A Cadence Creek Christmas (Cadence Creek Cowboys) by Donna Alward Page B

run itself now.”
    “Get your things then. You did a beautiful job, sweetheart. Proud of you.”
    The words warmed Taylor’s heart. “Thanks, Mom. I had a good teacher.”
    “Oh, go on.”
    But Taylor took a moment to press her mother’s hand in hers. “I mean it. I don’t know that you were appreciated enough for all you did to keep things running smoothly. I should have said this before, but when I started my business you were the inspiration behind it.”
    “I didn’t know that.”
    “Well, it’s true.”
    Taylor went to pull away but her mom held tight to her hand. “Mind if I give you a little extra food for thought?”
    Surprised, Taylor paused. “Sure.”
    Susan looked into Taylor’s eyes and smiled. “None of it would have meant a thing without your dad and you kids. I know sometimes it looked like I played the dutiful wife...”
    “You worked hard.”
    “Yes, I did, and I enjoyed it. Still, I would have missed out on so much if I hadn’t had you kids. I could have gone on and done anything I wanted, you know? And I don’t regret my decision for a second. Work is work, but family is forever.”
    “Didn’t it ever bother you that Dad, well, took you for granted?”
    Susan laughed. “Is that what you think? Oh, heavens. He wanted you kids, too. Honey, you get so wound up and defensive about this division of labor expectation, but it goes both ways. We did what worked for us. Being home with you three was my choice to make.”
    “Is this leading to a speech about settling down?”
    Susan smiled and patted her hand. “I know better than that.”
    Taylor let out a breath. “Phew.” But after a moment she looked at her mother again. “Mom, maybe I will settle down. When I find the right guy.”
    “That’s a good answer,” her mother replied. “Now, let’s get going. I want to spend a little more time with my new granddaughter tonight.”
    Taylor got her coat from the coat check, snagged her purse and checked in with the staff one last time. Her mother was making sure they had all of Nell’s stuff—including her car seat—while her dad went to warm up the car. She was just pulling on her gloves when Rhys came up behind her.
    “You were just going to leave without saying goodbye?”
    She held on to her purse strap. “It’s been a long day and I’m catching a ride with my folks.”
    “That didn’t answer my question.”
    She frowned. “What do you care? You’ve amused yourself with me a bit for the last few days but the wedding’s over, we’re not paired up anymore and we can both go about our business.”
    Rhys stared at her quizzically. “Really?”
    “Is there some reason why we shouldn’t?”
    He looked like he wanted to say something, but held back. She wondered why. And then got a bit annoyed that she kept wondering about Rhys’s state of mind at all. She blew air out her nose in an exasperated huff. “What do you care anyway? You seemed to enjoy having Amy Wilson plastered all over you.”
    “Jealous?”
    She snorted. “Hardly.”
    He stepped forward until there was barely an inch between them. “Amy Wilson is the last woman on earth I want to be with!”
    Silence rang around them, and then, almost as one, they realized someone had heard the entire outburst. Amy stood not ten feet away, her creamy skin stained crimson in embarrassment as humiliated tears shone in her eyes.
    “Amy...” Taylor tried, taking a hesitant step toward the woman.
    But Amy lifted a hand to halt Taylor’s progress, and without saying a word she spun on her heel and disappeared into the women’s powder room.
    Rhys sighed heavily, let out a breathy expletive.
    “Good night, Rhys.”
    “Taylor, I’m...”
    But she didn’t listen to the end. She turned and walked, quickly, toward the exit. She could see the headlights of her dad’s rental car as it waited by the front door, saw him helping her mom in the passenger side. She went outside and was met by a frigid wall of arctic air. As she