A Maverick for Christmas. Leanne Banks

statement gave him a start. “You would leave town?”

      “I may have to if I want to get an advanced degree. Plus, with everything going on with my family, it may be time for me to strike out on my own by then.”

      He nodded. “If you wanted to stay, you could get an advanced degree online. And just because you move out of your parents’ house doesn’t mean you have to move out of town.”

      She smiled. “You almost sound like you’d like me stay. That can’t be true. You barely notice me.”

      “You’re a quality girl—” He broke off. “Woman,” he corrected himself. “I hate to see Thunder Canyon lose a good woman like you.”

      “Ah, so it’s your civic duty to encourage me to stay here,” she said.

      He felt a twist of discomfort. “Lots of people would miss you.”

      “Well, I haven’t made any decisions yet. I need to finish my classes first. I’m just glad the end is in sight. What do you think about the rivalry between LipSmackin’ Ribs and DJ’s Rib Shack?”

      Cade would have had to have been deaf and blind not to know about the controversy between Thunder Canyon’s longtime favorite barbecue restaurant DJ’s Rib Shack and the the new rib place, which featured waitresses dressed in tight T-shirts. “I’m a DJ’s man all the way. I don’t like it that the Hitching Post started featuring LipSmackin’ Ribs on the menu and I refuse to order them. I’ll buy drinks here, but no ribs.”

      “So you’ve never even visited LipSmackin’ Ribs?”

      “I went a few times just to see what the fuss was about,” he said.

      “You mean the skimpy uniforms the waitresses wear,” she said.

      He shook his head and rubbed his jaw. “I pity your future boyfriend. He won’t be able to pull anything over on you.”

      “Future? How do you know I don’t have a boyfriend right now?” she asked. “I don’t, but I certainly could. There are even some men who think I’m attractive, some who ask me to go out with them.”

      “I didn’t mean it that way. And you be careful about those guys. You make sure they have the right intentions.”

      She shot him a playfully sly look so seductive he almost dropped his beer. “What would you say are the right intentions?” she asked.

      His tongue stuck in the back of his throat for a few seconds. “I mean just that—you need to make sure they have the right intentions. You shouldn’t let anyone take advantage of you.”

      “Unless that’s what I want him to do, right?”

      He choked on his beer. Where had this vixen come from? Although she’d been a spirited competitor whenever she’d played games and been far more knowledgeable about sports than most females he knew, Cade had always seen her as Laila’s sweet little sister. “I think it’s time for you to go home. I’m starting to hear things come out of your mouth that aren’t possible.” He waved for the bartender to bring the bill.

      “Oh, don’t tell me I scared big, strong Cade Pritchett,” she teased as he finished his beer and tossed some bills on the counter.

      “There’s more than one way to scare a man. Let’s go,” he said and ushered her through the bar to the door.

      Abby felt higher than a kite. She’d been waiting forever for the time when it was just her and Cade. She’d had a secret crush on Cade since even before her sister had dated him, and watching Laila’s wishy-washy attitude toward Cade had nearly put her over the edge on more than one occasion during the past few years.

      But now, she thought, her heart beating so fast she could hardly breathe, she had Cade all to herself, if only for a few more moments. “So is most of your work right now for people who want to get special Christmas gifts?”

      “A good bit of it,” he said. “But there’s a potential for a big order. We’ll find out soon.” He stopped abruptly. “Is that old man Henson trying to change a tire on his truck?” he asked, pointing down the street.

      Abby tore her gaze from Cade’s and felt a twist of sympathy mixed with alarm. “I think it is. Isn’t he almost eighty-five? He shouldn’t be changing a tire during daylight let alone at this time of night,” she said.

      “Exactly,” he said and quickened his pace. “Mr. Henson,” he called. “Let me give you a hand with that.”

      Abby joined Cade as they reached the elderly man, who’d already jacked up the truck. “I’m fine,” he said, glancing up at them, his craggy face wrinkled in a wince of pain. “It’s these dang rusted bolts.”

      “Let me take a shot at them. Abby, maybe Mr. Henson might like a cup of that hot chocolate I was talking about earlier.”

      “I don’t need any hot chocolate,” Henson said. “I’m fine.”

      “I’m not,” Abby said. “Would you keep me company while I drink some to warm me up?”

      Henson opened his mouth to protest then sighed as he adjusted his hat. “Well, okay. But make it quick. I gotta deliver some wood in the morning.”

      Abby shot a quick look at Cade and shook her head. Mr. Henson was legendary for his work ethic. She admired him for it, but she also knew he’d gotten into a few situations where he’d had to be rescued. Flashing Henson a smile, she hooked her arm through his and walked to the café.

      She made chitchat with the man while they sat in a booth and waited for their hot chocolate. She noticed Mr. Henson kept glancing out the window. “Your truck will be fine. It’s in good hands with Cade.”

      “Oh, I know that,” Mr. Henson said. “Cade’s a fine young man. You’ll do well with him.”

      She dropped her jaw at his suggestion then gave a wry laugh. “I think so, too, but I don’t believe he sees me that way, if you know what I mean,” she said and took a sip of the hot drink.

      He wrinkled his already deeply furrowed forehead and wiggled his shaggy gray eyebrows. “What do you mean? You’re a pretty girl. I’m sure you turn quite a few heads.”

      “Thank you very much,” she said. “That means a lot coming from you.”

      “It’s true. I’ve never been known for a silver tongue. My Geraldine, rest her soul, would tell you the same. Although she was the prettiest woman to ever walk the streets of Thunder Canyon. I still miss her.”

      Abby slid her hand over Mr. Henson’s. “I’m so sorry. How long were you married?”

      “Fifty-three years,” he said. “That’s why I keep working. If I sit at home, I’ll just pine. Better to be moving around, doing something.”

      “But you could afford to take a break every now and then. We don’t want anything happening to you,” she said and made a mental note to stop in and visit Mr. Henson. His loneliness tugged at her heart.

      He shrugged. “I’ll go when the good Lord says I’m ready, and not a minute before.” He glanced outside the window. “Looks like Cade’s finished changing my tire. We should go now. Let me pay the bill. And don’t you argue with me,” he said when she’d barely let out a sound. “I don’t get to share some hot chocolate with a girl as pretty as you very often these days.”

      “And you said you didn’t have a silver tongue,” she said. “Thank you.”

      The two left the café and caught up with Cade, who appeared to be looking for a place to wipe some of the grease off his hands. Abby offered the paper napkin she’d wrapped around her cup of hot chocolate.

      He made do with it. “Thanks,” he said then glanced at the truck again. “It’s no wonder you had trouble with those bolts. I had to bang on them to get them loose. You’ll get that tire