Her Montana Christmas Groom

It was time for bride number two and Rose looked back just in time to see Haley kiss Austin’s lean cheek, then put her hand in the bend of his elbow. She looked like a princess in her strapless, full-skirted organza gown. Her floor-length veil flowed from a diamond tiara that held her upswept brown hair in place. Rose glanced at Marlon Cates who couldn’t take his eyes off the woman who would shortly be his wife.

As he placed his sister’s hand into her groom’s, Austin said, “She’s always taken care of Angie and me. Now my sister finally has someone to take care of her. Don’t let her down, Marlon.”

“Never.”

Rose felt a double dose of emotion lump in her throat and not only because it was a doubly happy moment. A wave of sorrow washed over her. Neither bride’s father was there and Rose didn’t know why. She only knew that someday when she got married, her father wouldn’t be there, either. No giving her away. No father-daughter dance. Charles Traub had died when she was only two and she had no memory of him. Her brothers had always talked about him as if he walked on water and she envied their recollections. She was sad for what was lost to her, for once-in-a-lifetime memories that could never be made.

And then Austin was standing beside her. He leaned down to whisper, “My work here is done.”

Suddenly there was no room in her head for anything but him. He was movie-star handsome. He smelled good and cleaned up pretty nice. But did any man look like a toad in a traditional black tux? She thought not.

Still, a wicked grin and a nice suit didn’t make her any less too old for him. The magic of the wedding venue with lights, flowers and brides in beautiful dresses couldn’t erase the difference in their ages. More memories that could never be made. She forced herself to focus on the now, details swirling in her head for the mayor’s press release.

The ceremony moved quickly in spite of double vows and rings, but there was twice the applause and cheers when the twins kissed their new wives. Rose was sure the four of them were relieved. In their shoes she would be. But when this part of the evening was over, she would have the reception to worry about.

It was being held in the Gallatin Room, the fine-dining restaurant at the resort. She would breathe easier when it was okay to mingle on her own. That didn’t mean she wasn’t grateful to Austin for walking her in, but the less time they spent together the better. No point in needlessly firing up Thunder Canyon gossip.

But after the two newly married couples led the recessional down the aisle, Austin grabbed her hand before she could strike out on her own.

“The formal part is over, now it’s time to have some fun. Stick with me and I’ll show you a good time.”

That’s just what Rose was afraid of.

Chapter Two

Austin nodded to his boss, Ethan Traub, as he led Rose back the way he’d come from walking his sister to her groom. He envied Haley. Marlon was a great guy and the two were deeply in love. Now they had their whole lives ahead of them. It was everything Austin had once badly wanted.

The Andersons had been a traditional family before his father walked out. Austin still remembered being a little boy and blaming himself because he’d done something bad. His mom made him see it wasn’t his fault and they moved on. Then she died and Haley took over, missing out on her chance to go away to college. There was nothing conventional about that, but his sister did a great job with all the responsibility.

Still, he had vivid memories of that short time when he’d had a father and mother. And he’d wanted to have a family of his own, but the dream died when Rachel ran out on him. Now he just wanted to have fun.

With Rose.

Her hand was tucked in the bend of his elbow and he put his fingers over hers, then glanced down. She was eyeing the people filling the chairs they passed as if they were going to accuse her of something bad. Rose didn’t know it yet, but he was the one with increasingly dishonorable intentions. Did she really not know how badly he wanted to kiss her?

She was so beautiful. The other day he hadn’t noticed the dimples in her cheeks when she smiled. Or the way her eyes turned down slightly and crinkled at the corners when she laughed. Don’t even get him started on the way she filled out her dress. The velvet bodice clung to her curves and the lacy skirt was all sugar and spice and everything nice, equal parts sweet and sultry.

But she was hung up on the age difference. While he appreciated her honesty, to him it was just a number and numbers held no mystery. She, on the other hand, was a puzzle he couldn’t wait to solve.

He bent down and whispered in her ear, “Have I told you how beautiful you are tonight?”

The look she gave him was sassy, saucy and sexy. “Are you taking that line out for a spin to see how well it works?”

“Actually, no. I’ve used it often without a microgram of sincerity. But this time I really mean it.”

“So you’re not practicing on me hoping to reap the benefits of my vast experience?”

“For a mature woman,” he teased, “your manners could use some fine-tuning. It’s customary when a man pays you an honest compliment to simply say thank you.”

“Thank you,” she repeated automatically.

They stopped in the crowd of people who were filling the open lobby area. “A reciprocal compliment would be nice, too.”

She looked him up and down, then moved around him to, presumably, inspect the rear view. Completing the circle, she said, “You’ll do.”

“Wow.” He whistled. “Praise like that could turn a guy’s head.”

“Oh, please. Excluding my brothers, there might be one, maybe two men in this room better looking than you. I can’t believe your ego needs massaging.”

“It’s just fine, thanks.” He put his arm around her waist and drew her to a protected corner as the guests waited to file into the dining room for the reception. It was with great reluctance that he removed his hand. “I’m surprised at you. With five older brothers you should recognize teasing when you see it.”

Her expression turned thoughtful. “Did you tease your sisters?”

“Still do. Every chance I get.”

“And yet you were on your best behavior when you walked Haley down the aisle.”

He could see the question in her eyes, why him and not Haley’s father. But Rose was too polite to ask. “My father abandoned the family when we were kids. Haven’t seen him since.”

“Oh.”

Austin saw the sparkle in her eyes fade to sadness and wished he could take back the words. Maybe put the sass back in her smile. “Sorry, didn’t mean to be a downer.”

“You’re not.” She glanced past him. “Looks like they’re letting people in to the reception. I think I’ll get in line, too.”

When she started to walk past him, Austin put a hand on her arm. “Not so fast. Are you trying to ditch me?”

“Because we’re here as friends with no strings attached, ‘ditch’ seems harsh. I thought I’d just mosey on in and watch single guys swarm around now that I have the Austin Anderson stamp of approval and they don’t need to be afraid.”

He’d set those parameters. It seemed the only way he could get her to go with him. But the idea of a bunch of guys hitting on her made him want to put his fist through a wall.

“Tell you what,” he said. “There’s a receiving line. We’ll say hello to the bride and groom and the bride and groom and then I’ll buy you a drink.”

“Done. Except I’ll buy my own.”

“It’s an open bar.”

“Big spender,” she teased.

Austin rested his hand at the small of her back, urging her to the end of the line. It didn’t take long to reach the couples of the hour standing just outside the double doors leading into the Gallatin Room.

Rose hugged Matt Cates, then his new bride. “Congratulations. You look stunning.”

“Thanks,” Matt answered.

Elise smiled radiantly. “She meant me, although you do look fairly spectacular, husband.”

Austin had been a couple years behind the twins in school, but they all knew each other well. He shook hands, then hugged Matt’s wife. “I suppose it’s too late to talk you into running away with me?”

“Sorry.” The pretty blonde shrugged. “It was too late a long time ago.”

“If you change your mind…”

“Not a chance,” she said.

Rose moved on and gave Marlon a hug. “Congrats. I wish you every happiness.”

“Thanks, Rose. Hey, Austin— Or should I say ‘bro’?”

“I answer to either.” And he truly meant that. The connection was legal now, but he felt as if he did have a brother. He met his sister’s gaze and didn’t miss the spark of interest in his “date.”

“Haley, have you met Rose Traub?”

“No.” The two women shook hands. “Marlon and I have been traveling and planning the wedding. But I heard you moved here from Texas.”

“Yes.” Rose smiled. “When I was here for my brother Corey’s wedding I fell in love with Thunder Canyon.”

“Who wouldn’t,” Haley said. “But I don’t understand what you’re doing here with my brother.”

“What?” Rose looked like a kid who just got caught cheating on a test. “Why?”

“Because he’s an obnoxious jerk.” Haley gave him a teasing smile. “But I love him anyway.”

“Back at you, Hay.” Clearly his sister was joking, but Rose had gone directly to the bad place and he wasn’t sure how to get her out of it. He slid his arm around her waist. “Lets go find our table.”

“With any luck it’s in a dark corner behind a plant.”

“You’re overly sensitive. It’s not that much of a difference. You just had a birthday.” He decided it was best not to put a finer point on it with numbers. “And in two months I’ll be a year older. See? We’re practically the same age.”

“Nice try. With hinky math like that it’s a wonder you got into an engineering program at all.” She shot him a rueful look.

Austin followed Rose, mesmerized by the sway of that feminine skirt. There were white cloth-covered tables three deep lining the perimeter of the room with the center open for dancing. Poinsettias in red and white with candles on either side made up the centerpieces. In the far corner, wedding gifts were piled up and there were two bars set up on either side of the room. Austin guided her straight to the closest one.

“I’d like a glass of chardonnay,” she said.

The bartender, in crisp white shirt, red tie and black pants, had dark hair shot with gray. “May I see your ID?”

“What?” she asked.

“Identification,” he repeated. “It’s illegal for me to serve alcohol to anyone under twenty-one.”

“I’m way over that,” she assured him.

“Okay, but I need to see some proof of that.” His tone was polite and professional.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No.” He didn’t budge.

“He’s a friend of yours,” she said to Austin, suspicion lurking in her eyes. “You put him up to this. It’s a practical joke.”

“I’ve never met him before,” he assured her, giving the guy a what-are-you-going-to-do shrug.

She blew out a breath, then opened her tiny beaded black evening bag, pulled out her driver’s license and handed it over.

The bartender checked the date and looked surprised. “Wow, I’m usually not that wrong.”

“And I haven’t worked that hard for an alcoholic beverage since… Actually ever.”

“Did you even try to get a drink before you were old enough?” Austin asked.

“No.”

“Good thing.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ve probably always looked about twelve.”

“Thanks, I think.” She took a sip of the pale gold liquid.

“What’ll you have?” the bartender asked him.

“Beer. Bottle is fine.”

“Coming right up.”

“Hey,” she said to the bartender. “How come you didn’t ask him for ID?”

The guy grinned. “Because I can tell by looking that he’s legal.”

Austin saluted a thanks with his bottle and they walked across the open dance floor to find their table. Rose was frowning and clearly in a snit.

“What’s bugging you, Red?” he asked.

“Like you don’t know,” she grumbled.

“I’ve always looked older.” He shrugged. “It’s why I was able to get a tattoo when I was under age.”

“No way.”

“Yeah.” He took a sip of his beer. “It’s a beaut, too.”

“Where is it? Show me.”

“That would require undressing—”

She slid him a wry look and shook her head.

Too bad. He would very much like to undress her and see if she had more freckles on the curvy body under her lace and velvet dress. She was really stubborn about the age thing and if he was as smart as everyone thought, he’d throw in the towel. The problem was, he liked her. She was a real firecracker and it had nothing to do with the color of her hair.

Austin was inclined to hang in for a while and see if he could fire her up.

After dinner, Rose sat alone at the table watching couples on the dance floor. Until a few minutes ago she and Austin were one of them and she’d really liked the feel of his arms around her. Then his sister Angie had commandeered him for the chicken dance. What wedding was complete without that?

Everyone seemed to be having a great time. What was not to like? The whole event had lived up to its advance billing as the social affair of the year. It was completely enchanting. This room looked as magical as the resort’s transformed lobby with twinkling lights wrapped around bare white branches and the poinsettias added a touch of red. The brides were perfect and perfectly happy with their hunky, handsome grooms.

It was the ultimate romantic fantasy and Rose was having serious doubts about her own ever coming true. Of course her brother Jackson chose that moment to sit down beside her. His fiancée, Laila Cates, pulled out the chair next to his.

“Hey, sis.”

“Hey, yourself. Hi, Laila.”

“Hi, Rose.” The other woman smiled. “Love the dress.”

She appreciated the compliment, but it didn’t lift her spirits. How she longed to rest her head on her big brother’s strong shoulder, but he wouldn’t understand. Besides the fact that he was a guy’s guy, he’d found the love of his life. Blonde, blue-eyed and beautiful, Laila looked like she’d stepped off a page of People magazine. And handsome Jackson, with his dark hair and eyes, could be in the movies if he wasn’t doing community outreach and public relations work for Traub Oil Montana.

“You look really pretty tonight,” Laila added.

Rose smiled at the woman who would be her sister-in-law. “I might have had a shot at mildly attractive until you sat down.”

“Oh, please.” She waved off the compliment.

Jackson’s dark brown eyes glowed with pride and love when he looked at her. “My sister is right.”

“About what?” Rose demanded. “That I have to wear a bag over my head?”

“No, that the woman I plan to marry is as beautiful as she is sweet and caring.”

“Yeah.” Rose nodded grudgingly. “If she wasn’t, I could take great pleasure in hating her guts.”

Laila laughed and like everything about her, the sound was beautiful. The least she could do was snort. “That’s probably the highest praise and most sincere compliment I’ve ever received.”

“But true.” Rose sighed. “Darn it.”

“You’re not happy for me?” Jackson glanced at his fiancée. “For us?”

“Of course I am. Truly.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Everything’s fine.” If she pretended long and hard enough, maybe that wouldn’t be a lie.

“Look, Rosie, you ought to know by now that fooling me isn’t going to happen. So why won’t you tell me what’s up with you?”

“Because you really don’t want to know.”

“Yes, I do. We do,” Jackson said and Laila nodded her agreement.

Rose looked at the happy, perfect couple and loneliness sucked her in further. This room was filled with happy, perfect couples and that was hard to look at when you weren’t part of one. Especially when she’d worked so hard to make it happen. She’d dated a lot of guys, but not one of them was her prince and a happy ever after wasn’t looking hopeful.

“I think there’s something wrong with me,” she finally said.

Jackson frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“It would be easier if I could blame my singleness on a lack of men. But no one would buy that excuse because I’ve dated more than any girl in the history of Thunder Canyon.”

“We noticed.” Her brother’s tone was wry.

“Don’t start on me. The thing is, you’d think out of all those men there would be a spark, some chemistry, some hope, but not so much. There’s no magic. No zing. No lightning. No sizzle.”

Except with Austin Anderson.

It was proof that fate had a bizarre and warped sense of humor. From the moment he’d picked her up for this wedding, her skin had tingled. Being near him made her chest feel tight and don’t even get her started on the zing and sizzle when he’d held her in his arms on the dance floor.

Rose met her brother’s gaze. “The guys I’ve met are all great, so the only possible conclusion is that there’s something wrong with me. Maybe my standards are too high.”

“Maybe you’re afraid.” Jackson’s gaze never wavered.

“Of what?”

“Being hurt. You haven’t had a long-term relationship since the jerk in college.”

Rose was surprised that, not only had he been paying attention to her romantic life, but that he had also remembered. And the memory shouldn’t still sting, but it did. She wanted very much to change the subject, but blowing off the question gave the past more power than it should have.

She looked at Laila. “When I was in college there was this pre-med student. We were together over a year and I was in love with him. Graduation was coming up fast for both of us and it was time to fish or cut bait. He cut bait.”

“Why?” Laila glanced at Jackson who nodded.

“He fell into the poor-but-proud group. I believed that love was all we needed.” She shrugged. “He chose medical school over marriage.”

“That’s too bad.” Laila’s blue eyes brimmed with sympathy. “Sounds like the timing was just off.”

Apparently that was Rose’s fatal flaw—attraction to ill-timed men. The only one who interested her was born too late. Or she was too early. Either way that made him too wrong.

“Will you two excuse me?” Laila squeezed her fiancée’s hand. “I’m going to the ladies’ room.”

“I’ll be waiting.” There was love and longing in Jackson’s eyes as he watched her weave through the crowd to the door.

Rose felt equal parts of envy and pleasure that the two had found each other. She loved her brother and wanted him to be happy. “She’s a keeper.”

He nodded. “You and Austin Anderson looked pretty cozy out on the dance floor.”

The words snapped her back to attention even as she wondered if Jackson Traub had turned into a mind reader. She wasn’t sure what annoyed her most: that he’d noticed her with Austin or that he was right about the cozy part. If he’d noticed, surely other people had, too. That’s just what she’d wanted to avoid.

“What are you talking about? Cozy?”

“Laila mentioned it.”

“What?” she hedged.

“That you and Austin seemed to be having a good time,” he answered. “She hoped that’s a sign that things are looking up for him.”

“For Austin? I don’t understand.”

Jackson shrugged. “Apparently he had a bad experience with love.”

Surely he’d misunderstood Laila. It was hard for Rose to believe that someone as handsome, sexy and smart as Austin wouldn’t have women falling at his feet.

“What happened?”

“Not a clue. It was before I moved to Thunder Canyon.”

Rose tried not to be curious about Austin’s past. It was none of her business. Because she’d scratched him off her list, whatever had taken place would not impact her. They were nothing more than friends. But friends cared about each other. And confided their concerns. It would help to know the details of his bad luck.

“Laila probably knows his story,” she suggested.

“Probably,” he agreed.

“You should ask her.”

“Why?” Jackson’s look was skeptical.

Rose couldn’t meet his gaze. She glanced away and saw the man in question coming toward them with a beer in one hand and a glass of white wine in the other.

“No reason,” she said. “He’s a nice guy and I can’t imagine what woman in her right mind would dump him.”

“Maybe that’s it.”

“What?”

“She probably wasn’t in her right mind,” Jackson suggested.

“You should ask Laila.”

His dark eyes narrowed. “You seem awfully interested.”

“Not really.” She willed herself to look indifferent when every nerve in her body was quivering with questions. “It’s just that we’re friends.”

“Okay.”

“So you’ll find out what happened?”

“I’ll ask Laila.”

“Promise?” Rose said.

“You want a pinky swear?”

She did, but the words would never pass her lips. “A solemn brotherly promise is sacred enough for me,” she teased.

Jackson glanced at the doorway, clearly looking for Laila. “I think I’ll go find my lady.”

“Sounds like a good idea.”

He stood, then tapped her nose. “There’s nothing wrong with you, Rosie. If anyone says different, I’ll beat him up.”

“I’d like that,” she agreed laughing.

“Seriously, if you need me, I’m there.”

“I know.”

She watched him walk away and meet his love at the door.

“Who is Jackson beating up?” Austin put the white wine in front of her.

“Guys with tattoos.” That was something else about this particular man that tweaked her curiosity.

It was nothing more than being nosy. Curiosity was better than feeling sorry for herself. And how stupid was that? She had a great job. A family who loved her. And Traubs didn’t give up. She wasn’t a couple today, but tomorrow? Anything was possible. Still, she felt the tiniest twinge when Austin set the glass of wine in front of her, shades of regret that he could only be her friend.

“Thanks.”

“So you’re sure I can’t talk you into looking at my tattoo?”

She laughed and realized how much easier it was to share in the joy of this beautiful evening when he was around. With luck, the romantic magic would shift in her direction. If it held, she wouldn’t have to kiss too many more frogs before one of them turned into a handsome prince.

Chapter Three

And another frog it was.

There was no way Rose would kiss Harvey French. With her elbow on the wooden table, she rested her cheek in her palm and tried to look interested in what the guy was saying. Two days ago she’d been at the wedding with Austin and now, with her tush perched on the red vinyl seat in a booth lining the big room at Lipsmackin’ Ribs, she was missing him more than she could say.

Harvey was an attorney she’d met in the mayor’s office that morning and he’d asked her to dinner. Note to self, she thought, when a guy asks you to dinner, be sure to find out where. This place was a big clue that would, as Mr. I’m-the-best-attorney-on-the-planet say, go to character. And his was as repulsive as the short, tight, blue-and-white, belly-baring T-shirts this restaurant made its waitresses wear.

It was a big red flag. Not only was this place competition for her cousin DJ, there’d been some weird stuff going on between the competing restaurants.

As far as a kiss transforming this guy, in the fairy tale it was all about looks and Harvey was already handsome. He was blond, blue-eyed and broad-shouldered. The gray suit and red silk tie he wore were expensive. And yet…

Kill me now, she wanted to say. A direct meteor strike would be sudden and painless, unlike this never-ending, excruciating date. And they hadn’t ordered yet, just drinks. But there wasn’t enough liquor in the world to improve his personality.

“I really took them apart in court,” he was saying. “It wasn’t even a contest.”

“Oh?”

“It cost them a bundle to defend against my client’s cause of action. I buried them in paperwork, tied up the legal team answering motions in court. It was a beautiful thing to behold.”