Page 41 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy

Nicole faced the two men that had been a big help to her. “You guys are the best. The kids are going to love this tree.” When it was all said and done, she didn’t know how to properly thank her friends for coming to her aid and, yes, she was including Garrett in that. “Garrett would you mind, if I take a minute of your time? I mean, another minute.” She smiled, hoping she wasn’t overstepping his good nature with her other surprise.

“Uh, sure.” He glanced at Coop and Cody.

“Cody, why don’t you show me your room?” Coop asked, picking up on their need for privacy. “I hear you have some nifty remote-controlled cars. Maybe we can try one out.”

“Sure. Is that okay with you, Uncle Garrett.”

“It sure is. You go on. I’ll be just a minute.”

Once the two of them entered the house, Garrett eyed her curiously. “Have you heard from your ex again?” he asked.

“Oh, uh. No. As far as I know, he’s still in Houston.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“I, uh. I don’t know. That’s not what—”

“I know, it’s none of my business to ask.”

Nicole tilted her head to one side. “Then why did you?”

Garrett sighed and shook his head. “Maybe… I think you’re too good for him. Maybe, I know that kind of pain and I don’t want to see you go through it again.” He rubbed the back of his neck, struggling for words. “From one friend, to another, that is.”

This jumbled up, vulnerable side of Garrett the Grinch, was appealing. She could crack a big smile now, but she decided not to. “I am your friend, Garrett. But maybe you won’t think so when I tell you what I’ve done.”

His brows rose, crinkling up his forehead. “What you’ve done?”

“No, that came out wrong. I’m just a little bit nervous. But, honestly, I wasn’t trying to usurp your authority with Cody. It’s just that, well, according to our pact, I’m supposed to make Cody’s Christmas special. And you can’t do that without a tree of your own.”

“You just brought us a tree. I’m standing right in front of it.”

“Come with me,” she said, trekking carefully through the snow-laden corral and back to the truck. “That tree is for the fundraiser.” She grabbed a tarp in the front end of the bed and flipped it back. Then she reached in and brought out a little three-foot noble Christmas tree. “This tree is for Cody. It will fit right in the corner of his room and hardly take up any space at all. That’s if it’s okay with you.”

Garrett stared at the tree for long ticks of a minute and then returned his gaze to her. His eyes were as unreadable as his expression. She began to sweat. Even in this frigid weather. Oh boy. The last thing she wanted was to destroy their budding friendship. Had she gone too far this time?

“Garrett?”

“This is very thoughtful of you, Nicole.”

“So then, you’re not upset that I stuck my nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

He gave her a smile. It seemed as though they were coming more frequently lately but it didn’t mean she was immune to them. Just the opposite. A smiling friendly Garrett Brown was just as deadly.

“I’m getting used to it, Nic.”

“So am I,” she replied.

His brows lifted in surprise.

“Well, you did ask about you-know-who today.”

He feigned innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She smirked. “You catch on fast.”

“I do, don’t I?”

“Do you want to give Cody the tree yourself?” she asked. “I’ll take a step back if you’d like.”

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