Cowboy Firefighter Christmas Kiss is out just in time for Christmas. In Wildcat Bluff County, folks are gearing up for the holidays, but trouble is on the horizon. Fernando, the Wonder Bull, as eight-year-old Storm Steele calls him, makes his debut in Book 5 of Smokin’ Hot Cowboys when cattle rustlers snag him. Storm insists Fernando will be home in time for Christmas… and soon there are sightings of the Angus bull across North Texas.

Publishers Weekly said: “With a little help from Fernando the bull, an overabundance of sweetness, and a healthy dose of mischief, this Christmas story is certainly memorable.”

Carolyn Brown, New York Times Bestselling Author, said: “Cowboy Christmas reading at its very best.”

When Ivy Bryant arrives at Wildcat Hall, she goes from website designer by day to honkytonk manager by night. How to handle it all? Enter Slade Steele—rancher, firefighter, and proprietor of the Chuckwagon Café—who offers his services. Add his award-winning pies and a fiery chili recipe with chocolate to the menu, and folks will stream in the front door. It’s an offer Ivy can’t refuse, even though the passion between them is already at the boiling point.

 Excerpt from Cowboy Firefighter Christmas Kiss

Early the next morning, Ivy sat on the sofa looking at her glittery Christmas tree while Slade started coffee in the kitchen. She had pretty presents under her tree in bags and boxes she’d bought the day before at Morning’s Glory and Adelia’s Delights. She’d be giving them all away, but for now, she simply took pleasure in looking at them and knowing her new friends would enjoy them on Christmas.

     New friends. She was still a little amazed at the idea of having friends in Wildcat Bluff County. It’d happened so fast. She’d always thought life in the city was fast, but so far, life in the country was even faster. She glanced at Slade as he poured coffee into two mugs. Fast, yes, but oh so right.

     He sat down beside her and handed her a mug.

     “Thanks.”

     “Not much to eat here.”

     “That’s okay. I’ll get coffee and cookies down at Wildcat Hall later.”

     “Sugar cookies?” He chuckled as he took a sip of coffee.

     She couldn’t resist teasing him because he’d earlier burned the sugar cookies.  “At least your cowboy cookies are good.”

     He laughed, leaned over, and kissed her. “I get it. You like cookies. You just don’t care for the charred ones.”

     “That’s so true.” She patted his jean-clad knee, then stroked it, feeling the hard muscle contract under her touch. “I do care a great deal for the new bed.”

     “The bed or the activity on the bed?”

     She stroked the inside of his thigh, up and down, up and down. “What do you think?”

     “It’s a fine bed.” He covered her hand with his own, urging her higher. “But it’d be nothing without you.”

     “We made it all our own, didn’t we?”

     “We created enough heat to brand it. That’s for sure.”

     She leaned in close for another kiss.

     He obliged, then stood up, cradling his mug in both hands. “If we don’t stop now, we’ll be right back in that bed.”

     “Quickie?”

     He shook his head. “Not enough…not nearly enough for me.”

     She nodded, understanding as she sipped her coffee. “Guess we don’t have that kind of time, do we?”

     “I need to get to work, but I wanted to mention something before I left.”

     “Not much time to talk last night, was there?”

     He chuckled, blue eyes alight. “Our focus was on the bed.”

     “And Fernando.” She contemplated her coffee a moment. “I’m thinking of making a map of Fernando sightings and putting it up on his Instagram page. He’s getting lots of likes and DMs…and not just from our state. I can add to the map to show everyone where he is in Texas as he makes his way home for Christmas.”

     “Great idea.”

     “Good. I’ll get it put up today.” She stood up, glancing at the kitchen. “We never did eat that soup. Are you sure you aren’t hungry?”

     “I’ll get something later. And you can have the soup.”

     “Thanks. I’ll eat it for lunch.” She wrapped her hands around her mug, enjoying the warmth. “What did you want to tell me?”

     “With everything going on with Fernando, the rustlers, and the fires, I want you to be more careful than ever.”

     “I will…but we can’t let those rustlers ruin Christmas.”

     “No, we can’t.”

     She walked across the room, picked up the Fernando flier, looked at it, and dropped it back on the countertop.

     “What is it?”

     “With so much going on this Christmas weekend, I’m concerned Wildcat Hall may get lost in the mix. We might even lose business.”

     “You mean Christmas in the Country in Old Town and Christmas at the Sure-Shot Drive-In in Sure-Shot?” he asked.

     “Yes. They’re such big, popular, well-known events. And now Fernando fever is taking up a lot of attention,” she said.

     “That’s true.”

     “I thought some folks who didn’t go to the traditional Christmas events might like something special at a honky-tonk. And like you say, it’d be a place to gather at night.”

     He nodded, smiling thoughtfully. “I see where you’re going with this and I like it. But what makes it special?”

     She shrugged, feeling as if she was groping toward something that she couldn’t understand or see yet.   

     “Maybe the dance hall and beer garden are special in their own right.”

     “What do you mean?”

     “Think back. Folks here originally would have met in their community center, as well as their churches, to celebrate Christmas,” he said.

     “Do you mean we dress up in period costumes and serve food and drink they would have had back then?”

     “Right.”

     “Let me think.” She paced across the room, then back again, thinking furiously. “Simple is usually best.”

     “I agree.” He smiled at her with encouragement.

     She stopped and looked at him, fixing him in her mind as her handsome, blond, tall, muscular cowboy. But that was simply his physical beauty. He was so much more…and that was what really drew her to him. He was kind and smart and strong. And still that didn’t do him justice. He was just so much more of everything than she’d ever known before in her life. She really did adore him.

     “What?” He looked at her in confusion, as if he’d caught the play of emotions across her face.

     “I think you’re a keeper.” And she gave him a hot look that promised a workout on their new bed later.

Smokin' Hot Cowboys series

A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas (Book 1)

Blazing Hot Cowboy (Book 2)

A Very Cowboy Christmas (Book 3)

Hot for a Cowboy (Book 4)

Cowboy Firefighter Christmas Kiss (Book 5)

Kim Redford is the acclaimed, bestselling author of Western romance novels. She grew up in Texas with cowboys, cowgirls, horses, cattle, and rodeos for inspiration. She divides her time between homes in Texas and Oklahoma, where she’s a rescue cat wrangler and horseback rider—when she takes a break from her keyboard. Visit her at Kim Redford.