And a few other family friends.”
Molly tossed her bag into the front passenger seat. “First of all, your mother and I get along so well because I know my place.”
His brow lifted.
“Furthermore, Braden and I have our own holiday tradition.”
He rested a muscular forearm on the open driver-side door. “You cook?”
Molly lifted her chin. “I take him to the buffet at the cafeteria in San Angelo.”
Sympathy lit his gaze. “Sounds...lonely.”
Lonely, Molly thought, was being a fifth wheel at the big family gatherings of friends. Knowing, you’d never enjoy the same.
She shrugged. “Crowded is more like it. But it’s not too bad if we get there at eleven, when it opens, and then Braden and I have the rest of the day to do whatever we want.” Which usually involved a family activity of their own.
Chance stepped back. “Well, if you change your mind, the invitation stands.”
Molly slid behind the wheel. “Thanks, but I won’t.” She looked up at him.
Whether Chance admitted it or not, she was out of his league socially, too. “And don’t worry about Braden. I’ll figure out a way to handle his misconceptions about what is possible for Christmas. And what is not.”
* * *
EXCEPT SHE WASN’T handling it, Molly thought the following day when they entered the popular San Angelo cafeteria. At least not as well as she or her son would like.
“I’m hungry, Mommy,” Braden complained as the line of customers inched forward.
Although she had been hoping to make this Thanksgiving really special for him, he’d been grumpy since waking that morning. “I know.” Molly inched up slightly, clear of the entrance. “It will be our turn soon. See?” She pointed to the lighted display cases up ahead.
Braden stamped his cowboy boot. “Don’t want to wait,” he fumed.
“I know.” Thinking he might be overheated, Molly knelt down in front of him and unzipped his fleece hoodie. She figured he would be fine once they sat down. Avoiding a meltdown before that concerned her.
“Can we go home now?” Braden persisted.
“Oh, you don’t want to do that,” a familiar low voice said from behind them. “I hear the holiday buffet here is not to be missed.”
Braden lit up like a Christmas tree. “Cowboy Chance!”
“Hi, buddy!” Chance held out his palm. Braden high-fived him.
Slowly, Molly straightened to her full height. To her dismay, she was ridiculously glad to see him. Especially looking so fine.
Like her, he had upped his game a notch. Slacks, a starched shirt, tie and tweed Western-cut blazer, instead of his usual flannel shirt and jeans. “Aren’t you supposed to be at your mom’s today?”
“Already made my appearance.”
Which accounted for his neatly combed chestnut hair and freshly shaven jaw.
“I’m tired,” Braden complained.
Molly inhaled the sandalwood and leather fragrance of Chance’s cologne, mixing with the usual soap and fresh air scent of his skin.
“Probably a little bored, too.” Chance winked. He reached into his jacket pockets. “Which is why I brought you these.” He pulled out a toy reindeer with a big red nose and a coordinating winter sleigh.
Braden beamed. “Rudolph!”
Molly gave Chance a look her delighted son could not see. “What are you doing?” she demanded sweetly.
Grooves deepened on either side of his mouth. “Working on that solution.”
Aware how easy it would be to fall for this sexy cowboy’s charms, Molly stiffened. “I fail to see how—”
He clapped a hand on her shoulder. “All in good time, my darlin’. All in good time. And—” he nodded at the space behind her “—you’re going to want to move on up.”
The line was indeed pushing forward.
Molly inched ahead. “I don’t remember inviting you,” she murmured so only he could hear, while her son energetically played with the reindeer and sleigh.
Chance leaned down to whisper in her ear. “That’s the good thing about having Thanksgiving here. You don’t need an invite.” He looked around, impressed. “Although given how crowded the establishment is quickly getting, it would probably be considerate of the three of us to share a table, rather than unnecessarily take up more chairs than we need.”
“You’re impossible.” Despite herself, she was glad to see him.
Braden tugged on Chance’s blazer. He tilted his head back so he could see his idol’s face. “Thank you for toys.”
Chance ruffled her son’s hair. “You’re welcome, buddy. It was my pleasure.”
To Molly’s surprise, it was hers, too.
* * *
“SO WHAT NEXT?” Chance asked as the three of them finished their turkey dinners.
Molly looked out the cafeteria windows. The rain that had been threatening since the previous evening had started midmeal. It was now coming down in sheets. She sighed. “No playground, unfortunately...”
Braden stopped playing with the toys Chance had brought him long enough to scowl. “Promised!”
Molly used a napkin to wipe some cranberry sauce off her son’s chin. “I know, honey, but everything will be all wet, so we’ll have to do something indoors.”
“Bouncy house?”
“Afraid not. It’s closed because today is a holiday.”
“Cowboy Chance play. My house.”
She did have activities planned there, two they had already started, in fact, in addition to Braden’s usual time set aside to do whatever he wanted. “I’m sure Mr. Chance has other things to do, honey.”
He met her eyes. “Not really.” Chance turned back to Braden, his cordial tone as reassuring as his presence. “What kind of toys do you have?”
“Trucks and cars.”
“Trains?”
Braden shook his head.
Abruptly Molly saw where Chance was going with this.
If he did have an idea how to convince her son to yearn for the holiday gift she had chosen for Braden...could she afford to turn Chance down?
