Page 55 of Seasoned with Love (Prosperity Ranch 4)

“O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM,” flowed through the crowd as the first number of the night.

Some teenagers behind Cara were swapping the word “Bethlehem” with “Prosper.” Normally it would have bothered her, but she’d become distracted when she spotted Harvey only a dozen feet away.

Probably because he was the tallest cowboy at the event. If the guy had cared about athletics, he could have picked any college basketball team in the country. But the man was a rancher through and through, like his father, and his grandfather.

She waited for a flood of memories. For the nostalgia. To feel something. But there was nothing. Not even a desire to say hi or catch up.

Unfortunately, he looked in her direction before she could come up with a diversion plan.

His face lit into a smile.

Harvey was a handsome guy, and a mostly decent guy—mostly because he had dumped her when she’d been head over heels. At least, she’d thought so at the time. Now, she realized her crush on him had been small-town puppy love.

Now that she’d dated other men to compare him to, Cara was so very glad he’d dumped her. In fact, she should thank him.

The thought suddenly made her want to laugh.

There was really no comparison between Harvey and Roman. Not that she was dating Roman, or thought that there was some sort of a future between them . . . Currently, he was standing with part of the family, including Mia and Ruby, near the giant Christmas tree decorated with about a million glittering bulbs and dozens of strands of twinkling lights.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Miss Cara.”

Oh, that’s right, Harvey used to call her Miss Cara—she’d forgotten that. She looked up at his grinning face. “Hello, Harvey.”

“Don’t ‘hello, Harvey’ me,” he said. “How about a hug? It’s been ages since I’ve seen you.”

Before Cara could agree or disagree, she was pulled into a tight hug. Her face plowed into the lower chest of the man, and even his scent was familiar. Starched cotton and tobacco. She pulled away as quickly as she could because she suddenly had a flashback memory of Harvey saying he took pride in his long, heartfelt hugs. It was a good thing she did, because a half second later, Roman turned to look back at her.

Cara flashed him a rescue me look, then said to Harvey, “It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“Lonely,” he said matter-of-factly. His brows lifted as he perused her. He was . . . checking her out, quite openly. From head to toe.

Cara decided she didn’t like him taking such license. She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets, and even though it was a cold night, she suddenly felt way too hot.

“Sorry to hear about your divorce,” she said, just to get it over with.

Harvey rested his large hand on her shoulder, and it felt heavy—uncomfortable. How had she ever crushed on this guy?

“Yeah, well, it was meant to be, I guess.” Harvey blinked and actually looked like he might shed a tear. “I didn’t want it, but now I see the wisdom of it.” He smiled. Just like that, all traces of potential tears disappeared.

Cara shuffled over a step so that he dropped his hand. She wanted this conversation to be over with as soon as possible. Maybe she could join in the current song, “The First Noel”?

“How long are you here for, Miss Cara?” Harvey asked. “We should go for a drive, you know, like old times.”

He’d moved closer, invading her space again.

“I’m booked solid with family things, sorry,” she said.

“Oh?” Harvey looked genuinely shocked. “Your sister Evie can come along, too. She’s still single, right?”

“No, Evie has a boyfriend.”

“But you don’t, Miss Cara.” Harvey grasped her elbow. “What do you say? I’ll pick you up in the morning. Right as the sun peeks over the horizon.”

“Cara’s busy with me.” Roman’s voice cut in.

Her pulse skipped, and she looked over to see that he had made it through the crowd. A quick glance told her Mia and Ruby were still by the tree with Macie and Holt.

Roman stepped close and draped his arm over Cara’s shoulders. “We’re booked all week, aren’t we, darlin’?”

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