Christmas Gifts: Cinderella and the Cowboy / The Boss's Christmas Baby / Their Little Christmas Miracle

He did.

Jack suggested they start with the infant department. He knew she intended to end it there, too, but that wouldn’t be happening. Not on his watch.

As they looked at all the cribs they had on the floor, Jack noticed she paid more attention to the prices than the crib. But he saw the sparkle in her big blue eyes when she approached one in particular. Then he stepped to the saleslady and told her they would take the one she’d lingered over.

Elizabeth whirled around. “What did you just do?”

“I chose a crib.”

“Why didn’t I get to choose?”

“You did. I saw the way you were looking at that one.”

“But—”

He ignored her and turned back to the saleslady. “We’ll take it.”

Elizabeth huffed.

“What else can I get you today?” the saleslady asked.

Elizabeth answered for him. “Nothing else. This will be all.”

“I believe the lady asked me the question, Liz.” He gave the older woman his full attention. “What would you recommend?”

She offered some suggestions, including bedding and a musical animal mobile for over the bed, pads for over the sheets, and springs to replace the rollers on the bed.

“I’ll take it.”

“All of them?” the saleslady asked Jack.

“Yeah, all of them.”

Elizabeth glared at Jack. She knew what he was up to. “I will not participate in this!”

“That’s fine. Why don’t you go on to the boy’s department and pick out Brady’s clothes?”

“He doesn’t need any clothes.”

“We’ll see.”

Instead she sat down in the comfortable chair they had for customers and took Jenny out of the pouch across her chest. When the baby started to fuss, she gave her a bottle, all the time ignoring what that difficult man was doing.

Jack was having the time of his life. When he and the saleslady had rounded up everything, he asked what else they would need.

“Won’t your wife want to help?”

He didn’t bother correcting the woman. “No, she doesn’t care. Let’s pick out some pretty clothes for Jenny.”

“But won’t your wife be mad at you?”

“That makes making up a lot more fun,” he said with a wink.

She gave a girlish giggle and went to work again. In no time she had a pile of pink in front of him.

“Okay, I think we’ve finished,” Jack said. “You’ll have them sent to Pickup for us, won’t you?”

“Yes, of course. It’s been a real pleasure, sir. I wish you and your wife all the happiness in the world.”

“Thank you.” He bent down and kissed her on the cheek.

“Are you finished now?” Elizabeth asked him as he approached her. “Jenny wants to go home.”

Jack chuckled. “I suppose she told you that?”

“Yes.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“I am not!”

He just grinned at her and said, “Ask Jenny what she wants to do.”

Elizabeth pouted. “You needn’t make fun of me.”

“Right. Let’s go.”

When they reached the door to leave the store, he suddenly stopped. “Oh, Liz, I need to go to another area to get something for Brady. Tom asked me to pick out something special for him.”

She frowned, but she couldn’t say no to a special gift from a grandpa. “All right. And I should tell you that I don’t like to be called Liz.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He tipped an imaginary hat. “What size does Brady wear?”

“Size six.”

“Ah, I thought he was big for his age.”

“Yes, he…What are you buying?”

“Why don’t you find a seat for you and Jenny?”

“You won’t be long, will you?”

“As long as it takes to find what I’m looking for.”

“But—” She cut off when Jack walked away. Arguing was useless.

She sat back and watched him wander around the boy’s department. He wouldn’t be too long, she was sure.