His Texas Christmas Bride

* * *

As they made their way toward the concession area, Becca saw Kate and Liam heading toward them. Kate’s eyes flashed, and a broad smile overtook her face when she caught sight of them.

“You’re here,” she said, greeting Becca with a warm hug.

“We are,” said Becca. “Nick asked me to show him something quintessentially Celebration. Since the entire population of the town will be here tonight, I thought I would give him Celebration in one fell swoop.”

“You’re a brave man, Dr. Ciotti,” said Liam. “I didn’t attend my first game until my daughters made the cheerleading squad.”

They all looked down at the track.

“Amanda and Calee are so excited to be cheering with Nora this year,” Kate said. “Nora is Becca’s niece. Did she tell you? And her nephews are on the team.”

“She did,” Nick said.

“Ooh, I can’t watch.” Kate gestured toward the cheerleaders. They were organizing to do one of their stunts. Nora and one of Kate and Liam’s girls were at the base of the pyramid holding the leg of Liam and Kate’s other daughter, who was teetering high on top.

Becca winced right along with her. “They’re adorable and so athletic, but I can’t watch them do those stunts. I’m always so afraid they will fall and get hurt.”

Kate sighed. “But their coach is all about safety. So we’ve all agreed that as long as they’re vigilant and they play by the rules, we won’t embarrass them by hiding our eyes when they perform stunts and acrobatics.”

“We’d rather them be here than out who knows where.” Liam slid his arm around Kate’s shoulders. “Not that we would let them go to who knows where, but it is good that they are involved in something that takes up so much of their time.”

Kate had married into her ready-made family and adopted Amanda and Calee when she and Liam wed. Liam had lost his wife in a tragic accident, and both he and the girls had benefited from Kate’s nurturing touch.

“Are you two coming over on Sunday night?” Kate asked, directing her question mostly toward Nick.

“What’s going on Sunday night?” Nick said.

“You are new to the area, aren’t you?” Liam teased.

“Every Sunday night we get together to watch the Dallas Cowboys play football. Well, the guys watch the game, and the ladies usually gather in the dining room. This week, we’re making wedding favors for Anna Adams and Jake Lennox’s wedding. You might know them from the hospital. Anna is a nurse, and Jake is an attending.”

“Right. I met them on my first day at the hospital, actually,” said Nick.

“Well, then, in addition to football on Sunday night, you might want to mark the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend on your calendar.”

“Is the whole town invited?”

“Pretty much,” said Kate. “A lot of people from the hospital are on the guest list. I hope you have a nice suit. You can be Becca’s date.”

Becca felt her face heating up. She wished she could grab one—or maybe she’d need two—of her niece’s pom-poms so she could stuff them in Kate’s mouth to shut her up.

“Since I’m the new guy, I’ll probably get the honor of working that night. Someone will have to hold down the fort.”

“We will have to see about that,” said Kate. She flashed a smile that Becca knew meant you can thank me later. “They’ve made arrangements for the shifts to be covered.”

“We’d better find a seat before kickoff,” said Liam. “If we stay here much longer, this one will be planning your wedding.”

“Okay, let’s hear it for my friends Mr. and Mrs. Awkward, guaranteed to make everyone feel uncomfortable. We’re going now. Bye-bye.”

“You’re welcome to sit with us,” Liam called after them.

“Thank you, but if we wanted to be tortured all night, my sister is right over there.” Becca gestured with her head toward the crowd in the center of the bleachers, the area that was reserved for the Celebration Quarterback Club. Then she hooked her arm through Nick’s and steered him away.

“See you Sunday,” Kate called.

Becca waved goodbye without looking back at her friends. She knew Kate and Liam meant well, and she wasn’t mad at them for being so forward. In fact, Becca hoped Kate hadn’t scared off Nick and that he wanted to come to the football gathering Sunday night. The five couples who got together every Sunday night in the fall were some of her best friends. Over the years she’d watched them meet and marry their sweethearts. She was the last single in the bunch.