Kids on the Doorstep / Cop on Loan. Kimberly Van Meter

week but as he entered the room it was hard to avoid the long, sullen faces of three little girls who were dying from boredom.

      Earlier Renee had found an old puzzle and she and Taylor had spent an hour putting it together only to discover it was missing a piece. But Taylor had just giggled and Renee’s expression of pure joy had been hard to walk by without taking notice. He could see the happiness shining from her eyes at her daughter’s carefree laughter and it jerked his foundation a little. Alexis, of course, had had nothing to do with her mother or her invitation to join them. For a split second John regretted seeing the light dimming in Renee’s eyes at her daughter’s open rejection and it had bothered him that he cared. Later, Renee had returned to her cottage and the girls had slowly slipped into terminal boredom when Gladys had taken to her bed early.

      It was one thing to be locked in a house of your own with your own things to keep you company, but it was completely something else when you’re locked in a stranger’s house with nothing familiar.

      He remembered what he and Evan used to do when the snow piled high and their mom had had enough of their tussling in the house. She sent them outside in the snow with the order to stay out of trouble or else.

      A speculative glance toward the girls had his mind moving. If memory served, there was still a toboggan in the attic gathering dust along with the rest of his childhood mementos. He’d be willing to bet Taylor would love a ride down the hill on that thing.

      A few minutes later, he entered the living room with an announcement.

      “Bundle up, we’re going outside.”

      “It’s snowing,” Alexis said.

      “Are you going to melt if a snowflake lands on you?”

      She scowled. “No. But it’s cold outside and Chloe’s still sick.”

      “Fresh air never hurt anyone. Besides, her cough is getting better by the day. Discussion over. Go get dressed and help your sisters, please. We’re going outside.”

      Alexis didn’t argue further but the unhappy pout told him volumes about her disposition. He didn’t let it get to him, though. He suspected her attitude had less to do with the snow and more to do with the fact he’d let her mama move into the guesthouse. He withheld a sigh. Despite some reservations, he supposed he had to find a way to get those two talking again. He glanced at the small guesthouse, and figured he might as well stop putting it off and start lending a hand. To that end, he made a decision that he hoped didn’t blow up in his face.

      “I’ll be right back,” he told the girls who were in the process of being bundled into new jackets and mittens that had been part of the back-to-school shopping spree that he’d instructed Gladys to make. He had to admit, Gladys had a better eye when it came to girly stuff than he did. His idea of high fashion was a clean flannel shirt but, shoot, the horses didn’t care what he wore. “Make sure you zipper up good. The wind is blowing a bit,” he instructed.

      “Maybe we should stay in the house then,” Alexis muttered but continued to help Taylor into her mittens.

      Making his way to the guesthouse, he gave the door a short rap. A minute later Renee appeared wearing a pink fuzzy sweater that plunged at the neckline in an enticing V, practically plucking John’s eyeballs from his head and nestling them between her ample breasts, until she crossed her arms at the immediate chill to ask, “Is everything okay?”

      Uh. Shaking off the odd spell—had she been wearing that sweater earlier? Seemed funny that he just now noticed how much it flattered her figure—he focused on her face as he answered. “We’re going sledding. Do you want to come?”

      “Sledding?” She blinked at him, her mouth working silently as she considered the offer. “You mean actual sledding? Down a hill or something?”

      “That’s generally how it’s done. You’ve never gone sledding before?”

      “No. I didn’t grow up around the snow,” she answered, tightening her arms and scowling much like Alexis did. “It’s not a childhood requirement, you know.”

      “You’re right,” he agreed amiably. “So, here’s your chance to see what you’ve been missing. Bundle up and meet us out front.”

      He didn’t give her much opportunity to say more and he did that purposefully. He was having a hard time focusing when his eyeballs wanted to slide downward to enjoy the view that shouldn’t have interested him at all given their situation. But, as his brother liked to point out with a cheeky grin, he had needs, too. He shook off the immediate bells and whistles that hooted and hollered in his head at the thought of satisfying those pent-up needs with Renee Dolling and walked a little faster away from the small house.

      The girls, stamping their feet in the snow and blowing little clouds in the frosty air, gaped at the toboggan he carried under his arm.

      “What’s that, Mr. John?” Taylor asked, her smart gaze feasting on the long, sturdy contraption that despite its age was in excellent shape.

      “It’s a toboggan and we’re going to do something that I used to do with my brother, Evan, back when we were kids and there was nothing to do but watch the snow fall. Come with me.” Bending, he scooped Chloe up, carrying the toddler while pulling the toboggan behind him, his own breath making blue-gray puffs that quickly disappeared in the frigid air. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of Renee running to catch up. He kept his expression neutral though he had the strange impulse to grin.

      Taylor squealed and jumped into a snowdrift, giggling as the white powder swallowed her small frame until she had to kick her feet to regain her footing. “I like snow,” she announced as Renee took her hand and pulled her out. “Do you like snow?” she inquired and John listened a little more intently for Renee’s answer.

      “I like being with you girls,” Renee answered diplomatically and John chuckled softly. She was breathing a little harder from the exertion and her cheeks bloomed prettily, not that she needed any help in that department, John noted with exasperation. Renee tried making small talk with Alexis and John admired her tenacity in the face of her daughter’s dark expression. “Remember that time we went to Kirkwood and—”

      “No. I don’t.”

      Alexis trudged ahead, her arms swinging with the effort as she put distance between them all. John heard Renee’s unhappy sigh and slowed his own gait so they were walking side by side.

      “She’s pretty headstrong,” he said, needing to say something that might put Alexis’s rejection into perspective.

      “Always has been. But she used to be on my side,” Renee said. “She’s not the kind of kid who forgives or forgets easily.”

      “Would you want her to be?”

      “No. Not really. I’ve always felt that Alexis had a good head on her shoulders. That life wouldn’t tip her over like it did me. She’s always had the uncanny ability to see through the bullshit. I wish I’d had that talent when I was young.”

      John wondered at that statement. He was slowly beginning to realize that Renee’s past may well be a chaotic one. Shrugging, he said, “She’ll come around.”

      “I know. But it hurts to be on the outside.”

      “Give it some time. She’s still getting used to having you around again. But she misses her mama and that’s the truth.”

      Renee looked at him sharply. “Really? Did she say something?”

      “Not in words. It’s a feeling. A hunch.”

      Her expression fell and she sniffed. “Forgive me if I don’t put much store in hunches and feelings. My daughter hates me and goes out of her way to make sure I feel the sting of it every day. I would’ve been more hopeful if she’d actually admitted something to you.”

      “You don’t always get what you want the way that you want it. Hasn’t anyone ever told you that?” He cocked his head at her,