Elizabeth Goddard - Texas Christmas Defender

She entered the brightly decorated kitchen and breathed in the scent. Normally this would relax her. But not this morning.

Inez instantly looked up from pulling the scrumptious cinnamon rolls from the oven. She set them on the stove and frowned at Adriana. “Tanya, your cheeks are flushed. You’re not ill, are you?”

While living here, she went by Tanya Parker and tried to speak mostly English. Yes, Adriana had an American mother, who’d taught her the language, but she had died when Adriana was very young. Died and left Adriana behind to end up being raised in a cartel family.

A second-generation American, Inez had helped her to polish her English and speak it well. With her curly auburn hair and glasses, she might not look or sound like Adriana Garcia, but in the end, she couldn’t disguise her Mexican heritage.

Inez set the oven mitts aside and pressed her hand against Adriana’s forehead and cheeks like her mother would have. Adriana smiled and stepped away from the woman’s reach. “No, it’s nothing. Just glad it’s Christmas. I look—”

The doorbell rang. Adriana stiffened. She hadn’t come up with a story to tell Inez yet. She didn’t much feel like keeping anything from her. But how did she explain? “I’ll get it.”

Adriana made her way to the foyer and peeked through the peephole just to confirm Ranger McCord stood there. Seeing his tall form, his brown hair mussed from the hat he’d removed, his broad shoulders held high, had her heart skipping. His green eyes stared down the peephole and her pulse jumped. The man appeared intense in a way she couldn’t help but find attractive.

She couldn’t let her emotions run away over him. If only she hadn’t been infatuated with him from the moment she’d met him two years ago. Her sentiments aside, she wasn’t even sure how she felt about his sudden appearance, even if he promised protection.

Sucking in a breath to regain her composure, she opened the door and smiled. Somehow she had to get into the act. “What a surprise to see you.”

Amusement sparked in his eyes as he returned her smile, flashing those dimples and triggering that tingle in her toes again. She tried to look at anything but his smile, but where? His eyes? His strong jaw? His more than adequate physique? He’d placed his Stetson back on his head and that wrapped up the complete handsome Texas Ranger picture.

She opened the door wide and waved him in with a flourish.

Inez appeared, wiping her hands on a towel.

“This is Brent McCord, Inez,” Adriana said, then turned her attention to the Ranger. “What brings you by? You’re welcome to spend Christmas Day with us.” She hadn’t even waited for his answer before inviting him. Adriana hated the way her words sounded so stilted and rehearsed.

She focused her next words on Inez. “That’s all right with you, isn’t it?”

Inez’s eyes widened. Her gaze held Adriana and a small grin lifted her lips as if she knew a secret. “Welcome, welcome, Mr. McCord. If you don’t have other plans, we’d be delighted for you to join us. You’re just in time for the cinnamon rolls. They’re just out of the oven. It’s a late breakfast for us. We’ll eat our Christmas dinner in a few hours. I hope you like smoked turkey.”

The Ranger nodded with a grin. That cute triple-dimpled grin. Adriana wished he wouldn’t smile at all, because he was entirely too charming. “No plans at all,” he replied. “I appreciate the invitation, ma’am.”

Ranger McCord stepped all the way inside and drew in a long breath, the aroma of cinnamon rolls obviously getting to him. Adriana motioned for him to sit on the sofa in the small living room of the ranch house, the huge window in front offering a good view of a portion of the ranch. From that position, they could see the unpaved driveway leading to the house on one side, and a part of the pasture on the other side with llamas grazing in the distance. By the subtle relaxing of his posture, she could tell he appreciated the chance to keep an eye on things and hopefully see any danger that might approach.

Inez returned with coffee and a plate of rolls for them. Adriana watched as the Ranger took a bite of Inez’s specialty and closed his eyes, savoring the flavor and texture. When he opened them, they looked right into Adriana’s. Unsettling.

She shook off the effect he had on her and grinned. “There’s nothing like them, is there?”

“I haven’t tasted better.”

The shared reaction to Inez’s cinnamon rolls oddly broke the awkwardness of the situation, and for a few minutes Adriana believed that she would be able to forget that Ranger McCord had been searching for and finally found her. And now he would...well, she wasn’t really certain what his next step was. At the end of this most holy day, she didn’t know what would happen to her. But, for now, they ate and talked as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

“What do you think of my lovely sweater?” Inez modeled it for them. “This was my Christmas gift from Tanya.”

Adriana looked at Brent. “We exchanged gifts last night. I guess we were both too anxious to wait to give our gifts today.”

“And what did Inez give you?” he asked.

She suddenly felt awkward because they had no gift for him, but he was an unexpected guest. “A beautifully carved leather handbag. I can get it, if you like.”

“No need. You can show me later.”

“I’m sorry I don’t have a gift for you. I didn’t know you were coming.”

“What?” He twisted his face in mock offense.

“Just a minute.” Inez gave a mischievous grin, then disappeared around the corner.

“So what’s it like working a llama ranch?” Was this Brent’s attempt at small talk? Benign conversation until Inez’s return? She’d play along, for lack of any other options. His voice intrigued her—it didn’t sound like he’d grown up in Texas. She might ask him about that later, if given the chance.

“I had no idea how much I’d love living and working on a llama ranch.” Adriana released a long sigh. “I could live here forever in peace.”

Brent moved away from the sofa and sat across from her on the floor, one knee up. His arm rested on his knee. “You mean, if it weren’t for the fact your brother is after you,” he whispered.

She leaned her head back. “You would have to bring him up. Bad enough you’re here, I had hoped to enjoy the day without thoughts of my particular situation.” She hadn’t forgotten her brother. Would never forget that everyone was after her—including the Texas Rangers—but, for today, she’d needed a reprieve.

“I don’t want you to relax. You can’t afford to until this is over.”

Brent stiffened at the approaching footfalls in the hallway and returned to his previous seat.

Inez held a wrapped package and handed it to Brent. He frowned as though he wouldn’t accept it. Adriana couldn’t let him hurt Inez. She grabbed the package for him and handed it over, forcing it into his hands, not letting him refuse. “Merry Christmas.”

Pain flickered behind his gaze. What was that about? Reluctantly he took the package. “There was no need,” he said as he glanced to Inez. “I’m intruding here, as it is.”

“God brought you here today for a reason.”

Surprise sprang from his eyes. “Well, I don’t have anything to give you in return.”

“Of course you do,” Inez said. “I know you’re here to protect my Tanya.”

Brent glanced at the woman. He turned his attention back to Adriana. She saw the question in his eyes. You told her?

Adriana gave a subtle shake of her head. Inez was extremely observant and had obviously figured out on her own that things were not as they seemed.

He hesitated another moment, then ripped into the small package. It was a leather-bound devotional filled with God’s promises. The leather carving was similar to that of Inez’s gift to Adriana, obviously purchased at the same craft shop.