A few hours later, the three of us loaded my mom’s minivan with too many cookies to count. We’d listened to Christmas carols while we baked, though every single song reminded me of Cole. With Christmas just two days away, I’d lost my holiday spirit. It was probably still curled up under the gingerbread flannel sheets back at the Cozy Little Christmas Inn.
Hoping that helping out at the cookie decorating station at the holiday bazaar would bring it back, I climbed into the backseat. Maybe I’d even pep up enough to string a few lights around the porch when we got back or set out the Frosty the snowman statue I’d had since I was a kid. As my dad backed out of the driveway and pulled down the street, I swore I caught a glimpse of the big SUV Cole had rented. Then I saw a huge Christmas tree sticking out of the back. Just someone down the block making final preparations for the holiday. How long was it going to take for my heart to heal?
At least time passed quickly while I filled bags of frosting and bagged up the sugary treats everyone decorated. I’d even caught myself smiling a few times as I turned plain sugar cookies into festive snowmen, red-nosed reindeer, and trees full of colorful ornaments.
Just as we were wrapping up, I grabbed one of the Santa cookies. If I mixed a little white frosting with a tiny bit of black, I could give my Santa a salt-and-pepper beard just like Cole’s. I added green eyes with a hint of brown to make them look more hazel, then held the cookie up to admire my creation.
“Honey, you’re not fooling anyone about your feelings for Ryan’s dad.” Mom’s voice came from over my shoulder. I immediately pulled the cookie into my chest, smearing frosting all over my sweatshirt in the process.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied.
“Is he a good man?” she asked, her voice low enough that only I could hear her.
Nodding, I cursed the tears that formed in the corners of my eyes. “The best.”
“Does he feel the same way about you?” Her hand landed on my shoulder and she slowly spun me around to face her.
The back of my throat prickled as I nodded. I was barely holding myself together and didn’t want to start bawling in the cookie booth. “At least he did.”
“Something tells me he still does.” Mom put her arm around my shoulder and turned to face the window. Two huge horses had stopped right outside. They were attached to a bright red carriage and had big candy-cane striped bows tied to their necks.
“What the…” I squinted, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.
“Must be Santa,” Mom said with a smile.
A man dressed like Santa hopped down from the back of the carriage. Only it wasn’t Santa. I mean, I knew it wasn’t Santa because Santa didn’t really exist, but this Santa had eyes the same color as Cole’s and I could see a hint of gray and black whiskers under the fake snowy white beard.
“Why are you still standing here with me when you could be out there with him?” Mom teased as she gave me a nudge toward the door.
I didn’t have a good answer, so I slowly made my way through the front doorway and met Cole on the sidewalk.
CHAPTER 14
COLE
She looked sovulnerable standing there in a Christmas sweatshirt with frosting smudged all over the front. If it hadn’t been for the slight smile on her pretty red lips, I might have reconsidered showing up to whisk her away for a sleigh ride.
“I’d have a blue Christmas without you. I don’t want to let you go, Winter. What we found together… it’s worth fighting for.” Every cell in my body ached for her, but I needed to know how she felt before I could take the next step. “Neither one of us knew what was going to happen when we ran into each other at the airport, but the way I feel about you… it’s a once in a lifetime kinda feeling, Baby Girl.”
She lowered her head and her dark lashes fanned across her cheeks. “How do you feel about me?”
“Can’t you tell? I’m one-hundred percent head over heels in love with you.” I put a finger under her chin and nudged her head up until she met my gaze. “I love you,Winter. And I’ve got to be honest with you. I’ve had feelings for you long before I saw you at the airport.”
“What about Ryan? I don’t want to come between you. He’s your son, and I don’t think he’s going to be okay with us dating.” Her eyes rounded, full of apprehension.
“Just come with me for a minute, will you? There’s something I want to show you.” At her nod, I took her hand, twining our fingers together and leading her over to the carriage.
“Is this supposed to be Santa’s sleigh?” she asked as she climbed onto the seat.
I joined her and picked up the reins. “I tried looking for reindeer, but they were fresh out at the Calhoun ranch.”
“The Calhoun ranch outside of Broken Bend?” She set her hand on my thigh, making me wish we were headed somewhere private instead of right down the road through the middle of town.
“Cowboy quadruplets. They’re friends with a few of Mama Mae’s younger boys. Do you know them?” A quick zap of jealousy flared in my gut. I was going to have to get used to it if Winter agreed to be my girl. There would always be someone younger and stronger around that could turn her head.
“I know of them. That must mean you went home for Christmas.” A pleased grin spread across her mouth, lighting up her whole face.
“Mama Mae said to thank you for forcing me to comehome.” Then, in a softer tone, I told her, “She can’t wait to meet you.”
