“Is that so?”
“It is. I don’t appreciate the big, strong men not just coming out and saying so in order to spare my little female sensibilities, but I appreciate the concern.”
“It wasn’t about your female sensibilities. It was more about your stubborn streak and temper.”
“Why is it men are called strong or tough, and women stubborn?”
“I’m not touching that.” He clucked his tongue instead and took Sundown into a trot.
“Coward,” Bodine accused, but she laughed as she came up beside him.
“About some areas.”
They rode companionably into the ranch yard.
“I’ve got to get something from the shack.”
When Callen veered off, Bodine shrugged and led Leo into the stables.
“That was a nice ride,” she said as she unsaddled and unbridled him. “You deserve a good rubdown, and maybe a little something special after.”
She grabbed a hoof pick, tended to his feet before giving him a good rub with a towel. As she picked up a soft brush, she heard Callen come in with Sundown.
Since she had a jump on him, she finished first, carted her saddle to the tack room, then came back for Callen’s.
“I’ll get that in a minute.”
“I’ve got it now.” But she paused outside the stall. “I’ve also got a jar of peppermint treats—”
As Callen said, “Don’t!” Sundown let out a long, high whinny, gave Callen an enthusiastic butt with his head before sticking it over the door. The horse aimed a wildly bright-eyed look at Bodine.
“Next time spell it. I expect he’ll figure that out before long, but for now don’t say either of those words out loud. Out of the way, you.”
Callen managed to nudge Sundown back, get out of the stall, before the horse stuck out his head again.
Testing—she couldn’t help it—Bodine said, “Peppermint treats.”
“Oh, for Christ’s—” With a shake of his head, Callen hefted the saddle from Bodine as Sundown danced and whinnied.
“Is he … like … cheering?”
“You could say that’s his version of yippee. Just hold on a minute.”
Fascinated, Bodine went back into Leo’s stall as Callen carried his tack away. She pulled the jar of peppermints from the stall box—she’d bought them especially, and sentimentally, for Leo for Christmas.
Digging in her pocket, she cut off the seal with her pocketknife.
She gave Leo two, which he gobbled with pleasure, then kissed his cheek. “Merry Christmas, Leo.”
She took two more out of the jar, and stepped out of the stall. Spotting them, Sundown did an excellent mimic of smacking his lips.
“He beats all,” she said as Callen came back. “Is it all right to give them to him?”
“Not until he says please.”
In response, Sundown made a sound in his throat, and his eyes said please as clearly as the word.
She held them out, and he nibbled them off her palm. Seemed to sigh, then blew his lips against her cheek.
“You’re welcome. Leo’s pleased to share his Christmas—the word I’m not saying—with you. If I’d known he was that fond of them, I’d have picked up another jar.”
“I keep one at the shack. If I kept one anywhere near him, he’d find a way to get to it, even if I put it in a damn vault. Speaking of Christmas.”
Callen opened the stall again, lifted a gift bag from inside.
“Oh.” Flustered, Bodine stared at it, then up at Callen. “I didn’t— You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“Who says it’s for you? Try to remember, the spirit of Christmas is about giving, not getting, Bodine. It’s for Leo, from Sundown here.”
“It’s … Your horse got a present for my horse?”
“They’ve gotten to be good pals. Are you going to give it to him?”
“Of course. I think I’ll need to take it out, if that’s all right with Sundown.”
“Is that a yes?” Callen asked his horse, and got a quick nod.
“Well, let’s see what we’ve got here, Leo.” She stepped across to Leo’s stall, dug in the tissue, felt leather.
“Look here, Leo, you’ve got a new head collar. A fancy one, too. Oh, it’s got his name and the Bodine brand on it. Callen, this is so nice, so thoughtful. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me.” Leaning back against the stall door, Callen wagged his thumb behind him. “Sundown picked it out.”
“Of course he did. Thank you, Sundown. It’s the nicest head collar Leo’s ever had. We’re going to try it on right now. Let’s try it,” she murmured to the horse as she slipped it on. “It fits just right, and look how handsome.”
She turned back to Callen. “I appreciate you helping Sundown out with the particulars.”
“Well, he had his mind set on it.”
Watching her with his horse and her own had Callen’s mind set.
“See that up there?” He pointed to the ceiling.
She looked up, saw nothing but beams. “I don’t see anything.”
“That mistletoe hanging down.”
She looked up again. “There’s no mistletoe up there.”
“You must not be looking in the right place.”
But he was, he thought. He surely was.
He pulled her in.
No accidental lip bump this time. This time he meant it, and made sure she knew it. The hands on her shoulders slid down her sides to her waist, cinched there, while his mouth took hers the way he’d imagined. Slow, sure, strong.
And as he’d imagined, she didn’t pull back, but met him head-on.
She’d grown prettier, he thought, and her lips were full and warm and far from shy. Her body pressed against his until he knew the shape of her would stay imprinted on his mind.
When her hand came up, gripped the back of his neck, he felt every cell in his body leap.
She’d known this was coming, sooner or later. Too much heat, too many sparks under those companionable rides not to lead to this. While she’d wondered how she’d react, wondered if she’d make the move or he would, she’d thought herself fully prepared.
She’d thought wrong.
It was bigger and bolder and brighter than anything she’d foreseen. Her body’s reaction stunned her as she felt herself quiver, at least inside.
He tasted of heat and secrets, smelled of horses and leather and man, and his mouth showed skills she’d underestimated.
When he started to draw away, she pulled him back.
He’d started it. So she’d finish it.
When she was right on the edge of breathless, she pushed him back. “Mistletoe, my ass.”
“I might’ve been mistaken about it.” He glanced up again, seemed to consider, then met her eyes. More blue than gray now, she noted. Those hints of lightning through the storm. “But I wanted to give us both a preview of what’s coming.”
“And what’s coming, Skinner?”
“You know as well as I do, but we’ll go there after Abe’s back this spring. I can wait.”
She turned to take her coat off the hook outside the stall. “You sound pretty damn cocksure of yourself.”
“I’m sure with more than that part.”
Damn it, he made her laugh. “Maybe, but I’ve got something to say about it.”