A Laramie, Texas Christmas

He went completely still. For a split second, Noelle could have sworn that was genuine alarm in his eyes. “Has something happened to her?” he asked, concerned.

Either he truly cared about Miss Sadie or he was one hell of an actor. Noelle regarded him skeptically. “Everyone around here knows what occurred here the day before yesterday. I know, and I don’t even live in the area!”

He frowned. “I’ve been out of touch for the past two weeks. I’m on my way home from a fishing trip.”

That might have rung true, in summer. Not December. Although it did explain the clothes…. Resolved not to accept anything he told her without due scrutiny, she lifted a brow. “Fishing for what?”

“Speckled trout, red drum and white bass. I’ve got my catch on ice in my Jeep if you want to see it.”

Okay, that had the ring of truth. However, that didn’t mean it was a good idea to let him any closer, especially given whom she had hidden inside Miss Sadie’s house. Darn it all. Where was that patrol car? She fixed him with her most threatening glare. “Once again, you need to leave.”

His mouth twitched with suppressed amusement. “Or what?”

Obviously he was not used to being ordered around.

“I’ll be forced to use this.” She waved her “weapon” threateningly in his direction. “To defend myself.”

“Well—” he lifted both hands in a mock display of surrender “—now I’m scared.”

“You should be,” she lied, gripping the large plastic ornament more tightly.

“Oh, I can see you’re armed and dangerous.” He started toward her once again, wicked speculation gleaming in his eyes.

She backed up ever so slightly, aware the rest of her was suddenly shaking as much as her knees. “I know how to use this.”

“What are you going to do with it?” he taunted. “Decorate me?”

“You wish. Now get back!” She lunged toward him.

Probably figuring she was going to aim for his head, he brought his hands up to shield his face. She faked him out and swung low instead. He jumped left, swearing as the candy cane whacked his thigh with a dull thud.

“Hey! Watch what you’re doing with that thing!”

Okay, maybe she hadn’t actually hurt him, but she had annoyed him. And now that she had the upper hand… “Now do you take me seriously?” she asked.

He grimaced, eyeing the candy cane, yet still refused to back down the steps. “Ma’am,” he drawled, tipping the brim of his hat, “I have from the first.”

“Stop calling me ‘ma’am’.” She prodded at him like a cowpoke herding cattle into a pen.

He gave her a pitying look, then retreated down the steps.

It was a conciliatory move, one she’d be a fool to trust.

“What would you like me to call you?”

Figuring she was going to have to go through with the citizen’s arrest after all, since it was taking the sheriff’s department so darn long, Noelle followed him down the steep, rickety steps toward the van. Using the candy cane, she motioned for him to keep moving back, until his spine grazed the side of the vehicle. Summoning up every police procedural she had ever seen, Noelle barked, “Get down on your knees.”

His brows lifted. “Now, that’s a thought.”

“And put your hands behind your head,” she commanded.

“Even more interesting.” He gave her a look that made her flush. “But no.”

Ah, heck. Now what? Trying not to think what a ludicrous situation this was, Noelle brandished her “weapon.” “Don’t make me hurt you—”

“Momma!” a familiar, high-pitched voice cried.

Noelle turned in time to see her two-year-old son stumbling out of the house, carrying a book that was half as big as he was. Noelle jerked in a terrified breath. This was exactly what she had been trying to prevent. “Mikey—!”

“Momma!” Still smiling, her son raced awkwardly across the landing, his feet getting tangled as he reached the top of the stairs.

Aware it would take both hands to catch the twenty-eight-pound toddler, Noelle leaped toward him. “Mikey, no—!”

Too late. He was already pitching forward, tumbling head over heels. Desperate to protect him, Noelle took another leap, cast the candy cane aside and bounded up the stairs in a single vault. She caught her son in her arms midtumble, just as her full weight landed hard on the rickety wooden steps. There was a crunching sound and a sick, scared feeling in her gut as wood splintered beneath them and then gave way. Noelle was sure she was going to break a limb, even as she tried her best to cradle her son protectively to her chest.

And then it was the interloper’s turn to save the day. He caught both her and her son in his arms before they could sink all the way through the wood, and pulled them to safety. Wide-eyed, Mikey let out a startled sound that was half cry, half laugh.

“Mikey!” Noelle murmured again, this time shuddering in relief.

Her little boy beamed up at her before reaching over, gently patting Kevin’s beard and staring hard into his brown eyes. “Santa?” he asked.

Chapter Two

“He’s not Santa, honey.”

“Beard,” the cute little boy with the copper curls and same vibrant blue eyes as his mother said.

“Yes, he has a beard,” she confirmed, squirming in Kevin’s arms, even as he tried to help her back on her feet. Not an easy task, since she was still slightly off balance and had a child in her arms. “But this man is not Santa Claus.”

“No kidding,” a low male voice agreed. Kevin relaxed at the sight of the uniformed lawman coming around the corner of the house. Rio Vasquez had his hand on his holster, but when he spotted the three of them tangled up on the partially collapsed wooden stairs, he dropped his arm and quickened his steps.

“Thank heaven you’re here!” Kevin’s would-be jailer said.

Rio gave Kevin an odd look that gave nothing away before turning back to the copper-haired beauty. “You’re the woman who called in to report an attempted burglary on Miss Sadie’s property?”

“Yes. I’m Noelle Kringle,” she stated firmly, agitated color flooding her cheeks as she squirmed out of Kevin’s arms.

He told himself he wasn’t sorry to let her go, that he hadn’t really enjoyed holding her soft warm body next to his, any more than he had enjoyed inhaling the lavender scent of her perfume.

“I’m glad you’re here, Deputy…Vasquez,” Noelle said haughtily, reading the name on his badge. “I was trying to make a citizen’s arrest.”

Kevin had to give his buddy credit—Rio didn’t so much as flinch, even at the phony-sounding name. Instead, he merely lifted his brow and waited for “Noelle Kringle” to go on.

“I saw him checking out the stuff in my van,” Noelle continued, with an accusing look aimed Kevin’s way.

“Which is when you called the sheriff’s department and then hung up on the 9-1-1 operator,” Rio guessed.

Noelle nodded. “I came out to stop him from taking anything. He wouldn’t leave when I asked him to. So I decided to detain him until you arrived.”