Santa In Montana (Calder Saga 11)

Cat paused in the doorway. “It’s nearly four o’clock, Dad. Time for us to join the party.”

He grumbled a non-response and lowered his hand as he let his gaze slice to her. “Why was Sloan in such a hurry?”

“She had to come back for Jake’s sandals,” Cat replied and took the first step toward the front entry. “I’ll go start the car while you get your coat on.”

She retrieved her own parka from its wall hook, dug out her leather gloves and slipped them on. As she dipped a hand back in the pocket for the car keys, Cat heard the clumping of Chase’s cane that said he was following her.

Keys in hand, she stepped outside and turned back to close the door behind her, breathing in the invigorating crispness of the late afternoon, glad to find that the temperature wasn’t brutally cold. As she crossed the columned veranda to the steps, she focused her attention on separating the ignition key from the others on the ring. It wasn’t until she reached the top of the steps that Cat noticed the man standing at the bottom of them.

“Wade—” She breathed his name in stunned surprise.

She didn’t even realize she dropped the keys until she heard the jangle of them hitting the steps. Before she could recover, Wade was bending to pick them up for her.

“Were you headed out to search for me?” The twinkle in his dark eyes was teasing. But Cat had a hard time seeing it; she was too absorbed by the caressing way his gaze moved over her face.

“Actually, I had decided you weren’t going to be able to make it today,” she admitted, still feeling a little breathless.

“I almost didn’t. It was one weather delay after another.” He offered the keys to her, coming up a step as she moved down. Rather than release the keys when her gloved fingers closed around them, Wade continued to hold them. “I guess that always happens when you’re eager to get somewhere.”

He came up one more step, and their faces were level with each other. Cat tipped her head fractionally in the age-old way that invited his kiss. He seemed about to comply when the front door opened behind Cat and the end of a cane stomped on the veranda’s wooden floor. Wade’s head lifted and Cat turned, frustrated by the sight of Chase.

“Wade. You’re here.” The words were barely out of his mouth when Chase shot her an impatient glance. “Why didn’t you tell me, Cat? You know I’ve been waiting for him.” He didn’t pause for a response. Instead, he opened the door and gestured to Wade with his cane. “Let’s go in the den and talk.”

“I’ll be right there,” Wade promised, then redirected his focus to Cat. “You aren’t leaving, are you?”

“I was on my way to the barn. Today’s the day for our employee Christmas party.”

“Oh.” A frown flickered across his face.

“You’re welcome to come,” Cat inserted quickly, then hesitated. “That’s if you can stay for it.”

“I can stay,” he assured her. “I was just thinking about the dinner plans we made.”

Cat was so relieved, she almost laughed out loud. “No one will mind if I slip out before the party’s over. Jessy and Trey are obligated to stay for the bulk of it. But Dad and I are free to leave anytime.”

“Then we still have a date.”

Cat allowed a wide smile to claim her mouth. “And I intend to see that you keep it.”

“You aren’t going to get any protest from me.” He darted a glance at the house. “I’d better not keep Chase waiting. See you later.”

As he moved around her and up the steps, Cat remembered. “Would you mind driving Dad down to the barn after you two finish talking?”

“Be glad to.” He sketched her a wave and slipped into the house.

In high spirits, Cat almost glided down the steps to the car. Suddenly everything seemed incredibly wonderful.

Chapter 9

After a search of Jake’s sock drawer failed to turn up his missing sandals, Sloan rummaged through the next drawer. She struck pay dirt in the bottom and last drawer, pulling out first one sandal from beneath a stack of clean pajamas and the second one that had been tucked deep in the corner.

The sandals weren’t the only items she discovered. The drawer was clearly where Jake stashed his “treasures,” everything from an old chipped arrowhead to an old Hot Wheels car. Privately Sloan wondered how she had missed discovering any of it before, then acknowledged that she hadn’t been looking for them—or even guessed that anything existed that Jake would feel the need to secret away. She smiled to herself, realizing she had learned another lesson in child-rearing.

With the drawer’s contents straightened and his other treasures returned to their hiding places, Sloan grabbed the sandals and stood up. As she left his bedroom, she reminded herself to thank Cat for the suggestion. She didn’t care to think about how much time she would have wasted searching other areas of his room before checking the chest of drawers.

She ran quickly and lightly down the steps, a smile of satisfaction curling her lips. As she swung around the newel post at the base of the staircase, she heard Chase’s voice coming from the den and realized that he and Cat hadn’t left for the party yet. She crossed directly to the open doorway.

“Hey, Cat, you were right.” She held out the sandals in triumph and opened her mouth to say more, but the sight of Wade Rogers seated in the wingbacked chair in front of the desk stopped any more words from coming out. Feeling both men’s gazes on her, Sloan forced an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I thought Cat was in here.”