Page 20 of Her Cowboy Christmas
We talk about favorite colors and dream vacation destinations as I drive her home, and when I park outside her place, I find I don’t want to stop.
I should keep driving.We could talk and hang out.
Blair is already gathering her things, though, so I shift into park and get out to open her door.
As I stare down at her, the words are on the tip of my tongue.
Go out with me.
Have dinner with me.
Then Blair looks up at me, and the words freeze on my tongue.
“Well, goodnight,” she says softly.
I watch as she hurries into her building, wanting to kick my own ass with every step she takes away from me.
Coward,I think, as she disappears.
I groan as I climb back behind the wheel and drive home.
FIVE
Blair
“Well, now what?”I mutter as I survey my sparkling clean apartment.
I’ve worked all morning, trying to burn off the anxious energy inside me.I haven’t stopped thinking about Cole and wish I’d thought to ask him if he wanted to work on the booth today.I almost text him to ask, but I feel bad about disturbing his weekend.He probably has a lot to do at the ranch, or maybe he’s hanging out with his friends.
“I shouldn’t bother him,” I tell myself as I stare at my phone.
I sigh.I can’t stay here all day obsessing over Cole.I need to grab groceries for the week and finish up my laundry.Deciding to start with the groceries, I grab my things and head out the door.
Wrapping my coat tighter around me, I brace myself against the sting of the freezing wind.I walk faster, hurrying the few blocks to Wolf Valley Market.A blast of warm air greets me as I cross the threshold into the store.
I grab a cart and make my way up and down the aisles, taking my time and carefully scanning the shelves.Usually, I make a lot of frozen meals, but this week, I feel like switching things up.Maybe it’s because of the holiday season, or maybe I just want to branch out and try something new.
“There you are.”
I yelp, spinning around to face Cole.“How do you walk so quietly?”
He smirks.“Military training, I guess.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.I went by your place.Tried to text and call you.Then I came here.Figured you might be grabbing groceries.”
“Oh, sorry.My phone was in my purse.I didn’t hear it,” I apologize as I pull it out.Sure enough, I have a few texts and two missed calls from Cole.
“No worries.I’ll help you with the groceries.”
“Are you shopping?”I ask as we mosey down the aisle.
“I’ll grab a few things.Did you want to work on the booth today?”
“We can.I just need to drop the groceries off at my place first.”
“Can do.”
