Christmas Cowboy (A Standalone Holiday Romance Novel)

by Claire Adams

  I dug out my keys and slid into the seat beside her. “Thanks for that.”

  “No problem. I always knew one day I’d snap.” We both shared a laugh before she released a long breath while my Camaro roared to life.

  “I’m surprised you’ve waited this long.” I pulled out of the drive and onto the street. “Where to now?”

  “Some place where I can get a beer.”

  The only place I could think of echoed in my mind with Aiden’s voice: Jay’s Pub.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Aiden

  Smitty was halfway through a dirty joke when Glen’s eyes widened. I glanced over my shoulder to see what he was looking at and nearly fell off my stool. Standing at the door were Lexa and another girl, both clutching their expensive handbags as if they’d gotten lost down a dark alley in the wrong part of town.

  A few of the men in the place whistled, and Lexa grabbed hold of her friend’s hand to keep her from bailing.

  “Be right back.” I hurried across the room as the laughter from Smitty’s foul joke filled the air, and I startled Lexa as I walked up beside her and took her hand.

  “Aiden! Thank God. I thought we’d come to the wrong place, and, well, this isn’t exactly what I thought it would be.”

  “This is the place; I’m surprised you remembered. I didn’t think you’d ever show up here. I thought I made it clear it wasn’t exactly the type of place you’d be caught dead in.” I knew I had tried.

  “Yeah, but I figured since you came here, it couldn’t be so bad. Not that it’s terrible, but I’ve never seen so much denim and leather in one room before.” She glanced at the table where some of the local bikers had gathered.

  “They’re harmless, but it’s been a while since they’ve seen a woman as clean as you come in here.” Her friend coughed, covering her mouth and mumbling her name.

  Lexa spun around and pulled her closer to her hip. “This is Bre. She’s been my best friend since we were kids.”

  The girl offered a smile. “Nice to meet you. Can I get a beer?” Bre seemed more relaxed than Lexa, but kept her close regardless.

  “Sure, come on up to my place.” I led them to the row of empty stools beside mine.

  Her friend took a stool, and Lexa sat between us. “Nice place you’ve got here.”

  I rapped my knuckles on the bar, and Glen spun around from where he’d been talking to Smitty, who was still in the thralls of nasty jokes. Glen walked over and poured my next beer as he smiled for the ladies.

  “What can I get for you two lovely ladies?” He flashed his eyes as Bre, and she grinned back as her cheeks stained with blush.

  “I’ll have a Long Island iced tea.” Bre raked her fingers through her hair and looked Glen up and down and elbowed Lexa who ordered a Corona with lime.

  As Glen dropped the drinks, I introduced him. “This is Lexa and Bre.”

  “I can’t tell you how nice it is to finally meet you. Aiden’s told me a lot.” He offered his hand and Lexa took it.

  “All good, but not too good?” She cocked a brow at me and laughed.

  Her friend stuck her hand out and introduced herself. “Breanna Lively.”

  “So, you’re related.” I nudged Lexa, who still seemed shaken, but she turned and threw her arm around her friend.

  “Yes, cousins, friends, we’re practically sisters.” Glen gave me a shrug as she threw her arm around me, dropping her friend who leaned forward on the bar.

  Lexa glanced up at me with wide eyes. “I’m glad we met up. I hope everything turned out okay today.” She ran her fingers through my hair, and I nodded as I sipped my beer.

  “Things are much better now. I’m glad you stopped by, but you should have told me you were coming out here and I’d have walked you in. This isn’t the safest place for two beautiful women to be at night.”

  “Believe it or not, the two of us have been to some scary places over the years.” I didn’t like the sound of that and hoped she’d be more careful. She turned and got Glen’s attention as he made small talk with Bre. “Hey, how’s your cut doing?”

  “Stitches come out soon, and it’s healing a lot better than expected, considering my job. But I tell you what, if I get lemon juice in it one more time, I might just quit and close the place down.”

  Bre scrunched up her face. “Ooh, I bet that stings.”

  “Yeah, it’s not much fun. Remind me to hide the knives when this one comes around. He’s bad luck.” Glen pointed at me and then stepped over to where Smitty was still entertaining his crowd. His speech was so slurred that you couldn’t tell when he hit the punchline and the only way anyone knew it was time to laugh was when he did.

  “Who’s the charmer?” Lexa nodded toward the old man.

  “His name is Smitty. He’s the bar’s mascot and Glen’s best customer.” I watched as she tried to listen, but she shook her head and laughed with the others.

  “Well, this is some place.”

  “I’ve drowned a lot of grief right here on this very stool. So much, in fact, that it’s reserved for my ass only.”

  She gave Bre a nudge, and the two exchanged a look. “Hear that, Bre? He’s got his own barstool.” She slid her gaze back to me with a smile.

  “I think you’ve found a winner,” Bre whispered to Lexa, but loud enough for me to hear.

  “Oh, so I have the best friend’s approval? Is that what this little rendezvous was all about?” I gave Bre a wink.

  She threw her arm around Lexa. “My approval is everything. You’re lucky you’re cute.”

  We continued talking until Bre’s phone rang and she turned away to take it.

  I took the time to brush a stray strand of hair from Lexa’s face and tuck it behind her ear. “I’m looking forward to our date.”

  “I bet you are. Transvestite sword fighting, I believe you said?” I nodded and laughed. “As long as they’re using actual swords, count me in.” She turned up her beer and took a hearty swig for someone so petite.

  “What else would they be using?” I wanted her to answer, but instead, her eyes widened, and she began giggling. Bre hung up the phone and pulled her closer, whispering something too low to hear.

  Lexa turned back toward me and finished her last sip of beer, then she slammed the bottle down on the glass hard and met my eyes with a hint of sadness. “We have to go. I’ll call you later, though.” She leaned in and kissed my lips. I hated to see her go. I couldn’t offer to take her home and leave her friend alone, but the temptation to take her to bed had my pulse racing.

  The two of them waved their goodbyes to Glen, and when I returned from walking them out, he met me at my spot. “Woo-wee, that’s some hotness, right there, and she was checking up on you.”

  “Actually, I’m not sure what that was about. I think she was worried, but she didn’t say it. She knows all about the lawsuit and how I had to go meet the family today.”

  “Damn, I bet that was rough.” He pulled the towel from over his shoulder and wiped the bar down after tossing their empties.

  “It wasn’t pretty. But it is what it is. I’m playing hardball with them. They sat there telling me how they didn’t want my money or need it, but they’re suing the shit out of me. And that woman, I think she’s crazy.”

  “Oh, man.” He shook his head.

  “Yeah, it’s hard to imagine a nice guy like Shawn having that dragon lady as a mother.” I cringed, remembering her posturing glares.

  “They are trying to put a value on their son’s life that is grossly disproportionate to the case. They’ll lose. I’ve seen it a thousand times. The world is full of bitter-ass people.” I finished off my beer and pushed my empty glass toward him.

  “I hope it works out, man. At least you’ve got a good woman to help get you through it. That one’s a keeper based on looks alone. Do you ever say no to her? I’d give her anything she wanted.” He shook his head and put my glass in the wash bin.

  “I plan on it, if I can keep her interested.” I wa
s trying to play it cool, but the truth was, I would do exactly that and give her anything in the world. And, he was right — it was nice knowing that no matter how shitty things got, I had Lexa to bring me out of my slump.

  I stood from the bar and fished out my keys. “I’m going to quit while I can still drive myself home. I need to get going. It’s been a long day.” I stretched my arms, which were still sore from my workout. I’d gone to the gym before showing up at the bar.

  “Take it easy, man.” As I waved to Glen, I glanced down at my phone to see if Lexa had texted, but found Layne had called again instead.

  I had turned my phone down because it wasn’t like I could hear it in the bar, anyway, and I didn’t want anyone other than Lexa disturbing my drink. I decided to call him before it got too late and before he woke me up too early the next morning.

  I pushed his number and waited for him to answer. “’Bout time, Aiden.” I hated when he answered the phone that way, and it made me want to remind me that my time was my own and I wasn’t living on his.

  “What?” Keeping it short was always best with Layne.

  “They aren’t going to settle, so we’re going to trial. I wanted you to know before you hear it in the press circuit.”

  “Offer them half.” I headed out to my truck and unlocked my doors.

  He groaned. “Dammit, Aiden, they aren’t going to settle, and that’s more than they deserve, and you know it.”

  “Offer it, see if they want it. If not, we go to trial. I want this shit over with.”

  “It would be admitting fault.”

  Any form of settlement was going to be admitting fault, but I knew I couldn’t get around paying them something unless I went to court, and having a long, drawn-out battle would be hell. It was bad enough I had to put up with this much of Layne on a daily basis. The two of us had always had a shaky relationship, and my dad had been the buffer.

  Layne resented me not joining the firm and taking my father’s place since he and my father had done so much for me in law school, but what I’d never admitted to him until my father died was that I didn’t want it. I hadn’t ever wanted any of it. But for some reason, I was good at law. Guess it ran in my blood.

  I thought about everything going on and how I wanted nothing more than to have a normal life again. Not the life I had before Mattie showed up and cleaned the house, but the one I was on my way building for myself before the accident. To do so I might have to practice law for a little while, but I knew with my heart that it wasn’t all I wanted to do, not forever. For the first time in a long time, I could actually see myself living again.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Lexa

  Things happen fast in the ER, so one has to stay on their toes and be ready for anything. I had known that going into this field, but somehow that never prepared you for how real it could get.

  I’d only sat down and glanced at my phone when I got a call that I was needed. There I’d been reading a text from Aiden when it happened. So as I hurried out for the call, that was all I was thinking about. All I could think about.

  The text had come through only minutes before I took my break and found my phone in my locker. I usually kept it on me, but some days, I kept it locked up along with my other belongings. He said he couldn’t wait to see me at our date, but then hours later and his next message was what had me distracted. Hey, I have something important to talk to you about.

  He’d somehow found out who I was. That was all I could figure from the change of his tone. It was bound to happen. Had he gone online to dig up information on my parents and learned about me? Had someone told him about me? It would serve me right.

  Tasha's voice rang out across the hall. “ETA is under two minutes.” I turned to see she was filling Dr. Rob in on our newest arrival, who was on his or her way.

  “This one’s critical, multiple injuries, cardiac on the scene.” She continued rambling as I scrubbed and gloved.

  Minutes later, the man of the hour was wheeled to the ER, and as soon as I saw him coming through, I sprang into action. That is until someone said the magic words. Motorcycle accident.

  The man was covered in blood, making it hard to see, but from what I could, the matted blood staining his hair, which was limp and hanging in weird angles, and build was too similar to Aiden’s. The stench of fresh blood, that coppery sting, was enough to make my eyes water.

  This man wasn’t Aiden, but the familiarity of the situation hit me all at once and caused me to freeze. I don’t know how long I was out for, but the sound of the man’s flatline brought me around as a hush fell over the room.

  That could have been Aiden. Luckily, the garbage can across the room was close enough for me to make it to, and I dropped to my knees and heaved up a small portion of the lunch I’d had hours before.

  “Someone get her out of here.” It was Rob’s voice, but I was too busy heaving again to hear much else.

  I wasn’t sure who helped me and my garbage can up and out of the area, but they scurried back into the OR to no doubt clean up after me. The patient had died. There was nothing left to do for him.

  Another wave of panic washed over me and I thought of Aiden on that table — a much different image, yes, but the very idea that it could have been worse was bubbling up from within and spilling out into the can. I tried to stay on my feet, but was losing the battle fast until I leaned back against the wall.

  Kathy came out to help me. “Are you okay? It’s not like you to worry about a little blood.” She offered me a cool, damp rag by laying it across the back of my neck.

  “I don’t know what came over me.”

  But that was a lie. The shock that Aiden could have died before I ever had a chance to meet him, that I might have seen him ripped apart, arms broken, the flesh on his legs peeled back like a fish that had been filleted… It had gotten to me. Aiden had been lucky. I’d been lucky. Part of me wanted to call him up and make him promise he’d never get on another bike, but I knew that wasn’t practical.

  “Well, Dr. Rob’s on the warpath. He snapped at two other nurses for no good reason, and I can’t help but think it was actually meant for you.” About that time, he came out of the hall and went in the other direction, and I held my breath a moment while he disappeared. Kathy took the garbage can as I stood and took a deep breath. “He’s probably going to notify the family.”

  I couldn’t help but think about who they’d inform if something had happened to Aiden. Surely, he had an uncle or cousin somewhere. Or perhaps his maid, the woman who’d cooked those delicious meals would be the one. “I better go freshen up so I can get back to work.”

  “Yeah, that would be a good idea. I would be doing something when he finds-”

  She focused her gaze over my shoulder and gave me an apologetic look as she bailed. I glanced back to see Rob headed my way, and he wasn’t happy. I wiped my mouth, hoping there wasn’t anything awful aside from my breath to offend him. I’d done enough of that already. The man who’d wanted to ask me out was gone, and the doctor who was stalking his way directly for me fumed so bad that if I looked closely, I might see smoke.

  “Nurse Lexa.” The use of my title was the first indication that this was about to get bad. “I want you to go home.” He stopped in front of me, glaring down with hard brown eyes and as much ire as I’d expected. “You’ve become so distracted with your personal issues that I’m afraid you’re becoming a hazard, and I will not tolerate your behavior in my ER.”

  “Yes, Doctor. I’m sorry. I just-”

  “I know. It hit you what could have happened to the Walker guy. I get it. But I don’t have time for it, either. Go home and get your head on straight and come back in a couple of days when you’re focused.”

  A couple of days? He was suspending me.

  “Please don’t suspend me. I’ll be fine tomorrow. I promise.” Even as I swore to it, images of every casualty I’d ever seen went through my mind like a slideshow.

  He looked away, and
for a moment, there was a slight falter in his expression, something in him that wanted to help me or let me off easy. Then he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and met my eyes.

  “The rest of the day and tomorrow. That’s the best I can do. This is people’s lives at risk. The guy who came in didn’t have a chance in hell, so you didn’t directly affect what happened in there, and that’s the only reason I’m being lenient now. But if that had been a critical situation with some hope, that hope would have diminished the moment you let your personal life interfere.”

  He let out a long breath and then looked away again. I couldn’t blame him. I wouldn’t want to look at me, either. I turned to go, but he pulled me by the arm and stopped me. “Lexa, you’re one of the best nurses we have here. I’m not the only doctor that would hate to lose you on their staff. And maybe I’ve not helped things with asking you out. It’s unneeded pressure, and I think it’s best if I take a step back from that, as well.”

  It was a polite brush off, and that was fine. He knew my heart belonged elsewhere, and at least I had the comfort of knowing things wouldn’t have to be awkward with him around; at least, not because of Aiden. The whole kicking me out of the ER and telling me to go home thing might cause a riff.

  I’d try not to let it happen, but things wouldn’t be the same between Dr. Rob and me again after this. He’d lost his respect for me. And, I couldn’t blame him. He gave me another sympathetic look before he walked away.

  I hurried and gathered my things. I considered going to see Aiden, but instead, I went home to lie on the couch and eat ice cream. It was thinking food, and I had a lot of thinking to do.

  For one, I needed to understand why I had freaked out in the ER. That person wasn’t Aiden, and it wasn’t my first time in that situation. It certainly wasn’t the first bad motorcycle wreck patient I’d had. My first week into the job, I’d held a man’s intestines in my hands after an accident. It was the horrible fact of my job, and I had always maintained my cool and composure.

  No, this was something else. After being so intimate with Aiden, I saw him as more than another patient. I’d explored every part of him, and when I was with him, it was as though we were one person.