corner, then back again. There had to be a solution to this dilemma. She refused to stay in this town one more minute than she had to. Already she could feel her resolve waning, especially after her encounter with Travis. His very presence had tugged on her heart.

The front door opened and a young couple walked in, smiling and nodding their greeting as they headed up the stairway at the back of the lobby, the old wooden stairs creaking as they climbed.

Bella waited to reply to her dad until the guests were far enough away. Then she said, “Pay them time and a half for a couple days.”

“I won’t be solving this by throwing money around. Besides, what’s the hurry? I might be able to get someone to take charge in a couple days at their normal pay once that person prepares for it, but not today. And didn’t you tell me this would be a smooth transition and my guests would never know the difference? Throwing them out only days before Christmas isn’t exactly a ‘smooth transition.’”

She’d been having some emotional trouble with that aspect, as well. TransGlobal had decided to gut each inn in order to give them their own unique look. That would require shutting down Dream Weaver Inn during the renovations, something she wasn’t exactly ready to spring on her dad just yet. She had envisioned never telling him the details of the sale, figuring once he was settled in his fabulous new condo, enjoying the warm weather and the sandy beaches he’d never think about this silly inn again.

She was counting on it.

“Dad, this wouldn’t be a problem if you had cancelled all the reservations and told your guests the truth. TransGlobal is a customer-satisfaction company, meaning the customer always comes first. They pride themselves with five-star service and ambiance.” She hoped her logic and calmer disposition would have the effect she needed.

“Well, then, taking their lead, there’s no rush to boot everyone out of here and make them uncomfortable.” He picked up the paperwork. “I’ll just take these here documents up to my room and start reading. We can meet tonight at Belly Up for a steak and I’ll hand over the signed docs. But first we should apologize to Travis. He put a lot of work into this place. TransGlobal’s getting a nice piece of property.”

She wasn’t liking any of this, especially the part about kowtowing to Travis Granger. She didn’t want to see him again, much less tell him she was sorry for anything.

“If you want to apologize, go right ahead. I still contend this is none of his business. And as far as my staying, that’s out of the question.”

“You can go on ahead and leave if you want to. But you’ll be leaving without me or this deal.”

She watched as he walked to the front door, slid his coat off one of the brass hooks and slipped it on completely ignoring her, and trumping her ultimatum.

She let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine! I’ll change our flight, but it’s only for one more night as long as you can promise me I won’t have to see Travis again.”

“That boy’s been a part of this family since he was a kid and I don’t want him feeling as if that’s changed none. Whether you see him again or not isn’t something I can control. It’s a small town.”

She pulled in a deep breath and slowly let it out trying with everything that was in her not to simply walk out to her truck, start it up and never look back. She should get someone else to handle her dad. That would be the smart thing to do...the prudent thing...the best thing for everyone concerned.

But she knew she couldn’t do that.

“All right! Have it your way. I’ll stay overnight. In the meantime, I have no idea if we can get on another flight out of here tomorrow, but I’ll try.”

“I’m sure you will. And if you can’t, we’ll fly out the next day or the next. I’m in no hurry.”

“I have to meet with TransGlobal on Christmas Eve at my office in Chicago with all the paperwork signed. Nothing can get in the way of that.”

He gave her a dismissive hand wave. “Not a problem. We have an entire week. Seven full days.” And he walked out the door leaving her to doubt herself for agreeing to spend the night in Briggs...where just about anything could happen.

* * *

TRAVIS BUSIED HIMSELF with securing a life-size reindeer to the bed of his pickup as Nick approached. He had hoped to get out of there without having to speak to Nick again, fearing he might say something to him he’d regret later. If only that darn reindeer had cooperated and Colt hadn’t partially secured it to the front lawn. When Colt did something, he made sure it was done right the first time.

Dang him!

“I’ve got nothing to say to you, Nick. So you might as well turn right around and head back inside and pack.”

“Now hold on there, son. It’s not how you think.”

Travis stopped pulling on the rope he was using to secure the reindeer and looked across the truck bed at Nick. “No matter what I think, it’s none of my business. Bella made that crystal clear.”

“You can’t take what that girl says to heart.”

“All I can go on is what she says, and so far it’s been nothing but grief.”

“We need to give her time to readjust to Briggs, to me and to you. Right now she’s still running on big-city time. It’s all she’s known for the past fifteen years. It’s going to take a few days for all that citified haughtiness to disappear.”

“And how does that work if you two are leaving today?”

Nick smirked, and shoved his hands in his jacket pockets. “That’s been put off.”

Travis picked up his toolbox from the snowy ground and placed it inside the truck bed next to the reindeer’s head along with the now coiled rope and harness from the roof. He was ready to leave, but he knew Nick had other plans for him, plans he didn’t want anything to do with.

“How’d you manage that? Tie her to the tree or something? She seemed pretty hell bent on leaving.”

“Told her I had to read the paperwork before I’d sign anything.”

Travis opened the door on the driver’s side of his truck. “Great, so that takes a couple hours.”

“No, you’re not understanding.”

“I think I understand everything just fine. You agreed to sell your inn to make your daughter happy even if it means you’ll be miserable. I get it. A parent will sacrifice everything for their kids. The thing I don’t get is why you didn’t tell me before I enlisted my family and half the town to help save your inn when you knew all along you were getting ready to sell it. That’s not like you, Nick.”

“That’s not why you’ve got your spurs in a knot. You’re mad ’cause you had your heart set on spending this Christmas with Bella, like you did when you two were kids. And she can’t get out of here fast enough.”

Travis always wore his heart on his sleeve when it came to Bella and anyone with half a brain could see it...except maybe Bella. Well, this time he wasn’t going to admit to those emotions. This time he wasn’t going to be made the fool.

“There’s where you’re wrong. I couldn’t care less if Bella stays or goes. It’s the inn I’m upset over.”

Travis made himself comfortable behind the wheel of his silver pickup, turned over the ignition, ready to blow this mess. He’d had enough.

Nick came around to his side. “That’s just it. I’m trying to save my inn, and show my daughter what she’s been missing here in Briggs. I thought a little welcome-home party at Belly Up might help.”

“The state she’s in, she’d never agree to it.”

“No need to tell her every detail.”

“And when are you planning on hosting this little shindig?”

“Tonight, around eight. It would mean a lot to me if you could be there to sort of help her transition along.”

“What kind of transition are you talking about?”

“The kind where she decides to hang around for a spell, rekindle her love for Briggs and realizes this here inn is part of her heritage and can’t be sold...at least not now.”

“And how am I supposed to accomplish this miracle when she’s so bound and determined to get her way?”

“Show her what she’s been missing. Country’s part of her soul no matter how citified she might be on the outside. All you have to do is help bubble it up to the surface.”

“Like that’s even possible.”

“I have complete faith in you. Besides, you’re my only hope.”

Travis saw the desperation in Nick’s eyes. The man was like a second dad to Travis and he hated to see him in this pickle with his daughter.

“I’m not saying I’ll do it or that I’ll show up tonight, but if I do, don’t expect miracles. She’s not the girl who left Briggs fifteen years ago. That girl’s been replaced with someone I don’t recognize. And frankly, I don’t much like.”

“All you have to do is help me delay her a bit. Remind her of all the good things she loved about Briggs. Get her to lighten up a little. Maybe that’ll change her mind.”

“There ain’t nothin’ gonna change her mind. She always did have a strong will. Just like her mama.”

“But she’s got her daddy’s heart. I know it. Give her a chance, Travis. She might surprise you.”

“She already has,” he said and drove away thinking how he had no intention of showing up at any welcome-home party for Bella Biondi, no matter how sexy she looked in her tight jeans or how much he wanted to kiss those full lips of hers or run his hands... He couldn’t get that woman out of his head no matter what she did or said. She’d made a mark on his soul and there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He simply had to bide his time until she left, and stay as far away from her as possible.

And that included her darn welcome-home party...at Belly Up...at eight.

“Dang it all,” Travis said, slapping the steering wheel, knowing perfectly well he could no more stay away from her than a bronc rider could stop himself from riding an ornery, bucking horse.

* * *

THE SNOW HADN’T let up for two hours straight and Bella’s high-heeled boots were no match for what had accumulated on the ground. She knew better, but hadn’t brought any other shoes with her, never thinking she’d have to walk more than a few feet from her rental to the inn.

Now, as she made her way through town, she focused on the delightful fact that she had been successful at changing their flight reservations. Takeoff was scheduled for 4:45 tomorrow afternoon and it couldn’t come fast enough for Bella.

The shops were still open, and Christmas music filled the air as people hustled from one store to another. Moo Creamery still had the life-size heifer standing near the front door. The sparkly wreath around its neck seemed bigger than she remembered with a lot more lights. She preferred the smaller one. It seemed a lot less garish. Inside, every seat was taken with adults and kids enjoying sweet creamy treats. She hesitated for a moment, thinking of how luscious Moo’s ice cream had tasted, and thought about going inside and buying a cone until reason stopped her. She didn’t eat whole-milk products...way too much fat.

She turned away from the window and continued on toward the tavern. If there was any type of retail slowdown going on in other parts of the country, it certainly wasn’t apparent in Briggs, Idaho. Everyone in town appeared to be spending money freely.

The four long blocks to Belly Up not only seemed like ten, but she’d nearly fallen on her butt several times. Then there was the inordinate amount of white lights wrapped around every tree, railing and light post. More lights decorated each shop window and doorway, along with wreaths, mechanical Santas, snowmen and reindeer. When she passed the town square, she noted there was a decorated gazebo that hadn’t been there while she was growing up, and the Douglas fir in the middle of the square had grown substantially and now not only sparkled with colored lights and a bright star that adorned the very top, but fist-size brightly colored ornaments hung on almost every branch. She wondered how the town had managed to pay for all of this. It seemed like a complete waste of taxpayers’ money that could be better spent on something practical like snow removal.

As that reasonable thought zipped through her head, her feet went out from under her and this time she landed hard, right on her butt. She sat there for a moment, trying to catch her breath. Fortunately, there hadn’t been anyone around to catch the embarrassing moment.

“You might try the appropriate footwear next time,” Travis said as he offered his gloved hand to help her up. He had startled her and her embarrassment only increased now that she stared up at him.

“My boots are fine. I tripped,” she said, knowing perfectly well she’d slipped.

When she couldn’t get up on her own, he said, “Are you okay?”

He looked genuinely concerned...or was that amusement?

She gazed up at him as he stood under a streetlight looking all sexy hot in his black hat, red scarf and black wool parka. Snow had gathered on his shoulders and on the brim of his cowboy hat as if he’d been out in the elements for quite some time and Bella wondered what he’d been up to. Had he been following her?

“You might have announced yourself, or were you purposely trying to scare me?”

“Merely walking by and saw you take a tumble.”

The smirk never left his face as he leaned over and grabbed her arm.

For a second she felt that warm, sugary glow she’d felt when they’d shared their first kiss. How he always made her feel special, beautiful, as if she was the most important person in his life. Then the cold seeped in through her thin pants and that warm glow turned into the reality of her butt freezing as she sat on the ground.

“I’m fine.” She jerked her arm out of his grasp. “I can get up on my own, thank you. No broken bones. But why are you following me?”

He stood straight again, looking down at her. That sly smirk still caught on his lips. “That would assume you’re worth following, which you are not.”

“Then why are you here?”

“To help you up.”

“I don’t need help.”

“Suit yourself,” he said with a chuckle and strolled away, leaving her there to deal with the elements and her slippery boots.

“Of all the arrogant, ill-mannered...”

She sighed loud enough for him to hear her, but he didn’t turn around.

* * *

TEN MINUTES LATER, with her pride still stinging, Bella pulled open the heavy glass door to Belly Up Tavern. The one and only time she’d been inside, it was with her mom on the morning they’d driven out of town for good. It was Christmas Eve morning and Bella had had no idea they weren’t coming back.

Her mom had stopped in to pick up her final paycheck. Not only had she kept the books for their inn, but she’d also doubled as a bookkeeper for a few of the businesses in town. That extra work had served her well, considering she landed a CFO position at a top company in Chicago a mere six years later.

Dream Weaver Inn had been her dad’s dream, not her mom’s, and the inn always operated at a loss. Still did, thus the reason it was time to sell the place. Walking into the tavern now, with Christmas decorations hanging from every beam and light fixture only brought the memory full circle. She was finally going to be rid of that darn inn and all the memories that went along with it once and for all.

She longed to get this thing over with. She’d placate her dad by agreeing to share a meal with him for old times’ sake, maybe share a bottle of red wine, collect the signed offer and they’d be out of town in less than twenty-four hours. If her dad didn’t want to join her then so be it. He could fly out later, alone. She intended to be on that flight out of Idaho tomorrow afternoon, and there was absolutely nothing that would stop her.

“Surprise!”

At least fifty complete strangers stared at her seemingly waiting for her reply. At once she turned back to the door to check out who had stepped inside after her, but there was no one. The “surprise” had been for her. She stood staring at all the smiling, happy faces feeling like a deer caught in the headlights, too stunned to physically move.

Who are these people?

Then, slowly, as if the picture in front of her began to focus, she could pick out familiar faces and realized the strangers were some of her closest friends from childhood.

“Oh, my God! You guys,” she said completely dumbfounded by their exuberance.

She was going to kill her father, who was noticeably absent from the lively group. Probably a smart move on his part considering the anger she felt towards him knowing the “steak dinner” was simply a rouse.

And she fell for it....

At once the group bombarded her with questions and old jokes. She had a hard time keeping up as she tried to be polite. Unfortunately, she didn’t recognize anyone right off or remember their names. She had little desire to rekindle friendships or to get the dirt on any of her fellow classmates which seemed to be what most of the group wanted to share, along with their business cards and contact information.

She graciously took their cards, wrote down other pertinent info, and shared her own contact information knowing perfectly well from her past experience with these fair-weather friends that none of them would follow through. Once she drove out of town that would be the end of it, exactly how it had been when she and her mom drove out of town fifteen years ago.

For the next several hours Bella bounced from one parochial conversation to the next with people she’d all but forgotten. Even her childhood best friend, Jaycee Barnes, now mother to two boys and a girl, initially only stirred up a mild amount of nostalgia. Then, as if a switch had turned on inside Bella, the more they shared their lives the more she genuinely missed their friendship. She’d never bonded with another girlfriend like she had with Jaycee. They had been more than best friends; they had been sisters.

Jaycee looked tired. Gone was her waist-length chestnut-brown hair, replaced by a short cut that had lost all its bounce. She wore a plain blue Western-style shirt, black jeans and well-worn tan-colored cowgirl boots. She carried an alert baby girl on one hip, dressed in a red Santa outfit with a white stretchy headband around her little head that sported a spray of mini round ornaments that bounced every time the baby moved.

“You brought your baby to a bar?” Bella asked once the two women had settled on bar stools. They sat at the end of the long wooden bar, farthest away from the front door and the Christmas tree that dominated the picture window adjacent to it. Bella was working on her third longneck beer while Jaycee sipped a club soda with several limes. They had chatted about her children for a good ten minutes and now Bella wanted to move onto another subject. Children were fine, as long as Bella didn’t have to interact with them or listen to gloating parents... Jaycee was beyond gloating and well into exulting.

For one thing, Bella had a hard time believing anyone would want to bring their “cherished” baby to a bar let alone want to nurse said baby while sitting on a bar stool.

“It’s family owned,” Jaycee said, as she cradled her baby under a small pink coverlet with a strap that she’d slipped over her head that kept both baby and nursing mama hidden.

It wasn’t as if Jaycee had whipped out a breast to feed her baby or anything equally uncomfortable for everyone else...but still.

A bar!

“And that means...?”

“It’s not like it’s a regular bar-bar where singles troll for a pick up.”

“Didn’t you just tell me you met your husband in this bar?”

“That was different. Fred wasn’t trolling. He was here on business.”

“What kind of business could have brought him to Briggs?”

“Fred works for the National Potato Council.”

Bella nodded, and smirked. “Of course he does.”

She took a couple swigs of her beer while Jaycee droned on.

“It’s a good job, but raising three kids is costly. We’ve been trying to buy a bigger house ’cause we’ve outgrown the one we’re in, especially with another baby coming. I found the perfect one in town, but Fred’s been traveling so much it’s hard to pin him down long enough to get all the paperwork together to put in a proper offer.”

Bella nearly choked on her beer. “You’re having another baby?”

“Yes, isn’t it wonderful?” Her girl’s hand poked out from under the pink blanket and grabbed her mom’s chin.

“Wonderful,” Bella lied.

It was one thing to have three kids and be financially strapped, but to be happy about being pregnant with a fourth was simply irrational...at least in Bella’s way of thinking.

“Bella, baby, Mommy’s trying to have a conversation.”

Bella was about to take another pull on her beer when she focused on Jaycee’s words. “You named your baby Bella?”

Jaycee nodded, and a wide grin spread across her haggard-looking face. “You’re my best friend. Isn’t that what best friends do? I’m sure when you have your own baby girl you’ll name her Jaycee. You don’t have to if you really don’t want to. I won’t be offended, I promise, but that’s the promise we made to each other when we won the tiaras.”

Bella suddenly remembered they’d tied for Miss Junior Russet when they were eight years old, the same day they’d promised each other to name their first baby girl after each other. It was the first time in the history of the pageant that there’d been a tie and Jaycee thought they should do something special to commemorate the occasion. Bella had agreed and had treasured that tiara, always keeping it prominently displayed in her room.

But when it came time for her to leave with her mom, she could only bring two suitcases filled with her things and the tiara didn’t make the cut. At the time, she figured she’d be back for her things later, probably in a week or so. Had she known they wouldn’t be returning to Briggs anytime soon, she would’ve brought her tiara with her. It had been one of her favorite things. She had no idea what happened to it and hadn’t thought about it in years.

“That was a long time ago. We haven’t spoken to each other since we were kids. How can we possibly still be best friends?”

Jaycee threw Bella a look as if she didn’t understand the question. “Did you get another best friend?”

Not even close.

“No, but friends keep in touch.”

“I figured you were busy, is all. I forgave you for not answering my letters.”

“You forgave me? You sent me one letter telling me how Travis had started hanging around with the popular girls in school and when I asked you to be more specific you never wrote back.”

The news that Travis had moved on so quickly had devastated Bella and had taken her a long time to get over the hurt.

Jaycee took a sip of her drink. “I wrote back, but you’d already moved. The letter came back to me, unopened with no forwarding address. Besides, I was mad at you for leaving and not telling me first. I eventually forgave you and sent you another letter, but that one came back, as well. Now that I have kids of my own I know exactly how much they misinterpret situations they don’t understand. It was your mama’s decision to leave, not yours. I just couldn’t understand that when I was twelve.”

It was true. Bella knew that a twelve-year-old looked at friends and boys much differently than an adult did. And it was also true that she and her mom had moved a lot in the beginning, so she needed to cut Jaycee some slack for the absent letters. And just as a loving warm feeling washed over Bella and she leaned in to tell Jaycee how much she wanted to rekindle thier friendship, a male voice interrupted her.

“As I live and breathe. Little Bella Biondi. Now that’s a Christmas miracle.”

Bella turned to face a grown up Dusty Spenser, the one boy who could have given Travis a run for his money when they were kids. Dusty had grown into his big hands and feet. He had to be at least six-four with a shock of jet-black hair, the same chiseled nose and baby-blue eyes that used to make her swoon whenever she gazed into them.

Dusty marched right up to her, scooped her up in his strong arms and twirled her around like a cloth doll. As she twirled she spotted Travis, looking as gorgeous as ever in a dark green sweater and tight jeans. She thought she never wanted to see him again since he’d so rudely left her on the ground outside.

Until now.

Now she wanted to be in his arms and not Dusty’s, just as she had wanted to be his girlfriend when they were kids, but she knew darn well where that would lead as adults.

Nowhere.

Dusty finally stopped twirling her and plopped her down. Travis stood nearby the buffet table, which featured every combination of potatoes known to mankind. He was staring right at her as he looked up from a conversation he was having with several women Bella recognized as the more popular girls from school. What they were doing at her party, she didn’t know. She never liked them, and they never liked her.

Apparently, Travis had a much different relationship.

One of the women seemed to be tugging on his hand, while another pulled on his arm to go in the opposite direction. Bella couldn’t be sure if he was seriously trying to get away from them or simply flirting. Regardless, she wished he hadn’t come to her party.

Granted, seeing her childhood friends had been enjoyable, especially Jaycee who she would like to see again sometime, but that was as far as it went. This town was not her home and these people were no longer her people. She truly didn’t fit in anymore. If her dad thought seeing everyone would change her mind about the sale, it had accomplished the exact opposite.

For one thing, Travis seemed to have grown into the man that Jaycee had only mildly described in her letter. Now he seemed to be more of the town stud instead of the school flirt that Jaycee had noted.

Dusty yammered on about how glad he was to see her. How he was a Realtor now, with his own business out of Jackson, Wyoming. He even gave her a card, but all Bella wanted was to get the heck out of there, and not just the tavern, but the entire state.

And as soon as the world stopped spinning, she would do just that.

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