Tall, Dark, Texas Ranger / Once Upon A Christmas Eve: Tall, Dark, Texas Ranger

“I’ve heard your mother’s working at the quilt shop these days.”

“She’s filling in for Jenny.”

A big smile appeared. “Oh, yes, she had her baby, didn’t she?”

She nodded. “Sean Michael will be christened next Sunday at church. I bet you can get a look at him then.”

“I’ll make sure my sister takes me.” Miss Olivia patted her hand.

“How is Miss Emily these days?”

A loud sigh. “Sister complains a lot, but she’s well. I’ll mention that you asked about her.” Her expression changed. “I never got the chance to tell you how sorry I am for your loss. Michael was always a kind person to me.”

Coop could see that Lilly was uncomfortable. “Thank you,” she said and took her hand away.

That’s when Miss Olivia took an interest in him. “And who is this young man?”

“Noah Cooper, ma’am.” He shook her hand. “I’m a carpenter on the Casali housing project. I’m renting Beth Staley’s cottage.”

“Isn’t that nice.” She glanced between the two. “A pleasure to meet you, Noah.”

“Well, we should be going,” Lilly said, pointing to the kids already nearly a block away. “I promised Robbie and Kasey ice cream.”

“Then ya’ll run along,” she told them.

Coop didn’t need to be asked twice as he followed Lilly. “I take it she’s been your neighbor a long time.”

“Before I was born. She never married and argues with her sister all the time. She’s only a few years older than Mom, but has to rely on her sister to get around.” She gave him a sideways glance. “But she can dial a phone pretty well, and with the information you gave her, you’ll be the talk of the town by tomorrow.”

Going inside Shaffer’s Ice Cream Parlor was like stepping back in time to the 1950s. The Happy Days TV show, Western style.

Robbie and Kasey were already sitting on high stools at the counter, going over the selections on the wall. If ever Coop felt out of his element, this place would do it. His hangout had been a pool hall.

This would be the childhood every kid wanted, and those who were lucky enough to get it didn’t even have a clue how wonderful their lives were.

From a street kid’s perspective, one who had to beg, borrow or steal to survive, he knew he’d have been chased out of a place like this. As a teenager, he’d hung out in a pool hall to hustle players, or just helped clean up the place for money.

Coop sat down beside Kasey. She tensed and glared at him.

He ignored it as the teenage waiter appeared. “Hello, Mrs. Perry.”

“Hello, Tim. Good to see you’re working this summer.”

“Saving for a car.”

“Are you that ancient?”

The boy’s ears reddened. “I was sixteen last month.”

“Now, I’m feeling old.”

He turned his attention to his other customers, namely Kasey. “What are you going to have?”

“Vanilla,” Kasey told him.

Coop frowned. “Vanilla? That seems rather dull from someone so …” He looked at the girl’s scrubbed face, a hint of freckles across her pert nose. Those big blue-green eyes. She was the image of her mother. “So daring. So vibrant.”

Although Kasey tried to hide it, the compliment affected her. “Sometimes I get Peach or Raspberry sherbet.”

He nodded. “I’d go for the Raspberry sherbet.”

“I want Chocolate Chip,” Robbie said to the waiter.

“And I’ll have Mint Chocolate Chip,” Lilly announced.

“What about you, Coop?” Robbie asked.

“Cherry Pecan.”

While they were waiting as the boy scooped up the cones, the bell chimed over the door. Coop glanced toward the entrance to see a dark-haired woman walk in. He immediately recognized Stephanie Perry from the case files.

In her mid-twenties, she had a husky voice and dressed in a pair of jeans about a size too small, emphasizing her wide hips. She might have been attractive, but her heavy layer of makeup made her look hard.

He tensed as the woman made her way to the counter. “Lilly, I need to talk to you.”

Lilly swung around and frowned. “Suddenly you want to talk. No, we have nothing to say, Stephanie.”

“There’s a lot to say. You have some of Mike’s things and I want them back.”

Lilly didn’t want to air any dirty laundry in front of the kids or the rest of the town. She stood and walked across the store and her ex-sister-in-law followed. “I don’t like you attacking me, especially in front of my children.”

Stephanie folded her arms over her breasts. “Then give me Mike’s things.”

“And for the hundredth time, I don’t have anything of his. When he moved out, he took almost everything. When I moved out, I only took my things, Mike came by and took the rest. What exactly are you looking for?”

Mike’s sister glanced away. “Papers from the business. They must have been in his home office.”

“I left Mike’s home office alone. So I don’t know what happened to his papers after that.”

Stephanie glared. “You’re lying. You never liked me so you’re getting back at me because Mike divorced you.”

Lilly was thrown off guard. Not that Stephanie’s words hurt anymore, she’d said worse during the years of her marriage to her brother. “I’m not going to listen to this again. I want you to stay away from me and the kids. Go and run your business.”

Stephanie glared. “You’ll be sorry if you’re keeping anything from me.”

“Is there a problem?”

Lilly felt Coop come up behind her. Even though she could handle her sister-in-law, she liked having him there.

“Not anymore. I think we’ve finally settled it. Haven’t we, Steph?”

Lilly got a little satisfaction at using the nickname that her sister-in-law hated.

Stephanie looked at Coop. “Got a new boyfriend so soon, Lilly? How long before you drive him off?”

Coop did something that surprised her. He slipped an arm around her waist. “Oh, I don’t think this pretty woman could drive me away with a shotgun.” He smiled. “In fact, you’ll be seeing me next week. I’m one of Casali’s carpenters on the housing project. So get used to it, Ms. Perry, I’m going to be around a long time.”

CHAPTER SIX

LATE the next evening, Cooper sat on the sofa in the cottage. He had to figure out a way to stop thinking about Lilly Perry in any way but as a lead for his job.

He knew he had to play the part and get close to the family. It was getting harder all the time, especially when he’d put his hands on her narrow waist, or been close enough to breathe in her soft scent.

He cursed and stood. It was time to get to work.

He waited until dark and dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans and running shoes. He left the cottage, bypassing his truck, and headed out on foot down the alley to avoid being seen by the family. People had to think he’d been home all night, plus he didn’t want his vehicle parked outside where he was doing surveillance.

He took alleyways as much as possible until he got to the edge of town. Perry’s Landscaping and nursery had ten acres that had a tree and plant business, in addition to the professional lawn service. There were several buildings and a half dozen work trucks parked in a line all enclosed by a chain-link fence.

He checked the area for any sign of electronics or otherwise. There wasn’t a security guard or a dog, so he found a weak spot in the fence and climbed through. Staying in the shadows, he made his way past the greenhouse and a row of buildings, including one that was labeled as the office. There was a light on inside.

He made his way around to the back and to an open window. That was where he heard the voices.

One was Stephanie Perry and the other was a man with a thick Spanish accent. Santos aka Delgado.

“Rey, you can’t bring another shipment in here,” she said. “Not yet.”

“You worry too much,” Santos said.

“We still haven’t found Mike’s papers.”

“I curse su hermano for all our troubles. He could have had so much if he’d gone along with us. I’m thinking he lied about the papers.”

“What if he didn’t? You can’t bring in the shipment.”

“I can’t stop it. It’s crossed the border, so it’s not safe to leave it out there unprotected. And my men need their supplies to fill the demand.”

Coop wondered if it had come through Ciudad Juarez at El Paso, or Nuevo Laredo at Laredo.

“And what about Lilly?”

Santos cursed in very colorful Spanish. Coop recognized several unflattering words directed at the woman.

“You’ve got to get inside the house,” he told her.

“How can I do that?” Stephanie argued. “She warned me off. She’s the type that’ll call the sheriff on me.”

“Then you’ll wait until everyone leaves, or maybe I can persuade her.”

“Good luck with that,” she said.

A shiver snaked down Coop’s spine. They would go after Lilly? No way in hell. He stole a look into the office as Santos whispered something in Spanish. Stephanie giggled, then Rey grabbed her roughly. “My luck is always good.”

Then his mouth ground over hers. She let out a groan of pain and fought him to break free. “Hey, that hurts,” she cried, trying to push him away.

“That’s it,” he growled. “Fight me.”

Santos forced Stephanie down on the desk, and Coop moved out of sight, leaving the lovebirds. He figured he wasn’t going to get any more information tonight.

Coop made his way off the property and headed back to the house. He needed to make some calls, to figure out his next move. One thing there was no doubt about: drugs were coming into Kerry Springs. His job was to stop them.

The next morning, Lilly was up at dawn. She was never one for sleeping in. Having been a teacher most of her adult life, she found early mornings had helped keep her sanity. And she’d always been the one to get the kids up and moving, allowing Mike to sleep in. He did so without a problem. Of course, he’d worked ten-to-twelve-hour days. Had that been to stay away from her? She shook away the thought. Don’t go there. It’s too late for regrets.

She made her way down to the kitchen. She had dressed in shorts and a sleeveless top, ready for the hot day that had been promised.

She glanced out the window toward the cottage, surprised to find the door open. She was even more surprised when Noah stepped out into the small covered porch.

“Oh, boy,” she breathed as he leaned against the post, dressed only in a pair of jeans. Her gaze lowered to the top two buttons that were undone, causing his pants to ride low on his hips.

For heaven’s sake, she’d seen a man shirtless before. Oh, but never had she seen anyone who looked like Noah Cooper. His muscular chest and broad shoulders looked like they could carry the weight of the world. She lowered her eyes to his flat stomach. That was an understatement. He had what they called a six-pack. The man had to work out all the time.

Slowly his gaze went to the house and the kitchen window. Busted. Their eyes met and she was frozen in place. It seemed like an eternity that his eyes held her in a trance, then finally he raised his mug toward her like a salute, turned and walked back inside the cottage.

Lilly released a breath and sank against the counter. What was she doing? She wasn’t the type to ogle a man. In school she’d been the shy, studious one. Mike had been her first boyfriend, then her husband.

“Morning, dear,” Beth Staley said.

Lily jumped as her mother strolled into the room. “Oh, hi, Mom.”

Beth frowned. “Is something wrong?”

A lot. “No. You just surprised me. What are you doing up so early?” She glanced at the clock. Six-ten. “You don’t have to go to work until nine.”

The older woman smiled and went to pour some coffee. “Oh, I don’t know. I guess I couldn’t sleep.”

Lilly examined her mother closely. Something was different about her. “Did you get your hair cut?”

“Yesterday. Do you like it?”

The shorter cut would be easier for her to care for. “I like it. The color is pretty, too.”

“It’s just a shine Cassie talked me into trying. It’s to take the yellow out of my gray.”

Her mother had great hair, thick and healthy. Lilly looked over the fifty-eight-year-old widow. At five foot four, she was trim and kept in shape. She had pretty green eyes and a warm smile.

There were other subtle changes about her. Her style of clothing was different today. She had on white capris and an aqua-colored knit top, partly covered with a multicolored blouse.

“Mom, you look … so pretty.”

She sighed. “Thank you.”

“Is there some reason you’re all dressed up this morning?”

She gave a sheepish grin. “Could be.”

Lilly folded her arms and waited. “Well, aren’t you going to tell me?”

Her mother actually blushed. “I have a breakfast date.”

“A date?” She swallowed. “You mean a date, date?” Her mother hadn’t dated since her dad’s death ten years ago. “Who?”

“Close your mouth, daughter. It isn’t becoming.”

“Mother.”

“Okay, I’m meeting Sean Rafferty for breakfast.”

The good-looking, charming Sean Rafferty? “What? How long has this been going on?”

Beth sent her daughter a sharp look. “That’s not anybody’s business, but we’ve spent some time together. We happened to run into each other in San Antonio last month when I was shopping there.

“Sean asked me to lunch, and we found we enjoyed each other’s company. And since we’re both so busy this is the only time we have to see each other.”

“You’re right. It isn’t my business. I just thought Millie Roberts had a thing for Sean.”

Her mother sighed. “I know, but Sean doesn’t feel the same about her. We find we have so much in common, and there is that spark. Oh, plenty of sparks.”

Lilly wanted to put her hands over her ears. Was this more than a platonic friendship? My mother is in a love triangle.

“And I need to tell her, today,” Beth said.

“Yes, you should,” Lilly agreed. “She’d be hurt if she heard it from someone else.” What else could happen this morning? She’d ogled a man, and her mother was dating. Suddenly the music vibration started upstairs in Kasey’s bedroom.

This was going to be an interesting summer.

It was after seven o’clock before Coop was off the phone with his captain relaying details about Delgado and the possible drug shipment coming to Kerry Springs. That was enough information to have more men posted around the landscaping business, looking for any unusual activity.

They wanted to get Delgado this time. In the past he’d managed to slip through the cracks, and no one would rat him out. Mike Perry might have tried, but he was dead now. They needed to find the proof that Mike had planned to give them, and before it got into the wrong hands.

He stood and looked out the window. He wasn’t sure he should go to the house for breakfast. He couldn’t deny the attraction between himself and Lilly. It would be easy to let things happen, but in the end he would have to leave when the job was done. Except Lilly Perry would be hard to say goodbye to.

There was a soft knock on the door. He opened it to find Robbie. “Hey, Rob, you ready to work?”

He nodded. “Mom said to tell you breakfast is ready.”

Coop hesitated, but seeing the bright look on the boy’s face, he nodded. “Good, I’m starved.”

The boy didn’t move. “Coop, can I ask you something?”

They walked along the path together. “Sure.”

“If you’re not too busy later, can you play catch with me?”

“Sure. We could probably find some time.”

“Oh, boy. Thanks.”

Robbie ran ahead and through the back door. Coop smiled and followed him inside where he found a brooding Kasey at the table and her mother at the stove making pancakes.

“Hi,” he said to Lilly as he went behind the island. “Need some help?”

“Sure. You can set the table. Plates are up there.”

He reached overhead and brought down four plates. He grabbed flatware and headed to the table. “Here, Kasey, make yourself useful.”

The teenager was about to argue, but Coop gave her a look that had her changing her mind. He went back to get the orange juice and glasses. In a few minutes they were all seated at the table and enjoying a nice breakfast.

“Where’s Beth?”

“She has an … early appointment.”

Robbie chimed in, “She’s having breakfast with Mr. Rafferty.”

“Robbie, where’d you hear that?”

“You and Grandma were talking.”

“How many times have I told you that eavesdropping isn’t polite.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“I mean, you shouldn’t listen to other people talking.”

“But didn’t she go with Mr. Rafferty?”

“Yes, but Grandma’s business isn’t to leave this house. If she wants other people to know she’ll tell them.”

He took a bite of pancakes and after swallowing, he said, “Kinda like when Daddy left us, and people started sayin’ bad stuff?”

“And we don’t want that to happen again.”

The silence was deafening and Coop could see Lilly was uncomfortable.

“Hey, Rob, why don’t you go grab your ball and glove and we’ll toss a few?”

“Oh, boy. Can I, Mom?”

“Finish your milk, then you’re excused.”

He grabbed a few more bites of food, then drank up and ran off. So did his sister, although she didn’t ask permission.

The room was quiet with only the sound of footsteps overhead. “It was rough for you and the kids, wasn’t it?”

She nodded. “Even though there were a lot who stood by me, there were many who speculated on what happened between Mike and me. I was a bad wife. Had he met someone else? It all happened so fast. As if overnight my husband had changed and I couldn’t stop it.” She toyed with her coffee mug. “I guess I didn’t protect my children as well as I’d hoped, because in the end, their father abandoned them, and I can’t forgive him for that.”

If nothing else, Coop hoped he could learn the truth for her, but first he had to find it. Then they would both have answers to all the questions.

“I’m sorry, Lilly.”

She turned those hazel green eyes toward him. “Why? None of this is your fault. Mike was an adult. He made choices. All bad, but he made them.” She chewed her lower lip. “Worse, I know it had something to do with Stephanie.”

Bingo. “Why? Did your sister-in-law try to break up your marriage?”

She sighed. “You saw her yesterday. She was always jealous. She was the baby of the family, ten years younger than Mike. He spoiled her rotten because their father ignored her. After their parents died, Mike took over the business, and that included helping Stephanie.”

Coop carefully worked for information. “It seems that the business is prosperous.”

“That’s thanks to Mike. He expanded it to do landscaping and new construction and he opened the nursery on the property. We all sacrificed, too, helping to secure the future. Now they’re without a father, and my kids get nothing.

“Why is that? Aren’t his children in the will?”

Lilly shook her head. “Mike signed a survivorship clause, leaving everything to his sister. Stephanie walks away with it all, the business that rightfully should go to my children. She and that slimy boyfriend, Rey Santos, get everything.”

“Do you suspect something isn’t right?”

He watched her anger build along with her tears. “I don’t care anymore, Noah. Mike’s gone and the kids are without a father. All I want is for Stephanie to stay away from my family. We want to move on with our lives.”

Lilly stood. “Excuse me, Noah, I need to get to the store this morning. If you want anything more, help yourself. I’ll get Kasey to do the dishes.”

He got up, too, and stopped her before she left. “If my opinion means anything, I think you’re one hell of a woman, Lilly Perry. A man would be a fool to leave you.”

An hour later, Coop was calling himself every name in the book as he stood in the Staley backyard. He had no business saying anything to Lilly at breakfast.

Dammit. The woman was getting to him, and he had to stop it. He had to find a way to stay focused on his job. Not how much he wanted to pull her into his arms, feel her body against his. The problem was he wanted more than just to ease the loneliness; he wanted a connection with another human being.

“Heads up, Coop.”

He looked at Robbie to see the ball come flying. He was using the first baseman’s mitt that had once been Mike Perry’s. He reached out and managed to snag the errant throw.

“Okay, Rob. Here it comes.” He tossed the ball in the air. “Now get under it. That’s right, look it into your glove.”

The ball dropped in the kid’s glove and Robbie let go with a cheer. “I did it. Did you see, Coop? I did it.”

“I sure did. You kept your eye on the ball and you weren’t afraid.” He tugged on the boy’s cap. “Good job.” They did a high-five.

Just then Lilly’s compact car turned into the driveway and parked at the garage. Robbie went rushing toward her. “Mom, I caught the ball.”

She got out of the car and hugged her son. Something inside Coop’s chest tightened at the sight. His mother had never been affectionate with him or Devin. She was too busy for them most of the time.

Robbie pulled her by the hand. “Come on, Mom, we’ll show you.”

“Okay.”

The boy told her where to stand, then rushed off to about fifteen feet away. “Throw it to me, Coop.”

Coop nodded. With a glance toward Lilly he turned back to Robbie. “Okay, keep your eye on the ball like the last time.” He lofted the ball in the air, praying that the boy could get it.

“Look it into your glove,” he coaxed until he heard the familiar thud.

He’d never seen a brighter smile than the one on Robbie’s face. Then he turned to Lilly. He was mistaken. She was beaming.

“Oh, Robbie, I’m so proud of you,” she cheered.

The boy ran to his mom. “Wow. I’m getting better. I’m gonna go tell Kasey.” He took off running.

Coop didn’t move, but Lilly did as she came up to him and touched his arm. “Oh, Noah, how can I ever thank you? I haven’t seen Robbie this happy in a long time.”

He could feel the warmth of her hand. “I just tossed him a ball.” He resisted squeezing her slender hand, but he refused to let her go, either.

“You spent time with him. He hasn’t had any male attention in a long time.”

“Yeah, a boy needs that.”

She finally took her hand away. “I bet you helped your brother a lot, too.”

“I tried. Our mom was gone a lot.”

She nodded. “I know that feeling. That’s why my mother is a godsend. Speaking of which, she’s invited Sean Rafferty to dinner tonight.”

“Not a problem. I can go to the diner downtown.”

“Noah,” she said with a smile. “You’re invited to come, too. It’s just a heads-up, they are officially dating.”

Coop smiled, finding he liked being included. “I hope he’s worthy of her.”

“Sean Rafferty is a very nice man. And according to the ladies my mother’s age, quite a catch. It seems Beth Staley has done something about a dozen women in town haven’t been able to do—caught Sean Rafferty’s eye.”

“So would you like me to grill him on his intentions?”

She laughed at that. He liked the sound and the way her hair brushed her cheek. He had to resist not to reach out and touch her. Damn, he was getting in deeper and deeper.

CHAPTER SEVEN

LILLY watched as the sensible Beth Staley seemed to become more and more flustered as she prepared supper for Sean Rafferty. All she could say was the man had better appreciate it.

And the second Sean walked into the house carrying a bottle of wine from his son’s vineyard and roses from his garden, sending a special look to her mother, she felt her own heart do a tumble.

“Sean,” Beth breathed.

“Hello, lass,” he returned with that dreamy Irish brogue and an engaging smile. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

Then he looked up and saw her. “Hello, Lilly. It’s good to see you again.” He held out the wine. “Here’s a little contribution to the dinner.”