Wyatt Caldwell, whether in cowboy boots and chaps or army fatigues, was a temptation and a complication. And she was getting in too deep. The more she saw of him, the more she wanted to see.

As they gathered pecans, he shared funny stories of childhood adventures with his two older brothers and his younger sister. The four of them had always been into something. And now they were all as close as skin.

She glanced at her only child, his rosy face upturned toward the soldier as he alternately listened to the stories and stuffed his pockets with pecans. Like her, Braden had no siblings, no extended family, no male role model, and was mesmerized by Wyatt’s tall tales. He was mesmerized by the soldier too. Maybe she felt the same.

From Marley’s perspective, Wyatt had lived a charmed life here on this successful ranch. She couldn’t understand why he’d ever joined the military and moved away. If she had a place like this to call home…

Something pinged against her thigh. “Who just threw a pecan at me?”

Wyatt raised a hand. “Guilty.”

She found a pecan in the grass and tossed it. It pecked his shoulder and fell to the grass. He rubbed his arm, eyes crinkling. “Ouch.”

The word was said with such insincerity, Marley had to laugh. While she was laughing, a pecan zapped her foot.

“Hey!” Scrambling for ammo, she returned fire.

Wyatt leaped to his feet. “Take cover, Braden. She’s on the attack.”

“No fair,” she cried, a hand to her hip. “He’s my son.”

“Boys against girl.” Wyatt pinged her. “Right, Braden?”

“Yeah!” Braden giggled and grabbed handfuls of leaves along with a few nuts. With all his might, he tossed them toward Marley and then raced to her for a hug. “I love you, Mommy, but I’m a boy.”

Then he darted back to Wyatt.

“Oh, you’ve asked for it now,” she yelled to Wyatt. “Subverting my mom-hood, corrupting my son. The battle is on.” She raised both arms in the air and shouted, “Woman power!”

With playing vigor, she fired a double handful of pecans at the two males.

In seconds, the three of them raced around the pecan grove, hiding behind trees and firing pecans at each other. Braden pummeled Wyatt as often he hit Marley, and each time he managed to make contact with either one, he giggled so hard, he fell down.

This, of course, made Marley laugh, and on one occasion, she swooped in for a hug.

Wyatt hammered her with a double pecan. She fell to the ground beside Braden and from flat on her back, returned fire.

Wyatt yelped, staggered toward them and tumbled down beside them, not even out of breath. She, on the other hand, could barely breathe. But seeing her opportunity, she whispered to her son, “Wanna make him disappear?”

“How?” Braden whispered back.

“Cover him in leaves.”

“Yeah.” Her son giggled, a small hand against his lips, shoulders bunched.

“Okay, let’s get him.”

Wyatt’s head swiveled toward them. “I heard that.”

But he was too late to escape. Marley scooped a handful of dry leaves and tossed them onto his chest, though it was a shame to cover up such attractive muscles.

Braden followed suit, piling leaves on the man until Wyatt was covered from neck to feet. Only his head and boot toes stuck out.

Wyatt tugged his cap down over his face.

“Camouflage,” he said. “You don’t even know I’m here.”

“Cover me, too, Mommy. I want camo-fudge.” Braden collapsed on the grass next to his hero and flung his arms out wide.

Wyatt tipped his cap up and winked at Marley. She grinned back as she piled leaves on her son, marveling at the simple pleasure of play. Even the intense soldier had loosened up and was having fun.

While she worked, she heard the two males whispering and wondered what they were plotting. She learned soon enough.

When she’d added the last armful of leaves and sat back on the cold grass to admire her camo handiwork, the two males exchanged looks.

“Ready?” Wyatt murmured to Braden.

Braden’s chin bobbed.

With simultaneous roars, they leaped to their feet like a Sasquatch father and son and charged her. Leaves swirled and scattered, filling the air.

Marley saw their intent and crab-crawled backward to escape, laughing and squealing too hard to make much progress.

Braden fell across her, and she tumbled to her back. “Your turn, Mommy!”

“This is so not fair!” Her giggling protest fell on deaf ears. In seconds, the man and boy covered her with the same leaves she’d painstakingly gathered. When she was neck-to-toes in nature’s cast-offs, the males stood back to admire their handiwork.

Wyatt braced a fist on each hip. Braden noticed and did the same. The sight tugged at Marley. Her little boy needed a man to emulate. A man of strength and integrity who kept his promises.

“Close your eyes, Mommy. You’re Sleeping Beauty.”

Though she didn’t consider herself anywhere near a beauty, she closed her eyes for the sake of Braden’s game. They’d played it at home after reading the story.

“Are you my prince charming?” she called.

“Yep.”

“Come and save me, my dashing prince.”

She felt movement at her side. Braden’s cold lips touched her cheek. “Soldier man, too. I’m just a little kid.”

Marley’s eyes popped open, and she sat up, shedding leaves. Face hot, she looked at Wyatt and mouthed, “Sorry.”

To her consternation, the cowboy soldier, already crouching beside her, touched his lips to her other cheek. “For what?”

It was only a kiss on the cheek, but it unsettled Marley’s world. The mood in the pecan grove changed. Her heart beat erratically. She battled the altogether unacceptable desire to turn into Wyatt’s chest and kiss him for real. She, a woman sworn off rushing into romance, a woman wanted by the law, had developed a serious crush on a man she’d only known a few days.

As if that wasn’t enough to worry about, so had her son.

Quiet, Wyatt hovered at her side and watched her with those piercing, all-knowing eyes. Did he feel the pulse beating between them? Or was it only her?

“It’s getting late,” she said. “Should we go?”

“Probably.” He offered his hands. Marley grasped them, letting him pull them both to their feet.

They stood facing each other, holding hands, and Marley was reluctant to break away. She liked this stranger, and she was pretty sure he felt the same. But would he if knew she was a fugitive? Would he believe her if she told him the whole, ugly story?

As much as she wanted to blurt out everything, she was afraid of the consequences. Protecting Braden was more important than her attraction to Wyatt. Aching, Marley dropped his hands and moved away.

---

A short time later, with their pockets refilled with pecans and the sun sliding toward the horizon, the trio returned to the creek and their makeshift bridge. Time to head back to the ranch.

“Go ahead.” Wyatt motioned toward the log.

Marley retrieved the two balancing sticks and made her way across.

Braden stuck a foot on the log. “I can do it myself.”

“You might fall. Let Wyatt carry you.”

The boy started across on his own.

Marley sucked in gasp. “Braden!”

The log began to wobble. Before Wyatt could reach him, Braden tumbled.

Marley yelped.

With reflexes honed to react, Wyatt grabbed the back of Braden’s coat and jerked her son into his arms. The reaction happened so fast, Marley jumped, her mouth open.

Unbalanced by the sudden movements, the log rolled, and Wyatt slipped into the creek. The water wasn’t deep in this spot, but Marley knew it had to be frigid. The cowboy didn’t even wince. Holding Braden high, he slogged to the bank and handed the boy to Marley.

She put Braden on solid ground and then reached back to Wyatt.

He clasped her hands and climbed out, grinning.

Grinning?

“You’re soaked to your knees.” Which meant his boots were filled with water.

“No big deal.”

It was a big deal, and Braden was in for a time out and a good scolding.

“I’m so sorry. Braden should not have done that.” She aimed a stern look at her son.

“I sorry, too.” The repentant four-year-old waited on the bank, his brown eyes full of unshed tears, his body slumped in dejection.

Wyatt sat on a nearby rock and removed his western boots. They looked new. And expensive. He turned each one upside down. Water poured out.

“Are they ruined?”

“Nah. A wade in the creek breaks them in good.” He removed his socks and wrung them out.

Marley didn’t know if he was telling the truth or trying to make her feel better. “I doubt that.”

Wyatt grinned at her and shoved his feet into the wet boots, pocketing the socks.

Braden hovered at Marley’s side, as downcast as she’d ever seen him. Bending her knees, she went to his level. His sad eyes almost made her fold. But she didn’t. Letting him get away with disobedience was much worse for him than a scolding.

She took him by the forearms, making eye contact. “Do you understand what you did wrong?”

“I made Wyatt fall down in the water.”

“Yes, you did. Do you know why that happened?”

“’Cause I wanted to go by myself?”

“No. Learning to do things for yourself is good, but this time I told you not to. When Mommy says no, you have to listen.”

His head bobbed in agreement.

“Because you disobeyed, Wyatt got his new boots wet, and now his feet are cold and uncomfortable.”

Braden’s lip began to quiver. He blinked, and a tear slid down his cheek. “Do I get a timeout?”

“Yes, you do.”

The crunch of leaves told her of Wyatt’s approach. Marley didn’t look up, not even when a strong hand rested on her shoulder. She braced herself, hoping he wouldn’t interfere and blow off the disobedience.

He didn’t. He remained quiet, letting her parent in the way she thought best, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze of support.

If she hadn’t been crushing on him before, she sure was now.

---

Supper at the Triple C was never formal and often included ranch hands or friends. Tonight, only the core family was here. Wyatt was certain Connie had done this on purpose for his sake. He didn’t get to spend enough time with his siblings and their new families he was still getting to know.

They sat in couples, their children between them, around the long, rectangular table. Wyatt didn’t object to having Braden and Marley at his side.

The usual chatter filled the room, so he wasn’t required to say much. The less he said, the less they asked questions he didn’t want to answer. Marley was mostly quiet, answering when spoken to and paying compliments to Connie’s hearty cornbread casserole and tortilla soup. Seated next to Emily, she fidgeted whenever his sister turned to speak to her. Wyatt watched, puzzled. Emily was as warm as sunshine. No reason to be nervous.

“Any fences down or brush that needs to come out?” Ace aimed the question at Wyatt.

“A couple of places near the pecan grove. We’ll need a chainsaw and a Weed Eater.” Wyatt pushed his empty plate aside. “I’ll do that tomorrow.”

“Need any help?”

“One-man job.”

“How was your ride?” Connie leaned toward Marley. “You like it, yes?”

“Loved it. So did Braden.” Marley looked down at her son.

Braden nodded vigorously. “We threw ‘cans and played camo-fudge. I had fun.”

Wyatt grinned around the table at the puzzled faces. “Braden’s statement requires some explanation, which I think I won’t give. Your expressions are too good.”

“Oh, you!” Emily protested as she turned to Marley. “He’s always been the secret keeper. Can’t get anything out of him unless he wants you to know.”

Secret keeper, that was him.

The Dallas problem surged to the front of his thoughts, pressing to be released. He resisted. Not yet, not yet. It was too soon. A situation like this required the right time and the right place. Definitely not before Christmas. Even then, the telling would hurt everyone at this table and shatter much of what they believed.

“Maybe that’s a good thing,” he heard Marley say. “It means he’s trustworthy.”

Something inside of Wyatt pinged. Marley trusted him? He didn’t think so, not completely, but he was working on it.

Ace laughed and pointed his soup spoon. “Got you there, sis. If you have a secret, tell Wyatt. No one else will ever know.”

Emily widened her olive-green eyes. “No secrets here. I’m an open book.”

Beside her, Levi nodded. “Just the way I love her.”

The look that passed between his sister and her cowboy was both sweet and sensual.

Loneliness slithered through Wyatt, an unpleasant surprise. He couldn’t be lonely. Not with family around. But they were all coupled up now with families of their own. He was the odd man out.

The chatter around the table continued as the meal ended and everyone, kids included, cleared the dishes. Emily stayed next to Marley, talking up a storm in her usual outgoing manner. Wyatt noticed again how tense Marley appeared. Was there something about his sister that bothered her? Or was she naturally uncomfortable with a talkative stranger?

Taking pity, he butted in. “Connie says she could use a few more pecans. Anyone game for tomorrow?”

“Not me.” Emily shook her head, black hair glossy beneath the lights. “Gotta work. You kids go ahead. Enjoy.” She winked and moved toward the refrigerator, a bowl of grated cheese in hand.

Marley touched his upper arm. “We should probably go back to the B & B. Braden’s had a long day.”

To prove the point, Braden’s mouth opened in a wide yawn. Too bad. Wyatt wanted more time.

“I’ll get your coats.”

“I’d appreciate it. I want to thank Connie before we leave.”

Wyatt headed to the coat closet, returning with the promised gear. He held Marley’s coat, enjoying the moment of innocent nearness, of his fingers gliding over her shoulders and touching the silky skin at the back of her neck. He picked a broken leaf from her curls. Her hair was soft, as he’d expected, soft and springy.

She turned her head.

He held up the leaf. “Hitchhiker.”

A grin bloomed. “Watch out, a squirrel could live in that mass.”

He wanted to tell her how much he liked that mass, as she called her curls. Instead, he tugged her coat up around her shoulders and then turned to assist Braden. The boy had one arm in his coat and was spinning in circles trying to catch the other.

“Hold on there, partner.” Wyatt caught the loose sleeve and held it in place. Braden slid his arm inside.

Marley pulled on her gloves. “What do you say, Braden?”

“Thank you, please.”

The adults exchanged smiles.

“You’re welcome, buddy. Come on, I’ll walk you out.” When Marley didn’t argue, Wyatt considered it progress. They were becoming friends, though he felt a lot more than friendly toward this woman and her son.

As they went out into the crisp December night, Marley gazed up at the sky. The air was still, the sky clear and inky black. “The stars are so much brighter out here in the country. I feel like I could reach up and touch them.”

He felt the same. “God’s handiwork.”

“I read somewhere in the Bible that He knows all of them by name. Isn’t that amazing?”

“It is.” He was glad to know she was a believer, though bewildered by the lies she’d told. But then, he had no kids, so how did he know what he would or wouldn’t do to keep them from being taken away?

They reached her car parked by the front steps. Wyatt opened the back door to let Braden climb inside. “Buckle up.”

“Can we ride horses again the next tomorrow?”

“I’ll ask your mom.”

“Okay. ‘Night, soldier man.” He yawned, the sound gusty.

“Goodnight, Braden.” Wyatt closed the door, smiling a little, his chest full of the boy’s sweetness.

Marley leaned her back against the driver’s-side door, head tilted toward the sky. “Is that the Christmas star?”

Wyatt followed her hand motion. “I’ve wondered about that. I mean, think about it. Was the Star of Bethlehem a normal, every year star? Or a one-time, supernatural event reserved especially for that holy night?”

“Good question.” She laughed softly. “And I have no idea of the right answer.”

“Me, either.” He gazed down into her face, every bit as breathtaking as the stars.

He moved in close, blocking the cold air, glad for a conversation to delay her departure. “Every year, my dad would read the Christmas story to us on Christmas Eve, and afterward, Emily and I would go outside and search for Jesus’ star.”

“Did you find it?”

“We thought we did or pretended to, so we could get hyped up and go crazy. But we also claimed to see Rudolph’s blinking nose. Connie set us straight on that.”

Her lips curved. “No mixing Santa with Jesus?”

“There was never any confusion about which was real and which was fantasy, but she let us have our fun.”

“Connie is a terrific lady.”

“No argument there.”

“She invited Braden and me to Christmas dinner.”

“Not surprised.” He rested one hand on top of her car. “You’re coming, right?”

“If we’re still around.” A worry wrinkle appeared in her forehead.

Wyatt smoothed the spot with his index finger. “Even if you aren’t in Calypso, I hope you’ll come.”

“You do? Why?”

He shifted positions. “Full disclosure. I like you. I like your son. Getting to know you better appeals to me very much.”

She got that worried look again. “I like you, too.”

“Then, why the frown?”

“My life is…complicated right now. I don’t want to involve you in my mess.”

A custody battle didn’t scare him off. “Too late.”

“Oh, Wyatt.” She sighed, and the sound was so forlorn, he didn’t resist the urge to gather her in his arms.

She sighed again, this time with what sounded like contentment, as she rested her head on his chest. His heart thumped, yearning toward her. He’d known her only a few days but felt as if they’d been friends for years. How was that possible? He was a realist, pragmatic to a fault, not a romantic who believed in love at first sight. He barely believed in like at first sight.

This afternoon he’d kissed her cheek, awakening Sleeping Beauty from her leaf-covered rest. Now, he wanted to stand here in the darkness and hold her like this all night. A dumb idea. The air was cold and getting colder.

“Do we need to cover Braden with a blanket?” he asked, not surprised at the husky quality of his voice.

“I should go.” Her voice was soft and whispery. She didn’t budge.

Did she feel what he was feeling?

“I wish you didn’t have to. Today was the best day I’ve had in a long time.” For hours, he hadn’t fretted about terrorists or Dallas.

She gazed up at him, her face all starlight and shadow. “For me, too.”

“Then, we should do it again. Tomorrow afternoon if you can. We’ll ride down to the pecan grove. I’ll cut brush. You and Braden can pick up pecans and play. Or whatever.”

She chewed on her bottom lip, and he knew she’d refuse him. “Can’t tomorrow afternoon. I have some things to do.”

“Tomorrow night, then? You, me, and the little cowboy could drive over to Whitney and Nate’s ranch for the Christmas festivities.”

Marley’s expression tightened, fretted. “I don’t know.”

“It’s a great place, especially now when it’s all fussed up for Christmas with Santa and wagon rides and a live nativity. Braden will love the miniature animals and hanging out with the twins.”

“He would.”

“Then say yes.”

She considered for such a long time that Wyatt figured she’d refuse this invitation, too. He wondered if she worried about being discovered by her ex, but the chances of that happening in Calypso were slim, even at a public venue like the Twin Hope Miniature Farm.

“He won’t find you here, Marley.” Wyatt tucked a knuckle under her chin, tilting it up.

She blinked as if she didn’t understand. “What?”

“Your ex.”

“Oh.” She swallowed.

“What are you going to do about him? You can’t hide forever.”

Her gaze slid away. “My lawyer’s working on it.”

“Any progress?”

“Not yet.” Her voice was far away.

“Anything I can do? Chase him down? Beat him up?”

As he’d intended, she chuckled, a soft, quiet sound. “You’re too nice. You know that, Sergeant?”

“Your ex wouldn’t think so.”

“Okay. You’re right. No one will bother us at Whitney’s farm. Not with warrior Wyatt by our side.”

Though Wyatt knew she was halfway joking, he wasn’t. She and Braden would not be bothered by her custody-seeking ex as long as he was near.

There lay the trouble. He was on leave. He wouldn’t always be here.

Marley shivered. Wyatt reached behind her to open the car door.

“As much as I like your company, I don’t want to give you pneumonia. If you’d take us up on the guest house, you wouldn’t have to leave at all.”

“Which might be dangerous.”

“Why is that?”

Her shoulders twitched. “Because I like you too much.”

“Well, then.” He stepped closer, and when she moved in, too, eyes holding his in mutual consent, he bent his head and did what he’d wanted to do all day. He kissed her.