Rescued by a Ranger. Tanya Michaels
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likes the most special people.”
And the most “fabulous,” Zane thought with an inward smile. Perhaps he should feel guilty about their ganging up on Alex. She looked like she’d rather drink strychnine than investigate the contents of his kitchen, but after all, he was trying to do the woman a favor. She and Belle were probably starving. Why drive all the way to the grocery store?
“It’s no imposition,” Zane assured her. He gazed pointedly to the girls, who had linked hands, and lowered his voice. “Don’t look now, but I think you’re outvoted.”
“Are you going to the festival?” Eden asked Belle.
The little girl’s forehead puckered. “What’s a festival?”
“It’s a fair. There will be rides and performing animals and games to play.”
“I like animals!” Belle turned wide eyes on her mother, imploring, “Please? It sounds fun! I never get any fun.”
Eden tousled the girl’s hair, knocking the tiara askew. “You, either, huh?”
“One thing at a time,” Alex said, a thread of desperation in her voice. “Let’s worry about getting some dinner into you. We’ll talk about the festival later.”
“So you’ll accept the offer to raid my pantry?” Zane pressed.
“Doesn’t look like I have much choice.”
It wasn’t the most gracious thank-you he’d ever received, but luckily for Alex, he’d had a lot of recent practice with a grudging female. After a couple of weeks of Eden’s attitude, his neighbor’s surliness bounced right off him. As they approached his lawn, they could hear Dolly barking inside the house. Belle ran on ahead as if she could somehow get through the locked door.
Eden hung back long enough to confide, “I always wanted a kid sister. But an adorable neighbor is good for now.” Then she caught up to Belle, leaving her father startled.
He’d never thought about whether Eden wanted siblings or not. Both he and Valerie had been only children, so it had seemed natural to have just one. Besides, he and Valerie hadn’t shared a bed much in the final years of their marriage, not after he’d caught her sharing other men’s.
Alex walked beside him, her stiff body language screaming her reluctance. “I’m guessing there’s no wife at home to resent our intrusion?”
He shook his head. “Divorced single parent. You?”
She was silent for a long minute, and he watched her gnaw at her bottom lip. Finally, in a tone so soft it was barely audible, she said, “Widowed. Since last spring.”
Her answer hit him with tangible force. He’d been so sure she was divorced or separated. It had never occurred to him Belle’s father might be dead.
“I’m so sorry,” he said.
“I...apologize if I haven’t seemed very neighborly. It’s been hard.” She gave a quick, brittle laugh. “Understatement.”
“Well, if there’s anything I can do,” he offered. “Spaghetti noodles. Car maintenance.”
“That’s kind of you, Mr. Winchester, but Belle and I have to learn to stand on our own feet.”
“An admirable sentiment.” He crossed to his porch and unlocked the front door. Dolly practically knocked him down in her excitement.
Eden grabbed the dog by the collar. “Belle and I will take her out back.”
He motioned for Alex to come inside. “After you.” He couldn’t help noticing how she tried to shrink her body as she passed him, flattening herself against the doorjamb to insure they wouldn’t accidentally touch.
Though she clearly wasn’t comfortable around him yet, maybe they could help each other. She was new in town and might need a tour guide of sorts. Their daughters had certainly hit it off; he’d never seen Eden warm to someone so instantaneously. Alex Hunt might not think she was in the right state of mind to make new friends, but Zane resolved to prove her wrong. That smile Eden had flashed him when she made the raccoon remark still warmed him from the inside, like hot chocolate.
I’m not a bad guy, he silently promised Alex. And I think you’ll grow to like me. He hoped so, anyway.
Because if he had anything to do with it, their families would definitely be spending time together.
Chapter Four
Alex waited while Tess Fitzpatrick, a local dance teacher, counted out bills from the petty cash drawer. Tess was a cheerful redhead with a round face and pert features that made her look younger than she was. The first time Alex had come into the studio, she’d hesitated, not sure if Tess worked here or was a teenage student.
“We are so lucky you answered our ad,” Tess said as she handed Alex an envelope. “With all of our age groups and classes performing at the festival, we really need the extra help with costumes and sets.”
Last week, Alex had seen the notice for a seamstress who could alter ballet costumes that didn’t quite fit and do minor repairs on older pieces from the studio’s wardrobe closet. Alex had learned to sew early in life, often refurbishing or embellishing ill-fitting hand-me-downs so she wouldn’t feel like such a loser wearing them.
She returned Tess’s smile. “I’m happy to lend a hand—especially since you’re paying me.”
“Only a nominal amount,” Tess fretted. “As skilled as you are, you should be better compensated.”
“I’m not complaining. I’m just glad you didn’t mind paying me in cash.” She’d rather not tempt fate by trying to cash checks made out to “Alexandra Hunt.”
Alex had stammered through a clumsy explanation about her bank not having local branches and how it wasn’t worth starting a new account since her stay here would only be temporary. Tess was too good-natured to question the awkward rambling, but Alex knew she was a terrible liar. Hell, she felt guilty and self-conscious just standing in the same room with another redhead. Tess’s ginger curls made Alex nervous that her dye job was blatantly obvious in comparison. Even though Bryce had assured her she looked great, her new, sleek, dark hair occasionally made her feel like an actress in a bad spy film.
If only this were a movie and not her real life! Tension knotted her stomach, but she tried to keep her voice light as she addressed her daughter.
“Come on, punkin.” The little girl stood watching through an interior window into the ballet studio. “Time to go grocery shopping.”
Belle kept her gaze on the dozen six-year-olds who jumped and spun in a whirl of black leotards and gauzy pink skirts. “They’re pretty,” she said wistfully.
Alex was so on edge that she almost jumped when Tess reached out and cupped her wrist.
“Sorry.” Tess’s brown eyes were contrite. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I was trying to be discreet.” She glanced in Belle’s direction and dropped her voice to such a hushed whisper that Alex was nearly reduced to lipreading.
“I don’t want to speak out of turn,” Tess began. “Although, I am sort of known for that around town. Anyway, I realize you won’t be here long and it may not be in your budget, but if she wanted to attend a class, we could work something out. Maybe trade a few more sequin maintenance jobs for—”
“Class? Can I, Mommy? Can I take a class?” Belle’s attention was fully on her mother now, the spinning dancers behind the glass forgotten.
Tess winced. “I didn’t mean for her to overhear that.”
“Don’t blame yourself.” Alex shot her daughter a reproachful look. “She has bionic hearing or something. I’ve never understood how she does it.”
“Please?” Belle asked.
“That’s