Page 32 of A Ranger for Christmas
She offered a brisk hello and moved into the living room, away from Lucas and his sister. She couldn’t predict what her father would say and didn’t want to risk them overhearing.
“Dad.”
“Marisa, where the hell are you?”
She rarely heard her father swear and knew he was upset. “I’m at a friend’s house.”
“What does that mean? According to Kyle you’re with that Ranger and you’re helping him again.”
She lifted her chin, annoyed that he spoke to her as if she were twelve. “Dad, I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you? You’ve just been in an accident. You’re lucky to be alive, and now you’re running around with that Ranger.”
“I’m not running around. I’m trying to remember what happened to me.”
“You need to come home and let Susan and me take care of you.”
Home. His house, purchased after the divorce, had never felt like home. When she’d stayed the night she’d been an anxious guest, hesitant to use too many towels or stay more than a night.
“Dad, I’ll call you when I have more information. But for now, I have to go.”
“We’re not done with this conversation.”
“Yes, we are. I’ll talk to you soon.” She hung up and immediately put her phone on silent. Sooner or later she’d have to deal with the outside world, but for now, she needed to shut it out.
Lucas watched Marisa hover by the front window, her face tucked forward and her hair draping her face like a thick curtain.
“I like her,” Sherry said.
Lucas let the comment stand and didn’t respond.
“So do you,” she prodded.
He sipped his coffee.
“And the fact that you aren’t talking is proof enough for me that youreallylike her.”
“That so?”
“Yeah.”
“And how do you know?”
“In all your days, Lucas, I’ve never known you to bring a woman home over the holidays. You’ve had your share of dates at barbecues, but the holidays have always been kind of sacred for you. You met her in Mexico, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Something happened?”
“False start. Nothing that can’t be overcome.”
She shook her head. “Why bring her here?”
“I could see she needed a break before we headed to the accident site.”
“I’m a good hour out of your way. Makes no sense to detour to my place when you could have gotten a good hotel room in Fredericksburg.”
“Seemed to me, she’d be more comfortable here.”
