Christmas in Pine Ridge: Clean Contemporary Romance (A Pine Ridge Romance) Read online

  She pursed her lips, shaking her wavy brown hair. “Owen, I swear, if you don’t start giving better details, I’m gonna whip your backside.”

  He smiled at the empty threat and sat where she patted the bed beside her. “Now tell me all about it,” she said, wiggling back into the pillows before wrinkling her nose. “But first, maybe you’d better take a quick shower.” She waved a hand in front her face. “You smell like snowmobile exhaust.”

  He laughed and stood from the bed, heading toward the bathroom. “I think you missed your calling in the military. You’d give my drill instructor a run for his money, issuing orders the way you do.”

  She tossed a pillow at him. “Don’t get mouthy, young man. Run along and clean up so I can hear about your date.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He saluted and then dodged another pillow, grinning. “But target practice—that’s another story.”

  She shook her head, fighting a smile as she picked up her magazine again, mumbling something about “disrespect.”

  Owen stepped into the oversized suite bathroom, his heart feeling lighter than it had in months. He took a warm shower, sighing as the water chased away the last of the ride’s chill. A hot shower was something he’d learned to appreciate after Afghanistan. The people there had so little, that even indoor plumbing was a blessing he’d learned not to take for granted.

  He smiled, remembering when their platoon had finally gotten camp set up with warm water. He’d been so excited to take a shower after weeks of sponge bathing, and then Eli had dumped a bucket of cold water on him right in the middle of it. He was always pulling pranks, but it kept things fun. He had a way of lightening even the darkest of situations with his dry humor and terrible jokes. Owen thought of the countless hours Eli talked his ear off about his girlfriend, Ava. They had planned to be married as soon as he got home.

  Owen swallowed. He shut the water off and pressed his eyes shut, wishing he could block out the memory of Ava’s face when he’d visited her after returning home. He’d offered his condolences to her and to Eli’s family, sharing his memories of his friend and doing his best to comfort them. But deep down, the experience had only added to his guilt. It should have been Eli coming home to his family and girlfriend. Not Owen.

  He grabbed a towel and dried off his face. Being with Hope had made him forget the past. She was like a drug that took away the pain so he could enjoy life again—but drugs were dangerous. And so were his feelings for Hope. She would only be in his life for a few more days, and then what? The need for her would still be there, but she would be gone. All that would be left were Hope withdrawals. And he didn’t need to add that to his list of emotional issues.

  He picked up his phone from the counter, his heart protesting as he sent her a text before he could talk himself out of it.

  Something’s come up and I won’t be able to make it to your class tonight. I’m sorry, I really hope it goes well.

  Her reply came a few seconds later. That’s ok. Do you still want to meet for hot chocolate later? The raspberry flavor is calling my name.

  He hesitated. He’d forgotten they’d talked about getting cocoa later. He warred within himself. His head told him he should find an excuse to back out of it, but his traitorous heart had other ideas. They were only meeting for hot chocolate, where was the harm in that? He typed out a quick reply before his head could argue the rationalization.

  Yes, what time do you want to meet?

  How about 8:30 at the café?

  I’ll be there.

  He set the phone down, feeling lighter as he got dressed. His mom was waiting, and she wouldn’t rest until he gave her a more satisfying recount of the date.

  He went back into the bedroom, where she was watching a Christmas special on a home shopping channel. He eyed the china doll on the screen and pointed a finger at her. “Don’t even think about it.”

  She bit her lip, looking past him to the screen. “But wouldn’t it be a nice Christmas gift for Aunt Claire?”

  He folded his arms. “With the amount of wrestling that happens in that house? That thing wouldn’t last five seconds.” His Aunt Claire lived in Montana on the dude ranch and she and his uncle had four rowdy boys. A china doll wouldn’t stand a chance.

  Beverly tapped a finger to her chin. “I guess you’re right. I’ll have to find something more durable.” She gave a regretful sigh and grabbed the remote, turning off the TV. “So now that you’re all fresh and clean, let’s hear it. And then we’d better get ready for class.”

  He shifted, not meeting her eyes. “I’m not planning on going to class tonight.”

  Her face fell. “Why not? Did something happen on the snowmobile ride?”

  “No. The ride was great.” He shrugged and sat on the end of the bed. “It went really well, in fact. But I don’t want to smother her. And now that she has some security to watch over her, one class a day is enough.”

  “But her yoga classes are the whole reason we’re here this week,” she protested.

  “I know, and I fully support you if you want to go to all of them, but one class a day is enough for me.”

  She twisted her mouth, considering the information. “You don’t really like yoga, do you?”

  He hesitated, knowing it was no use trying to hide anything from her. She would see right through it anyway. “It has its merits,” he hedged.

  “But?” she pressed.

  He blew out a breath. “But you know I have a hard time sitting still. And that’s pretty much what the whole class is about.”

  She leaned back and nodded. “Which is exactly why you need it, Owen. You can’t live your life full throttle the way you have these past few months; you’ll run yourself into the ground. You need to learn how to be comfortable in the stillness.”

  He held back an eye roll. “Okay. I’ll try. But for now, one class a day, alright? I don’t want to come on too strong with Hope.” And I don’t want my heart to get any more involved than it already is, he added silently.

  She chewed her bottom lip and finally nodded. “Fine. But I expect you to actually relax during meditation instead of fidgeting like you’ve been doing.”

  He raised his eyebrows, lifting his hands in protest. “I don’t fidget.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Owen Marshall Davis, you just promise me you’ll give meditation a try. It takes practice, but you’ll get used to it.”

  He sighed. “Fine. I promise.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled. “Did you talk to Hope about ...” She paused, seeming to search for the right words. “Your time in the military yet?”

  He frowned, knowing she referred to the PTSD. “No. Like I said, I don’t want to come on too strong. She doesn’t need to know my whole history right off the bat.”

  She lifted a shoulder. “Maybe not, but consider opening up to her sometime. That girl is wise beyond her years. It’s the reason why her show is so popular.”

  That’s not the only reason. There was something about Hope that was magnetic. He’d never met anyone like her. She was bright and friendly, yet there was a constant peace about her. Suddenly he was curious about her show. She would be filming soon, and he had the urge to go and watch, but he didn’t want to intrude. He was already more invested than he dared admit. He thought back to how it felt to hold her in his arms. To kiss her. His heart pumped at the memory. He raked a hand through his hair and cleared his throat.

  “What do you think about getting dinner in town?” he asked, desperate for a distraction.

  “That sounds wonderful.” She sat up on the bed. “Let me throw on a nicer outfit and we’ll be on our way.”

  “Sounds good.” He waited until she went into the bathroom before pulling up Hope’s website. His heart hammered as soon as he saw her picture. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. Who was he kidding? Mistake or no, he was a total goner when it came to this girl.

  Chapter 15

  “And that’s a wrap.” Emily turned off the camera and smi
led at Hope. “Your ratings are going to skyrocket after these holiday episodes. That snowy background is perfection.”

  Hope stood from her yoga mat and stretched her arms as she gazed at the snow falling outside of the exercise room, her thoughts turning to Owen. “It is gorgeous, isn’t it? I’m a beach girl at heart, but I sure love this snow.”

  “Especially when there’s someone to keep you warm,” Emily said, waggling her eyebrows.

  Hope lifted a shoulder and blushed. She’d told Emily about kissing Owen. “Especially then. Which is why I’m so glad it worked out for Max to come.” She winked at her sister.

  “I love having him here,” Emily said. “And he needed the break from a case he’s been working on, so it’s perfect timing.” She placed her camera in the camera bag. “Want to join us for dinner?”

  Hope smiled. “Sure. And then I’ll get ready for my evening class.”

  Emily stood, lifting the camera bag onto her shoulder. “Why do you think Owen bailed?”

  Hope’s heart pinched. She’d wondered the same thing, but she didn’t want to read too much into it. She shrugged. “Two yoga classes a day is a lot. I don’t expect him to come to all of them—he is on vacation, after all.”

  Emily frowned. “I guess so. But it makes me feel better knowing he’s there when Kurt is around.”

  Hope shook her head. “Kurt won’t be a problem. And Phil will be standing outside during all of my scheduled classes, remember?”

  Emily shifted. “Phil’s great, but he doesn’t make me feel as reassured as Owen does, if you know what I mean. I’ve never seen a guy with muscles like that in real life.”

  Hope snorted. “Don’t let Max hear you say that.”

  “Max would agree with me.”

  Hope laughed, but her heart thrilled, remembering the warmth of Owen’s strong arms around her. He made her feel safe and protected, like nothing bad could happen to her while he was around.

  They headed toward the café, talking about the channel as they made their way to meet Max for a quick bite to eat. Once they arrived, Max greeted Emily with a kiss and smiled at Hope as they took their seats.

  After they’d placed their orders, Emily sat up straight. Hope recognized the posture. It meant she was moving into business mode. “This would be a good time to talk about the future of the show,” Emily said, looking between them. “I told Max about the job in Cancun, and we both think it sounds like an amazing opportunity.”

  “Great!” Hope brightened. She didn’t want to sway Emily one way or the other, but she really loved to travel and wanted to take advantage of filming in new locations.

  “And I definitely plan to join you for that one too,” Max said, raising both eyebrows for emphasis.

  Hope grinned. “Of course. We should hire you to be a part of the team as our legal consultant.”

  Emily and Max laughed at her teasing. Max was a successful lawyer and didn’t need another job on top of his already demanding schedule.

  Hope turned to Emily. “Do you think you’ll be up to it, though?” She glanced at Emily’s cute baby bump. “I don’t want to put you under any additional strain.”

  Emily nodded. “That’s mainly what I wanted to talk to you about. As of now, I think I’ll be able to go, but pregnancy is so unpredictable.” She took a sip of water, not meeting Hope’s eyes. “Max and I think it would be a good move to start looking for another person to do the filming—as a backup plan.”

  Hope blinked. “Oh … okay.” She hadn’t expected this and tried to mask her surprise.

  Emily leaned forward. “We’ll need someone when I have the baby anyway, so it might be wise to start looking now. That way if I’m not up to Cancun or other work trips, you won’t have to panic.”

  Hope nodded, not liking the idea of working with anyone else besides Emily. They worked so well together, and Emily was a pro at videography and marketing. But her sister’s family, health, and well-being came first, no question. “That sounds like a smart plan,” she agreed.

  Emily’s face relaxed. “Super. I’ll set up an online application and we can begin interviews after this week.” She settled back into her seat with a sigh. Max put his hand over hers in a gesture of support.

  Hope noticed the exchange with a twinge of guilt. She hadn’t realized until now how stressful this must have been for her. Emily was confident and capable—always taking things in stride and acting the part of sister and mom since their mom’s passing. Hope should have seen the signs and suggested it sooner.

  She cleared her throat. “Em, I’m sorry if I’ve put too much on you.” Emily began to protest, but Hope held up her hand. “Just know that I’m here for you one hundred percent. You matter more to me than any ratings or success ever could.”

  Emily swallowed hard and managed a smile. “Thanks, that’s really sweet. But I’ve never felt that you were trying to take advantage of me.”

  Hope’s shoulders relaxed. “I’m glad ... because Max would sue me if I did.” She threw him a playful wink, and they all laughed before she straightened again. “Seriously though, if you decide after having the baby that you’re not interested in being a part of the show anymore, I’ll completely understand. I’d miss you, but I want you to know you can be open with me about anything. We’re sisters first, business partners second.”

  Emily’s eyes softened and she touched Hope’s shoulder. “That means a lot. I promise to be honest with you.”

  “Even if you’re afraid I might not like it?”

  Emily huffed a laugh. “Even then.” She met Hope’s eyes. “But I’m always going to look out for you. That’s what big sisters are for.”

  Hope nodded. “I know you’ve got my back. And I’ve got yours.”

  Max cleared his throat. “That’s real touching.” He pretended to flick away a tear. “And now that we’ve had our Hallmark moment, here comes the food.”

  They laughed and exclaimed over the food before digging into their meals. Hope joined in the conversation, but a worry wiggled its way inside of her. It had started with Emily’s suggestion for hiring someone. She tried to pinpoint why it made her uncomfortable. It didn’t take much inward reflection before the answer presented itself: change.

  Hope didn’t like change. Her life had changed when her mom died. Her plans had changed when Nathan cheated on her. Her business was about to change when someone else took over filming. And her heart would change in a few days when she left Colorado and wouldn’t see Owen again. She took a drink of water to force down the lump forming in her throat.

  No, change was definitely not a good thing.

  Chapter 16

  Hope switched off the lights to the exercise room with a satisfied smile. It was her first time teaching a hot yoga class, and it had gone well. But she needed to take a quick shower before meeting Owen. Now that she was dripping with sweat, she wasn’t in the mood for hot chocolate, but she couldn’t wait to see him. Maybe she’d opt for ice cream instead.

  She stepped out into the hallway, almost startled to see Phil standing there.

  He tipped his head. “Evening, Miss Sullivan. How was class?”

  She smiled. “Great. Thanks for standing watch again.”

  “My pleasure. Would you like me to see you to your room?”

  Hope hesitated. She didn’t want impose on him, but Kurt had been in class, eyeing her in his creepy way. Emily and Max had gone into town for dinner, and without Owen around she felt slightly vulnerable. “If you don’t mind, that would be great.”

  “Certainly.”

  They headed toward the elevators, the silence between them a little awkward at first, but she asked where he was from and the rest of the conversation flowed from there. By the time they reached her room, she felt like they were more than just mere acquaintances; they were friends. Which made the whole security-detail-thing easier to swallow.

  Phil stepped aside as they reached her door. “Can I be of service with anything else tonight?” His radio buzzed and he r
eached to turn down the volume.

  She shook her head. “Thanks, but I should be good from here.”

  “All right. I’ll be waiting outside your class tomorrow, and I think Nolan gave you my direct number if you need anything in the meantime?”

  “Yes, it’s in my phone. Thanks, Phil.”

  He nodded and walked away, answering his radio as he went. Hope stepped into her room. Now that Max was here, he and Emily shared a room on the next floor down, so she had the suite all to herself. She missed Emily’s company, but was glad she was able to spend some quality time with Max. She had a feeling once the baby came, that quality time would be harder to come by.

  Hope quickly showered and changed to get ready to meet Owen. The shower had put her a few minutes behind the time when she was supposed to meet him, so she scrambled for her purse and darted out the door.

  She half jogged down the hallway and was about to turn the corner to the elevator when Kurt stepped abruptly in her path, his thin lips forming a smile. “What a pleasant surprise. Is this your floor?”

  Hope’s stomach turned at the salacious look in his eyes. She stepped to move past him. “Excuse me, I’m late to meet Owen.”

  He stepped to the side, blocking her path as he grabbed her wrist. “I was surprised he wasn’t in class. What’s the matter? Trouble in paradise?”

  Hope gritted her teeth, her heart slamming against her rib cage. “Let go of me. Right. Now.”

  He frowned, his eyes hooded. “Why the rush? I wanted to talk to you for a few minutes—about yoga, of course.” He pulled her closer, his fingers digging into her wrist as she struggled against him.

  “I said, let me—”

  Before she could finish, the elevator behind them opened. Hope didn’t turn, using the distraction to yank her arm free from Kurt’s grip. His beady eyes widened a split second before Owen punched him square in the face. Hope gasped in surprise as Kurt dropped to the floor.