Tall, Dark, Texas Ranger / Once Upon A Christmas Eve: Tall, Dark, Texas Ranger

“You have the touch,” the new mother said. “I better go put him in his carrier.” Jenny walked off with her husband.

With everyone’s desertion, that left Coop with Lilly. “My mother looks so happy.” She beamed. “I couldn’t have picked any better guy for her. Sean raised his sons on his own after his wife left them years ago. Never complained, and his boys came first. So he hasn’t seriously dated anyone.” She sighed. “What am I doing? They only started seeing each other and I have them married. Maybe it’s just a friendship.”

He cocked an eyebrow at her. He’d seen how Rafferty looked at Beth. He might be in his late fifties, but the man’s look showed desire.

Coop started to respond when he saw Stephanie Perry walk in with Santos. “Your sister-in-law has arrived.”

“My ex-sister-in-law. Darn, I was hoping she wouldn’t show today. If she comes anywhere near me, I’m calling the sheriff.”

“No need, I’m here,” he told her, knowing he wanted to keep an eye on Santos. He only hoped that he’d show his hand today. Maybe get some idea what was going on. They could slip and say something. It was a long shot, but that was what he lived for.

After eating far too much, Lilly ended up alone at the table. Robbie and Kasey had both finished and run off with friends. Since her daughter had been so cheerful, Lilly let her off restriction for a few hours. Her mother was with Sean and their friends. Noah had taken off, to speak with Alex about something work-related.

Okay, pity party of one.

“Well, well, sister dear. Seems you’re all alone. Again.”

Lilly tensed as she turned to see Stephanie. “Go away, or I’ll get someone to remove you.” She glanced across the room but no sign of anyone to help. She got up to leave.

Stephanie stopped her. “Just give me a moment.”

Lilly sank back down on the bench. “Why should I? All you do is harass me. You have everything already, what else could you want from me?”

Stephanie raised a calming hand. “Just something that’s gone missing. Some tax information that Mike had. I just thought he might have left a box that got mixed up with your stuff.”

Lilly didn’t trust her. “Why would I have anything of Mike’s. He’s been gone nearly two years.”

Stephanie seemed to stumble over her words. “Well, we need all the tax records for the last seven years. We’re being audited.”

Lilly shook her head. “I don’t have it.”

The bigger woman was crowding her space. “Maybe there’s a box somewhere. In the attic, or a closet.”

“I told you it’s all gone. Now I’ve got to go.”

“To your new boyfriend?”

Lilly froze. “That’s my business. We’re done here.”

“But you need to help me find the papers.”

“For the last time, no. And if you don’t stop harassing me, I’ll get a restraining order.”

The woman looked shocked, but then a sneer came across her face. “You don’t have the guts.”

* * *

Coop had been keeping a close watch on Santos all afternoon, but the man had stayed pretty close to Stephanie. They spent time with neighbors and friends, also with the hosts Alex and Allison Casali. One thing for sure, Rey Santos seemed to be well acquainted with just about everyone in town. Of course he helped run a business that serviced a lot of the residents of Kerry Springs.

Was this a dead end?

Coop was about to give up on anything happening when a Hispanic man came up to Santos. Their body language told him that this was more than just a friendly conversation. After a few minutes, the stranger walked off. Next Santos glanced around and he, too, started to leave the barbecue area. He acted as if he were going for a smoke, holding an unlit cigarette as he backed into the wooded area behind the cabins.

Keeping his distance, Coop followed Rey through the trees behind the cabin. Santos kept walking, looking over his shoulder.

Coop circled around to the other side, using the trees and brush for cover. If Rey was going for a smoke he was walking quite a ways to do it. He finally stopped in a clearing.

Behind a large tree, Coop waited and soon two more men made their way out of the trees.

He crouched lower and managed to move a little closer so he could try to decipher their voices from the music and noise coming from the party. They were speaking in Spanish. No surprise.

Growing up in El Paso, he knew enough to get by, but with everyone speaking at once, he only managed some key words, like “delivery” but he needed to hear a time or a date.

What the hell was being delivered? Drugs? Was this what the informant was trying to tell them? Give us the times and dates of the deliveries. Was this what Stephanie and Santos wanted from Lilly? Damn, he needed more answers.

Suddenly he heard his name and turned around to see Lilly coming toward him. Coop glanced toward the clearing. The others had heard her, too. The men dispersed, except for Santos who headed their way.

There wasn’t anything Coop could do but fake his way out of it. When Lilly finally reached him, he grabbed hold of her and pulled her against him as his mouth covered hers.

CHAPTER EIGHT

LILLY was caught totally off guard when Noah reached for her. He wasn’t gentle as his mouth closed over hers, but raw hunger didn’t allow finesse. Nor did she want it to.

Slipping her arms around his neck, she had no plans to stop what was happening. The feel of his mouth against hers stole her breath, causing her heart to drum against her ribs. The sound pounded in her ears. Mostly she reveled in the joy of being in Noah’s arms.

With a groan, he moved his hands over her back and pulled her tighter against him. She reacted with a moan and opened to him. It didn’t take long as his tongue moved against hers, sending shivers down her spine.

Then his mouth broke away, but she didn’t have a chance to miss it as he nibbled his way along her jaw to her ear.

“Lilly … We’re being watched, follow my lead.”

Watched? Who was watching? She managed to nod. Then his mouth returned to hers. She couldn’t stop a moan as he worked his magic again.

“Perdon, señora.”

Lilly jumped and turned around to find Rey Santos. “Oh, Rey.”

The man’s somber look slowly turned into a grin. “Sorry to disturb you.” He glared at Noah. “I wanted to make sure you are all right.”

Lilly worked to control her breathing, but couldn’t speak.

“Why wouldn’t she be?” Noah asked. “Except maybe from people sneaking up on her,” he went on as he pulled her closer.

Santos’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe the woods isn’t the safest place to be … with your mujer.”

Noah’s woman. Lilly had to admit she liked that idea.

“We wanted to be alone,” Noah told him. “I had no idea the woods would be so crowded.”