Christmas Kisses with My Cowboy - Diana Palmer Page 0,101
against the countertop that separated the two spaces and watched him move efficiently around the kitchen. “It’s been a very long day.”
“Where did you drive from?” Ted asked as he scooped coffee into the filter paper.
“L.A.”
“Today?”
“It’s taken me a lot longer than that.” She tried to relax her shoulders. “You wouldn’t believe how many hotels wouldn’t let me bring Bacon in with me.”
“I think I would.”
“And I was trying to avoid the freeways because who knew that pigs get carsick?”
“Not me.” Ted opened the fridge. “Do you take cream in your coffee?”
“Yes, please.” She turned back to her bags. “I’ll just get Bacon settled in, and I’ll be right back.”
* * *
Ted fussed around with the coffee and wondered whether he should offer Veronica something to eat. Not that he had much to tempt her with, but Beth had left some meals in the freezer, and he was perfectly capable of reading a set of cooking instructions. Luckily, Beth was an excellent cook and even her frozen food turned out great.
Having Veronica in his apartment made Ted painfully aware of how he and his dad were still living out of boxes like two people who weren’t sure they were really home. When he’d rebuilt the mechanics shop and gas station, he hadn’t intended to live in one of the apartments. One was for renting out, and the other was for his dad. But after everything that had happened with his father’s health, he couldn’t leave the old guy to fend for himself, so he’d moved in with him—just for a while.
Two years later, he was still here, and his dad had gone off on a cruise to Hawaii....
“He’s still sleeping.” Veronica came back into the kitchen. “I left out some food and water just in case he wakes up.”
She wore a thick, knitted blue sweater over jeans and her long, dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Her earrings were large gold hoops that swung as she talked and her lipstick was bright red. There was more color in her than in his entire apartment or life—and far more warmth.
She glanced over at the phone on the kitchen wall. “Is it okay if I call Victor? My cell phone battery died somewhere around Bridgeport.”
Ted paused as he set out two mugs. “Is he expecting you?”
“No, but I don’t think he’ll mind. Do you?”
He caught the hint of uncertainty in her voice and looked up. “Seeing as he’s always talking about you, I doubt it, but . . . he’s not there right now.”
“He’s out for the whole day?”
“Nope, he’s gone for the next two weeks.”
She went still. “But he’s always there.”
“Not this Christmas. He’s gone on a cruise to the Hawaiian Islands with my dad.”
She gulped. “What?”
“That’s exactly what I said.” Ted poured out the coffee and slid a mug across to her. “Apparently, they both had the same crazy idea and decided to go for it together.”
He’d tried to be pleased that his dad felt well enough to travel, but he was worried about him. Victor had reassured him that he’d keep an eye on his old friend, and yet it still hadn’t felt right.
“Is there anyone out there at the ranch?” Veronica asked, breaking into his thoughts.
“No one’s living there while Vic’s away, if that’s what you mean.” Ted hesitated. “If you’re contemplating heading out that way, I don’t think your rental would make it through the snowdrifts. I wouldn’t recommend you trying to go out there without four-wheel drive.” Ted took a sip of his coffee. “I know your uncle asked the Garcia family to deal with any produce or stock issues. It’s the end of his growing season, so he doesn’t have a lot left in the ground.”
Vic ran a small organic farm that provided produce and free-range eggs to many of the local towns, businesses, and farmers’ markets. He also kept a few horses, which meant that Ted and his father got to keep up their riding skills so they could cowboy up and help out on the ranches during branding and herding operations.
Veronica stared down at her coffee as if it held the key to the universe.
“Is the Hayes Hotel still open?”
“Yeah, but it’s full to bursting right now seeing as Ry Morgan is getting married to Avery Hayes this weekend, and the wedding is being held there.”
“Oh.” She frowned. “Is there another hotel nearby?”
“You’d have to go back to Bridgeport, and I’m not sure they’d take a pig,” Ted said tactfully.