style="font-size:15px;"> Although Trey was only visiting from Thunder Canyon, his family had lived in Rust Creek Falls for a number of years while he was growing up. His best friend during that time was Derek Dalton, who had two older brothers, Eli and Jonah, and two younger sisters, twins Kristen and Kayla.
Trey remembered Kayla as a pretty girl with a quiet demeanor and a shy smile, but she’d grown up—and then some. She was no longer a pretty girl, but a beautiful woman with long, silky brown hair, sparkling blue eyes and distinctly feminine curves. Looking at her now, he couldn’t help but notice the lean, shapely legs showcased by the short hem of her blue sundress, the tiny waist encircled by a narrow belt, the sweetly rounded breasts hugged by the bodice...and his mouth actually went dry.
She was stunning, sexy and incredibly tempting. Unfortunately, she was still his friend’s little sister, which meant that she was off-limits to him.
But apparently, Kayla was unaware of that fact, because after hovering on the other side of the wooden dance floor that had been erected in the park for the occasion, she set down her cup of punch and made her way around the perimeter of the crowd.
She had a purposeful stride—and surprisingly long legs for such a little thing—and he enjoyed watching her move. He was pleased when she came to a stop beside him, looking up at him with determination and just a little bit of trepidation glinting in her beautiful blue eyes.
“Hello, Trey.”
He inclined his head in acknowledgment of her greeting. “Kayla.”
For some reason, his use of her name seemed to take her aback. “How did you know it was me?”
“I haven’t been gone from Rust Creek Falls that long,” he chided gently.
Soft pink color filled her cheeks. “I meant—how did you know I was Kayla and not Kristen?”
“I’m not sure,” he admitted. But the truth was, he’d never had any trouble telling his friend’s twin sisters apart. Although identical in appearance, their personalities were completely different, and he’d always had a soft spot for the shyer twin.
Thankfully, she didn’t press for more of an explanation, turning her attention back to the dance floor instead. “They look good together, don’t they?”
He followed her gaze to the bride and groom, nodded.
They chatted a little bit more about the wedding and various other things. A couple of older women circulated through the crowd, carrying cups of wedding punch to distribute to the guests. The beverage was refreshingly cold, so he lifted a couple of cups from the tray and handed one to Kayla.
When they finished their drinks and set the empty cups aside, he turned to her and asked, “Would you like to dance?”
She seemed surprised by the question and hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yes, I would.”
Of course, that was the moment the tempo of the music changed from a quick, boot-stomping tune to a soft, seductive melody. Then Kayla stepped into his arms, and the intoxicating effect of her soft curves against him shot through his veins like the most potent whiskey.
A strand of her hair had come loose from the fancy twist at the back of her head and it fluttered in the breeze, tickling his throat. The scent of her skin teased his nostrils, stirring his blood and clouding his brain. He tried to think logically about the situation—just because she was an attractive woman and he was attracted didn’t mean he had to act on the feeling. But damn, it was hard to remember all the reasons why he needed to resist when she fit so perfectly against him.
As the song began to wind down, he guided her to the edge of the dance floor, then through the crowd of people mingling, until they were in the shadows of the pavilion.
“I thought, for a moment, you were going to drag me all the way to your room at the boarding house,” Kayla teased.
The idea was more than a little tempting. “I might have,” he said. “If I thought you would let me.”
She held his gaze for a long minute then nodded slowly. “I would let you.”
The promise in her eyes echoed her words. Still, he hesitated, because this was Kayla—Derek’s sister—and she was off-limits. But she was so tempting and pretty, and with her chin tipped up, he could see the reflection of the stars in her eyes. Dazzling. Seductive. Irresistible.
He gave in to the desire churning through him and lowered his head to kiss her.
And she kissed him back.
As her lips moved beneath his, she swayed into him. The soft press of her sweet body set his own on fire. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. She met the searching thrust of his tongue with her own, not just responding to his demands but making her own. Apparently, sweet, shy Kayla Dalton wasn’t as sweet and shy as he’d always believed—a stunning realization that further fanned the flames of his desire.
He wanted her—desperately and immediately. And the way she was molded to him, he would bet the ranch that she wanted him, too. A suspicion that was further confirmed when he started to ease his mouth away and she whimpered a soft protest, pressing closer.
“Maybe we should continue this somewhere a little more private,” he suggested.
“More private sounds good,” she agreed without hesitation.
He took her hand, linking their fingers together, and led her away.
Kayla walked out of the specialty bath shop with another bag to add to the half dozen she already carried and a feeling of satisfaction. It was only the first of December, and she was almost finished with her Christmas shopping. She’d definitely earned a hot chocolate.
Making her way toward the center court of the mall, she passed a long line of children and toddlers impatiently tugging on the hands of parents and grandparents, along with babies sleeping in carriers or snuggled in loving arms. At the end of the line was their destination: Santa.
She paused to watch as a new mom and dad approached the jolly man in the red suit, sitting on opposite sides of him after gently setting their sleeping baby girl—probably not more than a few months old—in his arms. Then the baby opened her eyes, took one look at the stranger and let out an earsplitting scream of disapproval.
While the parents fussed, trying to calm their infant daughter so the impatient photographer could snap a “First Christmas with Santa” picture, Kayla was suddenly struck by the realization that she might be doing the same thing next Christmas.
Except that there wouldn’t be a daddy in her picture, an extra set of hands to help console their unhappy baby. Kayla was on her own. Unmarried. Alone. A soon-to-be single mother who was absolutely terrified about that fact.
She’d always been logical and levelheaded, not the type of woman who acted impulsively or recklessly. Not until the Fourth of July, when she’d accepted Trey’s invitation to go back to his room. One cup of wedding punch had helped rekindle her schoolgirl fantasies about the man who had been her brother’s best friend. Then one dance had led to
