Page 18 of Christmas with the Cowgirl
“And if not,” Riley said, “the police department uses somebody in town when they need a sketch.”
Miles appreciated that she didn’t elaborate on the situations where a police sketch might be necessary.“I’ll tell Jackson,” he said.
It wasn’t until they were out of the bedroom, Miles regaining the ability to breathe normally again, which he seemed to lose around Riley Garrett, that Jeremy asked brightly, “You’re comin’ to my birthday party, aren’t you?”
“I did get an official invitation,” she said, smiling at the boy again.
“You gotta come.There’s gonna be cake and ice cream and everything.And Dad needs grown-ups for company.”
She laughed at that and shot Miles a sideways look.Miles shrugged.“I think the whole third-grade class is coming.”
“Well, that should be nicely chaotic,” she said.
“And now I get to show them the new pony.Hey,” the boy said as if it had only just occurred to him, “what’s his name?”
Miles liked the way she took the boy’s every question so seriously.“You know, all they ever called him was ‘the pony,’ so I guess you get to name him yourself.”
The boy’s eyes widened.“Whoa.I have to think of something good.”
“I agree.And he deserves a very cool name,” Miles said, “so you’d better start thinking.”
“You’ll help, won’t you?”he asked, looking worried.
Miles had to swallow before he could say, “Always.”
When he looked up again, Riley was looking at him in a different sort of way.But it was Jeremy she spoke to.
“I’ve got some very special hot chocolate made.Would you like some?”
“Is it the stuff from the saloon?”he asked, looking hopeful.
“That it is, you genuine Last Stander,” she said with a grin.
“Cool!”Jeremy’s brow furrowed.“Or should that be hot?”
She laughed, shaking her head a little as she prepared the drink for the boy.Then she looked at Miles.“You want this, or do you need more caffeine to deal with this livewire?”
“The more the better,” he said, a little fervently.He hadn’t had his usual morning hit, and he was feeling the lack.
“Then you’ll want my dad’s coffee.Fair warning though, it’s strong enough to walk into your cup on its own.”
He nearly burst out laughing at that one.“Sounds about right, then.”
They ended up sitting on the stools at the kitchen counter, with Jeremy between them.Which, Miles thought, was probably for the best.He took a longer look around the living room, liking the feel of it.Which was a little surprising given how opposite it was to his own, rather modern décor at home.The color scheme was consistent, shades of blue with a splash of yellow here and there, and the sturdy, solid furniture looked like exactly what you’d want to sink into after a day of hard ranch work.
Nic had told him it was just her and her father living here, but not much else.Other than a rather pointed warning about her dear friend and former babysitter having been twice burned and triple wary.An unnecessary warning, he’d told her.He wasn’t at all in the market for that kind of trouble.
“So a personal question, Mr.Flint,” Riley began, but stopped when he shook his head.
“I only answer personal questions from people who call me Miles.”
“Was that permission?”she asked, arching a brow at him, and Miles found himself smiling again.There was something about this woman, over and above that glorious fall of dark hair, those impossibly deep, dark blue eyes, and that shape that made a pair of ordinary jeans look…extraordinary.There was depth there, and a deep-seated confidence that he doubted any man could shake.
Although why he’d be wondering what it would take to rattle this woman was beyond him.
“Of course,” he said, a little hastily because he knew he’d gotten lost in unaccustomed thoughts.
“All right…Miles.Why aren’t you an actor?You’ve certainly got the looks.”
