Page 79 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

“Hey, thank you,” Harrison called after her. “For your help with the cows, and for bringing Mallory here.”

“We’re all good,” Valerie echoed over her shoulder, giving a wave. “Come see me when you need a ring.”

He looked to Mallory, but she must have discovered something very interesting about her shoes, because she was studying them intensely.

19

MALLORY

Mal walked to the farmhouse with Harrison in silence, Valerie’s words still ringing in her ears.

Come see me when you need a ring.

On the one hand, it was incredibly awkward to have that just floating in the air between them.

On the other, it was a perfect segue to a difficult conversation, if she dared to broach it.

She stole a glance up at Harrison, but his face was unreadable. He was probably going over everything he had to do tonight in his mind and not even thinking about rings or commitment.

“I’ll just show you around a little,” he said. “And then you can relax, you don’t have to cook tonight. I’ll make us something when I get done with the cows.”

“I like cooking,” Mal said, shrugging.

Besides, she was going to need something to do to keep from going bananas while she waited for him.

“I know you do,” he said with a half-smile. “Help yourself to anything you find in the kitchen if you feel like cooking. Nothing’s off-limits.”

“Thank you,” she said, hoping that applied to conversation topics as well.

They reached the end of the rhododendron hedge and the view of the house and barns opened up in front of them. The farmhouse was white with black shutters and a wide front porch, just the kind of house Mal loved.

“It’s like a farmhouse in a fairytale,” she said without thinking.

Harrison smiled.

As they got closer, something small and gray streaked off the porch and down the steps, disappearing into the shadows beneath.

“What was that?” she asked.

“Just a barn cat Katie’s been taming,” Harrison said. “She’s doing great with him, but he only likes her. I can’t get anywhere near the little guy.”

He jogged up the front steps to the porch and Mal followed, smiling at the idea of Katie befriending a little cat.

Harrison opened the front door and she followed him in. The house was cozy, comfortable, and neat as a pin. Her eyes caught on the fireplace and bookcases. Everything seemed so homey.

“Kitchen’s this way,” Harrison said. “I’ll just show you around really quickly so I can get back to the girls.”

“The girls,” Mal echoed with a smile, liking the idea that he referred to the cows that way. “I’m glad they’re home safely.”

“Me too,” Harrison said.

He pointed out a couple of things, and showed her the wooden bin of potatoes and the herbs in a planter by the window.

“You sure you don’t mind waiting for me?” he asked.

“I won’t even notice you’re gone,” Mal told him, already mentally putting together a menu.

“Thanks,” he said, reaching for her hand and squeezing it before heading out the back door.