“A Stetson!” Nicole put it on her head, laughing with joy. “I love it! How did you know my size?”
“You have other hats,” he said.
She tipped the brim back and got up to kiss him.
“You looked so damn cute in mine, I had to get you one that fit. You can wear it when you come visit me in Colorado.”
“Yes! When exactly?”
Her arms were around him. She nuzzled the side of his neck. It took him a little while to answer.
“Ah—after New Year’s. And by the way, we are going to whoop it up in Times Square, right?”
“Absolutely. My first time.”
“How about that,” Sam started to say. He was interrupted by a flurry of kisses from Nicole that took his breath away.
“Whew. Wow. Okay,” he said. “While I’m on a roll... I do have another present for you.”
Nicole was still giddy. She didn’t take off the hat. “Okay.” Her eyes were brighter than he’d ever seen them.
Sam brought out the little shopping bag, but he covered the logo with his hand. “I hope you don’t mind. It’s kind of small.”
“Don’t be silly.”
He pulled out the pale blue box with the white ribbon. Nicole drew in a breath.
Sam went down on one knee before he handed her the box. “I know it’s too soon. This is just my way of saying, um, thank you for the best damn Christmas a man ever had, and, um, I love you, and we can probably figure out the rest in about a year.”
She squeaked.
“Here. You have to undo the bow,” he said.
She did.
The velvet box opened without a sound. A pretty little marquise diamond on a plain band shone forth, nestled in white silk.
Nicole gasped. Sam took the ring out of the box and slipped it on her left hand. “Looks good. What do you think?”
She threw her arms around him. Sam stood up without letting her go. He whirled her around. “Be mine, city girl. What do you say?”
“Yes!”
If you liked this Janet Dailey book, try some of her other novels available from Zebra!
To Santa With Love
Sometimes You Don’t Know What You Need . . .
The holidays are coming... and free-spirited Jacquie Grey plans to head west and start a whole new life. Her solo road trip is going great—until she collides with rancher Choya Barnett in Arizona. Good thing that no one’s hurt. But she can’t afford to fix her car until he proposes hiring her to take care of his little boy and his house. Too bad it’s only temporary—the tall, handsome Choya is serious temptation . . .
. . . Until You Find It
Jacquie and Choya begin an unlikely friendship, fueled by a fierce, unspoken attraction and a desire to find something real they can each hold onto. Before they know it, Christmas and all its joys are around the corner—along with the wonderful gift of lasting love...
Santa in a Stetson
Stars In Her Eyes
Though Diana Palmer left the bright lights of the big city behind for New Mexico, she misses the excitement now that Christmas is coming. But she’s about to find out the joys of the season are just as big in the Land of Enchantment... and just as romantic. They do things differently, though—the rancher at her door with a fresh pine tree slung over his shoulder arrives unannounced and she can’t help but invite him in for a cup of cocoa. Tall, sexy, and single, Lije Masters is all man... and all she ever wanted for a Christmas as warm and happy as two hearts can make it...
Searching for Santa
The Best Time Of The Year
Casey Gilmore is determined to make this particular Christmas merry and bright... somehow. First things first. Her dad has to come home—and Flint McAllister has to leave. Having him take over the Anchor Bar was never her idea. Thrown by a horse, on the injured list for months, her dad insisted that Flint manage the family ranch, and Casey had to give in. But from the very first day, she let Flint know that anything he could do, she could do better. Then he decided to charm her right out of her cowboy boots and love her up and—wow, he was good at it. But Casey can’t give in and let him win just because she’s feeling sentimental about the holidays. . .
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Copyright© 2012 by Janet Dailey
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ISBN: 978-1-4201-2835-2