Texas Christmas Bride: The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs Book 6 Read Online Free Page A

in which his childhood friend had sheltered this family.
    Part of him envied David every last second he’d had here with them.
    A larger part was profoundly grateful. And sad that for Jackson to have this bounty, David had had to leave this world.
    “You all right, Dad?” Ben asked, pausing in the middle of the kitchen.
    Dad . Jackson nodded, heart overflowing. “Never better, son.” He summoned a smile. “So how was practice? What do you think your chances are Friday night?” He brushed a hand over Veronica’s hair as he passed her and started getting out glasses to fill them with milk or iced tea.
    It was all so precious. So fragile.
    He was the luckiest man in the world to have gotten a second chance.

    As ordered, Veronica sat watching Jackson clean up the kitchen after the meal while she drank a cup of tea. “Something’s bothering you. What is it?”
    “Nothing. Just business.”
    “You’ve listened to me chatter on endlessly about flower farm business, riveting details like how my poinsettia sales are going and what seeds I’ve started. Now spill.”
    He stopped washing dishes and stared out the window over the sink. “It’s Steph.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “She’s a mess. I have Penny now and I don’t need Steph’s help the way I did, but—” He shrugged. “We built Enigma Games together, the three of us: her, Ty and me. Ty’s gone, and I don’t feel right just putting her out to pasture, no matter how generous the severance package. But I don’t know exactly what she’s capable of anymore. She’s not ready to work, but she’s so…lost. So shaky.”
    “Anyone would be, after being held hostage, then watching Ty kill himself right in front of her. I can’t imagine the nightmares. Bad enough you had to see the aftermath, but she wound up covered in his blood.”
    He drained the sink and rinsed it, then turned to face her, wiping his hands dry. “Part of me wants to just sell the whole company. Stay here in Sweetgrass. I have plenty of standing offers, and I’ve got more money than we’ll need for the rest of our lives.”
    “And do what? Be my farmhand?”
    “Is the position of love slave open?”
    “Only to you.” She rose and approached him. “Jackson, that brain of yours would never let you rest. It’s been running full-tilt all your life.” She combed two fingers through the unruly locks spilling over his forehead. His head bent, his shoulders sagging a little. “You’re worn out.”
    “I’ll be fine.” He straightened to his full height.
    “You’ve been through an emotional marathon. Coming back here, finding out Ben’s your son, dealing with the father who banished you and left you penniless and homeless, having your best friend try to sabotage your company…to say nothing of how everyone relies on you so much while you try to pick up the pieces…it’s a lot, Jackson. Too much to expect of one man.”
    “It’s my company. They’re my people.” He drew her into his chest. “But you’re my family.”
    She slid her arms around his waist. “You’ve got some mighty fine muscle on you. You make a decent farmhand. Not so good at taking orders, though.”
    He chuckled and rested his cheek on her hair.
    “What if you slowed things down?” she asked. “Didn’t try to move the company here for a while?”
    He stiffened. “Sweetgrass is counting on me.”
    “Sweetgrass seems to survive, regardless. You don’t have to save it singlehandedly. Scarlett and Ian are already trying to do that. I’m worried about Scarlett.”
    “She said she’d cater my company Christmas party if I wanted. It would be a great way to introduce my staff to Sweetgrass. Make them want to come here.”
    “What if you didn’t do that just yet?”
    “Why not?”
    “Scarlett’s asking too much of herself, and so are you. Take it down a notch. What if you picked several key people and brought them to Sweetgrass instead? Have you heard about the community