“A job.” She cringed inside, but hid it with a smile. It wasn’t a total lie. “And you? Are you from here?”
“Boise,” he said. About two hours in the opposite direction from Rexburg. West, instead of northeast. “I graduated Boise State and followed a girl here.”
“Oh?”
He inclined his head. “She left a trail on purpose, and I took it. That trail died, which was more the better for me in the long run. After things ended, I’d already planted roots, so here I am.”
“Here you are.” Saylor glanced up at him, warming at the sight of his handsome features, soft brow, and masculine jawline. “Lucky me,” she added.
Cole paused in the path for a second, capturing her gaze while flashes of color from the surrounding lights danced in his eyes.
“Don’t speak too soon,” he said with a wink.
“I wouldn’t dare,” she said with her own smirk, pulling free to follow the path curving behind the gas station. “We’re closer to the camel,” she went on, inhaling a full breath of the cool, white-capped air. She loved this smell. It was the aroma of crisp linens and fresh starts.
She sensed more than saw Cole beside her, though his Doc Martens kept in step with her black boots that climbed her skinny jeans clear to her knees. “I can feel it.”
“You like animals?” he asked.
“As much as the next person. But this is a camel we’re talking about. How often do you see one of those?”
“Idaho Falls Zoo,” said Cole, answering her rhetorical question. “Summer of 2015.” He said this with pride, as if stating a significant milestone in his life. Saylor couldn’t help laughing.
“You dateline zoo visits?”
“Only when they’re spent with one of my girls.”
The trail he mentioned—had he been married? “You have kids?”
“My nieces,” he said, bending to drop some loose change in the donation slot on top of a festive, red collecting box. Saylor delved in her pockets for several quarters as well, craving to know more about him. If he noted the date of zoo visits with his nieces, did that mean he liked children, or was that just her eager mother-heart perking with false hope?
“That’s sweet,” she said. “How old are they?”
“Nine, seven, and three. All odd numbers. My brother-in-law was a no-show, but my sister promised to take Kaezlie for her birthday—”
“And let me guess. You offered to help.”
“That I did.”
They approached the crowd gathered around a tall fence constructed with gates and corner posts. Saylor bent for a few carrots in a bucket beside the fence and stood in line, admiring the hairy, horse-like creature with its single hump, gnarled knees, and big teeth.
Ahead of them, a man held up a small boy so the boy could reach his carrot to the camel’s mouth. Saylor swallowed and pressed away unwanted thoughts. Tomorrow. She’d have her boy back tomorrow.
“Zoo trips,” Saylor said as Cole got his own carrot. She was surprised the camel was even hungry at this point, considering how many people had been making their way through here. “Santa impersonations. What else is on your list?”
Cole ducked his head down and removed a glove. Voices rose nearby, indicative of a budding conversation. Before Cole could answer, a single word speared through Saylor.
“Mommy!”
She wheeled around when a small person leapt into her arms.
“Parks! What are you doing here?” She hugged him close, unable to believe it. Her mind flicked through the details David had given her. Rock Creek Canyon. Snowmobiling.
When Cole had proposed the date, she hadn’t connected the two as being the same place altogether. With the fields and hills around here, it must’ve been a prime spot for sleds. The snowmobile trailer she’d noticed in the lot must be the Windham’s.
An older, well-dressed woman frowned behind Parker. Standing beside her was Amanda, along with a disconcerted David. He scowled at Cole before turning his attention back to Saylor.
“You’re on a date?” he said, mouth downturned. Amanda sniffed, scowling at the cars in the lot. What was with her inability to make eye contact?
Saylor slid her arm back through Cole’s, not wanting him to feel as awkward as she did. “As a matter of fact, I am.”
Cole stiffened. In a moment of hindsight, Saylor realized how possessive she must’ve appeared.
David’s brows leapt. “Okay then. We don’t want to disturb you, so...” He indicated toward Parker.
“Right,” she said, letting Parker slip back onto the ground. He kept his little hand in hers.
“Time to go, Sport.” David held out a hand.
“I want to stay with Mommy,” Parker said, too loudly. Several people near the camel glanced in their direction.
David stepped forward, annoyance evident in the pucker of his brows. Saylor crouched down before he could get to him.
“You’d better go with your dad, okay?” She brushed hair out of Parker’s eyes. “I’ll see you first thing tomorrow.”
Parker lunged, dipping his head into her neck before allowing David to drag him away.
“Bye, Mommy,” Parker said, attempting to wave back.
She blinked several times and stood beside Cole, staring at their progress toward the parking lot. Amanda sneered over her shoulder before placing her hand into David’s free one.
“That’s Parker?” Cole’s hands snuggled in his coat pockets. He wrinkled his nose.
Saylor’s throat tightened. Perfect. Nothing says disaster like running into your ex-husband on the first date with another man.
Cole gave the camel’s nose a final pat before leaving the animal to the next people in line.
“That’s my Parker.”
“And his dad.”
“Sorry about that,” she said. Sorry didn’t hold a candle to her chagrin.
She opened her mouth to explain, when a group of teenagers passed by with nosy gazes. Saylor took the front of Cole’s jacket, tugging him off to the side by a glowing Rudolph that looked far too happy right now. Cole stared down at her, confused, but curious.
“I never meant to add drama to this tonight,” she said, grateful to be out of earshot. “I was having a really great time.”
Cole’s brows arched. “No need for that to change.” He offered his arm. Relieved, Saylor took it, linking
