Christmas Kisses with My Cowboy - Diana Palmer Page 0,125

and he winked.

“Couldn’t pass that opportunity up.”

In the main lobby they were directed toward a cloakroom to drop off their outer garments and change their shoes. Ted waited for her to join him back in the hall.

“I’ve got to help out in the receiving line. Will you be okay?”

She gave him a mock frown. “As I said already, I’m a big girl. Go off and do what you need to do.”

In fact, she was quite happy to see him occupied with his wedding duties so that she could finally fulfill her promise to call Leon and Sharon. One of them must know something, and she really wanted to set her mind at rest. She had a sense Ted wanted to talk to her about staying permanently in Morgan Valley. She wanted to stay, but she couldn’t make the commitment until she knew everything was all right in L.A.

Ignoring the reception in the big room off the lobby, she turned instead toward a long hallway of what looked like offices, and wandered down there, her phone in her hand as she typed her messages. There was no immediate response from either of her friends, so she pocketed her cell, and walked back toward the receiving line.

She was welcomed by a grinning Ted, hugged, squealed over, and passed along the line like a Christmas parcel until she ended up in Avery’s arms. Her friend wore a red velvet cloak with a hood over her wedding dress and looked like a fairy-tale princess.

“I’m so glad you could come,” Avery whispered. “And I really hope you marry Ted and stick around.”

“You’re getting a bit ahead of yourself, now.” Veronica laughed and hugged her back. “You just want everyone to be as happy as you are.”

“Of course I do!” Avery winked at her. “Now, go and get something to drink, and we’ll send Ted to find you before you know it.”

Veronica went over to the bar and was offered a champagne cocktail, which she happily accepted. She wandered across the crowded room to the large picture window that looked over the snow-covered pastures and toward the towering black heights of the Sierra Nevadas. Even as she sipped her cocktail, she considered what it might be like waking up to such a familiar view every morning—maybe with Ted sleeping by her side.

Her cell buzzed, and she took it out of her pocket to see a message from Leon.

No scandal mentioning your deadbeat ex’s name around to my knowledge. What did you do to him? LOL.

Veronica winced as she typed a reply.

I just wondered if he’d come by the practice, or was looking for me? If he comes near me again, he knows he’d get an earful and a restraining order slapped on his ass.

Do you want me to find out anything I can?

That would be really good of you.

Veronica took a hasty sip of her cocktail.

I’ll be super discreet. X.

Veronica knew that was almost impossible for her boss. He was a talker, and he loved nothing more than a good bit of gossip. Would he march right up to Jason’s front door and demand to know what was going on? He’d probably consider that discreet as opposed to hopping over the back fence and spying through the windows.

Veronica groaned and downed the rest of her drink. She wished she hadn’t sent the text now.

“Everything okay?”

She spluttered as Ted spoke over her shoulder and hastily ditched her glass before she dropped it.

“Yes! I’m great! You?”

He eyed her like a man attempting to defuse a bomb.

“You sure about that?”

She summoned her best smile. “I’m just . . . working on that problem I told you about back in L.A. There’s nothing to worry about.”

For some reason, the concern in his eyes only deepened. “I wish you’d just tell me what’s going on.”

She reached for his hand. “I will! I mean, I will as soon as I’ve sorted it out, which will be very soon, because I’ve got people on it.”

“People?”

She nodded as she squeezed his fingers. “People. I just need a couple of answers to the . . . problem, and then I’ll be fine. I promise.”

His brow creased. “Look, if all this is moving too fast for you—I mean the stuff between us—and you want to step back, it’s okay. I won’t be offended. Maybe I’ve been pushing you too hard, and—”

“Ted, please listen to me.” She met his gaze. “The reason I’m being so careful is that I don’t want to mess this up, and by