Page 27 of Her Cowboy Christmas
I want him.
I want to trust him.I want to build something with him.
I’m falling for him,I realize.But can I take the leap?
When he steps toward me, a voice in my head screams,“Yes.”
“See you later,” Larsen says, heading to her car.
I wave, then turn back to Cole.“Hey.”
“Hey.How was your day?”he asks, taking my hand and leading me to his truck.
“Long.It was slow today.”
“Yeah, I bet.It seems like half the town has left to go see their families for the holidays.”
I nod as I climb into his truck.
He pauses.“You’re not leaving, are you?”
I shake my head.“I’m not close to my family.They couldn’t pay me to go back to Los Angeles.”
Cole studies me for a moment, nodding slowly as he closes the door.
“What about you?”
“I’m staying here too,” he replies, starting the truck and heading toward my place.“I went back to Montana a few weeks ago and saw everyone.”
“Where are we going tonight?”I ask as he parks outside my apartment.
“I made us a reservation at Palmer’s Steakhouse.”
“Sounds good.I just need to shower and change.”
“That’s fine.I’m going to the market.I’ll be back in half an hour.”
“Okay.”
He rounds the truck to open my door, and I take his hand as I hop out.I hurry inside to shower and get ready.My heart is racing as I pick out a dress to wear and put on my makeup.I’m slipping on a pair of heels when I hear a knock at the door.I look through the peephole and smile when I see Cole standing there with a bouquet of flowers.
He stares at me when I open the door, drinking me in.“You look beautiful.”
Heat hits my cheeks.“Thanks.”
He hands me the flowers.“These are for you.”
“That’s so sweet of you.Thank you.”
“Of course.”
“Come in, and I’ll find a vase.”
Cole steps inside, and I go to the kitchen to find something to put the flowers in.Locating the only vase I own, I arrange the flowers in it.
“Ready to go?”he asks.
I nod, and he takes my hand as we leave my apartment.Can he feel how clammy my hand is?My heart races as I climb into his truck and buckle up.
