Page 4 of Her Cowboy Christmas
I shrug.“I’m not sure yet.I’ll have to Google some ideas.”
“I can help you.”
I stare at him in shock.“Why would you do that?”
“I owe you for letting me sit with you,” he says easily.
I frown, unsure what to make of his offer.Is this a peace offering?Or is he genuinely trying to return the favor?I want to believe it’s the latter, but Cole is a good-looking guy.Why would he want to help me?Every time I look at him, I’m reminded of my bullies, and my defenses go up.
I want to trust Cole, but I don’t.Not yet.
TWO
Cole
Say yes,say yes, say yes,I chant to myself as I wait for Blair to respond.
I’ve put my foot in my mouth every single time I’ve been around Blair, and I know her Christmas project is my chance to get close to her.
The first time I saw Blair was at the bank when I went to deposit a check.I looked up as I reached the counter and locked eyes with her.Then I behaved like a bumbling idiot for the next five minutes.I don’t even remember what I said, but I know I insulted her in some way.
I remember kicking myself the entire way back to my ranch and promising to do better the next time I saw her.I planned to be charming and smooth.We would talk, and I would ask her out.Then I’d take her on a date, and she’d realize, like I did, that we were meant for each other.We would live happily ever after.
What actually happened was that I ran into Blair at the Wolf Valley Market, crashed my cart into hers in my excitement to get to her, and knocked her backward into a toilet paper display.She glared at me for a full minute before she stomped away.
The next time I saw her was at the coffee shop.I tried to be smooth and sent over a hot chocolate.What I didn’t know was that the shop put in skim milk.When Blair found out, I think she thought I was calling her fat.She stormed out away from me then, too.
This is my fourth chance, and I’m on edge.Things seem to be going well, but I’m terrified I’ll mess it all up.
Blair is always on guard around me.This Winter Festival could be my chance to convince her to lower her guard and let me in.This is my chance.Blair is my dream girl, and I need her to realize that I’m her dream man.
She’s so closed off and guarded.I wonder who hurt her?
My hands tighten as I think about anyone upsetting my girl.
I watch as Blair smooths her napkin between her fingers and shifts.She does that a lot.She’s very organized and methodical.I wonder if maybe she’s OCD as well as dyslexic.
I can’t believe I didn’t pick up on that before now.I’ve watched Blair enough to know a few things—she loves numbers, is smart as hell, kind and generous, but shy.She doesn’t like crowds.She dresses modestly for work, but casually when she’s off the clock.She doesn’t like to drive and prefers to walk.
I saw her looking nervous and awkward as she read the menu at the coffee shop and never realized that it was because she was struggling.
Would it be weird if I offered to drive her everywhere, to stick by her side and read everything for her for the rest of her life?
Yes, probably.
Still, I want to…
“Okay,” Blair says softly.
“Okay?”I ask in confusion.
“You can help with the booth.”
“Oh!Great!We can start tomorrow.”
She nods, pulling out her phone and tapping on her calendar.“What time?”she asks, all business now.
“You get off at five?”I ask, even though I already know the answer.
