The Holiday Gift. RaeAnne Thayne

       Chapter Three

      As he drove up to the Star N ranch house four days after the auction, Chase couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so on edge. He wasn’t nervous—or at least he would never admit to it. He was just unsettled.

      So many things seemed to hinge on this night. How was he supposed to make Faith ever view him as more than just her neighbor and best friend? She had to see him for himself, a man who had spent nearly half his life waiting for her.

      He didn’t like the way that made him sound weak, like some kind of mongrel hanging on the fringes of her life, content for whatever scraps she threw out the kitchen door at him. It hadn’t been like that. He had genuinely tried to put his unrequited feelings behind him after she and Travis got married. For the most part, he had succeeded.

      He had dated a great deal and had genuinely liked several of the women he dated. In the beginning, he had liked Cindy, too. She had been funny and smart and beautiful. He was a man and had been flattered—and susceptible—when she aggressively pursued him.

      When she told him she was pregnant, he decided marrying her and making a home for their child was the right thing to do. He really had tried to make their marriage work but he and Cindy were a horrible mismatch from the beginning. He could see now that they would never have suited each other, even if that little dusty corner of his heart hadn’t belonged to the wife of another man.

      “This is going to be so fun,” Addie declared beside him. She was just about dancing out of her seat belt with excitement. “Seems like it’s been forever since I’ve had a chance to hang out with Louisa and Olivia. It’s going to be awesome.”

      The plan for the evening had changed at the last minute, Faith had told him in a quick, rather awkward conversation earlier that day. Celeste and Flynn decided to move their movie party to the Star N ranch house and the three girls were going to stay overnight after the movie.

      If Lou and Olivia were as excited as Addie, Celeste and Mary were in for a night full of giggling girls.

      His daughter let out a little shriek when he pulled up and turned off the engine.

      “This is going to be so fun!” she repeated.

      He had to smile as he climbed out and walked around to open the door. He never got tired of seeing the joy his daughter found in the simple things in life.

      “Hand me your suitcase.”

      “Here. You don’t have to carry everything, though. I can take the rest.”

      After pulling her suitcase from behind the seat, she hopped out with her pillow and sleeping bag.

      “Careful. It’s icy,” he said as they headed up the sidewalk to the sprawling ranch house.

      She sent him an appraising look as they reached the front door. “You look really good, Dad,” she declared. “Like, Nick Jonas good.”

      “That’s quite a compliment.” Or it would be if he had more than the vaguest idea who Nick Jonas was.

      “It’s true. I bet you’ll be the hottest guy at the party, especially since everyone else will be a bunch of married old dudes, right?”

      He wasn’t sure about that. Justin Hartford was a famous—though retired—movie star and Seth Dalton had once been quite a lady’s man in these parts.

      “You’re sweet, kiddo,” he said, kissing the top of her head that smelled like grape-scented shampoo.

      Man, he loved this kid and missed her like crazy when she was staying with her mother.

      “Doesn’t their house look pretty?” she said cheerfully as she rang the doorbell.

      The Star N ranch house was ablaze with multicolored Christmas lights around the windows and along the roofline, and their Christmas tree glowed merrily in the front bay window.

      It was warm and welcoming against the cold, starry night.

      The first year after Travis died, Faith had refused to hang any outside Christmas lights on the house and had only had a Christmas tree because Chase had decorated her Christmas tree with the kids and Aunt Mary. Faith hadn’t been up to it and had claimed ranch business elsewhere while they did it.

      Last year, he and Rafe had hung the outside Christmas lights.

      This year, Faith herself had hung the lights, with Barrett and Lou helping her.

      He wanted to think there was some symbolism in that, one more example that she was moving forward with her life.

      Addie was about to ring the doorbell again when it suddenly opened. Faith’s aunt stood on the other side and at the sight of him, Mary gave a low, appreciative whistle that made him feel extremely self-conscious.

      “I should yell at you for ringing the doorbell when I’ve told you a hundred times you’re family, but you look so good, I was about to ask Miss Addie what handsome stranger brought her to our door.”

      His daughter giggled and kissed the wrinkled cheek Mary offered. “Hi, Aunt Mary. It’s just my dad. But I told him on the way that he looked super hot. For an old guy, anyway.”

      He felt hot in his suit and tie, but probably not the way she meant. Mary grinned. “You’re absolutely right,” she said. “Nice to see you dressed up for once.”

      “Thanks,” he answered.

      Before he could say more, Louisa burst into the room and started dancing around Addie. “You’re here! You’re here! I’ve been dying to see you and do more than just talk on the phone and text and stuff. It feels like forever since you’ve been here.”

      The girls hugged as if they had been separated for months.

      “Need me to carry your stuff to your room?” he asked.

      “It’s just a suitcase and sleeping bag, Dad. I think we can handle it.”

      “Let’s hurry, before Barrett finds out you’re here and starts bugging us,” Louisa said.

      Poor Barrett, who until recently had been completely outnumbered by all the women in his life. At least now he had a couple of uncles and an honorary cousin in Rafe’s nephew, Joey.

      “Faith only came in from the barn about half an hour ago so she’s still getting ready,” Mary said, her plump features tight with disapproval for a moment before she wiped the expression away and gave him a smile instead. “I heard the shower turn off a few minutes ago so it shouldn’t be long now.”

      He tried not to picture Faith climbing out of the shower, all creamy skin with her tight, slender body covered in water droplets. Once the image bloomed there, it was tough to get it out of his head again to focus on anything else.

      “It’s fine,” he answered. “We’ve got plenty of time.”

      “You’re too patient,” Mary said. Her voice had an unusually barbed tone to it that made him think she wasn’t necessarily talking about him waiting for Faith to get dressed for their night out.

      “Maybe I just don’t want to make anybody feel rushed,” he answered carefully—also talking about more than just that evening.

      Mary sniffed. “That’s