Christmas in Texas by Rebecca Winters, Tina Leonard

specialty.”
    “I think I’d like a fire in the fireplace. You feeling like a
fire?”
    Capri nodded. “I’ll get the wineglasses.”
    They went into the formal room where the Christmas tree gently
glowed. Seagal made a fire, and Capri watched from the flowered sofa.
    “Seagal?”
    He turned his head. “Yes?”
    “Is your assignment over?”
    He turned back to the fire. “Capri, my assignment was to play
Santa for the kiddies.”
    “An assignment Mrs. Penny is eager for you to reprise next
year.”
    “She mentioned it. I’ve accepted.”
    She was a bit surprised. “Well, you did do justice to the
revered Santa suit. I just didn’t think you’d want to.”
    “You’ll be cochairing Christmastown, won’t you?”
    She nodded. “And the Bridesmaids Creek annual swim, and the
Groomsmen’s Dash. Wherever I’m needed.”
    “It’s time I take on a few things myself. Wearing a Santa cap
won’t kill me.”
    She thought about the “bad” boys who’d apparently decided BC
needed to add some drug-dealing to their peaceful streets. “What about Kinsler
and his gang of nasties? What happens to them now?”
    “Actually, we don’t know if Taylor Kinsler or any of his ilk
were behind the drugs. I talked to Daisy. She claims not to know a single thing
about what was going on. I believe her.”
    A sharp arrow darted into Capri’s heart. Bridesmaids Creek was
a small town; he would always run into Daisy. So would she. She had to make
peace with that. “If she wasn’t being forthright, you would know, Seagal. You’re
a good Ranger.”
    He looked bemused by her praise. Surprised.
    “Have you forgiven me for staking out your store? I’m sorry I
couldn’t tell you everything about the case, which I know came across as
ham-handed and overbearing. I had to risk your trust in order to protect
you.”
    “I know now. It was just so hard for me to accept that the
world I’d built might be hiding something so horrible for Bridesmaids Creek. It
wasn’t until that creep came through the back door and grabbed me that I
realized I’d underestimated your cop skills.”
    He stood, surveying the fire he’d built. “I’m sorry that
happened. I mistook the timing of the next pickup.”
    “So is it over?”
    “I doubt your store will be used again for the same purpose.
They’ll move elsewhere.”
    “Somewhere else in Bridesmaids Creek? What about other business
owners?”
    “I’m going to take an assignment here for a while. I want to be
with the babies. Help you out.”
    She didn’t say anything, hearing a new tone creep into his
voice. Something distant, something cool. “It’s important for you to be with the
children, Seagal. I know I didn’t tell you immediately—”
    “Your brother took care of me.”
    “I’ll talk to Beau about that one day. Anyway, Seagal, I
apologize. I really do.” She looked at Seagal. “You’re a wonderful father. I
want you to spend all the time with them you can.”
    She felt tears gather in her eyes. He looked at her for a long
moment, then nodded. “I’m going out for a bit.”
    Her breath left her. “Thank you for the flowers.”
    He nodded. “Merry Christmas, Capri.” He handed her the key to
the house.
    Then he left.
    * * *
    S EAGAL HATED TO LEAVE Capri, but
there was something he had to do.
    He had wanted nothing more than to protect her, but he’d come
to realize he couldn’t. The moment he saw her go inside her shop, Seagal knew
that he had been overbearing, overprotective. There
was no way to keep anybody in a box, keep them safe, the way he wanted to keep
Capri safe. She’d had every right to be annoyed with him.
    The thing was, he was always going to want to protect her. He
just couldn’t. She didn’t want him to.
    But he could take care of his children. He’d always have that
part of their marriage. Even after tomorrow, when morning dawned on the day
after Christmas, he would know that Carter and Sara would always be a part of
both of them.
    He found