Page 26 of Targeted at Christmas

“Will do.” She nodded. “Can’t wait to dig in.”

He smiled, anxious to see if he passed muster with the meal. “All right.”

Minutes later, they were sitting at the table in the dining room and Cooper awaited the verdict as Lexi began to eat—sampling every item, as if to test it like a food critic.

She dabbed a napkin to her mouth and said with a giggle, “I love it—you made a wonderful dinner!”

“Glad you like it.” Cooper could barely contain the broad smile playing on his lips. He had made everything to the best of his ability. But that wasn’t always enough. Especially when trying to impress a beautiful woman, whom he wished to do just that in every way he could. He used a knife to cut into the tender pork chop. “Now, whether or not I can duplicate this feast is anyone’s guess,” he quipped, feeling almost giddy in her presence.

Lexi laughed naturally, while forking a piece of garlic roasted potato. “Well, if you’re referring to my guess, I’d say that you’re well on your way to becoming a chef—once you decide to call it quits with the FBI.”

Cooper had to laugh at that overly generous assessment of his ability or potential thereof. “Thanks for the kudos—but not sure I’m ready to give up my day job for the foreseeable future,” he spoke humorously.

“Me neither.” Lexi chuckled. “We both love what we do. No crime in that.”

“None whatsoever.” Cooper grabbed a biscuit, buttered it and took a bite, while imagining them doing this more often.

“Speaking of which—is there much public corruption going on in Maricopa County?” she inquired, sipping lemonade. “Or is the investigation into Horace’s wrongdoings more of an anomaly among public officials in these parts?”

Cooper sat back and, after a moment or two, responded levelly, “I wouldn’t go so far as to say public corruption is all but unheard of in this area. Putting building inspectors aside—of which Eckhart isn’t the first to be corrupted in recent years—the truth is, like any other branch of criminals, the Bureau has its fair share of people in the government sector who have fallen prey to greed and been investigated and held accountable.”

Lexi made a face. “How depressing to think that this is what hardworking taxpayers are paying for with their elected and government officials.”

“Yeah, it can be somewhat discouraging,” Cooper had to concede, forking broccoli. But he certainly didn’t want this to turn into a downer for the evening. So he added, “On the other hand, I can tell you that the vast majority of those elected or employed at the local, state and federal levels of government are honest and only want to do their jobs without trying to game the system for personal gain.”

Her expression grew softer. “That’s good to know.”

It’s even better getting to know you, Cooper told himself. He bit off another piece of biscuit and said thoughtfully, “How do you feel about helping me pick out a Christmas tree—and decorating it?”

Lexi’s eyes lit up. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.” He smiled at her. “I think it’s time… You’ve inspired me to get back into the swing of things—with Christmas still a couple of weeks away. I have some lights and other decorations in a box in a storage closet—but can buy more, just in case we fall short.”

“I’d love to help you pick out and decorate a tree,” she spoke excitedly, and added, “It would brighten up your condo and be a great way to begin a new tradition that carries with it an old one that you and Melanie had.”

Cooper nodded, sure that his late wife would not only like Lexi a lot, but also encourage him to revive the Christmas season in his personal life. “Then let’s go find a tree,” he told Lexi, and looked forward to sharing this experience with the new woman in his life.

LEXI COULDN’T HAVE been more thrilled than to motivate Cooper into wanting to put up a Christmas tree. Truthfully, she understood his point of view in finding it difficult while living on his own to muster up the enthusiasm to celebrate the holidays in terms of decorating his condo. Had he chosen to stick with this, she wouldn’t have thought any less of him. Quite the contrary, she was thinking more and more about the FBI special agent and felt the same vibes from him, concerning her.

She sat in the passenger seat of Cooper’s Dodge Durango as he drove to the Christmas tree lot on North Ninety-Ninth Avenue.

After walking around and checking out the various interesting choices of trees, Cooper gazed at Lexi. “What do you think?”

They were standing among several six-foot Nordmann’s fir and noble fir trees. “Hmm…” she murmured, feeling the pressure in choosing the right tree. “I think I like the Nordmann’s fir—if you do.”

He grinned boyishly. “Nordmann’s fir, it is,” he agreed with ease.

Lexi showed her teeth, glad that he concurred. “Wonderful.”

Cooper picked up an evergreen wreath as well for his front door, along with a Christmas tree stand and a few accessories. Twine was used to tie the tree to the top of the SUV, before they drove back to the condominium.

After carrying the tree inside the penthouse, Cooper asked, “Where should we put it?”

Lexi looked around and saw the perfect area in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room. “Right there would be great,” she stated, eyeing the spot and leading the way.

Once they had the tree in the stand, Cooper got out his Christmas lights and ornaments from the storage room, and the two of them began to decorate the tree—including newly purchased red tinsel garland and silver icicles. To keep them in the spirit of the season, Lexi took out her cell phone and played Nat King Cole’s version of “The Christmas Song,” followed by Andy Williams’s “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

“It’s definitely beginning to look like that in here,” Cooper joked, as they put the finishing touches on the tree’s decorations.