Grant laughed. “I’ll bet he misses you.”
He loved the way her face lit up when she talked about her little boy. Women with kids were usually something he avoided like the plague. It was like it was already pre-determined that they were looking for a husband and a father for their kids. Grant didn’t have a problem with kids at all, but he didn’t want to get close to one and then break up with the mama and hurt the kid in the process. Something about this woman made him want to change all the rules though. He was just about to ask her if she’d have dinner with him when her phone rang. She looked at the face and smiled.
“Excuse me?”
“Sure.”
She got up and stepped a few feet away. He only heard snippets of the conversation but he could tell that she was talking about her son. When she came back to the table she said, “My friend has to come into town in a bit. She’s going to drop my son off at the house. Would you mind taking me home so I can be there when they are?”
“Of course not,” he told her. She picked up her cup and finished her cocoa. He did the same. Then, she tried to pull out her ATM card.
“Are you kidding me?”
“What?”
“Put that away. The hot chocolate was part of the tour deal.”
She smiled. Grant had already decided that he’d stand on his head to get her to do that. She is so pretty.
He paid the bill and once they were back in the truck, she gave him her address. He knew exactly where to go. When they drove up in front of the house, she smiled at him again and said, “Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it.”
“It was my pleasure, Jyl. I was wondering if maybe you and I could have dinner sometime?”
She looked like she was mulling it over and then she said, “I don’t think so, Grant … but thank you.”
He cocked an eyebrow. Rejection was another thing he wasn’t used to. “Um, okay. Can I ask why?”
She looked at him with those green eyes that looked like perfectly round emeralds and said, “I just don’t have the heart or the time and energy to start anything new right now.”
“We don’t have to start anything. We can just have a friendly dinner. …”
“I’m sorry, Grant. I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”
He was disappointed, but he wasn’t going to beg. Shiloh Falls was a small place and he knew he’d run into her again. Maybe she’d change her mind. “Okay, but if you change your mind …”
“I won’t. Thank you, Grant.” She let herself out of the truck and just like that, she was gone. She was the first woman who had said “no” to him since high school. He had to wonder if that was part of the reason he wanted her so badly. Maybe it was just the challenge.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Mama, are we going to get a Christmas tree?”
Jyl was working at the computer and Gabriel was coloring pictures in his new Santa coloring book that Sharla had sent him in the mail. It was about two weeks until Christmas and Jyl hadn’t put out a single bough of holly. They’d been in Shiloh Falls for almost three weeks now. She had her Christmas decorations in the garage, but she just hadn’t had the motivation to put them up. She had always loved Christmas, especially since Gabe was born. This year would be their second year without Josh. The first one was right after they lost him and it was horrible. They’d both cried on Christmas morning, sitting in the middle of all of those happy decorations with such heavy hearts. She knew she was being silly, but she was afraid if she went all out again this year that the same thing would happen.
With an internal sigh she said, “Of course we are, baby. We’ll go tomorrow.” His little face lit up and she knew there was no way that she could deny him a Christmas. “Hey, what do you say we get the decorations out tonight? We’ll start putting them up.”
“Cool! Can we have lights on the outside of the house like at Heath’s?”
Gabriel had spent as much time as he could with Kat’s boys since he’d met them, both at their ranch and here at Jyl’s house. They were all good kids and Gabriel was crazy about them. He’d been so excited when he saw their house all lit up from the road the last time he stayed over. “I don’t think I’ll be able to put up the lights, baby. I’m sure Heath’s daddy put theirs up. Mommy isn’t very handy with a hammer and nails while standing on a ladder.” Mommy was likely to break her neck on a ladder.
“Maybe Heath’s dad can put them up for you.”
Jyl laughed. She wasn’t going to ask Scott to do that, but to pacify Gabriel for now she said, “Maybe. Come on. Let’s go see about getting those Christmas boxes down.”
The little boy followed her into the garage and did his best to help her bring the Christmas things inside. Mostly, she lifted and he tripped her as she tried to walk. They finally made it inside with them all, five boxes in total. Jyl’s eyes fell on one box in particular, a blue vinyl tub. She went over and moved that one back against the wall. Last year when she was in a funk about spending Christmas without Josh, she had boxed all of the ornaments that either had his name on it or held a special significance for him. She thought that would be easier than looking at them. The truth turned out to be just the opposite. It felt wrong somehow to leave him out, although he wasn’t here.
She would wait until Gabriel lay down tonight to go through that one. Josh would join them for Christmas this year, if only through his things and his memories.
* * *
After the decorating was done, the cookies were eaten, and the hot cocoa was drunk, Gabe went to his room to play while Jyl cleaned up. She was in the kitchen washing dishes when she heard a strange scratching noise at the back door. She turned off the water and listened. She didn’t hear anything except her own breathing. She told herself she was being paranoid, or it was just an animal. She reached to turn the faucet back on and heard it again, only this time she actually saw the door move—someone was trying to open it. An animal wouldn’t be able to shake the entire door like that.
Her heart was slamming against the inside of her chest and her breaths were coming in ragged gulps. She was frozen for a second, staring at the door while the wheels turned in her head. Her phone was in the living room in her purse.
“Who’s there?” she said in a harsh voice. She waited a few beats and when there was no answer, she said, “I’m calling the police!” There was still no answer, and no noise against the door. She hated to take her eyes off it, but she needed to call for help. She took one of the kitchen chairs in her hand, lifting it up so that it didn’t scrape against the floor, and carried it over to the back door. She put the back of the chair underneath the doorknob just as the door shook again. She stepped back and had to put her hand over her mouth to stifle a startled yelp.
“The police are on their way!” she said as she backed out of the room with her eyes on the door. The door was shaking harder now and threatening to push the chair underneath the knob to the floor. She turned when she got to the living room and ran for her purse. She dialed 911.
“911, what is your emergency?”
“Someone is trying to get into my house. My son and I are here alone.”
“What’s your name and address, Miss?” Jyl gave them to her and then the 911 operator said, “How many doors on the premises?”
“Two. They’re at the back door.”
“Okay, a unit is on their way. You don’t have a weapon or any large animals on the place, do you?”
“No, no weapons, no dogs.”
“Would you like me to stay on the phone with you until the officers arrive?”
Jyl wanted to make sure Gabriel was okay and she didn’t want to frighten him. “Yes, but please hang on; I have to check on my son. How long until they’re here?”
“They’re about five minutes away.”
She made her way down the hall. When she got to Gabe’s room, she peeked inside. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, playing with his toy dinosaurs. She couldn’t help but smile at him. He was so blessedly obli
vious and so incredibly handsome, just like his daddy. She heard the sound of a car driving up and could see the reflection of the blue and red lights on the window. She stepped down the hall a ways and told the operator, “They’re here. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome, Miss.”
She ended the call and waited in the living room. Her active imagination kept her away from the windows and doors in case of gunfire. She told herself she had read too many novels, and then she almost had a heart attack when the loud rap sounded on the front door.
“Hello? This is the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office.” The voice was deep and male—and familiar.
She breathed a sigh of relief and went to the door and opened it. Grant was standing on her doorstep. Her heart was already racing with fright, and now it was pounding even harder. He filled out his black uniform better than she’d ever seen any uniform filled out in her life. It looked like it was made for him, and he looked perfect in it. He had his cowboy hat on with it too, only this one was tan. She had to bring her hand up to her chest to try and slow her breathing.
He grinned at her and said, “Well, this is the best call I’ve gotten all night.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“There’s someone at my back door.” Jyl was still having a hard time catching her breath, but now she wasn’t sure if it was the adrenaline produced from someone trying to break in or standing here looking into Grant’s dark blue eyes.
“Grab your jacket,” he said, “and slip on some boots. I want to show you something.”
She pulled her eyebrows together. “You want me to go out there?”
His lips quirked up on the edges and he said, “It’s safe. I promise. I want to show you something.”
Still giving him a suspicious look, she grabbed her jacket off the rack by the door and slipped on her rubber boots. As she stepped out the door, he took her by the elbow to keep her from slipping on the icy walkway. He wasn’t even touching his skin to her skin, but the tingles still raced up her arms and down her spine. She noticed the name on his pocket: “Underwood.” He led her around the side of the house, using his flashlight to light the way. When they were near the back door he shined the light into the snow. What seemed like hundreds of tiny little paw prints were going both toward and away from her door.
“It was an animal?”
He grinned. “Yeah, raccoons. It gets too cold for them and they come up to the house trying to find a way in. There are vacation cabins all along the lake. The little boogers break into those all the time and eat anything that’s not tied down.”
“Oh my goodness. I’m so embarrassed.” She suddenly thought about what she must look like. She was glad she’d at least braided her hair and it wasn’t loose and wild.
He laughed. “Don’t be. Come on; let’s get you back inside before you freeze.” When they got inside the front door, he said, “We get ten calls a month like this at least. They create quite a ruckus and in the dark it’s hard to see what’s out there. Don’t be embarrassed. If you’re embarrassed, you won’t call again and that’s bad for two reasons.”
“What is that?”
“Well the first one is that you might be so afraid to call that you won’t call us when you really need us.”
She nodded. He had a point. “What’s the second reason?”
“Seeing you made my night.”
Jyl felt her whole body flush with heat. She didn’t know how to respond to that so instead she said, “Would you like some coffee or tea?” She told herself that she was still shaken up and that was why she wanted a few minutes of his company. Maybe that was partially true, but the absolute truth was that seeing him made her night too.
“I would love some coffee, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Not at all. Take off your boots and your jacket and I’ll go put some on.”
She went into the kitchen and quickly moved the chair from underneath the doorknob. She was still a little bit embarrassed about calling the police for a raccoon no matter what he said. She put the water in the pot and was just closing the top on the K-Cup when she heard her son’s voice. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but it sounded like he was having a conversation with Grant. She pushed open the kitchen door just a crack and eavesdropped.
“Have you ever shot a bad guy with it?” Gabriel said. They must be talking about the gun. She could see them out of the crack in the door. Grant had gotten down on one knee so that he and Gabe were eye to eye.
“Nope, I’ve never had to. I’m happy about that.”
“Isn’t that what it’s for, to shoot the bad guys?”
“You might think so, but the truth is that it’s really for protecting people and yourself. The bad guys usually won’t be so bad because they know I have the gun. But a bad guy is still a person, so if I had to shoot one, I think I would still feel pretty crummy about that.”
She could see Gabriel’s little head bobbing up and down. “Do you have a wife?”
She smiled. Why would he want to know if the policeman has a wife?
“No, no wife.”
“Did she die?”
She had to put her hand back over her heart. Poor baby! He was too young to know so much about death. The look on Grant’s face, however, was almost comical.
“No, she didn’t die. I’ve never had a wife.”
“Oh, I just thought because you were old—”
“Gabriel!” She came out of the kitchen.
Grant was laughing.
“That’s a rude thing to say. You don’t call people old.”
“I’m sorry. I just meant he was old enough.”
Grant was still laughing. “He’s right, I am old enough. My own mother doesn’t understand it either, Gabe.”
Jyl was shaking her head. “What are you doing up anyways? Do you know how late it is?”
“I heard stuff. The police guy said it was a raccoon?”
She smiled at “police guy” and said, “Yes. I thought someone was trying to get in the house and I wanted to make sure we were safe, so I called the sheriff. Deputy Underwood was kind enough to come out and make sure that we’re okay.”
Gabe looked up at Grant who had stood back up. It must be like an adult looking at a tall building, she thought.
“Did you scare them off?”
“I think so, for now. They’ll probably come back though. They get cold out there in the snow. They’re looking for a warm place.” He looked at Jyl then and asked, “Have you heard any noises on the roof or in the attic?”
“I did.”
Gabriel had an active imagination so she said, “Are you sure, baby? I thought the noises were just the snow settling or melting and falling off the roof.”
“They like to hide in attics if they can get in and chimneys, eaves of the roof. They can do a lot of damage. I’m off tomorrow. If you like, I can come over and check for them.”
“How do you get rid of them?”
“I installed motion lights on my house. That worked pretty well. They don’t like the lights in their eyes.”
Jyl realized they were still standing in the foyer. “I’m sorry, Grant. I left a cup near the coffee pot. Why don’t you go help yourself and I’ll tuck Gabriel back in bed and be right in.”
“Aww …”
She smiled. “Don’t ‘aw’ me, Mister! It’s past your bedtime. Now, say good night.”
“Will you be back tomorrow?” Gabriel asked him. It hurt Jyl’s heart to see how desperate her baby was for male attention.
Grant ruffled Gabe’s already messy hair and said, “If it’s okay with your mom. I’ll try and get rid of those pesky critters for you guys so that you can get some sleep at night. I don’t know if you saw while we were out there, Jyl, but they also did a lot of damage to the varnish on the back door with their fingernails. I can fix that too.”
“Um … okay … let me get the munchkin back in bed and we’ll talk. Say good night, Gabriel.”
“Good night,” Gabe tol
d him.
“Good night, little man. It was nice meeting you.”
“My daddy used to call me little man.”
Jyl felt her heart ache again. “Come on, buddy, it’s not getting any earlier.”
She left Grant where he was and took Gabriel down the hall to his room. As she was tucking him back in, Gabe said, “He’s nice.”
She smiled. “Yeah, he is, buddy.”
“Maybe he can get us a Christmas tree.”
He laughed. “Why would you think he would get us a Christmas tree, baby?”
“Because they’re big and hard to carry. He looks strong.”
“I’m sure he is. But your mama is tougher than she looks. We’ll go get a tree tomorrow. I promise.”
He wrapped his little arms around her. “I love you, Mama.”
“I love you too, buddy. Go to sleep.”
She left her son and went back out to the living room. Grant wasn’t there. She went into the kitchen and found him leaning against the counter, sipping his coffee. He was so gorgeous that she literally could almost not stand to look at him. It should be illegal …, she thought again. “Did you find everything you need?”
“Yep, I take it black. It hit the spot. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She poured herself a cup and he said, “It won’t keep you up so late?”
She shrugged. “I don’t sleep much anyways.” She had had trouble sleeping since Josh had died. It was strange, but even when he was deployed she had slept just fine. But once she knew he was gone … closing her eyes at night became a chore.
“You have a pretty cool kid there,” he said. “He reminds me of my nephew—full of questions.”
She smiled. “Yes, he should work for the CIA. He’d be one heck of an interrogator. I think I know your nephews. Is Scott your brother?”
He cocked an eyebrow and said, “I’m never sure I want to answer that question. What did he do?”
She laughed. “He didn’t do anything. His wife Kat and I became friends online before I moved here. She babysits Gabe for me. He’s crazy about your family.”
I Saw Mommy Kissing A Cowboy (Cowboy Christmas Romance) Page 5
