Cowboy Kisses and Mistletoe Wishes: Contemporary Holiday Romance, Grumpy Cowboy, City Girl by Theresa Oliver

Author:Theresa Oliver [Oliver, Theresa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Loft Literary Group LLC
Published: 2024-04-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Kelsey

The ache in her chest wasn’t homesickness; it was the prickle of apprehension as Will followed her inside, causing her stomach to turn. Yes, he was her best friend but him arriving unannounced like this—on Christmas Eve, no doubt— was highly inappropriate.

Remembering his hurt look as he climbed into his truck, Kelsey knew she would have a lot of explaining to do to Jake.

But right now, Will’s presence in her farmhouse felt… off… out of place… far too familiar.

“Will, why did you feel the need to drop everything and come here? Whatever you came to say could have waited until after the holidays.” His presence here… now… didn’t sit right with her. Will had never been prone to impulsive behavior before… not to her knowledge, anyway.

“After hearing the longing in your voice, I decided to come out personally.” Will looked deeply into Kelsey’s eyes, an unspoken message hanging heavily between them.

Kelsey’s stomach churned. Her first impulse was to make excuses and send him to the nearest bed and breakfast. But Will’s smooth confidence propelled her toward the house, a reluctant participant in a scene she wished she could rewrite.

Inside the house, the tantalizing aroma of apple pie, spiced cider, and cinnamon filled the air—vestiges of the warm, fun-filled evening that now seemed a distance away.

“Coffee?” Kelsey asked over her shoulder, headed toward the kitchen.

“Yes, please.” Will stood behind her a bit too close, unnerving her.

“Go sit down.” She nodded toward the dining table. “I’ll be right there, and we can talk.”

“As you wish.” One corner of Will’s lips curled into a smile, a mockery of Jake’s smile she had come to love so much.

Love. At that moment, she realized she was hopelessly in love with Jake. For two cents, she’d leave Will in her house and run to Jake to straighten out this mess with him. He was more important to her than he knew, and she had to tell him. But it was already getting late, and he probably wouldn’t see her tonight anyway.

“So, Will….” Kelsey poured the hot coffee and carried it out. She handed him a cup and then sat across from him, wanting to keep her distance. “How’s everything in Los Angeles? Keeping busy, I assume?”

“Busier than ever,” he replied with a self-assured air. Will sitting there in the same chair where Jake had sat felt out of place. He sipped his coffee as he scanned the farmhouse and the quaint furnishings, a subtle assessment in his eyes. “Cozy place you have here, Kels.”

Will’s words, meant as a compliment, carried a subtle undertone of condescension, making Kelsey bristle. It was this attitude, his thinly veiled dismissal of the life she had built here, that unnerved her. Now that she remembered, his dismissal of anything he deemed as “less than” had fueled her initial desire to escape to Mistletoe Meadows.

“Don’t call me that.” She took a sip of her coffee.

“Why ever not?” His eyebrows lifted in faux innocence.

“Because you never called me that before.” Kelsey wrapped her hands around the steaming hot cup of coffee in an effort to warm her hands.

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