Christine Flynn - Tall, Dark, Texas Ranger / Once Upon A Christmas Eve - Tall, Dark, Texas Ranger

Coop knew he hadn’t fooled this man. He needed to change the subject. He told Alex about Kasey Perry’s adventure at the Dark Moon Arcade. “From what I could gather it’s not a good place for kids.”

“Not even close,” Alex agreed. “We’ve been trying to shut it down the past few years. I even offered to buy it, but the owner refused my offer.” Again Alex studied him. “It seems you’ve gotten involved in a few things since your arrival.”

He shrugged. “Just a little painting, and helped Lilly find Kasey. Like you said, it’s small-town living.”

“As a friend of Lilly and her family, we appreciate it. Maybe it’s time I alert the sheriff so he can keep a watch on the place.”

There were so many things that Coop didn’t feel safe involving a civilian in. If it was Perry who contacted the Feds, that might have been what caused his death. Did he leave behind some incriminating information? Stephanie and Santos were too interested in Mike Perry’s things. How far would they go to get it? His main job was to keep Lilly and her kids safe.

That was his number one priority.

TWO mornings later, Lilly’s heart swelled at hearing laughter from outside the window. Her son was again working with Coop. Today, their resident handyman and his trusty helper were putting flagstone pavers over the already patched walkway leading up to the porch.

Coop had convinced her mother it would be cheaper to lay stone over the patched concrete than tear it out and pour a new walk.

At breakfast, Robbie had explained that the big tree in the front yard shaded the sidewalk in the morning so it was cooler to work there. They’d go back to painting when the sun moved from the side of the house.

Whatever Noah Cooper was doing, she wanted him to continue because her son was a lot happier these days. So was she. Her smile quickly died. If only she could say the same for her daughter.

She rolled her eyes at the ceiling, feeling the vibration, hearing the loud music coming from Kasey’s bedroom. It was the only thing she hadn’t taken away from the teenager.

She knew this wasn’t the end to this struggle between mother and daughter. Somehow, Lilly had to figure out a way to get through to her. What terrified her was that she might not be able to.

“Mom! Mom!” Robbie cried and she hurried outside afraid he’d gotten hurt.

A quick scan told her he was fine. So was the man standing next to him, shirtless. She felt a catch in her breath as she eyed that beautiful sculptured chest, flat stomach and …

“Come see.” Robbie interrupted her thoughts as he waved her down to the sidewalk.

She descended the steps. “What’s wrong?”

“See, Mom. I put my initials in the cement,” he told her proudly.

“Yes, you did.” She looked down at the “RP” along with the date in the grout beside the flagstone. “That looks great. So does the walk.”

“Coop said in a hundred years people will know that we did this work.”

She stole a glance at the man who rocked her son’s world these days. “That’s a lot of hot Texas summers and hard winters.”

Robbie nodded. “Coop said you should always do the best job so your work will last. So people can depend on you.”

She felt emotions welling in her throat. “That’s true. You should be proud of everything you do.”

“Do you think Daddy would be proud of me?”

She had to swallow hard as she glanced at the stoic look on Coop’s face. “I know he would.” She put on a big smile as she hugged her son.

After a moment, Coop spoke, “Hey, Robbie, we need to clean up before we go and get ice cream.”

“Ice cream?”

Coop gave Robbie a questioning look. “You did ask, didn’t you?”

Robbie looked down. “I guess I forgot. Mom, can we go get some ice cream?”

“How about we eat some lunch, then go.”

Robbie opened his mouth to argue, then looked at Coop. “Sure.”

Lilly turned to Coop. “It’s tomato soup and grilled cheese.”

“My favorite,” he told her.

“It’s my favorite, too,” her son chimed in.

Coop picked up his shirt and slipped it on. He hadn’t missed Lilly’s interest, nor did he mind it, but this was work. He needed to concentrate on doing his job and she wasn’t making it easy.

He followed them into the kitchen and heard the music from upstairs. He fought a grin. “I take it Kasey’s letting you know she’s not happy.”

Lilly went around the island and pulled out the flat griddle. “Drama for Kasey started when she was about a year old and it hasn’t let up yet.”

Coop went to the sink and turned on the water to wash his hands. He liked being in this kitchen. It was a little worn, but he bet there’d been plenty of good times here.

He glanced over his shoulder just as Lilly went to get something from the refrigerator. When she bent slightly, her shorts pulled tight over her shapely rear end and long legs.

Oh, boy. He felt the stirring low in his gut.

As if she sensed his attention, she turned around. Her expression was one of surprise, though there was awareness in her eyes, but she quickly glanced away. “What kind of cheese do you want on your sandwich?”

He shut off the water and grabbed a towel, wiped his hands as he leaned against the counter. “Anything is fine.” He’d be damned if he would apologize for staring at a beautiful woman. Wasn’t that what guys did? Except he was a Texas Ranger who was supposed to be doing his job, and Lilly Perry was a part of it.

She looked at him again. “Why don’t you go sit down? I can handle lunch.”

He started to argue when Robbie came running into the room. “Coop! Coop! See what I got.” He was holding up a baseball in a plastic case as he climbed up on a stool at the island.

“What do we have here?”

“It’s a baseball. See it’s got Nolan Ryan’s name on it. Just like your baseball card.”

“Robbie,” his mother cautioned. “Remember that’s not a toy. It’s valuable.”

“I won’t take it out,” he promised her. “I only wanted to show it to Coop.” The boy turned back to him. “He played for the Texas Rangers baseball team. Dad said Nolan Ryan’s the greatest pitcher ever.”

“I know.” Coop took the plastic case and examined the ball to see Ryan’s signature. “He had seven no hitters. He was the strikeout king. He was nicknamed The Ryan Express.”

The boy’s eyes rounded. “Wow! You know a lot.”

“That’s because I love baseball, too. I used to play in high school.” It had been the only thing that kept him out of trouble. “Do you play?”

The boy hung his head and murmured, “I don’t know how to catch very good.” He looked at his mother. “I don’t have anyone to practice with me.”

Coop felt for the kid, knowing sports had kept him and his brother off the streets. “I bet you can play tee-ball and learn.”

Lilly turned the sandwiches on the grill, surprised at her son’s comment. She would have loved to sign him up. Give him an activity to keep him busy. “If you want to play, I can talk to one of the fathers, maybe they will help you.”

“Ah, Mom. I don’t want to do that.”

Lilly was at a loss. She wasn’t much of an athlete, so she couldn’t help.

“Maybe I can help you,” Coop said. “You got a mitt and another baseball?”

“Sure. I’ll go get ‘em.”

Lilly called him back before he left the room. “First, we eat. So go and wash up and get your sister.”

The boy looked disappointed, but did what he was told.

Lilly went to stir the soup, then pulled down the bowls.

“Is there something wrong?” Noah asked.

She hated to say anything critical about his act of kindness. She looked at him. “I’m just a little worried. Robbie has been so excited these last few days with you around.”