The Christmas Proposition. Cindy Kirk

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СКАЧАТЬ mouthful of big teeth.

      “Want to check it out?” Derek asked.

      The girl’s smile faded. She lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug. “I don’t know how to play.”

      He pushed back his chair and stood. “I’ll show you.”

      After several pointers on how to best keep the silver ball in play, Derek gave her a handful of quarters and returned to the table. “She’s a natural.”

      They chatted for a minute or two about Mickie and pinball machines before the conversation petered out. Rachel put down her second slice of pizza and sought for a comment to fill the lengthening silence. It had been easy to make conversation while Mickie was at the table, but now …

      “Did you hear we have a seventy-percent chance of snow tomorrow?” Rachel asked.

      Derek groaned out loud. “Please, no more about the weather or the bump on my head. We’ve talked those topics to death.”

      He was probably right. Perhaps she’d tried a little too hard to keep the conversation general. But when those brilliant blue eyes focused on her as if no one else in the world existed but the two of them, she felt as unsure as a fifteen-year-old on her first date.

      Rachel placed her glass of soda on the wooden table with an unsteady hand. The man across from her had been to movie premieres. Partied with the beautiful people. And, according to the media, walked away from three engagements.

      She glanced longingly at the door, wondering how she’d ever thought this was a good idea. Right now she could be at home in her PJs playing Scrabble with Mickie. Oh, Derek was nice. But she didn’t like how he made her feel, all jittery and unsettled inside. “I’m a little nervous.”

      Derek lowered the glass he’d raised to his lips without drinking and Rachel wished she’d kept her mouth shut.

      Disappointment filled his baby blues. “Which tabloids have you read?”

      Rachel realized immediately that he’d misunderstood her comment. But the last thing she wanted was to discuss his troubles or her attraction to him. So instead, Rachel focused on the Derek Rossi she’d followed in the sports pages for almost a decade. “This will probably surprise you, but you and I go way back. I remember watching you pitch a no-hitter in the college world series. You were amazing. I followed your career after you were drafted by the Angels. Now it seems like every time I watch a sportscast, there you are with a microphone and an expert opinion.”

      His lips curved upward and Rachel, who’d planned to say even more, clamped her mouth shut. Dear God, what must he think? She’d been gushing like an out-of-control fan-girl.

      “What have you heard recently?” he asked.

      “I haven’t been following your exploits in the tabloids,” Rachel said. “If that’s what you’re asking.”

      “Still, I’m sure you’ve heard all about Niki and me.”

      She’d have had to be living in a cave not to have heard the news of his broken engagement to the young actress he’d been planning to marry last month, just before Thanksgiving.

      She’d been disappointed that he would make such an important commitment, then walk away. Not just once, but three times. Still, it wasn’t her place to judge. And she firmly believed it was better to walk away than say your vows to the wrong person. “Who you choose to marry, or not, is your own business.”

      The tiny lines of strain around Derek’s eyes eased at her matter-of-fact tone. “No questions? No, how could you break it off only two weeks before the wedding?”

      Would he tell her the truth if she asked? Rachel tamped down her curiosity. “Not my business. I’m sure you had your reasons.”

      “Thank you.”

      “But I am curious about one thing.”

      A resigned look crossed his face. “What’s that?”

      “How long do you plan to stay in Jackson Hole?”

      A look of surprise skittered across his face. “That’s the question?”

      Rachel smiled.

      “Not quite a month.” Derek leaned back in his chair. “My buddy gave me the use of his vacation home just outside of Wilson until New Year’s. Then I’ll head back to L.A.”

      “Is that home?”

      “For now.” He took a sip of soda. “I’m originally from Minnesota. Most of my family still lives there.”

      Rachel relaxed against the back of her chair, enjoying the conversation. “I’m surprised you’re not spending Christmas with them.”

      “If I’d married Niki, we’d still be on our honeymoon.” His eyes took on a faraway look. Then he blinked and the moment was gone. “My sister and her family are spending the holidays with my brother-in-law’s side of the family. My mother and Jim, her ‘man-friend,’ are in Florida visiting my aunt and uncle.”

      “I don’t understand how you ended up in Wyoming.”

      “Great place to stay. Lots of good skiing. Best of all, no paparazzi.” Derek grinned. “Feels like paradise to me.”

      Rachel picked up her half-eaten piece of pizza and took another bite, suddenly hungry.

      “I’ve a question for you,” he said.

      Rachel forced the chunk of pizza past a sudden thickness in her throat. “Ask away.”

      “I’ve thought about doing foster care, but my schedule seems too chaotic to give a child the stability he or she needs.” His eyes were bright with curiosity. “How do you make it work?”

      Rachel leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table. Here was a topic she could discuss for hours. “I’ve had my license for a couple years. While a full-time placement wouldn’t work with my schedule, I’ve done quite a bit of emergency foster care.”

      Although his eyes remained focused on her, he trailed a finger down the side of his glass. “Tell me more about that.”

      Rachel’s mouth went dry. She swallowed, her heart fluttering in her throat. “An emergency placement can last anywhere from twenty-four hours to a month. Most kids I have for a day or two.”

      “How long will Mickie be with you?”

      “Through the end of the month.” Rachel shifted her gaze and let it linger on Mickie. Fingers on the side buttons, brows furrowed in concentration, her entire attention was on the game. It was typical Mickie. Her determined nature was only one of her many good qualities. Although the child hadn’t even been under Rachel’s roof a week, she’d already stolen her heart.

      “Looks like she’s made some friends.”

      Derek was right. The little girl had several new “friends” peering over her shoulders, watching her make the bells ding.

      “Mickie is very social.”

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