Misty awoke early Christmas morning with a smile on her lips. She stretched in the soft cocoon of Trey’s big bed. She felt completely content and satisfied with life. She’d talked with Audrey and Cindi Lou last night. Audrey had praised her work and promised a bonus. Cindi Lou had suggested she lasso Trey when she’d heard their story. One thing Misty knew for sure. She’d never have completed the Texas Timber job without Trey’s help. They made a good team—in bed and out of it.
She smelled the tantalizing aroma of fresh-brewed coffee wafting upstairs from the kitchen. She doubted Trey knew her favorite coffee was Texas Pecan, but any dark rich brew would be good right about now. And she figured he knew exactly how to make it since he did everything so well.
When she heard his footsteps on the staircase, she just knew he was greeting her with a mug of delicious coffee first thing on Christmas. She loved the idea, particularly because he’d be holding the mug in his big strong hand and looking better than any fancy wrapped package.
She tried to hide her disappointment when he arrived in the bedroom carrying only a yellow sticky note.
“Merry Christmas.” He wore nothing but a big grin on his face, an expanse of bronze, muscular chest, and reindeer sleep pants slung low on his narrow hips.
“Merry Christmas to you, too.” She forgot all about the coffee. He looked good enough to be a luscious, satisfying breakfast all by his own self. She licked her lower lip in anticipation and patted the crimson sheet beside her. “Why don’t you come back to bed?”
“Plenty of time for that later.”
Again, he surprised her. Maybe he needed more enticement. She gave him a hot look and a suggestive smile.
He sat down on the edge of the bed with a mischievous grin. He shook the yellow sticky note as if to get her attention, then held the piece of paper out to her. “I want you to see my Christmas list.”
“Okay.” She took the note from him, deciding they could make up for lost time in bed soon. For now he wanted to share something with her and she was happy to do it. “Only two items?”
“That’s right. But they’re all I wanted for Christmas.”
She set up to take a better look, wearing only his soft, cotton T-shirt in a rich lapis color. “Brrrr.” She shivered. “Did you turn up the AC?”
He grinned even bigger. “Why don’t you look at my list?”
“Number One,” she read aloud. “Misty Reynolds.”
“Notice that wish is checked off.”
She cocked her head, trying to decide whether to laugh at his audacity or not. “When did you add my name?”
“First day I met you.”
She did laugh then. “Cocky cowboy.”
“Hopeful, that was it.”
“I’m glad you got your wish.”
He gave her a searing look with his hazel eyes, then glanced at the yellow note. “Notice I checked off my second wish, too.”
“But Trey, you wrote down ‘snow.’ Did you decide to fudge this morning just so you could check off both items?”
“Fudge on a Christmas list?” He sounded horrified at the sacrilege. He walked over to the windows and snapped open the thick drapes.
Misty gasped, dropped the note, jumped off the bed, and rushed over to the sliding glass door. “Snow!” She slid open the door and stepped outside onto the cold, white, fluffy stuff. “I can hardly believe it.” Bright sunlight sparkling across a blanket of snow had turned the ranch into a winter wonderland.
He followed her outside. “Blue Norther came through last night.”
“And we didn’t hear it?”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against the furnace of his body. “We were making plenty of noise of our own.”
“I wouldn’t have noticed anything but you.” She snuggled back against him, enjoying the cold on one side of her body and the heat on the other. “Crazy Blue Northers. Sleet first. Then snow. If the temperature stays cold, no telling how long it’ll take that snow to melt.”
“Could be we’re snowed in all day. Good thing Greg already volunteered to make sure the herds had food and water.”
“Generous of him.”
“He might’ve thought I’d be a tad distracted today.”
Misty chuckled. “Can’t imagine why.” She snuggled her bottom against Trey and felt a satisfying hardness in response.
He wrapped his hands around her stomach, cradling her against him. “No telling what kind of fun we can get up to in the snow.”
She spun around and thrust her hands into his thick hair. “Why don’t we find out right now?”
He gave her a quick, hot kiss. “I’ve got a better surprise downstairs.”
“Better?” She didn’t know that could be possible, but Trey’s surprises were usually wonderful.
“Yep. And this one won’t wait.”
He grasped her hand, led her back inside, and closed the door behind them. He rummaged around in a drawer and pulled out a pair of cotton sweatpants. “These are too big, but I don’t want you catching cold.”