A Texas Holiday Miracle by Linda Warren

had a dog, and when we took her to the park she would spend all her time chasing squirrels. It made her happy.” Pepper raised her head as if she understood, and the woman kept talking. “Oh, you like squirrels.” Her voice dropped to a tone of sadness. “I’m sorry you’re in so much pain, but it will get better soon. And there are a lot of squirrels in heaven, I’m sure.”
    “Do you really think she understands you?” He couldn’t keep the derision out of his voice.
    She looked at him. “I choose to believe she does, Mr. Garrison. It’s all about belief.”
    He returned to his chair. “Please don’t talk to me about religion.”
    “Oh, please, like I would dare.” She pushed to her feet, and he couldn’t drag his eyes away from her slim body. That surprised him, because he didn’t really want to see her. He tried to remember her name and couldn’t.
    “I’m talking about believing that there is a better place for us when we die. I have to believe that because I know my father is in a better place than the hell he was in here on earth.” Her voice wavered, and he felt a catch in his throat, an emotion he hadn’t felt in ages.
    “I’m sorry about your father,” he found himself saying. “I didn’t know him all that well, but he was a good neighbor.”
    She sat in the chair. “Yes, my father was an exceptional man. I miss him every day, and I’m so afraid of doing all the wrong things with Emma.”
    “She seems well-adjusted and happy.”
    “I’m sorry she bothers you so much, but she loves Pepper. I’ve been thinking about getting her a dog.”
    He was supposed to say something here, but he wasn’t sure what it was. The kid did bother him and he really did want to be alone. But he didn’t voice his real feelings, because for the first time in two years he felt someone else’s pain, and it blindsided him. Maybe into reality. Maybe into accepting that he had to go on. That was his only choice, and it came from a woman who knew about grief.
    All of a sudden he didn’t want to get rid of her. He wanted to keep talking. But what would that accomplish? He had to make her see that he didn’t need her. Or anyone.
     

Chapter Six
    Gabe got to his feet. “Pepper doesn’t need a babysitter. She’ll lay out here and enjoy the fresh air. I have to finish the box, but I’ll check on her every now and then.” He looked directly at Lacey. “And I’m sure you have things to do at your own house.”
    “Actually, I have laundry waiting for me.” Lacey stood and faced him, even though it was like facing a towering inferno of attitude that was leveled right at her. “I’ll go on one condition.”
    “I don’t do conditions.”
    She ignored the warning in his voice. “I’ll go if you come and eat a sandwich with me at lunch.”
    “I don’t eat at a set time. I eat when I get hungry and I never watch the clock.”
    She placed her hands on her hips. “Today at twelve.”
    His eyes darkened. “Listen...hell. I don’t even remember your name.”
    “It’s Lacey,” she replied with as much patience as she could find.
    “Lacey,” he said with a husky growl that seemed to come from somewhere deep within him. “I am not coming to your house for lunch at twelve or ever.”
    She sat back down.
    “What are you doing?”
    “If you’re not coming, then I’ll just stay here. I have the whole day free. Isn’t that nice?”
    By the narrowing of his eyes it was clear he considered it anything but nice. He threw up his hands. “Okay, okay. I’ll come over at noon. Now will you please leave?”
    Once again she stood, her eyes catching his. “Since you asked so politely, I’ll go. See you at noon.” She turned and walked toward the gate, forcing herself not to look back at the scowl on his face. But there was a moment of victory in her heart. She’d won this round.
    She went inside and sat at the kitchen table. All those creepy-crawly doubts niggled her. What was she doing? She was trying to