Snowflakes and Stetsons by Jillian Hart

Author:Jillian Hart
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-09-18T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

Lucas scowled at his complete lack of willpower as he tethered Drizzle to the hitching post outside the general store—which sat next door to Rosa’s Boutique. He had sworn to Dog repeatedly that he was not coming to the second annual town-wide shindig Rosa hosted at Town Square for the holidays. But double damn, here he was, dressed in black, as usual. He was wearing the best clothes he owned. Which, by everyone else’s standards, probably hadn’t been fashionable in five years.

He glanced down at Dog. The ornery animal almost looked as if he were smiling in mocking amusement because his master had turned into a shameless hypocrite.

“Don’t say a word,” Lucas muttered at Dog then glanced every which way to make sure no passersby overheard him and called him crazy for carrying on a conversation with an animal.

Feeling awkward and uncomfortable, Lucas grumbled as he strode across the square. A large Christmas tree stood on each corner, decorated with paper ornaments and strings of popcorn. Lucas headed directly toward Rosa, who stood out like a beacon beneath the lanterns and torches that illuminated the dance area and refreshment tables.

Now that she had confided her background, he understood how she could afford this elaborate spread for the holidays. Knowing her, he predicted she had asked the local shops to pitch in, in order to avoid any speculation about where she had acquired the money for this grand affair.

Lucas rolled his eyes, remembering the handwritten invitation she’d had a gangly teenage boy deliver to him. The party won’t be the same without you, the note said. Then, a day later, as if he might have forgotten her invitation, another one arrived with the same teenager. Well, here he was, still uncertain why he’d shown up.

The locals kept glancing uneasily at him as if he were an outcast. Which he was, but he was the same outcast that had helped clear this area when it had been overrun with Mexican banditos and white outlaws, making settlement possible.

His thoughts trailed off when Rosa’s voice overrode the murmur of conversation around him.

“Lucas! I’m so pleased you could come. You’re just in time to meet some of my friends and acquaintances.”

Lucas was uncomfortable with limelight. Nevertheless, all eyes zeroed in on him because Rosa approached him. Dressed in a sparkling white gown, she reminded him of his personal vision of what an angel—minus the wings—should look like. When he saw her glittering white cape swirling around her as she all but floated toward him, he thought, ah, yes, wings included.

To his stunned amazement, she pushed up on tiptoe to press a kiss to his cheek and said, “Happy holidays, Lucas.”

Silence followed. He shifted uneasily from one booted foot to the other. Then Rosa clasped his hand and led him over to the cluster of people standing beside a refreshment table.

“Cyril and Melanie Ford, this is my dear friend, Lucas Burnett,” she introduced. “He is the one who saved me from certain death when I was stranded in the blizzard last week.

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