Read Online Home For Christmas (A Copper Mountain Christmas) by Melissa Mcclone - Free Book Online Page A

napkin on her lap. "No."
    His question made her uncomfortable. That intrigued him. "There's got to be more than to it than no."
    Rachel shrugged. "My hours make dating anyone not in the food service industry difficult. Even then it's hard with a brother watching out for you, even from Montana. But I've gone out with a couple guys. The most recent was a sous chef."
    "I bet you made beautiful meals together."
    She half-laughed. "We did, until he met the restaurant owner's daughter and the two eloped to Laughlin, Nevada. He now has his own café."
    "Financed by his father-in-law."
    She nodded. "He wasn't stupid. I'm not, either. I turned down a job offer to work for him. But please don't tell Ty. He thinks I'm too young to date let alone have a serious relationship with yet another loser. His words, not mine, though he's been right."
    "You're his younger sister. He feels protective."
    She ate a bit of her bread then wiped her mouth. "I know, but not talking about dating makes things easier for both of us. He threatened to send me to a convent when I was seventeen."
    Nate leaned forward, interested to hear the story behind that. "What'd you do?"
    She straightened. Frowned. "What makes you think I did anything?"
    "A convent isn't your typical boarding school for problem teens."
    "Okay," she relented. "It wasn't that big a deal. I sneaked out on a few dates with a wrangler who worked with Ty at a guest ranch in Wickenburg."
    "How old was this cowboy?"
    Her cheeks reddened. "Nineteen. Maybe twenty."
    Nate whistled. "Is the cowboy still able to walk?"
    She nodded. "Ty punched him after he found out we kept dating after he told us to stop. I didn't feel too bad about that after I found out the guy had been cheating on me the entire time."
    "Your brother must've had his hands full with you."
    "Sometimes." She ran her finger along the stem of her wine glass. "But I was pretty good considering…"
    Considering the way she lost her parents so young, she must've been a near angel. Some kids would have fallen apart. But she and Ty had gotten stronger. Another reason Nate admired them.
    Another reason not to piss off his friend.
    Nate took a sip of beer. He needed to write those words on a napkin or his hand.
    She stared into her wine glass. "I tease Ty that he doesn't want me to get serious because he's terrified at having to wear a tuxedo and walk me down the aisle"
    "Most cowboys don't like to dress up like a penguin."
    She looked up at Nate. "What about you?"
    "I don't mind, but I'm more a rancher than a cowboy. I own a tux from my VC days. But Marietta doesn't have many black tie events. A wedding every once in a while."
    Rachel leaned forward. "Ever have a wedding at the ranch?"
    "No. Someone mentioned it once. Just never happened."
    A wistful expression crossed her face. "The Bar V5 would be a perfect location for a wedding. I've seen pictures of it during summer."
    "Maybe if we put up a big tent on the lawn."
    Her mouth gaped. "Or the great room for a small ceremony in winter. The ranch is beautiful with all the snow. You should stay open all year."
    "The horses need a rest after a long summer."
    "Do you need to use the horses in the winter? There are lots of other activities in the area. Skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice climbing…"
    "For someone new to the state, you know a lot about Montana."
    "Ty's been playing tour guide."
    Doing his part as Nate was doing his. "I've thought about staying open during the winter months. But what we're doing works for now."
    "And gives you the time to help strangers make money instead of making it yourself."
    An odd mixture of caution and curiosity laced her words, not quite a flashing red light, but she was still wary. He would have to work harder to gain her trust. "You're family. And I like helping others make money. Most people wouldn't consider that a vice."
    "I don't," she admitted. "Not when I'm the lucky recipient."
    "You worked hard to get all those business owners to say yes. Luck