by Alicia Dean
safe.
"You're right. I overreacted. I promise, from now on I'll
stay out of your way and let you do your job." She smiled.
"Unless, that is, I catch you roughing up old ladies and
infants. That's where I'll have to draw the line."
He gave her the grin again. "Hey, at least I know my
boundaries."
She laughed. "Want something to drink?"
"Maybe some water."
She went into the kitchen and returned with a bottled
water for each of them.
Heath gulped down a few swallows, then said, "Seriously,
though. You do realize, just because Jerome is your
maintenance man, and just because his reason for climbing to
153
A Knight Before Christmas
by Alicia Dean
your window was legit, we can't rule him out as your
blackmailer, right?"
She shrugged. "Yeah. But then we can't really rule anyone
out, can we?
He nodded approvingly. "Now you're starting to think like a
cop."
"Yeah? Then maybe I don't need you after all."
Heath stopped in the act of bringing the bottle back to his
lips. "I certainly hope you do."
He'd meant to sound flip, but even to him, it sounded like
a declaration.
She held his gaze for a brief moment, then said, "Did you
eat?"
"I grabbed some lunch earlier."
"Before I go to the apartment, I have to go by Louisa's and
make dinner for her. Want to come? We can eat with her."
"Sure."
"I'll drive. We'll take my Jeep. It gets around a lot better
than the Buick in this kind of weather."
They walked outside and from down the street came the
sounds of "Silent Night." When Heath glanced toward the
source, he found a group of carolers standing on the sidewalk
in front of a house three doors down.
"I didn't know people still did that," Heath said.
Nicolette unlocked her Jeep, and they climbed in. "Around
here they do. Beautiful isn't it? I love Christmas." She pursed
her lips, and an expression of longing came over her face. "I
haven't been able to enjoy it this year like I normally do."
154
A Knight Before Christmas
by Alicia Dean
"It's no wonder. With Rudy gone, and then the crap with
the blackmailer. Kind of casts a pall over the holidays."
She nodded, then reached out and squeezed his hand.
"You being here makes it better."
The warmth of her hand in his made everything better. He
squeezed back. "I'm glad."
She looked at him, her expression chagrined. "I just
realized how selfish I've been. I'm sorry. This is your first
Christmas without Rudy and your father. How's your mother
doing?"
"She's doing pretty well. You know Mom."
"Yes. Tough lady. Wish I could be more like her."
"Hey. You're pretty damned tough yourself. You lost your
husband. You're being harassed by a blackmailer, suspected
of a murder, and you're running the duplexes and the charity.
Doing everything you can to protect Rudy's memory, to keep
his dream alive. I'd say that's pretty tough."
She smiled. "Not bad, I guess."
"Not bad at all," he agreed.
After she'd backed the Jeep out of the driveway and they
were on their way, Heath said, "How about your father? Have
you ever heard from him?"
In the dim lights shining in from outside, he saw sadness
cross her face, and he wanted to kick himself in the ass for
putting it there. He knew she'd gone years without talking to
her father, but he hoped by now, they were back in touch.
"No. I haven't spoken to him since college."
"You haven't tried to get in touch with him?"
155
A Knight Before Christmas
by Alicia Dean
She shrugged. "I wanted to a few times. I mentioned it to
Rudy, but he said it would be best to leave things as they
were. He reminded me that if my father wanted to hear from
me, he could get in touch with me. He pointed out that I was
a reminder of a past he most likely wanted to forget."
Heath thought that was a little harsh. Even if it were true,
it's not something Nicolette should hear. He knew a little
about Nic's past. Her father had been accused of killing a
neighborhood girl. Although no charges were ever filed, and
the killer was caught and convicted, the suspicion that
followed him ruined her family's life.
Her mother killed herself a few years later. Nic had gone
off to college and she and her father drifted apart. Did her
dad want it that way, or was he just respecting his daughter's
wishes? Heath remembered while they were at MU, her dad
tried to contact her. Maybe after years of being rebuffed, he'd
given up. Rudy certainly hadn't helped matters by
discouraging Nicolette from finding her father. Perfect or not,
he was her father. And, perfect or not, Heath would give
anything to see his own father one more time. He didn't want
Nicolette to regret something once it was too late.
"I doubt that he wants to forget you. You know, he tried to
reach you several times while we were in college."
"Yeah, but that was years ago. He hasn't found me since."
"Maybe he finally took the hint that you didn't want
anything to do with him."
She glanced at him, then turned her attention back to the
road. "So, you don't agree with Rudy that it was best to leave
it in the past? To never see my father again?"
156
A Knight Before Christmas
by Alicia Dean
"No. No, I don't."
She seemed to consider his words for a moment, then she
shrugged. "I think Rudy was right. If my father wanted to find
me, he'd find me. He probably didn't want any part of his
past. Doesn't matter anyway. We can't undo what's been
done. It's better to leave things as they are. We're strangers
now, after all."
Her words rang hollow to Heath. Underneath the bravado,
he was sure he detected the pain of a lonely little girl.
[Back to Table of Contents]
157
A Knight Before Christmas
by Alicia Dean
Chapter Eleven
Louisa lived in an older section of Kansas City where
neighbors still looked out for one another and kept their lawns
in pristinely landscaped condition. Her house was a two-story
that was too large now that her family was gone. Its coating
of bright white paint gleamed in the winter sun.
Nicolette watched Heath as they pulled into Louisa's
driveway. A multitude of emotions passed over his face. The
corners of his mouth tilted upward in a melancholy smile, and
a hint of pain touched his eyes.
"It looks the same," he said. "Except it's white now. Used
to be yellow." A hint of moisture showed in his eyes, and he
wiped it away with his thumb and forefinger. "Rudy's bike was
always in the yard. His dad stayed pissed at him."
Nic offered a small smile, and they climbed out of th
e car.
As she unlocked the front door and pushed it open,
Louisa's voice called, "Nicolette, dear. Hope that's you."
The sound of her wheels came, then she was in the
hallway. Her face lit with joy when she saw Heath. "Oh my
word, it can't be! Heath King, come here and give me a hug."
Heath laughed and bent down to obey her command.
Nicolette could tell he purposely held her loosely, as if afraid
he'd crush her brittle bones.
"Louisa," he said as he straightened. "As pretty as ever."
"Oh, Heath. You're such a charmer. Come in, please."
158
A Knight Before Christmas
by Alicia Dean
They followed her chair into the living room. Her house
smelled of pine from the cleaning her provider must have
given it that morning.
Louisa motioned Nicolette and Heath to sit on the sofa. As
they eased into the cushions, she asked, "Are you in town for
the holidays, Heath? I'm sorry about your father. He was a
good man."
"Yes. Thank you. We all miss him terribly." Heath's face
became inscrutable and he seemed in deep thought for a
moment before his expression cleared. "I'm sorry I haven't
been over to see you during my last few visits."
"Oh, don't worry about that." Louisa waved away his
apology. "I know you're busy. I also know how difficult it
must be for you. Being here. With Rudy gone. You two were
like Mike and Ike growing up."
Heath laughed. "I'm sure you went a little nuts with us
underfoot all the time."
Louisa's smile was wistful. "I did. And it was wonderful."
Nicolette cleared her throat, pushing back the poignancy
that rose. "How are you feeling today?" She peered closely at
Louisa's face, looking for signs of pain. Her eyes were clear,
her smile relaxed. She must have had a good day.
"I feel fine, dear. Don't worry about me." She turned to
Heath. "Nicolette is an angel, I swear. My Rudy was blessed
to have her, as am I. Did you know she takes time out of her
busy schedule to come and see me almost every day? Cooks
for me, visits, runs errands. I don't know what I would do
without this girl, I tell you. Nancy, my provider, comes in
159
A Knight Before Christmas
by Alicia Dean
seven days a week to clean and do things for me I can no
longer do, but still, my Nicolette here pitches in."
"That's very nice of her." Heath flashed Nicolette a smile,
and her heart sped up. "You don't have to tell me how terrific
she is."
"I'm sure I don't. Everyone who knows her loves her."
Right. Other than the blackmailer, my husband's
killer...and Heath.
"You don't need to make dinner for me, if that's why
you're here," Louisa said. "Nancy left chicken salad in the
fridge. I'll just have that, and the two of you can go have a
nice evening, relax."
Nicolette shook her head. "No way. I made a meatloaf and
left it in your freezer. Thought I'd heat that up and throw
together a few side dishes for our dinner. Does that sound
okay?"
"You two are staying to eat with me?"
"Absolutely." Nicolette stood and smiled down at her. "I'll
get started."
Louisa clapped her hands together. "How lovely!" The TV
was playing a game show and Louisa picked up the remote
and shut it off. "Heath, let's catch up while we're waiting for
dinner." She looked up at Nicolette. "Unless you need help?"
"I have it under control. You two chat. Dinner will be ready
in half an hour."
In the kitchen, Nicolette took the meatloaf from the
freezer, then slid it into the oven. While it heated, she opened
canned green beans and wrapped baked potatoes in wet
paper towels and plastic wrap to cook them in the microwave.
160
A Knight Before Christmas
by Alicia Dean
Louisa and Heath's conversation filtered to her ears. At
first, they reminisced about the boys' childhood, then Heath
asked, "Did you see much of Rudy in the days leading up to
his accident?"
"Yes. Sure. I saw him every few days. He was just like
Nicolette. Very attentive to me."
"Did he seem...different in any way those last few times?
Like anything was troubling him?"
Great. Heath was interrogating Rudy's mother. Nicolette
took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She knew Heath
would never hurt Louisa. He'd be gentle and was only trying
to gather information to stop a blackmailer. She had to let
him do his job.
"No. He seemed normal." There was a pause, then, "Are
you trying to find out who killed him? Do you really believe it
wasn't an accident?"
Heath also paused before saying, "I don't know, Louisa.
That's what I'm trying to figure out."
Of course he wouldn't say he was also trying to stop a
blackmailer. One very small plus to the suspicions
surrounding Rudy's death was that it made a good cover for
asking questions, without revealing the information about the
blackmailer.
Heath and Louisa spoke for a little while longer. Heath
didn't probe much, and Louisa seemed to be enjoying their
conversation.
During dinner, they kept the conversation light. Louisa and
Heath complimented Nicolette's cooking, but joked about the
hours she must have toiled microwaving 'baked' potatoes.
161
A Knight Before Christmas
by Alicia Dean
"How would you two like to look at some old pictures?"
Louisa asked while Heath helped her back into the wheelchair.
"Sure," Nicolette said. "I'll get them down from the closet."
"I'll help you," Heath offered.
Louisa pushed into the living room while Heath followed
Nicolette to the back of the house.
"They're in here." She led him to the guestroom, glad they
weren't kept in Rudy's old room. She still hadn't been able to
go in there.
Heath cut his eyes toward Rudy's closed door as they
passed and once again, that drawn look of pain appeared
briefly on his face.
In the guestroom, Nicolette stood on her tiptoes in the
closet, reaching for the albums on the top shelf. She
managed to touch one with the tip of her fingers, but couldn't
pull it all the way down.
"Here, let me."
Heath didn't give her a chance to move out of the way; he
stretched up and over her from behind. His clothing brushed
against hers. She felt the heat from his body along her
backside. She held her breath, waiting for him to move as he
fished the album down.
He held it out to her, and she took it, meeting his eyes
over her shoulder. "Thanks." Tremors ran through her, along
her skin and into her voice.
His eyes dropped to her mouth. He gave a short nod. "If
you'll move, I can get the rest of them."
No. I want to stay right here, near you.
162
A Knight Before Christmas
by A
licia Dean
"Right." She stepped around him, and he snatched the
remaining photo albums from the shelf.
They returned to the living room in silence. Louisa had
maneuvered onto the couch, and they sat on either side of
her as she thumbed through the albums.
Many of the photos included Heath, and Nicolette once
more became aware of how close he and Rudy were, of how
wrong it seemed to want Heath now.
Louisa pointed at a photo of the two boys in swimming
trunks, holding Popsicles that melted and dripped over their
thin chests. Nicolette laughed, but it died in her throat as she
caught Heath's gaze over Louisa's head. His smile was maybe
an eight on the Richter scale, but his laugh...the flash of
white teeth, crinkles at the corners of those spectacular
eyes...the rich sound that rumbled from his chest. That was
totally off the scale and it made her job of resisting Heath
King even tougher.
She forced her gaze away from him and back to the
albums. After several more minutes and several more photos,
they'd finally reached the end.
Louisa closed the last album and looked at Heath, then
sighed. "I miss my son, but somehow knowing you're around,
Heath, taking care of my Nicolette, makes me miss him not
quite as much."
They said goodbye to Louisa, after she extracted a promise
from them to visit again soon.
In addition to his disturbing attraction to Nicolette, a sense
of sadness and nostalgia stayed with Heath as they drove
away. He and Rudy had shared a lot of good times at that
163
A Knight Before Christmas
by Alicia Dean
house, in this neighborhood, and down at the corner lot
where they'd endlessly played baseball or football, depending
on the weather. Sometimes they gathered neighborhood kids
and made a game out of it. Other times, it was just the two of
them, passing a football back and forth, or Heath pitching a
baseball while Rudy squatted in a catcher's pose. Heath would
burn it in as hard as he could, and Rudy never complained,
but he exacted revenge when it was time to toss the pigskin.
Back then, to a younger and much smaller Heath, it seemed
Rudy had an arm like Joe Montana.
The times weren't all good ones. He and Rudy had their
share of fights. Sometimes over whether one or the other had
