A Very Crimson Christmas (Crimson, Colorado 4) Read online

  That was old news. He’d moved on, made a success of his life and had returned to Crimson able to hold his head high. He wasn’t the rich-boy goof-off so many people had thought. Now the town was courting him. Whether he ended up moving his company here didn’t even matter, not to him. What counted was that finally he was wanted in this small corner of the world.

  He knew the moment Natalie realized that it was him and not Jase picking up her and Austin for the day. Her body went rigid. Even under her thick parka and ski pants he could see the tension. Austin waved and threw a handful of snow into the air. The kid’s innocent excitement made Liam smile, despite Natalie’s obvious reaction.

  He lowered the window on the passenger side as he pulled to a stop in front of them. “Are you two ready to go?”

  “I can’t wait.” Austin opened the back door and jumped into the car. “How fast do the snowmobiles go? Can I drive? We won’t roll over, right?”

  Liam tipped his head to the backseat. “As fast as your mom thinks is safe. No, you can’t drive, and no one is going to roll today.”

  Natalie came closer but didn’t open the door. “Where’s Jase? I thought he was picking us up and we were meeting you at the trailhead.”

  “He called his morning,” Liam answered. He threw the car into Park and walked around the front of it to where she stood. “Some last-minute deposition he had to take for a trial that starts next week.”

  Her eyes narrowed and he raised his palms. “I swear, Nat. Do you want to call him?”

  “I believe you,” she muttered under her breath. “I’m not so sure about Jase’s story. Maybe we should reschedule for a time he can go, too.”

  “Do you think he’s trying to push us together?” He felt a smile curve the corner of his mouth. “Like he’s setting us up or something.”

  She shook her head. “No. I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. Nothing is going to happen between us.”

  “Right,” Liam agreed although the hammering of his heart as he looked at her told a different story. He tried, once again, to ignore his body’s reaction to her. Today she wore a dark purple parka and a fleece cap. As forecasted, it had snowed overnight, and she looked especially bright and beautiful against the backdrop of the crisp white mountain shadowing the farm. “If you want to cancel today, you’re going to have one disappointed kid on your hands.”

  Her eyes flicked to Austin in the backseat.

  “Come on, Mom. Get in,” her son called.

  “He’s so excited.”

  “It’ll be fun, Nat. I promise.”

  She bit down on her lip as if considering her options, and Liam held his breath.

  “Fine. Fun,” she said after a moment.

  Trying not to look relieved, he opened the SUV’s door for her, then climbed back in and started the drive up Crimson Mountain.

  Chapter Six

  Natalie’s stomach dipped and swayed as Liam drove the winding road up the mountain. Although snow blanketed the valley below and the branches of the pine trees in the surrounding forest, the road was clear and dry for most of the ride. The snowplow drivers were out early in Crimson, and she was used to winter driving.

  Her butterflies had more to do with the man sitting next to her, his arm resting casually on the console between them. His olive-colored down jacket made his eyes look more intense than normal. To Natalie, Liam had always been the perfect combination of rugged good looks and polished sophistication that came from his fancy upbringing. Not much had changed in ten years.

  He turned onto one of the forest service roads, and a sign announced they’d be at the River Run Sports Park in two miles. It was a slow drive. Natalie tried to keep her attention focused on the scenery and not Liam’s strong fingers gripping the steering wheel. Even so, she felt her skin grow warm as he absently rubbed the back of his neck.

  He flashed a grin as she adjusted the temperature on her side of the SUV. “Too warm?” he asked.

  “Just fine,” she answered and tucked her hands under her legs on the leather seat.

  Austin chattered from the backseat, peppering Liam with detailed questions about the machines he’d rented. Her son had an engineer’s brain from the time he said his first words, and she was surprised Liam could answer the nine-year-old’s array of questions easily and with so much patience.

  The mountain sports outfitter’s cabin came into view a few minutes later. Liam parked and Austin bolted from the car to where two shiny snowmobiles were parked nearby. A burly man came out of the building to greet them. “I’ve got your machines all ready, Mr. Donovan.”

  “Thanks,” Liam said, looking almost embarrassed at the deference the older man showed him. “Call me Liam. I appreciate you taking care of everything.”

  “You bet.” The man stuck out his hand and Liam shook it. “I’m Mark Wright, the owner here. I...uh...have been thinking of expanding the operation. If you like what you see today, maybe we can talk about an investment?”

  She saw Liam close his eyes for a moment and take a deep breath before answering. “Maybe. Either way, we’re looking forward to a day on the mountain.”

  “It’s a perfect one,” Mark agreed. He glanced at Natalie then back at Liam. “I thought Jase was coming out with you.”

  “He had to cancel. It’s just the three of us.”

  Mark raised his bushy brows at Natalie. “You know how to drive one of these things, honey?”

  Natalie’s nerves turned to temper in an instant. The guy was fawning all over Liam but barely made eye contact with her. “I’m not your ‘honey’ and I grew up in Crimson. I can handle a snowmobile.” She hoped that was the case, since she technically hadn’t been on one in years. She figured it must be like riding a bike.

  “Feisty,” Mark said with a nod in Liam’s direction. “I like it.”

  Natalie felt her mouth drop open. She narrowed her eyes at Liam.

  “Me, too,” he said to Mark, and she could tell it was a struggle for him to keep a straight face.

  “Which one of you is taking the boy?” Mark led them over to the snowmobiles.

  “Can I ride with you, Liam?” Austin asked, running his gloved hand along the side of the machine. “I know you’ll go faster than Mom.”

  “You don’t know anything of the sort,” Natalie said with a huff.

  “That’s true,” Liam agreed. “Your mother had quite the lead foot back in the day. How many speeding tickets did you get senior year, Nat?”

  She made a slicing gesture across her throat as Austin turned to her, his eyes wide with something that strangely looked like newfound respect. “You used to drive fast, Mom?” He grinned at her. “That’s kind of cool.”

  “It was a long time ago.” Natalie adjusted Austin’s fleece hat with its camo pattern. It seemed like not that long ago his favorite winter hat had Cookie Monster’s face on it. Time went by so quickly.

  “Can I ride with Liam?”

  She nodded. “If that’s okay with him.”

  “Does everyone have helmets?” Mark asked.

  Natalie started to shake her head, but Liam nodded. “Let me grab them from the car.”

  He was back a moment later, handing Natalie a deep maroon helmet and Austin one in hunter green. “These aren’t from Ruth’s,” she said as she put it on.

  “I had my assistant pick them up in Aspen. No big deal.”

  No big deal except the cost of the helmets and the price of renting snowmobiles for the day were luxuries Natalie could never afford on her own. There was so much she wanted to give her son that she couldn’t until she was financially stable. That seemed like a goal always just out of reach.

  “Ready?” Liam asked softly, pulling her from her unwelcome thoughts. His eyes were too gentle as he looked at her. She flipped on her goggles and nodded.

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p; Mark gave them instructions on the course. She climbed onto one of the machines and started the engine the way he showed her.

  “Hold on tight,” she heard Liam yell, and Austin grabbed on to him as if he trusted Liam implicitly. How she wished life was so simple for her.

  They took off toward the single track snaking into the forest. As she followed, all her worries and concerns melted away, drowned out by the loud hum of the snowmobile’s engine and the beauty of the pristine landscape.

  The trail was clearly marked and well groomed, but Natalie felt as if they’d entered a different world. Snow weighted the branches of the trees, forming a canopy over the trail. Sunlight filtered through, making patterns of light and shadow on all the white that surrounded them. It would have been peaceful other than the roar and vibration of the engine filling the otherwise quiet air. Adrenaline rushed through her as they zipped farther up the mountain. She relaxed as the mechanics of handling a snowmobile came back to her. She held back, then raced forward, testing her control of the machine.

  Liam held a steady speed and slowed on turns, which she knew was for her benefit. Occasionally their movements would loosen a chunk of snow from above and she’d be showered in sparkling crystal flakes. It was a dry snow at this time of year, light and fluffy—it felt as if she’d been dropped into a picture postcard.

  She trusted that Liam knew where he was going, trusted him more than she’d thought she would with Austin. As they entered a wide-open meadow he slowed, allowing her to come up next to him and giving her a thumbs-up sign as question. She glanced at Austin, gave a thumbs-up signal in return then gunned her engine, shooting off across the field of pristine snow. She loved the speed and the thrill of finally being able to outrun the stress of real life. Although she’d been reluctant to come on this outing, she realized how much both she and her son needed this day of fun.

  After almost an hour they came to a stop at the top of a rise. Natalie turned off her machine and loosened the helmet and goggles she wore.

  “Mom, that was awesome,” Austin yelled, his voice echoing in the sudden silence of the clearing.

  “It sure was,” she agreed, realizing she was smiling as broadly as her son.

  Liam pointed to a wooden table and bench that sat at the edge of hill, a path to them shoveled and lined with stones. “Anyone for a hot chocolate break?” He climbed off and took off a pack that had been strapped to the back of the machine.

  “Me!” Austin scrambled off the snowmobile. “Are there snacks, too?”

  “Chocolate-chip cookies from the bakery in town.”

  “Katie’s cookies?” Austin took the pack Liam handed him. “This is the best day ever. Right, Mom?”

  “You bet, buddy.” Her gaze crashed into Liam’s. “The best,” she whispered. And the fact that the best day she could remember in forever involved Liam rocked her to her core.

  * * *

  “You can drop us at home. This is too much.”

  “Mom, he’s got a hot tub.” Austin put special emphasis on the two words, as if the Holy Grail was waiting behind Liam’s front door.

  Liam pulled into the oversize garage at his house. He wasn’t sure why he’d offered pizza and the hot tub after they’d finished snowmobiling. Scratch that. He knew exactly why. Because he didn’t want the day to end. He wanted to keep Natalie with him as long as possible, clearly a glutton for punishment.

  As much fun as he’d had snowmobiling, it hadn’t been enough. Besides, something had happened when they’d stopped for hot chocolate. Natalie had taken off her helmet and for a moment he’d seen a glimpse of the girl he remembered, her smile brighter than the Colorado sun shining in the bluebird sky. It wasn’t the motherly and nurturing smile she gave to Austin or the compassionate one he’d seen her flash to the residents at the senior center.

  It had been full of so much pure joy, it had changed her. Shaken off the past decade, making her appear vibrant and alive in a way he wished he could bottle. She’d never been one for huge displays of emotion, which made the ones she did reveal so much better. The fact that something he’d arranged put that smile on her face made him feel as though he was the luckiest guy on the planet.

  Yet when she’d admitted that she was having a good time, the smile slipped and her walls had gone up again. The ones he didn’t quite understand. She was probably smart to keep a distance between them, but he still didn’t like it. There was so much of Natalie’s life that he wasn’t a part of. It was none of his business. But it didn’t stop him from wanting to know more.

  “You don’t have to stay late,” he told her as they climbed out of the car.

  “It’s the weekend, Mom.” Austin tugged on her arm as she held back. Liam opened the door to the house and they followed him through. “And Ms. Ruth and the other nurse are watching a movie. Live a little.”

  He walked past them both into the kitchen.

  “Did my kid just tell me to ‘live a little’?”

  “I’m sure he meant it in the most respectful way possible.”

  “I’m sure,” she agreed sarcastically.

  “This kitchen is huge,” Austin said as he circled around the large room. “You stay here by yourself?”

  For a moment, Liam saw the space through the boy’s eyes. The vaulted ceilings and enormous six-burner stove with the custom stainless range hood over it. The counters were polished marble and the floors a creamy travertine tile that contrasted with the rich cherry cabinets. It had been so long since Liam had even registered the places where he stayed when he traveled. Tanner booked everything, and his assistant’s taste was much finer than Liam’s.

  Now he wished he paid more attention to the house he’d rented outside of Crimson. It felt almost gaudy in comparison to the homeyness of the farmhouse. As if he was lording his wealth, which may have been his intention but seemed crass now that he saw how little Natalie and Austin had in their lives.

  He met Natalie’s gaze, took in the thin line of her mouth. “My assistant is here, too,” he offered, realizing he sounded lame. “He rented the place. I didn’t realize how big it was until I got here.”

  She crooked a brow and he took off his cap, tossing it on the counter and rubbing one hand through his hair. “I just meant it wasn’t exactly my idea.”

  “Is he blaming this monstrosity on me?” Tanner walked into the room, his attention focused on Austin. Liam stepped behind Natalie, waving his arms and shaking his head, trying to stop the overshare of information he knew was coming next. “My instructions were to find the biggest house on the mountain. He was going to show...” Tanner broke off as he turned to see Natalie. “To show his...uh...nanny that...um...all that time getting him to do his homework had paid off. That he was a success.”

  “The lesson,” Liam said quickly, moving in front of Natalie, “is that if you do your homework, good things will happen.”

  Tanner nodded, and Liam decided he might not kill the other man tonight.

  Austin looked between the two of them as if they were crazy. Liam felt crazy until Natalie laughed. Just a small sound, but it loosened the coils around his heart. Even if she was laughing at him, he’d take it.

  “I’m Natalie Holt,” she said, reaching out a hand to Tanner. “Ruth’s nurse.”

  “I know who you are, darlin’.” Tanner took her hand, lifting it to his lips.

  “Too thick,” Liam mumbled. “Laying it on too thick.”

  But Natalie laughed again. “The house is lovely. We’re happy to be here.”

  “You are?” Liam asked.

  Tanner shook his head. “Always the smooth operator with the ladies.”

  “Shut it, Tanner.”

  His assistant only smirked. “A couple quick real-life things to mention. One of the investors needs to move up the meeting to next week. You have about twenty messages waiti
ng from some of the other guys who’d planned to be there.”

  “Work it out,” he said.

  “Will do,” Tanner said with a nod. “The new tech guy fixed the bug with the app. It should be able to sync with no connection issues now.”

  Liam felt then saw Natalie take a step away. “You’re obviously busy here. We don’t need to take up any more of your time.”

  “Mom,” Austin whined.

  “It’s okay.” Liam threw a look to Tanner. “There’s nothing that needs my immediate attention, right?”

  “Right,” the other man agreed, seeming somewhat shocked. Liam didn’t blame him. He was kind of a micromanager, wanting to know every detail that involved his business. It might be part of the reason he’d been so successful, but now he realized it was mostly a result of not caring about anything else in his life.

  “I’m off the clock tonight,” he said.

  Tanner grinned in response. “It’s about damn time. Let’s get this party started.” He turned to the boy. “You must be Austin.”

  “How do you know my name?”

  “Liam pays me to know everything. I’m guessing that swimsuit you’re holding is for the hot tub?”

  “We ordered pizza, too,” Austin told him.

  “Extra cheese?”

  “And pepperoni,” Austin confirmed. “But no veggies.”

  “A boy after my own heart. Come with me and I’ll show you where to get changed.”

  Austin glanced at Natalie who nodded. “We’ll meet you there, bud.”

  “You’re getting in, too. Right, Mom? You brought your swimsuit.” Austin pointed to the bag she had slung over her shoulder.

  “Sure,” she whispered as color flooded her cheeks.

  “A hot tub party,” Tanner said with a grin. “I love it. About time Liam got a decent social life.”

  Liam rolled his eyes as Tanner left the room with the boy. Maybe he wouldn’t kill him, but could he get away with firing him?

  He turned to Natalie. “Do you want a glass of water or a beer or wine first?” Or a cold shower? Because the thought of seeing her in a bathing suit after all these years made him want to dive headfirst in a snowbank to regain control.