Page 31 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

“Course not.” He hurried forward to grab the mounting stool. “Let me help you put things away, then maybe we can go see if the kitten hunt was successful.”

Sasha laughed softly as she headed down the hall. “Sometimes you’re just as big of a kid as Tyler, Dad.”

“We should never outgrow kittens,” Caleb told her.

“Truth.” Tools put away, she tucked her fingers into his. “Let’s go get cuddles.”

The nights were still cool enough that the regular evening gatherings at High Water were held inside around the massive fireplace in the main ranch house.

Only one ranch hand was on site at the moment—an older man named Simon who hadn’t said much but nodded his approval when Logan threw a one-handed bowline knot to tie off a horse in a hurry.

Tonight, though, Simon had decided to join Kevin and Edison at the pool table in the game room for the evening, but the rest of the High Water family were cozied up together around the flickering flames.

It was one of Logan’s favourite times of day for so many reasons. He’d grown to care for all the families who called High Water home. All three of the Skye brothers were men Logan looked up to. Their wives were powerhouses in their own rights and treated him somewhere between a stray puppy—that from Sydney—and a little brother figure.

And then there was Jinx.

The first face he’d seen when he’d been certain he was dead, yet she’d proven over the past year that she was not the angel he’d first imagined.

She was so much better. She was real. She was fire and ice.

He was in so much trouble when it came to thinking about her. He only hoped he’d managed to keep his obsession hidden, because the last thing he’d ever want to do was hurt her.

When Jinx sighed heavily and began pulling apart her project for the third time that night, Logan knew something was wrong.

Obsession meant he knew all her tells.

He wasn’t about to grill her or put her on the spot, though. She’d hate it as much as he would have. But somehow, he was going to find out what was bugging her.

If it was trouble from that asshole Jason, Logan was more than willing to track the kid down and teach him some manners. Jason was eighteen now, and Logan was only twenty. More than close enough to be a nice friendly conversation.

Although it was true Sasha Stone was a damn good bodyguard when necessary. And Jinx herself—while she might not like confrontations, it had been good to see her grow stronger and stronger during the time Logan had been at High Water to witness it.

Logan’s thoughts were interrupted by movement from the love seat.

“We’re off.” Declan pulled Sydney to her feet. “Syd’s got that conference in Calgary tomorrow, and I’m going along for the drive. We won’t see you in the morning.”

“Or for dinner.” Sydney turned quickly to Declan. “Don’t ask any questions. Just smile and pretend you know what’s going on.”

“Don’t know what’s going on, but fine.” Declan offered the room a ghastly grin. “See you when we see you.”

Jake snorted. “God, that’s the scariest face I’ve seen since that horror movie with the clown.”

From her position on the couch, Tansy threw a handful of popcorn at him. “No mentioning scary clowns. Good grief, I’d like to sleep sometime in the next month.”

“Sorry,” Jake offered, but his smile remained.

“Good night from me as well.” Petra stood, her hand instantly covering the swell of her belly. “I’m trying to store up as much rest and relaxation at this point in the game as possible.” She glanced at Jinx. “Don’t stay up too late, okay?”

“Need to clean this up,” Jinx said. She dumped the mess on the floor and rose to sneak a hug. “Night, Mom.”

“Night, sweetie.” Petra’s grin was as wide as Jinx’s as she left the room.

In short order, the rest of them gathered their things and headed off.

“Make sure you close the flue on the fire,” Jake reminded Logan.

“Yes, sir.”