Jessie threw the covers back. "If you're lyin' to me Brandt McKay, so help me..."

"I'm not." He tossed her a robe. "Come on. The boy is anxious to open his presents."

"Which boy?" she asked his retreating back.

He turned around and grinned. "Both of 'em."

Landon raced over and slammed into her knees. He had two speeds, full throttle and idle. She swooped him up. "Merry Christmas, lil' buckaroo. Should we see if Uncle Brandt's cake is edible?"

"Yef."

"So agreeable." She couldn't resist nuzzling him. He smelled like baby shampoo, orange juice and little boy.

Breakfast was fast. Jessie inhaled two pieces of coffee cake and settled in the living room with her new mug that Santa had left for her by the coffee pot.

Brandt demonstrated how to rip into wrapping paper and it was over. Landon shrieked while shredding every last inch of Christmas paper from his gifts. Brandt had gone a little overboard buying presents, but he had almost as much fun watching Landon rip the paper as Landon did shredding it.

"See? That fire truck has a working siren." Brandt pushed the button and a really obnoxious whoop whoop whoop erupted.

Jessie stared at Brandt until he said, "What?"

"You picked that out?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Because it's annoying, that's why."

"All boys love fire trucks. It's a right of passage. Besides, if you think this one is noisy? You oughta see what Keely bought him."

She shuddered.

Landon hit excitement overload, ignoring his gifts and sitting in the pile of wrapping paper, throwing it in the air, or at Lexie, or tearing it into smaller pieces.

Two unopened gifts remained under the tree. "Aren't you going to open your present from me, Brandt?"

"Don't you wanna go first?"

"Nope. I'm comfy drinking my coffee. You go ahead."

Brandt snagged the box from beneath the tree. When Landon saw another paper ripping opportunity, he loped to Brandt's side. Brandt said, "I suppose you can help me," as Landon tore away a chunk of paper.

Jessie's stomach knotted. Maybe Brandt would think her gift was stupid. She hid behind her coffee cup as he lifted the lid on the box.

When Brandt froze, her heart fell to her toes. She prepared for a polite look of interest on his face when he finally glanced up. But all she saw was astonishment. "Jess. I can't believe you-"

"I still use the wallet you made me. It was one of the best gifts I've ever gotten." She dropped her gaze to her coffee cup but she couldn't keep from babbling. "I don't know if you still do leatherwork, which you should, because it'd be a damn crying shame to let that talent go to waste. I'm not sure if you have punches like those, but I thought they were cool and if you don't like them I can take them back-"

Then Brandt's hands were on her face, his mouth was on hers and he was kissing her with such gentleness and gratitude she could scarcely breathe. He pulled away to rest his forehead to hers. "No one has ever...you are...Jess. Thank you. It's perfect." He groaned. "And now I'm wishing I could take yours back because it's nowhere near as-"

"Brandt. I'm sure it's fine."

"I guess we'll see, won't we?" Brandt pushed the box to her with his foot and sat on the opposite end of the couch.

Landon bulled his way over to help. Jessie lifted the box onto the coffee table and waited as Landon's next strategic rip revealed...a machine that shampooed carpets. "Wow. Is this really what's in the box?"

"Yeah. I remembered one night we were watching TV and an infomercial came on and you said you always wanted one. But it's kind of lame, isn't it?"

Jessie had zero expectations when it came to receiving gifts. She must've waited too long to respond because Brandt swooped down and picked it up off the table.

"Never mind, no biggie, I'll return it."

She stood and tried to snatch the box out of his hands. "Hey, that's mine. You gave it to me, so you don't get to take it back."

"You don't have to pretend you like it, Jess, just to spare my stupid feelings. It was a dumb gift idea."

She jerked the box away from him and set it aside so she could get right in his face. "It's not dumb. It's thoughtful and I'm sorry I wasn't jumping up and down screaming with joy. But I'm not really a scream-and-jump-up-and-down type of woman."

His cheeks were red with embarrassment. "You don't have to explain."

"Yes, I do. Because you know what buying that carpet cleaner proved? That you listen to me. That you pay attention to me. So in my mind, the gift is perfect. Thank you." She brushed her lips across his. One, two, three, four times. By kiss five he was fully on board, kissing her back.

"Up, up!" Landon said, trying to worm between their legs.

"So sorry we weren't payin' enough attention to you," Brandt said. "How about if we look at some of the toys you're ignoring?"

After Jessie listened to Landon beat on the drums for ten solid minutes, she vowed to get even with Keely. She ducked into the bedroom to get dressed for the McKay family feud. She reminded herself she was doing this for Brandt.

With Landon's things loaded in the diaper bag, she smooched Brandt on the chin. "No offense, but I'll take my own truck. That way if you and Landon wanna stay and hang out after the meal, you can."

"That way you won't get stuck there."

"True."

"Maybe Casper will be on his best behavior," Brandt offered.

Jessie said, "Wanna make a bet?"

Good thing they didn't bet on it.

Casper was a nightmare. Brandt figured his father had been drinking for several hours before they arrived.

It was the Christmas dinner from hell.

Casper ranted about everything under the sun from the stupidity of the government, to inflated cattle prices, to his brothers' idiotic decisions with running the ranch. He wasn't blatant in calling his sons brown-nosing, suck ups, when it came to their uncles and cousins, but it was heavily implied.

Dalton and Tell stuffed their faces rather than engage him.

His mother was up and down throughout dinner, getting this and that. If he hadn't known better, he'd suspect she was hitting the bottle in between refilling the gravy boat and the bread basket.

However, for some reason, Casper ignored Jessie completely. He didn't look at her, didn't talk to her. It was as if she was beneath his notice. Brandt comforted himself with the knowledge Jessie was better off being invisible than in Casper's line of fire.

But no, Casper was just sneakier and waited to approach Jessie until Brandt wasn't around. He'd cornered her by the bathroom. Casper leaned back with a smug smile when Brandt appeared and grabbed Jessie's hand. "Come on. Mom is dishing up pie."

Jessie left immediately following dessert.

Brandt wished he could've left, too, but he stayed to watch Landon rip open more presents. He was glad when Landon had a total screaming fit, because it gave him a valid excuse to leave.

The long day had taken its toll, and Landon was down for the count early. Brandt bided his time, waiting to talk to Jessie until after they cleaned up the wrapping paper mess.

She tied the garbage bag and headed outside to dump it.

He followed her. She hadn't worn a coat and it was freezing out, so she'd be anxious to get the conversation over fast.

"What did my father say to you?"

She tried to sidestep him, but he blocked her. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Tough. What he said upset you."

"Like that's news, Brandt. Just drop it."

Brandt grabbed her biceps and ran his palms up and down her arms to warm her. "Please. If you don't tell me it'll just drive a wedge between us, which is exactly what he wants."

"He said that you'd taken that old bible verse about a man's responsibility in taking care of his brother's widow literally and all I am to you is an obligation. That you'd tire of me soon, just like Luke had."

Goddamn good thing he was freezing his ass off, it was probably the only thing keeping his blood from boiling. "That bastard. You know that's not true. That I-"

"Yeah, I do. But it still stings. It pisses me off that he can cut me so deeply so quickly."

"He's always had that uncanny ability to know just where to put that knife. I'm sorry."

Jessie looked up at him. "Please don't confront him about this. It'll just make it worse."

"I won't. In fact, let's just forget all about it." He kissed her cold cheeks. "Because I believe you'n me have a date with the couch, a bowl of popcorn and a whole pile of westerns."

The shadows cleared from her eyes. "Sounds good. I need to change into something more comfortable first." She started toward the house.

"Comfortable? Like what?"

"Well, I was thinking my pajamas because I'm freezing my ass off, but I might be convinced to wear something else."

"Like what?"

She sent him a come and get it smile over her shoulder. "Like...just my skin."

Immediate erection.

He chased her inside, down the hallway and tackled her to the bed. "Great idea. Let's have intermission first."

"Just make sure you and Landon are bundled up really good. I'll be right back."

Jessie glanced at the clock. Granted it was only ten on New Year's Eve, but it was two and a half hours past Landon's bedtime. He was holding up pretty well, showing no signs of an impending meltdown, which was in itself a miracle given the rough week they'd had.

Since Sky Blue closed over the holidays, Jessie had been home with Landon every day, much to Landon's disappointment. Because ranch work needed done regardless of the holiday season, Brandt's schedule hadn't changed and he hadn't been around. Plus, Joan McKay had caught a terrible cold and didn't want to expose Landon to it, so Jessie didn't get a break until Brandt came home.

One thing the week had taught her? She wasn't cut out to be a fulltime stay at home mom if she was blessed with children of her own. During her short pregnancy she'd imagined her days filled with holding and admiring her cherubic babe. Oddly enough, she'd never seen past that idyllic image to the sacrifices that parenting demanded.

Now that she'd worked in daycare, she appreciated not only the structure and activity it provided, but the chance for the kids to interact with other kids of different ages. Her charges had become enthralled when Ginger and Kane's babies became part of the daycare. The fact Skylar helped out on the days the twins came really proved to Jessie how much she'd come to consider the people she worked with at Sky Blue her family. Yet, she admired the satisfaction Skylar, Ginger, and India received from having a career outside of parenthood. Not that Jessie faulted those women who chose to stay at home with their children, but it'd moved something inside her, interacting with the women she worked with after she'd started taking care of Landon. Most of them had been in less than ideal situations at some point. It amazed her how they'd been able to turn their lives around.

Which always led her to thinking about Landon's mother. Had she reached that tipping point in her life yet? Or would she need a few more years to pull herself together? Brandt never mentioned his conversations with Samantha, but Jessie sensed when he'd had contact with her, because his mood was subdued. Or more likely, his mood reflected that he'd attempted to contact Samantha and she hadn't been available or responded. Jessie overheard a conversation between Brandt and Tell, where Brandt expressed his frustration with Samantha's lack of communication since landing in the halfway house.

Even Skylar had asked what would happen if Samantha wanted to waive Landon's responsibilities after her release. Jessie didn't answer, mostly because she wasn't sure how to answer.

Fortunately, she had six weeks left to figure it out.

A rumbling noise sounded and Jessie realized she'd been so lost in thought she hadn't gotten ready for Brandt's mystery outdoor excursion. New Year's Eve hadn't ever ranked in her top five favorite holidays; actually it was at the very bottom of the list. She was glad Brandt declined the party invite from his cousin Colby. Evidently Keely decided to host a massive slumber party for all of her nephews and nieces and her cousin's kids, so her brothers, cousins and their wives could have an adult night. She wondered how Jack was faring after his wife volunteered him to help with twenty-some kids under the age of ten.

By the time Brandt came inside and stomped the snow from his boots, both Jessie and Landon were bundled up. He grinned. "Grab some extra blankets and let's go."

The side-by-side Yamaha ATV idled by the steps. Lexie jumped in the back. Landon clapped his mitten-clad hands, shouting, "Yef! Yef!" The kid loved riding in the four-wheeler, and having Lexie along was like Christmas for him all over again.

Jessie asked, "Where are we going?"

"To my favorite spot on the ranch. It's a full moon tonight and it's so cold the sky is completely clear of clouds. I thought it'd be fun to take a moonlight ride."

Damn. He'd gone the extra mile to set aside time just for them after she'd spent all day taking care of Landon. His thoughtfulness-without expecting anything in return-was just one of the many reasons she loved him.

Yes, she'd finally come to terms with the fact she'd fallen for him. It felt right. She loved him. She'd said it out loud a few times, practicing how it sounded. Natural? Fake? Desperate? It'd been years since she'd used those particular words and never to any man except Luke. She'd loved Luke and it hadn't been enough. So she couldn't help fear history was about to repeat itself. She loved Brandt, but once again, she wasn't sure if love was enough.

The wind blown snow crust was solid enough the ATV rolled over the top of the snowdrifts without problem. Brandt tried to follow the tire tracks made from feeding cattle, but the four-wheeler bogged down, so he forged a new path. He was mindful of speed and angle of the dips and rises since Landon sat on her lap. Even so, the somewhat bumpy ride had lulled Landon to sleep.

The night, though cold, was magical. Due to the brilliance of the moon, the sky wasn't a solid black backdrop, but a dark gray swath punctuated with silvery stars. Moonbeams bounced off the snow, making the icy crystals dangling from sage plants look like rhinestones. The snow itself sparkled as if the wind had swirled glitter across the land. In all the years she'd lived in Wyoming she'd never seen the harsh beauty appear so enchanted. Dreamlike. With no other sounds or noises or lights, it was as if they were the only ones in the world.

The ATV scaled a steep rise and they were on top of a plateau. Brandt cut the engine. With the cloudless night, visibility in all directions was unobstructed and they could see for miles.

"Breathtaking, ain't it?"

"Yes. I...I don't even know what to say."

"I've been comin' here my whole life and I'm still not used to how this view just knocks me flat." Brandt put his arm behind her on the seat. "It's humbling."

"It is." She'd always known the ranch meant a lot to Brandt. But in that moment, she knew that he was as much a part of this Wyoming land as the soil and the sage.

"Thanks for sharing this with me, Brandt."

"No one else in the world that I'd rather be with or share it with, Jessie, you know that, right?"

She nodded.