Her Christmas Cowboy (The Wyoming Cowboy #5) - Jessica Clare Page 0,33

a roll of wrapping paper into her cart. Amy fingered some of the pretty, festive bows before buying the cheapest bag possible, and then at the last minute put those back, too.

She was breaking his damned heart.

He noticed she bought dog food and a squeaky toy for Donner, and the largest pack of ramen noodles he’d ever seen. When they got to the register, she carefully counted each dollar out and dug around in the bottom of her purse for two pennies. He didn’t understand her—money was clearly an issue, but she wore expensive, impractical clothing. Did she have a shopping addiction or was it something else? He suspected it had something to do with the ex-husband, but he didn’t ask.

Couldn’t ask. He’d just mess it up.

But he lingered in the store and bought the biggest bag of damned Christmas bows himself and shoved it into her bag when she wasn’t looking.

“Thank you,” Amy said to him softly as they drove back to Painted Barrel. “I know I’m taking up a lot of your time, but it really is appreciated.”

As if he had anything better to do. As if he wasn’t basking in every single moment spent in her presence. He was soaking up every smile, every note of her musical voice, every time she touched her hair. This was what he’d dreamed of for months now—just being with her—and he was going to take every opportunity he could.

“Once my car’s fixed, you won’t have to be my chauffeur anymore.” Her voice was light and almost playful. “And after the holidays I can work on paying you back.”

Caleb frowned. Why was she so damn obsessed with paying him back? He considered a variety of answers, some longer than others, and eventually settled on a simple, “Nope.”

“Don’t tell me that.” She chuckled. “I’m not trying to be a charity case and you’ve done so much for me. I’m just waiting on a few payments to come in and then I’ll have a lot more breathing room with my finances. When that happens, I’m going to look up the costs of repairs for all the things you’ve done for me and pay you for your time. I promise.”

He didn’t want to be paid for his time. He wanted to spend more time with her. He scowled at the windshield. She still thought this was charity, then. Even after all the gifts he’d showered her with this week. Maybe his message wasn’t getting through.

Story of his life—Caleb’s messages never got through.

When they got to her house, she greeted Donner with a happy hug, and he noticed the old dog was curled up on her love seat in an old blanket. He was glad to see she was spoiling the old man, and went over to rub the dog’s ears. Amy spent a moment squeaking Donner’s new toy and talking in baby-speak to the dog, so Caleb took her things into the kitchen.

The coffee maker he’d bought for her and wrapped up carefully was still sitting in the box. He thought for sure she’d want to use it, since she microwaved everything, even her morning instant coffee. He glanced over his shoulder at her again, frowning to himself. She hadn’t worn her new jacket tonight, or the scarf and hat, or the boots he’d given her. He’d done flowers one day—carnations—but had opted for more practical gifts after she’d come home and promptly dumped the flowers.

That had confused him, too. Hadn’t she been excited over the other flowers she’d gotten? Or had she figured out that he was now giving her gifts, too, and didn’t like that? Did she know it was him?

“Sorry,” Amy breathed as she came up to his side and helped him unload one of the bags. “I just wanted Donner to know he wasn’t abandoned. I should take him out for a quick walk after this, too.”

He nodded, and because he couldn’t resist, gestured at the coffeepot.

“Oh, that? It’s a gift someone got me.” Her tone turned flat. She dug in her purse and then pulled out a couple of small, blue velvet cases and tossed them atop the coffee maker. “It’s been a real heck of a week.”

She sounded . . . disgusted? That was odd. He knew someone else had sent her flowers, more than once, but what were these cases? Donner trotted up to Amy’s side and whined, so she got out the leash and took the dog into the backyard. The moment she did, Caleb couldn’t