Page 13 of The Cowboy's Miracle Baby

“Oh, no,” she stammered. “That’s okay. You two should—”

“What a great idea,” Shay told Eloise. “Cami can show you where the lot is. She’s the best at picking out trees. The champion, really. Every year.”

Cami widened her eyes at Shay with warning.

“Well, that’d be great,” Gus said. “But we wouldn’t want to put you out.”

“Put her out?” Shay said. “Pshaw!And don’t worry, Cami. I’ll be there if the baby wakes up. I can find my way around a bottle. You should go.”

“Mysisteris being a littlepushy,” Cami said, standing up for herself. “But I’m happy to show you the lot—”

“And help pick out a tree?” Eloise said.

Cami nodded. “Sure. Whenever you’re ready.”

“After hot chocolate?”

Gus grinned. “You a hot chocolate fan?” he asked Cami. “We were just headed to Sage’s.”

“I—Uh—”

“Okay!” Shay brushed her hands together. “I’m gonna head back home then. I’ve got a million things to do this morning. At the ranch. With the upcoming wedding and all. But don’t worry. I’ll still have time for Lolly. So, I’ll see you at home later, Cami?”

When she got home, she was officially going to murder Shay for railroading Gus into spending time with her. “You sure you’re okay with Lolly for a little?”

She patted her hand. “Ryan survived me, didn’t he? Leave Lolly to me. Go. Have somefun.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Shay with Lolly, far from it. Just that Lolly was Cami’s responsibility, not anybody eles’s. Shay said her goodbyes and Cami watched her sister hurry off toward her SUV, knowing she was right about the million things back at the ranch. With Izzy and Will’s wedding happening up at the round barn the weekend before Christmas they had lots of loose ends to tie up. Even though they’d been planning since this summer, all the last-minute details were closing in. She should be helping her. She should be home with the baby.

Eloise put her hand in Cami’s, tugging her toward the street. “Let’s go, Ms. Hardesty. We’re going to get the works with caramel sauce and whipped cream and everything. Do you like hot chocolate?”

Gus was standing close now and the look he sent her was part sympathy, part curiosity. Probably nothing more. Even though she could feel that look deep down in her chest.

“I do,” she said. “I love hot chocolate. And Sage makes the best.”

*

Cami was rightabout the hot chocolate at Copper Mountain Chocolates. It was the best Gus had ever had. He sat across from her at the small bistro table in the shop’s window, watching her interact with his daughter, who sat blissfully unaware of the whipped cream mustache she wore as she laughed along with Cami. Ella had been talking about her nonstop for a couple of weeks now, ever since they’d started rehearsals for the pageant. He could see the attraction.

Cami was not only pretty, but she was also…shiny. Like she had a light around her. She seemed to be just one of those people who attracted everyone. And when other customers—people she knew, probably parents from her school—came up to say hi, she seemed easy with them—unlike she was with him. With him—she seemed unsure what to make of him. Ofthis… whateverthiswas. They’d both been bamboozled into this, but he wasn’t sorry. It was good to have some company with Eloise. Some female company. Ella missed having a woman in her life. It was mostly just him and Luke, and Ella’s regular babysitter, Rebecca.

But there was something about Cami that struck him, too. It tugged at him, like iron ore to a lodestone. A feeling as foreign to him as living in this small town. Yet, he knew better than to let that attraction be anything more than what it was. It was just a friendly outing. For Ella. That was all it was.

During a lull in the girls’ chatter, Gus smiled at the two of them, sipping his hot chocolate.

“What?” Cami sent him a curious look.

“Nothing,” he said. “Just enjoying this.”

Ella beamed at him. “See? I told you she was nice.”

Cami blushed. “I didn’t mean to do a take-over of your morning together.”

“You didn’t. You just gave us some direction. And hot chocolate was always on the menu. Speaking of take-overs… how’s the kid?”

“Lolly did well, considering.” Cami brushed her fingers along the side of her mug. “I still haven’t called anyone.”

“Like the sheriff? I figured.”

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