Christmas Kisses with My Cowboy - Diana Palmer Page 0,106

in Morgantown. I never looked for a permanent relationship because I guess I didn’t want anyone to tie me down here.” He grimaced. “That’s probably the closest to the truth I’ve ever come to admitting to anyone including myself.”

“Then why did you stay?” Veronica held his gaze.

“All kinds of reasons.” He smiled and turned back to the coffee. “Too many to bore you with right now. Do you want to get some cream out of the refrigerator for your coffee?”

Chapter Three

After taking Bacon out for a short morning stroll on his leash around the rear of the gas station, Veronica went back up to the apartment. She couldn’t stop thinking about her conversation with Ted the night before. Why hadn’t he left town, and why did she care that he seemed to have somehow given up? She hadn’t seen him for ten years; she had no right to pry into his life. But, as her uncle Vic had always told her, sometimes a person appeared in your life for a reason, and maybe her purpose was to get Ted out of his rut.

She walked into a cloud of steam and the sound of whistling and almost dropped Bacon as Ted came out of his bathroom with just a towel around his hips and nothing else.

“Sorry.” He took such a hasty step backward that he collided with the bathroom doorframe. “I forgot you were here.”

“It’s okay.” Veronica waved away the steam, feeling as if she was in one of those dream sequences from a movie when a handsome hunk stepped out of the shower. “It’s not like I’ve never seen a man’s body before.”

Feigning nonchalance, she walked past him and into the second bathroom where she put Bacon on the floor and checked the mirror to make sure her tongue wasn’t actually hanging out.

Jason was short and lean, and Ted . . . was definitely neither of those things. He had actual abs, and those line thingies that she could never remember the name of that angled diagonally down from his hip to his . . . groin.

Veronica fed her pig and then splashed water on her flushed face. The only reason she was reacting so positively to Ted’s body was because she hadn’t had sex with an actual person for three years. It was perfectly understandable and natural and nothing to worry about.

She went back into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door, appreciating the wave of cold air.

“I thought we could get breakfast at Yvonne’s, and then walk over to see Avery at the hotel. I’m one of Ry’s groomsmen so I’ve got to look the part.”

She turned as Ted came up behind her. He was now completely dressed in jeans, a T-shirt, and a thick flannel shirt. He’d also shaved, which was a pity in her opinion.

“Is that a new café?” She took her time closing the refrigerator door.

“It’s been here a while. Yvonne did her culinary training in France so she’s an amazing pastry and bread maker.”

“Sounds awesome.” She smiled brightly at him, mentally picturing those fine abs hidden by his shirt. “I’ll just get my coat.”

* * *

Ted glanced down at his companion as they walked along the street toward Yvonne’s. He could already smell the coffee, but that wasn’t the only reason he was feeling so upbeat and optimistic. There was something about Veronica that just made him wake up and appreciate life more. Sure, she asked him awkward questions, but she also didn’t judge his answers, or make him feel guilty. He liked that, and she was definitely making him think.

The trouble was, the more he thought, the more ashamed he became of how he’d sat back and let life pass him by.

“Hey!” Yvonne approached the table as he and Veronica sat down. “I heard you had someone staying with you. I’m glad you brought her in.”

Veronica held out her hand. “I’m Veronica Hernandez. I’m waiting for my uncle Victor to come home from his cruise because we got our dates mixed up. Ted very kindly let me stay with him.”

“You’re Victor’s niece? He has the best local produce.” Yvonne winked at Ted. “I do hope you’re going to persuade Veronica to stick around and continue the family business.”

Ted held up his hands. “Nothing to do with me.”

Yvonne gave them both menus. “What can I get you to drink?”

By the time they’d refilled their coffee twice and eaten their food, Ted reckoned that half the town had come by their table to say hi