Page 15 of Her Cowboy Christmas
“You can be my first client.Free of charge, of course.”He winks.
“You’ll go out of business quickly if that’s your business model,” I tease.
Cole chuckles.“It’s not.I’ll charge everyone else.Everyone but you.”
My cheeks heat.“Well, now I feel so special.”
His gaze captures mine.“You are.”
I don’t know what to reply to that, so I take another bite of pizza.We eat in silence for a bit before cleaning up and getting back to work.
Cole helps me lift the arbor onto the drop cloth, and we start painting, opening the back door to vent the paint fumes.He starts a fire in the living room so we don’t get cold.I smile, relaxing as I spend time with him.
“Ready to call it a night?”Cole asks once we’re done painting.
“Yeah, I’m getting tired.I need to be up early tomorrow for work.”
We clean up, and I follow him out to his truck.
“I think we’re more than even now,” I say as he drives me home.
Cole frowns.“Even?”
“With the favors.I think I’ll be the one who owes you after we’re done.”
He smirks.“You can take me out to dinner.”
“Pizza?”I ask, ignoring the skip of my heart.
“Whatever you want.”
I gather my things as he pulls up in front of my apartment.“I can drive out to your place tomorrow after work.”
He shakes his head.“I’ll come get you.”
“I don’t want to bother you,” I protest.
“You could never be a bother, Blair.Never.”
“Okay,” I whisper.“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
Cole climbs out of the truck to open my door for me.I smile up at him and wave goodbye as I head up the stairs to my apartment.
As I lock the door behind me, I wonder if it’s wise to trust him or if I’m making a big mistake.
FOUR
Cole
I finishup with the horses and return to the house to clean up.I still have a few hours until I get to see Blair, and I plan to run into town to grab us a few things before I go to the bank to pick her up.
Once inside, I head straight to the shower.I smile, thinking about Blair as I shampoo my hair.
I’m fascinated by her.She’s fun to be around.I love the way her brain works.I love what she notices and cares about.She’s funny, smart, kind, and drop-dead gorgeous, though I get the feeling she’s not aware of how beautiful she is.
I turn off the water and towel off.As I step out of the bathroom, I hear my phone ringing and hurry to answer it in case it’s Blair.
Instead, I see Devon’s name on the screen.
