Christmas in Texas: Christmas Baby Blessings / The Christmas Rescue

Darn him. She’d never gotten over him.

“Seagal,” Capri said, “I don’t want you staying here.”

He shook his head. “Don’t be mad because I didn’t bring you any cookies. Mrs. Penny said she’s bringing over a box later. That’s why she baked them.”

She shook her head, not allowing him to sidetrack her with cookie romance.

“I have to stay here with you,” Seagal said. “Those are my children. You’re my wife. There’s no place on this earth I belong more than right here.”

Her heart tugged painfully. “Seagal, if you hadn’t found out I was pregnant, you wouldn’t be here. You weren’t coming back to Bridesmaids Creek. We’d be at the courthouse in two weeks, signing divorce papers.”

He shrugged. “I came back to Bridesmaids Creek because I heard you were expecting. I didn’t know it was twins, but all the same, I knew you were having a baby. And Beau assured me it was mine.”

“What?” Capri yelped, stung by her brother’s betrayal.

Seagal ignored her. “I didn’t have to come back. To be honest, I asked to be on this case. I didn’t know you were going to be assigned round-the-clock protection—”

“Which is dumb,” Capri said. “I don’t need a bodyguard.”

“But I did want to be there when the bust went down,” Seagal said, ignoring her. “I just wasn’t expecting you to be so far along. Once I saw you, I knew I was the bodyguard my wife required.”

“Seagal, I don’t need you or anyone. I can take care of myself and these children.”

“I know you can,” Seagal said, “but you married me for better or worse. You’re stuck with me, gorgeous. At least for another few days.”

He was so unmovable. Determined. “Stuck is right,” she said with a sigh.

Seagal stood. “I wasn’t happy you didn’t tell me, but then that’s when I realized you were still in love with me, and that you’d never gotten over me.”

Capri’s jaw dropped at Seagal’s outrageously high opinion of himself. “How does that even work?”

“Because—” Seagal said, sliding up into bed with her, his boots dangling over the edge of the lacy white comforter “—you were never that good at fibbing, Capri. And you weren’t going to tell me, because you knew I’d be here in a heartbeat.” He turned to look at her, too close for her comfort. “I knew if I came home, you’d have to look me in the eye and tell me you honestly didn’t love me anymore. And you can’t do that.”

She didn’t say anything. Yet she couldn’t look away from his deep blue eyes, either.

“Can you say you don’t love me anymore, Capri?” Seagal asked, and when she couldn’t bring herself to say she didn’t, he leaned over and brushed his lips against hers.

Chapter Four

Seagal looked at his annoyed wife, feeling his blood pressure subside. He’d kissed her ever so slightly to comfort her, but now she was even more worked up and looking suspicious of his intentions. Capri really had worried him, and that’s when he knew she had a point: he worried about her constantly now.

He’d kissed her to comfort himself.

Feeling her lips against his was something he needed. He did still love her, no matter what doubts she had squirreling around in that cute head of hers.

“Sorry,” he said. “Won’t happen again.”

“It better not,” she shot back. “And now, if you don’t mind, impertinent sir, could you please remove your boots and self from my bed?”

Seagal got up. “It’s this white lacy comforter thing. It’s like a man defender. I’m afraid I’m going to get it dirty.”

She looked at him a long time. “It’s a duvet. It washes. Bleach does wonders.”

“Is that an invitation?” he asked, pushing his luck.

“No,” Capri said. “I’m telling you that two babies will soon be in this bed with me.”

“Oh.” Clearly not an invitation, so perhaps it was best that he cut out while she wasn’t completely riled with him. “Hey, I’ve got some runs to make. I’m going to leave Jack here for security, and Kelly here to be bedside companion—”

“Neither of which I need, thanks. What I need is peace and quiet,” his darling and opinionated wife reminded him.

Seagal grinned. “And Mrs. Penny will be by soon with the best gingerbread men you’ve ever tasted.”

“All your spies are in place, then.”

“You could say that. Just lie there like a princess, and everyone will be happy.”

He just needed to go root Kelly and Jack out of whatever corner they’d holed up in. Capri wasn’t fooling him—she’d sent the two lovebirds off to do a little nesting. She’d probably given Kelly detailed instructions on how to seduce a man. Capri had certainly seduced the heck out of him.

And being seduced by Capri had convinced him that bachelorhood was overrated by far.

Capri raised a brow, purposefully looked at the door.

“You know,” Seagal said, glancing around the bedroom they’d once shared, “I notice you don’t have your usual Christmaspalooza all over the house.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I’ve been busy.”

He nodded. “I checked out the nursery. There’s nothing in it but a white dresser.”

“I was busy planning Christmastown. I thought I had time. I’ve never been on bed rest in my life.”

He looked at the fireplace mantel in the room, which had Christmas cards on it but no decorations. Last year she’d twined the mantel with greenery and pine cones, setting angels at each end. “Well, there’s always next year.”

She lay there looking at him with those big eyes, saying nothing.

Okay, he got the message. There wasn’t going to be a next year—not for the two of them. At least, not in her happy-ever-after scenario.

His little wife had no idea how much she really, really wanted him. It was going to kill him, but he was willing to wait until she figured it out.

* * *

SEAGAL WASN’T COMFORTABLE walking into his wife’s flower shop, even though he’d once spent quite a bit of time hanging out at the Bridesmaids Bouquet. During their courtship, he’d liked to stop off on his breaks and chat with her. There was nothing he loved better than visiting Capri when she was surrounded by flowers. Her shop was a soft, gentle place, and it suited her.

Later, after their wedding, he’d sometimes talked her into letting him help her in the shop. He carted around boxes, unpacked things, even pushed the broom. The goal was to be with her. He would bring frosted cupcakes just to be close to her. Some men couldn’t wait to get to their jobs, get away from their wives, their home lives.

He’d never been like that with Capri. She was a serene and peaceful counterpoint to his job. And his own childhood.

He had never been able to believe his luck in getting her to go out with him on a first date. Capri had asked him for a date after he and Daisy Donovan broke up, so shyly and sweetly it would have taken a coldhearted man to say no. Not that he would have said no to Capri Snow. Daisy and he had been a relationship that ran hot and cold, all fire, lots of ice, no substance.