Page 10 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy

Garrett put a hand on the backend of Nicole’s ladder. “How’s it going?” he asked.

She jolted and nearly tripped off the ladder, but held on for dear life. “Don’t scare me like that.”

“Sorry. You okay?”

She put a hand to her heart. “I will be, once my heart stops pounding.”

He didn’t dare smile. She was giving him her teacher stare, one that said she did not approve. But, boy, she sure looked wobbly up there on the last rung of the ladder.

“You look like you could use some help.”

Again, she stretched her body over the end of the ladder with the string of lights in her hand. “I’m getting it,” she said, her voice straining.

She wasn’t getting it at all. She stood on her tiptoes and still had a way to go before reaching the hooks that were probably still up from past years.

“I could probably reach those, no problem.” Him being six foot one and all.

“Don’t you have work to do?” She looked down at him. “I don’t want to disturb you.”

Was she kidding? Her presence disturbed him… in a good way. And being able to admit that was a real revelation. He didn’t know anything personal about her and, besides, he had no room in his life for entanglements. He’d been dating a woman for a time and that could’ve turned into something worthwhile, but as soon as he took Cody in, she’d bailed. She didn’t want any part of that package deal. And that was what he and little Code were now, a package deal. Garrett liked women, but he and Cody both had enough upheaval in their lives without complicating it any further. So for now, he wasn’t going down that road. Cody and flipping the house was plenty for him to handle at the moment.

“I’m taking a break,” he told Nicole.

“Stringing lights is hardly a break. And besides, I promised we wouldn’t disrupt your life.”

“It’s not a disruption, if I’m offering. Which I am.” He wanted her down from that ladder before she broke her neck.

“Well, okay.” Her shoulders slumped as if she was giving up something precious. “Just as long as you’re volunteering.”

She started down the ladder, missed a rung and fell backward. He caught her fall and the next thing he knew they were both wrapped up in colored lights, just inches apart. Just like yesterday.

“This is getting to be a habit,” he said lightly. He breathed in her sugary scent, reminding him of freshly baked cookies.

“I’m a little… clumsy sometimes.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

She pulled away from him just as Cody strode over, his face covered with powdered sugar and sporting a hot chocolate moustache. “They have hot chocolate and doughnuts, Uncle Garrett.”

“I can see that. How many of those things have you eaten?”

“Just one.”

“Well, as long as it’s just one, I guess it’s okay.”

The boy grinned, showing chocolate smears on his teeth too.

Garrett only shook his head.

“What’re you doing?”

“It seems that Miss Russell is going to help me string these lights.” He shot Nicole a glance.

“You’re helping too?”

“I am. If that’s all right with you?”

“Oh, boy!”

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