by Alexa Verde
“Would you like that, Sweetie Pie?” Conner straightened out the cute multicolored knit hat on the girl’s head.
The large pompom lifted up and down as Daisy studied her little cowboy boots with pink embroidery. No fair for a child to have such amazing eyelashes. Gwendolyn would never have the skill to apply mascara and eyeliner like God had naturally blessed this little girl with.
Hmm. Gwendolyn had never cared about makeup. Why now?
A moment stretched out, but she had loads of patience. One needed oodles of it to spend nights on stakeouts and double heaping oodles to work with children.
Finally, Daisy stepped forward. Those lashes winged up, and big curious eyes blinked at Gwendolyn, touching something inside her. “A snow... woman?” Barely audible, her words formed a puff of humid air as soft and nearly silent as falling snow.
“Yeah. Why should men have all the fun?” Gwendolyn high-fived Danica, then turned to Daisy, offering a high five but from a distance.
Conner visibly tensed.
His tension ricocheted inside Gwendolyn. Was she overstepping some kind of boundary?
Then Daisy lifted her hand. The weak gesture didn’t exactly reach Gwendolyn’s palm.
“I promise to keep Dara away.” Gwendolyn glanced at the dog, whose tongue hung out and tail thumped on the snow as if to signal she made no such promises.
A tentative smile further softened the girl’s angelic face. “Daddy, can I?”
His expression relaxed, and gratitude flashed in his brown eyes. “Of course. I’ll join you.”
The smile widened into a grin. “Yeah, Daddy.”
Relief flushed over Gwendolyn as if she’d completed a difficult assignment. “Great. Let’s do it, then.”
She’d just met this girl, but she felt an immediate connection. Maybe because she’d been painfully shy as a child. Or because she’d grown up without a mother, who’d taken Gwendolyn’s sister and left after the divorce when Gwendolyn was five, the parents dividing children as if they were property.
Tugging her gloves from her pocket and making sure the children had theirs on as well, she switched her thoughts to the fun present from the painful past.
Thankfully, she’d had the foresight to bring a few carrots and a pack of jelly beans to make the snowman’s—ahem, the snowwoman’s—eyes and mouth and even buttons on the, well, dress. She scanned the park and the playground and listened intently. So far, so good.
“Where do you live?” Danica asked Daisy as they rolled a snowball.
“Houston.” Daisy’s voice was quiet again.
“Cool,” Nehemiah said as he petted Dara and by some miracle managed to keep her in one place. Thank You, Lord! “I used to live in Chicago.”
“We got his dad married to my auntie Liberty, so Nehemiah could stay here and be my boyfriend.” Danica shrugged like it was no big deal. “My auntie is awesome. Wait till you meet her.”
The boy nodded with an air of self-importance, those dimples making another appearance. “Gotta help those adults.”
Conner raised a brow at Gwendolyn, a question in his eyes as they started making a big snowball for the base. “Are they for real?” he whispered.
She hid a smile. “You’d better believe it.”
Danica glanced back as she and Daisy were rolling a different snowball, a twinkle in her eyes, and Gwendolyn stilled, feeling caught in the girl’s crosshairs.
Uh-oh.
The little matchmakers might be at it again. Did... did Gwendolyn want them to be? Her heart skipped a beat.
She didn’t come to this small town to start a romance. After her disastrous history, she wasn’t looking for romance, period. Then why did her treacherous heart shift?
Danica said something, and Daisy grinned.
“Thank you.” Conner moved closer. His breathing came out in foggy puffs in the frosty air.
A little closer, and she’d be able to feel his breath on her skin. No thinking like that!
She couldn’t afford distractions, especially such handsome ones. She checked her surroundings again.
Then the meaning of his words filtered through a mental fog she shouldn’t be having. “You’re thanking me for... what exactly?”
“My daughter doesn’t smile often. No matter how much I try to cheer her up.” His voice cracked and deepened, then perked up. “She’s been smiling much more today.”
It tugged at Gwendolyn’s heart as they moved the base forward. It should be big enough to stop, but neither of them did.
What had happened to the girl’s mother? The question was on the tip of her tongue, but she held it in. It was none of her business.
As it was none of her business whether the lack of the ring on his ring finger meant he was single indeed. She wasn’t going to ask about his marital status, even though she ached to know.
She sent him a warm smile of her own. “I’m glad if we made your daughter smile. I take it your wife...” She stumbled, heat rising to her cheeks.
So much for not asking.
“Annika...” His voice dipped. “She died when Daisy was twenty-three months old.” No inflection, no emotion accompanied the words, which probably took a lot of effort.
Something raw tore through Gwendolyn’s heart, and she almost moved her gloved hand to cover his. Instead, she whispered, “I’m sorry. That must be difficult.”
“Tell me about your occupation. It must be... interesting to work for the richest family in town.” He obviously tried to change the topic.
She opened her mouth, then closed it, reminding herself about her duties. “I can’t tell you much about the richest family in town. There’s such a thing as client confidentiality.”
Disappointment flashed in his eyes. “How about the things the entire town already knows anyway?”
O–okay. “The Clarks are people who care about each other, even if they don’t always show it. They are not perfect, but they are God-honoring and help others in need. They have great children who I’m sure would welcome Daisy anytime she wants to come for a playdate.”
His eyebrows rose as if it wasn’t something he expected to hear, and her instincts woke up. Why did he react this way?
“We’re waiting for you!” Danica interrupted, her hands on her hips in a trademark gesture Gwendolyn grew to associate with the girl who was as stubborn and outspoken as her auntie Liberty.
“Uh-oh. We overdid it.” Conner chuckled as he patted the oversized ball he and Gwendolyn had created. Then he placed the much smaller ball the boys made on top of it and added the other smaller ball the girls had rolled for the snow woman’s head.
Danica rolled her eyes. That girl often acted way too grown-up for her age. “It’s gonna be a humongous snowwoman.”
Daisy giggled.
“I guess she’s going to be plus-size.” Gwendolyn spread her hands. “Like me or your aunt.”
“Okay.” Danica nodded with authority. “My aunt says she is beautiful. The more of her, the more beauty.”
Daisy nodded again, and another giggle escaped her lips.
Conner’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe this.”
Alarm rang inside Gwendolyn. “What happened?”
He was reluctant to answer, so she glanced around for any possible threats, then stepped to him. “Um, would you mind helping me bringing carrots and jelly beans from the truck? And I have a scarf we could use as the snowwoman’s skirt. I parked close, so we’ll see the children from there.”
He hesitated as if reluctant to leave his daughter even for a minute, then followed her.
“What happened?” she asked again as she handed him the supplies from the truck, keeping the children in the corner of her eye.
“Daisy giggled.” Shaking his head, he rubbed a hand over his face, and his eyes glistened. “I can’t believe this.”
He loved his daughter very much.
Admiration unraveled inside her, and she wanted to linger and ask more questions. But he obviously didn’t want the childr
en to stay alone, and neither did she. So they headed back.
Gwendolyn leaned to the children. “Daisy is our guest today. How about we let her do the honor of decorating our snowwoman?”
Everyone nodded. “Yeah!”
With her lashes sweeping upward, Daisy’s eyes brightened. “Can I?”
Gwendolyn grinned at the girl. “Of course!”
More gratitude filling his eyes, Conner lifted his daughter.
Gwendolyn helped place the carrot, then the jelly beans just right. “Ooooh, she now has beautiful brown eyes. Just like you. Great job!”
Daisy peeked shyly at her with those long-lashed eyes, and a slow grin widened her pink mouth before she ducked her head against her dad’s shoulder.
Conner hugged her tighter. “Great job indeed, Sweetie Pie.”
The rest of the children clapped, causing Daisy to lift her head from its hiding place, her cheeks pink.
“You’re amazing. You know that?” Conner whispered in Gwendolyn’s direction when he put his daughter down.
This time, heat warmed her insides, so her cheeks probably pinked as much as Daisy’s. “Oh please.” She waved off his praise.
Yet it touched her deeply. Weird how it gave her nearly the same sense of accomplishment as when she’d saved her client’s life.
The little girl also stirred her compassion. Being raised by a single dad had made it difficult for Gwendolyn to relate to girls her age. It might be the same for Daisy.
Besides, Gwendolyn knew firsthand how hard it was to be an introvert in a world that seemed to favor extroverts, how painful to form friendships and approach new people. In her teens, she’d been envious of the popular, confident girls who’d seemed to have it easy with their bright smiles and outgoing personalities.
“Now, let’s have a snowball fight,” Danica announced, interrupting Gwendolyn’s musings.
“What?” Daisy’s lower lip trembled.
Gwendolyn’s heart squeezed, and she gave the girl her best reassuring smile. “You don’t have to do it. But I’d love to have you on my team. It’s going to be just us girls.”
Conner gave his daughter a quick hug. “We can go home if you like.”
Why did the idea of him leaving any moment make her heart dip? She pulled her shoulders back. She had a job to do. Besides, based on the way he’d talked about his late wife, he was still grieving. So he probably wasn’t looking for romance, either.
No reason for that to stab her with disappointment.
Head tipped to one side, that pompom bouncing by her ear, Daisy thought a moment and shook her head. “I wanna play.”
“Great!” Danica grinned and high-fived Daisy. “I like you. Wanna be my friend?”
A soft whisper of air slipped from Daisy’s mouth as her eyes went big again. “For real?”
“For real.” Danica nodded. “Now, let’s play. I’ll show you how to make a good snowball.”
Daisy’s lips turned up a little. “Okay.”
While the girls made the snowballs, Gwendolyn patted Daisy on her shoulder. “You’re doing great. Both of you.”
Danica beamed. “I know.” No humble bone in that small body, either.
Conner chuckled, and so did Gwendolyn. Huh. Who’d think that even while they were on the opposite teams a bond could form?
“If Nehemiah and Danica stay boyfriend and girlfriend through their teens, he has his work cut out for him,” Conner whispered to her, his breath caressing her ear.
Gwendolyn laughed while her insides warmed. The sky looked much brighter now, the clouds gone, and the sunlight created a myriad of tiny sparkles on the snow. Some of those sparkles reflected in Daisy’s eyes as Danica told her she was doing “real good.”
Although Gwendolyn’s aim was great, she had to divide her attention between the game and the outer perimeter.
While Dara ran in circles around the snow fortress as if to make sure no one stepped inside that circle, she wasn’t the best watchdog. A few times, squirrels got her attention, and she spent a long time under the tree, hoping for them to return, barking with surprise that the squirrels didn’t want to meet her.
Even if the Clarks thought the danger had passed, this was still Gwendolyn’s job. So she needed to pay attention to every distant motor or every crunch of snow under someone’s feet at the park’s other end.
Due to her doing this double duty, the girls nearly lost. But in the end, the guys seemed to let them win, as true gentlemen. Her cold-kissed cheeks and eyes aglow, Daisy beamed when Nehemiah and Landon congratulated her and Danica on their win.
Then Gwendolyn’s foot slipped on the snow, and overly distracted by looking at Conner, she didn’t regroup herself to avoid the fall. Her arms flailed, and she had to hold onto something.
That something turned out to be Conner’s scarf. The earth moved in front of her as she landed on the snow, dragging him with her.
What...
What just happened?
She cringed. She was supposed to have much better reactions than this.
Unforgivable.
But, as she looked up into his brown eyes, heat pooled in the pit of her stomach. Having him so close, looking into those depths, feeling his lips near enough that if she moved a little she could kiss him made her breath lodge in her throat. The scent of his spicy cologne, mixed with frosty air, wreaked havoc on her senses.
“Are you... are you all right?” His breath warmed her skin.
She couldn’t find her tongue. She couldn’t find her limbs, for that matter.
“Daaaaaddy, are you okay?” Daisy’s worried voice made him hop to his feet, then pull Gwendolyn up, too.
“Yes, Sweetie Pie.” He dusted the snow off Gwendolyn’s coat while she felt like a fool.
Some bodyguard she was!
She cringed as embarrassment spread through her. If any of her colleagues had seen her, she’d be a laughingstock. Worse, she could expose her client to danger if she behaved like that. Not only had she fallen, but she’d also taken a guy with her. Then she’d been so distraught she’d forgotten her charges.
Just great.
All because of a sudden attraction to a guy she’d met today. Okay, she wasn’t falling for the man—not yet, anyway. She was falling with him, and that wasn’t much better.
She needed to walk away from this man, never see him again, and concentrate on what she needed to concentrate on. She’d let a handsome face distract her once, and her father had paid for her mistake with his life. Something hard slammed her heart. She should’ve learned her lesson then.
“Children, we’re going home.”
A collective groan met her words.
“How about hot cocoa and cookies when we get there?” Yes, she was offering a bribe, but she needed to collect her bearings.
Hot cocoa and cookies met a more enthusiastic response.
Danica waved at her new friend. “Come visit us sometime. Miss Gwendolyn makes yummy cookies. And cocoa.”
Those eyelashes feathered over her cheeks as the girl focused on her cowboy boots, but another shy smile was curving up her lips. “Daddy, can we?”
Conner stepped to Gwendolyn, giving her a whiff of his intoxicating cologne again. Her insides went liquid like the cocoa they discussed. Oh for crying out loud!
Danica elbowed Daisy. “Say pretty please. That gonna work.”
Her head jerking up, Daisy blinked and whispered, “Pretty please?”
“Nah. Like this.” Danica fluttered her eyelashes, lifted pleading eyes at Conner, and singsonged in a high voice. “Pretty pretty please?”
Daisy repeated the words in a more hushed voice.
Conner spread his hands out. “How can one say no to those eyes?”
Nearly getting lost in his brown depths, Gwendolyn had to agree.
“Good. It’s decided then.” Danica high-fived Daisy.
What? Oh boy.
Gwendolyn had to watch out with that little matchmaker who was getting more and more skilled in w
hat she was doing.
Danica placed her hands on her hips. “Miss Gwendolyn, Daisy will need your phone number.”
Daisy blinked. “I will?”
“Both of us would like to have your phone number, please.” His lips widened. Wow.
He was handsome even when he frowned, but when he smiled, she nearly swooned. What was wrong with her?
She scanned her surroundings again. Giving her cell phone number wasn’t a good idea. Yet she rattled it off.
“We... I... We’ve got to go.” Her mind seemed as foggy as her breath. Concentrate!
“I look forward to seeing you again.” He looked at her, his protective hands resting on Daisy’s shoulders.
“I...” Gwendolyn stared at him.
Danica sighed as if asking, “Do I have to do everything myself here?” “Miss Gwendolyn says she looks forward to seeing you, too.”
Gwendolyn didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe. She chose to do neither and herded the children and their gigantic dog to the truck.
As she was about to take off, her phone rang, and she fished it out of her purse. Her eyes narrowed at the unknown number on the screen. A telemarketer?
“Hello,” she answered as she studied her surroundings, prepared to say she didn’t need an extended warranty or wasn’t going on a cruise in the near future.
“Hiya, Gwennie,” a deep male voice said. Then the line went dead.
Unable to move, afraid to breathe, she stared at the phone. That was the way her father used to greet her.
Chapter Four
Late in the evening, Gwendolyn stretched out in her guest room bed at the mansion.
The room was almost as big as her apartment and boasted emerald-green Missouri summer landscapes, a large antique oak desk with a matching chair, a bronze lantern night-light lamp, and a mustang herd galloping over the rug. Strangely, this room suited her more than her own place with its minimalist furnishings.
This one had character and legacy, and her place was like a blank slate still waiting for her to decide who she was. As if, when she’d lost her father, she’d lost part of her identity, and even a quarter of a century later, she hadn’t recovered it.
