His Holiday Matchmaker. Kat Brookes
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Название: His Holiday Matchmaker
Автор: Kat Brookes
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Короткие любовные романы
Серия: Mills & Boon Love Inspired
isbn: 9781474064071
isbn:
Her gaze climbed up the giant of a man standing before her. He had broad shoulders, a black cowboy hat shading a charming smile as he towered over her five-foot-two-inch frame. As their gazes met, Alyssa was startled by the intensity of the man’s blue eyes. “It’s all right,” she managed.
He released the grasp he had on her arm and held out his hand. “Nathan Cooper.”
“Alyssa McCall,” she said, smiling as she placed her much smaller hand into his. “You were in the restaurant.”
He nodded. “It’s one of my daughter’s favorite places,” he explained with a warm smile. “Best milk shakes around if you find you have a hankering for one.”
She laughed softly. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”
“Daddy, come on!” The excited cry was followed by the sound of bells tinkling as the store’s door swung open.
Releasing her hand, his gaze shifted toward the store. “I’d best get in there before my hyperactive little bull takes out the entire china shop.”
“This is a china shop?” she replied in confusion.
“What?” he asked with a chuckle.
Alyssa’s brow creased with worry. “I’m supposed to be at The Toy Box.”
He studied her for a long moment before pointing to the sign that hung over the storefront. One that was little more than a blur to her. “You’re in the right place. Largest mom and pop toy store in the county.”
She let out a sigh of relief. “You had me worried for a minute.” She reached for the handle of her suitcase, but he was faster.
“Allow me.”
“There’s no need—”
He held up his other hand, effectively cutting off her refusal of his help. “It’s the least I can do after my daughter practically ran you over.”
She relented, allowing him to carry her suitcase for her. And he didn’t stop there. He opened the door and held it, motioning her inside.
“Thank you,” she said as she moved past him into the store. If everyone in Braxton was as kind as Nathan Cooper, her stay would be far easier than she’d prayed it would be.
“You aren’t by any chance a traveling Slinky sales rep, are you?” Nathan Cooper asked as he followed Alyssa inside.
“Excuse me?”
“The suitcase,” he said, with a charming grin. “I’m guessing you’re in toy sales of some sort.”
She laughed softly at his teasing. “Not even close. I’m here to see Mr. Clark.”
He nodded.
“Look, Daddy!” his daughter exclaimed as she pointed to the collection of animated figurines strategically placed in the storefront window. “It’s Rudolph.”
Alyssa stepped closer to watch the musical display. “You know, Rudolph’s story was first told by Robert L. May in 1939 in a booklet he created for a department store called Montgomery Ward. That was over seventy years ago.”
The little girl tipped her tiny face upward in wide-eyed amazement. “Rudolph’s that old?”
“The story is that old,” Alyssa explained with a smile. “But Rudolph is a very special reindeer,” Alyssa said. “He doesn’t get old. In fact, none of Santa’s reindeer do.”
“Because they’re special, too!” Katie exclaimed.
Alyssa nodded. “That’s right.”
Nathan called out to his daughter. “We don’t have much time, Cupcake. You’d best get started on that list.”
His daughter, needing no more coaxing, scurried away to disappear between the aisles. Alyssa had spent enough time in physical therapy not to miss the slight limp to the little girl’s gait. Probably nothing more than a bruised knee, but it brought Alyssa back to a time in her life she’d just as soon forget.
She turned to the girl’s father. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to distract her.”
His gaze shifted in the direction his daughter had gone. “It’s all right. Katie tends to get sidetracked easily and we don’t have much time. I have to get back to work soon.”
“Daddy, look at this!” His daughter hopped across the wood floor on a white stick pony.
Nathan Cooper smiled at her lovingly. “You’re a regular cowgirl.”
“Can I have it?”
“Not today, Cupcake, but we’ll put it on the list.”
“We can’t put it on the list until you try it,” she told him, worry creasing her tiny face.
“Me?” he replied, clearly confused by her request. “Why would I need to try it?”
“To know if it’s a good horse or not.”
“Honey...”
“Please, Daddy. You know everything about horses.”
He glanced in Alyssa’s direction. “I’m keeping you from your appointment.”
“I’m a few minutes early, actually.”
“You’ll probably find Rusty in the back room, watching The Weather Channel.”
Her smile faded. “Why? Are you expecting bad weather?” That would make getting around on foot so much harder.
He shook his head. “Nothing more than a light, though undoubtedly cold rain. And not until later this evening. Rusty just likes keeping up-to-date when it comes to the weather.” That said, he reached for the toy pony his daughter was holding out to him.
Completely understandable, she thought, considering what the town had gone through. Reaching out, she retrieved the handle of her suitcase from his grasp. “Thank you so much for your help.”
“My pleasure,” he told her with a tip of his coal-black cowboy hat. One just as dark as the five-o’clock shadow on his firm jaw and midnight hair.
She parked her suitcase up against the wall next to the opening that led to the store’s back room. A glance back over her shoulder found Nathan Cooper straddling the painted stick. His large frame making the toy appear even smaller.
He raised the horse’s head with an impressively realistic whinny, eliciting laughter from his little girl and a smile from Alyssa. Turning away, she stepped into the smaller room in search of Mr. Clark.
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