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

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.”

      “Nice to see you, too, Sean. And thank you. This chardonnay will go well with the chicken.”

      He tossed her a wink. “It’s nice to have access to a winery.”

      Lilly smiled. The new label Rafferty Legacy graced the golden bottle. “This is lovely, thank you. How’s the family?”

      “Wonderful. Sean Michael is a blessing, and a strapping lad he is. Much like his da and his uncle.”

      “He’s adorable,” Beth added. “Jenny brought little Mick into the shop this morning.”

      “Sorry I missed that.” Lilly was disappointed. “Will they be coming to the Casali’s barbecue?”

      “Of course,” Sean said. “Jenny says she’s had enough of staying home. She can’t wait until she gets back to the shop.”

      Lilly felt out of touch. “Jenny’s coming back to work?”

      “Part-time,” her mother told her. “She’s going to set up a nursery in the back, and also use the upstairs apartment for naps and feedings.”

      Lilly would have loved to stay home with her babies, but she didn’t have that choice. She’d had to go back to teaching to help support the family.

      Suddenly there was a noise from above as her kids made their way down the stairs. Robbie was the first to speak. “Hi, Mr. R.”

      “Hi, Robbie. I hear you’ve been practicing playing baseball.”

      Her son beamed. “Yeah, Coop’s helpin’ me. I catch pretty good now.”

      Sean turned to Kasey and grinned. “Well, who’s this pretty lassie?”

      Lilly held her breath waiting for her daughter’s reaction. She actually smiled. “Hello, Mr. Rafferty.”

      He reached for her hand. “You look like your mother and grandmother. Beautiful.”

      “Oh, Sean.” Beth blushed. “She doesn’t want to hear that.”

      “Why not?” He looked at the three generations of women. “You ladies are a picture.”

      Lilly smiled. “Thank you. I’ll go check on supper.” She took off, not wanting her mother to leave her guest.

      Lilly walked into the kitchen as Noah came in the back door. “Sorry, I’m late. What can I do to help?”

      He was dressed in a nice pair of jeans and a collared shirt. Handsome as usual.

      “Not much to do,” she told him, trying to ignore her racing heart. “I’ll just put the food in the bowls and carry it out to the dining room.” She stopped and sank against the counter. “I can’t believe it. I mean I believe it because