Page 48 of Still A Cowboy
Delia’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, read the message, and her smile stretched wide. “Fia says the vlog just dropped. The one Lark and Sawyer did on the Seaglass.”
“That’s great,” Willa said, but the ache in her chest didn’t go anywhere. She was proud of the saloon, proud of how it had weathered the storm, but that didn’t fill the space Cal had left behind.
Delia slipped her arm through Willa’s and gently guided her off the beach, their boots crunching on the gravel path as they headed back toward town. “Fia says it’s already taking off. Lots of views, shares, comments. People are eating it up.”
Willa’s steps picked up even though her heart still felt heavy. “That’s good. Really good.”
“They’re sending a thank-you gift,” Deliaadded, her voice light with something suspiciously close to mischief. “Something big. Fia says it just got delivered.”
Willa’s heart skipped. Something big. Something that sounded like a setup. “It’s not Cal, is it? You didn’t arrange some surprise reunion, right?”
Delia gave her a sideways look and a knowing smile. “You’ll have to come see.”
They rounded the corner, and the Seaglass came into view, its windows glowing, Christmas lights draped across the front like the saloon was wearing a festive grin. Fia was waiting outside, practically bouncing in place.
“It’s here!” Fia called out, her grin huge.
Willa pushed open the door, her pulse jumping, part of her daring to hope. In the middle of the bar stood a life-sized stuffed Santa. He was wearing a bright Hawaiian shirt, red board shorts, sunglasses, and flip-flops. One fuzzy hand clutched a coconut drink with a tiny umbrella, and the other held a miniature surfboard.
Willa stopped and stared. “This is the big present?”
Fia nodded, clearly thrilled. “Yep. Lark said Wild Rose Point deserves its own legend.”
Delia walked past her, already admiring the ridiculousness of it. “They even sent a name. Sandy Claus.”
Willa’s laugh broke loose, light and a little shaky. “Of course they did.”
Her mom and sister circled around the new addition, chatting about where to put him and whether they could dress him up for other holidays. But even with all the laughter and the growing buzz of the bar as customers drifted in, Willa’s chest still felt hollow.
She told herself it was just a gift. It didn’t mean anything. She had told herself not to expect anything else.
But still, it wasn’t Cal. And as much as she loved her family and her saloon, she wasn’t sure how long she could stand that missing piece.
Before Willa could turn away from Sandy Claus, a voice called out from behind it. “Hope this guy isn’t stealing all my thunder.”
She blinked, heart skipping, and Cal stepped out from behind the giant stuffed Santa, wearing a Santa hat slightly askew, jeans that still fit him far too well, and that slow, devastating smile that had been haunting her for weeks.
Her breath caught and she practically threw her cocoa mug onto the table. “Cal?”
He nodded, his eyes warm and steady on hers. “Yeah. Figured if there’s kissing on the beach at Christmas, I better make sure I’m here to see if the legend’s right.”
Willa’s pulse raced as she took a step closer, unable to believe he was really standing there. “You’re here. I thought… I thought you had work. That you had to stay in Dallas.”
He shrugged. “Business is more or less backon solid ground now.” He hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her in just enough to make her heart flutter. “Come on. Let’s take a walk.”
Willa wanted to kiss him right there, wanted to hold on to him and not let go, but more than anything, she was just so glad he was there. She snuggled closer to him, as close as she could get and still walk, and she let him lead her outside.
The wind off the ocean was brisk, and the Christmas lights lining the beach path twinkled softly around them.
“How’ve you been?” Cal asked as they strolled.
“All right,” she said, then shook her head. “No. I’ve been miserable without you.”
He stopped, grinned, and kissed her. Hard. Hot. His arms wrapped around her like he had no intention of letting her go again. Her hands slid into his hair, her heart pounding like a drum.
Somewhere nearby, a few people whistled and clapped as they passed, calling out playful cheers. Neither Willa nor Cal cared enough to stop.
When they finally broke apart, breathless, Willa rested her forehead against his, her smile pressed close to his skin.
