“My daughter behind the wheel of a car?” A muscle twitched in his jaw. “I don’t think so.”
“How old were you when you got your permit?” Alex inquired sweetly.
“I— That’s different. I was an honors student! And cars were different. Speed limits weren’t... The traffic laws have changed.”
“Yeah, we all have to wear seat belts now. And more vehicles have air bags than ever before.”
He scowled. “Why are you so adamant about her learning to drive?”
“I’m not. I’m just playing devil’s advocate, trying to get you to think about all sides of the argument instead of giving her a knee-jerk rejection.”
“I’ll consider it.” He plowed a hand through his hair. “But if she’s going to take driver’s ed this spring, you have to give me your phone number. I might need you to periodically talk me off the ledge.”
With a laugh, she reached for one of the napkins in the ceramic holder on the island. “Got a pen?” She’d just finished scrawling the last digit when she was struck by the impact of what she’d done. Until yesterday, only Bryce had this number. Now she’d given it to Zane and Paul, the festival cashier, and Tess that morning, letting her know that Alex was interested in cultivating a small, select clientele.
She had an urge to crumple the napkin instead of sliding it across the counter to Zane. “I, uh... It’s been a long time since a guy asked for my number,” she said. She didn’t look up, but she could feel him watching her.
“Are you thinking about your husband?” he asked softly.
“Not him specifically. More about how strange it is to be single again.” Despite the many things she couldn’t confide to Zane, she felt compelled to be as honest as she could. “My husband and I were separated before he died, and the split had been a long time coming. The grief I feel over Chris’s death is mostly for the tragedy of it and for Belle, who will grow up without him in her life. It wasn’t... I don’t mourn him romantically, if that makes sense. Lord, am I sounding like the most heartless woman in the world?”
“No. I understand what you’re getting at. I have an ex-wife, remember? I’m not in love with her, but if anything ever happened to her... It can’t be easy.”
She sniffed, determined not to cry. “Nothing between us was easy. Even in the beginning, when he was sweeping me off my feet, I was nervous, uncertain why he wanted me. With the exception of his parents’ disapproval, we had a pretty magical first year of marriage, but then there were the miscarriages. And the longer we were together, the more I realized we had very different life philosophies. I was packed up to leave him when we found out I was carrying...Belle.” The name didn’t roll off her tongue as smoothly as it should have. She’d been momentarily caught up in the past, forgetting who they were supposed to be in the present.
“Anyway.” She tried to refocus. “With the baby on the way, he swore he’d try harder and I needed to believe him. For a few months, it was like a second honeymoon, but fatherhood made him giddy. He seemed to think he was invincible. He took chances that made me cringe and became more reckless with each passing year. After I left, he ended up totaling his car. If I’d been able to help him change...”
“You can’t think that way.” Zane came around the side of the kitchen island, laying his hand over hers. “You are not responsible for his death. Just like I’m not responsible for the hundreds of bad choices Val made. I used to think I could ‘save’ her. I can’t decide if I was being arrogant or naive. She is who she is.”
“And you let her take Eden?” Alex wasn’t trying to judge; she was merely curious. He didn’t paint a picture of a stable mother.
He expelled a breath. “Guess I have to live with some bad choices of my own. It really did seem like the right decision at the time, though.”
Alex averted her gaze. “As parents, sometimes we just have to do what we think is right at the moment.” If he ever learned who she was, would he understand her actions or would he condemn her outright for breaking the law and not trusting the system?
How could she, though, when her husband and father-in-law had so often demonstrated ways to get around that system?
“Coffee’s ready,” Zane said. “Hey... You’re crying?”
She blinked rapidly. “No. Not at all.” At least, not yet.
“I’m a terrible host,” he said. “I should have let you leave back when you were stuffed with cake and still smiling.”
“I’ll be all right. Except I’m embarrassed to end the evening on this note.” Her eyes stung. She hated that Zane always seemed to see this emotional side of her. Where was a strong protective wall when you needed one? “Belle and I both had a wonder...” She hiccuped, her vision blurring. “Wonderful...”
“Aw, hell. C’mere, honey.” Zane wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a bear hug against his chest. He was solid and reassuring. And smelled really good. “It’ll get better.”
“You mean my attempts to interact with people? Because you may be wrong.” She smiled weakly against his shirt, her words muffled. “I may be irrevocably socially inept.”
“Join the club. I was lucky enough to have dinner with a beautiful woman tonight, and I made her cry.”
She glanced up. “Quite the pair, aren’t we?”
He met her gaze with a wry smile, but whatever he’d been about to say never made it into the conversation. His expression grew more serious, his eyes more avid. His embrace loosened, one arm sliding down to her waist.
“Alex.” The single word held want and apology and frustration.
Her heart fluttered against her ribs. Her body heated with the knowledge that this very attractive man wanted to kiss her. It would be a mistake, of course, and she would pull away before it happened. But the possibility of what it would be like was dizzying.
He stepped back, dropping his arms to his side and once again proving his parents had raised a gallant son. “I should let you go,” he said ruefully. “Maybe that coffee isn’t such a good idea.”
“Maybe not.” No matter how hot or delicious it no doubt was. “I’ll, uh, get Belle.”
Nodding, he put more distance between them, stopping beside her domed cake plate. “Do you want to take the rest of this home?”
“You and Eden keep it. I made it for you.” She was congratulating herself on how natural her voice sounded when he caught her gaze again.
“I’ll be sure to bring back your dish.”
So she’d be seeing him again soon? Damn it.
But, also, less wisely, yay.
* * *
WERE ALL CHILDREN BORN with an innate sense of when their parents were at their weakest? It had taken Alex a long time to fall asleep after they’d returned from the Winchesters’. And even once she had, her dreams had been restless. She dutifully dragged herself out of bed to fix Belle’s breakfast, but she wasn’t firing on all cylinders. Need coffee. That thought led her right back to Zane, leaving her distracted when Belle once again broached the subject of dance lessons at Tess’s studio.
Alex didn’t even fully realize she’d agreed until Belle leaped out of her chair with a squeal of joy. Oh, boy. On the positive side, the lessons would be good for her daughter. And letting Belle interact with the other little girls seemed a lot less risky in light of the colossal blunder Alex had almost made last night. Nearly kissing an officer of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Ranger Division? She might as well get in the car, drive straight to the Houston courthouse and turn herself in.
After the ballet studio opened for the day, Alex drove her daughter into town to register for classes. Tess was delighted to see them.
“I wasn’t sure you’d take me up on my offer,” the redhead admitted. “But I’m so glad you did! She has a real flair for showmanship—she’ll be a natural onstage. Her age group meets on Thursdays, so she can still catch this week’s class. We sell a limited supply of leotards, but other stores in town have a bigger selection. And of course she’ll need shoes.”
>
Alex was sitting on the floor of a department store that afternoon, helping her daughter try on ballet slippers, when the cell phone in her pocket rang. She did a mental run-through of the list of people who had her number, wondering if Bryce had another update for her. Or if Zane had found himself thinking of her today as much as she’d been thinking about him.
But the shy “hello” on the other end belonged to Eden Winchester. “Alex? Hope you don’t mind my calling. I wanted to say thank you. Your advice about smiling at the other students and looking more approachable worked.”
“Terrific!” That was fast. Nice to see Maggie Reardon’s long-ago advice was still applicable. “So what happened? You make a new friend?”
“I smiled at a guy in the lunch line, and he and his friend came and sat with me.”
Uh-oh. “A guy, huh?”
“Yep. And he’s in my math class. He said he could help me with homework sometime.”
Your dad’s gonna love that. “Well...good for you. I’m proud of you, Eden.”
At the teenager’s name, Belle lunged for the phone. “Can I talk to her? I wanna tell her about my new classes and the sparkly skirt we bought and the shoes that make noise.”
“Eden, do you have a minute? There’s someone here who’d like to say hi.”
“Sure, but can I ask you something first? Dad’s going out of town to testify in a court case tomorrow and might not be back until late. He thought maybe I could hang out at Beckie’s house with her family, but I’m old enough to stay by myself.”
“You’re not asking me to argue with your dad on your behalf, are you?” Alex had already pushed the boundaries by talking to Zane about his daughter driving. She didn’t want to make a habit of getting caught between them.
“No, but I had an idea for a compromise. Would you be willing to check on me, maybe let me eat dinner with you guys? Please! I could have some time alone in the afternoon, then read with Belle and help her get ready for bed or whatever that night. I want to show him he can trust me.”
Alex was all too familiar with the adolescent desire to prove herself. She’d gone through a period where she’d thought if she just tried harder, if she was good enough, someone would love her enough to keep her. She sighed, knowing she couldn’t say no. “It’s all right with me if it’s okay with your dad.”
“Thanks! You’re the best, Alex. I’ll have him call you later to officially give his permission. See you tomorrow.”
“Here’s Belle.” As Alex half listened to her daughter share the events of her day, it occurred to Alex that she shouldn’t be surprised Eden was already making friends. After all, just look how fast my social circle is expanding.
* * *
IT SEEMED LIKE ONLY SECONDS passed Thursday afternoon between the squeak of school bus brakes at the top of the street and the knock at Alex’s front door. She knew Eden was supposed to check in with her, but she hadn’t expected the girl to sprint.
“That was quick.”
“Guess what!” Eden’s cheeks were rosy, her grin contagious. “I got asked to the festival dance!”
Alex’s answering smile faltered. “You did? Wh—”
“Eden, Eden, Eden!” Belle kept up the chant as she raced downstairs.
“Hold it, you.” Alex shook a finger at her daughter. “First of all, we only use walking feet on the steps. Secondly, Eden has to do homework before she can spend time with you. She’ll come back over after she’s finished her school assignments and taken Dolly for a walk.”
Belle’s face fell. “Barnacles!” She’d heard the pseudo-expletive on a cartoon the other day, and it had replaced deduce as her new favorite word. She trudged back to her room, pausing dramatically at the second-story landing for one last woebegone glance.
Eden laughed. “Too bad she’s not older. Our theater department could really use her.”
“You are the second person this week who’s suggested Belle has a future in the performing arts. I just hope she thanks me in her inevitable Oscar speech.” Alex hesitated. Although Zane didn’t want his daughter procrastinating—Eden was supposed to tackle her homework immediately—surely another ten minutes wouldn’t hurt anything. “I realize you’re too old for the whole after-school milk-and-cookies routine, but do you want to join me for a snack, maybe tell me more about this dance?”
Eden dropped her backpack in the foyer, not looking at all offended by the maternal offer. “Got anything chocolate?” At the kitchen table, she noticed Alex’s frown. “I know what you’re thinking.”
That your father’s going to kill me?
“But this isn’t like a car date,” Eden continued. “Frederick-Fest comes to a close with a big dance Friday night. Half the town goes. There will be a battle of the bands, they crown a festival princess and junior princess, they’ll announce the winners of that chef competition...it’s a whole thing with a deal. Leo will be there with his older brother and asked if I’d save him some dances. I just have to convince Dad we should go.”
“Good luck with that.” Alex sliced through a pan of chocolate chip brownies. “Is Leo the same guy who ate lunch with you the other day, the potential math tutor?”
“Yep, Leo Cochran. He’s funny. And sweet.” She stared into space, her expression dreamy. “I’ll bet he’s a good dancer.”
Oh, yeah. Zane is definitely going to kill me.
* * *
IT WAS ABOUT NINE-THIRTY when Zane turned his truck into the subdivision. How was it that a long day sitting in a courtroom felt more grueling than the hours he’d spent helping a buddy train for a federal fitness test? When he’d first approached Fredericksburg, he’d been bone tired. But the closer he got to home, the more revived he felt.
Perhaps because he was picking up his daughter at Alex’s house? He’d received a text earlier in the evening saying that the forecast predicted rainstorms. Even though Eden wanted to demonstrate her growing independence, the howling wind had been freaking her out. He was smiling when he pulled into the Hunt’s driveway and knew it wasn’t just because he looked forward to seeing Eden. Figuring that Belle was already asleep, he rapped lightly on the door. Alex had probably seen his headlights.
The smiling brunette in a fuzzy blue sweat suit that nearly swallowed her bore little resemblance to the starchy woman he’d first met.
“Hey, there,” she greeted him. “Perfect timing. Eden and I just finished our movie.”
He followed her into the living room, where Eden was sniffling at the closing credits of an old romantic comedy.
“I thought this film was supposed to be funny,” he said, bewildered.
Alex nodded. “It is. But it’s touching, too. Want some popcorn?”
“Sure.” It was tough to resist the buttery smell. Besides, he was in no hurry to leave. He’d been in the Comers’ house dozens of times but the familiar setting now seemed wrong. What would the place look like if it were Alex’s? What pictures of her and Belle would adorn the walls?
Alex got the remote from the coffee table and turned off the television. She gently cleared her throat at Eden, who blushed a deeper pink than the streaks in her hair. Obviously, his daughter had something she was reluctant to discuss. Zane’s blood pressure rose. More trouble at school? He’d thought they were finally progressing beyond that.
“Something wrong?” he asked, trying not to jump to conclusions.
“Not at all,” Alex answered, uncharacteristically chipper. She sat on the sectional couch next to his daughter. “In fact, something fun happened to Eden today. Before she tells you, though, just a reminder that we should keep our voices down—Belle’s asleep.”
Okay, now he was really worried. If she was concerned about the noise level, why hadn’t she just sent them home to have their discussion? Had Eden specifically requested that Alex take part in the conversation? Obviously, he wasn’t the only Winchester who knew the strategic value of having backup.
“Is this the driving thing?” he asked. “I’m mulling it over as pr
omised, but it’s too soon for a ruling.”
Eden didn’t meet his gaze. “Actually, Dad, I kinda have something else for you to mull.”
Oh, please let it be cider, he thought wearily. “Well, spit it out. We’ve inconvenienced Alex enough for one evening.”
“You know how the festival closes with a big annual dance?” Eden blurted. “I think you and I should go. Or maybe you could even drop me off.” When Alex poked her in the shoulder, Eden grudgingly added, “There’s a boy going who I’d like to see.”
He dropped his head in his hands. Apparently, his relief earlier in the week that she wasn’t interested in any particular boy had been premature.
“I know I’m not allowed to date, per se—”
“Per se?” He didn’t think she should date period.
“It’s not like I’m climbing out my window to meet the guy. We just want to maybe dance a couple of times at a huge public event. No big.”
“Eden Jo, don’t try to con me. If it was no big deal, you wouldn’t have turned red and stammered through the first half of your explanation.” Meanwhile, should he be looking into having her bedroom window bolted shut? “Does this kid who wants to make time with my daughter have a name?” That can be run through a quick background check.
“Leo Cochran.” Eden sighed. “And he’s wonderful.”
“Cochran? Leo Cochran?” Hell, he didn’t even need the background check. “I know him. And I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
“What?” Eden shot to her feet. “Are you kidding?”
He took a deep breath, knowing she was disappointed and confused. “His uncle was arrested last spring, and during initial questioning, Leo lied for him. I’m sorry, Eden, but—”
“Arrested? Leo wouldn’t commit a crime. Maybe his uncle’s crooked, but Leo’s a good guy.”
“He lied to the police during an official investigation! You aren’t hanging around with someone who has no regard for the truth or the law.” When he saw Alex flinch, he realized he must have unintentionally raised his voice.
He started to say they should finish talking about this at home, where there wasn’t a four-year-old sleeping, but that would give the misleading impression that the topic was still up for discussion. They were done. Eden was just beginning to show better judgment in the choices she made; he wasn’t about to let her spend time with someone who already had one foot down the wrong path.
Rescued by a Ranger Page 9
