A Texan Returns

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“Don’t call me that!”

He grinned, turned and strode out of the door. Cassie looked back for just a minute, appearing distressed, and mouthed, “Sorry.” Then she hurried after Wyatt. Toni hoped Cassie would immediately erase the image of her boss kissing the mayor from her memory.

Toni sank back into her chair. For a moment, she had to admit, she had kissed him back. But only for a moment, and only because she was surprised.

And because this was Wyatt, the only person who ever made me crazy, she thought grudgingly.

Shaking her head to clear the feel and smell of him, the memories of the hundreds of kisses they’d shared, she sat up straight and braced her hands on her desk. She had to get back to work. She had things to accomplish today and every day.

If she kept herself busy enough, perhaps she wouldn’t think of Wyatt much at all. Not more than once an hour, if she was lucky.

And she wouldn’t see him again for hours. She’d get through the dinner party tomorrow night, and then maybe she wouldn’t see him until it was time for him to leave town again. He could get his publicity photos for the local paper, which would no doubt be picked up by the national press, and he’d forget all about hiring a design firm to turn the community center lawn into a holiday extravaganza.

“THE SCOUTS HAVE DONE a wonderful thing for Brody’s Crossing by adding these animated reindeer and bright trees to the community center grounds. I hope to expand on their generosity this year,” Wyatt told the female reporter, who was probably a few years older than his thirty-three.

“What do you have in mind?”

He grinned and winked at her. “It’s a surprise. Come back Saturday night and you’ll see.”

“We’ll do that, Mr. McCall.” She smiled and turned off the recorder, then looked up again. “If we could take a few photos of you by the display, that would be great. I think the light’s about perfect now.”

He posed with his hand on the reindeer, then stood with arms folded among the lighted spiral trees, and finally he hunkered down next to the colorful gift boxes. Thankfully, time and the cool temperature had simmered him down enough so that he could now unbutton his flannel shirt without showing the world that Miss Mayor had given him a flagpole of an erection.

Even before he’d kissed her, he’d become so aroused that all he wanted to do was drag her off—preferably someplace close and private—and make love to her until they were both sated. He wasn’t sure how long that would take, since they’d been apart for fifteen years, but he was willing to give it a good try.

Considering her testy mood and his building impatience, he might even approach the task as a public service. Much more enjoyable than assembling Christmas lawn ornaments.

“Thank you, Mr. McCall,” the photographer said, snapping Wyatt’s attention back to the present.

“Sure, no problem,” he replied with another grin. “You just call my public-relations director here if you need anything else.” The reporter smiled, appeared a little rattled and waved as she and the photographer walked back to her white car with its magnetic sign on the side.

Wyatt sighed as he and Louisa stood in the late-afternoon gloom. Clouds had come in, which had allowed the lighted decorations to really show up for the photographs. Or at least, he hoped so. He didn’t want to have to do this again until the final display was ready.

He heard the door to the Hummer slam and watched Cassie walk over, her phone and notepad clutched to her body.

“I found a designer who has decorations!” she said, almost glowing as she stopped beside them. “Someone ordered them to go in front of his business, but then he went broke and the designer was stuck with a large number of extra outdoor decorations. He’s sending photos and a contract to my e-mail.”

“That’s great. When can he be here?”

“Right away, he said. Everyone else had their installations set up before Thanksgiving.”

“Excellent. The parade is Saturday. I want the town to look spectacular by that night.”

“That only gives him two days.”

Wyatt looked at his watch. “Two and a half if he gets loaded right away.” Despite what Toni thought, he was going to get this done and make sure the Scout troops were honored. This would be the best damn Christmas ever in Brody’s Crossing, even if he had to spend a fortune and work his ass off to get it done.

Then he could leave knowing he’d accomplished what no one else had done for the town, and everyone would be happy.

Maybe not satisfied in every sense of the word, but happy. Glad that Wild Wyatt McCall had come to town and left it intact. No big incidents. Nothing embarrassing. Just some nice Christmas decorations and smiles all around.

Yep, that’s what he was going to do.

Chapter Four

Toni looked out her front windows on Thursday morning to see a police car, two large panel trucks, a half-dozen pickups and at least a dozen people in front of the community center. Onlookers stood on the sidewalks, sipping their morning coffee and gazing at the activity. Off to the side, Wyatt conferred with Chief Montoya and community center director, Martha Chase. She was, as usual, animated and energetic about whatever they were discussing. As Toni watched, more citizens joined the onlookers. Soon they would have a sizable crowd lining Elm Street.

“This doesn’t look good,” Toni whispered as she let the curtain fall. She rushed to her bedroom and pulled on jeans and an old Dallas Stars sweatshirt, stuffed her feet into shoes and headed for the front door.

She completed a fast walk across the street in seconds, eavesdropping on the conversation as she went. Wyatt was up to something, that was for sure.

“This could be a safety issue,” Chief Montoya was saying, pointing to tall poles that circled the wooded lawn of the center. Apparently they were erecting some type of fence.

“If you’re worried, I’ll provide security,” Wyatt said.

“We want the surprise factor!” Martha insisted.

“What’s going on?” Toni asked, slightly out of breath as she approached the group.

“Chief Montoya is being unreasonable,” Martha said to Toni. “Mr. McCall has arranged for a truly spectacular Christmas display as a surprise to the town, but for some reason the police want to stop us.”

“I’m not trying to stop the display. Just do it out in the open, where we can protect the citizens and also the decorations. If everything is concealed, we can’t see if anyone breaks in to steal or damage the items, whatever they are.”

“Then it won’t be a surprise!” Martha said, throwing up her arms. She was obviously strongly on Wyatt’s side. No shocker there. He could sweet-talk anyone, from toddler to grandmother, as long as the person was female.

“Are you building a fence?” Toni asked Wyatt.

“Yes, for privacy, just until the chili supper.” The annual event, usually held the next weekend, was taking place on Saturday evening in honor of Wyatt’s return to town. “I’d like for everyone to get their first glimpse as they arrive at the center. Besides, the unveiling should increase attendance and make more money for the food bank and clothing closet.”

He had a point. The local charities raised much of their annual budget and received useful merchandise through the chili supper proceeds and donations. “Can you provide security?”

Wyatt shrugged. “Sure. I’m certain we can hire some off-duty police from Brody’s Crossing or Graham, or even recruit some Young County deputies. Everyone needs extra cash at Christmastime, right?”

Another good point. “Chief, would that be acceptable to you?”

“As long as the area is patrolled. We can send cars by, but if the fence is opaque, as Mr. McCall has said, we can’t see what’s going on inside without doing a search. And also from what he’s said, there will be some pretty big items there, which perps could hide behind.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, it’s a Christmas display!” Martha exclaimed. “Who in this town is going to try to harm it or steal it or whatever?”

Everyone except Martha turned to look at Wyatt. This type of situation was just the sort of thing that would have tempted him when he was around fourteen.

“Don’t look at me. I’m all grown up and responsible now. Are there any young versions of me running around town these days?”

“No, thank God,” Toni said.

Wyatt narrowed his eyes and frowned at her.

“An off-duty officer or even a rent-a-cop would be fine with me,” Chief Montoya said. “We’ll do drive-bys also.”

“Okay, then. We need to get back to work,” Wyatt stated. He waved at two men who were waiting by the panel trucks. “Go ahead with the fencing.”

“I’m sure this will work out just fine,” Toni told Martha. “We have to be careful of anything that will be on public display.”

“I just want the citizens to have something spectacular—not that the reindeer and such aren’t wonderful, too. Mr. McCall has promised a winter wonderland, and I can’t wait to see the result.” She hugged her arms over her heavy sweater. “Come in for some coffee or tea before you leave if you’d like,” she told Wyatt, then turned and went back into the building.

“So,” Toni said, folding her arms on her chest against the chill, and also because she was slightly miffed at Wyatt’s secrecy. Especially after their conversation yesterday. And what happened while they were talking. “What do you have planned?”

“It’s a secret,” he said, smiling down at her. “You’ll have to wait for the unveiling just like everyone else.”