The Deputy's Holiday Family

Fortunately, they had one in stock. And when they returned to her SUV, Lacie insisted on carrying it. No small feat, since it weighed almost forty pounds. About the size of a small child. Though he doubted Kenzie weighed that much.

He shook his head. He couldn’t seem to stop thinking about the kid. Her dark eyes had grabbed hold of him and refused to let go.

“All right, Lace, this is your chance.”

“Chance for what?”

Strange. Until now, he never realized how much he’d missed that smile. The one that hinted at the tender heart behind the tough facade. The one that never failed to draw him in. “You get to install the battery.”

Still hunched over with the weight of her load, she said, “Seriously?”

“I’m only here for assistance.”

Her eyes sparkled. “Cool!”

Her attempts to lift the battery to the proper height failed immediately, though. She flared her nostrils. “Grrr...”

“Easy.” He moved to the back seat and grabbed Kenzie’s car seat. Setting it on the asphalt, he said, “Try standing on this.”

She did, and it was just the boost she needed to set the battery into place.

“All right, Lace, what’s next?”

“I don’t know.” A moment of panic flitted across her face. “The negative cable?”

“That’s right.” He handed her the wrench.

She cinched it into place, then connected the positive. “Screwdriver,” she said, moving the bracket into position.

Finished, she handed him his tools, her gaze expectant.

“Go fire it up and let’s see what we’ve got.”

She hurried behind the wheel and a moment later the engine roared to life. “I did it!” She hopped out onto the pavement, thrusting a fist into the air. “Yes!”

This time he did laugh. He’d never seen someone get so excited over a battery.

Suddenly more subdued, she moved toward him, her expression softening. “Thank you for teaching me.” The pink tinge of her cheeks grew deeper, heightening his awareness of just how pretty she was. Why hadn’t he noticed that before? “I really appreciate it.”

“And I appreciate your willingness to help me understand my job as director. It’s important to me.”

Peering up at him through long lashes, she said, “I know it is.” Her gray-blue eyes held his for a moment, allowing him the slightest glimpse of the Lacie he’d once shared his secrets with. Then she stepped away to close the hood. “That reminds me, I still need to send you that list.”

“That’s okay. You had other things to worry about.”

She nodded. “Well, I...guess I’d better go get Kenzie. We need to run to Montrose to pick up a birthday cake.”

“Looks like we got this taken care of just in time then. Whose birthday?”

“Kenzie’s.” Her smile was like any proud mother’s. “I can’t believe she’s five already.”

“Five?” He took a step back. “But she’s so small. I would have thought she was younger.”

“Nope.” She glanced up and down the street, as though unable to look at him. “So I should go.”

“Yeah, of course.” He gathered up his tools and placed them in the back of his vehicle as she drove away. What was wrong with him? This nagging sensation that twisted through him hadn’t been there before. Was it Lacie’s appreciation getting to him? Or something more?

Chapter Three (#u569dc7f9-d58c-5906-a6e7-23d9910f450a)

Lacie pulled into a parking spot in front of her mother’s shop, mentally chastising herself. In all her gratitude, she’d almost let her guard down with Matt. Something she couldn’t afford to do with any man. She owed it to her niece to be that one constant in her life, instead of allowing herself to be distracted the way Marissa so often had.

Like the night her boyfriend crashed his car, robbing Kenzie of her mother and forever changing her life.

Still, Lacie appreciated Matt’s willingness to guide her through the process of installing her new battery. Not dismissing her or trying to take over the way Brandon would have. In the two years they’d dated, Brandon had insisted on doing everything for her. At first, she thought he was just being chivalrous, but later realized Mr. Know-It-All had a deep-seated need to feel superior to anyone and everyone. Including her.

Shaking off the unwanted thoughts, she exited her vehicle into the cold late-morning air. Judging by the gray clouds obscuring the tops of the mountains along the town’s western edge, they’d soon be in for some snow. Kenzie would love that. Good thing Lacie had scooped up a couple of coats and some snow pants on clearance for her back in the spring when she still had a job. She didn’t want to have to tap into her savings any more than necessary.

Turning, she glimpsed the beginnings of her mother’s window display at The Paisley Elk, a little clothing boutique that catered mostly to women. So far, it consisted of batting “snow” and white lights, but then the contest for best Christmas display didn’t start in earnest until next week, so there was likely plenty more to come.

Inside was another story, though. Lacie had to hand it to her mother. The boutique was definitely festive. Standing under a ceiling adorned with hundreds of twinkling LED lights, she realized just how adept her mother had become at feigning Christmas. Not a Christmas tree in sight. No nativity of any kind. Not even a hint of the traditional red and green, save for the occasional evergreen bough. No, this was commercialism at its best. And if there wasn’t a prize involved—even if it wasn’t anything more than bragging rights—she doubted Mom would do any decorations at all.

Still, The Paisley Elk had an undeniable appeal that would draw people in. Like the glistening purple and silver balls that appeared to float in midair just below the lights, adding a touch of color to the overhead charm. And, of course, everything was perfectly merchandised for maximum effect, with pops of glitz and glam everywhere you looked.

Now if Lacie could just convince her mother to decorate the house...

December 23 would mark twelve years since Lacie’s father’s death. She’d never forget coming home from the hospital and watching her mother take down every decoration in the house. They hadn’t even opened their presents. Mom said she’d never celebrate Christmas again. And, so far, she’d held true to her word.

However, this was Kenzie’s first Christmas without Marissa. They owed it to her to make it the best Christmas the kid could possibly have. That meant having a tree, presents and everything else Lacie and Marissa had enjoyed as kids.

“There you are.” Mom draped a glittering silver pashmina scarf around the neck of a dress form sporting a pine-bough skirt adorned with silver ribbon, purple and silver balls, and peacock feathers. “How’s the car?”

“Up and running again, I’m happy to say.” She spotted Kenzie off to one side playing with—“Mom, is that Marissa’s and my old dollhouse?”

“Sure is. I thought, since Kenzie will be here with us a lot and that old thing was just collecting dust in the basement, she might enjoy playing with it.” Moving beside Lacie, she lowered her voice. “And I was right. She’s been playing with it this entire time.”

Lacie’s heart grew hopeful. Perhaps Mom hadn’t lost all sentiment.

She crossed to the small table where Kenzie was carefully moving the tiny furniture pieces, her smile widening with each step. The kid must have been having fun because she hadn’t even noticed that Lacie was there.

Kneeling beside her niece, she said, “What are you doing?”

“Playing house.” Tongue peeking out the corner of her mouth, Kenzie placed the miniature baby into the tiny crib.

“Are you having fun?”

Kenzie nodded, her expression somewhere between determined and delighted.

“I know just how you feel, Kenzikins.” Lacie’s father had built the dollhouse when she and Marissa were little. Like Kenzie, Lacie would spend hours rearranging furniture and contemplating different wall colors. No wonder she’d gone into interior design.