A Texas Soldier's Christmas. Cathy Thacker Gillen

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      Nora shoved aside her own need to see the handsome soldier. “I expect he’s with his own family today.”

      “Ah...think again...” chimed in Miss Mim, who’d been matchmaking for the two of them since they were kids who hung out together every summer, when Zane visited his paternal grandfather.

      Every nerve end tingling, Nora turned.

      And there came Zane striding toward her in an olive green shirt, tie, blazer and jeans. He had a huge sheet cake in his hands. “Did your sister, Sage, make that cake?” Buck Franklin asked.

      Zane chuckled. “She did. And she even put the great big turkey on it, just like I asked.” He held it out so everyone could see the decoration adorning the vanilla frosting.

      Nora couldn’t help but compliment, “That was so nice of you and Sage.” His sister was a fabulous chef, as well as café bistro owner.

      Zane grinned and regarded Nora mischievously, his eyes alight with interest. “Consider it the Lockhart family’s contribution for the feast today.”

      It was something, all right.

      Oblivious to the sparks flying between Zane and Nora, Wilbur Barnes stepped in to relieve Zane. “Thanks, son.”

      Miss Patricia led the way across the dining hall. “I’ll make room for it on the dessert table.”

      Suddenly, the world narrowed once again. Zane regarded Liam, who was looking around with a slightly perturbed expression on his cherubic face. “Not to worry, little fella,” he said, patting Liam’s head. “You’ll have a chance to have cake when I bring it next year.”

      As if Zane would be there with them next November, Nora thought irritably. The practical side of her laid down odds he would not. Which meant for all their sakes she had to keep her guard up.

      As the seniors gathered around them eased off to give them a little privacy, she nodded at the brash fabric knotted around his neck. “Where did you get that tie?” she quipped. “Pick it out yourself?”

      He held out the brown, orange, gold and green silk. Then gazed admiringly at the upside-down design. “Neckwear sporting a traditional cornucopia is hard to find.”

      Nora rolled her eyes. “I’ll bet.”

      He chuckled, knowing—as always—he was doing a great job of getting under her skin.

      Figuring she had no choice but to brazen her way through this situation, Nora cleared her throat. She had a job to do here, and her first order of business was getting rid of him. “Seriously, it was nice of you to drop by, but doesn’t your family want you to spend the holiday with them?”

      Stubbornly refusing to take her hint, Zane shrugged his broad shoulders. “Mom served her dinner at noon. She didn’t want any football games interrupting the family meal.”

      Trying not to think how much his nearness disturbed her, Nora returned, “I thought Lucille didn’t allow any televised sports at holiday get-togethers.”

      One corner of his sensual lips slanted up. Dark silver eyes glittering warmly, he leaned closer and teased huskily, “I like the way you remember every little thing about me...”

      She recalled way too much all right, Nora thought, flushing self-consciously.

      Like the way he kissed and touched her. The way he smelled when he first woke up, or was fresh out of the shower. The way he looked at her when he thought she wasn’t aware, like he wanted to hold that moment in his heart forever.

      A riptide of sentiment swept through her. Followed swiftly by a physical longing that was just as intense.

      “This particular memory was about your mother,” Nora fibbed, lifting a nonchalant brow.

      He chuckled at her sassy tone. “Yes, well, Mom’s softening a bit in her old age. She allows a game or two to be on as long as we all have dinner together—uninterrupted—first.”

      Nora let her gaze rove over his tall, solidly built frame. Told herself she wasn’t affected. Nope. Not one little bit. “Ah.”

      “Anything we miss, she figures can be recorded and watched later.”

      She didn’t want to kiss him again, either. Not today. Not tonight. Not ever. “Smart woman.”

      Oblivious to the ridiculously out-of-bounds nature of her thoughts, Zane sighed and shook his head.

      “Who, unfortunately, understands very little about the superstitious nature of sporting events. Luckily for me, the guys here do know how much viewer participation it takes for any team to win,” he announced, grinning when Nora groaned. “So they have told me, they are all in, and will be ready to cheer on my teams with me.”

      Which meant Zane would be here for hours. As would she, since she was pulling a double today. It was all Nora could do not to stamp her foot in dismay.

      “Just don’t let things get too rowdy,” she warned.

      Zane grinned in all innocence and gave her a once-over that quickly had her tingling from head to toe. “Who, me?” he said.

       Chapter Three

      Nora didn’t know what was worse. Having Zane underfoot during the Thanksgiving feast, paying attention to her. Or having him underfoot, blissfully unaware she was even around.

      All she knew for sure was that he was a hit at the table he was sitting at during the meal. Even from the other side of the dining room, she could hear the bursts of laughter in response to whatever stories he was telling.

      And he was an even bigger hit in the TV room, watching the football games. Enough of a man’s man to appeal to all the guys and enough of a charmer to appeal to the ladies.

      Luckily, she had a lot to concern herself with. Three bottle feedings and a number of diaper changes for Liam. A lot of families, and lonely residents, to speak with. By the time her second shift ended at eleven that evening, she was worn to a thread.

      Aware the last football game was just about over, she decided to duck into her office and wait until Zane bid adieu to his new pals and departed. With a sleeping Liam snuggled safely against her chest in his BabyBjörn carrier, Nora sat down on the love seat in the corner of her office and let her head fall back against the cushions.

      The next thing she knew she was snuggled against something big and solid and warm, struggling to wake up.

      Blinking, she looked down. Liam was still snoozing in his BabyBjörn. It was to her left that...

      Oh, my heaven!

      She struggled to sit up.

      Not easy when she was cuddled snugly into the curve of Zane Lockhart’s tall, strong body. But somehow she managed. Turning toward him, she leaned forward and watched his eyes open. Refusing to get lost in the mesmerizing depths, she declared, “You can’t sleep with me in my office!”

      Night СКАЧАТЬ