Page 5 of Her Cowboy Santa
Something about the way he says the word naughty has me wishing I were that type of woman, the one who did impulsive things with strangers. But I’m not. I’m a single mom with a baby to look after.
As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, his gaze goes to the back seat which has a few pieces of luggage but not much, far too little for a woman moving from her home. It might be my imagination, but his features seem to soften. “Are you and the little elf ready to go?”
Chapter 3
Callie
“Yes,” I whisper, unable to shake the feeling that I’ve been waiting to go there all my life.
“My brother is coming to take your car and get it fixed. I’ll make sure it gets to Silver Bell Hollow for you later this week. I’m Nate and this is Rudolph, Rudy to his friends.” He yanks his gloves off and holds out a bare hand to me.
“Callie.” I barely manage to suppress the chattering of my teeth.
His hand is tanned and dotted with tiny white scars. His nails are neatly trimmed but not manicured. The callouses on his palm scrape against my soft skin, his touch warm and gentle.
This is not a man who gets manicures, so his cuticles are healthy and his nails are buffered. No, this is a man who works hard all day long. His body is his tool, and he takes pride in it.
“Fuck, you’re cold,” he mutters and holds out his gloves to me. “Take them and warm up.”
I slip my hands into the big gloves. “My boy’s name is Danny.”
He nods. “Got plenty of space in my cab for all your stuff. But first, let’s get both of you loaded up so you can start getting warm.”
His truck smells faintly of cinnamon and sugar. It’s so warm in here that I want to sob in gratitude. I didn’t even realize how chilly I was until he insisted that we sit. Danny is still comfortable, thanks to the coat I bought him a month ago. It was expensive but I’d pay any price to make sure he’s cozy.
Nate has the car seat buckled in correctly within a few minutes then he moves all of my stuff over to his truck. I try twice to offer my help but each time, he shakes his head and keeps whistling Christmas carols under his breath.
Rudy stays with me and Danny as if he’s decided he’s our personal bodyguard. He rests at my feet, pressing against my legs and warming me with his heat.
When Danny is safely buckled in and my things are moved, I climb into the passenger seat. The good smell is even stronger up here, and I finally realize what the scent is. Cookies.
Nate joins me in the cab and passes me an insulated hot bag designed to keep food from getting cold. “I stopped for cookies on the way. Seems like sugar would be a good idea after you’ve broken down on the side of the road.”
Tears prick my eyes. It’s no wonder Mary sent him. He’s just as sweet as she is.
He taps an insulated cup in the console. “I wasn’t sure if you were drinking coffee on account of the little one or not. Figured hot chocolate was a safe bet.”
In less than thirty minutes of knowing him, Nate has shown me more kindness and consideration than I ever had in my entire marriage. I think cowboy Santa might just be the man to restore my faith that there are still good guys out there.
I scan his hands as he grips the steering wheel and merges back onto the interstate. There’s no wedding ring, but that doesn’t always mean anything. He could take it off when he’s working. A lot of men do that to protect their bands.
I take out the bag of treats with a logo for a place called Courage Cookies. I peek inside, letting out a small gasp. “Snickerdoodles are my favorite.”
“No one makes them as good as Haley, our local baker,” he says.
The cinnamon flavor sugar cookie with the chewy center is exactly what I needed. I didn’t even stop for breakfast this morning. I just got on the road with Danny as soon as I finished putting everything in order at the apartment.
Nate lets me finish my snack without peppering me with questions. The radio plays soft instrumental Christmas music as the icy rain pelts the truck, and I can’t remember the last time I felt this safe or cozy.
I finish the last bite of cookie and wash it down with a sip of hot chocolate. My voice is soft when I ask, “So, what did you do to get on the naughty list?”
“I don’t know what I did to get on the naughty list. But since you’re on it, I’m glad I am too,” he says with a conspiratorial smile like we’re partners in crime.
I don’t need to be noticing how beautiful his smile is or how much I like the spicy scent of his cologne. I need to stay focused. He’s just here as a favor. “Thank you for doing this, picking me and Danny up.”
“I’d do anything for Mary and Christopher.” The note of conviction in his tone tells me this cowboy is loyal. The type of person you can call in a crisis, and he’ll be there. It doesn’t matter whether you’re family or a perfect stranger, this cowboy shows up.
“Have you known them a long time?” I pick the crumbs from my blue jeans. I ate my cookies so quickly I’m surprised there was anything left.
