Christmas Short and Sweet by Barbara McMahon

Author:Barbara McMahon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: A Sweet Clean Christmas Romance Collection
Publisher: Barbara McMahon
Published: 2022-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

Nick was sprawled on the sofa, Lucky sleeping in his lap. Roger looked over. “I’d take another beer but don’t want to wake the puppy.”

“He’ll go back to sleep,” Nick said, easing Lucky onto the floor. He rose and gathered the two empty bottles and headed for the kitchen. Glancing at the clock, he knew Annie would be finished by now. They hadn’t made any plans for her getting Lucky. Should he call her or wait until she called him.

Unless she was tired of the puppy and didn’t call.

He handed a bottle of cold beer to Roger when he returned to the living room.

Roger muted the television. “So how long do you plan to keep that dog?” he asked.

“Hadn’t thought about it. We keep hoping someone will call to claim him.”

“If it hasn’t happened by now, it won’t,” Roger said.

“We don’t know that.”

“I’d say to count on it. Then he’ll go to Annie when you leave?”

Nick stared at the television, but didn’t really see the football play. He was thinking of Annie. And how he didn’t want to leave. He’d been wrestling with that fact for several days now.

He glanced at Roger. “Do you ever want a family?”

His cousin shrugged. “I like my life the way it is. It’s different from what I thought I’d have. But I was crazy for Darlene. Her leaving changed everything.”

“That was years ago. No other woman on the horizon?”

“None that I want to spend the rest of my life with. Why the question? Your life is worse than mine for a family of any kind. And after the way your dad’s handled things, I’d think you would be off involvement.”

“I’m not big on introspection,” Nick said. “But this illness has given me a lot of time to think. And now I’m wondering if it’s too late for me to think about a family.”

“It is if you keep traipsing around Africa,” Roger said.

“Is living here enough for you?” Nick asked. “It’s much smaller than Portland. Doesn’t begin to offer the same amenities.”

“I like it. And I take off a couple of times a year to visit the big city. I think I was made for small towns and the easy-going lifestyle. What’s going on? You sweet on Annie? Seeing yourself staying?”

Nick shook his head. He wasn’t going to discuss his feelings for Annie or the vague discontent he was feeling with his career. It was probably only the after effects of his illness. Once he was back in fighting form, he’d be fine.

They watched the rest of the football game in companionable silence. Nick was glad his cousin didn’t push. But it didn’t change things. He needed to make some decisions–and soon. His leave was up in early January.

When the game ended, he called Annie.

“Hi,” she said. “Want me to come get Lucky?”

“No. I can bring him by your place. Want to get dinner together?”

“Sure. Any place in mind?”

“It’s your town, I don’t know any place beyond the café.”

“We have a great barbeque place beyond the feed barn.

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