.

      He merely smiled as he touched his glass to hers. “To a very happy holiday season.”

      Cat sipped her wine. “You’ve got that gleam in your eyes. You’re up to something. If you came all the way down here to make sure I’m going to Gianna’s big charity ball on Thursday, I’ll be there. I also bought tickets for Adelaide, Josie and Matt. He should be back from Mexico by then.”

      “Mexico?” He had to tread carefully. He wasn’t supposed to know much about her store.

      She smiled as she took another sip of wine. “He’s in this little village. I’ve told you about Paxco, haven’t I?”

      “Remind me,” he said. She actually started to glow when she talked about her business. It was something she rarely spoke of when the family gathered because of Gianna’s preference that she get out of retail. His wife had even gone so far as to offer her a job at Merceri Bank.

      “Matt had to fly down there yesterday because this one shipment of dolls has been delayed. If it doesn’t get here, there are going to be twenty-four little girls who won’t get what they want from Santa.”

      No wonder she was worried, McGuire thought. Her mother had died on Christmas Eve, and ever since then, Cat had put a lot of effort into making sure that everything was perfect at Christmastime. He’d done the same for her. But he couldn’t read any sign that she suspected something other than dollmaking was going on in Paxco. He placed a hand over hers. “Don’t worry, little girl. They’ll get here.”

      She lifted her chin. “I know that, and that’s exactly what I told my worried customers. I’m hoping they shipped today and they’ll arrive tomorrow or Thursday. Friday at the latest.”

      She sipped more wine. “Still, I’ll feel better when Matt calls back and gives me a tracking number. The connection I had with him was very bad.”

      McGuire studied his daughter. He didn’t like it one bit that one of the shipments from Paxco was delayed. If something happened to prevent the drugs from arriving, or even worse, if someone at the other end had gotten greedy, it might very well increase the danger to Cat.

      Thank heavens, Dino Angelis would be at her side beginning tomorrow morning.

      “About Gianna’s ball…”

      Cat met his eyes. “I told you I’ll be there.”

      “But you don’t have a date.”

      “And just how do you know that?”

      Hearing the thread of annoyance in her tone, he took a drink of his Scotch. “A smart army man never reveals his sources.”

      Cat regarded him steadily as she took another taste of wine.

      “All I want is a favor. I’d look upon it as your Christmas gift to me. And you can check Gianna off your list at the same time. I’m offering you a two-for-the-price-of-one deal.”

      She still said nothing. McGuire wondered not for the first time why she couldn’t have taken more after Nancy than him.

      “C’mon, Cat. Your daddy shouldn’t have to beg.”

      Cat threw up both of her hands. “Okay. I’m not agreeing to anything yet. Just what is it that you want me to do?”

      “Just get engaged for Christmas.”

      CAT STARED at her father. She sincerely hoped that her mouth hadn’t dropped open because she knew that was just the reaction he was hoping for. Her mom and dad had always played chess together, and after her mother had died, she’d asked her father to teach her the game. But even after she’d joined the chess team at school, she’d never been able to beat him. He was a master strategist. Just what was he up to? “You’re joking.”

      “I couldn’t be more serious.”

      She glanced at his drink. “How many of those did you have while you were waiting for me?”

      He shook his head sadly. “Is that anything for a respectful daughter to ask her father?”

      She sipped her wine and leaned back in her chair. “Are you going to tell me what you’re up to?”

      “Thought you’d never ask. Gianna has gotten herself into a little scrape.” He told her the same story he’d told Dino Angelis and watched her eyes widen. Unlike the navy captain, she’d had the experience of meeting Lucia Merceri.

      “So the Queen of Hearts is going to arrive tomorrow and catch her daughter in a lie?”

      “Unless I solve the problem.”

      “How?”

      “It’s simple. I’ve hired you a fiancé for Christmas.”

       “You’ve what?”

      Several people in the immediate area sent glances her way, so Cat clamped down on her emotions and hissed, “You’ve hired me a fiancé? And where, pray tell, did you get him—some kind of escort service?”

      Colleen appeared at their table and set down two bowls of Mulligan’s stew. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

      Cat managed a tight smile. “No.” But she would have liked to order a bucket of cold icewater to pour over her father’s head.

      As if sensing the tension at the table, Colleen’s bright smile wavered. “Enjoy your meal.” Then she scurried away.

      “You’ve scared that poor little waitress.”

      Keeping her voice pitched low, Cat leaned forward. “Don’t you put that on me. If you don’t tell me what you’re up to, you may end up wearing what’s left of my very expensive wine.”

      He spread his hands, palms outward. “I’m just trying to make everyone happy for Christmas.”

      He wasn’t lying about that. If anyone had ever captured the essence of the spirit of Saint Nick, Colonel James T. McGuire had. From the time she was little, even before her mother’s death, he’d always tried to figure out what she wanted most and then he’d put all his efforts into getting it for her. Within reason, of course. But since he’d married Gianna, he’d shifted his focus to his wife.

      “I thought Gianna already had her Christmas wish. Lucy is due to deliver little Merry any day now.”

      “She’s trying to hold off until after the charity ball.”

      That didn’t surprise Cat. If Lucy managed to pull it off, her stepmother would have all her family around her at the ball and still have her first granddaughter by Christmas.

      Her father laid his hand over hers. “Lucia Merceri will only be in town until New Year’s Day. And as soon as little Merry arrives, her attention will be diverted.”

      She managed not to grit her teeth. “And how is Lucia Merceri going to react when she discovers the whole thing was a trick?” Cat jabbed a finger in his direction. “I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes when she figures out we lied to her.” She frowned. “Matter of fact, I wouldn’t want to be in my shoes.”

      “Not to worry.” Her father picked up a fork and dug into his stew. “We’ve got that all worked out. Gianna will just weave her mother another story. A month from now, you’re going to have a falling-out with Navy Captain Dino Angelis.”

      Cat had scooped up a bite of her stew, but the fork slipped from her fingers and clattered back into the bowl. “A month? You can’t expect me to carry on this masquerade for a month. I won’t.”

      Her father wiggled his fork at her. “Relax. You’ll get through the month just the way you got through the last month—the secret dating and engagement part.”

      Cat’s hands fisted on the table. “The secret dating and engagement part?”

      Her father took a manila envelope out of his pocket and pushed