Page 8 of Roaring Fork Rockstar (Roaring Fork Ranch #3)

KELTIE

M y mind raced as I stared at the truck I was leaving parked in front of my house. The kiss Holt had placed on my cheek still burned there, but that wasn’t what had unsettled me.

Remi Gilbert. In Crested Butte. Five years after he’d dismissed me from his life as if my unborn baby and I were nothing.

I’d never expected to see him here, of all places.

The last I knew, he had apartments in both London and Manhattan, orchestrating CB Rice’s rise to international fame from one of his penthouse offices.

I hadn’t kept tabs on him—actively avoided any news about him, in fact—but his sudden appearance in this small mountain town couldn’t be a coincidence.

My stomach knotted. What if he saw Luna? Would he even recognize his own daughter? Would he care? The man who’d flatly stated, “ It isn’t mine,” when I told him I was pregnant had no right to her now, but the fear of him somehow entering our lives sent ice through my veins.

“You okay?” Holt’s words pulled me from my thoughts.

I nodded, unable to trust my voice. Luna was buckled safely in her seat, humming while clutching Bunny to her chest.

As we drove out of town, I caught Holt glancing at me, concern etched on his face. Something about him unnerved me in a completely different way than Remi did. He seemed to read me too easily, as if we’d known each other for years instead of weeks.

“Luna, have you ever been on a ranch before?” Holt asked, his eyes finding her in the rearview mirror.

“Nope!” she replied, bouncing in her seat. “Do you have horses?”

“We sure do. And cows, too.”

“Can I see them?”

“Absolutely,” Holt promised. “When the weather warms up, I’ll show you everything—if it’s okay with your mama.”

His easy way with Luna only deepened my confusion.

After Remi, I’d sworn off anyone connected to the music industry.

In my experience, they were all players and narcissists who focused only on themselves.

But Holt seemed genuinely caring, almost protective of us both, which made no sense. We were practically strangers.

Yet I couldn’t deny the pull between us—the way my body responded when he was near, the relief I’d felt when he appeared at the hospital. None of it made sense. Especially the comfort I’d felt when he held me in his arms after I’d broken down in the parking lot.

I took a deep breath, deciding not to spoil Christmas by overthinking everything. Luna deserved this day, this experience. She’d been through enough already without my paranoia casting a shadow over it.

I consciously relaxed my shoulders and loosened my grip on the door handle.

Holt smiled.

“What?” I asked.

“That’s better,” he replied, eyes back on the road.

Of course he’d noticed. The man didn’t miss a thing.

The Roaring Fork Ranch sprawled across the valley, the main house rising from the snow like something from a movie.

The large, rustic log structure with a wraparound porch gleamed with the Christmas lights strung along every eave.

Smoke curled from multiple chimneys, and several vehicles were already parked in the circular drive.

“Wow,” Luna whispered from her booster seat.

“Home sweet home,” Holt said with an edge to his voice that made me wonder.

He parked beside a silver SUV and turned off the engine. “Ready?”

Luna was already unbuckling her seat belt. “I am!”

The front door swung open before we reached it, and Holt’s sister, Flynn, stepped out. Her smile warm and welcoming despite the cold.

“I remember you from the other night,” I replied, gazing into blue eyes like her brother’s. “This is Luna.”

Flynn knelt down to her level. “Hello, there! We’re so excited you came to spend Christmas with us. There are some other kids inside, who can’t wait to meet you.”

Luna beamed, her shyness forgotten in the face of Flynn’s warmth.

The interior of the ranch house was even more impressive than the exterior—soaring ceilings with exposed beams, a massive stone fireplace, and tasteful, comfortable furniture that looked both expensive and lived-in.

A towering Christmas tree dominated one corner of the great room, surrounded by so many wrapped gifts that I wondered if they’d bought out every store in the state.

Sam and Juni emerged from the kitchen together.

“Keltie! You made it!” Sam hurried over, embracing me like we were old friends rather than newly discovered cousins.

Juni gave me a quick hug. “I’m so glad you could come. We’ve heard so much about Luna.”

“You have?” I asked, surprised.

Sam’s eyes twinkled. “Holt may have mentioned her once or twice.”

I felt a blush creep up my neck and busied myself unwinding Luna’s scarf.

TJ approached, carrying a toddler on her hip. “Great to see you again, Keltie. This little monster is Buckaroo.”

The boy waved shyly at Luna, his chubby fingers wiggling. “Hi,” he said, his face partially hidden against his mother’s shoulder.

“Paxon and Rooker are excited to have another playmate,” TJ said, nodding toward the twins. “They’ve been jabbering about ‘new friend’ all morning.”

“Welcome to the madhouse,” Irish, Flynn’s husband, said with a grin from the living room, where he was supervising the twins.

Within minutes, Luna was on the floor with the other children, showing Buckaroo her beloved Bunny while the twins watched with fascination. Paxon—or maybe it was Rooker—reached out to touch Bunny’s ear, and Luna gently showed him how to pet the stuffed animal “nice and soft.”

“That didn’t take long,” Sam laughed, watching them interact.

“She doesn’t get much time with other kids,” I admitted. “I work a lot.”

Flynn linked her arm through mine. “Well, she’s in heaven now. Would you like some hot chocolate? I just made a fresh batch. You have the option of the adult version or the kid friendly one.”

“Adult version, please.”

As we moved toward the kitchen, I glanced at Luna, feeling the familiar pang of guilt that came with being a single parent and knowing she’d never have siblings of her own.

As an only child myself, I’d always dreamed of having more than one, of giving my children the big family I never had.

I hadn’t planned on having Luna when I did—hadn’t planned on doing it alone—but I wouldn’t change it for anything. She was my entire world.

The kitchen was as impressive as the rest of the house—a chef’s dream, with gleaming appliances and enough counter space to prepare a feast. Flynn ladled rich hot chocolate into mugs while Sam added whipped cream, along with a shot of butterscotch schnapps.

“Luna’s adorable,” Flynn said, handing me a mug. “She looks like you.”

“That’s what everyone says,” I replied, though I knew if anyone saw her with Remi, they’d notice she also looked like him.

Through the open doorway, I could see Holt in the great room, down on all fours, giving the twins “horseback” rides while Luna and Buckaroo waited their turns, clapping and giggling.

Something in my chest tightened while watching him.

He was so at ease with the children, so naturally playful and gentle.

A man like that—a cowboy through and through, but also a gentleman who clearly cared deeply about family—was exactly the kind of man I’d once dreamed of marrying. The kind of man who’d make a wonderful father.

“He’s good with kids, isn’t he?” Sam’s voice came from beside me, startling me from my thoughts.

I took a sip of chocolate to hide my embarrassment at being caught staring.

“Just so you know,” Sam said quietly, leaning closer. “When you’re not looking, he watches you the same way.”

I nearly choked on my drink. “We barely know each other.”

Sam shrugged. “Sometimes, that doesn’t matter.”

Before I could respond, Buck entered, stomping snow from his boots. “Sorry I’m late,” he said. “Had to finish up some work.”

“Buck!” Flynn exclaimed. “You promised no work on Christmas Eve.”

He grinned, the family resemblance to Holt unmistakable. “Just a quick call. Had to make sure everything’s set for tomorrow.” He spotted me and waved. “Hey, Keltie. I’m Buck, the oldest and wisest of the Wheaton clan.”

I remembered meeting all of them at the Goat but appreciated the reminder of each of their names.

“Don’t believe a word he says,” another man said, joining us. “I’m Cord. The one with actual wisdom.”

I laughed as the brothers playfully shoved each other, their easy camaraderie making me smile.

“Is Porter coming tonight?” Flynn asked, her expression hopeful.

Buck shook his head. “Not looking likely. He and Cici are stuck in Parlin. The roads are getting bad.”

Flynn’s face fell, but she quickly recovered.

Dinner was a full Christmas Eve feast, with prime rib, ham, turkey, and every side dish imaginable. Luna sat between Buckaroo and one of the twins, all three of them in booster seats, while the other twin insisted on sitting on his father’s lap.

“Flynn is an amazing cook,” Holt whispered from beside me. “She’s been running the ranch kitchen since she was sixteen.”

I looked at the spread with newfound appreciation. “Everything looks delicious.”

I found myself relaxing into the warmth of this family gathering in a way I hadn’t expected. Luna was thriving, chattering happily with Buckaroo and occasionally looking over at me with a smile that made my heart swell.

“This is the bestest Christmas ever,” she declared mid meal, chocolate smudged on her cheek.

Across the table, Flynn’s eyes glistened with tears. Holt, seated beside me, straightened, his attention immediately on his sister.

“Flynn?” he asked softly. “You okay, sis?”

She dabbed at her eyes with her napkin. “I’m fine. It’s just—this is the kind of Christmas I always dreamed we’d have someday.”

Something passed between the siblings then—a shared understanding that spoke of old wounds. Cord reached over and squeezed Flynn’s hand while Buck’s expression darkened momentarily.

“Well, now, we do,” Holt said, his voice gentle. “And it’s only going to get better from here.”

Flynn smiled, visibly pulling herself together. “The only thing that would make tonight better was if Porter was here too.”

“He’ll be here in spirit,” Cord assured her. “And we’ll talk to him later.”

The mood lightened as Sam, Juni, and Juni’s mom brought in dessert—an array of pies and cookies that had Luna’s eyes growing wide with excitement.

“Remember the rules,” I cautioned her. “One sweet tonight, one tomorrow.”

Her lower lip jutted out in a familiar pout, but she said okay.

After dinner and the visit from “Santa,” Buck gathered everyone for the reading of The Night Before Christmas . I was stunned by how engaged the three boys were. They couldn’t be more than two, three at the most, yet they sat still and listened.

By the time he finished, all four kids were drowsy, fighting to keep their eyes open. Luna had crawled into my lap midway through the story, her head now heavy against my shoulder.

“I think someone’s ready for bed,” I whispered, stroking her hair.

“Let me help,” Holt offered, standing and holding out his arms. “I can carry her to your room.”

Too tired to object, Luna went willingly into his arms, her own wrapping around his neck as her eyes fluttered closed.

Flynn led us to a spacious suite with a bedroom and an adjoining sitting area that had a fireplace, sofa, and chairs.

“I thought you two would be most comfortable here,” she explained. “The bathroom is through that door, and there are extra blankets in the chest if you need them.”

“It’s beautiful,” I said, genuinely awed by the room’s elegance. “Thank you for everything.”

“It’s our pleasure,” she replied, squeezing my arm. “Merry Christmas, Keltie.”

After she left, Holt gently laid Luna on the bed. I removed her shoes and covered her with the plush duvet, placing Bunny within easy reach.

“She’s out cold,” I whispered, tucking a curl behind her ear.

“Long day,” Holt said. “Lots of excitement.”

We returned to the sitting area, where Holt gestured toward the hearth. “Would you like a fire? Gets chilly up here at night.”

“That would be nice.”

He knelt in front of the fireplace, arranging kindling and logs like it was something he could do in his sleep. Within minutes, a warm glow spread throughout the room.

“Thank you,” I said. “Today has been… unexpected, but wonderful.”

“I’m glad you came,” he replied, dusting his hands on his jeans as he stood. “I should probably let you sleep.”

“Stay,” I said, surprising myself with the invitation. “Just for a bit. Unless you’re tired.”

Something flickered in his eyes—surprise, pleasure, I couldn’t tell. “I’d like that.”

He settled beside me on the sofa, both of us quiet at first. The events from the last couple of days swirled in my mind—Luna’s hospital visit, Remi’s unexpected appearance, this beautiful Christmas Eve with the Wheatons.

It was too much to process, yet sitting here with Holt made it all seem manageable.

I turned to find him watching me, those blue eyes intense in the firelight.