Page 46 of Dear Santa, Send Me a Cowboy
“Hey, Mom?” he asked as I snuggled my cheek into the top of his head.
“Yeah?”
“Who’s the tall cowboy that's watching us?”
My eyes popped open and I spun my head around. Sure enough, Lawson was standing at a safe enough distance with his hands shoved into his pockets, an expression across his face that I couldn’t quite decipher.
He looked unsure of himself, like he didn’t know what to do.
“Oh, right, um… that’s?—”
Taking a step toward us, he interjected.
“Lawson… name’s Lawson Boone.” He coughed nervously into his palm as he peered down at my son.
Silvan dropped his arms from around me and stood toe to toe with the man I was hesitant to have him meet.
“Boone? As in Boone’s Tree Farm?”
Lawson’s mouth curled as he flashed his eyes over at me briefly.
“Yeah, as in Boone’s Tree Farm. Sounds like you’ve been there?”
“A few times, but haven’t been there recently since Mom got us stuck in a ditch one year, and now the owner, Fred, brings us our tree.”
Rolling my eyes, I placed a palm onto his shoulder.
“Are you his son? He told me he had a son who was a cowboy.” The realization that Fred told Silvan he had a son and not me had me shooting glances at the both of them.
“Sure am, kid. And you must be Silvan? It’s nice to officially meet you.” Lawson stuck his hand out for my son, and I swear everything around us went silent.
For me, this was a pivotal moment.
One that I never knew I needed, but seeing the two of them standing near each other sent a thrill through my heart that echoed with every beat. It was as if the world faded away around us, leaving just the two of them in a bubble of connection.
“Likewise.” Silvan placed his hand into Lawson’s. “How do you know my mom?”
My eyes shot to Lawson’s as my face exploded in heat. Instantly, his stare connected with mine as he grinned playfully.
Oh hell.
“I dropped your tree off instead of my dad this year. Figured since I like your mom, I’d like you too.” He winked at me then retired his focus back to my son.
“You like my mom?” He laughed.
He actually laughed.
“You don’t think she’s bossy?”
Swatting Silvan on the shoulder, I scowled at the two men in my life who were both grinning from ear to ear.
“Oh, your mom is definitely bossy, but I can handle it.”
Heat flooded my cheeks at the shared innuendo that only Lawson and I understood.
“What the hell is going on here?” a familiar voice shouted as all three of us spun around to find an enraged Jaxon charging toward us. “Diana!”
Lawson immediately stepped in front of us, blocking Jaxon’s advance.
