Page 1 of Protective Cowboy

Chapter One

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Bozeman, Montana

Friday, November 17

Autumn Snowberry-Garthe’s smile faded as she caught sight of the antique clock on a nearby bookshelf.

Phillip’s going to be home soon.

And when he arrived, the Christmas tree had better be perfect. She reached out and straightened a red velvet bow on the nearest twig. Nerves twisted her stomach into knots as she lifted her phone to take a close-up shot.

She’d worked hard this afternoon to declutter their living room and create the perfect Christmas aesthetic for Phillip’s holiday entertaining and her Instagram followers.

As she pulled out her phone and walked around the tree, taking shots from various angles, she already knew what tags she’d use when she posted the photos. #blessed, #happylife and #christmascheer (of course). She’d have to search for other tags with lots of posts.

Maybe she didn’t have her own marketing firm anymore, but she still liked to stay in the social media game. Seeing her follower counts increase and reading the admiring comments they left on her posts made her feel less of a failure at life.

Most days now, she was the wife who couldn’t quite do anything right, and constantly disappointed her husband.

Then the front door creaked open and Autumn almost dropped her phone. He’s home early today!

She turned to see Phillip’s imposing, silver-haired figure filling the entryway. His glacial, pale-blue eyes narrowed as he surveyed the open-plan living room.

“What’s all this?” He gestured at the Christmas tree and festively decorated fireplace mantel.

Autumn’s stomach clenched at his tone. “I just wanted get a head start on the holidays, since you invited your entire department over right after we get back from Thanksgiving in Snowberry Springs—”

Her voice wavered. She hated herself for it. Phillip didn’t like drama queens or whiners. He’d told her that often enough.

“It’s not even fucking Thanksgiving yet. And I thought we agreed, none of your lavish and out-of-control shit this year.” Phillip’s stern tone sliced through her excuse. “Especially after we just wasted all that money going to Seattle for your sister’s wedding.” He snorted. “Serves her right, getting jilted like that. Maybe now she won’t act like such a big shot with that TV show of hers.”

Autumn forced herself to bite her tongue at her husband’s cruel—and unfair—criticism of Winnie’s wedding fiasco last week.

She’d used her social media experience to do what she could to mitigate her sister’s public humiliation. But it had still been bad. Winnie and her ex-fiancé Geoff were one of the most popular couples on HomeRenoTV, and their show, Restoring Seattle, had been a monster hit for the streaming network.

Now, though her heart still ached for Winnie’s situation, she knew arguing with Phillip wouldn’t change his mind. It would only make him angry.

Angrier.

She recognized the signs.

Something had upset her husband, and he was looking for an excuse to pick a fight with her. She’d have to tiptoe around him until it blew over… or he blew up and let off the steam.

“How much money did you spend on this nonsense, anyway?” Phillip demanded, lifting his chin to point at the tree.

“Nothing, except for the tree. We had all these decorations packed away in the basement,” Autumn said truthfully. “And my followers—”

“Don’t give a shit about your stupid decorations,” Phillip cut her off ruthlessly. His lips thinned as he scanned the tree. “Your little social media hobby is getting out of hand. Again.” His phone chimed. He glanced down at it and said, “I’ll be in my office. Call me when dinner’s ready.”

He spun on his heel and headed upstairs, leaving Autumn deflated amidst the glittering ornaments and swags of fresh fir branches carefully arranged on the mantel between the three stockings hung there.

She swallowed hard, pushing down the familiar ache of failure in her chest.

As Phillip’s footsteps creaked in the second-floor hallway overhead, she allowed herself a deep, shuddering breath before moving to start dinner.

Jayden would be home from school soon. She didn’t want to upset him by letting him glimpse her unhappiness.

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