A Cowboy Under My Christmas Tree Read Free Page A

away.
    “JFK,” he heard her snap at the driver. “Get going. I have a flight to catch.”
    Off they went. Sam breathed in relief.
    He saw movement in the boutique window again out of the corner of his eye and knew Nicole was back on the job by the sound of her voice and the indistinct replies from the crew.
    There had to be something he could do. He thought it over. He only needed a couple more hours to attach the remaining branches to his tree, and another day, tops, to get the lights on. Greg had said there would be more work, but he hadn’t been specific. No reason Sam couldn’t take on a one-day gig after the tree installation was completed.
    Sam flipped over the placard in his hand and took a pen from the inside pocket of his jacket. He jotted down a question on the blank side, then walked in front of the window.
    It took a few seconds to catch Nicole’s eye—she was close to the glass but studying what they had built so far, her back to Sam. One of the carpenters pointed his way and she turned around, exasperation in her beautiful hazel eyes.
    He held up the placard before she could yank down the shade again. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. She read the scribbled question.
    Help Wanted?
    Nicole looked him over. Sam had the feeling she was measuring the size of his shoulders. He squared them and stood tall, smiling at her.
    She frowned.
    What was he thinking? Sam set the placard on the sidewalk and reached for his wallet. He pulled out his Colorado driver’s license and the folded letter that confirmed his employment for seasonal work in New York, signed by Greg and stamped by a municipal official. He unfolded it and spread out his fingers to hold up the license and the letter against the window.
    She looked around at her crew and back at him. She peered at his ID and read the letter. Slowly. Then she gestured to the burly man who’d helped Josh into his mother’s car. He came over and checked everything a second time, then tapped the letter from his side of the glass.
    “I know Greg really well. Did a job with him two weeks ago, in fact,” Sam heard him say. “He has a crew rigging the Christmas display in that pocket park down the street.”
    “I’m working with them today—I mean, we’re almost done. I’m on lunch break,” Sam said.
    The carpenter glanced at him, then exchanged a look with Nicole. “If you want, I can have Greg vouch for this guy right now.”
    She hesitated for a second, then nodded. The carpenter took a cell phone out of his pocket.
    “Thanks,” Sam said, making sure his voice was loud enough to be heard through the glass. “And hey, ask Greg if he wants me to bring back a sandwich.”
    Nicole gestured to him to come inside.
    Not quite believing his good luck, Sam went in through the open door. The boutique was open for business. A chatty salesclerk was ringing up a customer to his left. He caught a glimpse of himself in a counter mirror and took off his Stetson. Sam quickly ran a hand over his hair. It wouldn’t cooperate.
    He sighed and turned right. The burly guy put his cell phone in his shirt pocket as Nicole jumped down out of the window.
    “Hi,” she said, looking Sam over again as she dusted off her hands. “I’m Nicole Young, he’s Bob Eady” She pointed to the other three men. “Keith. Russ. Hank.”
    No last names for those three. Probably hired for the day, Sam thought. There were nods of acknowledgment.
    “I’m Sam Bennett,” he said to one and all, but his gaze stayed on Nicole.
    Bob got right to the point. “We need to finish this job by Saturday—can you sign on?”
    “Not a problem,” Sam replied. “Only for a day, right?”
    Bob nodded. “Greg says you know your stuff and he says he can spare you by the day after tomorrow. And he wants you to call him about the sandwich,” he added.
    “Yes to everything,” Sam said, wondering if that was why his boss had been so cooperative.
    Nicole reached for a rolled-up sheet of graph paper and handed