Her Mistletoe Cowboy by Alissa Callen Read Free Book Online Page A

wood?”
    “Good thanks. I still have plenty left from the load you brought over the other night.”
    Milly wriggled in her grasp, aiming for the tinsel and Ivy hung the decoration over her forearm to keep it out of reach.
    He passed a hand over his whiskered chin. “Before I go, I wanted to say thank you for all the gingerbread and cookies. I’m sorry I haven’t called around earlier.”
    “You’re welcome. After all the help you’ve given me it’s the least I can do. And seriously please don’t feel you need to come and say thanks. I know how busy you are.”
    “Thanks. I do have lots to do if I want to be ready by spring for when my cattle arrive.” If he’d been wearing his Stetson he would have removed the hat and would be turning it in his hands. Now was the moment he should step back and let Ivy close the door. But it was as though the soles of his boots were super-glued to the porch floor. Once so reluctant to visit her, he now couldn’t bring himself to leave. “I did also want to say make sure you let me know if there’s anything you need … like more wood.”
    She nodded and glanced at the sky behind him. “It so happens I do need some help. How about you come in out of the cold and I’ll show you what I need done?”
    His feet moved forward even before his mind gave the okay. “No worries.”
    Still holding a wriggling Milly, Ivy closed the wooden door behind him. She then set Milly on the floor. The pup jumped, sank her teeth into the tinsel hanging from Ivy’s arm, and ran out of the foyer, the tinsel streaming behind her.
    “I give up,” Ivy said, amusement threading her words.
    He nodded, kicked off his boots and unbuttoned his jacket. Christmas decorations more than compensated for Ivy’s lack of furniture. She’d hung mistletoe in the foyer and further inside wreaths adorned windows and ornaments hung from door and cupboard handles. In a short space of time, she’d made an empty space feel lived in and loved.
    He followed her into the kitchen and stopped to touch a gold reindeer that graced the bench. It was only right for her grandfather’s home to be in Ivy’s hands. At the last minute he’d decided against buying both the main ranch house and the land. Even with his rodeo winnings and the money from his mother’s estate, he would have been saddled with a bank debt that would have stolen his sleep. And now, seeing how much this house meant to Ivy, he was thankful he’d been risk averse.
    He glanced at her and realized she’d been watching him as he stared at the reindeer.
    “How are you at hanging ornaments?” she asked.
    “I can’t say I’m an expert but I can tie a mean half hitchknot.”
    At her blank look, he smiled. “In a rodeo you tie a half hitchknot to keep a calf’s three legs together for six seconds.”
    She laughed. “So tying a ribbon onto a light fixture won’t be a problem?”
    “Not at all.”
    Her smile widened. “Even if there are twenty-one ornaments and curling ribbon is involved?”
    He kinked a brow. “The curling ribbon might be a problem. I’ve two sisters, plus I come from three generations of women with no male children except me. I’ve never had to wrap a present in my life.”
    “Well, when you’re done hanging the decorations I can guarantee you’ll be a ribbon tying expert.”
    She moved into the kitchen and dug into a box on the bench. She held up a shiny silver ball in which he could see his reflection. Attached to the ball was a long curl of metallic red ribbon.
    “I’ve tried, and even standing on a chair, I can’t reach the light let alone tie any fancy half hitchknot.”
    He dragged one of the two wooden kitchen chairs to beneath the light.
    She passed him the silver ball as he climbed onto the chair. He reached up and easily tied the ribbon around the metal arm of the light fixture. Once he’d attached seven balls to the light he surveyed his handiwork. Red, silver and green balls all dangled at varying lengths, the