Page 26 of A Miracle for the Confident Cowboy

“I seem to recall I asked you a question.”

Slowly, she shook her head. “You made a request.”

He pushed off of the car and moved closer, careful not to touch her or make it clear to anyone passing by that they were anything more than friends. “Either way, I didn’t get any confirmation.”

Sophie tilted her head, the suspense killing him. Then she laughed quietly. “I can’t think of anything I’d like to do more tonight.”

“Pick you up at seven?”

“It’s a date,” she whispered.

“You weren’t kidding,”Duke murmured as he dodged another group of people wandering the streets around them. “This place is packed. How do they manage this every year?”

Sophie shot him a surprised look. “You seriously haven’t come to the festival in all the years you’ve been here?”

He shook his head. “If you recall, I tend to go back to Yorkshire for the holidays.”

She grimaced. “Right.”

Duke placed a hand on the small of her back. It was the only way he could physically show her any support if they wanted to stay true to keeping this little relationship as private as possible. She gazed up at him and sparks flew. He wanted nothing more than to make her happy—to be there for her in ways he’d never considered before.

They were bumped by another group and instinctively, he slipped an arm around her waist to keep her from stumbling. He pulled her against his chest and chuckled when she gasped.

Wait, it wasn’t Sophie who gasped.

Duke released her, giving her space as his head whipped around to find several pairs of eyes on them. He didn’t recognize the people standing a few feet away. One of the young men charged at them and Duke pulled Sophie behind him so fast she grunted.

The man came careening to a stop and poked his head around Duke. “I’m sorry, Miss Clifford. I just wanted to know if you’d take a selfie with me.”

Duke stiffened and Sophie pulled herself from his grasp. She let out a nervous laugh as she came around Duke then shot him a look he couldn’t decipher.

“You’re totally fine,” she assured the young man. “I’d love to take a picture with you. Are these your friends?” She moved away from Duke, leaving him in a stupor.

The small horde of people couldn’t have been more than twenty-five. There looked to be some younger than that as well. They were all smiles, their phones glued to their hands as they held out their devices to take pictures with Sophie. The laughter, chatter, and appreciation from them threw Duke off more than anything else.

Hadn’t he been around town with Sophie and not a single person interrupted them? Now they were in the middle of a festival and suddenly she was more popular than the rodeo stars that frequented the town.

His eyes darted from person to person as some were added to their little group and others left to see what else the festival had to offer.

“I watch every video you post on your Instagram and I read every post on your blog! I can’t believe you’re going to get a deal out of the country.”

That didn’t sound right. She wouldn’t go out of the country for her work. That was the point in working remotely. The person was mistaken. Duke couldn’t hear Sophie’s response, but that didn’t matter. Right now there was a man who was clearly about Duke’s age. He was tall and looked like the slick kind of men who picked up women in bars.

And he was hitting on Sophie like she wasn’t taken.

Duke’s hands curled into fists then he flexed them and looked away. The guy was just a fan. They all were. These had to be tourists for the festival. Duke shouldn’t even be surprised right now. Sophie had mentioned just how well her business was going. He just hadn’t listened to her very well.

The hot, writhing jealousy in his stomach wouldn’t abate even as he told himself he had nothing to worry about. Relief poured over him when his assurances were confirmed. Sophie waved off to the fans and hurried back to his side. She slipped her fingers between his and he stared down at their hands with shock.

“Are you sure?—”

She shrugged. “Maybe I’m tired of not being able to hold you. Like you said, Pippa and Rob are gone. It’s not like we’re going to have to deal with their teasing—yet.”

He brought up her hand to his lips and brushed a gentle kiss along her knuckles. They moved through town, admiring the decorations that filled each and every window. There were toys, presents, and miniature Christmas trees around every corner. People sold their baked goods out on the street and it looked more like a farmer’s market than a festival. Perhaps that was the point.

A duo played violin near the center of town, their stringed instruments bringing classic Christmas songs to life. The darker it got, the more festive it became. Lights were hung on almost every surface possible. Maybe there was such a thing as Christmas magic.

He glanced down at Sophie, her cheek resting against his shoulder. This was all so surreal. If anyone would have told him after his first date that this was where he would be at this point in the month, he would have laughed in their face. Actually, that had already happened. Hadn’t Pippa told him to give it time? He would have to remember to thank her when everything came to light. “What are you thinking?” He couldn’t help asking the question.

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