Harlequin Love Inspired December 2017--Box Set 2 of 2 by Rebecca Kertz

Author:Rebecca Kertz
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488078965
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

“I don’t see why I have to go to town with you,” Dan grumbled as they headed for the truck late Friday afternoon. “When are you going to head back to Dallas? Or are you going to stay and nag at me for another couple of weeks?”

Marissa kept her lips pressed in a firm and disapproving line, the better to deal with her grandfather. He was right, she should be going home. With Christmas coming up and a new job to start in January, she needed to get back to life. Her life.

But lately she wondered if it had ever truly been her life.

“Dan, get in the truck.” She opened the passenger-side door and he stood there looking at her. He scratched his grizzled chin and shook his head.

“This is my truck. Why am I getting in on the passenger side?”

“Because you haven’t been cleared to drive.” And because she obviously loved getting pulled over by the local cop.

Her grandfather glowered at her. But then his expression softened. “It hasn’t been all bad. Having you here.”

“It hasn’t been all bad being here.”

“It wasn’t like I had a choice,” her grandfather said a few minutes later, as they were driving down the road toward Bluebonnet.

Marissa gave him a quick look. “What?”

“Letting you stay. I didn’t have much choice in the matter, now did I?” He cleared his throat and she waited, wondering if he could give her a final ultimatum on leaving. “Still, I’m glad we had a chance to get to know each other.”

“Me, too.” She drove another mile, then slowed to pull into the church parking lot. “I’m going to buy us a Christmas tree.”

He brushed a hand over his unshaven face. “Now listen here, just because I said something nice doesn’t mean you have the right to start hauling in your stuff. I don’t want a tree. I don’t have room for a tree. End of story.”

“It’s almost Christmas. We need a tree.”

“You’re going back to Dallas and then I’ll have to deal with taking it down. And the mess. No, ma’am, no tree.”

“The money goes to the shelter. And besides, you’ll thank me when it’s decorated and has lights.”

“I doubt that,” he grumbled. “But go ahead. Do what you want.”

She got out of the truck and headed for the trees that were in a sectioned-off area of the churchyard. She didn’t look back to see if Dan had followed. The sound of children laughing drew her attention to an area at the back of the church. In a round pen a man walked a gray pony carrying a little girl.

“Dad-burn-it,” Dan growled. “I nearly ran into you. What in the world are you thinking, stopping like that?”

“Sorry, Granddad, I got distracted.”

“Uh-huh, by Alex Palermo. No wonder you’re still hanging around.”

“I’m here because you’re my grandfather.”

“I know who I am. My lungs are bad, not my memory. Now let’s get a tree. Mind you, keep it small. I don’t have a lot of room.”

She hooked her arm through his and he shook his head.

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