Page 76 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

“Yes,” Mal said, nodding. “Tonight was going to be our first date.”

“Was?” Ana asked, her brow slightly furrowed.

“He was supposed to be here forty minutes ago,” Mal admitted, her eyes dropping to the floor.

“He has a little girl,” Ana said. “And believe me, I know that it’s hard to make fast plans when a child is involved. He’ll be here as soon as he can. I’m sure of it.”

“He hasn’t even called or texted,” Mal said sadly.

“I’m sure he’ll come,” Ana said.

But Mal knew her too well not to notice the sadness in her eyes.

The fact was that Mallory Fisher was playing the fool. Again.

“Do you want me to stay for a bit?” Ana asked kindly.

Mal took a deep breath and sighed it out.

“If you wouldn’t mind,” she said. “I know you probably have to get home.”

“Not at all,” Ana said. “I was heading over here to say hi anyway. And this works out perfectly. I can keep you company while you wait.”

“I’m pretty sure he’s not coming,” Mal said as Ana seated herself by the window.

“Mal, he adores you,” Ana said. “He walked all around the village holding your hand on Saturday. You had every gossip in town working overtime. And the way he looks at you… well, any girl would be lucky to have a man look at her that way.”

Ana’s voice was wistful in a way that made Mal want to ask her about Rory Dunn. But she had a feeling that would only make things worse.

Thinking about Ana’s dilemma made her feel a little better about sharing her own.

“Harrison doesn’t want to get married again,” Mal admitted simply. “So even if he does show up tonight, it won’t work out. You know I want a family.”

She waited for Ana to scold her for putting the cart before the horse, but her friend frowned instead.

“Did he tell you that?” Ana asked after a moment.

“Yes,” Mal said, sighing. “When we were getting to know each other online. It was one of the first things he said to me when he was talking about Penny and what she meant to him. He said those exact words, I’ll never marry again. He was adamant.”

“But he took you out with his daughter,” Ana said. “And he asked you out on a date.”

“Yeah,” Mal said. “I didn’t have to say yes though.”

She glanced down at her phone again. There wasn’t a single notification.

“And now he’s standing you up,” Ana said sadly.

“It looks that way,” Mal agreed, lowering herself to the seat opposite Ana’s, ready to throw in the towel.

“You know I don’t normally agree when Valerie says that men are the worst,” Ana said carefully. “I don’t think it’s fair to vilify a whole group of people. But if Harrison really feels that way and he’s standing you up instead of talking to you about it… well, I guess he is the worst.”

Mal’s brows lifted. Ana was the most positive person she knew.

The front door burst open, sending the bells jangling wildly.

She turned, hoping again to see Harrison.

But it was Valerie who marched in this time, as if she had been summoned by Mal and Ana breaking the rule about discussing romance.