Page 54 of Two Risks I'd Never Take Again

I pulled off my oven mitts, waiting for him to spill the news. “Are you teasing me with silence on purpose?”

“Possibly.” He rested his hands on my hips. “Nico couldn’t give me all the details, but you no longer need to hire anyone for your case.”

I pressed both hands to his chest. “Really?”

He glanced down, then inched me closer. “She’s been arrested for trying to hire someone to kill her husband. I guess when getting him jailed didn’t work, she changed up her plan. But then her husband threatened to kill his wife and took a swing at a deputy who was serving a search warrant. So, the guy who beat me up landed in jail too.”

“Arrested? Both of them?” That was what I’d wanted to happen but more than I’d expected. I slid my arms around his neck. “That’s great news.”

His arms tightened around me, and he stayed quiet.

I pulled back but didn’t step out of his embrace. “Isn’t that good news?”

He nodded. “Very good news.”

“But?”

Shaking his head, he pulled me close again. “No but. It’s good news.” He rested his chin on top of my head. “I’m grateful I’m around to hear the good news.”

I stayed with my head resting against his chest. “She called your phone all those times, thinking you were dead, didn’t she? She was going to let her husband kill you and then report him.” Even the thought made my insides ache.

Garrett kissed the top of my head. “Not sure. But thanks to you, that’s not the way this played out.”

With my face buried in his chest, I thought of the contented feeling Delaney mentioned. Before my brain ran away with that idea, I boxed it back up. My heart was definitely on the butchering slab, but I was going to pretend it wasn’t until after the wedding.

“I’m happy about that.” I rubbed the front of his shirt as I stepped back. “And I’m glad I’m the one who found you.”

His silent smile said he agreed.

Chapter 18

Wearing jeans and a simple red sweater, I pulled up in front of the cabins just before one in the afternoon on Christmas Eve. To say that I was as excited as a kid at Christmas accurately depicted my emotions. Thanks to my friendship with Garrett, this ranch had started to feel like home.

Garrett waved from the porch of what would be my cabin for the next few days. I hoped my friendship with him would last a long time, and not just because he could fill out a pair of jeans better than any other man in this hemisphere. Would I still wish I hadn’t made myself that promise if he’d been average looking? Probably. What I liked most about Garrett was the way he made me feel, and his looks had little to do with that.

He opened my car door. “You planning to stay or just going to sit in the car for a while?”

“Merry Christmas!” I opted to pretend that I hadn’t been staring at him. “I can’t remember being this excited about Christmas since... forever.” I hugged him.

“How were things at the shop this morning? I’m sorry I didn’t make it over there.” He kept me close a few heartbeats longer than normal.

“It was busy. I was really glad I opened today. There wasn’t much left, but I dropped off the last few dozen at the fire station.”

He grabbed my bag from the back seat. “I know they appreciate that.”

“Tessa, you made it!” Ava smiled as she climbed out of her truck, which I hadn’t even heard pull up. “Would you be up for making Christmas cookies with us?”

“Sure.” I glanced at Garrett. “Is that all right with you? We don’t have to be anywhere until five.”

“Absolutely fine by me. I’ll take your bag inside if you want to ride over with Ava.”

“Thanks.” I buckled into the passenger seat and watched as Garrett waved before walking inside.

“He’s a gem.” Ava pressed a hand to her heart. “I’m so glad he found his way to the ranch. He belongs here.”

“He is just as happy that he found all of you.” I pulled a scrunchie out of my purse and tied my hair up. “What kind of cookies are we making?”

“Mexican wedding cookies, sugar cookies—I have cookie cutters in all sorts of shapes—and some peppermint chocolate chunk cookies. Most of the ranch hands go home for Christmas, but a few of them are from around here. I try to keep them all well fed.” Christmas spirit emanated off her like an energy force. “For a couple, this is their home.” She pointed at one of the houses up the hill. “Kent lives up there next to me. You’ve met his son, haven’t you? I’m not sure who is most excited about Christmas this year—Beau or Mason.”

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