Free A Thunder Canyon Christmas by RaeAnne Thayne Page B

here he could smell the spicy holiday-scented perfume she must have spritzed heavily before walking out the door. “When is the big day?”
    Christine slanted him a sour look over the other woman’s shoulder and Matt grinned back at her.
    He tried to dissemble as much as he could manage to get away with. “You know how it is. Nothing’s official yet. We’re, uh, still working out the details. Keep it to yourself though, okay?”
    Kelly gushed for a moment or two more. “I’m happy for you. Really I am.” She frowned as if she’d suddenly thought of something, when Matt knew damn well she’d only been trying to figure out a way to work it into the conversation. “It’s just, well, Clay’s gonna be pretty upset, you know.”
    Christine sighed and then sent Matt a swift look. “I’m sorry for that but I guess it’s time he moved on and found someone else, like I have.”
    â€œI s’pose,” she said.
    She looked as if she might say more but the hostessat that moment came out from The Gallatin Room to let her party know their tables were ready.
    â€œCongratulations again,” Kelly said. “Let me know when the big day is, won’t you?”
    â€œNothing’s official,” Christine protested, with another sideways glare at him.
    â€œThat ought to do it,” he said, dropping his arm as soon as Kelly was out of view inside the restaurant. “If Robbins doesn’t get the message after that, he’s more of an idiot than I thought.”
    Christine somehow managed to look relieved and upset at the same time. “You’re crazy, do you know that?” she said, shaking her head. “What are you going to do when the rumor starts flying around Thunder Canyon that we’re engaged?”
    â€œWho’s going to talk? I didn’t recognize a single one of those ladies and I know everybody in town. They must be from Bozeman. Who are they going to tell?”
    â€œDon’t you think Clay will figure out something’s hinky when this engagement of ours never materializes?”
    â€œWho knows?” Matt shrugged. “By then, he’ll hopefully have found some other poor woman to cling to.”
    She was quiet for a moment as they walked out of the lodge and into the December night, starry and cold and lit by little twinkling gold lights adorning the lodge.
    â€œWhat about Elise Clifton?” she asked as they waited for the valet to bring his pickup. “What if she hears rumors we’re engaged?”
    â€œThere’s nothing going on between Elise and me,” he said, even though the words weren’t precisely true.What would it matter if she did find out? She probably wouldn’t care, even if it were true. Elise was a friend—that was all.
    Yet he was suddenly shocked to find himself wanting much more.

Chapter Six
    â€œY ou need to march straight home and climb back to bed, missy. I’m not going to listen to any more arguments.”
    Elise stared down at Haley. Her best friend, who was currently huddled at her desk at ROOTS with a blanket over her shoulders, a nearly empty box of tissues at her elbow and complete misery on her features.
    â€œI can’t be sick another minute. I have way too much to do!” Haley wailed, then gave a wretched-sounding cough. “The Christmas party is only four days away and I still have to finish the decorations and make sure the caterers are ready and organize the swag bags from all the donations we’ve received.”
    â€œAnd if you don’t get some rest and take care of yourself, you’re going to be in a hospital bed while the rest of us throw a party. Go home, Hale.”
    â€œI can’t just dump it all on you.”
    â€œI don’t mind. Knowing you, I imagine your notes are extensive enough that I can figure out everything.”
    â€œIt still doesn’t seem right.”
    Elise wasn’t