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“Thank you. Would you like to walk into town and get dinner?”
“Oh, I never eat after six.” She ran a hand down her nonexistent abdomen.
“Right. A drink, then? There’s a place right next door.”
“Perfect. But don’t you want to give me the tour first?”
Merry made herself smile brightly. “This is it! Living room, kitchen, there’s the bedroom. Great light here, huh? Are you still in Chicago?”
“I am. I love living downtown. Everything I could ever want is right there.”
“Except rock climbing?”
“Oh, it’s just a little sport climbing.” She waved a hand. “Jake took it up at the gym and convinced me to try it. Our best friends have a little villa up on Teton Mountain, and they’re letting us use it, so we’ve come out to give it a try on real rock.”
“Sounds fun.” It did, honestly. A few days at a gorgeous mountain lodge. An exciting new hobby.
She led Crystal outside and started across the lawn before she remembered the heels. “Sorry,” she murmured, cutting back to the sidewalk.
“It’s really a saloon?” Crystal asked. “I thought it was actually a little gift shop or something.”
“No, it’s a saloon.” Country music blared out when someone opened a door and Crystal’s eyes widened with a little trepidation.
“Come on. It’s fun. I know the owner.” Merry was also scared to death of the owner, but she left that out. “And the bartender, if Jenny’s working tonight.”
She didn’t see Jenny when they walked in, but the place was packed with cowboys. Several of their heads turned, and a few of those actually took off their hats and smoothed their hair down at the sight of Crystal. She looked fantastically out of place in her cool cream linen, and Merry would have been squirming with discomfort if she’d been the one wearing it, but Crystal just swept a serene gaze over the room.
Merry didn’t see an empty table, but when they headed to the bar, two cowboys stood up in their path and waved a hand at the table. “Ma’am,” the closest one said to Crystal.
Merry was in the middle of declining the kind offer when Crystal interrupted with an easy thank-you and took a seat.
“Oh.” Merry stood there and stared at the men. “Well…” She had no choice but to sit, as well.
No one had ever sacrificed his table for her when she was on her own. Things worked differently for beautiful women who looked as if their very presence was a gift to you.
Crystal gingerly swiped at the table with the side of her hand before setting her clutch purse on the table. “I’m so glad I was able to stop by and see you, Merry. How are you?”
“Wonderful!”
“So your mom told me you’re working in a little ghost town?”
Merry knew for a fact that wasn’t what her mom had said. “I’m the curator of a beautiful little town called Providence. It’s currently under restoration and I’m hoping to get it open to the public soon.”
“Wow. Pretty impressive for the Merry Slacker.”
“Yeah. Thanks a lot.” She was saved from having to say more when she spotted Jenny pop up from behind the bar. “Oh, there’s Jenny! She’s the blonde in the apron. I don’t see Rayleen, but—”
“Looking for me, Christmas?” a voice growled from directly behind her.
Merry jumped and bit back a yelp of fear. Rayleen was scary as hell even when she wasn’t sneaking up from behind.
“Hey,” Rayleen said when Merry turned around. “I see Grace helped you out with your makeup. You look nice for once.”
Merry grimaced. “Crystal, this is Rayleen Kisler, she’s Grace’s great-aunt. Rayleen, this is my cousin Crystal Waterton.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Crystal said. “Is Grace here?” She looked around with more than a little nervousness.
“Nah,” Rayleen said. “She’s probably off riding that stallion of hers. It’s her only hobby, far as I can tell.”
