Page 58 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy

“Really now?” Garrett said, pursing his lips. “So glad I came to Cottonwood to be bossed around by the two of you about what I can andcannotdo.”

But his lips curled up as he spoke making her believe he wasn’t too very miffed at all.

*

Garrett knocked onNicole’s apartment door at eight thirty Sunday morning, wondering what in hell he was so darn giddy about. He had a life plan that didn’t include staying in Last Stand, that didn’t include her in his life. But hell if that mattered. He enjoyed being with Nicole and she needed his help. The last thing he’d wanted her to do was to drive out to parts unknown by herself. Not with her car, which probably wouldn’t hold more than half a dozen tumbleweeds anyway, if she did find them.

She opened on his second round of knocks and he came face-to-face with her. She looked adorable, with all her long blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, wearing a pink puffer jacket and a pair of black boots over a slick pair of jeans.

“Good morning,” she said.

“You look… nice and warm.” He refrained from calling her adorable, because where would he go from there? Telling her he dreamt about her at night or liked kissing her? Nope. He couldn’t go there. Especially since he’d heard from Blake Charles early this morning. He was getting some inquiries about the ranch, his clients wanting to know when the renovations would be complete. Blake wanted to know the same thing since Garrett’s injury had put him behind schedule. But as soon as he got the okay, he’d have to work twice as hard to catch up.

“I am warm. I’ve got layers on top of layers. It’s unseasonably cold this winter.”

“That’s what I’m hearing from just about everyone in Last Stand.”

“Come in for a second,” Nicole said, with her usual sweet smile. She ushered him inside and led him over to the kitchen. “I just finished making muffins for the drive. I hope you like blueberry and lemon?”

“I wouldn’t refuse any of those,” he said.

“I made us a thermos of hot coffee too. Tell me it’s not too bad out there.”

“I would, but then I’d be lying.” He smiled. “The heater in my truck works really well.”

“That’s a relief.” Then she bit her lip as if realizing something. “Where’s Cody? I thought he’d be coming along.”

“Normally, he would jump at the chance of a tumbleweed search. But I wouldn’t do that to you. That boy doesn’t sit still in the truck for long periods of time without getting bored. Taylor and Coop invited him over to play with Cassie. She’s watching Muffy for a few hours and Cody thought that a better option.”

“Hmm, do you get the idea that our friends are doing a bit of matchmaking?”

“They don’t need to,” he said, then squeezed his eyes shut.

“No, I guess they don’t,” Nicole answered way too quickly. She’d taken it the wrong way.

“I didn’t mean that it’s not possible for the two of—”

“Didn’t you?”

“I only meant if things were different, I…” He put a cork in it.

If he was staying, he’d be asking her out nonstop. If he was staying, he’d make sure no more Johnnys would darken her door. But Blake had already gotten some interest in the ranch from eager buyers. His path was pretty much set.

He sighed heavily. “Never mind.”

Nicole blinked, and gave her head a shake. “I… think,” she began slowly, “we… should… stick to our search.”

He agreed. He’d already put his foot in it. “Yep, let’s do that.”

Nicole packed up her muffins and thermos in an insulated bag and grabbed her gloves. “I’m ready to go.”

“Me too. Let me take that bag.” He slid his hand over her fingers, feeling the soft warm skin there and their eyes met for a brief instant. He couldn’t keep from looking at her, from feeling the sharp pangs invading his gut, whenever he touched her.

“Here we are,” he said, cloud puffs coming out of his mouth from the frigid cold.

He tossed the bag in first, then offered his hand. She grabbed on and climbed into the cab of his truck. She fussed a bit with the seat belt, and he helped buckle her in, then closed the door. Though it was only a drive to find elusive tumbleweeds amid a snow-laden landscape for a charity event, this had the feel of a real date. There were no friends around, or Cody, for that matter to provide a buffer between the two of them.

He climbed in and gave her a look. “Ready?”

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