Page 25 of A Fortunes of Texas Christmas (Fortunes of Texas)

Robin grinned. “I’m multitasking. I promised Kate,” she explained. “And it’s not any trouble, since I love Christmas.”

“Me, too.”

Robin stilled, midstride. “Really?”

“Sure,” he replied. “What’s not to love? Gifts, good food, eggnog, Christmas carols.”

She smiled. “You go caroling?”

His mouth curled. “Well, no...but I appreciate it from those who do. Like my sister, Claire. She’s the singer in the family.”

“I can’t hold a note, either. I mean, if that’s what you’re saying. And it’s great to know you’re not good at everything.”

His blue eyes sparkled. “Who says I’m not?” he teased. “I’ll have you know I can—”

“Stop jabbering,” she cut him off as she passed him a box. “And walk this way.”

He followed her obediently to the back of the cypress tree, box in his hands. “Couldn’t you find a bigger tree?”

Robin took the box and placed it at their feet. “Oh, you know what they say. Size matters.”

He laughed. “Is that what they say?”

She shrugged and then smiled. “Apparently. Not that I’ve seen a lot of...” Her words trailed off for a moment. “Ah...trees...you know, for comparison.”

“No?” He smiled devilishly. “Trees in short supply for a landscaper?”

Heat rose up her neck. “I’m very particular about my...trees...that’s all I’m saying.”

“Really?”

Robin shrugged and ignored her hot cheeks. “So...about before,” she said quietly. “And what you said to Evan, you know, about me not being...easy. Thanks.”

“It’s merely the truth.”

“I know,” she said and sighed. “But Evan is my big brother and thinks he gets to tell me how to live my life. You probably do the same with your sister, right?”

“Right.”

She chuckled. “I like how you always say the truth. It’s nice to know there are men out there who don’t lie.”

His gaze narrowed fractionally. “Your ex?”

“Liar of the century,” she replied.

“What did he do?”

“Cheated with two other women,” she replied and managed a laugh so brittle there was no mistaking it was fake. “At the same time.” She laughed again. “And I mean, at the exact same time.”

“So, he’s an ass?”

Robin chuckled at Amersen’s matter-of-fact description and the way his lovely cultured accent said the words. “You could say that. His parents own the ranch next door to my folks, so I’ve known him all my life. We were friends for a long time, and then for a while we were more. He’s a bronc rider and was out on the road competing. I made the mistake of turning up at his hotel unannounced, and he had two women in his room with him.”

Amersen’s handsome face was expressionless. “What did you do?”

“Left,” she replied. “Cursed. Cried. Then realized he wasn’t worth my tears.”

“I’m glad,” he said quietly. “Tears would be wasted on a man too stupid to realize what he had.”

---