Page 10 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy (Home to Texas #2)

“In business, yes. It wasn’t a wise move on my part to get involved with her, and the relationship ended two years ago, but we’ve remained friends. Sometimes, she sends work my way and I do the same for her.”

“Ah, I see.” She nodded. “I guess we all have stories to tell. So, where did you grow up?”

“Born in Oregon but Dad got this major construction job up in the Lake Tahoe area in Northern California when we were five. It was a great place for kids, and my dad worked there until the jobs ran out. After that, we moved around a lot, and finally settled in Denver, Colorado. My sister and I were happy there, and that’s where we ended up going to college.

I got a little studio apartment and she married Dell, a local firefighter.

They had a few years together. Dell died fighting a big fire that caused a lot of destruction.

He was deemed a hero and all, but he left behind a pregnant wife.

His death really took a toll on Carrie, so, after Cody was born, I tried to keep an eye on the two of them as much as I could.

Carrie really needed me, and my folks were gone by then. ”

“Sorry to hear that, Garrett.”

Her soft and gentle tone made him feel things he normally held deep inside. He felt freer and unburdened, sharing a bit about his life with her. He didn’t talk about himself too much. But with Nicole, it was easy.

“I’m glad you told me.”

So was he. “Dinner was really delicious, Nicole. Thanks again.”

“You’re very welcome. I’m glad it turned out well. Sometimes, I mess up my mama’s recipe.”

“That’s hard to believe, you being a perfectionist and all.”

“Hardly.” She chuckled, putting a cute smile on her face. “If the dough doesn’t rise properly, those rolls turn into hockey pucks. And I’m not even kidding.”

Cody brought over his dish to be washed. “Thank you, Cody,” she said as he laid the plate on the counter. “Hey, Code, have you ever played the what-if game?”

He thought about it a second and then shook his head. “No, ma’am. Is it fun?”

“Can be lots of fun.”

“C’mon,” she said putting her dish towel down. “Thanks for the help, Garrett, but KP duty is over. I’ll finish those dishes up later. Let’s sit on the sofa and I’ll teach you two how to play.”

“All right, if you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

Nicole had a persuasive way about her, and while he’d rather help her clean up, he wasn’t about to argue with her. He tossed the towel aside and strode into her living room. Nicole took a seat in a wing chair while he and Cody took the sofa.

“So the game goes like this,” she said eagerly. “Each one of us gets a turn to say the silliest thing that comes into our heads, starting with what if. So, I might say, what if dogs could talk.”

Cody giggled. “Dogs can’t talk.”

“Exactly, but what if they could? Okay, do you want to try?” she asked Cody.

“Um.” The boy took several seconds to think about it, and Nicole was patient, waiting on his reply. “What if cars could fly?”

“They’d be called airplanes,” Garrett said.

“No, Uncle Garrett, they’d be actual cars, get it?” Cody thought it was pretty brilliant.

“Well, uh, I guess that’d be really cool.”

“Your turn, Garrett,” Nicole said.

“What if, the clouds were really made out of marshmallows?”

“Awesome,” Cody said. “That’s a good one, Uncle Garrett.”

“Thanks, buddy.”

“Now we vote on who had the best idea and they get a point. We have to be really honest. Which, what if, do you like the best?” Nicole asked.

“Actually, I think flying cars are neat, but the best is if your dog could talk.”

“I agree,” Garrett said. “That’d be pretty darn amazing.”

“Wish when we get a dog, he could talk,” Cody added, his voice filled with yearning.

Immediately, Nicole realized her blunder, and when Cody wasn’t looking, she mouthed, “Sorry,” to Garrett.

He squeezed his eyes shut. He hated that he couldn’t grant Cody his every wish right now. But it’d be okay once they settled in California; he’d surprise him with a puppy. It didn’t seem as if he had a choice now.

“What if,” Nicole said, rising and bringing over a dish of peanut butter and chocolate cookies, “these cookies I baked are the most delicious?”

Cody’s expression brightened. “What if,” he began, “my uncle says I can have two?”

Garrett chimed in, “What if we thank Miss Russell first and,” he said, meeting Cody’s eyes, “then we have two?”

“Yay!”

Nicole set the plate down on the coffee table, and then brought over a glass of milk for Cody. “Here you go, Cody.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll make us some coffee,” she told him.

Garrett rose. “I’ll help.”

She shook her head immediately as if the notion was frightening. “No thanks. Remember, I’ve had your coffee.”

“Right.” He followed her into the kitchen anyway. Cody busied himself with eating cookies and looking at picture books on the coffee table.

Garrett simply crossed his arms around his middle and leaned against the wall, watching her.

She didn’t seem clumsy in her own element.

No, her moves were gracious and there was a natural flow about her movements.

“Where’d you get that apron?” he asked, just to break the silence. “Looks cute on you.”

She flushed a little, color rising on her face. “I forgot I still had it on. My, uh, my students gave it to me.” She glanced at him, then busied herself with setting the coffee to brewing.

“Must’ve made you feel good.”

She nodded. “It did. Those kinds of thoughtful gifts are the best kind.”

“They must love having you as their teacher.”

“Some more than others.” She sighed. “I have some kids who are a little rough around the edges. Requires a lot of patience on my part. But it’s my job to get them ready for what’s ahead. I have to teach them to be good students. It starts at the beginning.”

She got out the coffee creamer and sugar and took down two cups from the cabinet. Then there was silence, as if they’d run out of things to say.

She reached up to untie the straps of her apron from her neck. “Oh darn.”

“What’s wrong?” He moved away from the wall.

“The straps got into a knot.”

He walked over to her. “Turn around, I’ll get you free.”

“Oh, um, okay.” Slowly she turned around and Garrett brushed her hair away from the back of her neck. He wasn’t ready for the soft silk caressing his hand, or her sugary vanilla scent. Those sensations rippled through him, making his heart beat faster, stealing breath from his lungs.

He took his time, unfastening the knot, breathing in her sweet smell, fully aware of how close they were.

Once he was done, he whispered, “There you go.”

She inhaled a deep breath, as if gathering her courage, and turned around. “Thank you,” she said softly, gazing into his eyes.

A dozen warnings flashed in his head, yet one constant remained.

He wanted to kiss her. So badly. She must’ve seen it in his eyes, heard it in the quiet of the room, but he didn’t act.

He didn’t dare. He backed up a step, giving her a smile of regret.

One she understood. Though it wasn’t the kind of smile she wanted to see from him.

“So, uh. Looks like the coffee is ready,” he said.

“Yes, the coffee. I’ll pour.”

“And I’ll drink.”

They sipped coffee quietly and bit into their cookies.

Garrett groaned at the first bite. “Heaven.”

“Thank you.”

“What if this is the best meal I remember having in a decade?”

“What if I said you’re always welcome for dinner?”

“Be careful, Nic. I might just take you up on that.”

She smiled. “Please do.”

Garrett was beginning to think Nicole Russell couldn’t be real.

She couldn’t be that intelligent and kind and determined and pretty.

Words just tumbled out of his mouth when he was around her.

He wasn’t normally a flirty kind of guy, but around her it was easy to be.

She made him say things he usually kept to himself.

“I think we should get going. Tomorrow is a school day.”

“Okay. It’s hard to believe there’s only one more week before winter break.”

“Right, and two more weeks before the big fundraiser.”

“You’ve got a good handle on it. I think it’ll be a big success.”

“I hope so.”

Garrett glanced over at the sofa. Cody had finished his milk and eaten his two cookies. With an opened book on his lap and his head resting against the sofa cushions, he was fast asleep.

Nicole stood beside him. “He looks so peaceful.”

“I love watching him sleep,” Garrett admitted.

He sensed Nicole watching him, watching Cody.

There was a moment, a split second in time, when Garrett could see this scenario play out.

The three of them together, but it wasn’t possible.

Not with Nicole as brokenhearted as she was.

Not when the pain of losing Carrie was so strong.

He feared letting anyone else in. Not when Cody was still so vulnerable. He couldn’t chance any of it.

Still, it was a nice what if for another lifetime.