Page 54 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy

Next, the high schoolers, dressed in all white gowns, the girls with baby’s breath headbands in their hair, took their places and Nicole found Paulette in the first row of the choir. She smiled to her parents and then looked out at the audience, her gaze landing on someone. Nicole followed the direction of Paulette’s focus and found her connecting with Garrett, who had lifted Cody up, to give her a smile and a wave. Paulette gave them a little wave back, looking pleased that they’d come.

The church was quiet, and there was some shifting in the chairs, awaiting the next performance. Paulette took several steps forward, taking a place in the center of the choir and when the music began, her beautiful solo performance of “Joy to the World,” captured everyone’s full attention. Her voice was sweet yet powerful, warm and emotional, every note pure perfection. She’d always had talent, but her voice now had become refined and strong. When Paulette finished the song, she was met with a standing ovation. Tears entered her eyes as she looked at her parents. Paul and Louisa Sanchez, the school principal, were quite taken by their daughter’s amazing talent. Both of them were moved to tears too.

The beauty of the song filled Nicole’s heart with hope and, this time, she deliberately looked at Garrett and found him peering straight at her, watching her and smiling. That beautiful smile of his, which he rarely showed, could melt a girl’s heart.

He could melt your heart.

She couldn’t tear her gaze away and found herself locked in to him. And the little boy beside him. Only when the music began again, and the choir started singing “Deck the Halls,” did she turn around in her seat, to focus, or try to focus on the music.

“Awfully good,” Julie commented.

“Yeah, Paulette is amazing.”

Julie bit her lip and grinned. Oh, she wasn’t talking about Paulette. Julie had caught her eyeing Garrett.

“Stop that,” she said, but only half-heartedly.

“I didn’t say a word. And Paulette is super talented.”

After the show, refreshments were served in the vestibule and there was no avoiding Garrett. Especially since Miguel and Julie made a point of heading straight over to the punch bowl and cookie table where Cody was munching on a gingerbread cookie. Nicole hung back a little, staying out of their circle. Garrett immediately walked over to her. “Hey there.”

“Hi.”

“Can I pour you some punch or get you a cookie?”

“No thanks.” She glanced around, looking into the crowd.

“The performance was really good. Cody enjoyed it.”

“Yes, it was,” she said stiffly. She was being aloof or trying to be, but it wasn’t really in her DNA. She had trouble trying to keep a distance from the tall, dark-haired man who seemed to occupy too much of her mind lately. There was a pull, an attraction that she’d been fighting and she couldn’t falter now.

“Can’t believe the pipes on Paulette,” he said. “She really blew me away.”

“I know. She is very good,” she said dryly.

Garrett stared at her, as if trying to puzzle something out.

“Too bad the Coopers couldn’t make it. I guess Cassie came down with a cold.”

“Yes, that’s what I heard too.”

“Nicole?”

“What?” She lifted her lids to him, finally peering into those melt-your-heart blue eyes. It only made her angrier with herself, for slipping, for allowing him to get to her. She felt herself softening. “We have to start constructing the booths. And getting the wagon decorated. Is it okay if we start tomorrow?”

He squinted, continuing to stare at her. “Sure.”

“Okay, great. Well, I guess I’ll see you then.” She brushed past him, but her hand suddenly was grasped and laced with his and she swiveled around. “Garrett, what are you doing?”

“Come outside with me.” It was more of a demand than a question.

Her mind raced, she didn’t want to talk to him. “What about Cody?”

“He’s with Julie and Miguel. He’ll be okay for a few minutes.”

She hesitated a second too long, because he simply tugged her along. “C’mon,” he said.

And like a little puppy, she followed, more curious about what he was going to say than she’d like to admit.

---