Page 15 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy (Home to Texas #2)

“Cody, why don’t you show me your room?” Coop asked, picking up on their need for privacy. “I hear you have some nifty remote-controlled cars. Maybe we can try one out.”

“Sure. Is that okay with you, Uncle Garrett.”

“It sure is. You go on. I’ll be just a minute.”

Once the two of them entered the house, Garrett eyed her curiously. “Have you heard from your ex again?” he asked.

“Oh, uh. No. As far as I know, he’s still in Houston.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“I, uh. I don’t know. That’s not what—”

“I know, it’s none of my business to ask.”

Nicole tilted her head to one side. “Then why did you?”

Garrett sighed and shook his head. “Maybe… I think you’re too good for him. Maybe, I know that kind of pain and I don’t want to see you go through it again.” He rubbed the back of his neck, struggling for words. “From one friend, to another, that is.”

This jumbled up, vulnerable side of Garrett the Grinch, was appealing. She could crack a big smile now, but she decided not to. “I am your friend, Garrett. But maybe you won’t think so when I tell you what I’ve done.”

His brows rose, crinkling up his forehead. “What you’ve done?”

“No, that came out wrong. I’m just a little bit nervous. But, honestly, I wasn’t trying to usurp your authority with Cody. It’s just that, well, according to our pact, I’m supposed to make Cody’s Christmas special. And you can’t do that without a tree of your own.”

“You just brought us a tree. I’m standing right in front of it.”

“Come with me,” she said, trekking carefully through the snow-laden corral and back to the truck.

“That tree is for the fundraiser.” She grabbed a tarp in the front end of the bed and flipped it back.

Then she reached in and brought out a little three-foot noble Christmas tree.

“This tree is for Cody. It will fit right in the corner of his room and hardly take up any space at all. That’s if it’s okay with you. ”

Garrett stared at the tree for long ticks of a minute and then returned his gaze to her. His eyes were as unreadable as his expression. She began to sweat. Even in this frigid weather. Oh boy. The last thing she wanted was to destroy their budding friendship. Had she gone too far this time?

“Garrett?”

“This is very thoughtful of you, Nicole.”

“So then, you’re not upset that I stuck my nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

He gave her a smile. It seemed as though they were coming more frequently lately but it didn’t mean she was immune to them. Just the opposite. A smiling friendly Garrett Brown was just as deadly.

“I’m getting used to it, Nic.”

“So am I,” she replied.

His brows lifted in surprise.

“Well, you did ask about you-know-who today.”

He feigned innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She smirked. “You catch on fast.”

“I do, don’t I?”

“Do you want to give Cody the tree yourself?” she asked. “I’ll take a step back if you’d like.”

He shook his head. “No, it was a gift from you and it should stay that way.”

She scrunched up her nose. “I also brought a few small ornaments to help start him off.”

“Of course, you did.”

Garrett sighed and lifted the tree easily, carrying it into the house for her. He walked to Cody’s room and hid just outside the door, gesturing for Nicole to enter first.

“Hi, guys,” she said to Cody and Coop. They were on the floor apparently racing cars. Coop was at the helm of one controller while Cody was steering the other. “Are you almost through here?” she asked, trying to keep her smile from showing.

“Yep, Cody here beat me three times already.” Coop rose from the floor. “I’d say he’s a pretty good driver.”

“I bet he is. Cody, we have a surprise for you.”

Cody got to his feet fast. “You do?”

“Yes, your uncle and I, well, we figured out a great place to put a tree.”

“A tree?” Cody seemed confused. They’d just set up a tree outside. “What does—”

And then, Garrett stepped into the room, well, the tree came first, so it was the first thing Cody spotted. “Wow. It is a tree.” Cody rushed over to touch the needles. “Smells good, Uncle Garrett. Do I really get to have it?”

Garrett nodded. “It’s all yours. How about we put it right here?” He set the tree in the corner, just like Nicole suggested. “There, it’s a perfect fit.”

“It is.” Then Cody ran straight into Garrett’s arms. He was only tall enough to reach around his waist, resting his head against Garrett’s torso. But he hugged him so tightly, his little face turned red. Seeing them like that brought a tear to Nicole’s eye.

“The tree was Miss Russell’s idea,” Garrett told him.

“It’s from both of us.” She wasn’t about to take all the credit. It wasn’t about that. And judging by the way Cody had attached himself to Garrett made it all worthwhile.

Cody turned to her. “Thank you, Miss Russell.”

“You are very welcome Cody. Now, I’d better let Coop get home. He was nice enough to drive me out here.”

Garrett snapped his head up gazing into her eyes. For a moment, she thought he’d ask her to stay, but the invitation didn’t come. It was for the best anyway. “Oh, I almost forgot. I left a box of ornaments in the truck to help you get started on decorating.”

“I’ll get it,” Coop said. “Want to come help me, Cody?”

“Sure do.” The boy practically skipped out of the room, following Coop.

Once they were alone, Garrett walked over to her, his eyes focused and gleaming. “That was thoughtful of you.” He reached out to push a strand of hair away from her face and the tender brush of his fingers on her cheek caused her pulse to race.

She stood still, holding her breath waiting for something to come, for something to happen.

But then, Cody raced back into the room, the box of ornaments in his arms. They broke apart quickly as if they’d done something wrong, and if Coop noticed, he was a good actor, because his expression never changed.

“I’d better go,” she said, hiding her disappointment.

“You’re not gonna help us decorate?”

“Miss Russell has to get home, Cody,” Garrett said. “You both have school tomorrow.”

“That’s right I do. Enjoy your tree, Cody.”

“I will, Miss Russell.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Garrett said to both of them.

“No, stay with Cody. We know the way out. Ready, Coop?”

“Yep, we sure do,” Coop said. They bundled up into their winter jackets again. “And, Garrett, if you ever need help with the house, let me know.”

“I will, thanks. Same goes to you. I’m available, if you ever need an extra hand too.”

“Good to know.”

Nicole and Coop walked out the door and got in the truck. The sun was descending, brightening the sky in deep hues of pink and gold. It was a beautiful display that would be gone as quickly as it had come. Sunsets in Texas were unequalled.

As soon as they were off the property, Coop turned to her. “Something going on between you two?”

Nicole’s tummy turned over. “No.”

Coop smiled. “At least you’re not pretending that you don’t know what I’m talking about. It was a nice thing you did for Cody today. I bet he’ll never forget having his very own Christmas tree.”

“Thanks, that makes me feel better. I acted first, without getting Garrett’s permission, so I wasn’t sure how he was going to take it.”

“Seems to me nothing you do would upset Garrett.”

“What?” She turned to Coop. “Nothing’s further than the truth. He’s… he’s…”

“All I’m saying is that Garrett seems relaxed around you and I think he’s glad he met you.”

“Relaxed? Whenever we’re around each other, there’s nothing but tension.”

Coop eyed her and then burst out laughing. “Oh, man, Nicole. You’re making my case.”

Nicole’s hands went to her face and she pulled the skin down. “Geesh. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Out of the mouths of babes. Or should I say schoolteachers.”

“You shouldn’t say anything, Coop. You are way off base.”

“I think Garrett likes you. And I think the feeling is mutual.”

“I thought you were on my side, Coop. Taylor must be brainwashing you. She and Julie never let up and it’s sweet, because they think they’re helping, but they’re really not.”

“Okay, I get the message.”

She nodded. “I really hope Cody remembers this Christmas in good way.”

“Am I allowed to say you’re making a positive impact in his life?”

Nicole beamed inside. “Yes, and thank you for saying that. I truly hope so. He’s a special child.”

What she didn’t tell Coop was she was beginning to think the same about Cody’s uncle. Garrett was special too, and her feelings for him were growing every day.

As much as she tried to stop thinking about him, she couldn’t.

And that was a scary thing.

*

“Hey, man. Can’t thank you enough for coming out here again,” Garrett said to Coop. “If I thought I could handle this on my own, I wouldn’t have bothered you.”

“No big deal, I’ll catch you next time. This slab of granite is too dang heavy for one person.”

Garrett needed to secure this last piece onto the kitchen island.

He was tired of looking at the plank of wood substituting for a countertop.

After he installed this piece, the room would be complete.

All the appliances were in, and the only thing left to do was the flooring.

He’d been working his butt off, trying to finish the interior, so he could tackle the exterior and be out of here, hopefully by early February.

And even as he thought that, an image of Nicole Russell, rushed into his mind.

She had no place there, but that didn’t seem to matter.

“Okay, ready?” he said.

“Ready.”

At the same time, with Coop on one end, and him on the other, they lifted the heavy piece up, but Garrett’s hand slipped and he lost control of the slab. “Whoa!”

It only took a second before a sharp edge of the granite came down on his arm, slashing it open. Blood immediately spurted out. “Let it go,” he shouted to Coop.

Coop dropped the piece onto the wood underpinnings of the counter, just missing taking out another piece of Garrett’s arm.

Garrett grabbed his arm tight and bent in half, the pain immediate and excruciating.