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

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