Page 16 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

“I love these nights,” Ana said with a smile.

“Well, there’s not much of a nightlife in Trinity Falls,” Valerie joked, winking. “Makes putting together trays and baskets feel like an outing.”

“Hey, there’s a book club at the library and at the shop,” Mal said setting the board down. “And every kind of exercise class you could think of.”

“Like the Seniors’ Silver Tai Chi classes?” Ana teased.

“Oh, I can’t believe I did that,” Mal said, sinking to her seat and burying her face in her hands.

“Why did you think he was old?” Valerie asked.

“Well, he lost his wife,” Ana said. “He’s kind of young for that. And…”

“And what?” Valerie asked.

“Well, doesn’t Harrison seem like an old-fashioned name?” Mal moaned.

“I guess that’s true,” Ana said kindly, while Valerie laughed.

“But, Mal,” Valerie said, still smiling. “He was messaging you, right?”

“My grandmother messages me every day,” Ana retorted. “She has all the best gossip, and she sends me pictures and memes.”

“She’s a pistol,” Valerie said fondly.

“Anyway,” Mal said. “It was so embarrassing. I’m just lucky he took it so well.”

“He’s a good sport,” Valerie said with a funny little smile. “And a good-looking one. And he calls you Mallory.”

“When did he lose his wife?” Ana asked with an innocent expression.

“A couple of years ago,” Mal told them.

Valerie and Ana exchanged a meaningful glance.

“He’s not over her,” Mal said firmly. “And he told me the first time we spoke that he’s sworn off women, and will never marry again. Besides, he has a little girl. The two of them are just trying to survive their loss.”

She didn’t bother to say out loud that a man that attractive wouldn’t waste time with boring Mallory Fisher.

“Well, I’m glad he was nice about your misunderstanding,” Ana said. “He seems like a good friend.”

“We’re her good friends,” Valerie said firmly. “He’s just a guy.”

“He’s not a guy,” Mal said. “I mean… not the way you’re thinking. Let’s get started.”

She went over a basic idea of what she had in mind for the trays and the two of them got to work while she popped back to the counter to turn on the radio.

Don’t think about him, she told herself.

But it was useless.

Could that tall drink of water really be the man she had been pouring her heart out to all year long?

She shook her head, willing herself not to go down that rabbit hole right now. She flipped on the radio and headed back to the table, enjoying the children’s choir’s rendition of “Carol of the Bells” that followed her.

The local station played nothing but Christmas music all the way through the New Year and Mal always looked forward to it every year. Spring, summer, and fall in Trinity Falls were all beautiful, and had their beloved traditions.

But Christmas had always been Mal’s favorite.