Elkin Brothers Christmas The Complete Series - Leslie North Page 0,73

was okay with it. She was probably just a body to him. Good enough for sex, but not good enough for anything else.

7

“I can’t believe you guys do this,” Anna murmured into Gabe’s ear as she leaned closer and snuggled next to him in the sleigh. It was drawn by a team of two white horses with bells on their harness, and they tinkled as they rode over the flat cross-country trails at the back of the resort. The trees to either side of them had been decorated with lanterns and silver bows. “I’ve never even seen a horse-drawn sleigh, much less ridden in one.”

Not in Nevada, anyway. There had been sleighs in Christmas parades, sure, but they’d moved on the back of parade floats or on wheels. She wondered how well a sleigh would run on desert sand, but suspected it would be difficult for the horses.

Gabe squeezed her hand, sending a delightful heat to warm her cheeks. When was she going to stop having such a crush on him? Probably not during this trip judging by the way things were going so far. Especially not with his family sitting in the front row and Gabe in performance mode. All the holiday cheer made the air almost sweet, and his grin made her want to snuggle closer, not put distance between them the way she should.

“Sleigh rides are a popular attraction with the guests.”

“I can see why. It’s almost magical.”

Gabe laughed.

His brother Jonas turned around from the front seat where he sat next to Elin, his gaze zeroing in on their closeness. “You two lovebirds enjoying yourselves?” There was an edge to his voice that his smile didn’t hide.

“Of course we are.” Anna smiled. She’d never give Jonas any reason to believe she wasn’t Gabe’s real fiancée. Any woman who wanted to marry Gabe would love the resort and everything they had to offer. Besides, the sleigh ride was so quintessentially Christmas that it would be tough not to enjoy it. “There’s something so romantic about a sleigh ride. Don’t you think?”

The horses pulled them around a bend and back into view of the lodge. Elin put a hand to her mouth. “I’ve lived here a long time, but the sight of that building at Christmastime is one of my favorites and never fails to disappoint.”

The lodge, all dark wood and glowing windows, was a festival of Christmas lights in matching gold tones that made the place look like it was gilded in the dusky evening. The last of the sunset bled from the sky in an orange and purple haze as they approached, and the sleigh driver reined the horses to a stop out front. Gabe climbed out first, Jonas following close behind. Both men helped the women down from the sleigh.

His gloved hand felt big and powerful on hers, and he gave it a gentle squeeze as she stepped down. A smile played over Gabe’s face, warm and intimate. Is he acting?

“I’m glad you got to come on a sleigh ride with us,” he said. “Maybe one day—”

And then a snowball hit Gabe in the side of the head. His eyes went wide and he turned and ducked, scooping snow from the ground as Elin took Jonas’s arm and headed toward the lodge, laughing as she went. Tana and her daughter Lindsey had launched the attack and Chase was backing them up.

A snowball fight.

Another first. Anna had never been in a snowball fight before, and the snow seemed unwieldy in her hands. She got one ball together and launched it at Chase, who neatly ducked out of the way. Everyone was having fun, their voices echoing high in the clear night.

Jonas came back out of the lodge at a run, scooped up some snow, and made a snowball without stopping. He aimed at her, but Gabe stepped in front, flinging out his arms to save her from the hit.

Game on.

It didn’t take long, however, for Anna to notice the cold seeping through her gloves. They were meant more for sleigh rides than skiing. The chill spread to her body and her teeth started to chatter.

Gabe was the first to notice. “Time out,” he yelled, his voice louder than all the other noise. “Anna’s cold.” He put a hand to the side of her face and looked down into her eyes. “Let’s get you inside.”

“No,” she protested. “I’m good to keep going.”

“You’ll freeze out here.” Gabe slipped an arm around her waist and hustled them both toward the