Christmas in Texas by Rebecca Winters, Tina Leonard Read Free Book Online Page B

fingers. “You had every right to be here. And I wouldn’t have
wanted you to miss this.”
    “I knew you’d want me,” Seagal said with his customary
humbleness.
    She had a retort ready, but then Dr. Blankenship said, “Here we
are,” and a baby cried out, and Capri could barely see for the sudden tears in
her eyes.
    “A healthy boy,” Dr. Blankenship said. “A little premature, of
course, but everything looks good for now.” He handed the baby to a nurse, who
went to suction the baby, and Capri felt Seagal take her hand in both of
his.
    “He sounds strong,” he said.
    “Like you,” Capri said.
    “Probably,” Seagal said, and she tried not to smile.
    “And here is baby sister,” Dr. Blankenship said, holding up a
little girl for Capri and Seagal to see before the nurse whisked the baby
off.
    “Oh, my gosh,” Capri said, unable to help the tears that
started from her eyes. “They’re beautiful. Aren’t they, Seagal?”
    He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Like their mother.
Lucky babies.”
    He kissed her lips, just a brush, nothing pressuring, nothing
serious. Just an acknowledgment of the moment they’d shared.
    Yet Capri wished it wasn’t just a moment, but forever, the way
they’d once thought it would be.
    * * *
    “H E ’ S LIKE A BEAR out there,”
Kelly said to Capri. “He spends all his time staring in the window at the
babies.” She put two stuffed bears on the windowsill, one wearing a blue bow and
the other a pink. “I thought Seagal was supposed to be guarding you.”
    “It was a ruse.” Capri smiled. “Thank you for the bears.”
    “Oh, those are the babies’ gifts. This is for you.” She handed
Capri a box tied with a silver ribbon. “Best-friend privilege.”
    Capri smiled. “Your turn is next.”
    “I don’t know. I don’t think I have a man crazy about me like
Seagal is for you. What do you mean, Seagal guarding you is a ruse?”
    “He’s just doing his job.” She got annoyed all over again
thinking about Seagal poking around in her shop looking for contraband and
accomplices—as if he didn’t know very well that she had control over every
aspect of her shop. “In my opinion, he and whoever on the force decided I needed
a bodyguard are just wrong. There are no drugs in my shop. They had to have been
put in the arrangements after we put them out at Christmastown.” She pulled the
beautiful silver bow from the box and opened it, drawing a lovely—and very
sheer—black nightie from the box. “Kelly, this is gorgeous. But don’t think I
don’t know exactly what you’re doing.” She held the nightie up, examining the
lovely lace strategically placed in sexy areas.
    “Whoa,” Seagal said, coming into the room. “If that’s your idea
of a hospital gown, I’m into it.”
    Capri stuffed it hurriedly back into its box, feeling herself
blush and hoping Seagal didn’t notice. “How are the babies? When are they
bringing them back to me?”
    “Five minutes.” Seagal grinned at Kelly. “I’ll have to tell
Jack about your taste in nightwear.”
    “You think he’d approve?” Kelly asked.
    “He’s a live male,” Seagal said. “I feel safe saying he’d
approve.”
    “Then you two are discussing things even cop partners shouldn’t
be talking about,” Kelly said archly. “You go right ahead and tell Jack. Maybe
it’ll get his mind off Daisy.”
    Capri watched Seagal carefully for his reaction to Daisy’s
name. Seagal smiled at Kelly. “You’re right. There are some things partners
don’t need to know about.”
    Jack came into the hospital room at that moment, going over to
kiss Capri on the cheek. “What does your partner not need to know?” Jack asked,
glancing at Seagal. “Hi, Kelly.”
    Kelly brightened. “Hi, Jack.”
    “If I wanted my partner to know something, I’d tell him,”
Seagal said.
    “That’s what I thought. Locked up like Fort Knox as usual.” He
handed Capri a teal-and-pink-polka-dotted bag with lots of paper