Page 4 of A Ranger for Christmas
“I have all the pieces and parts back at Ranger headquarters.”
“Is this time sensitive? Can I look at it tomorrow?”
“We don’t have much time, now. Days maybe. Now would be best.”
The front door to the building opened, and a woman’s laugh drew their attention to a couple—her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, a tall blonde dressed in a silk dress and fur jacket. Awesome. Marisa had Ranger-from-the-Past and Bradley andJennifer to contend with at once. Awesome. And thirty-eight minutes until the toy store closed.
“Marisa,” Bradley called from the top of the stairs.
She watched as Bradley’s girlfriend whispered in his ear, and he nodded. Her frown suggested she clearly did not want to meet Marisa any more than Marisa wanted to meet her. The power duo descended the stairs, both all smiles.
When they approached, Marisa straightened her spine just a fraction and tried not to focus on her lack of makeup or her faded jeans. How many times had her dad told her to lose the homeless look and dress like a professional? “Bradley.”
“We missed you at the party. Mrs. Lorraine was looking for you. She had lots of ideas for the spring semester programs.”
Mrs. Lorraine was a sixth-generation Texan and a large donor. The last time she and Marisa had talked, she’d wanted Marisa to include more Texas history in her curriculum. When Marisa tried to explain she taught Mayan history, Mrs. Lorraine had said she didn’t really care about any history other than Texas history. “Right.”
Bradley’s mouth twitched. “There’s a lot of buzz about your work. Had some alumni at the party who wanted to meet you. Your kind of find could mean lots of donations.”
“I don’t have concrete information yet.” Aware of Ranger Cooper’s gray gaze assessing every move, she itched to be gone.
“Who’s your friend?” Bradley asked.
Marisa swallowed. “Bradley and . . . Jennifer, I’d like you to meet Texas Ranger Lucas Cooper.”
Lucas took Bradley’s hand in his, and she savored a moment’s satisfaction when Lucas squeezed the professor’s hand a bit too hard. “Didn’t catch the last name.”
“Rogers.” Bradley pulled back his hand. He had enough pride at least not to grimace or shake the cramp from his hand. “Marisa, Jennifer and I were hoping you could join us for drinks.She was just telling me how fascinated she is with your work on ancient languages.”
Jennifer smiled and nodded. “We’d love to have you.”
As obtuse as Marisa could be about reading body language, she realized Jennifer’s flat smile and distracted gaze telegraphed total disinterest. “I can’t.”
“Give me one reason why you won’t join us, Marisa.” Irritation had crept into Bradley’s voice. So far her work had kept her job safe in the department, but she didn’t have tenure yet and he’d been hinting about budget cuts. She might be sitting on the breakthrough of the century or nothing. “You can’t hide from Christmas for the rest of your life.”
“Not the rest of my life,” she said. “Just six more days.”
“She was like that when we dated,” Bradley said to Lucas. “Hated the holidays. Always a sore point with us.”
Embarrassment mingled with anger. She was not going to have a blow-by-blow of her failed relationship in front of a man she’d slept with and abandoned. “No one’s interested in our history. Now, if you all will excuse me.”
Bradley’s smile vanished, and he looked as if to block her path. Lucas shifted his stance just a little closer to Marisa as if making a claim. “She’s got a real tight schedule. Just time for me this evening.”
Bradley didn’t hide his shock. “You have a date?”
Marisa enjoyed his shock too much to correct him. “We do.”
When they’d dated, she’d never said no when he’d asked for her help, whether it was interpreting some of his work or covering his classes. However, her patience had been stripped away. “Girls have fun once in a while.”
Bradley frowned. “You owe the department an appearance with the alumni party. I’m tired of covering for you.”
“Then don’t.”
Bradley’s BlackBerry buzzed, distracting him from his comeback.
Lucas took the opening and moved a fraction closer to Marisa. “We really have to get going. Have a nice evening.”
“You aren’t coming?”
