Page 20 of Christmas with the Cowgirl
He didn’t even realize Jackson had come over to them until Maggie turned and patted him on the arm.
“I approve heartily, Jackson.He’s everything you said he is.”
She walked toward the gathering of kids around the table Jeremy’s cake sat on, leaving Miles feeling a little stunned, as if he’d just won another Emmy or something.
“I can see by your expression I don’t need to explain what an honor that is,” Jackson said with a grin.
Miles reached up and tapped the dark blue cowboy hat his friend had on for the occasion.“You would know,” he said.As he said it he had the thought that the hat was the same shade of deep blue as Riley Garrett’s eyes.
He was glad Nic came up just then and Jackson had turned away, because he couldn’t stop himself from rolling his eyes at his own idiocy.But he quickly tuned in to what they were saying.
“—just arrived.”
Jackson swore under his breath.“Why is he here?”
“It wasn’t by invitation,” Nic said with a grimace.
“Sorry,” Miles said, “I zoned out.Who’s here?”
“Swiffer,” Jackson muttered.
Miles echoed Jackson’s earlier oath.“Well, I’m willing to bet just about everything I own that he’s not here for Jeremy’s birthday.”
Jackson started to move, but Miles grabbed his arm.“Let me.You go keep him away from Jeremy.”He looked at Nic.“Where is he?”
“Over by the food, of course,” she answered dryly.“Can’t miss him—he’s in a black suit and tie.”
Miles headed that way, and it only took him a moment to spot the obvious intruder.Shorter than most of the men here, his thinning hair gelled up to try and hide the bare spots, he was indeed by the long buffet table that was loaded down with goodies for both kids and adults.But Felix Swiff was glancing at it as if he didn’t trust any of it to be sanitary enough to eat.And at the children who ran up to the table to grab a treat with annoyance.Typical.
Miles picked up his pace but then stopped dead.Because Swiff was standing next to a woman with long, dark hair and a slightly uptilted nose, clad in a dark blue pullover sweater and a pair of lighter blue jeans, both of which subtly emphasized a figure he already recognized.
Riley.
He should warn her.She knew of Swiff by name thanks to Nic, but she might not know this was him.He started moving again, faster now.He got to within a yard just in time to see Riley reach out and pat Swiffer’s cheek, and his stomach roiled in response.
But then he tuned in to what she was saying, in the sweetest drawl he’d ever heard.
“—y’all take the biggest slice of that cake, hon.Don’t worry about biting off more than you can chew, because I’m sure your mouth is a whole lot bigger than you think.”
Swiffer stood there with his brow furrowed as he tried to puzzle it out.Miles had to bite his lip to keep from bursting into laughter.He must have made some sound, because she glanced his way.And he saw the amusement in her eyes.And more than anything he wanted to ignore Swiffer and walk away with her.But he’d volunteered for this, so he had no choice.He pulled the man aside, away from Riley.
“Felix, didn’t expect to see you here.Since when do you care about a kid’s birthday party?”
“I don’t,” Swiffer said, sniffing audibly.“I just came to make a final effort to talk some sense into Jackson.The network brass says they’ll consider a restart, if he comes back.He owes us all that.”
“He owes his son more,” Miles said sharply.“Give it up.”
Swiffer gave him his usual disdainful look.“You speaking for him now?”
“In this case, I’m saying what he would say.”
“You’ve really gone over to the other side.”Disgust laced his voice.
Miles stiffened.“Your problem,” he said slowly, “is that you think there have to be two sides.Go home, Felix.You won’t accomplish anything here.”
Except maybe make me, and Jackson, hate you even more.
“Don’t go thinking you’re invincible,” Swiffer said in an unmistakable tone of warning.“You’ve had some luck, but maybe that’s all it’s been.”
