Tall, Dark, Texas Ranger / Once Upon A Christmas Eve. Patricia Thayer

know that we did this work.”

      She stole a glance at the man who rocked her son’s world these days. “That’s a lot of hot Texas summers and hard winters.”

      Robbie nodded. “Coop said you should always do the best job so your work will last. So people can depend on you.”

      She felt emotions welling in her throat. “That’s true. You should be proud of everything you do.”

      “Do you think Daddy would be proud of me?”

      She had to swallow hard as she glanced at the stoic look on Coop’s face. “I know he would.” She put on a big smile as she hugged her son.

      After a moment, Coop spoke, “Hey, Robbie, we need to clean up before we go and get ice cream.”

      “Ice cream?”

      Coop gave Robbie a questioning look. “You did ask, didn’t you?”

      Robbie looked down. “I guess I forgot. Mom, can we go get some ice cream?”

      “How about we eat some lunch, then go.”

      Robbie opened his mouth to argue, then looked at Coop. “Sure.”

      Lilly turned to Coop. “It’s tomato soup and grilled cheese.”

      “My favorite,” he told her.

      “It’s my favorite, too,” her son chimed in.

      Coop picked up his shirt and slipped it on. He hadn’t missed Lilly’s interest, nor did he mind it, but this was work. He needed to concentrate on doing his job and she wasn’t making it easy.

      He followed them into the kitchen and heard the music from upstairs. He fought a grin. “I take it Kasey’s letting you know she’s not happy.”

      Lilly went around the island and pulled out the flat griddle. “Drama for Kasey started when she was about a year old and it hasn’t let up yet.”

      Coop went to the sink and turned on the water to wash his hands. He liked being in this kitchen. It was a little worn, but he bet there’d been plenty of good times here.

      He glanced over his shoulder just as Lilly went to get something from the refrigerator. When she bent slightly, her shorts pulled tight over her shapely rear end and long legs.

      Oh, boy. He felt the stirring low in his gut.

      As if she sensed his attention, she turned around. Her expression was one of surprise, though there was awareness in her eyes, but she quickly glanced away. “What kind of cheese do you want on your sandwich?”

      He shut off the water and grabbed a towel, wiped his hands as he leaned against the counter. “Anything is fine.” He’d be damned if he would apologize for staring at a beautiful woman. Wasn’t that what guys did? Except he was a Texas Ranger who was supposed to be doing his job, and Lilly Perry was a part of it.

      She looked at him again. “Why don’t you go sit down? I can handle lunch.”

      He started to argue when Robbie came running into the room. “Coop! Coop! See what I got.” He was holding up a baseball in a plastic case as he climbed up on a stool at the island.

      “What do we have here?”

      “It’s a baseball. See it’s got Nolan Ryan’s name on it. Just like your baseball card.”

      “Robbie,” his mother cautioned. “Remember that’s not a toy. It’s valuable.”

      “I won’t take it out,” he promised her. “I only wanted to show it to Coop.” The boy turned back to him. “He played for the Texas Rangers baseball team. Dad said Nolan Ryan’s the greatest pitcher ever.”

      “I know.” Coop took the plastic case and examined the ball to see Ryan’s signature. “He had seven no hitters. He was the strikeout king. He was nicknamed The Ryan Express.”

      The boy’s eyes rounded. “Wow! You know a lot.”

      “That’s because I love baseball, too. I used to play in high school.” It had been the only thing that kept him out of trouble. “Do you play?”

      The boy hung his head and murmured, “I don’t know how to catch very good.” He looked at his mother. “I don’t have anyone to practice with me.”

      Coop felt for the kid, knowing sports had kept him and his brother off the streets. “I bet you can play tee-ball and learn.”

      Lilly turned the sandwiches on the grill, surprised at her son’s comment. She would have loved to sign him up. Give him an activity to keep him busy. “If you want to play, I can talk to one of the fathers, maybe they will help you.”

      “Ah, Mom. I don’t want to do that.”

      Lilly was at a loss. She wasn’t much of an athlete, so she couldn’t help.

      “Maybe I can help you,” Coop said. “You got a mitt and another baseball?”

      “Sure. I’ll go get ‘em.”

      Lilly called him back before he left the room. “First, we eat. So go and wash up and get your sister.”

      The boy looked disappointed, but did what he was told.

      Lilly went to stir the soup, then pulled down the bowls.

      “Is there something wrong?” Noah asked.

      She hated to say anything critical about his act of kindness. She looked at him. “I’m just a little worried. Robbie has been so excited these last few days with you around.”

      “So you want me to stop being friends with your son.”

      She sighed. “No, but he’s a little boy who misses his father. Doesn’t that make you uncomfortable?”

      Coop was more uncomfortable about not being truthful with her. “Look, if you don’t want me to spend time with your son, that’s your right. Since I was a kid who didn’t have a father around, I know it’s nice to have another man provide some attention.”

      “Did you have someone?”

      Don’t get too personal, he told himself. “My brother and I spent a lot of time at the boys’ club.” He smiled. “A gruff, old guy named Gus. He told us to leave the attitude at the door if we wanted to come in. He kept all the kids in line.”

      She smiled, then quickly sobered. “Don’t get me wrong, Noah. I’m happy you spend time with Robbie, but I don’t want him hurt when you leave.”

      He went to her. “You mean like their father hurt all of you?”

      He saw her hesitate, but also the pain in her eyes. She finally nodded.

      “You can’t keep your kids from getting hurt, Lilly. They have to get out there and learn to survive, not to be afraid. And they need to learn that from you.”

      “But Robbie isn’t even six.”

      “And he and his sister have already been hurt. You couldn’t protect them from the pain of losing their father.” He paused. “You’re an adult, and you couldn’t even protect yourself.”

      An hour later, Lilly had to get away from the house. She ended up leaving Kasey brooding in her room, and drove Robbie to the library for the children’s reading hour, postponing the trip to the ice cream store. Okay, she needed time to brood after Noah’s declaration.

      She walked into the Blind Stitch, needing some adult time. Some girl time. As usual the popular shop was busy. Since Jenny was on maternity leave, it had been ever harder to keep up with customers. The regular employee, Millie Roberts, was behind the counter.

      Lilly found her mother in the other room of the shop, where they held the quilting classes. Beth Staley was instructing a patron on a quilt pattern. She looked up and smiled, then excused herself and walked over.

      “This