Their Festive Forever

Book 10: Top Dog Dude Ranch

by Catherine Mann

Genres: Animals; Small Town & Rural; Contemporary Romance; Holiday Romance

Synopsis

Can a holiday fling 

be their happily-ever-after? 

A quiet, peaceful sabbatical at Top Dog Dude Ranch is just what Professor Neve Dalton needs. And boisterous river guide Gil Hadley is just what she wants to avoid. He’s the opposite of quiet, and peaceful is the last thing she feels when he’s around. He’s got her head spinning, and it’s not long before she gets swept away. But their temporary tryst results in a very permanent, precious surprise that will turn her ordered life upside down. As the holidays approach, the clock is ticking on Neve’s departure date. But with a little Christmas magic, can this unexpected family find their happy ending? 

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Top Dog Dude Ranch

Release date: November 25, 2025

Publisher: Harlequin

Print pages: 272

Sample

Chapter one

Neve Dalton usually loved snowy December days with the pristine blanket of white coating the land, thin, but fresh and new. The crisp nip in the air. The taste of snowflakes on her tongue as she indulged in a quiet walk through the woods to spot evening grosbeaks in the spruce firs.

But not today.

Instead, she was freezing her butt off watching a raucous snow-polo match. Neve hugged her arms closer around herself to preserve body heat, even though she wore a parka, gloves, and knit cap. Her toes were turning to ice cubes inside her lined boots as she stood on the sidelines.

The Top Dog Dude Ranch in Tennessee had provided the perfect location to work on her textbook about preserving wildlife even in a recreational setting. As a bonus, she’d had endless opportunities to recharge with a variety of activities, from outdoor adventures to indoor crafts. Even game nights, hoedowns, and live entertainment. Who wouldn’t love to stay in a vacation destination where both of her sisters lived? But her six-month stay was rapidly coming to a close.

Boisterous shouts filled the air as the home team, made up of Top Dog staff, scored a goal. Was it called a goal in polo? She wasn’t sure.

Still, she needed to stick it out to the end of the game—the match?—even though she wasn’t cheering on a boyfriend or a relative. In fact, the broad-­shouldered subject of her undivided attention no longer held her affection. He was an ex. A fling.

And in about six months, Gil Hadley would be the father of her baby. A little detail she couldn’t delay telling him for much longer. She hadn’t even told her two sisters, who were currently standing on either side of her. Thank heaven for winter clothing that allowed her to hide the gentle swell of her stomach. Although she wasn’t sure how much longer she would be able to hide the morning sickness.

She was determined to share the news about the baby with Gil after the match.

Neve stuffed her fists into the pockets of her puffy jacket, shifting from one freezing foot to the other until the bells on her boots jingled. Was she fidgeting from nerves? Or attraction? Both, most likely.

Horses galloped across the field, hooves thundering as the crimson ball glided over the frozen earth. Gil’s athleticism couldn’t be denied. His exuberance, too, with his unrestrained laugh carrying over the melee. A tingle of excitement, and perhaps even a bit of envy, rippled through her.

As the last picked in gym class all the way through high school, Neve stifled a twinge of insecurity. She was just fine being the nerdy girl and definitely happy with her professional success as a professor. Her sabbatical these past months to finish writing a textbook had been a surprise, the type of honor she hadn’t dared hope for back when she was getting hit in the head during dodgeball.

The cautionary memory had her retreating a step away from the polo field. Just to be on the safe side for the baby’s sake. She’d taken up tennis in the years since high school, and her hand-eye coordination had improved accordingly, but she still wouldn’t trust her reaction time if that red ball sailed her way.

Staff from the Top Dog Dude Ranch wore blue jackets, playing a team of guests in red. The hobbyist group had booked a retreat and requested a match. The sure-footed horses tossed their heads and danced with excitement, their manes rippling.

From the enthusiastic crowd response, this would no doubt become a frequent offering. A handful were even livestreaming the action.

She’d never heard of snow polo before, much less seen a match. Since Gil had been hired to oversee outdoor sports, all sorts of new adventures had been added to the Top Dog Dude Ranch offerings. Zip-lining. Whitewater rafting. Rappelling.

No question, the man had a taste for pushing boundaries.

And he looked mighty fine in the process.

Beside her, Neve’s sisters clapped and cheered. Zelda’s fella played on the team, and Isobel’s guy tended the extra horses on hand in case any on the field grew tired or stressed.

“Whoo-hoo,” her sister Zelda shouted, fist pumping the air. Zelda was the rebel of the trio, quirky in her clothes and zest for life. She worked as a dog groomer at the ranch, caring for guest pets as well as the animals in residence. Zelda whooped it up, cradling her small Maltese mix in her arms.

“Good try,” Isobel affirmed. Isobel was the wholesome one, an earth-mother type who made her living as a blogger, the writings told from the viewpoint of her daughter’s service dog, Cocoa. Little Lottie had been born with spina bifida and used the working animal for mobility assistance.

Neve scrounged up a round of applause, muffled by her gloves.

Isobel slid an arm around her shoulders and drew her in for a side hug. “We’re going to miss you when you leave.”

“I’m sure I’ll come back to visit you.” Sharing a child with Gil would necessitate trips from her home in North Carolina. Nerves seared her over navigating potentially tricky custody waters. “And I did get that extension until after the New Year to stick around for a while longer, to help you with Lottie’s recovery after surgery.”

As if Lottie hadn’t faced enough challenges, she now needed a kidney transplant due to complications from her spina bifida.

“I hope you know how much I appreciate that,” Isobel said, her breath puffing clouds in the cold air. “I didn’t want to ask, but it means so much to me. I’ll breathe easier once the transplant is complete. And I’m sure Lottie will be thrilled to have her Aunt Neve stay over the holidays.”

They’d all but given up hope after the first donor match became ill. Then, in a surprising miracle, they found an even better candidate. A long-lost relative. An adult, and luckily an adult could still donate to a child over two years old, as long as there was enough belly space.

Their grandmother’s will revealed she’d given up a baby boy for adoption at birth. Her dying request had been for them to locate her son and give him the ring her long ago lover had gifted her.

Finding that long-lost relative had netted results.

And complications.

That man had later paid tribute to his own adoptive parents by opting to adopt a son. A tempting adopted son who’d turned Neve’s world upside down from the moment she and Gil had met. As if things weren’t convoluted enough, even though they weren’t related by blood.

Well, except through the pregnancy.

She just hoped she could be half as good of a mom as her sister. “Lottie’s a wonderful kid and you’re such a great mother. You make it look effortless, even in the most difficult of times.”

Isobel’s cheeks puffed with a long exhale as she tugged her hood back up. “It’s far from that, but thanks for the kudos. I’m thankful to have such a supportive family.”

Neve knew her siblings would help in a heartbeat if needed, but the thought of asking made her chest go tight. She’d always considered herself a loner, an independent soul. That trait had become even further ingrained after she’d been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease a year ago. She hadn’t told her sisters about the diagnosis. She hadn’t wanted to add worry when the focus needed to be on her little niece’s impending kidney transplant.

And truth be told, Neve had needed time to assimilate the health news along with the repercussions.

And now? Her world had become more complicated than ever, thanks to that fling with a certain thrill-seeking hotshot. Right on cue, Gil and his chestnut-colored horse raced past her, his hard muscled body tensed for action. His handsome face radiated competitiveness and excitement. He oozed charisma that had tempted her from the start.

With her sabbatical drawing to a close and the textbook all but complete, time was ticking down to tell Gil about the baby they’d made under the late-summer stars.

* * *

Gil Hadley swung the polo mallet with far more force than necessary to send the brilliant red ball sailing across the snowy field. But then, he needed the outlet for his frustration.

The breakup with Neve had been inevitable. Whoever said opposites attract had been spot on. They’d just failed to mention how all those differences would eventually tear them apart. Seeing Neve here on the sidelines threatened his focus as well as his resolve to keep his distance.

As he powered down the field on his favorite quarter horse, he caught sight of her sleek hair lifting in the wind, sweeping across her face, and making him ache to brush it aside, to linger. He could still feel the texture of the silky locks, the softness of her skin.

Would he be able to put her out of his mind once she left the Top Dog Dude Ranch? He hoped so, as they seemed to stumble over each other at every turn. Like today. But even the thought of her moving back to North Carolina made his chest go tight.

He enjoyed the thrill of a little chaos, but the world had piled on lately. Not just his ill-fated attraction to Neve. But with surprise news about his father. Not only was Gil adopted but his father was as well. Something his dad had never seen fit to mention, even though Gil had struggled with the loss of his biological mother when she gave him up at five years old.

His father’s parentage had only come up during this past summer. When Gil had asked him why he hadn’t shared about it sooner, River Jack had simply said he had chosen adoption as a tribute to the couple who adopted him from a teenage girl decades ago. Gil just wished his jeweler father would have told him before the news rippled through all of Moonlight Ridge. He’d let that frustration chip away at what had long been a hard-and-fast rule in his romantic life.

Never date happily-ever-after women. And Neve Dawson personified a white-picket-fence future. Never Neve? Was that his new motto?

His gaze slid over to her, taking his attention away from the game at just the wrong moment.

“Hey, Gil.” Troy Shaw galloped past, riding a piebald paint. The former rodeo champ had a competitive streak a mile wide. “Get your brain back in the game and off the girl.”

Gil hauled his gaze off Neve and back on the field—just as the ball skated past him, sailing into the goal.

For the other team.

He gritted his teeth in frustration. No need to even bother apologizing. The match had resumed and he had ground to regain, now that they were behind, thanks to him.

Gil narrowed his focus on the field of play, nudging his quarter horse back into the melee. “Ranger and I are all in, buddy. All in.”

A motto he lived by. All In, or Not at All. He couldn’t be that forever guy and he didn’t want anyone hurt.

The pretty professor had been a major distraction since she’d arrived at the Top Dog Dude Ranch last summer. They’d enjoyed a brief affair, caught up in the revelry of a harvest-day celebration. But she’d ended things just as quickly, noting her job waiting for her in another state. Yet they kept bumping into each other, the attraction simmering, her prim but sassy professor vibe turning him inside out. Even now.

Having her on the sidelines weighed heavy on his conscience. How ironic that he was now tied to Neve forever since his father was about to donate a kidney to Neve’s niece.

The thought of his dad’s impending surgery sent a fresh wave of tension through Gil, made all the worse as the opposing team nailed another goal.

The Top Dog staff lost. By one goal. Which made the loss squarely his fault.

Sighing, he dismounted and smoothed a hand along Ranger’s neck. “Good boy. I’ll make sure you get an extra treat for keeping me seated during my pathetic performance this afternoon.”

A shadow slid past him just as the ranch owner pulled up alongside him, leading his own blood bay thoroughbred by the reins. Jacob O’Brien grinned in greeting. “Well, Gil, as much as I hate losing, I have to admit you sure made the day for one of our most loyal guests.”

“That wasn’t my intent,” Gil said wryly. “I’m sorry to have let my team down.”

“Dude, you scored two out of three of our goals. I’d say you more than carried your weight.”

“You can be assured I’ll perform better during our next go-round, boss.”

Jacob chuckled, shaking his head as he stroked his quarter horse. “Given you’re one of the most competitive individuals I’ve ever met, I don’t doubt that for a minute. All of us Top Dog longtimers are happy to have you on board. My wife’s planning to take an afternoon off from the bakery to enjoy one of your snowshoeing expeditions.”

“I appreciate the show of support. It’ll be nice to make use of this heavier-than-usual snowfall.” His list of activities for December had needed adjusting due to the unexpected storms that came early this year. But he’d welcomed the challenge.

He’d left a higher-paying job at a Wyoming resort to take this job. The spread out West had grown too “slick” for his liking. He preferred how, in spite of how large Top Dog grew, they stayed true to their rustic roots. It wasn’t all about the bottom line. They made a living, but not at the expense of staying true to the land.

Jacob clapped a hand on his shoulder. “All joking aside. Are you doing okay, man?”

Not really. But venting as much wouldn’t be wise.

The last thing he needed was to risk his job. He appreciated living close to his father, especially now. So he kept it simple. “I’m just worried about my dad.” True enough. “I’ll be relieved when the surgery is past.”

“Of course you’re concerned. Completely understandable. Take time off, if you need. We’ll cover for you here.”

“I appreciate that, but we’re set. Luckily, Dad has agreed to have a nurse provide extra care through the holidays. Doc Barnett recommended her.”

“Then, whoever she is, she’ll be top-notch,” Jacob nodded. “I’m glad to hear you’re not carrying the weight of his care all on your own.”

“Seems I’m not carrying much of it at all on my own. The ranch network is a supportive lot. It’s already a tremendous help that the lodge dining hall will be sending over meals. Far healthier than whatever my bachelor skills would concoct. Campfire cooking is more my speed.”

“We think the world of River Jack and what he’s doing for Lottie.” Jacob clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Well, I won’t keep you any longer. Looks like you’ve got someone waiting to speak with you. I’ll take your horse so you can head right over.”

Gil almost questioned what Jacob meant, then he saw the direction of his boss’s gaze. Straight to Neve. Gil rocked back on his boot heels.

Could she really be here for him after all these months of trying to avoid him? To be fair, a snow-polo match wasn’t her normal outing so something—or someone—must have drawn her to this event.

A kick of excitement nailed him in the gut. Too much so. They’d ended their short-lived relationship because of their different lifestyles and her insistence on returning to North Carolina.

So why was she here, looking far too pretty in her red jacket with a forest green scarf? He certainly intended to find out.

* * *

By the end of the match, Neve’s stomach grumbled with hunger.

She pressed a hand against her midsection as the two teams lined up to shake hands, the Top Dog group conceding defeat to the guest players. She’d skipped breakfast, other than a handful of crackers to settle her queasiness. Getting in sync with all the changes in her body hadn’t been easy, and every day seemed to bring on a different set of symptoms. Her obstetrician reassured her not to worry. Still, she fretted because of her autoimmune disease.

Learning she had lupus a year ago had rocked her world, shifting the way she guarded her health and energy. Her boyfriend had bailed on her within days of her diagnosis. He’d babbled something about needing space and not being ready for anything serious. The breakup, along with the medical news, had also spurred her to apply for the sabbatical, to finish writing her textbook and give herself time to restructure her life for more downtime.

When she’d met Gil, she’d been wary, both in heart and mind. But his charm had won her over, for the short term at least. Now she’d made a tangle of things by not thinking through the consequences of a relationship when they had so little in common.

Isobel tugged her hood onto her head as the wind picked up. “What a shame they lost, but they seemed to have fun all the same. I’m going to talk with Cash for a bit before I head on back. Do you want to come along?”

Neve shook her head. “I’m going to stick around. But thanks. I’ll meet with you later for making Christmas cookies.”

Her stomach grumbled again.

Zelda tugged her parka zipper higher. “I’ll be there with frosting and sprinkles. Are you okay here if I join Isobel?”

“Of course,” Neve answered, thankful not to have to explain why she needed her to leave. “See you later.”

As both of her sisters picked their way across the sludgy sidelines, Neve contrarily wished they’d lingered just a little longer so she didn’t look so awkward, so obvious, standing around waiting for the opportunity to speak with Gil about the baby.

More and more familiar eyes turned in her direction. Nerves made her so itchy she searched for an exit route—only to have Gil’s gaze meet hers. All thoughts of escape fled. In fact, all thoughts faded except for those focused on Gil. He’d pulled off the protective hard hat from the game, his light brown hair mussed and thick, making her fingers long to smooth the wayward locks back into place. But that was no longer wise or her right.

Leading his horse by the reins, Gil made a wide sweep around the crowd on his way toward her, stopping an arm’s length away. “What did you think of the match?”

Her mouth went dry and she swallowed once, twice. “I’ve never heard of snow polo before. It was…interesting.” She’d barely slept, thinking of seeing him today. He’d filled her dreams, even more than normal.

His low laugh rumbled a fresh cloud of white into the air between them. “Not much of a rousing endorsement.”

“I thought it appeared dangerous, but then, that seems to be your prerequisite.”

“I take safety seriously, for the participants and for the ranch’s reputation.”

“Of course,” she answered, genuinely. Gil might be a risk-taker, but so far as she’d seen over the last few months, he was always a stickler for caution with the guests. “I’m sorry. Remember, though, that I’m more of a walk-in-the-woods kind of gal.”

“I recall very well.”

Her face heated with so many memories. Especially the time they detoured from a walk for a stolen moment alone in the boathouse. He’d tucked a chair under the doorknob so no one could interrupt. They’d made love against the wall with the scent of cedar filling her gasping breaths. Every time she passed that building by the lake, heat flushed her face.

But they’d taken other strolls as well, without veering off the path. Hand in hand, they’d clocked miles in the woods, talking about nature and dreams. Those meandering treks tormented her as much, if not more, than the passionate interludes.

She pushed away distracting thoughts and focused on the present. “Would you mind taking one of those walks with me—no detours,” she rushed to add. “After you’ve put your horse away, of course.”

“How about now? I can lead Ranger along with us since your place isn’t far from the stables anyway.”

“That would be great.” She offered a wobbly smile, resenting the nerves.

In her academic world, she was in control, confident. But when it came to relationships? She struggled.

With each step, she drew in icy cold breaths to still her nerves. Dense walls of pine trees lined the path, boughs glistening with a light sheen of ice. Moonlight Ridge had been beautiful in June, when she’d arrived. But now? In the winter? The countryside was magnificent, glistening with nature’s holiday decor. Although the ranch had added their own touches as well, with twinkling lights in the branches and the occasional clusters of iron dogs.

“What brings you here? I wouldn’t have thought snow polo would be your preferred entertainment.”

“You would be correct in that assumption. Actually, I’ve been trying to track you down.” No matter how many breaths she took, the nerves increased, making her woozy. She’d practiced her speech a million times in her mind, but now that the time neared, she craved more time. “I, uh, need to chat with you about, um, something.”

“I’m all ears,” he said, patting Ranger’s neck.

“So is everyone else here.” She nodded toward the clusters of people, half of whom were already looking in their direction. Gossip would spread soon enough. She’d pushed her luck waiting this long. “I’d prefer to talk away from eavesdroppers.”

Nodding, he gestured toward a fork in the path that led toward her cabin. Sunlight filtered through the trees, dappling the ground. The crisp evergreen scent filled the air. Oaks and pines lined the narrow trail, with pawprint-shaped markers pointing the way to cabins, the main lodge, the stables, and so on. Each guest received a ranch app when they arrived with a list of activities and a legend map, but the cell phone service could be spotty.

Gil held Ranger’s lead, the horse walking on one side of him, Neve on the other. “This sounds serious. Especially since we’ve barely spoken in two months.” His deep brown eyes held a gentle censure.

“I’m sorry for that.” It had just been so difficult to be around him and still hold on to her resolve not to jump right back into a fling. Once she’d started to catch feels, she’d known she had to stop. She couldn’t face another man walking away because of her health issues. “I truly didn’t mean to be rude.”

“You’ve been unfailingly…polite. But standoffish.”

“It seemed best once we realized our, uh, fling had run its course.” Even saying the words aloud made her dizzy.

“I wouldn’t say the attraction had fizzled out,” he said dryly.

“Let me rephrase.” She pressed a hand to her forehead, searching for the right way to tell him about the pregnancy. “It seemed wise to keep my distance once we realized our affair couldn’t lead anywhere.”

He scrubbed a hand over his jawline. “I wish things didn’t have to be so awkward. The ranch is a small community…”

“Uh-huh.” She struggled to focus on his voice, but the hunger pangs kept hitting her harder and harder, increasing the dizziness.

She braced a hand on tree trunk for balance, the iciness leeching through her glove. Carefully, she continued—

And slid along a slick patch of ice.

Her arms shot out as her heart lurched in her chest. The world spun, but in a slow-motion way as she searched for something, anything to grab onto. Her fist slid along a branch too slick to hold.

Gil caught her just as her feet went out from under her. He hauled her to his chest. She looked up into his face, a fresh wave of vertigo washing over her.

Except this time, the wooziness had nothing to do with her diet and everything to do with the warm wall of his muscular chest. ...