Free Christmas in Texas by Rebecca Winters, Tina Leonard Page A

polishing his résumé and
putting in some extra training hours.
    She’d gone from an assistant in the Bridesmaids Bouquet shop to
owner and manager when her grandmother had died. He knew things had been tough
for her. He’d agreed to the separation, figuring maybe she’d feel better in
time. Months had passed, and still she didn’t call—though he hoped desperately
that she would. Capri had taken the lead in the beginning of their relationship;
it had stood to reason he’d be in good shape if he let her take the lead when
she’d processed whatever she was going through.
    But she never called.
    Seagal leaned back, glancing around the square. He’d missed it
here, more than he realized. Last Christmas he’d been gone most of the holiday
season. Same thing this year, until he’d heard about the drug ring. Capri’s shop
had come up as a possible place the drugs were being hidden—and then her
brother, Beau, had called, dropping the earth-shattering bomb on him that he was
going to be a dad.
    Seagal had requested a transfer with lightning speed—and bent
every department ear he could find about letting him be assigned to his
wife.
    Maybe he’d made matters worse.
    Sudden tapping at his window startled him. He rolled down the
window to glare at Daisy.
    “What are you doing out at this hour?” he demanded.
    She laughed. “Is eight o’clock late in your world now,
Seagal?”
    He wasn’t going to fall for her obvious reference to his
not-wild lifestyle. “What can I do for you, Daze?”
    Daisy’s smile was sweet, angelic. Just like Jack had said.
Only, Jack was stupid. And I’m not.
    “Get tired of changing diapers?” she asked. “Is that why you’re
sitting here alone in the dark?”
    “I doubt I’ll ever tire of changing diapers. Good times, as far
as I’m concerned.” It was the truth. He loved spending time with his daughter
and his son. Diapers were no big deal—just part of taking care of babies. He
glanced over at her ride to change the subject. “Nice bike.”
    “Yeah.” She glanced at her super-hot-pink motorcycle with
pride. “A girl’s gotta have wheels.”
    “I guess.” He wouldn’t classify those as just any old wheels.
“I’m going to have to shove off.”
    Daisy looked at him, full-on sex appeal in her tight black
rider duds. She hadn’t worn a helmet. Her long brown hair was tousled and sexy
from the wind. She looked wild and free, and he got why the guys dug her—he had,
too, once upon a time.
    Before he’d realized he could actually have Capri Snow, the
smartest, cutest, most uptight girl in the town.
    “I’m glad you came back to Bridesmaids Creek, Seagal.”
    “Don’t see why you’d care, Daisy.”
    She shrugged. “You’re a nice guy. There aren’t a lot of men
like you around.”
    This conversation was starting to sound a bit dangerous, like
it might be all about stroking his ego. He didn’t have an ego these days; it was
totally invested in Capri and his kids. “Plenty of nice guys. Though I hear
you’re not always spending your time with the best.”
    She frowned. “What do you mean?”
    “Saw you ride off the other night with Taylor Kinsler,” he said
matter-of-factly.
    Her frown turned into a sexy smile. “Jealous, Seagal?”
    He started to say no, not by a long shot, but she leaned over
and kissed him on the lips. Seagal drew back as if he’d been struck by a snake.
“Not cool, Daze,” he said, started his engine, and drove away.
    * * *
    “A ND THEN SHE KISSED HIM ,”
Mrs. Penny said, “right on the mouth.”
    Capri blinked. “Are you sure it was Seagal?”
    That was a dumb question, and she knew it. Nobody drove a truck
like Seagal’s. She wasn’t surprised he was still staking out her store, either.
He was determined the drugs were being trafficked through her shop, no matter
how many times she told him it was impossible.
    Mathilda nodded. “I could see clear as anything with the new
streetlights. The only reason I’m telling you, Capri,