Lone Star Christmas. Cathy Gillen Thacker

and all...”

      He really knew how to put a gal on the spot. Lucky for him, she’d been brought up to be a Texas lady. “I’m here for you—as a neighbor—too,” she said finally.

      He looked like he’d won the lottery. “Just what I wanted to hear.”

      To her surprise, she felt like she had won it, too.

      “In the meantime,” he went on, stepping over the threshold, “it’s supposed to rain tomorrow. So we probably won’t be working.”

      Callie lounged in the doorway, arms crossed, aware he had planned for weather delays.

      “So if you and Brian are up for it,” Nash continued genially, “I was going to see—”

      Callie held up a hand, cutting him off. “Actually, we already have a get-together planned for tomorrow. But maybe some other time?” For a moment, Nash looked like he wanted to say something else. Then he stopped himself, nodded. “Some other time, then,” he said.

      And, looking more cheerful than ever, left.