The Maverick's Christmas Homecoming Read online

  All it took was Shane’s kiss to make her crabby mood disappear. Probably not smart, but definitely the truth.

  * * *

  After making sure everything in the kitchen was shut down and squared away to his satisfaction, Shane turned off the lights. Only the security ones were left on, making the interior dim. The frenzied chaos so much a part of the food-service business he loved was over for the night and eerie quiet took its place.

  He waited for Gianna to get her coat and purse then meet him here. Keyed up from work, he paced while he waited. Part of him hoped she wouldn’t show because he didn’t need more complications in his life. Mostly he couldn’t wait to see her. Fighting the temptation to kiss her had given him a lot of time to imagine what it would be like, but the actual touching of lips had been everything he’d expected and more.

  What he hadn’t expected was her straightforward sass and steadfast spunk. The way she’d challenged him about how peculiarly he’d been acting had surprised and charmed him in equal parts. He hadn’t been surprised in a good way since the first time he’d seen Thunder Canyon.

  With his parents’ blessing, he’d hired a private investigator to find his biological parents and the guy had narrowed the search to this small town in nowhere, Montana. His restless need to connect the dots about himself had been stronger than his aversion to packing himself off to that small town. The surprise was his instant connection to the rugged beauty of the mountains and trees, being drawn in by the friendliness of the people.

  He’d grown up in Los Angeles, for God’s sake, where freeways, traffic and smog ruled. He wasn’t a mountains-and-trees kind of guy. At least he’d never thought so. But the connection he’d felt had only gotten stronger in the five months he’d been here. That was already a lot to lose, and now there was Gianna.

  That saying—the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree—was a saying for a reason. And the sins of the father... The rest of the words eluded him but when sins were involved it couldn’t be good. Something deep inside Shane rebelled at the thought of Gianna knowing who his father was.

  The kitchen door opened and there she was, wearing a navy blue knit hat pulled over her red hair with curls peeking out by her collar. She had a matching scarf tied loosely around her neck and the ends dangled down the front of her coat. When she smiled, the beauty and warmth melted the place inside him that had started to freeze over.

  “So,” she said, “just how are you going to make it up to me?”

  He wasn’t quite sure, but when the moment was right, he’d know. “You’ll just have to wait and see. Let’s go.”

  “Okay.”

  There was a rear restaurant exit and she followed him past the pantry where he’d kissed her earlier and the big industrial-size refrigerator and freezer. He opened the outside door and let her precede him, then closed and locked it after them. The area was illuminated by floodlights at the corners of the building.

  “That air feels so good,” she said, drawing in a deep breath. “So clean and clear and cold.”

  “How do you feel about a midnight walk in the moonlight?”

  Her blue eyes sparkled with merriment. “I feel like that’s a promising start to making things up to me.”

  The restaurant employees parked here in the back and since they were the last two to leave, Shane figured the only car in the lot, an older model compact, belonged to Gianna.

  He looked down at her. “You don’t come out here alone after your shift, do you?”

  “No. It usually works out that several of us leave together.”

  “Good.” But tonight he would make sure she was safe. “Are you okay with leaving your car here?”

  “Because someone might break in? I should be so lucky it would get stolen.” She laughed and the cheerful sound magnified in the still night.

  “Is it giving you trouble?”

  “Trouble is too nice a word for what it gives me. Every day I cross my fingers and say a little prayer that it will start and get me to work.”

  “If it ever doesn’t, let me know. I can’t afford to lose my best waitress.”

  “You might regret that offer,” she warned.

  They walked across the lot to the sidewalk that bordered an open grassy area. At least there used to be grass. He’d seen the green before winter rolled in and dumped a couple feet of snow. During the day the temperature was warm enough that the existing snow melted a little, wetting the walkway. The sun had gone down hours ago and it was freezing, making the sidewalk slippery. On top of that, a light snow had started to fall.

  “So much for walking in the moonlight,” she teased.

  “I’m trying to feel bad about that. But for a boy from Southern California, the excitement of snow still hasn’t worn off.”

  “All that sunshine and good weather must really get old.”

  “It’s a dirty job, but someone has to live there.”

  She laughed. “Still, there’s something to be said for Montana.”

  “Preaching to the choir, Gianna,” he said. “And it’s not just the landscape or weather. The people in this town are good, friendly, salt-of-the-earth types.”

  “I know what you mean.” Her tone was serious and sincere. “I met people in New York. Still have a good friend there who used to be my roommate. But the city is so big and impersonal. There’s an intimacy here that’s unique.”

  “Everyone has made me feel really welcome, embraced me as one of them.”

  “Thunder Canyon spirit,” she agreed. “But they can turn on you in a heartbeat if you let them down.”

  That’s what worried him. But it probably wouldn’t happen tonight. He made a deliberate decision to change the subject. “So, we had a pretty good crowd in the restaurant.”

  “We did.” She glanced up at him. “Were you mad enough to spit when that man sent his steak back twice because it wasn’t mooing on the plate?”

  He shrugged. “People pay a lot of money for service and food. It’s my job to make sure they’re satisfied.”

  “For every persnickety person, there’s a Ben Walters and Kay Bausch.”

  “I don’t think I know them.” When she slipped a little on the sidewalk, he took her hand and slid it through the bend of his elbow. It wasn’t an excuse to stay connected. Not really. He was responsible for keeping her safe.

  “Ben is in his mid-fifties, a rancher born and raised here. He’s a widower. Kay is a transplant from Midland, Texas. She works for Ethan Traub and came with him when he opened Traub Oil Montana. She’s a widow.” She sighed. “I was their waitress tonight.”

  “Nice people?”

  “Very. And the best part is they were on a blind date. Austin Anderson fixed them up.”

  “Angie’s brother?”

  “Yeah. It’s really sweet. And I can’t help wondering if the two of them were meant to meet and find a second chance at happiness. Romantic drivel, I know.”

  “Not here. To me it sounds like just another day in Thunder Canyon.”

  “On the surface that’s sort of a cynical remark,” she observed. “But digging deeper, I can see the compliment buried in the words.”

  They were walking by one of the resort’s Christmas displays with lighted reindeer and Santa Claus in his sleigh. Animal heads moved back and forth and Rudolph’s nose was bright red. The big guy with the white beard moved his hand in a wave. Old-fashioned, ornate streetlamps lined the walkways and the buildings were outlined with white
lights.

  “This is really a magical place, especially this time of year,” he said.

  “I know.” There was a wistful tone to her voice as she stared at the decorations. “What is Santa bringing you this year? A Rolls Royce? 3-D TV with state-of-the-art sound system? Really expensive toys?”

  Material things he had. And more money than he knew what to do with had paid for a private investigator to dig up information. But it was what money couldn’t buy that made him feel so empty.

  “I actually haven’t written my letter to Santa yet.”

  “I see.” She stared at the jolly fat man turning his head and waving. “Have you been naughty? Or nice?”

  “Good question.”

  The mischief in her eyes turned his thoughts to other things and he looked at her mouth. The memory of those full lips so soft and giving convinced him that this was the right moment to make it up to her for not taking advantage of the romantic mojo on his balcony.

  Shane lowered his head for a kiss, just the barest touch. He tasted strawberry lip gloss and snowflakes, the sexiest combination he could imagine. And he could imagine quite a bit. His heart rate kicked up and his breathing went right along with it. Gianna’s did, too, judging by the white clouds billowing between them.

  No part of their bodies were touching and she must have found that as dissatisfying as he did. She lifted her arms and put them around his neck, but when she moved, her foot slid on the sidewalk and she started to fall.

  Shane shifted to catch her but couldn’t get traction on the icy surface and knew both of them were going down. He managed to shift his body and take the brunt of the fall on his back in the snow while Gianna landed on top of him with a startled squeal. Then she started laughing.

  He looked into her face so close to his and said, “That couldn’t have gone better if I’d planned it.” If he had, he’d have planned to be somewhere warm and for her not to have so many clothes on.

  “So, you think it will be that easy to have your way with me?”

  “A guy can hope.”

  Apparently the innocent expression he put on his face wasn’t convincing because she chose that moment to rub a handful of snow over his cheeks.

  He sucked in a breath. “God, that’s cold.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Clearly it was a lie because she did it again.

  “Payback isn’t pretty.” He reached out to grab some snow, then lifted the collar of her coat to shove it down her back.

  She shrieked again, then gave him a look. “You’re so going down for that.”

  “I’m already down.”

  “Then we need to take this battle to a new level.” She jumped up and staggered back a few feet, then bent down. When she straightened, she hurled a snowball with each hand, but missed him.

  Shane rolled to the side and grabbed her legs, tackling her. “I learned to do that when I played football.”

  He looked down at her laughing face and thoughts of war and retaliation retreated. She was so beautiful he couldn’t stop himself from touching his mouth to hers. Definitely going on Santa’s naughty list this year.

  He deepened the kiss and caught her moan of pleasure in his mouth as she slid her arms around his neck. They were already down so he didn’t have to worry about losing his balance this time. That was fortunate because she felt so good in his arms, he had his doubts about maintaining emotional equilibrium.

  He cupped her cold cheek in his palm and traced the outline of her lips with his tongue. She opened her mouth, inviting him inside, and he instantly complied. The touch sent liquid heat rolling through him and he groaned with the need to feel her bare skin next to his. The sensual haze lasted just until he felt her shiver.

  He lifted his head and saw her shaking. “You’re freezing.”

  “N-not yet. But c-close.”

  Shane levered himself up and to his feet, then reached a hand down to help her stand. In the streetlamp he could see that her coat and pants were wet. “You’re soaked.”

  Her teeth were chattering, but she managed to say, “Th-thanks for the news flash.”

  “You need to get into something dry.”

  “I need to go h-home.”

  “My place is closer.” The next words just popped out, but as soon as they did he knew how much he wanted it. “You could stay tonight.”

  “Oh, Shane—”

  “Just a thought. No harm, no foul.”

  “I’d really like to.” There was need in her eyes, but it was quickly followed by doubt. “But...”

  There always was, he thought.

  “I have an early day tomorrow,” she said. “It’s probably best if I go home. Rain check?”

  “You got it.” He’d never meant a promise more. “Now let’s get you back to your car.”

  He hurried her to the parking lot and took her keys when her hand was shaking too badly to fit it in the lock. When she was in the driver’s seat, she managed to get the key in the ignition and turn it. There was a clicking noise but the engine didn’t turn over.

  Shane met her gaze. “Did you forget to say your prayer this morning?”

  “That’s not the problem. This clunker is officially beyond the power of prayer. It’s dead.”

  Chapter Four

  Trouble wasn’t a four-letter word but it should be when talking about her car, Gianna thought. On top of that, she was freezing. Rolling around in the snow with Shane had seemed like a good idea at the time, but not so much now.

  He leaned into the open door and met her gaze. “I think the battery’s dead.”

  “Of course it is because that’s just how I roll—or in this case, don’t roll. And dead is good.”

  “How do you figure?”

  “It won’t feel a thing when I beat it with a baseball bat.”

  “That won’t help the situation.”

  “Says who? Hitting something would make me feel a lot better.” She got out of the car, shivering when the cold air wrapped around her, then dug in her purse for her cell. “It’s late. There’s no way I can deal with this now. No garage will be open, so I’ll call a cab to take me home.”

  He put a hand on her arm. “Not while I’m around.”

  “I don’t want to inconvenience you.”

  If she’d taken him up on the offer to spend the night it would be very convenient, but she was pretty sure sleeping wasn’t on his mind when he’d offered. It’s not that she wasn’t interested in sex, but this was too soon.

  “I’m happy to help you out, Gianna. And I won’t take no for an answer.” He plucked his cell phone from the case on his belt, pushed some buttons and hit Send. A moment later he said, “Rob? Shane Roarke. Can you do me a favor? Bring my car down to the restaurant, the parking lot out back.” Rob said something that made Shane grin. “Yes, a very nice Christmas bonus. Happy holidays.” He put the phone back in the case. “The car will be here in a few minutes.”

  Gianna stared at him. “It must be amazing to be you.”

  “And who am I?” The words were meant to be glib and lighthearted but a slight tension in his voice made him sound a little lost.

  Shane Roarke, celebrity chef and wealthy eligible bachelor? Lost? That was just nuts. She must have hit her head when they were wrestling in the snow. Or her brain was frozen. He was rich, famous, handsome. Women threw themselves at him. If this was a dream, she didn’t want to wake up. And he was driving her home.

  To her minuscule apartment ab
ove Real Vintage Cowboy. Yikes.

  After seeing his place she was a little embarrassed to bring him inside hers. But that was just silly. After he pulled into the parking lot behind the store she’d just hop out and say thanks. There was no reason for him to know that her apartment was so small she could stand in the living room with a feather duster, turn once in a circle, and the place would be clean.

  Headlights rounded the corner of the building then slowly moved closer to them, finally stopping. A young man got out of the BMW SUV. “Here you go, Mr. Roarke.”

  “Thanks, Rob. Can I give you a lift back to the lobby?”

  “No, thanks. The fresh air feels good, clears my head. That will help me stay awake and it’s a long night ahead.”

  “Okay. Thanks again.”

  “Have a nice evening.” He lifted his hand in a wave, then headed back the way he’d come.

  “And just what is Rob’s job title?”

  “Concierge.” He walked her to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. “One advantage of condo living is around-the-clock service.”

  “Does Rob’s skill set lean toward replacing a dead car battery?” she wondered out loud.

  “If you were one of my neighbors it would be his job to figure out how to do that.”

  “Rich people really are different.”

  He closed her door, walked around the front of the car and passed through the headlights, then slid in on the driver’s side. “Where to?”

  “Real Vintage Cowboy. It’s on Main Street near the Wander-On Inn and Second Chances Thrift Store.”

  “I’ve been there. Isn’t it closed this time of night?” He glanced over at her, questions and something else swirling in his eyes before he put the car in gear and drove out of the parking lot.

  “My apartment is above the store. So you’ve been there?”

  “Yes.” Again his voice was tense. “I actually went shopping there. And for the record, rich people aren’t different. I put my pants on one leg at a time.”