Page 15 of Roaring Fork Rockstar (Roaring Fork Ranch #3)

KELTIE

I peered through the curtains, watching Holt and Ben Rice still talking by the SUV in the driveway. Their breath formed clouds in the cold air, their conversation clearly serious from the way they stood—faces close, shoulders tense. My stomach twisted with dread. What was Ben saying?

Without my own transportation, there was no escape from the confrontation I feared was coming.

I let the curtain fall into place and turned to find Luna playing with the twins on the rug near the Christmas tree, lost in a world of stuffed animals and imagination.

She was so happy here, surrounded by warmth and acceptance.

The thought of dragging her away because of my past mistakes felt cruel.

The front door opened, bringing a rush of cold air and the sound of boots stomping snow onto the mat. I steeled myself, my shoulders tensing as Holt walked in. When his eyes found mine across the room, I braced for the accusation, the confusion, the hurt.

Instead, his expression was the same as it had been all day—warm, tender, with that hint of something deeper that made my heart race despite everything. It made no sense. Had Ben not explained, after all?

“Who’s ready to go sledding?” Holt called out, rubbing his gloved hands together. His enthusiasm seemed genuine, not forced.

A chorus of excited responses erupted from around the room. The twins squealed and clapped their hands while Buckaroo jumped up and down, tugging on TJ’s sleeve.

“I wanna go! I wanna go!” Luna exclaimed, racing over to me. “Can we, Mommy? Please?”

Flynn appeared before I could respond, smiling down at my daughter. “Come with me, sweetie. I think I have a snowsuit that should fit you perfectly. We keep extras for when friends visit.”

Luna looked up at me, her eyes wide with hope. “Mommy?”

“Go ahead,” I relented, unable to deny her this simple joy despite my inner turmoil. “Just be careful, okay?”

As everyone scattered to change into the appropriate winter gear, I approached Holt, trying to keep my voice steady. “Luna and I should probably head home soon. I can call someone to come get us.”

Holt’s arm slipped around my shoulders, pulling me against his side with a casual intimacy that left me breathless. “A little unicorn told me that you told Flynn you’d stay longer.” His voice was low, meant only for me. “You’re not running away, are you?”

“I know we need to talk.” I swallowed hard, looking up at him. “You must have questions.”

Before I could say more, he pressed his lips to mine, silencing my words with a kiss so tender it made my knees weak. When he pulled away, his blue eyes held mine with unwavering certainty.

“Later,” he said simply.

I stared at him, stunned by the fact that he’d kissed me when anyone could have walked in and seen us. Yet he’d done it anyway.

What exactly had Ben told him? My history with CB Rice? The timing of my departure coinciding with my pregnancy? A chill ran through me at the possibilities.

Flynn’s voice broke through my thoughts as she returned with Luna, who was bundled head to toe in a pink-and-purple snowsuit, her cheeks already flushed with excitement.

“Look, Mommy! I’m a snow princess!” Luna twirled, nearly losing her balance in the bulky outfit.

“You sure are, baby,” I said, forcing a smile despite the storm of emotions churning inside me.

Flynn held out a bundle of winter clothes. “I brought these for you, Keltie. They should fit. Can’t have you miss out on all the fun.”

“Thank you,” I said, taking the offered items, a strange sense of inevitability settling over me.

“I guess I should put this stuff on,” I said to Holt, clutching the winter gear in front of me like a shield.

He surprised me a second time when he cupped my cheek. “Listen, I get why you didn’t say anything. I was confused at first, but I’m not anymore.”

I felt sick. Did that mean he’d figured out the one thing I didn’t want him to?

“Keltie, look at me.”

I raised my chin and met his gaze.

“Remi Gilbert is an asshole. I know it, you probably know it, and even Ben knows it. Let’s not waste the rest of what’s been a pretty spectacular day, thinking about someone who isn’t worth our time or energy.”

“Okay,” I murmured, biting my lip. “But you should know that Luna’s never done this before. I’m not sure she should be out in the cold for too long, with everything…”

“Looking pretty stylish there, Luna,” Holt said, walking over to her and tugging a knit cap over her curls.

Her giggles sounded like music to me. “It’s so fluffy. I can hardly move my arms!”

“That’s the idea.” He winked. “The snow monsters can’t get you if you’re all puffy.”

“Snow monsters?” she gasped, her eyes wide.

“Oh yeah,” he said seriously. “But don’t worry. They only eat grown-ups. Kids are completely safe.”

When she rolled her eyes at him, I couldn’t contain my smile.

Once we were outside, Holt pointed to the run Buck had set up on the slope that led from the main house down toward the horse barn. The path looked gentle enough, and he’d strategically placed hay bales to prevent any wayward sledders from careening off course.

“ Unca Holt!” Buckaroo called, waving frantically from where he stood with TJ. “We go fast!”

“Hang on, buddy. I promised Luna the first run.” Holt knelt down beside her, pointing to where Irish was getting the twins settled onto a sled.

“See? It’s not too steep. And your mommy and I will be right there with you the whole time.”

“Promise?” she asked, looking up at me, her small face so serious it nearly broke my heart.

“Promise.” I held out my pinky finger, and she wrapped hers around it solemnly.

“First run’s with all three of us,” said Holt, grabbing one of the larger sleds. “That way, I can show you all my expert sledding techniques.”

Luna giggled, and we followed him up to the top of the rise, where Cord was helping Juni position herself on another sled.

“Expert, huh?” Cord smirked. “Should I tell them about the time you sledded straight into the manure pile?”

“That was strategic,” he countered, arranging the sled. “I was doing important scientific research.”

“On what? How bad you’d smell?”

Luna laughed so hard she snorted, which only made everyone chuckle more.

Holt settled onto the sled and patted the space in front of him. “Hop on, Keltie and Luna. Your chariot awaits.”

After I seated myself with my back against Holt’s front, my daughter climbed on slowly, her small body tense with anticipation. Holt’s arms were long enough to wrap one securely around both of us while he held the sled’s rope with his other hand.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yes!” Luna shouted with glee.

“Okay, on three. One… two… three !”

We pushed off and went sliding down the hill, gathering speed. Luna squealed with delight, her hands gripping my arm that was also around her middle. The cold air whipped past us, snow spraying up from the runners of the sled.

“Wee!” Luna cried, her voice carried away by the wind and our momentum.

At the bottom of the hill, we glided to a gentle stop, well short of the hay bales. Luna immediately twisted around to look at us, her face bright with joy.

“Can we go again?”

I glanced over my shoulder at Holt, whose smile was as big as hers.

“I’m in,” he announced.

“How about I let you two go on your own this time?”

Luna clapped her hands. “Then, we’ll go even faster!”

“Remember that Holt promised to take Buckaroo too,” I reminded her.

Luna looked from me to him. “It’s okay if you want to take him first, Mr. Holt,” she said, blinking her eyes quickly as though she was fending off tears.

“Nope. It’s you and me, kiddo. We’ll go as many times as you want. Or, err, as many times as your mommy will let us.”

The hillside transformed into a symphony of laughter and shouts over the course of the next hour. While Luna went on rides with nearly everyone, it was Holt she kept begging for “just one more.” With every successful run, her body relaxed and her trust in him built.

The wind picked up as the afternoon wore on, bringing with it heavier snow. I’d gone on a couple of runs on my own, crashed both times, then called it a day. After that, I stood and watched my daughter, my initial worry giving way to enjoyment as I watched her uninhibited excitement.

“I think it’s time to head in,” TJ called after a particularly strong gust sent snow swirling around us. “Hot chocolate for everyone who’s frozen!”

Luna pouted but didn’t argue when I suggested we follow the others inside. I looked around for Holt and saw he was helping Cord gather the sleds.

“Your girl’s got spirit,” Buck commented, walking inside with us. “Way more energy than Buckaroo, and he’s a handful on a slow day.”

I ruffled Luna’s hair when she pulled off her cap once we were inside. “I’ll admit she’s pretty special,” I said, smiling for the millionth time in the last hour.

Buck grinned in my direction. “Holt thinks both of you are, seems like.”

“Well, we think he’s pretty awesome too, don’t we, Luna-bug?”

“He’s the awesomest ever,” she said before looking in the direction of the boys, who were back to playing with Christmas toys.

“Go ahead,” I said, giving her a gentle push.

I laughed when she raced off.

“I better get dinner started,” Flynn said on her way into the kitchen.

“I’ll help,” offered Juni.

“Me too,” said Sam.

“I think you should all relax and let me do it,” I offered. “I haven’t helped at all.”

“Tell you what; you can make the salad.”

“I’m in,” I responded, walking over to the sink to wash my hands. When I turned around, I caught Flynn wiping away a tear. She was facing away from the others, so I doubt they’d noticed. “You okay?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Oh, I’m fine. Everything makes me emotional these days.”

I raised a brow, and she put one finger in front of her lips. “I’m still in my first trimester, so we aren’t saying anything yet,” she whispered.

“My lips are sealed,” I whispered like she had.

“Oh, yeah? Keepin’ secrets?” said Holt, who I hadn’t heard walk up behind me. I immediately tensed as guilt flooded me at his implication. Then I felt his arm snake around my waist and his warm breath near my ear. “I’m teasing, Keltie. That was more for Flynn than for you.”

I nodded once, but the guilt didn’t dissipate. “I’m, uh, supposed to be making the salad.”

“I’ll help,” he offered.

Flynn pointed a knife in his direction. “You can mash the potatoes.”

“See how mean she gets when she’s pregnant?” he whispered quietly enough that only his sister and I heard him.

Flynn shook her head. “I swear the man is clairvoyant.”

Before I could say anything else, Luna appeared in the doorway, rubbing her eyes with one hand while clutching Bunny with the other.

“Mommy?” she called sleepily. “When are we going on the sleigh rides?”

Flynn smiled. “Soon, sweetheart.”

Luna’s face brightened, and her fatigue dissipated. “Can we eat now ?”

“No, honey,” I said quickly. “But if you help us, I bet we can eat sooner.”

“Over here, unicorn gal,” said Flynn, pulling a stool up to the counter for her. She grabbed dough from the refrigerator and plastic cookie cutters that she set in front of her. “These will be for dessert,” she explained. “Christmas trees and stars.”

As I watched Luna press the cutters into the dough, her tongue poking out in concentration, I realized that, for today at least, we belonged here—in this kitchen, in this home, with this family, and with the man currently smashing potatoes like his life depended on it.

Sometimes, family wasn’t what you were born into, but what you found along the way. As Luna giggled at Flynn’s stories about her brothers as children, I touched the pendant at my throat and let myself believe that, for right now, perhaps we’d found ours.