Chapter 13

Yawning, I ran down my list, glad that I’d taken the time to make it. Getting back into the swing of mornings wasn’t easy. Partially because my thoughts kept jumping to Garrett.

The coffee was made. I’d replenished the sugar and the creamer. The case was full of warm doughnuts. And it was time for me to unlock the door.

I flipped the bolt, then turned the sign. Hopefully, word had spread that I was open again. The door opened before I made it to the counter, and I spun around. “Good mor—”

Garrett waved. “Hey.”

“Good morning. I’m surprised to see you here this early.” I hugged him before hurrying back behind the counter.

“I was hoping if I got here when you opened, the praline doughnuts might still be warm.”

I put one on a plate, then picked up a mug. “They are. This is on the house.”

“Thanks.” He dropped a twenty into my tip jar before filling his coffee mug.

“How did yesterday go for you? I’m guessing the bruises were a bit of a surprise for everyone.”

“Oh yeah.” He stood at the counter opposite me. “We have to make sure Lilith never finds out that woman’s name. I think she might take her down. Ava fussed over me and made one of my favorites for dinner. The guys cursed a lot.”

“I bet they did, and I can’t blame them. What did Ava make?”

“Enchilada casserole.” He bit into his doughnut and moaned. “These are amazing. Every time.”

“Have you said anything to your dad yet?”

He shook his head. “No. I’m going to wait a week or two. How was your day?”

“Quiet. Busy. Delaney stopped by and grilled me about my week.” I made a funny face, hoping to at least get a chuckle for my efforts.

It worked. “I fielded a few questions myself. Not from Delaney. Ava must’ve asked if I’d had a nice week at least ten times.”

“Good morning.” Eli held open the door as Delaney walked in. “I’m glad you took a vacation, but I missed having doughnuts.”

Delaney patted his stomach. “It was probably good for you.”

Eli stopped and grinned at Garrett. “Hey there. You look like someone took a bat to you.”

“Just fists. Mostly. I’m much improved from last Saturday. I’m almost not ugly anymore.”

I leaned over the counter and swatted his arm, not hard because that would be rude and because of his bruises. “You were never not handsome.”

Garrett lifted his eyebrows. “I thought you didn’t lie.”

“I’m not lying.” I handed Eli and Delaney each a to-go cup and nodded at the coffee station. “Freshly brewed.”

When I made eye contact with Delaney, she pressed a hand over her heart and fluttered her eyelashes.

I rolled my eyes and picked up a rag to wipe down counters. Again. Garrett and I were just friends, but that didn’t mean I was blind to his good looks. Or his other fantastic qualities. So many of them.

He devoured his doughnut, then sipped his coffee until after Eli and Delaney left. “I should go, but I’ll give you a call later maybe.”

“Sounds good.” Maybe my worries that I wouldn’t see him often were unfounded. I hoped so.

That evening just before I tucked in bed, Mom called.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Tessa, I hadn’t heard from you and was starting to get a bit worried. You usually don’t go an entire week without calling.”

“Sorry about that. I ended up spending a week with a friend—”

“A guy?”

“Yes, but he’s only a friend. Things were busy.” Sort of. Now I felt a little bad for not calling.

“I’m happy to hear you have a new friend.” The smile in her voice left no doubt I’d be hearing about this again. “I was afraid the squabble your dad and I had at Thanksgiving bothered you.”

I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it half a second. Mom had never apologized for their arguments before.

“Uh, I . . . it wasn’t that big a deal. I guess I’m used to it.” I wanted to retract the words as soon as they left my mouth. That was the wrong thing to say.

Mom sighed. “Sorry about that. I’m trying not to find fault as often. And your dad is trying not to have faults.”

“Everyone has faults, Mom.”

“It was a joke, sweetheart. Except the trying part. I really am trying.”

I had two big reasons for never risking a relationship again. And while Skeeter’s words were the biggest chunk of that, Mom and Dad’s arguments played a part in my decision. It seemed like one of my reasons was fading a bit.

But that didn’t mean my choices had to change.

One week later, I pulled onto the ranch, wondering if I should’ve worn jeans instead of a skirt. I didn’t want anyone here thinking this was a date, but the way Garrett talked about everyone on the ranch, I was eager to come for dinner. Was it a crime to want to look nice?

If I planned to spend Christmas here—I still couldn’t believe I’d agreed to that, but I wasn’t about to change my mind—then it would be good to get to know everyone a little better. That was why I was having dinner at the ranch.

Garrett waved as I parked.

I climbed out of the car and surveyed the main house. “This place is beautiful.”

“Come on in. I’ll give you a quick tour and show you the hot tub before we join the others in the dining hall.” His gaze swept over me. “You look really nice.”

“Thanks.” I stepped inside as he opened the door.

Hallways branched off to the left and the right, and just ahead was a living room that was open to the kitchen.

Garrett pointed to the right. “The master bedroom, music room, and library are that way. Dad’s office and the other bedroom suites are to the left.”

We continued into the living room. Nestled beyond the kitchen was an eating area surrounded by windows. The entire great room had windows along the back of the house that faced the patio and pool.

He nodded toward a door at the far end of the living room. “That leads to a game room and then to the dining hall. They have a dining room and kitchen in here, but in that space, it’s easier to fit everyone. There is another kitchen out there too.” He pulled open French doors. “This is the pool. Over there just outside the master bedroom is the hot tub.”

“This is a beautiful home.”

“What do you like about it?” He ushered me back inside and out of the cold.

I found his question surprising, and I took a second to think about what I loved about the place. “I love the wide-open floorplan. The high ceilings, the stone and tile.” Walking along the island, I ran my hand along the granite countertop. “And I love this island. The whole kitchen really.”

He smiled down at me. “I’m glad you like it. Let’s head over to the dining hall.” He pushed open the door he’d pointed to earlier. “Dad added the game room so the ranch hands would have a place to hang out. They have small cabins, similar to mine, located just over the hill behind the house.”

Before following him into the game room, I stopped and admired the Christmas tree. “Lilith has great taste. I’m assuming she did this.”

“Yeah. Left to dad, it would have been covered in lots of lights and strands of popcorn. He goes nuts for Christmas. Lilith has the decorating skill.”

I followed Garrett through the game room and into the dining hall.

Ava rushed toward me, wiping her hands on her apron. “It’s good to see you.” She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. “Thank you for taking care of Garrett. I’m a little put out that he didn’t tell me what happened earlier, but it sounds like he was in good hands.”

“He didn’t want y’all to worry. He looked pretty roughed up for the first few days.” I extended my hand as Lilith walked up. “Hi, I’m Tessa. I’ve seen you around, but I’m not sure we’ve ever officially met.”

Lilith pulled me into a hug. “Ditto to what Ava said. And it’s nice to meet you too. I think you’ve met Beau, Mad Dog, Clint, and Joji already.”

“I have. It’s nice to see you.”

Beau nodded. “I owe you. If you ever need anything, let me know.”

“You don’t owe me.” I glanced at the door as the ranch hands filed in. “Parker!”

A wide grin spread across Parker’s face. “I didn’t know you ever left the doughnut shop.”

“Whatever.” I hugged him. “How’s your sister? She moved to . . .” I couldn’t remember, so I left the sentence unfinished, hoping Parker would tell me where.

“Fort Worth. She’s good. Has three kids now. All girls.” He rolled his eyes.

I rested a hand on Garrett’s arm. “In high school, Parker’s sister and I were friends, and he used to be such a little brother and tag along all the time.”

Parker shrugged. “It got me all kinds of attention from the older girls. ‘Go away, Parker.’ ‘No, Parker, I won’t go with you to the school dance.’ ‘Here, Parker. Carry this. If you are going to hang around, at least be useful.’ Lots of attention.” Chuckling, he dropped into a chair. “Fun times.”

One by one, I met all the ranch hands, and then Garrett and I sat down. Set out on the table were bowls of guacamole, a platter of grilled onions and peppers, and bowls of shredded cheese. Tortilla warmers were clustered at each end of the table.

Beau walked in carrying a platter piled high with beef and chicken fajitas. My mouth watered. This was a rare treat.

During dinner, no one screamed at each other, which confirmed that I’d made the right choice about Christmas. His family was nothing like mine. Or at least like mine used to be. Time would tell if the attempt at getting along would last.

Garrett laughed and joked with the others around the table. His worries about being seen as an outsider were unfounded. He belonged here.

And thanks to everyone, I felt like I did too . . . just because I was Garrett’s friend.

As we walked up to my car, Garrett stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I hope you enjoyed dinner.”

“I did, and now I’m even more excited about Christmas.”

“Good. Hard to believe it’s only two weeks away.” He kicked at a rock.

“I know.” I wasn’t ready to leave. “How are your bruises? Healing okay?”

“I guess. I can only see half of them.”

“Are you using the cream?”

He lifted his shoulders. “Where I can reach.”

“Garrett, it will help. You should—” The words lodged in my throat when my brain figured out the puzzle. “Do you need help with that?”

“I wasn’t going to ask, but yeah.” He glanced at my car. “Why don’t you ride with me to my cabin. I’ll drive you back here after.”

“Perfect.” I followed him to his truck, and he helped me in.

The drive to the cabin was short, but I used every second to give myself a pep talk, reminding myself I’d rubbed cream on him before and there was nothing to feel weird about.

All those encouragements lasted until we walked into his cabin and Garrett reached for the buttons on his shirt. The world slowed to half speed, maybe slower than that, and I embarrassed myself by staring. The whole time.

Sweetheart that he was, Garrett acted like he didn’t notice, but I knew he’d noticed because of his spy gene.

“Where do you want me?”

That was a loaded question.

“You don’t fit on the couch, so I guess your bed.”

He strolled into his room. “Excuse the mess.” After picking up the cream, he sat on the edge of the bed. “If this is too awkward, I’m sure I’ll live.”

“Lie down.”

He stretched out, and I rubbed my way down his back. “They are healing. Some have faded a lot. Is that all you need me to get?”

He nodded and grabbed a t-shirt and yanked it over his head. “It’s getting close to your bedtime. I should drive you back to your car.”

“Let me just wash my hands.” After getting the cream residue off my hands, I rested a hand on his chest. “Garrett, if you need me, call. Okay?”

He squeezed my hand. “I’ll remember that.”

We drove back to the main house, and he ran around to help me out. “The cabin next to mine will be ready for you at Christmas. I know you don’t live far away, but I thought you might want to be here early Christmas morning. That’s easier if you stay on the ranch.”

“I’m excited about staying in the cabin. I love it out here.” I crossed my arms, a little nervous about what I wanted to ask. Asking here was easier than asking when Garrett was shirtless in his cabin. “I’m going out to visit my parents next weekend, and I wondered if you’d like to come along. You’ve already been warned about the arguing, but if that doesn’t bother you too much, I’d like for you to meet them. And Mom says they are trying not to argue as much.” Even though I considered Garrett nothing more than a good friend, I wanted him to meet my parents. Introducing him would earn me hours of having to deny there was anything more than friendship between us, but I didn’t care.

“Absolutely, I’d love to. What night?”

“Saturday.”

“That’ll be fun. And Eli mentioned that you usually have Christmas Eve dinner at his house. He invited me to join y’all.” He crinkled his nose. “If you don’t mind.”

“Of course I don’t mind. You’ll love his mom. And his dad. They are awesome.” I stepped closer and hugged him. “This was fun. Thanks for inviting me.”

“Anytime, Tessa. You’re one of the family now.” He opened my door. “Will you let me know when you get home?”

“Sure.” Since getting back from our vacation, we’d texted or talked every night. It seemed only natural to talk to him at the end of the day.