Page 7 of Roaring Fork Rockstar (Roaring Fork Ranch #3)

Luna gasped, her eyes growing impossibly wider. “Really? You saw Santa? ” She turned to her mother, bouncing in her seat. “Mommy, Santa knows I’m gonna be there!”

Keltie shot me a look that was half amusement, half exasperation. I mouthed “sorry” over Luna’s head, realizing I might have overstepped. But when she rolled her eyes and smiled, I knew we were okay.

“Can we go now?” Luna asked, already done with her pancakes. “Please, Mommy?”

“We need to go home and pack first,” Keltie said, then looked at me. “If you don’t mind giving us a ride afterward…”

“I’d be happy to,” I replied. “Just tell me when and where.”

Keltie wrote her address on a napkin and slid it across the table. “Give us about an hour?”

When the check came, I grabbed it before she could reach for it.

“Holt, you don’t have to?—”

“My treat,” I insisted, handing my card to Stacey, whose knowing grin made my cheeks flush. Yeah, I was smitten, and I knew damn well it was obvious.

As I was walking to my truck after finishing my breakfast, something in the window of the store on the opposite side of the toy shop caught my eye. I went in and made the purchase, but rather than having it wrapped, I decided this one I wanted to take care of myself.

I glanced at the address Keltie had given me, then up at one of my favorite houses in downtown Crested Butte. Situated a couple of blocks from the Goat, it was painted a deep-red color with white shutters and had a porch with a swing that, today, appeared buried in snow.

I pulled up in front, cut the engine, and when I jumped out, noticed a familiar figure walking down the street—Remi Gilbert, CB Rice’s manager. What was he doing here? He lived on the East Coast, as far as I knew, and I doubted Ben would’ve invited the guy to spend the holidays with his family.

Remi raised his head and waved, then walked in my direction. I met him halfway.

“Holt,” he said with genuine surprise in his voice. “What brings you into town?”

“Visiting a friend,” I replied vaguely. “You?”

“Same.” He shrugged.

An awkward silence stretched between us.

“Listen,” he finally said. “The band’s hit a snag with your replacement. Ben’s not happy with any of the candidates.”

I shifted uncomfortably. “Nothing’s changed, Remi.”

“This is career suicide,” he said, shaking his head. “You know that, right?”

“My hands are tied,” I said simply. “There’s nothing I can do.”

Remi studied me for a long moment. “Your call. Merry Christmas, man.”

“Merry Christmas,” I replied as he walked away.

I headed up the path to Keltie’s front door and knocked. When she answered, the warm welcome I’d expected was nowhere to be seen. Her face was tight and her body language closed off.

“Luna,” she called over her shoulder, her eyes never leaving mine. “Go upstairs and get Bunny. You don’t want to forget him.”

Once Luna’s footsteps faded, Keltie crossed her arms. “I think Christmas might be too much, after all.”

“What?” I took a step forward, confused by the sudden shift. “Luna was so excited at breakfast.”

“I decided it would be better if we stayed home.”

Something had changed in the short time since the diner. I replayed every moment of our breakfast, trying to identify what I might have done wrong.

“Keltie,” I said softly. “What’s going on? If I did something to upset you?—”

“I’m just worried about Luna.”

I shook my head. “Try again, darlin’. This isn’t worry. You’re not happy with me, and unless you tell me why, there’s nothin’ I can do to fix it. I’m not about to let Luna’s Christmas be ruined because I’m a jackass.”

She folded her arms, and her gaze flicked toward the street. “Who was that man you were talking to?”

“Remi? He’s CB Rice’s manager.”

“I guess you know him well since you’re in the band.”

There was something in her tone I couldn’t place—anger, certainly, but something deeper. Fear?

I sighed. “Yes, I was in the band, but I don’t know him well.”

“Was?”

“It’s a long story,” I said. “But they’re heading out on a world tour, and I won’t be going with them.”

Her eyes scrunched.

“I have, err, family obligations that prevent me from being gone that long.”

Before she could say anything else, Luna came bounding down the stairs, the well-loved stuffed rabbit she’d had at the hospital clutched in her arms.

“I’m ready!” she announced. “Is Santa waiting for us?”

I looked at Keltie, mouthing “Santa” with pleading eyes. Whatever had upset her, I didn’t want Luna to miss out because of it.

Keltie’s expression softened as she took in her daughter’s excitement. “All right.” She sighed. “We’ll go. But if you get another fever, we won’t be able to stay.” I caught her pained expression when the smile left Luna’s face.

“I understand,” the little girl said, looking down at the floor.

“Maybe I should drive. You know, in case something comes up.”

I shook my head. “If you need to come home, I’ll give you a lift.”

“If you’re sure…”

“Positive.”

We got Luna’s booster seat out of Keltie’s vehicle and were on our way to put it in my truck when I noticed her glancing in the direction Remi had gone.

The odd expression I’d caught earlier resurfaced.

There was a story there, but now wasn’t the time for me to ask what it was.

Knowing Remi, he’d frequented the Goat and was an asshole to her or her staff. That was the kind of guy he was.

Like my reasons for being unable to go out on tour, Keltie obviously had reasons for not liking a guy I didn’t much care for myself.

I felt a tug on my sleeve. “Mr. Wheaton? Are we gonna get in? It’s kinda cold out.”

“Yeah, sorry, sweetheart.” I opened the door, and after I attached the booster seat, she climbed into the cab.

When I turned to help Keltie in, she was standing close enough that if I leaned forward a little, I could kiss her. And why did that feel like the most natural thing in the world? Rather than resist, I brushed her cheek with my lips. “Merry Christmas, Keltie.”

“Merry Christmas, Holt,” she said with wide eyes when I stepped to the side to let her get in.