True-Blue Cowboy Christmas by Nicole Helm Page A

guess—you’ve been building fairies?”
    Thack stepped into the kitchen, and she knew she was being foolish. She knew she was letting her imagination and silly notions of romance take over reason and sense, things she had promised herself she wouldn’t do anymore. But the air changed when he came in the room. He was handsome. Kate was always talking about how Summer looked like that picture of a fairy queen, but Thack looked like a cowboy out of an old movie. He was broad and strong, with a smile for his daughter that made jittering sensations cartwheel through Summer’s chest.
    Do not be stupid, Summer. How could she have gone so quickly from not liking him at all to gooey-brained attraction?
    He touched Kate’s flyaway hair almost reverently, and that tenderness was the key to Summer’s undoing. For as irritating and off-putting as Thack had been in the beginning, his dedication to his daughter had melted so many of the defenses Summer had mustered.
    What must it be like to grow up knowing you were safe and loved?
    His gaze lifted to her, and something in her chest shifted awkwardly.
    â€œEverything okay?”
    Okay? Ha. Not by a long shot. But she had it under control. She was strong. She was resilient. Right? Right. “Dinner’s a little late, I’m afraid.”
    â€œThat’s all right.”
    â€œWhen the timer goes off, it’s ready. No fuss, really.” But that wasn’t what Mr. Lane had asked of her. Two meals a day, snacks for Kate. She hadn’t had a chance to help him with his woodworking shop today, but he hadn’t been feeling well, so she’d had to keep her eye on Kate.
    â€œYou’re going to eat with us, aren’t you? And watch the movie! Oh, and spend the night.”
    Summer’s heart stuttered over saying no to Kate’s exuberant offer, but as much as she wanted to shower the motherless little girl with whatever she asked, she knew Thack wanted boundaries.
    It would be best if she gave herself some boundaries and calmed down. Typical first-day jitters—typical putting too much pressure on herself. She wasn’t going to fall back into that habit, that old Summer. Trying to please a volatile and unpredictable woman.
    So, she smiled at Kate. “I would love to, of course, but I have to go have dinner with my family.”
    Kate pouted but went back to her puzzle without making too much of a fuss.
    â€œI’ll just go tidy up the living room.” She’d put in a little overtime, and then Thack couldn’t find her lacking.
    She grabbed a rag and slipped out of the kitchen and went to the craft-table mess. She’d simply set this to rights, then—
    â€œYou were supposed to be done a half hour ago. You don’t have to clean this up.”
    She turned to face Thack. He was as tense as always, but she thought he was trying, probably very hard, not to appear so…foreboding. He had his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans instead of tensed at his sides, and his mouth wasn’t that firm, disapproving line.
    It wasn’t a smile either, but she wasn’t about to expect smiles from Thack Lane. Not yet anyway. Maybe that was a goal to aspire to.
    â€œThat’s what your father’s paying me for though, right? Housekeeping.”
    â€œFrom eleven thirty until five thirty. You don’t need to put in any overtime on cleaning. You made lunch and dinner, and Kate didn’t escape. That’s pretty much what he’s paying you for, and we have been surviving without you.”
    â€œI’m here to make that surviving easier. I don’t mind putting in a few extra minutes to clean up a mess I initiated.”
    â€œAll right. I…I’ll help.” He walked haltingly toward the table as Summer collected the feathers and stuffed them back into the craft box. Thack used the rag she’d set down to wipe up the glitter, and Summer picked at the little glue spots.
    It