Page 31 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy (Home to Texas #2)

Earlier, he’d been a fool, pouring out his emotions to her.

This place, this date, was to make her feel as special as she was.

He cared for her, so much so he weaseled a guy out of asking her to the ball himself.

She’d made this holiday bearable for him and for Cody.

And how had he repaid her? By selfishly sharing his own sad story and lousy mood.

Good thing he’d come out of it quickly. He really meant to honor their new pact.

To have F.U.N. and put all his grief aside to show her a good time.

Thankfully, Nicole looked happy, and was absolutely beautiful tonight.

“Oh look, there’s Julie and Taylor at the table,” she said, spotting her friends. She waved and the girls called her over. “I’ll be back in a sec. I’m just going to say hello.”

“Sure, go right ahead.”

He found Miguel and Coop standing by the bar and walked over. They shook hands in greeting. “This is some affair,” he said.

“You could say that,” Coop said. “They put the spit and shine to this ballroom every year.”

Full lush Christmas trees with color coordinated ornaments sat in every corner of the room, one sparkling with white ceramic angels, one in all peacock blue, one decorated in shiny gold, and one in hues of Santa Claus red. Chandeliers hung from the ornate carved ceilings.

“Everyone who’s anyone in Last Stand is here tonight.”

“Including us,” Miguel joked.

Coop slapped him on the back. “Especially us. A night out with our ladies.”

Garrett rubbed the back of his neck and chose not to agree or disagree.

The next thing he knew, Coop was handing him a tumbler of whiskey. “On me. You look like you could use a drink.”

“Thanks, Coop. Is it that obvious?”

“That you’ve got female issues? Heck, yeah. All I can say is that Nicole is really vulnerable right now.”

“I know that.”

Coop took a sip of his whiskey. “I know you do. I see the way you look at her. But a little reminder can’t hurt, can it?”

Garrett looked over at their table and connected with Nicole. She smiled and gave him a little finger wave. She was sweet and feisty and intelligent. He didn’t want to hurt her in any way, but tonight wasn’t about sorting out his feelings for her. It was about having fun and simply being together.

He walked over to the table and took his seat beside Nicole and greeted the ladies. “You all look pretty tonight,” he told them.

“Thank you,” Taylor said.

“So do you,” Julie said. “You look very nice, I mean.”

Garrett grinned at the two cousins. “Thanks.”

He didn’t understand the appeal of putting on a tux, but the ladies seemed to like it. Honestly, the only woman he cared about impressing tonight was the woman sitting beside him sipping wine. The thought both warmed and terrified him.

A three-piece band set up on a little stage in the front of the room began playing Christmas rock.

He didn’t know there was such a thing, until Nicole informed him.

There was no escaping Christmas in Last Stand.

The spirit in this town was a driving force and with Nicole looking so happy, he wanted to keep that pretty glow on her face. “Would you like to dance?”

“I would love to.”

Garrett rose from the table and offered his hand.

Nicole took it gracefully and they moved onto the dance floor.

They’d shared a few kisses before, but nothing quite compared to holding her hands and bringing her into his arms. He held her loosely, wanting so much to draw her closer.

Her fresh flowery scent wafted to his nostrils and as he gazed into her pretty brown eyes, she had the most content look on her face.

“You’re good,” she said softly. “Where did you learn how to dance?”

He shrugged. “While we were growing up, Carrie used to turn on music and make me dance with her. She claimed she needed a partner to practice with, for when her crush, I think the guy was named Noah, asked her to the high school dance.”

“And you were being a good brother.”

He scoffed. “Hardly, I gave her grief for making me dance with her. I made her give me part of her allowance each week. And she would gladly pay up her dollar, telling me I would appreciate knowing how to dance one day. The truth is, I never really minded it. It was sort of fun. We would laugh our heads off. Carrie made everything fun.”

“It’s a good memory, Garrett.”

“Yeah.”

“And I’m reaping the benefits.”

“How so?”

“You’re not stepping on my toes.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “True, true.”

The music slowed, the band playing a country ballad now, and he brought her closer in, drawing her up against his chest. She felt right there, her body brushing his.

It was heaven being with her like this. And he shoved aside the demons in his head telling him he didn’t deserve this.

Telling him Carrie was gone forever, and he shouldn’t have this much happiness.

Telling him not to let anyone else in who might hurt him.

“This is nice,” Nicole said.

He ignored the demons in his head. Being with Nicole was better than nice.

The music ended too soon and Garrett led her back to the table, wishing he had a reason to hold her a little longer, but dinner was being served.

George and Bess joined them at the table, all eight of them seated as the salad was being served. “You two look good out there on the dance floor,” George said.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Looks like the Christmas ball committee has outdone themselves again, this year,” her mother said.

“I agree, Mom. They up their game every year.”

Garrett spoke with George about football and house-flipping and racecars, while they ate their meal. The group around the table had known each other a long time, but Garrett never once felt left out, he never once felt awkward.

“Garrett, what are your plans for Christmas?” Taylor asked. “Are you and Cody doing something special?”

Garrett blinked. Actually, his plan had always been not to make such a big fuss about the holiday. “We planned on staying home, having a quiet day.”

Taylor and Coop both shook their heads. “Nonsense,” she said. “You’ll have Christmas with us. We have more than enough room, and Cody and Cassie can play. Muffy will be there and you know Cody wouldn’t want to miss that.”

Garrett shook his head. “Thanks, it’s a generous offer, but, uh…”

Nicole put her hand on his arm and leaned into him, making his heart race. “You should go,” she whispered. “Remember our pact. To make this Christmas the best it can be. For Cody, but for you too.”

He thought about Cody’s happiness. The boy was bound to be crushed when there was no snowfall on Christmas eve.

He’d been counting on it. Thinking it’d be a message from his mother.

But the weather had been warming up lately and the only snow left on the ground now were small patches of white dotting the landscape.

For that reason, and maybe because Nicole was asking it of him, he changed his mind.

“Actually, I think we’d love to come. Thank you. ”

Taylor was thrilled. “That’s wonderful.”

Coop nodded too. “Yep, we’ll have a good time. George and Bess and Nicole, you’re coming too. Right?”

The three Russells looked at each other. Nicole nibbled on her lip. “We, uh, hadn’t expected to. We usually do our own thing.”

“Now you can do your own thing, at our house,” Julie said. “Please.”

Nicole glanced at her mom and dad and they nodded their heads in agreement. “Well, I guess we’re in.”

“Great,” Taylor said.

Garrett couldn’t take his eyes off Nicole. She mesmerized him tonight and when the smile she’d had on her face all night immediately faded, he gave her a puzzled look.

“Oh no,” she said, putting down her fork, her hand shaking.

Immediately George said, “What’s he doing here?”

Garrett shifted his gaze to find Blake Charles, walking into the ballroom with another man. “Are you upset with Blake?” he asked her. He knew he was her Realtor too and Taylor’s friend.

“It’s not Blake she’s upset about. That guy next to him is Johnny Dupree,” Julie said.

“He’s here to see me,” she said, her voice diminished. Pain etched her face and she closed her eyes.

“I’ll go have a talk with him,” George said.

“No, Dad. Don’t. I’ll be fine.”

“Why did he have to come here and upset you?” Bess asked. “That young man should learn some manners.”

Garrett’s teeth clenched. He hated seeing Nicole troubled. Which she clearly was. Did the man still have a hold on her?

“Mom, it’s okay. I’ll deal with him.” She gave her mother and father a bold look. “It’s time I did. Truth is, I’ve been ignoring his texts and his phone messages. So, if he wants to speak to me, I can handle it.”

“You sure?” Garrett asked.

He didn’t want to butt in, but he suddenly felt protective of her. Okay, maybe not so suddenly. Maybe this had been coming on a long time.

“I’m sure.” She smiled at him, although it was shaky and that just tugged at his heart even more.

“Looks like he’s coming over here.” Julie’s voice held a helpless note.

Garrett eyed the guy walking toward the table in a confidant stride. Johnny kept his focus on Nicole the whole time, zeroing in on her. “Hello, folks. George, Bess,” he said glancing over them in one sweep.

Everyone gave him a hard stare.

Johnny ignored their reaction and looked straight at Nicole. “Hi, Nic. I’d like to speak to you for a few minutes. Please. You look beautiful, by the way.”

Garrett had seen about enough. He lifted from the table and turned to face him, towering over the guy by several inches. Nicole put her hand on his arm and Garrett gazed down at her.

“I’ve got this, Garrett.” There was a plea in her eyes that he couldn’t refuse. She needed to do this on her own.

Nicole rose from the table like the Queen of England, and Johnny pulled out her chair. The gesture had Garrett grinding his teeth.

“I’ll be back in a little while.” She gave her parents a reassuring smile. Bess appeared worried and George wasn’t all too happy either.