A Christmas Seduction

“Yep. I’m on my way.” He squeezed Jolie’s hands. “Chores call. You coming?”

Her features still waffled between a smile and a frown. She settled on the frown. “Uh...you know what? I’d better go do some work myself.”

* * *

SITTING AT THE DESK in her room, Jolie tried to work on her article for Travel America, except every time she started typing, she found herself caught up in an instant replay of kissing Thad. She should be embarrassed...except she wasn’t. At all. How could she be when Thad was such a good kisser? The way he held on to the back of her head, tilting her the way he wanted her, holding her close? The way his lips were both soft and firm, lulling and commanding all at once?

Divine.

The way he’d used his tongue on the inside of her lips, tracing them, tasting her?

Heavenly.

The way he tasted of black licorice?

Delicious.

She ran her thumb over her lips, letting her lids flutter closed in recollection, playing the kiss over one more time, adding a few embellishments along the way. Like Thad’s hand dropping to her ass, his head dipping low in order to whisper naughty things in her ear.

Glancing at the top of her screen, she read through some of her previous entries. Be the person you’ve always wanted to be... Try new things.

“What are you going to do, Jo?” she asked herself. Was she just going to write those things for the sake of the article? Or was she going to live them?

Pounding the desk, she muttered, “Dammit. I’m going to live them!”

A second later, a knock sounded at her door and when Jo called for whoever it was to come in—what if it was Thad?—the door opened and Gloria peered inside. “We’re heading out to find a tree. Do you want to come?”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

She grabbed her jacket and followed Gloria to the porch, where the rest of the guests had congregated. Their hostess introduced everyone: there was the father-and-son duo, Simon and Zak, and a young couple, Kaylee and Evan.

“We just got married last month,” Kaylee explained, beaming with happiness. “This is our first Christmas together.”

After congratulations, Gloria said, “I hope we can make your stay a memorable one.” Then she clapped her gloved hands. “And we’ll start by finding the best damn Christmas tree there is. Dillon says the nicest ones grow up on that ridge.” She pointed to a spot that looked an awfully long way away. “As long as everyone’s game, we thought we’d ride up there.”

“As in, horses?” Jo blurted amidst the sounds of excitement from the rest of the guests.

“Yes. Is there anyone who hasn’t ridden before?”

Jo raised her hand. Other than Zak, she was the only one, and her resolve to be the daring, adventurous Jo she’d always wanted to be slipped.

“Why doesn’t Zak ride with me for his first time,” Dillon offered.

While Zak complained that he wanted to ride his own horse, his father nodded, saying he thought it was a good idea.

“Evan and I can ride together,” Kaylee piped up, winking at her new husband.

“What about you, Jo?” Gloria asked. “Do you want your own horse, or would you prefer to ride with someone?”

“She can ride with me.” Thad was leaning against the rail, watching her carefully. His gaze created a little tickle at the back of her throat.

“Okay,” she replied thickly. “I’ll ride with Thad.”

“That’s settled, then.” Gloria pointed toward the barn. “We’d better get going. The sun sets early this time of year.”

Jolie followed the rest of the group toward the barn, feeling light-headed. It wasn’t nerves exactly; it was...excitement? Excitement and anxiety all mixed up together?

With a dash of arousal?

She could still feel the effects of Thad’s gaze, which was warm, probing...kind of like his tongue.

Once inside the barn, her mixed feelings only intensified. Horses were beautiful animals, but they were also big and scary, which both thrilled and terrified her. Then she considered Thad. There was something seriously hot about watching a man do something he was really good at, and he was clearly good with horses. Good with animals in general.

People, too.

Within no time at all, Thad, Curtis and Dillon had saddled up six horses, and everyone who knew what they were doing mounted. Once on top of his horse, Dillon leaned down, instructing Zak to take his hand so Dillon could pull him up in front of him. Evan did the same with Kaylee.

It was just Jo left.

“Take my hand,” a deep voice said from above her.

“I’m a little bigger than the others,” she replied, feeling insecure all of a sudden.

“I got you.”

“You said that last night.”

“I don’t make the same mistake twice.” He grinned. “Now put your right foot in the stirrup to give yourself a boost.”

She did as she was told and, true to his word, Thad pulled her right up onto the horse. It was awkward getting her left leg over to the other side, but thanks to her biweekly yoga routine, she managed it without any mishaps.

“There now, you all right?” Thad asked, the words tickling the inside of her ear.

“I’m fine,” she said, wriggling in the saddle. “But this can’t be very comfortable for you.”

“On the contrary. I find it very comfortable.”

“Oh!” Jo wasn’t sure if her exclamation was the result of Thad’s big body snugging right up to hers—his thighs on either side of her legs, his chest pressed against her back, his arms wrapped loosely around her waist—or because the horse had started moving. She leaned back into him and the horse stopped.

“As much as I enjoy you leaning against me,” he whispered roughly, “you need to sit up straight for the horse to move.”

“Oh...okay.” She sat up and the horse started walking again, following the others out into the yard. It was such a strange sensation, sitting up so high on the back of an animal, swaying side to side with the horse’s undulating gait. Completely unnatural...yet kind of cool, too.

“You okay?” Thad asked softly.

His deep, melodic voice sent shivers into the pit of her stomach. “I’m okay.”

“You let me know if you’re not.”

“I will.”

The other horses moved off ahead of them in single file and they brought up the rear. Slowly.

“You’re tense.”

“Am I?”

“Yep, and the horse senses it.”

“I don’t know how to not be tense.” She tried to turn in the saddle to face him, felt off balance and swiveled back around, grappling for the knobby thing on the saddle.

He tightened his arms around her and she immediately felt better. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, his scent reminding her of their kiss.

“Talking is a good way to keep the mind occupied, so you don’t overthink things.”

“Okay.”

When she didn’t say anything—because quite frankly she was still thinking about that kiss—Thad said, “Want me to start?”

“Sure.”

“Where you from?”

Before she could answer, he said, “No. Let me guess... Chicago.”

“How’d you know?”

“Well, you’re clearly from the city and you sound like Gloria when you talk.” He flashed a grin. “She’s originally from Chicago, too.”

“And you’re from Louisiana. Am I right?”

“Good ear.”

“What brought you all the way out here?”

He was quiet for a few moments. “Work, mostly. What about you? What brings you to a guest ranch in Montana?”

“Same. Work.” This time when Jolie had the urge to turn her head, she controlled it. “I’m writing an article about the ranch for a magazine.”

“You’re a writer, huh?”

“Yes.” She liked being called a writer.

She leaned back and the horse stopped.

“Miss Jolie,” Thad murmured. “You need to sit up.”

“Sorry.”

“So...” he said. “You’ve never touched a dog, never ridden a horse. Now look at you. This day is full of firsts for you.”

“That’s my goal for this trip. To try new things, every day.”

“It’s a good motto.”

The other horses were getting farther and farther ahead. Jolie didn’t mind. She liked feeling as though it was just her and Thad on this ride, cozied up together, getting to know one another...

Suddenly an unpleasant thought intruded. “I suppose this is nothing new for you.”

“Riding? It’s part of the job description.”

“No. I mean, taking care of the guests.”

His arms stiffened around her. “And when you say ‘taking care of,’ what exactly do you mean?”

“You know...flirting with the guests.”

“Are you asking if I go around kissing guests on a regular basis?”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

He transferred the reins to his left hand and gently caressed her thigh with his right. “I do not go around kissing guests. And may I remind you who kissed who first?”

She covered his wandering hand. Not because she wanted him to stop; only because she couldn’t think straight when he was doing that. “I was excited. It was meant to be a little peck.”

“That wasn’t a peck.”

“You’re the one who made it into something more,” she insisted, smiling as she recalled the kiss. Again.

“Is that the story you’re going with?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Jolie marveled at how easy it was to banter with this man. Along with her lack of skills with animals, repartee was another art she had not even come close to perfecting in her twenty-eight years.

“You must be a very good writer, because you’ve got quite an imagination on you.”

She laughed, partly because she was enjoying herself and also because Thad had just voiced her thoughts. She’d never had that happen before.

Feeling good, Jo said, “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Last night...” She hesitated, but only for a millisecond. “Did you see me...inside the tub?”

He leaned close, his mouth right beside her ear. “You mean did I see you naked?”

“Yes,” she whispered, closing her eyes.

“Well now, a gentleman would lie and say no.” He took a deep breath, like he was inhaling her scent. “The question is—” his breath sifted the hair at the side of her head, making her shiver “—would you like me to be a gentleman...or not?”

4

One of the highlights of a trip is to experience new customs. Believe it or not, this is possible even in your own country.

Jo Duval

WOULD SHE LIKE HIM to be a gentleman or not? Oh, good Lord. What kind of question was that?

The best kind.

Jolie wriggled in the saddle. For some reason, her movement made Thad grunt and shift in response. She only heard the faint sound because he was still so close, his body fused to her back, his face hovering just above her left shoulder.

She cleared her throat. “I’d like the truth.”

He turned, threading his fingers through hers. Such an intimate gesture.

Leaning down even closer—his lips within touching distance of her ear—he whispered, “I think you know the answer.”

“I do.” She wondered if he heard her, because the words were more air than sound.

“Are you shocked?”

She shook her head.

He let her hand go in order to capture her chin and turn her face so their gazes could meet. His eyes reflected the bright sun, giving his rugged features an almost otherworldly quality. “I apologize for the inappropriateness.”

The lines bracketing his eyes deepened, telling Jo he was not sorry in the least.

She wet her lips and his gaze dropped to her mouth. Her stomach swirled in anticipation of something. Another kiss, maybe?

Oh, yes, please!

Thad’s lids slid half-closed and Jolie lifted her chin in invitation.

Waiting.

She licked her lips again.

Nothing happened.

“Uh, Ms. Jolie?” Thad coughed or laughed—it was hard to tell with her eyes shut.

She opened them. The horse had stopped moving. She turned in the saddle. All the other horses were circled around, facing them. Curious glances and secretive smiles from the guests and hosts made Jolie’s cheeks heat. She sat up straight, removing contact between herself and Thad.

Dillon cleared his throat. “Plenty of good trees to choose from here.” He dismounted. “We’re looking for one about nine feet tall.” He reached up high, showing everyone about how big the tree should be. “Anything catch your eye?”

“How about that one?” Zak called, pointing to a large tree just to Dillon’s right.

Dillon circled around the tree, checking out the branches and the height. “I think this one is pretty near perfect. Any objections?”

“Looks good to me.”

“I like it.”

“It’s lovely.”

“Thad? You’ve got the ax?”

“Of course I do. You know me—always prepared.”

Why did just the sound of the man’s voice send shivers down her spine? And then when Thad took her hands gently in his and gave her the reins? Shivers coursed over her shoulders and ran the length of her arms.

“You hold tight to these, Ms. Jolie, while I go help with the tree.” As he leaned forward to dismount, he rasped, “And don’t think I’m not going to finish what was started back there on the trail. I mean to kiss you like you’ve never been kissed before.”

Jolie’s doe-eyed gaze and wide parted mouth stole the air right out of Thad’s lungs. Lord, the woman was a looker. He hadn’t seen it so much last night; he’d been too focused on her fear of the dogs. Then there was the tub, and he’d been too intent on teasing her to really notice her looks. Her nudity? Oh, hell yes, he’d noticed that just fine.

But now, with her cheeks pink from the air—or was that a blush?—and her brown-gold eyes shining in the light, she was something else. How he’d wanted to taste those lips again. Particularly when she was apparently so willing, her chin tilted up, waiting, expectant, so close...so sweet.

Someone tugged on his sleeve.

Gloria stood there, smiling up at him, though something in her clear blue gaze told him she was none too pleased. She spoke in a harsh whisper through her fake smile. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Why, Ms. Gloria.” He held up the ax. “I was about to help that husband of yours chop down this fine tree.”

The phony smile that spread across her face was in direct proportion to the degree her brows drew together in displeasure. “That’s not what I mean,” she whisper-yelled. Gloria flicked her gaze in Jolie’s direction. “Don’t you dare screw this up for us.”

“Well now, I would assure you I wouldn’t except that I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Gloria’s chin came up in frustration and Thad had a hard time keeping his grin in check.

She tugged on his arm, pulling him in a direction away from the circle of horses. “Come take a look at this tree,” she said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Maybe we’ll chop two. One for the foyer and one for the great room.”

Once they were out of hearing distance, Gloria punched Thad on the arm.

“Ouch.” He feigned injury.

She poked him in the chest. “Stop screwing with our guest.”

“I’m not screwing with her.”

“No, but you’d like to.” She threw her hands up in the air. “Men. Can’t you keep it in your pants, just once?”

Thad gave her a second to rant about the unruliness of male sexual desire.

“She’s a guest and you work here. It would be totally inappropriate.”

“Kinda like sleeping with your boss?” That stopped her long enough for him to continue. “So you’re saying I can’t take her up to the Doghouse?”

Gloria’s eyes went wide at the mention of the old homestead that sat up on the hill, the place she and Dillon had used multiple times as a rendezvous point for sexual trysts when she’d first come out to Montana. When she’d been in Dillon’s employ.

“A little hypocritical of you, don’t you think?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and pursed her lips. Then her features softened as she turned her head to gaze up the hill at where the place stood. “I just...” She sighed. “It’s really important Jolie write a favorable article about the place. It could make or break us.”

Thad propped his arm across Gloria’s shoulders and gave her a reassuring squeeze. For as much as he loved tormenting this woman, he cared deeply for her and for Dillon. Plus, he needed the job, and this place was the perfect cover for him.

“So, what do you want me to do?”

“Stay away from her.”

“What if she can’t stay away from me?”

She elbowed him in the ribs. “Tell her it’s part of the rules. You can make her feel comfortable, special, but stay out of her bed and no kissing.”

“You’re no fun at all.”

“I know you, Thaddeus Knight. The longest relationship you’ve had lasted all of twelve hours.” She glanced back toward the group. “This writer, she doesn’t seem like the one-night stand type. You know?”

Damn. Maybe she was right. Thad wasn’t a relationship kind of guy. His life didn’t allow it. His gaze followed Gloria’s. “Okay,” he said finally. “I’ll keep my hands to myself.”

“Good.” She looked him up and down. “And everything else, too.”

* * *

JOLIE HAD NEVER decorated a Christmas tree—not a real one, anyway. There was the fake minitree she’d bought for her tiny apartment a couple years ago, with all the cute little decorations to go with it. But a real live tree?

Never.

Even before hanging decorations, the big tree took her breath away, twinkling with multicolored lights and bringing its fresh pine scent indoors. She helped herself to a glass of mulled wine and stood back from the group, watching the flurry of activity with a warmth that spread from her tummy out to her extremities. After riding back to the ranch with Gloria—so that Thad could haul the tree—she’d decided to head to Half Moon Creek to pick up a couple of things.

New boots? Check.

A bathing suit? Check, check.

Some gifts for her hosts and the guests? Check, check, check.

Plus she had a special surprise tucked away in a florist’s box in her room. She went to retrieve it now, glancing over her shoulder to see if Thad might follow, feeling giddy after her second glass of spiced wine.

Thad didn’t follow. What did she expect? He was working and she wasn’t the only guest. She retrieved the box and presented it to Gloria.

“What is it?”

“Open it.”

Gloria opened it and gasped. “Real mistletoe?” She grinned. “That’s so thoughtful.”

“Half Moon has the sweetest little florist shop, and the girl was so helpful. She...” Thad joined them at that moment and her sentence trailed off as she gazed up at him. More specifically, at the way his shirt stretched across his broad shoulders and opened at his throat, giving her a glimpse of the strong cords of his neck.

She’d like to sink her teeth into them.

“Do you want me to hang that?” His lips twitched and Jo’s gaze slid to his lips, imagining his mouth moving closer and closer to hers.

“Sure, that’d be great,” Gloria answered. Then she turned to the rest of the room and clapped her hands. “Okay, everyone, let’s get decorating. There are plenty in the boxes or you can come on over to the dining table and help make some.”

The last time Jolie had made a Christmas ornament was in grade school—when the whole class made them—and she eagerly joined Gloria at the large dining room table where there were bowls of multicolored candies, cookie cutters and molds of different sizes all laid out on cookie sheets.

Kaylee joined them. “Oh! Christmas candy ornaments. I saw this on Pinterest.”

Gloria explained how they were going to melt the cut rock Christmas candies into beautiful, tasty ornaments. Jo half listened to the instructions as she snuck glances at Thad out of her peripheral vision. He was hanging the mistletoe from the door frame that separated the large dining room from the great room.

While Gloria was busy explaining how to make the ornaments, Jolie was busy imagining a scenario under the mistletoe.

“So, we’ll just spray some oil on the inside of these molds and then place the candies loosely inside...”

She was accidentally standing beneath the mistletoe when Thad walked by. He looked up. She looked up. Their gazes met.

“We’ll pop them in the oven so the candies melt together...”

He bent down to kiss her and...shit! He’d caught her watching. Grinning, he stalked toward her, and Jo’s pulse fluttered in her veins as he closed the distance between them.

“Once they’ve cooled, we’ll tie ribbons to hang them and this is how they’ll look.” Gloria held up some samples of ornaments that looked like mini stained glass windows.

“Don’t mind if I do, Ms. Gloria.” Thad plucked a decoration out of her hand and stuck the candy in his mouth.

“Thaddeus Knight. That is an ornament for the tree. It is not for you.”

He bit down on the hard candy, snapping it in two, and offered the other half to Jolie. “It was all Ms. Jolie’s fault.” He winked.

She smiled up at him. It was impossible not to beam in delight when Thad was around. Except his grin froze when Gloria caught his eye. She scowled at him. It was only when she met Jo’s gaze that her smile reappeared.

Apparently she was very serious about these ornaments.

“Why don’t you go give Dillon a hand with the garland.” Gloria waved toward the other room.

“I’m thinking this candy operation looks like more fun.”

“Thad...” There was a warning note in Gloria’s voice.

What was that about?

Whatever it was, Thad ignored it. He propped his arm across Jo’s shoulders and said in a conspiratorial voice, “Now, ladies, did y’all know that the barn out there is haunted?”

“Haunted?” Kaylee asked, intrigued.

“Oh, yeah.” He winked at Gloria. “You remember, Ms. Gloria? There was that one time I was heading for the barn, needing to get something from the tack room at the back...” Thad scratched his jaw, all serious now. “This must have been a year ago now? Maybe a year and a half? Anyway, there was this awful strange sound coming from that room.”

“What kind of sounds?” Jo leaned closer.

“Scratching. Panting. A woman’s scream...or sigh. It was hard to tell.”

“No way,” Kaylee said, eyes wide.

“Yes, ma’am. I been careful going in there ever since. Never know what a body will find.” His grin was pure wickedness as he smiled at Gloria.

“Thank you for that, Thaddeus,” Gloria said, giving him a shove toward the great room. When she returned to the table, her cheeks and neck were flushed bright red. “Now, let’s make some ornaments.”

Jo had just started filling up her molds with candies when Gloria came to stand beside her. “I apologize for Thad.”

“What do you mean?”

She crinkled her nose. “He’s a flirt.”

“No need to apologize for that.”

“Just be careful.”

“Careful?”

“I...” Gloria frowned. “You know, even though he’s worked here awhile, we still don’t know all that much about him.”

“What are you saying? Don’t you trust him?”

She opened her mouth to reply, but Dillon appeared at her side at that moment, carrying an open box of ornaments. “Hey, Red. Curtis found these in the Quonset. They must be from Kenny’s family.” He picked out an ornament wrapped in tissue paper and passed it to Gloria, who unwrapped a pretty colored glass ball.

“Oh, this one’s beautiful.”

“What should we do with them?”

“Let me sort through them. I’m sure we can use some.”

Jo frowned after Gloria’s retreating back. Why would Gloria warn her about Thad? Was there something dark and dangerous in his past? The very idea got Jolie’s creative juices flowing and she considered all sorts of possibilities.

If Gloria’s intention had been to warn her off Thad, it was having the opposite effect, because all Jo could think about was ways to seduce him.

She smiled as a vivid image of how she could get him into her bed came to mind.

This was going to be the best Christmas ever.