A Thunder Canyon Christmas Read online

  She paused, fidgeting with a stapler on Haley’s desk. “It was an awful situation. I hated thinking you could do the same thing to me or to Christine.”

  He sighed. He felt like he was doing nothing but taking one step forward and two or three giant steps backward with her.

  “I’m sorry you were hurt that way. But I’m not some idiot you knew in college, Elise. You’ve known me for a long time. You should have given me a chance to explain before you jumped to all kinds of crazy conclusions.”

  He was hurt, he realized. It was a feeling he wasn’t very accustomed to when it came to his dealings with women.

  “I’ve got to go.” He didn’t want her to see it, didn’t want to reveal the depth of his feelings for her just yet, not when she was fighting him every step of the way. “Tell Haley I dropped by and I’ll do whatever she needs me to for the party.”

  “Matt—”

  He didn’t wait for whatever else she wanted to say, only pushed open the door and walked out of the ROOTS clubhouse and into the December afternoon that seemed to have lost all its good cheer.

  Chapter Nine

  “Everything looks absolutely perfect!”

  Haley slung her arm over Elise’s shoulders and pulled her close as they stood in the doorway admiring the winter wonderland they had spent all day creating in the ROOTS clubhouse.

  “You did a fantastic job with the whole thing. You should be a party planner, El. You didn’t need me after all,” Haley said.

  “Not true. I never could have thrown it all together without you the last two days. I still think you’re overdoing it, though. Are you sure you’re up to this?”

  “I’m feeling almost back to normal, if I can only shed this stupid cough.” As if to illustrate her point, she suddenly had to step away from Elise in order to cough into the corner of her sleeve.

  “Sorry. I really am feeling better,” she said after a moment. “Those garlands you made are fantastic and the swag bags are perfect.”

  “The kids are going to have a great time.” She smiled at her friend, noting all the changes in Haley over the last few months. Her friend glowed with happiness, even though she still looked pale and worn-out from her illness.

  Elise was thrilled for her. Haley’s handbag design business, HA! was taking off, she was passionately committed to the success of ROOTS and she was deeply in love with Marlon Cates, who loved her right back.

  She deserved all those wonderful things and more after giving up her dreams early in order to take care of her younger siblings after her single mother’s untimely death.

  Elise wouldn’t have begrudged her any of it and she refused to feel even a tiny niggle of envy that everything seemed to be coming together so perfectly for Haley when Elise’s life seemed like such a tangled mess.

  “What you’re doing here is a good thing, Haley. It’s been really cool to be a part of it this week, in my small way.”

  “Not small.” Haley squeezed her arm with affection. “You know we would have had to cancel the whole thing if you hadn’t stepped in to save the day. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate it.”

  “I had help,” Elise said. “Your hardworking volunteers plus those amazing kids.”

  “They are, aren’t they? Amazing, I mean. I think I get more out of associating with them than the other way around.”

  She looked at the clock suddenly. “And speaking of the kids, they’re going to be here any minute now. You’re staying, right? I won’t let you leave, not after all your hard work.”

  Elise nodded. “I brought some party clothes to change into so I didn’t have to go back to the ranch to change.”

  “See, that’s why you always were the smartest girl I know.”

  Ha, Elise thought as she headed for the ROOTS women’s restroom. If she were as smart as Haley thought, she would have stayed far away from Matt Cates the moment she spied him at The Hitching Post the other night. Instead, she had let her life become more and more entwined with his and now here she was fighting down completely inappropriate anticipation at the likely possibility that he would come to the party.

  Not that he would be thrilled to see her. The last time she had seen him, the anger in his eyes that she had believed he was two-timing his fiancée by kissing Elise would have melted every inch of snow on the whole road out front.

  She hadn’t seen him in four days, since that tense scene here. His outrage still seemed unfair. If he was telling the truth—and she still hadn’t managed to completely convince herself of that, despite every instinct that urged her to believe him—he and Christine Mayhew wanted people to think they were engaged, right?

  Or at least one particular person, Christine’s ex-boyfriend.

  For him to be angry with Elise for believing the rumors they had started themselves seemed wrong, somehow.

  She changed quickly, out of jeans and a hooded sweatshirt into a pair of black slacks and a shimmery white blouse, sheer at the neck and sleeves, then sighed as she replaced the utilitarian small hoops she’d put in her ears that morning with her favorite chunky, dangly crystals.

  Why did it matter if Matt was upset with her? Engaged or not, her reasons for stopping their kiss the other night at Clifton’s Pride remained. Nothing had changed since Monday. If anything, things were more tangled than ever now that Jack and Betty Castro were returning to Thunder Canyon for the holidays.

  She thought of the phone call she had received the night before from Betty and her stomach quivered with nerves.

  Betty and Jack were back in Montana, staying with friends in Billings. Betty had sounded desperately eager for Elise to join them for dinner on Sunday. She knew they genuinely wanted to get to know her, to forge whatever relationship they could with her.

  Elise had always considered herself a nice person. She tried to treat people with decency and respect. But the Castros’ continued overtures made her want to saddle up one of the Clifton’s Pride horses and ride fast and hard into the mountains to hide out somewhere she wouldn’t be found for days.

  Her reaction was ridiculous, she knew, and rather shameful. The Castros weren’t trying to hurt her. They only wanted to become acquainted with the child who had been taken from them by circumstances beyond anyone’s control.

  After she applied a new coat of mascara, Elise gazed in the mirror at the face she had seen looking back for twenty-six years. She had inherited her cheekbones, her eyes, the curve of her mouth from Betty and Jack. Didn’t she owe it to them to at least be cordial?

  She had two brothers she didn’t know, an entire family history to learn. She couldn’t keep avoiding them, hoping this whole tangled mess would just sort itself out. It was time to face her angst.

  But not tonight. This was a Christmas party and she wouldn’t ruin it for the teens that Haley helped.

  The first guests had started to arrive by the time Elise finished changing her clothes and makeup. Haley had started playing some holiday music and Elise could see a group of teens already taking to the small dance floor they had set up.

  She could see Haley’s siblings, Austin and Angie, as well as many of the volunteers and teens she had become acquainted with the past week, including CJ McFarlane, Roy Robbins and Ryan Chilton.

  Marlon was helping Haley fiddle with the speakers.

  And Matt. Her insides did a long, slow roll when she spotted him filling glasses with punch at the refreshments table.

  He looked dark and rugged and absolutely gorgeous in a dark green sweater, tan slacks and boots.

  He wasn’t alone, Haley suddenly realized. Next to him was the lovely brunette she recognized from the restaurant the other night, though that seemed a lifetime ago.

  Christine Mayhew.

  They were talking and laughing but she had to admit they looked more friendly than romantic. Was it possible he was telling the truth? She wanted to believe him. The last three days she hadn’t heard any more rumors about any engagement—but she hadn’t heard anything about it being a
sham, either.

  Haley suddenly grabbed her arm, distracting her from any more pointless wondering. “Help! I can’t find the MP3 player I spent hours loading with a Christmas dance mix while I was sick,” Haley wailed. “Have you seen it?”

  “Is it your pink one? I think I saw it on the table in the back room. Let me go see if I can find it.”

  She supposed it wasn’t a very good sign when she couldn’t wait to leave a party not three minutes after she showed up. She hurried to the other room and emerged a moment later with the MP3 player in her hand.

  Haley hugged her. “You’re a lifesaver! We would have had to listen to ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ all night.”

  “Oh, horrors!”

  Her friend laughed and headed back to Marlon and the sound system. Elise was just about to go talk to Austin and Angie when she saw Christine Mayhew heading in her direction.

  The other woman was indeed beautiful, tall and curvy. Elise felt about twelve years old in contrast.

  She wasn’t at all prepared when Christine gave her a warm, friendly smile. “You’re Elise Clifton, right?”

  “Yes,” she admitted warily.

  “I’m Christine Mayhew. Matt’s told me a lot about you.”

  “Has he?”

  Christine’s smile was warm and open and not the slightest bit jealous. “I have to tell you, I’ve never seen him like this about any other woman.”

  She stared. “Like…what?”

  “Nothing. Sorry. Forget I said anything.” Christine sent an amused look over her shoulder to where Matt was watching them intently. “I’m on a very important mission here tonight.”

  “Oh?”

  “I’m under strict orders to convince you beyond a sliver of doubt that Matt and I are not engaged.”

  Elise cast a quick look at Matt then shifted her gaze away. She knew perfectly well she shouldn’t have this little fizz of happiness welling up inside at the word.

  “Matt is a great guy,” Christine went on. “Don’t get me wrong. I care about him and always will. But there won’t be any wedding bells ringing for the two of us. We’re friends, that’s all. I swear it.”

  What was she supposed to say in response? I’m really happy to hear that didn’t seem quite appropriate under the circumstances.

  “He was doing me a favor,” the other woman said firmly.

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Matt asked me to. He told me he explained it all to you but you still had some doubts.”

  “What about your ex-boyfriend?”

  Christine shrugged. “Word on the street is that he’s started dating someone else recently. I can only hope she turns out to be a keeper for him so he’ll take my number off his speed dial.”

  She paused and studied Elise until she could feel her face heat in another of those blasted blushes. “Can I give you some advice?”

  “Okay,” she said slowly.

  “I’ve been friends with Matt for a while now and as I said, I’ve never seen him like this over any woman.” Christine gave her a careful smile. “I think you’re more important to him than even he wants to admit.”

  Elise shot him another look. Though he was busy talking to his twin brother, he must have felt the weight of her stare because he shifted his attention to her. For a moment they stared at each other and the crowd, the decorations, the music all seemed to fade.

  “Matt is a great guy. When he finally falls for a woman, I have a feeling he will move heaven and earth to make her feel happy and safe and loved.”

  Elise drew in a shaky breath. She didn’t know what to say. She did know she shouldn’t be fighting this powerful yearning to be that woman.

  “Pretending to be his girlfriend these last few months has been great fun,” Christine added, her glittery earrings reflecting the Christmas lights from the tree. “I can only imagine being the real thing would be a million times better.”

  With that parting shot, she walked away, leaving Elise floundering for a response.

  For the next hour, she carefully avoided Matt as she circulated among the party guests and helped Haley with hostess duties. She knew she owed him an apology for ever doubting him but the middle of a noisy, festive party full of teenagers didn’t quite seem the proper venue.

  She was in the kitchen preparing another plate of appetizers when she finally couldn’t avoid him any longer.

  He walked in and something unreadable flashed in his gaze when he spotted her there. “I’m under orders from Haley to see if there are any more of those cheesy cream puff thingies in here.”

  “A few. I was just about to carry them out.”

  “Here, I can take them.” She handed him the tray but instead of heading back out to the party, he stood in the doorway.

  “It’s a great party, Elise. Haley’s giving you all the credit.”

  “Not true,” she protested. “She had already laid all the groundwork. I only had to finalize a few details.”

  “Well, you did a great job. Everyone seems to be having a wonderful time, from the kids to their parents to the volunteers. And I know fundraising wasn’t the intent of the party but Haley said donations have been pouring in.”

  She could barely focus on anything but Christine’s words. I’ve never seen him like this about another woman.

  She had to be wrong. He was treating her just like he treated everyone else. Maybe even on the cold side of the politeness thermostat.

  “More donations are always good.”

  He gave a short laugh and set the plate of appetizers back down on the counter. “Yeah, they are. Haley has done wonders with a small amount of money. Who knows what she can accomplish when her funds increase?”

  He paused and gave her a careful look. “So do you want to tell me why you sound like I just told you somebody injected botulism into the cream puff thingies?”

  She blinked, then flushed. “I’m happy about the donations. I just…I…I owe you an apology.”

  “I guess you’ve talked to Christine.”

  She sighed. “She was only corroborating what I already knew. I believed you that day you came here to ROOTS and explained about your sham engagement.”

  He winced. “It was never supposed to go that far, I swear it. I didn’t expect anyone else to hear about it. I’m sorry you were caught up in it. The whole thing was stupid.”

  Christine was right, Elise realized. Matt was a good man. When he gave his heart, he would give it completely. He would never betray the woman he loved for some thrill du jour.

  He couldn’t be more different than her first boyfriend.

  She drew in a deep breath, her pulse racing. “Christine basically told me I would be crazy if I didn’t…give things with you a chance.”

  He gazed down at her but said nothing for several long moments. The party sounds were muted in here, just a throb of bass, and she could swear she heard her heart beating in her ears, keeping time to the music.

  “Are you going to listen to her?” he finally asked.

  She swallowed hard and realized just where they were both standing—under one of the many clumps of mistletoe the kids had hung for the party.

  “I’m thinking about it,” she murmured, then without giving herself time to second-guess, she rose on tiptoes and brushed his mouth with hers.

  He froze for just a moment, his mouth firm and delicious against hers, and then he made a low sound in his throat and kissed her back with a slow and aching gentleness.

  Both of them kept their eyes open and she was hypnotized by the deep brown of his eyes as he stared back at her, unsmiling.

  In that instant, she made a decision, what felt like a monumental one to her.

  She eased away and gave him a tentative smile. “Would you like to go to Billings Sunday with me to have dinner with my…with Jack and Betty Castro?”

  He looked as if he hadn’t quite heard her right. “You want me to go with you while you have dinner with your birth parents?”

  She nodded, feel
ing edgy and foolish and wondering if she was crazy to even ask. “To be honest, I think I could use a friend on my side there. But more than that, I really would like to…spend time with you. If you want to, anyway. I thought it would give us a little time to talk, on the way there and back.”

  She sounded like a complete idiot. Why couldn’t she be smart and sophisticated, someone like Christine?

  But Matt didn’t seem to mind. His eyes were warm and he seemed to know exactly how difficult she had found it to ask him.

  “That sounds terrific. Really terrific, as long as you’re sure the Castros won’t mind if I tag along.”

  “I don’t think they will.”

  “Great. It’s a date.”

  A date. She did a little mental gulp but it was too late to back down now.

  “We’d better get these appetizers in there before those teenage boys start eating the popcorn strings I worked so hard on.”

  “Good idea.”

  He grabbed the plate and they headed back into the reception area.

  Christine was sitting at a table talking to Erika Traub and a very pregnant Holly Clifton. She smiled when she saw them emerge from the kitchen together but Elise was painfully aware of a few speculative looks zinging between the two of them and Christine.

  When news started to filter out of Matt’s “breakup” with Christine, speculation was bound to fly that perhaps Elise was the cause of it. The thought of being the subject of more gossip filled her with dread and for a moment she was tempted to tell Matt to forget about everything.

  No. She was tougher than that. She could withstand gossip. Hadn’t she been doing it since her father’s murder?

  Matt smiled at her and she resolved to forget about everything for the rest of the night, to simply enjoy the party.