The Lawman's Christmas Wish by Linda Goodnight Page B

call?”
    â€œIf you’re looking for a husband, I already offered. All you have to do is say the word.”
    Amy’s hackles rose. Through gritted teeth, she said, “I am not looking for a husband.”
    â€œYou barely know that guy.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous. Ethan works for me.” She was so annoyed, she whipped around to leave. Reed’s voice stopped her.
    â€œI thought we were going out for a tree.”
    Amy’s mouth gaped. “You said no.”
    He slapped both hands on his hipbones. “I changed my mind.”
    â€œSo did I.” With that, she flounced up the stairs and left him standing.
    Â 
    Reed was still there, hands on hips, staring dumbfounded at the empty stairs, when Granny sashayed through the hall, Sammy and Dexter trailing happily behind. “What did you do? Make her mad?”
    â€œSomething like that. Not sure what I did.”
    â€œDoofus,” Granny said affectionately. “Well, me and theboys are going out for pizza. You and Amy fend for yourselves.” She patted her purse. “Don’t worry. I’m armed and dangerous. Nobody is gonna bother Sammy and Dexter with me around.”
    He didn’t doubt that one bit. Granny had taught him gun safety and shooting. She was better with a firearm than most men, a fact that she proved year after year when she bagged a moose and supplied enough meat for months.
    â€œYou’re going out? But I thought I smelled something cooking.”
    â€œFor you and Amy.” She slid her skinny arms into a coat and yanked the zipper to her chin. “Me and the fellas want pizza. Right, boys?”
    â€œYep.” Both boys nodded. They were bundled so tightly into parkas, their little faces were the only visible skin. “Mama said okay.”
    Reed glanced upward. Granny had declared the upper half of the house off-limits “on account of propriety” she claimed. Fine with him.
    â€œApologize for whatever you did and get it over with.” Granny pointed a gloved finger at him. “Don’t argue with me, either.”
    She was half his size, but he never argued with Granny. She had more ways to make him miserable—and happy—than a salmon had eggs. Kind of like Amy. While he was pondering his next move, she and Amy’s sons headed for the pizza parlor.
    The door had no more than snapped shut behind them when Amy appeared at the top of the stairs, still holding the troublesome cell phone. Was she waiting for Ethan Eckles to call again? Or some other guy? Half the men in town had proposed to her in the last six months. So far, she hadn’t taken any of them seriously. But she’d seemed interested in snowmobiling with Eckles.
    Amy stared him down, sparks shooting from her blue eyes, shoulders squared. “Granny said dinner was ready, and I’m hungry.”
    So was he. “I’m free Saturday. We’ll get the stupid tree.”
    The sound of Amy’s laughter followed him.

Chapter Seven
    â€œD on’t apologize just because Granny told you to.”
    Amy had started down the stairs, drawn by the delicious smell of a casserole filling the house. Granny Crisp was an amazing cook. She was also up to something. Her sudden hankering for pizza with Sammy and Dexter didn’t ring true.
    â€œI’m not.”
    Holding on to the rail with one hand, Amy paused on the bottom step. “You’re not apologizing at all, or you’re not apologizing because Granny made you?”
    â€œWhat did I do, anyway?”
    Amy snorted. The man was clueless. “Will you really go with us to get a tree?”
    â€œSaid I would.”
    â€œDon’t sound so thrilled. We’ll have fun, I promise.”
    â€œWe’re taking the snowmobiles.” His tone was a challenge, as though he expected her to argue. She wouldn’t. A Christmas tree with all the trimmings was especially important to her and the boys this year. And she was