Holidays with the Walker Brothers (Alluring Indulgence #4)(31)
Author: Nicole Edwards

“What do you want to get her?”

“Anything she wants,” Zane replied simply, tipping his beer to his lips and taking a long pull, his eyes glued to his father’s face. Any minute now he expected to hear profound wisdom, something that would help him find that memorable gift that would make V love him all the more.

“What does she want?”

“She won’t tell me,” Zane admitted.

Curtis’ booming laugh echoed through the bar and half the folks crowded in the small place turned to look in his direction. “You expect her to tell you?”

“Why the hell not?” he asked, his displeasure evident in the tone of his voice. Obviously approaching his father for help wasn’t going to get him anywhere. Unless being laughed at counted.

“Son,” Curtis said, his voice low, his expression serious, “I won’t admit to knowing everything about women, but I can tell you one thing. If you go with your gut, search with your heart, she won’t be disappointed in you.”

Well, hell. That didn’t tell him dick.

“I’ve been married to your mother for over fifty years, and although you might not believe it, there was a point in our lives when money was scarce. We were two stupid kids in love without a pot to piss in. I could barely afford to pay the electric bill, much less buy her something fancy for Christmas. But, let me tell you something, kid,” Curtis’ voice descended another octave as he continued, “it’s not about the price, it’s about the love behind it.”

Zane stared at his father, took in his weathered face, and studied his expression. About the love, huh?

Nodding his head in understanding, because truthfully, for the first time in weeks, Zane felt as though he might just pass this first hurdle. If it was about the love, well, he had love in spades. Especially when it came to V.

“Now, don’t go killin’ yourself trying to figure it out. And that lil’ lady over there,” Curtis said, tilting his head in V’s direction, “she loves you somethin’ fierce. Which is all that matters.”

♀♂

Vanessa

V pretended not to notice Curtis and Zane sitting off in the corner by themselves. It was clear by their body language, their conversation was a personal one and considering the solemn way Zane had been acting lately, she couldn’t say she was surprised.

She’d inadvertently overheard a phone conversation between Zane and Beau just last week, and from what she gathered, he was worried about what to get her for Christmas.

Without giving away the fact that she knew, she’d been trying to reassure him. Little did the stubborn cowboy know, but she had all she could ever want for Christmas. She had him. The love she felt for him was so overwhelming, sometimes she felt as though her heart just might explode.

And to have been welcomed with open arms into his family, there wasn’t a single material thing that could ever top that sort of feeling. No jewelry, no clothes, not even a fancy car. Nothing compared to having someone love you as much as you love them. It took V a long time to accept that, but now that she had, well, she knew she would never let it go.

“Damn, woman,” Travis growled. “Can’t you take pity on a guy? I’m tryin’ to impress some people here.”

Travis moved around the table and pulled her up against his side, giving her a brief, brotherly hug.

“Well, if you want some advice, you might wanna try something else. You suck at pool.”

Travis laughed, pretending to push her away. “Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?”

Brendon chose that moment to show up at the table, his arm around Jessie, who apparently had shown up as requested.

“You here to impress someone too?” she joked.

Turning to look at Jessie then back to V, Brendon smiled. “I think I can take you tonight.”

Apparently the room had been waiting for this moment. She and Brendon were known to play several games and according to the Walker boys, it was like a death match, everyone hanging on the edge of their seats watching to see who would go down first.

Just as she was going to answer, Zane walked up beside her, pulling her against his side and kissing her forehead. “Don’t mess with my girl,” he said to his brother. “She’ll kick your ass every time.”

His girl.

V would never tire of Zane calling her that.

“Mmmm,” she hummed as she tilted her head back to look at him. “I’m pretty sure I can take him, but I’ll take a kiss for good luck.”

V should’ve known that Zane Walker wasn’t capable of a sweet, innocent peck on the lips. He turned her to face him, his arms still banded around her body as he dropped his mouth down to hers. When she would’ve pulled away – public displays not necessarily her thing – he gripped the back of her head and plundered her mouth with his tongue.