Who cares if the people of Marietta call Cal Casey the forgotten one? Cal's proud of his wildly successful brothers—as long as they stay out of his way. He has a ranch to run and a wife to acquire. Preferably one who doesn't remind him of the woman who'd married his best friend.

But Red Evans is four years dead this Christmas and his widow needs all the ranch help she can get. By providing it, Cal is honoring Red's memory, serving the valley he loves, and being a decent godfather to Red's son. Nothing more. His brothers are wrong.

Surgical nurse Beth Evans is hanging onto her late husband's ranch by a thread, her eleven-year-old son is skipping school to mend fences, and she owes steadfast cowboy Cal yet another big apology. The last time she messed up this badly, she'd blamed him for breathing!

It's not Cal's fault Beth's long-buried feelings for him are rising again. Or maybe it's all his fault. All she knows is that hot tempers, mistletoe kisses, and her plans to sell up and leave the valley before Christmas aren't helping.