A Cowboy's Christmas Reunion (The Boones of Texas 1)

“That was adorable, ya’ll,” Amy cooed. “Eli, honey, I think it’s the best float yet.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Eli murmured. Hunter watched him blush as Amy draped an arm around his shoulders. “I didn’t do it on my own.” Eli glanced around. He might not be as grown-up as the others, but he hated being treated like a child. Especially in public.

“I know.” Amy’s brown eyes paused on him for a split second before she turned to Jo. Hunter braced himself as Amy said, “You must be tickled pink to have a whole float dedicated to you, Josie.” She paused. “I mean, your books.”

Hunter fought to keep his reactions in check. Amy was a master at manipulation, charming and soft-spoken one minute, ripping out the jugular the next. Not that Amy would ever let that side of her show—not with her son at her side. She needed him to think the best of her. It was one of the only things that assured she’d behave in public.

Jo looked lost, her gaze bouncing between Amy, Eli and himself. “It’s amazing,” she finally said. “These kids are—”

“Amazing?” Amy’s teasing was infused with a healthy dose of sarcasm, sarcasm neither he nor Jo missed.

Jo nodded, not taking the bait.

He held out his hand, helping Jo from the trailer. When her feet were on the ground, she pulled her hand from his, barely meeting his eyes. “I think I’ll go meet with Mr. Garza now.” Her voice was thin, tentative.

He nodded even though he wanted to grab her hand and keep her at his side. “I’ll catch up to you in a bit,” he offered, wishing he co

uld say more. Instead, he watched her walk back to the main square, her hands stuffed deep in her coat pockets.

“Sounds like you’ve got plans.” Amy looked at him, eyes narrowed. “So I guess I can steal our son?” She turned to Eli. “You done for the night?”

“I guess.” Eli shrugged. “I was gonna hang around for a while.”

Hunter didn’t miss his son’s quick glance at Dara. But Amy was oblivious.

“You can hang out with them anytime.” Amy tucked her arm through Eli’s. “How long has it been since we had a sleepover, anyway?”

“Where?” Hunter asked, leaden concern filling his belly.

“My hotel.” Amy smiled. “I haven’t found a real place to rent...yet. I’m staying at the Main Street Hotel. And there’s two beds and cable,” she added. “We can get a pizza or something, whatever you want.”

Hunter watched Eli’s every reaction. His son was uncertain, which Hunter understood. He had a tough choice to make. He could keep Eli from spending the night with Amy, but then he’d ensure Amy was the victim and Eli her defender.

His son looked at him, bracing for a fight.

Hunter didn’t fist his hands or clench his jaw or bite out, “Your call,” no matter how much he wanted to. Instead, he managed to keep it together, staying neutral and calm.

Which didn’t sit well with Eli. “Thanks, Mom. If you’re sure you don’t have any plans. Wouldn’t want to get in the way.” Eli shoved his hands in his pockets, staring at the ground at his feet.

“Eli.” Hunter’s voice was low. “You’re never in the way, ever.”

Amy glared at Hunter, the look on her face a visible replay of the argument they’d had on his porch the week before.

“Yeah, sure.” Eli’s tone sharpened, and he outright scowled as he added, “You have fun tonight.”

Hunter could tell Eli to get his butt in the truck—his every instinct told him to do just that. He could drive his son home and the two of them could have another fight over Jo and Amy. But then he’d end up with a son who hated him, an all but sainted ex-wife, no Jo and no closer to resolution on any account. And, no matter how impossible it seemed right this second, he wanted the best possible outcome for everyone.

He took a deep breath. “I don’t appreciate your tone. And we’ve talked about this. You’re never in the way.” He shook his head, searching for the right words. “I understand wanting to spend time with your mom. If that’s what you want to do tonight, then go ahead. But don’t think you have to go or that I want you to go, all right?”

Eli’s anger faltered, his blue-green eyes going wide.

“You’re going on a date with someone he can’t stand.” Amy’s words were quick, tipping the scales in resentment’s favor. “Of course he doesn’t want to stay. How do you expect him to feel, Hunter?”

There wasn’t anything he could say to that, not without making things ten times worse. He hated that Amy put words in Eli’s mouth, that she had no problem using Eli to vent her thoughts and opinions. But Eli was old enough to speak up now. How many times had his son challenged him? Until Eli set Amy straight, Hunter’s hands were tied. He watched Amy leading him toward her truck. “You want to get something to eat first? Some hot chocolate or something?”

Hunter stood waiting, hoping for some sort of look or acknowledgment, some sort of softening in his son. But Eli never looked back. Hunter watched Amy’s taillights disappear.

“You okay, Dr. Boone?” Dara asked.