To Love and Protect Page 8

  She couldn’t help it. She reached out to put her hand over his. He looked into her eyes, clearly surprised by the gesture. His thumb covered hers. “They’ll be very happy,” she said. Because the words came out a little choked, she withdrew her hand and concentrated on her pancakes.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  IT TOOK MOST of the day to finish decorating the tree. Ben strung the lights on the top half and stood by while Soren and then Carlos climbed the ladder to add the strings of gold-beaded garland Corie had bought. They filled out the tree with the plain, ball ornaments Ben had picked.

  Teresa held a papier-mâché angel with painted blue eyes and a sweet smile. It wore a glittery-gold gown and carried a star.

  “I want to put the angel on the tree,” Rosie said eagerly, reaching for it.

  The youngest Santiago brother pushed her out of the way. “I want it!”

  Because Teresa held the angel and Corie was on top of the smaller ladder at the back of the tree, adjusting a swag of garland that had slipped, Ben put himself between the children.

  “The littlest kid is supposed to do it,” Carlos said. “In our house, it was always Tonio. But here, it would be Roberto.”

  “That wouldn’t work.” Soren shook his head. “He’s too little. It has to be the next youngest. Bianca. Right, Teresa?”

  Tonio was now in tears and Rosie’s pout threatened retribution. This reminded Ben a lot of domestic issues in his police work. Solutions to problems seldom satisfied all concerned.

  Teresa smiled sympathetically at the warring factions. “You know how it is in this house. We do our best to make everyone happy, but when we can’t, we try to do what’s right. In this case, Carlos is correct. The youngest child puts the angel on top of the tree, but Roberto can’t do it, so Bianca will.”

  Tonio wept but continued to hold on to Ben’s hand. Rosie, however, yanked her hand away, crossed her arms and sank into a nuclear glower.

  Bianca jumped up and down, realizing she had a special honor.

  Teresa handed her the angel. She accepted it with reverence.

  “Can you get her up there safely, Ben?” Teresa asked.

  “Sure.” He lifted the child onto his hip, told her to hold tightly to his neck and then climbed the ladder. When he was high enough that Bianca could reach, he stood her on a rung and held her tightly as she leaned over to place the angel on the top.

  “It’s crooked!” several voices shouted from below.

  Ben anchored Bianca in one hand and stretched an arm out to straighten the angel. Everyone cheered.

  When Ben and Bianca were halfway down the ladder, Teresa reached up to take Bianca from him. “Okay. One more cocoa break,” Teresa said, shepherding the children toward the kitchen, “then we’ll turn the lights on and see how it looks.”

  Backing down the ladder, Ben caught sight of Corie’s face through the lacy pattern of branches.

  She seemed less tense than she had last night. He could see that in the soft lines of her half smile. The children always seemed to ease her mood, even when they were being difficult. Tucked behind the green branches, beaded garland and glass ornaments picking up light from the window, she looked like an exotic gift.

  A gift for him? He entertained the thought for a minute, until Corie realized he was watching her. She gave the garland one last adjustment and climbed down the ladder to join the others in the kitchen.

  A gift for him... Interesting thought. The cop and the thief. Dangerous...but interesting.

  He stepped onto the floor and stood back to check the position of the angel for himself, only to realize that Rosie still stood glaring at the tree, arms folded in disgust. Tears rolled down her cheeks. He couldn’t help but empathize.

  His parents had never given in to every whim or thwarted desire he and Jack had, but they’d been compassionate when it came to hurt feelings.

  He knelt on one knee in front of her. “What if we all go to McAllen tomorrow and everybody buys a special ornament they really like? Then you can put it as high on the tree as you like. Except not higher than the angel. She has to be at the top.”

  Rosie considered; her dark eyes serious. Her answer would have sounded like a non sequitur if he hadn’t known her story.

  “My dad’s coming.” Her voice was tight, tear-filled.

  “That’s what I hear,” he replied. And she’d get to put up the angel on his tree.

  She looked straight at Ben. He looked back—and refused to let her see any doubt on his part. Christmas was about believing.

  “So...when he comes,” she said, wiping at her damp cheeks with the back of her hand, “I can take my purple chain and my ornament?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Can I get an ornament that’s an angel?”

  “Why not?”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay.” He stood and caught her hand and they headed for the kitchen.

  * * *

  “WHAT’S GOING ON?” Grady Nelson asked. Grady, Ben’s partner on the force, had called to tell him about their mutual friend Mario’s purchase of a second auto repair shop up the coast from Beggar’s Bay in Seaside, Oregon. “We’re getting together to celebrate. When are you coming back?”

  “Hard to say.” Ben had left with just a bare-bones explanation to the captain and Grady. “I took a month’s leave.”

  “You’re going to spend an entire month in Querida, Texas, with a woman you don’t like? I thought you’d have made her spill her guts and be on your way home by now, those jewels returned to their rightful owner.”

  “It’s trickier than I thought.”

  “Why? You said she was a thief who was going to mean trouble for all of you.”

  “Yeah. Now I’m not sure of anything.”

  “Wow.” There was a pause. “I’m looking up to see if pigs are flying.”

  “Very funny. Please tell Mario I’m happy for him. What’s new with you?”

  “Nothing.”

  After years of sharing the same squad car, hours of routine police work broken by critical situations where their lives were endangered, he and Grady knew each other well. Ben heard the undercurrent in his friend’s voice.

  “Something happen on the job?” he asked.

  “No. Unless it’s the fact you’re taking your sweet time in Texas while I’m paired up with an old guy who does nothing but run license plates.”

  Ben smiled to himself. Cops who were more interested in traffic issues tied up the radio and took valuable time from other police work.

  “Your mom’s okay?”

  “Yeah. She won big at bingo. Took me to dinner.”

  He was getting the picture. “Then it must be Celeste.”

  Celeste was a tall, beautiful redhead Grady had met while visiting his sister in Seattle. She’d sounded high-maintenance to Ben, but Grady had fallen instantly in love and spent every spare moment of the past year and a half driving to Seattle to see her. He’d even planned a couple of weeks off this month to spend time with her family. He intended to propose over the holidays.

  “Yeah. She’s got an engagement ring,” Grady said. Then added darkly, “Not mine.”

  Again Ben could empathize. Before Jack fell in love with Sarah Reed, Ben had loved her and asked her to marry him. She’d said no.

  “Sorry, Grady. You know when I say I know how you feel, I really do.”

  “Yeah. Thanks.” A gusty sigh came over the line. “So here I am with two weeks’ vacation and nowhere to go. Mom wants me to drive her and my aunts to Reno.”

  Ben tried to be supportive. “Reno sounds like fun.”

  “Maybe, but with my mother and my aunts?”

  Ben had met them once. They were loud and fun-loving, wore yoga pants and tennis shoes and loved Josh Groban.

/>   “No, maybe not.” Ben felt inspiration fall on his head. “Want to come to Texas?”

  “Texas.”

  “Yeah. I’m putting up a playground at the foster home where Corie grew up. The ground cover’s coming day after tomorrow, and the equipment’s arriving Monday. When does your vacation start?”

  “I’ve got day shift Saturday then I’m done.”

  “Perfect. Come on out whenever you’re ready. You can stay at the B and B. I’ll set it up for you.”

  “Where are you staying?”

  “I’m planning to stay at Corie’s. On the living-room floor,” he added when the line went quiet.

  “You’re planning? You’re not sure?”

  “Her house was broken into last night. It’s part of the long story. I’ll explain when you get here. We could use another cop.”

  “Why?”

  “Again. Long story. We can put up the play set in a couple of days, where it might take me a week or better by myself. And while you’re here, you can help me map out a business plan for my company.”

  “All right. I guess I’m in. I may drive Mom and the girls to Reno and fly out from there. They can drive themselves home.”

  “Good. Let me know when and where to pick you up.”

  “I’ll rent a car. Give me the B and B address and I’ll put it in my GPS. See you maybe Tuesday?”

  “Perfect. I’ll email you the address.”

  Happy with the way that turned out, grateful to have help with the playground and the goings-on in Querida, Ben joined the others, who were now gathered around the tree. Teresa turned off the lights and Corie closed the curtains. The children chattered excitedly. Bianca and Tonio, competition over putting up the angel forgotten, jumped up and down in their excitement. Roberto, in Rosie’s arms, just stared.

  Teresa gave Ben the okay and he plugged in the lights. Flashes of red, green, yellow and blue winked down the tree from the angel to the heavier ornaments at the bottom. Glass, sequins, beading and gold garland picked up the light, spreading its glow.

  A collective “Ooh!” rose from the group, Ben included. It was a glorious tree. Corie stood with her hands together, her eyes shining just like the children’s. Rosie, with Roberto, moved closer. “It’s beautiful, Corie,” she said.

  Corie heaved a sigh. Teresa had told Ben this was just what Corie had wanted for the children—a happy Christmas to help them deal with the separation from their families. If the perfect tree could do that, this had to be the one.

  * * *

  BEN CAUGHT CORIE’S arm just as she opened the door of her truck to go to work. “Come on,” he said. “We’ll take my car. I’ll drive you to work and then I’ll come by at nine for dinner and we’ll go home.”

  Something in the way he said that made her ask, “Home?”

  “Your home,” he replied as though there should be no question. “I’m staying with you. Jack would expect it.”

  She opened her mouth to argue and decided against it. She both loved and hated the idea. Even when she was furious with him, his presence made her feel safe. But she’d always relied on herself to feel safe, and this new dependence on him was troubling.

  “Okay. Thank you.” She tossed her keys into her purse and started toward his SUV.

  “Wait!” he said, putting a hand to his heart. He fell back against the side of her truck as though he needed support. “You’re not going to fight me? I... I...” Dramatically he raised his hand to his head. “I feel...weak.”

  “Sure you do. All two hundred pounds of muscle and bark.” She hooked her arm in his and pulled him toward his rental. “Just don’t get overconfident. You can protect my person, but don’t think you can tell me what to do otherwise.”

  He beeped her door open and held it while she slipped inside. “I’m afraid a bodyguard is in full control of all situations. Not my fault. It’s the way the system is set up.”

  “Please. There is no system and you’re not a bodyguard. You’re my...brother. Sort of. You’re doing this out of family loyalty, so all situations are not under your control.”

  He grinned at her as he got in behind the wheel. “So, you’re thinking of yourself as part of the family.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “That’s what you said.”

  “I said you’re doing it out of family loyalty.”

  “If you understand my feelings then you must respect them. Like a family member would.”

  She puffed her cheeks and blew air. “I’m going to be late. Please drive.”

  “Wow.” He started the car, checked his mirror and pulled onto the road. “This is a banner day. Not only did you resist an argument with me but I won one with you.”

  “You didn’t win. I just stopped fighting.”

  “I believe that’s a default victory for me.”

  To his complete disbelief she laughed and punched his arm. “Drive, Palmer!” she said.

  He enjoyed the win. A punch from her was like a kiss from any other woman.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  BEN MOWED TERESA’S backyard with a rickety hand mower.

  He was focused on avoiding the toes of the children dancing around the lawn as he pushed his way toward the old chain-link fence. They knew he was mowing the grass to prepare for the delivery tomorrow of the pea gravel for the playground.

  He’d downloaded a picture of the equipment and placed his laptop in the middle of the table when they’d had their morning snack. The expressions on their faces had been worth every muscle that would ache tomorrow from pushing this rusty thing.

  After lunch he, Corie and Teresa were taking the children shopping for their own special ornament. Their excitement level was tasking his efforts to finish the yard.

  Teresa finally called them to get cleaned up for the trip to the mall in nearby McAllen. They ran in, shouting and screaming.

  Soren came up beside him. “How come you’re doing all this?” he asked, taking long steps to keep up with Ben.

  “Because I want you guys to have a playground.”

  Soren laughed. “Yeah, sure. Why?”

  “Because I like you and I think you’d have a lot of fun with it.”

  “You like us?”

  “Yeah.”

  “All of us?”

  “Sure.”

  Ben turned the mower at the fence to complete the last pass back to the house. Soren turned with him. “What about the ornaments?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “How come you’re buying them for us?”

  “Because everybody should have a special ornament that’s just theirs. It’s wonderful to share things, but something that you’ve chosen because it’s exactly what you want and represents something special to you is a great thing. It would never mean quite the same thing to anybody else.”

  Soren nodded as though that made sense. “My mom had this ornament with an old-fashioned lady that wore a fuzzy thing girls put their hands in in the winter. You know, in the old days.”

  Ben tried to imagine what that was. “Ah, not sure what you mean.”

  Corie came out, apparently looking for Soren. “There you are,” she said, crossing the yard toward them. She put an arm around the boy’s shoulders. “Come on. You have to look clean and civilized to go to town.”

  “We’re trying to think of a word,” Ben said.

  Soren told her about his mother’s ornament and the fuzzy thing. “It’s like mittens, only there’s just one, and a hand goes in each side.”

  “Oh.” Her expression brightened. “A muff. From Victorian times.”

  “That’s it! I liked that ornament a lot. But I don’t know what happened to it. I didn’t get to go home again after my dad died. Some lady brought Teresa some of his stuf
f. That red sweatshirt she gave you.” He sighed. “Makes me think about him.”

  “Maybe we can find something else you’ll like today.”

  “Cool.” He ran off to the house.

  Corie sniffed the air. “Does anything smell better than cut grass?” She looked at him. “Except, maybe, for Oregon.” She closed her eyes. “I remember standing on the bay and smelling the river and the ocean beyond, and that wind that smells as though it passed though fields of herbs and flowers on the way.”

  It surprised him a little that she remembered Oregon so poetically. She’d been personable and polite with his family through Thanksgiving and Jack and Sarah’s wedding, but he’d gotten the impression she’d much rather have been somewhere else.

  The morning air swept a whiff of something wonderful from her direction.

  “Your hair smells wonderful,” he said. It was straight and thick, a sheet of obsidian under the sun. “Cherry and something?” he suggested as he pushed the mower the last few yards.

  She smiled. He was happy to see that. She’d been quiet after dinner last night and most of the morning. It was strange to be uncomfortable together when they were used to telling each other what they thought—and in no uncertain terms.

  “You have an excellent nose. It’s cherry blossom and ginseng.”

  He stopped and leaned an elbow on the mower.

  She tossed her head, sunlight rippling through the black sea of her hair. “Did I thank you for putting in the new door?” she asked.

  He thought. “No, I don’t believe you did.”

  “Well, thank you. It’s a beautiful door. I love the fan window. Pretty fancy. And,” she added with an intake of breath, as though what she said next would be difficult. “Thank you for staying with me.”

  He seemed surprised by that but simply nodded. “You’re welcome. I didn’t want you to be afraid.”