Page 36 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

Though he couldn’t seem to repress a zing of satisfaction in his chest at knowing this other man was off the market.

“Do you want to know the worst part?” she said sadly.

“What?” he asked.

“I’m making their wedding cake,” she said, shaking her head and looking down at her hands. “And Julie’s got really good taste. It’s probably going to be the most beautiful, delicious cake I’ve ever baked.”

“Wow,” Harrison said. “That’s rough.”

“I took it pretty hard at first,” Mallory said, nodding. “But then, I don’t know. I mean, it’s not like he and I ever dated. I’m not actually in love with him. It really was just a crush. And it does mean a lot that they want me to make the cake. I’m still just his best friend’s baby sister. But he’s trusting me to make something that’s really important to them.”

Harrison nodded, impressed with her perspective. This was more like the wise soul he’d been getting to know online.

“I was thinking about it last night, and I think what’s really painful is that everyone knows I liked him and he didn’t choose me,” she said, shrugging. “But I can’t change that. So, yes, I’m humiliated. But I’m not heartbroken. And as soon as I put that together I knew I would be okay.”

“I’m so glad, Mallory,” Harrison said softly.

His hand moved across the table to take hers without him making a conscious decision to do it.

Her hand was so soft and warm in his. A funny little tingle rushed from the place where they touched all the way up his arm and danced in his heart. He wanted to crush her whole body to his chest, bury his fingers in her fiery hair, and whisper to her how beautiful she was and how deserving of love and happiness.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her eyes on their hands.

They were silent for a moment and it took everything he had not to do or say something that would give him away. The poor girl was getting over something. He had no idea why his own broken heart was suddenly doing cartwheels in his chest after years in hibernation.

“So your friends are feeling protective over you now?” he offered softly, hoping to get her talking again so he could get out of his own head.

“Yeah,” she said with a smile. “They definitely are. So when they saw you the other day…”

She trailed off, her cheeks going pink.

So her friends thought he was attractive and had said as much to her. Normally, he found that kind of thing annoying.

But if Mallory thought he was attractive, that would be very different. And right now he really, really wanted to know if that was the case.

“When they saw me, what?” he asked, squeezing her hand a little.

“I, um, I guess they thought maybe something would happen between us,” she admitted, looking up at him. “Because, you know, you’re…”

“I’m what?” he asked, hope rising in his chest.

She squirmed in her seat, looking like she wanted to disappear.

Adorable.

“I’m what, Mallory?” he pressed, leaning forward.

“Uh, not a senior citizen,” she said, dropping her eyes again.

Her meaning landed on him and suddenly he was laughing, not a light chuckle, but a real, full-bellied laugh.

What is she doing to me? I feel like a different man.

She looked up at him, smiling, her pretty eyes dancing again.

“It was a fair mistake,” she said, lifting her hands. “I mean what thirty-year-old is named Harrison?”

“First of all, I’m thirty-four,” he said, still chuckling. “I hope that doesn’t mean you’re going to march me back to senior yoga.”