Cowboy’s Christmas Bridesmaid (Trinity Falls: Icicle Christmas #8)

12. Tanner

12

TANNER

T hat afternoon, Tanner walked around the lawn beside the apartment building, checking on the decorations and picking up a candy cane wrapper a child must have dropped last night, as well as the handful of dry leaves that invariably blew in here and there.

It was still cold enough that he could see his breath, but the air was fresh and sweet, and besides, he looked forward to this project all year. It made him think of setting up Santa Claus in the yard with his dad when he was a child.

Valentina had asked if he was in charge of these decorations when they were on their way home from Cassidy Farm and he’d been surprised that she didn’t know already that he was. It reminded him that she really hadn’t been in town all that long.

The lawn ornaments had started out as a labor of love, and then practically become his calling card. Now people started asking him about it the weekend the candy canes went on the lampposts, and donated decorations all year long.

Apparently Valentina had only just started renting her apartment in the building on the other side of the yard. She told him that she had seen the light display on her way home every night, and admired it without ever knowing it was his pet project.

He’d impulsively asked her over tonight to help him set up the new Rudolph, surprising himself by inviting her when he’d turned down all offers of help in the past.

He’d been even more surprised when she said yes right away.

It was only after he’d dropped her off and gotten home himself that he remembered Zeke had a sleepover at the library tonight. He’d earned a spot in the annual overnight lock-in by reading a truly impressive number of books.

The two of them had hustled to pack up Zeke’s backpack and sleeping bag, getting to the library just in time for Tanner to get back home and rewire the Rudolph before Valentina was supposed to arrive.

In a way, it was a good thing that he hadn’t had time to overthink things. He was already spending too much time daydreaming about her.

It’s not a date, he reminded himself for the hundredth time.

But maybe he wished it was a date.

Given that he reported to her, that could be tricky for professional reasons. But it was actually more worrisome for personal ones. He hadn’t dated since Karen left. Being there for Zeke and running his business was plenty of work. And besides, he already felt like if he’d failed with his high school sweetheart, so how was he supposed to make it work with someone he only just met?

He’d known Karen inside and out—her family, her history, everything about her. That was why he couldn’t really blame her for running off. He’d also known that she was still basically a big kid herself when they got married. She was sweet as pie, but she changed her mind with the weather.

Compared to how fully he’d known Karen, he hardly knew Valentina at all.

I know she’s loyal, the little voice whispered to him.

And did he really need to know anything else, when she had such an instant and unusual connection with Zeke, and when he could tell by every single interaction they had that she was thoughtful and kind?

But none of that mattered. What mattered was that he had steady work for once, and that meant he was being a good dad to Zeke.

No getting romantic with her, he chided himself . Just show her the decorations, like she wanted.

“Hi,” a soft voice said from down on the sidewalk, snapping him out of his thoughts.

“Come on in,” he told her, indicating the two steps that led to the decorative, knee-high iron gate.

It was late afternoon, so the decorations weren’t lit up yet. But he still saw the smile teasing the corners of her lips as she looked around. No one’s inner child would be able to resist a display like this.

She was still in her casual clothing from earlier in the day. And she was still wearing his jacket, which gave him a funny little flare of pleasure.

“They’re not on yet,” she said as she stepped into the garden.

“I like to do my check before it gets dark and the lights go on,” he told her. “So you’re just in time today.”

“Where’s Zeke?” she asked, looking around like she missed his boy. The thought sent a lick of warmth through his chest.

“We forgot that he had a sleepover at the library tonight,” he told her. “I got him over there just before you came.”

“Oh, did he win the reading contest?” she asked, sounding impressed.

“He did,” Tanner said, smiling. “How did you know?”

“I always did those when I was a kid,” Valentina confided, her dimples popping as she smiled at the memory. “I noticed the flyer at the library when I was over there. He’s going to have so much fun.”

“Miss Caroline really does them up,” Tanner said, nodding. “And I know she’ll keep him safe and sound.”

Valentina looked away, but her smile deepened.

“What?” he asked.

“Oh, it’s just I can tell you’re worried anyway,” she told him. “Even though I’ll bet not one bad thing has happened in that library in the whole history of this town.”

“The original library burned down, and they had to build a new one,” he offered.

“That happened in the 1800s,” she said, shaking her head. “And the building was wood frame back then. Now it’s solid brick.”

“You’ve done your homework,” he conceded.

“And I’m guessing the wiring in there is better now?” she added.

“It is,” he agreed, unable to help smiling back at her. “I had an excuse to check it all out when I installed the electric car charger in the municipal lot.”

“You see?” she said. “He’s going to be fine. But I don’t blame you for worrying. That’s kind of your main job, right?”

“Yeah,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I try not to let him see it, but the world looks a whole lot more dangerous the minute you have a child.”

“I could definitely see that,” she agreed. “And he’s such a special boy, you’ve got to keep him safe so he can grow up and make the world a better place.”

“You really think he’s bright?” Tanner asked, looking up to see the thoughtful smile on her face.

“It’s not just that he’s bright,” she said. “It’s that he’s excited about new ideas, and he’s big-hearted.”

“I’ve got to get him through this year with Mrs. Hastings without him losing his confidence,” Tanner confessed. “She gives him so much work, and then she’s disappointed if he doesn’t get it all done.”

“Give her a little time,” Valentina predicted. “She’ll see him the way we do before the year is over.”

Tanner nodded. It felt so good to talk about this stuff with someone else who knew Zeke, even a little. He didn’t like worrying his parents, who already worried over him being a single dad. And Axel was great, but he had a big mouth and saw things in black and white, rather than the shades of gray Tanner had noticed the world was painted in as he got older.

“So, what do we do?” Valentina asked, looking around like she was ready to roll up her sleeves and dig a trench or rewire a lamp socket if he asked.

“First we just walk the yard and look for trash and dry leaves,” he said, trying to hide his smile. “I had just started when you got here.”

“Okay,” she said. “Where should I start?”

“Why don’t you start in the left row?” he offered. “I’ll start on the right and we’ll work our way back.”

“Okay,” she told him, her dimples popping.

“If you see a worn or damaged cord let me know,” he told her.

“Of course,” she said.

They each moved between the figures, and he noticed how she stopped at each one to study the cord.

“So, you manage the building?” she asked after a few minutes, her eyes on a big plastic elf.

“Yep,” he told her. “I wanted to have a home in town for Zeke, and managing the place means we only pay half the regular rent.”

She nodded, and he couldn’t help noticing the furrow in her brow.

Maybe she didn’t like the idea that he was budget conscious. But not everyone had a fancy business school degree and money to spend on designer clothing.

“My dad is the super in the building where I grew up,” she said suddenly. “For the same reason as you, actually. He wanted my brothers and me to go to the best public school.”

“Wow,” Tanner said, truly surprised.

“Yeah,” she said, looking almost worried, like he was going to judge her or something.

“I guess your dad and I have a lot in common then,” he managed, giving her a smile. “It says a lot about a person when they do what they need to do for their kids to grow up happy.”

“It’s hard though, right?” she said. “I mean do the tenants always interrupt your evenings and weekends?”

“There are only eight apartments,” he said, frowning. “But, yes, I mean, I’ve been called in nights and weekends, and sometimes even for easy stuff like changing a light bulb.”

“Tell me about it,” Valentina said, frowning.

“Well, Mrs. Ying is by herself now,” he said. “And she’s very small and frail. It isn’t a good idea for her to change lightbulbs anymore. And she always feeds Zeke dumplings when we go up there. She’s a good neighbor.”

Valentina smiled up at him, looking a little surprised.

“What?” he asked.

“You just reminded me of the Albrechts in our building,” she said, shrugging. “Birdy had this big tin of hard candy when I was little. It was made in the prettiest ripples. She always sent me home with some wrapped in a napkin when I went up to her place with my dad.”

“See?” Tanner said. “It feels really good to be appreciated.”

“Oh, look at that,” she said suddenly.

He moved to her and saw that the cords for an angel and a Mrs. Claus, that were on opposite sides of the aisle had been set loose from the loops he secured the excess cord length in, and were tangled together.

“Ah,” he said. “This is exactly the kind of thing we’re looking for. Good eye.”

“What happened to them?” she asked, crouching beside him.

“Teenagers, probably,” he said, shrugging. “Maybe they thought they could steal one and then changed their mind when their conscience struck, or if someone walked by. Or maybe they were just fooling around. At any rate, I have to take care of it because someone could trip.”

“Okay,” Valentina said.

He went over to the nearest raised exterior outlet and found the tagged cords that went with each decoration and unplugged them.

By the time he got back, Valentina had made considerable progress untangling the wires. He watched her finish up and then looped the cords and re-secured them himself before plugging them back in.

“Nice work,” he told her.

“Thanks,” she said, grinning up at him.

“So, you have brothers?” he couldn’t resist asking.

He was trying to put her together in his mind again. With the way she dressed and spoke and carried herself, he would never have guessed she had grown up sort of like Zeke.

“They’re both older than me,” she said, nodding. “Rafe—Rafael is an artist. And Gabriel is a teacher.”

“Your parents must be really proud of you three,” Tanner said .

She gave him an odd look and then nodded.

“What was that?” he asked.

“Well, I mean, none of us are exactly making their sacrifices pay off,” she said, shrugging.

“I disagree,” Tanner said. “The world needs art and children need teachers. And you’re helping Baz do some amazing things out here.”

She nodded, but she still had that furrow in her brow.

He was trying to think of a way to draw her out and maybe help her look at things differently, when she moved closer to his row.

“What’s that—” she began, and promptly tripped over something.

Her hair lifted as she flew through the air, and Tanner moved as quickly as he could, automatically catching her in his arms before she could tumble into a gathering of plastic snowmen.

Suddenly, the delicate scent of lilac filled his senses and the world around them disappeared as he enveloped her small, soft form in his arms.

Her beautiful eyes were fixed on his when he gazed down, her pink lips slightly parted in surprise. Time seemed to stand still and everything in him felt pulled to her, as if there were a kind of gravity between them, dragging them toward each other instead of to the ground. He felt like if his lips touched hers they might actually float above the garden.

“Tanner,” she murmured, her expression softer than he had ever seen it.

A loud click sounded and every single figure in the display lit up all at once, filling the yard around them with brilliant light.

“Oh,” she said, letting out a surprised little laugh that would be burned into his heart forever. “Oh, wow.”

Time began to move again, and he realized he was holding her in his arms in the middle of the light display.

She seemed to realize it at the same time. She pulled back slightly and then looked down at her boot.

“I’m really tangled up,” she said, shaking her head. “Sorry I came flying at you like that.”

“No problem,” he said, feeling like he should be glad the lights had come on and saved him from a big mistake, but secretly wishing he’d scheduled them to come on just a few minutes later. “Let me get you out of there.”

Kneeling at her feet while she laughed at herself, he couldn’t help the image that flashed in his mind of him kneeling to slide a ring onto her finger.

Stop that, he told himself. She’s just a nice girl who wants to make her parents proud. She didn’t come here for you to moon over her.

But he had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to help replaying tonight in his mind over and over again, wondering what might have happened and what it would have meant.