Page 28 of Cowboy Friend Zone for Christmas

“No, really,” Laura insisted with a chuckle. “Lucy and I spend most of our time chained to the furniture shop. I know we get to wear elf costumes and pose for pictures with kids all day, but it’s still work.” Her smile faded into a faint grimace. “It’s a breath of fresh air to have an adult conversation now and then.”

“Adult?” Ames traded an incredulous look with Flint. “You call this an adult conversation?”

She playfully swatted his shoulder. “You know what I mean.”

While they waited for the wait staff to come take their orders, Ames cleared his throat and made an effort to steer their conversation more into the adult arena. “So what made you and Lucy decide to become furniture makers?

“That’s the easiest question I’ve had all week.” There was a world-weary note in her sigh. “Our parents are furniture makers, and their parents before them, and their parents before them. It’s a skill set that’s been passed down for generations.”

He gave her a lazy smile. “If that’s the easiest question you’ve had all week, what’s the hardest?”

“Of course you Carson brothers would have to ask that!” She made a face at him. “One kid asked if my face was made from vanilla ice cream. Even though I told him no, he licked my cheek when I stooped his way to retrieve his derailed locomotive.”

Everyone seated at their table erupted into laughter.

“I’ve been licked by a horse a few times,” Flint volunteered after the hilarity died down.

“But horses don’t know any better,” she protested. “The kid who slobbered on me was at least six-years-old. He really should’ve known better.”

“You’d think,” Nash announced, giving his brothers an admonishing look.

Laura must’ve had her feet tucked beneath her chair, because Ames was able to kick Flint’s outstretched legs under the table so hard that he winced. “Yeah, but some boys take a lot longer to grow up than others.”

Flint snorted and kicked him back. “You’re just mad you lost our race on the way here.”

“It wasn’t a race.” Ames gave him a condescending look. “You were running scared, bro.”

Flint scratched his chin and taunted, “Whatever I was doing, you failed to catch me.”

“Did I?” Ames leaned menacingly his way.

“It’s okay.” Lucy stretched her slender arms out between them again. “The elves will protect you,” she assured Flint in a loud whisper.

Another round of hilarity rose at her words.

Their waitress arrived to take their orders. After Nash and Noelle placed theirs, he scooted his chair closer to hers while the waitress made her way around the rest of the table. “What’s up with the riding gear?”

“I’m heading out to Bear Mountain Ranch again. Where else?” Her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks. “Shelly dropped some pretty big hints about how desperate they were for help right now. I don’t think it’s easy to recruit horse trainers to such a remote town.”

He scowled at her. “So you’re letting them guilt you into working your vacation away?”

“Brady hasn’t asked,” she said quickly. “I just wanted to go prepared. I was gonna have to kill a few hours anyway before tonight’s show.”

“You’ve earned this break.” He studied her soberly. She put in long hours back at Canyon Creek Ranch, even on the weekends sometimes. “I was really hoping you’d catch some much-needed R&R while we’re away. Maybe read a book or get a little shopping in.”

“Whatever you say, boss.”

He shook his head in disgust at her. “You only call me that when you’re trying to get under my skin.”

“So quit getting under it.” Though her voice was teasing, her green eyes flashed a warning at him. “Seriously, Nash. I tell you everything that’s important. I don’t need you breathing down my neck about stuff that’s not important.”

Whoa! He stared at her for a moment, pretty sure he’d just been told to back off. “Does that mean you don’t want me to drive you there?”

“I would totally hitch a ride with you,” she assured, “but I already have one.”

His shoulders stiffened. “Brady?”

“Yes.” She lifted her chin. “He’s in town this morning and offered to swing by and pick me up on his way back to the ranch.”

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