“Lucky me.” He said if softly, almost reverently.
Happiness flooded through her, washing away the last vestiges of that terrible choice she’d made in the past. Not this time. “In case you can’t tell, I’m grateful for you, Cole.”
His breath hitched. “You can’t imagine what that means to me. I won’t let you down.”
“I can’t picture how you ever would. Hey, we’re almost there. Which do you want to do first, shopping for the hats or lunch?”
“Shopping, please.”
“Parking on the square will be a zoo, so I’ll just take what I can find. We might have to walk a bit. Do you mind? My brothers aren’t big on walking.”
“Doesn’t bother me.”
“Glad to hear it.” She braked at the stop sign and waited for traffic to clear before pulling onto the square. “Sing out if you see a space. I’d rather park here than in the overflow lot.”
“You might have to, though. It’s packed.”
“It is, but oh, look! Someone’s backing out of a spot in front of the barbershop. We’re golden.” She put on her turn signal and let out a sigh. “It’s busy, but that’s how it’s supposed to be. I love coming to town during the countdown to Christmas.”
“Yeah, it’s very pretty.”
“The Rockefeller Center tree in New York is gorgeous, but I’m partial to the one in our gazebo.” She pulled into the parking spot and shut off the motor. “Not bad. Only half a block from the General Store.”
“Let’s do it.” He unbuckled his seat belt and climbed out.
When she joined him on the sidewalk, he held out his hand. “Ready for this, Mila?”
“Holding hands?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You bet, cowboy.” She linked her fingers through his and they set off down the sidewalk, prompting a few looks and smiles along the way.
Every lamp post along the way was decorated with a Santa hat and a spray of evergreen mixed with holly tied with a red bow. The old-fashioned barber pole in front of Shear Thing wore a Santa hat, too.
Spray snow and painted holiday greetings filled store windows. The traditional life-sized display of Santa’s sleigh and his reindeer sat near the gazebo while inside, next to the tree, Santa occupied an ornate throne. A slow-moving line of animated children and their semi-patient parents stretched almost to the street.
A cozy warmth settled in her chest. She’d always dreamed of walking the square at Christmas with a man who appreciated this place as much as she did.
And here he was. “Don’t you just love this?” She glanced over at him.
He met her gaze, warmth in his gray eyes. He squeezed her hand. “Sure do.”
No doubt about it. This would be the best Christmas ever.
Chapter Thirteen
The interior of the Mustang Valley General Store was warm compared to the brisk air outside, but Cole shivered as cold sweat trickled down his back. He visualized a mountain meadow and superimposed it over the bustling scene. Christmas was on every aisle and endcap. The carols were nonstop.
He could do this. Had to do this. No way would he ever tell Mila his sob story or let her view him as damaged or abused. His future depended on healing this wound on his own.
“What do you think? Will these work?”
Abandoning his mountain meadow, he forced himself to look at the Santa hats Mila held up. “Sure. Great.”
“The felt ones are cheaper than the plush ones, but I don’t think they’ll look as good.”
“Don’t worry about the price. I’m buying.”
