“We’ll all be together most of tomorrow, you know? That is, unless you forgot about the decorations.”
“I didn’t forget. I just miss her when I don’t get to see her for a while.” He shrugged. “Oh, and if you two come to my house, maybe you can get a better feel for what we might need in the way of decorations.”
Why was it so hard to tell him no? Then again, he was letting them have Christmas at his house. And while it may not be ideal, it was all she had and, for that, she was grateful.
She adjusted the coat draped over her arm. “Kenzie likes cheese pizza.”
He grinned. “I remember that from last Sunday at your mother’s. But what about you? What’s your favorite?”
“I’m a supreme kind of girl.”
“A woman after my own heart.”
If only things were that simple.
After getting his address, she went by her mother’s to pick up Kenzie, who was beyond excited about going to Matt’s house. Realizing that her niece might get bored, Lacie paused to gather up some coloring books and crayons, reading books, as well as the puzzles Matt had given her for her birthday, and then they were on their way.
Though it was dark outside when she eased to a stop in front of the 1905 two-story craftsman-style home, the lights illuminating the expansive front porch revealed the charm of a bygone era. Matt had said the house was a fixer-upper but, as a designer, she saw a lot of potential. Even if she had yet to see the interior.
“Can I ring the doorbell?” Standing on the porch, Kenzie looked up at her.
“Yes, you may. But only once.” As opposed to over and over, which she was fond of doing. “We don’t want to give Matt a headache.”
“Come on in,” he said a few moments later.
They entered into a spacious living room with beautiful dark wood floors and a coffered ceiling. Against the far wall, the original fireplace was flanked by gorgeous glass-front wooden bookcases topped with simple leaded-glass windows.
“Matt, this is incredible.” Christmas music played softly in the background as she moved farther into the room, wanting to take it all in. Despite the heavy use of dark woods, the space still felt cozy and inviting thanks to the light-colored furniture and walls.
“Thanks.” He moved beside her, holding Kenzie’s hand. “Stripping off all of that old paint was a labor of love.”
Lacie jerked her head in his direction. “You mean all this wood was painted?”
“Multiple times.” He frowned.
“So you stripped and refinished all of this?” Talk about time-consuming.
“It took forever, but yes.”
She looked him in the eye. “I must say, I’m very impressed.”
“Well, before you get too excited, I should tell you that this and the dining room are the only ones I’ve finished. The rest is a work in progress.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Matt. Anything worthwhile takes time.”
He watched her for a moment. “I’ll have to remember that.” Then with a smile, he said, “Now who’s ready for pizza?”
“Me!” Kenzie bounced up and down, her shoes flickering.
Five minutes later, Lacie stood in the opening between the kitchen and living room, holding her plate with two slices of supreme and Kenzie’s plate with one slice of cheese, all the while eyeing Matt’s light taupe furniture. And even though there was a coffee table...
“You’re sure you want us to eat in the living room?”
“Why not?” Standing behind her holding his plate, he continued. “I do it all the time.”
Lacie tossed a glance over her shoulder. “Yeah, but you’re not five.”
“Oh. Good point.” His gaze shifted to the other opening that led into the dining room. “But if we’re at the table we can’t watch the movie. So...how about I grab a blanket for Kenzie and she can have a picnic on the floor in front of the TV?”
“That should work.” She looked down at Kenzie. “But we need to keep our drinks in the kitchen, okay?”
“Okay.” The kid nodded.
After Kenzie was settled, Matt picked up the television remote. “So let’s see what’s on.”
Within seconds, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer appeared on the screen.
Sitting cross-legged atop the old comforter Matt had spread on the floor, her little mouth full of pizza, Kenzie straightened. “I want to watch this.”
Still standing, Matt sent Lacie a questioning look.
She shrugged. “I watch it at least once a year anyway.”
“Yeah, me, too.” He set the remote on the coffee table and picked up his plate. “So where do you think we should put the tree?” He took a bite.
“I don’t know.” Making her way past Kenzie, she stopped beside him. “Where did you put it last year?”
“I didn’t have a tree last year.” He peered down at her. “Which is why we need to go buy one.”
“I see.” She set her plate down and moved about the space to get a better feel for things. “How about over there—” she pointed toward the corner “—against the wall, beside the bookcase? That way you can see it wherever you’re sitting, but it won’t be too close to the fireplace.”
“Hey, who am I to argue with a designer?” He took another bite.
“And the mantel would look beautiful with some lighted greenery.” Remembering this wasn’t her home, she added, “Unless you think it’s too much.”
“No, I like that look.”
His approval had her biting her lip. When did things get so easy between them? Like they’d been back in high school. Like this was the way they were meant to be.
She quickly shook off the crazy notion. She and Matt were not meant to be.
Before the show was over, but after she’d finished her pizza, Kenzie pulled a book from the tote Lacie had brought and handed it to Matt. “Will you read this to me?”
He looked at the cover. “Goodnight Moon. I remember this book. Sure, I’ll read it.” He took a seat on the couch. “Hop on up here.”
From across the room, Lacie watched as Kenzie climbed into his lap and snuggled against his broad chest. Definitely one of the sweetest sights she’d seen in a long time.
As Matt started to read, she gathered their plates and took them into the kitchen, then rinsed their glasses. When she returned to the living room to fold the blanket, Kenzie was asleep.
Lacie moved toward the pair. “Would you like me to take her?”
“No.” He never took his eyes off his daughter. “I just want to look at her.” And he did, for what seemed like forever, as though trying to take in every little nuance.
“She really is a great kid,” he finally said.
“You’ll get no argument from me there.”
It was obvious that Kenzie was growing attached to Matt, making Lacie feel bad about taking her back east. Every little girl needed a daddy. And Matt had already missed so much time.
There’s always Telluride. Valerie’s words echoed in Lacie’s mind.
A job in Telluride would mean she and Kenzie could stay in Ouray. Though it would also mean spending a lot of time with Matt, fighting to keep her feelings in check.
Or you could let them go and see where things lead.
Except that was a risk Lacie wasn’t sure she was willing to take.
Chapter Ten
Matt knew that he loved Kenzie. But holding her last night, watching her as she slept, her little body relaxed against his in complete trust... He’d never been more enamored.
So if Lacie wanted Kenzie to have the perfect Christmas, then Matt intended to do everything in his power to make that happen. Even if it meant spending half the day with a bunch of crazed holiday shoppers. At least they’d come on a Monday instead of the weekend.
>
Christmas music echoed overhead as he pushed the supercenter shopping cart past a small forest of artificial trees. Green trees, white trees, some with fake snow. Some had white lights while others had multicolored ones and still others had no lights at all. Fat trees, skinny trees...
“I like the pink one,” said Kenzie.
A pink Christmas tree? He shook his head. Definitely not like the real ones he and his family used to have at the ranch.
His mother would spend months wandering the land, scoping out the perfect tree. Then, shortly after Thanksgiving, they’d hitch a trailer to the tractor and the whole family would go out, cut it down and bring it home. He could still remember how the house would be filled with the scent of fresh pine.
“That is cute.” Holding Kenzie’s hand, Lacie knelt beside her and admired the pint-size tinsel tree. “But it’s pretty small.” She grinned up at him. “Matt might trip over it.”
Kenzie looked from the tree to Matt as though considering Lacie’s advice. After a moment, she said, “We need a big tree.” She held her arms wide.
“That’s right, small fry.” He ruffled her soft curls. “The bigger the better.”
“Okay, then.” Laughing, Lacie pushed to her feet, looking pretty cute herself in her glittering snowman sweater.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into coming out here with everybody and his brother.”
Matt’s smile faded. He knew that voice.
“Oh, don’t be such a stick-in-the-mud, Clint. Where’s your Christmas spirit?”
And that one.
He turned, doing a double take when he spotted his father and Hillary standing a few feet away, also looking at Christmas trees.
He inched the cart forward. Perhaps he could pretend he hadn’t seen them.
But Lacie nudged him with her elbow. “Are you going to say something or should I?”
Just then, Hillary looked their way, her smile instantaneous. “Well, hello, you two.” While Dad scowled at him from behind a flocked faux fir, Hillary continued toward them, wearing a stylish sweater and jeans that had definitely come from a much pricier store than this one.
“Lacie, right?” Hillary shook her hand. “We met after the play.”
“Yes, I remember. It’s good to see you again, Hillary.”
The woman’s gaze fell to Kenzie. “And who do we have here?”
Lacie placed her hands on the girl’s shoulders. “This is Kenzie.”
Hillary introduced herself. “Are you getting a Christmas tree?”
Kenzie leaned into Lacie and nodded.
“Hey, Clint,” said Lacie as he approached. “How are you?”
The old man tilted his dirty beige felt Stetson farther back on his head and glared at Hillary. “I’d be a lot better if someone hadn’t dragged me all the way to Montrose to pick out a tree.”
Matt’s gaze shot from Hillary to his dad. “You’re getting a tree? But you always cut a fresh one at the ranch.”
“Wasn’t planning to do one at all, but Ms. Fancy Pants over here says I have to.” Dressed in his usual Wranglers, denim work shirt and Carhartt jacket, the old man poked a thumb toward the trees. “At least one of these prelit things ought to be a lot easier.”
Easier, yes, but not how Mama would have done it. How could Dad even think about an artificial tree? What about tradition?
So why are you thinking of getting one?
Matt glanced at a superskinny tree. Good question. Of course, until a couple of days ago, he hadn’t been planning on having a tree at all. Still, why had his first thought been to go out and buy something fake instead of cutting down the real deal? Especially when this was his first Christmas with Kenzie and both he and Lacie wanted it to be extra special.
“I pointed the ranch out to Kenzie on our way here,” said Lacie.
Her shyness abating, Kenzie took a step forward. “I want to see the horsies.”
The old man smiled and crouched to her level. “You do?”
Matt’s insides tensed. He and three of his brothers looked like his father. And Kenzie was definitely a Stephens. Would his father see the resemblance? Would he figure out that Kenzie was Matt’s daughter? His granddaughter?
Kenzie nodded, her brown eyes sparkling, completely unaware that the man she was speaking to was her grandfather.
“Then you need to tell Matt here to bring you on by.”
Kenzie’s face rivaled the lights on the Christmas trees beside her. “Can we go now?”
“Sure.” Dad stood. “We just need to grab us a tree then we’re headed right back.” Shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans, he looked from Matt to Lacie. “What do you two have going on?”
“We need to pick out a tree and some decorations,” said Lacie.
“But that shouldn’t take us too long,” Matt was quick to add. Not when he had something in mind that would be far more fun than spending the afternoon at a superstore. Because if they were going to give Kenzie the best Christmas ever, he was going to make sure they did it right.
“Tell you what, let’s forget about these phony things.” Matt gestured toward the colorful array of plastic and tinsel. “Why don’t we all head back to the ranch, let Kenzie see the horses and then I’ll cut down a real tree for both of us?”
Lacie’s smile grew wider by the nanosecond. “I love that idea.”
“Oh, it does sound like fun, doesn’t it?” Hillary clasped her hands together. “Maybe the three of you could even stay for lunch. Clint’s got a pot of chili waiting for us at the ranch house. And with the way he cooks, I’m sure there’s enough for a small army.”
He looked at his father now. “So what do you say, Dad?”
The old man’s gaze narrowed. “Shouldn’t you be workin’ today?”
“Nope. I’ve got the day off.”
His father grunted. “What about them poachers? You got any leads yet?”
Matt tried not to let his father get to him. “No, but the investigators are working hard to find them, and I’m sure they’ll be in touch with you soon.”
“Come on, Clint.” Hillary elbowed him. “It’s not like Matt was volunteering you to cut down any trees.”
Matt bit back a chuckle. He was growing to like Hillary more all the time.
“Don’t know how we’d get it back.” Dad scraped a worn cowboy boot across the concrete floor. “Trailer’s got a flat.”
“I can fix it.” Matt wasn’t sure if the old man was being ornery in general or because it was Matt who had made the offer. Either way, this wasn’t about him. It was about his daughter’s Christmas.
His father shifted from one foot to the next. “Them real trees, though, they can get kinda messy. You gotta keep adding water and such.”
Surely the old man could come up with a better excuse than that. “Dad, since when have you ever had anything but a real tree?”
No response.
“Okay, fine.” Matt took hold of the cart. “I’ll just cut one for us then.”
That seemed to get his father’s attention. “Now, you don’t need to go gettin’ all cranky.”
He was being cranky?
“Clint—” Lacie took a step toward him “—if you don’t want us to cut down a tree from the ranch, it’s okay. I understand.”
His father’s expression softened. “I never said I didn’t want you to.” His gaze briefly shifted to Kenzie. “’Course, we can’t let the little one down. She wants to come see the horses.”
The kid grinned. Obviously she’d won Dad over.
He looked at Matt, his countenance more resigned than argumentative. “Guess we’ll see you back at the ranch.”
* * *
Excitement bubbled inside Lacie over the unexpected turn of events. She was so glad they ha
d run into Clint and Hillary. Otherwise, they would be back at Matt’s now, decorating an ordinary tree. Instead, they were bumping across the rangeland of Abundant Blessings Ranch in a utility vehicle towing a flatbed trailer, in search of the perfect Christmas tree. And giving Kenzie an experience she was sure to remember.
She looked down at her niece, who was tucked between her and Matt on the lone bench seat, and tightened her seat belt. “What did you think about those horses, Kenzie?” In the open-air vehicle that reminded her of a cross between a dune buggy and a small truck, she had to raise her voice to be heard over the engine.
“They were big.” Not nearly as big as her smile, though.
Lacie appreciated the way Matt had lifted Kenzie into his arms, making the massive animals less intimidating for her as he patiently introduced each one.
“Yeah, like the tree we’re gonna get, right, Kenzie?” Holding tight to the steering wheel, a grinning Matt nudged the girl with his elbow.
She nodded, adjusting her pink knit cap with her mitten-covered hands.
Lacie eyed the cottonwoods lining the riverbank in the distance. Backdropped by conifer-covered, snow-capped mountains, the scene reminded her of a rustic Christmas card. All it needed was a light-adorned evergreen somewhere and it would be perfect.
“I’m so glad you suggested this, Matt. Hunting for a real tree is beyond anything I could have dreamed of for this Christmas.”
“Good.” He grinned, his camo ball cap shading his face from the afternoon sun. “I kind of like the idea of making your dreams come true.”
Despite the chilly temperature, her cheeks warmed. Seemed he was doing just that, first by offering to give Kenzie the perfect Christmas at his place, then again today. His actions were enough to have gratitude and excitement twisting and tangling into one overwhelming emotion. An emotion she had no business feeling when it came to any man. Except he wasn’t just any man. He was Kenzie’s father.
Talk about complicated.
The Deputy's Holiday Family Page 10
