Page 31 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy

Her shoulders slumped and her cheeks flamed like twin fire pokers. How would she ever face him again? To assume he’d sent her flowers, just because… Oh, she didn’t want to think about it.

Slowly, she walked into the kitchen, and with one look at her, Julie’s big smile, disappeared. “What’s wrong?”

“I called Garrett. And he didn’t send the flowers.”

“Oh.”

“God.” She put her hands to her hot face. “It was so awkward.”

Julie sat her down. “Well, it was a logical conclusion. You shouldn’t feel—”

Nicole pinned Julie with a sour look.

“Okay, I get how it could be awkward.”

“Times a hundred.”

“Yeah. Well, if he didn’t send them, who did?”

“It had to be my mom and dad. They know these are my favorite. I’ll call them later and see if they mention anything about flowers.”

“I’m sure it was them,” Julie said, trying to lift her spirits.

Nicole wasn’t sure of anything. She poured herself a tall glass of wine.

“A good idea,” Julie said, joining her in a glass.

They sat quietly, Julie reading her correctly, she needed silence right now.

And the worst part about this, aside from her making a fool out of herself with Garrett, she was actually disappointed he hadn’t sent the flowers. For just a moment, hope had emerged that he had and all the implications that went along with it.

Now that she’d spoken with him, she realized there was nothing to feel hopeful about, and shouldn’t she be darn glad about that?

The last thing she needed was another impossible involvement with a man.

*

Garrett sat aroundthe Cooper kitchen table with Coop, Miguel, Joe and two other friends. Coop’s wife, Taylor, had served up nachos, beer, and pretzels to the poker players, then disappeared to put Cassie to bed.

Now as he stared at two pair, jacks and fives, his mind drifted to the phone call he’d had with Nicole a couple of hours ago. In truth, he wasn’t thrilled that someone had sent her flowers. The news had thrown him and a flash of jealousy stumbled into his gut when she’d first asked him about it. Unfortunately, he’d had to set her straight. The flowers weren’t from him. God, he hated hearing the weird silence on her end of the phone, and then her fast farewell. She’d mentioned her parents. Had they been the ones who’d sent the flowers? He wanted to believe that.

You don’t want some other guy sending her flowers.

“You gonna stare at those cards all night?” Grandpa Joe asked. “Or, are you gonna bet?”

The guys chuckled and Garrett bounced back to the game. “Sure, I raise ten.”

He put in his chips. Three of the players groaned and folded their cards.

The others called him.

And when they finally showed their cards, Garrett was beat out by Miguel, who held three twos. Beaten by a trio of deuces? That was a low blow.

“Sorry,” Miguel said, raking in his chips. He didn’t sound sorry.

They took a break to stretch their legs and get some air. Garrett walked outside taking Coop up on seeing the barn that was now converted into a workshop. Once in the barn, Coop turned on the lights. “This is where my father started his business,” Coop said. “And where I’m likely to stay.”

It was a good-sized work space, a place large enough to keep the heavy-duty tools easily available. Garrett admired the setup. “You’ve been here all your life?” he asked.

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