Show Me a Family for Christmas : Small-Town Single-Father Cowboy Romance (Cowboy Crossing Romances Book 6)

by Alexa Verde

  Shaking the thought away, he adjusted his daughter’s braids. “It’s okay if you need to take your time.”

  Based on the waitress’s tapping her foot against the tile, she had a different opinion.

  Her expression tender, Gwendolyn smiled at his girl. “How about I order a few appetizers and your dad does the same, and you try them and decide which ones you like. And maybe cocoa with marshmallows for you to drink. You liked the cocoa I made before, right?”

  Daisy blinked a few times, then nodded. “Okay.”

  “Great.” Gwendolyn beamed at the girl.

  Dipping her head to her kitten toy, Daisy whispered something in its ear.

  Gwendolyn was different from other women, and it warmed his soul. She realized his daughter wasn’t being difficult. She just had a difficult life. So it wasn’t only a beautiful frame that drew him to Gwendolyn. She seemed to have a beautiful heart, too.

  Again, not a thought he should be having!

  Since she’d worked with children for some time, maybe he could use her expertise. He loved Daisy with his whole heart, but he needed her to be able to integrate into society better. Besides, he’d remembered all too well how lonely he’d felt as a child. “Um, have you ever worked with challenging children?”

  Her eyes narrowed a fraction. “Well, let’s see. When I started nannying for the Clark family, Danica put glue on my chair. Then she added hot sauce to my already spicy chicken wings. Oh, and I had to chase her around the house, jumping over the toys scattered on the floor and doing my best not to collide with Dara.”

  “Oh, wow.” He suddenly felt very grateful for Daisy’s quiet nature. She could play with her dolls for hours and never got into any mischief. “And you stayed?”

  Gwendolyn’s lips tipped up as she sipped her tea, the tawny liquid reminding him of her eyes again. “I realized Danica just wanted to spend more time with her new mom and felt I was in the way. And Danica realized I wasn’t going anywhere. I also have a habit to check chairs before I sit on them. I shared my spicy chicken wings with her. And thankfully, I can run rather fast and jump high, even if I don’t look like it.”

  Huh.

  His chest swelled further. So she wasn’t just kind but tenacious, too. Great qualities for a mother. Whoa. “I’m sure they won’t be able to find a nanny like you soon. Did you... Could you consider staying longer? I mean, at least until they find a replacement?” Though he had a feeling she couldn’t be replaced.

  Not in his heart.

  “I do. For a week.” She looked away.

  His heart squeezed. Only a week. But with some people, even a few moments could be more important than a lifetime with others.

  “I’m sure you’ll be missed.” And he didn’t mean just by the family.

  Her cocoa cup wobbled, and Daisy’s lower lip stuck out. “Miss Gwendolyn, are you leaving soon?”

  “Not soon, sweetheart.” Gwendolyn smiled at his daughter, then looked up at him. “I’d die to be a part of a family like the Clarks.”

  Those words echoed in his ears long after she’d spoken them. And he’d lied to them. His stomach clenching, he briefly closed his eyes and rubbed the space pinching between them.

  He refocused on Gwendolyn, wanting to know more about her. A plump bodyguard with a soft smile and adorable freckles, she intrigued him. And he told himself, the more he knew, the more opportunity he’d have to help her with the mysterious calls and messages, too. “I take it your family is not close-knit like theirs?”

  Oh man. Of all the stupid things to ask someone who’d lost her father... Conner breathed in sharply the scents of barbecue and biscuits. What a faux pas!

  Her eyes dimmed. Then she whispered, probably so Daisy wouldn’t overhear. “I haven’t spoken to my mother and sister in years. You know my father was shot. Grandpa died two years after that. That sums it up.”

  Compassion loosened the tightness in his stomach. He could relate to her all too well, though at least he still had his mother and his precious daughter. Gwendolyn seemed to be alone in the world.

  He wanted to reach out to her, but he stopped himself. “I’m sorry. I was raised by a single parent, too. I never met my father.” He cleared his throat. “Well, obviously. My stepfather turned out to be a cruel person.” It was more than he’d told anyone in years, and he shouldn’t have said that, considering Daisy was here.

  “I’m sorry, too.” Then Gwendolyn did something he didn’t dare do.

  She touched his hand. It was fleeting, and she pulled back because the waitress showed up with their orders. And still, he felt it. Oh, how he felt it.

  Daisy observed the dishes with barbecue wings, cheese sticks, and stuffed mushrooms, and he tensed despite the enticing aroma. But then she started happily munching, and his shoulders relaxed. The kindergarten teacher had called Daisy a spoiled kid because she was such a picky eater. But to him, she was a child who had difficulty navigating the world without her mother.

  Gwendolyn whispered what he assumed was grace. He stilled. He’d grown up a believer, though his faith was more fledgling than strong. After Annika died and her parents refused to have anything to do with Daisy, that faith had withered altogether. He felt God had abandoned him like the people in his life did.

  Now doubt needled. Annika would’ve wanted him to instill Christian values in their daughter.

  “Daddy, eat.” Daisy pushed the plate toward him. “Can we get more wings?” She thought a minute. “Pretty pretty please?”

  He laughed, relieved. “We sure can.”

  As the evening progressed, so did the conversation. Conner and Gwendolyn talked about their favorite music, movies, actors, books, friends, and shared the secrets of their childhoods they could say in front of Daisy. Gwendolyn told him how she’d dreamed about becoming part of the elite bodyguard company that traveled the world on important assignments, just like her father.

  She used to pet-sit, too, and that part caused Daisy’s acute interest. Gwendolyn told them stories about the animals’ antics and showed a few funny cat photos. He’d never seen his daughter smile so much.

  By the time their plates were cleared, he felt like he’d known Gwendolyn forever, and he didn’t want to let her leave in a week. He didn’t want to let her leave now, either.

  But it was time. Reluctantly, he asked for the bill and bundled Daisy up in warm clothes.

  As he opened the restaurant door, frosty air shivered over him, chilling him after the warmth inside. Gwendolyn lingered as her gaze swept over the parking lot before she stepped outside. Apprehension cooled him more than the fresh air.

  His daughter needed stability. A globe-trotting bodyguard for a mother—if he could think that far—wouldn’t give Daisy that, and he had to consider his daughter’s interests before his own.

  They walked outside, Gwendolyn’s step brisker than he’d like, but then she looked at Daisy and slowed down. Stars twinkled around the gathering clouds, the crisp sky promising snow soon, and he wished the walk to Gwendolyn’s truck was longer.

  An older navy-blue sedan pulled out of the parking lot. One of its tinted windows was open just a slit, and a song from the eighties he couldn’t name drifted to them. He tensed and stepped to shield Gwendolyn, either from the car or the memory.

  She shook her head at him as if not accepting his protection and moved around him, her hand slipping into her purse. He had no doubt she was a quick draw, but his pulse quickened nonetheless.

  Her gaze followed the car until it disappeared around the block. She paled so much her freckles stood out as starkly against her light skin as the bright stars contrasted the dark sky.

  His teeth set on edge. “The same car?”

  “Yes. More than that. That... that was my dad’s favorite song,” she whispered. Then she pulled her shoulders back, and her face took on a normal color.

  He needed to do something about that. And he was going to see Gwendolyn as much as possible in the time they had left, even if it made it impossible n
ot to fall all the way in love with her. She shouldn’t be by herself.

  He was contemplating how to ask her out again when Daisy tugged at Gwendolyn’s sleeve. “Miss Gwendolyn, are we gonna see you tomorrow?” Daisy must have been taking those matchmaking lessons from her new friend seriously.

  Conner wasn’t complaining. He looked into Gwendolyn’s eyes. “Are we? If you’re free tomorrow, of course.”

  Her eyes widened. “Yes. No. I mean, I shouldn’t....”

  The Christmas lights decorating the restaurant eaves and wrapping around the trees reflected in her eyes, and once again, he couldn’t decipher their expression.

  Longing?

  Caution?

  Apprehension?

  All of the above?

  Probably all the feelings that whirled in him right now like a personal mini-blizzard. He ached for her to say yes because he couldn’t wait to see her again.

  “Well, if you can, would you like to see a movie sometime?” He glanced at his daughter, who looked up expectantly. “I mean, if you’re both okay with fairy tales?”

  “Yay, Daddy!” Daisy jumped up and down, the pompom on her hat bouncing in rhythm with her movements. Then she stuck her tongue out to catch a falling snowflake.

  Hmm. He’d been right about the potential snowfall.

  As Gwendolyn tipped her face to the sky, her eyelashes fluttered, delicate snowflakes covering them while more flakes danced around her lovely face. “Not only okay. I’ve started believing in them for the first time in my life.”

  He wished he could say the same.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The next day, Conner had mixed feelings as he brought Daisy for a playdate with Danica.

  The Clark family mansion smelled of freshly baked cookies, and the children’s laughter and voices filled it like sparkles filled some ornaments. Doubt wormed through him, and with it came his usual apprehension over whether Daisy would be okay there. A habit no amount of happy visits with her cousins seemed to break. And then in snuck joy strong enough to swell his chest as he thought of seeing Gwendolyn again.

  Gwendolyn insisted he could trust Liberty with his daughter for the evening, and all he knew of his half-sister concurred with that.

  But would either Liberty or Gwendolyn fully trust him again?

  And he’d sensed hostility from that navy-blue sedan yesterday. He’d called Gwendolyn yesterday to wish her good night, and she’d told him she and Vera were investigating, as well as the police. He needed to talk to her more about it, in case he could help in any way. Thinking she might be in danger set his teeth on edge.

  Liberty crouched before Daisy, who was staring at her feet. Liberty’s hair matched the most ridiculous Christmas sweater he’d ever seen, and she wore both proudly, even after Christmas. “It’s high time you got to know your auntie Liberty better. We’re going to play board games, and then Danica is going to bring her kitten.”

  As her head finally tilted up, Daisy’s eyes lit up. Liberty had said the magic word. “A... a kitten?”

  The woman’s vigorous nod sent those emerald-hued curls flying around her face. “Would you like to stay with us while your daddy and Gwendolyn have coffee somewhere?”

  Daisy scrunched her cute nose. “They can’t have coffee here?”

  Liberty’s forehead wrinkled as if she didn’t have an answer to that. So she just went for a nope.

  Clearing his throat, Conner shifted his feet. “Sweetie Pie, you don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. Totally up to you.” His daughter had always been clingy, but that was understandable under the circumstances, wasn’t it?

  Or maybe he was the one who’d been too clingy. He knew all too well how easy it was to lose someone he loved.

  Never shy, Danica ran into the room, the small feet in magenta and forest-green socks—she must’ve taken fashion lessons from her auntie Liberty—tapping against the hardwood.

  Danica snatched Daisy’s hand while holding a squirming kitten with her other one. “Come on. We’ll have fun. We always do.”

  “O–okay.” Daisy finally nodded, her concentration now on the meowing pet.

  “Good. We’ve got more Christmas cookies, too. And lots of games when you get tired of the kitten, though I doubt you’ll get tired of that cutie.” Liberty dared to wink at Daisy.

  Then Liberty began herding the children to a cozy rug near that towering Christmas tree still generously decorated with those ornaments, some of which seemed homemade. Conner figured the holidays in this house lasted through New Year’s Eve. It was never too early or too late for the Christmas spirit.

  Everything in this house, from the many photos on the fireplace mantel to the plush toys littering the floor, screamed about love and care. Their father might not have been a great person, but the Clark family seemed to have chosen a legacy of love instead of resentment.

  Something Conner should’ve done.

  “I’ll see you soon, Sweetie Pie.” He hugged Daisy.

  She hugged him back, filling his heart with tenderness. “Are you gonna be okay without me, Daddy?”

  His eyes widened. Daisy worried about him? Usually, it was the other way around.

  Liberty sauntered toward them and placed a hand on Daisy’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about your daddy. Gwendolyn will take care of him, right?”

  Gwendolyn blinked as if she didn’t expect it, then nodded and gave him a reassuring smile. “I... I will. And Daisy will be okay, too.”

  Danica grinned. “Yup. Daisy gonna be just fine. Come on. Games are not gonna play themselves. And here. You can pet my kitten.” She handed Daisy the feline that Daisy hugged eagerly.

  The kitten meowed but stopped squirming.

  “What are you two still doing here?” Liberty gestured to the hall.

  His pulse picked up at the chance to spend time with Gwendolyn alone, even if they were going to be at a public place. As much as he loved Daisy, some things couldn’t be said in the presence of curious tiny ears.

  As he helped Gwendolyn into her leopard-print coat, his fingers brushed against the smooth skin of her neck, and his pulse spiked even faster. She’d started affecting him too much.

  Once she’d bundled up warm and cozy, he opened the front door for her, and the frosty air cooled his heated skin. Her gaze swept over the area outside before she stepped out. No surprise there.

  “You look beautiful,” he said as they walked to his rental truck.

  She had this... soft glow about her he hadn’t seen before. It was as if someone turned on the lights on a Christmas tree. It was beautiful already, but the lights further illuminated that beauty.

  Or maybe, because he was getting to know her better, her inner beauty was shining through.

  “Really? I mean, thank you.” Her lips curved up slightly.

  “Really.” He opened the truck door for her. “I wish I could take you to a fancy restaurant to give you the romantic dinner you deserve.”

  Her gaze lingered on his face, heating his skin again despite the cold atmosphere. “I don’t need a fancy restaurant. A simple meal is wonderful, especially when the company is great.” Her cheeks pinked, and she climbed inside the vehicle.

  He hummed a tune as he opened his door, settled into the driver’s seat, and turned on the heat. Hmm. He didn’t remember humming a tune since the time... since the time he’d left the ranch.

  He started the engine.

  Her gaze became pensive in the Christmas lights spilling into the windows. Was she thinking about her father? About the navy-blue sedan with tinted windows and snow-covered license plates? Or maybe about him not telling her the full truth?

  “I could be a good listener.” He glanced her way as he drove away from the mansion. “In fact, I’m a much better listener than a conversationalist.”

  He’d made an effort to go out a few times with the gallery patrons in those lonely years after losing Annika. But he wasn’t one for small talk, and a lot of times, he’d found himself wishing he’d spent t
he time with his daughter instead. He missed working with horses, too.

  Horses had never been ones for making small talk, either.

  “I know it’s silly to rehash the past. I mean, a quarter of a century has passed. But... I feel guilty I never managed to find the person responsible for Dad’s death. That navy-blue car and other things keep reminding me of my mistake.” Her shoulders slumped, and her voice lowered further with each word, the final one a painful whisper.

  Empathy constricted his rib cage as they entered Cowboy Crossing. “You shouldn’t feel guilty. But I understand the need for closure—more than you know. Maybe bouncing your ideas off someone would help. I volunteer.”

  “Thanks.” Her voice grew stronger. “My friend is helping me, too. She’s a former cop and a PI. But... How can we figure this out if even professionals failed to find the answer?”

  “All we can do is try. That devastating feeling of helplessness gutted me after my wife died.” Wow. He hadn’t meant to share that. His shoulders inched upward, his whole body tensing as he turned onto the restaurant’s street. “Why couldn’t I prevent it? The same with my baby brother. With my stepsister. What was wrong with me? After Annika died, I stayed awake at night asking myself what I could’ve done differently. I... I started getting distracted. I felt lost.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Her compassion loosened some of his tension. “What made you stop?”

  His shoulders settling back where they belonged, he glanced at this wonderful woman beside him. “My daughter’s scared eyes. I realized she was afraid something might happen to me, too. Sometimes we don’t get answers. Sometimes we just need to move forward.”

  This... this connection between them...

  Was he the only one who felt it? Or did it mean something to Gwendolyn, too?

  He pulled up into a vacant spot and parked, then turned off the engine. He hurried around the truck and opened her door.

  A car drove by and parked in another spot, and she tensed, following it with her gaze. Then her features relaxed as an elderly couple wobbled out of the vehicle, and Gwendolyn stepped out of his rental.