Cowboy Mistletoe by Em Petrova

Author:Em Petrova [Petrova, Em]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-11T16:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

Shelby’s candy shop was something off a quaint old-fashioned postcard, complete with striped awning and a bar where she served milkshakes. The glass case held varieties of candy Annabelle had never heard of before, and Charlotte told her Shelby spent hours in her kitchen, concocting new treats.

Annabelle and Charlotte had managed to slip away alone for supper at a diner in town. When her friend had suggested they make a pitstop for some chocolate goodies, Annabelle had been eager to see Shelby’s shop.

“Looks like she’s all set for Santa’s arrival tomorrow afternoon.”

Annabelle nodded but didn’t reply.

Charlotte waved a hand in front of Annabelle’s face. “You look dazed. Are you in a candy coma?”

With a short laugh, Annabelle looked away from the glass case. “I feel like a kid myself, coveting all these treats.”

Shelby threw her a smile from behind the register, where a customer was checking out.

“Is it all right to get something for the kids?” she asked.

Charlotte nodded. “I don’t see why not.”

“Good—help me choose.” They leaned over the case to read the labels on each tray of candy. Shelby came to pull out their selections of chocolate-covered graham crackers and chocolate-dipped pretzel rods covered in red and green holiday sprinkles.

As she packaged everything in a big pink box, Annabelle pointed at one more tray. “I’d like two of these as well.”

Shelby and Charlotte nodded. “Oh yeah, you’re going to love those. They melt in your mouth.”

Annabelle felt heat climbing her face. “They’re for Case—for helping me Christmas shop and wrap the presents.”

The women exchanged a look. Annabelle’s face scorched.

She straightened and fiddled with her wallet, pulling out bills to pay for the goodies.

“Case will love those. Good choice,” Shelby said.

Charlotte wasn’t so restrained. She stared at Annabelle. “You like him.”

“Of course I do,” she said, flustered. “He’s very nice and helpful.”

“That isn’t all.” Charlotte had known her a long time and they’d talked men and relationships enough that she knew Annabelle wasn’t telling her everything.

Shelby gave Charlotte a look, and she grabbed Annabelle’s arm and dragged her to a table across the room. Seated across from each other, Charlotte said, “Spill it.”

“Uh, there’s nothing to say. Case helped me out and I bought him a treat as a thank-you.”

“Then why are you blushing? And your eyes have that twinkle like they did when you came into the coffee shop back on campus and saw that Nick guy working the espresso machine.”

Annabelle rolled her eyes. “Now that’s a blast from the past. I haven’t’ thought about Nick in a hundred years.”

“No, now you’re thinking about Case. What happened between you two on the porch?”

She nibbled her lower lip. This was her oldest, dearest friend. They never used to keep secrets from each other, and there was no call to now.

“He kissed me,” she admitted.

Charlotte let out a whoop that had Shelby and the other customers looking their way. Annabelle wanted to crawl under the table.

She set her hands on the surface to keep from knotting them and giving away more of her emotion.

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