Page 88 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy

“I’ll go first. What if we could live on the ranch forever?”

Garrett smiled. He’d been mulling over those very same thoughts. That was why he hadn’t signed the real estate papers yet. He’d given his word he would, but nothing was finalized. He’d been stalling and now he knew why. There wassomethingmore important than selling the ranch.Someonemore important in their lives.

“What if we go ask Nicole if she likes the idea?”

“Right now?”

“Yeah, right now.”

And twenty minutes later, Cody and Garrett made a very late Christmas visit to Nicole’s apartment.

He texted her they were coming, and she greeted them at the door with a surprised look on the face. She was beautiful in all ways, and Garrett had been a fool not to recognize it sooner. He only hoped he could repair the damage he’d done and earn back her trust.

“It’s snowing,” Cody told her eagerly.

“I know, Cody. You were the first one I thought of when I saw the snow tonight. Come in, please.”

They entered the house quietly. Her parents must’ve gone to bed, there was no sign of them. She led them over to the sofa and they took a seat. “Cody did you catch snowflakes tonight?”

“I did. Only, it would’ve been better if you were there. I wanted to catch snowflakes with you too,” Cody said.

“You did?” Tears welled in her eyes. “Th-that’s awfully sweet.”

Cody nodded and laid his head on the sofa’s arm.

“He’s pretty tired. It’s been an exciting day and night for him.”

Nicole picked up a throw blanket and covered Cody, tucking him in, making him comfortable.

Garrett gestured to the window that looked out onto her courtyard. She met him there so as not to disturb Cody.

“Garrett, I don’t understand why you’re here, exactly, in the middle of the night.”

“It’s still Christmas. My new watch told me so.” He showed her his left wrist and she smiled. “I’m not a grinch anymore.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“It’s because of you, Nic. You’ve made everything better in my life. You showed me how to have fun. How to open up and let the world in. You’ve called me out when I needed it and you’ve been a really good friend.”

“Friend?”

“A friend and so much more. I’ve been trying to protect Cody and myself, trying to keep everyone out, because losing Carrie hurt so damn much. I didn’t think either of us could go through that pain again. I almost didn’t see what was right before my eyes. This town is a great place to raise Cody. The people have embraced us with open arms. We’ve made friends here, real friends.

“I’m sorry for keeping the truth from you about Cottonwood. I never meant to hurt you. After all you went through with your ex, I didn’t want to be that guy who treats you the same way. You’re a special woman, Nicole. I know that. The thought of leaving here was killing me. But I thought I had to, for Cody’s sake and his future.

“It may not snow every day in winter like it would in Mammoth, but somehow I don’t think Cody would mind so much. He loves living on the ranch. Tonight, Cody and I played the what if game and he asked me, what if we lived on Cottonwood Ranch forever?”

Her face softened to a sweet expression. She whispered, “What did you say?”

He took hold of her hands. “I said, what if I asked Nicole how she felt about that idea.”

“I love the idea, Garrett. It’s an amazing idea.”

“I think so too. We can manage without selling the ranch. I can pick up work with Coop and I’ve got this crazy idea that he and I can flip the house I bought in Mammoth and then maybe work together here in Last Stand. Either way, I’ll make it work, so long as we’re here with you.”

He urged her on, nodding, his heart pumping like crazy. “Your turn.”

She nibbled on her lips for a brief second. “What if we spend the rest of the holiday week together as a family?”

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