A Miracle for the Confident Cowboy (Love in Sweet Bloom)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Duke glanced up when the door to the kennels opened. He grinned at Sophie then turned his gaze away as another volunteer entered the room behind her. He didn’t miss the smile that flitted onto Sophie’s face as she told the new volunteer how they’d go about cleaning the kennels.

Once or twice Sophie would glance in Duke’s direction. Those were the moments he craved—the quiet, meaningful looks they shared.

He ducked his head and let out a quiet chuckle as he restarted the pressure washer on the kennel he was trying to get clean. He was keenly aware she’d walked into the area though he tried to keep his eyes on what he was doing. Finally, he shut the washer off and went to where she was.

Duke leaned his forearm against the fence of the kennel where Sophie was cleaning up. She stood and came to the doorway. “Good afternoon, Duke. Is there something I can do for you?”

He dipped his head and gazed at her, a delicious thrill making its way through his whole body. “I want to take you out. I hear the Christmas festival is going to start tonight. Will you go with me?”

The pleasant surprise in her eyes was quickly replaced by a frown. “But Pippa?—”

“I heard Rob say he’s taking her to the city for last minute shopping. No one will see us.”

She smirked. “At the Christmas festival? I don’t know about festivals where you’re from, but in America they tend to be magnets for everyone who lives even remotely close. Even if Pippa and Rob are going to be gone, we might bump into someone else?—”

He reached out and caressed her arm. Goosebumps rose on her skin and she shivered. “Let me take you out,” he whispered.

Before she had a chance to respond, the door opened. “I found the spare blankets…” The woman backed into the room and when she turned, Duke was back to cleaning the kennel. Time ticked by so slowly during their shift. It took everything in his control to keep his distance when there was someone in the room with them. Being noticed within the close confines of the shelter would generate far more gossip than if they were walking around town together.

The other volunteer didn’t leave the room a second time while they were there, so Duke had to catch Sophie at her car. He waited for her to finish up and when she emerged, he was leaning against her vehicle. She slowed as she approached, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “What are you doing out here?”

“I seem to recall I asked you a question.”

Slowly, she shook her head. “You made a request.”

He pushed off of the car and moved closer, careful not to touch her or make it clear to anyone passing by that they were anything more than friends. “Either way, I didn’t get any confirmation.”

Sophie tilted her head, the suspense killing him. Then she laughed quietly. “I can’t think of anything I’d like to do more tonight.”

“Pick you up at seven?”

“It’s a date,” she whispered.

“You weren’t kidding,” Duke murmured as he dodged another group of people wandering the streets around them. “This place is packed. How do they manage this every year?”

Sophie shot him a surprised look. “You seriously haven’t come to the festival in all the years you’ve been here?”

He shook his head. “If you recall, I tend to go back to Yorkshire for the holidays.”

She grimaced. “Right.”

Duke placed a hand on the small of her back. It was the only way he could physically show her any support if they wanted to stay true to keeping this little relationship as private as possible. She gazed up at him and sparks flew. He wanted nothing more than to make her happy—to be there for her in ways he’d never considered before.

They were bumped by another group and instinctively, he slipped an arm around her waist to keep her from stumbling. He pulled her against his chest and chuckled when she gasped.

Wait, it wasn’t Sophie who gasped.

Duke released her, giving her space as his head whipped around to find several pairs of eyes on them. He didn’t recognize the people standing a few feet away. One of the young men charged at them and Duke pulled Sophie behind him so fast she grunted.

The man came careening to a stop and poked his head around Duke. “I’m sorry, Miss Clifford. I just wanted to know if you’d take a selfie with me.”

Duke stiffened and Sophie pulled herself from his grasp. She let out a nervous laugh as she came around Duke then shot him a look he couldn’t decipher.

“You’re totally fine,” she assured the young man. “I’d love to take a picture with you. Are these your friends?” She moved away from Duke, leaving him in a stupor.

The small horde of people couldn’t have been more than twenty-five. There looked to be some younger than that as well. They were all smiles, their phones glued to their hands as they held out their devices to take pictures with Sophie. The laughter, chatter, and appreciation from them threw Duke off more than anything else.

Hadn’t he been around town with Sophie and not a single person interrupted them? Now they were in the middle of a festival and suddenly she was more popular than the rodeo stars that frequented the town.

His eyes darted from person to person as some were added to their little group and others left to see what else the festival had to offer.

“I watch every video you post on your Instagram and I read every post on your blog! I can’t believe you’re going to get a deal out of the country.”

That didn’t sound right. She wouldn’t go out of the country for her work. That was the point in working remotely. The person was mistaken. Duke couldn’t hear Sophie’s response, but that didn’t matter. Right now there was a man who was clearly about Duke’s age. He was tall and looked like the slick kind of men who picked up women in bars.

And he was hitting on Sophie like she wasn’t taken.

Duke’s hands curled into fists then he flexed them and looked away. The guy was just a fan. They all were. These had to be tourists for the festival. Duke shouldn’t even be surprised right now. Sophie had mentioned just how well her business was going. He just hadn’t listened to her very well.

The hot, writhing jealousy in his stomach wouldn’t abate even as he told himself he had nothing to worry about. Relief poured over him when his assurances were confirmed. Sophie waved off to the fans and hurried back to his side. She slipped her fingers between his and he stared down at their hands with shock.

“Are you sure?—”

She shrugged. “Maybe I’m tired of not being able to hold you. Like you said, Pippa and Rob are gone. It’s not like we’re going to have to deal with their teasing—yet.”

He brought up her hand to his lips and brushed a gentle kiss along her knuckles. They moved through town, admiring the decorations that filled each and every window. There were toys, presents, and miniature Christmas trees around every corner. People sold their baked goods out on the street and it looked more like a farmer’s market than a festival. Perhaps that was the point.

A duo played violin near the center of town, their stringed instruments bringing classic Christmas songs to life. The darker it got, the more festive it became. Lights were hung on almost every surface possible. Maybe there was such a thing as Christmas magic.

He glanced down at Sophie, her cheek resting against his shoulder. This was all so surreal. If anyone would have told him after his first date that this was where he would be at this point in the month, he would have laughed in their face. Actually, that had already happened. Hadn’t Pippa told him to give it time? He would have to remember to thank her when everything came to light. “What are you thinking?” He couldn’t help asking the question.

“Hmm? Nothing really. You?”

A smile curled his lips and he kissed the top of her head. “This is nice.”

“Yeah, it is.”

There were a few more moments where Sophie was recognized by other food enthusiasts and she was so patient with them. He couldn’t say the same—especially when male fans were those approaching her.

Duke hovered near Sophie, keeping half an ear on her conversation with her admirers. The last one to approach had a deep voice—one that caught Duke’s attention. He glanced over to find a tall cowboy. He was built and incredibly good looking. That twinge of jealousy attempted to reemerge, but Duke kept it in check. He’d only started dating Sophie. There wasn’t any way to know where they would be in the next few years.

“I didn’t know you were visiting Texas. It’s crazy you’re in Sweet Bloom,” the cowboy gushed.

Sophie smiled with all the grace anyone could want. “I moved to be closer to my brother.”

“I bet it’s a lot different than living in the mountains, huh?”

She laughed and nodded. “Very. The best part is that the snow hasn’t followed me.”

The cowboy chuckled with her. “I wouldn’t get your hopes up too high. Sometimes we get snow down here, too.”

“Yeah,” she grimaced, “Already experienced that the other day.”

The way the cowboy was talking, the slight lean he put in her direction, he was shamelessly flirting.

Duke took a step toward them, then held himself back once again. It was innocent. There was nothing to be worried about.

“Hey, since you’re new to the area, maybe I could show you around sometime?—”

“She’s taken,” Duke snapped, no longer capable of holding back.

Sophie whirled wide, surprised eyes toward him. “Duke?—”

Duke draped his arm around Sophie’s shoulders and shot a dark look at the cowboy who suddenly seemed to notice he wasn’t alone with his idol. He murmured an apology to Sophie then hurried away.

Sophie didn’t speak again, but her eyes said it all. She didn’t approve of what he’d done. The more Duke thought about it, the more he hated himself for how he’d handled the situation as well. This relationship was still too new. He didn’t have any right to step into their conversation like that.

His own apology was lodged in his throat but thankfully, Sophie pointed to a group of carolers who had stopped outside of the bookstore. “Come on,” she reached for his hand, “I love The Carol of the Bells. Let’s go over there.”