Marry Me under the Mistletoe

by Rebecca Winters

  “No. That long sleep did me a world of good. Finding you here has made my day.”

  Finding you alive yesterday made mine.

  “I have a confession. On my way home from Barrow’s Cove, I bought a book for Tessa. I was going to send it to her from me, but everything has changed since then. Since I agree she needs the emotional love that gifts can’t give her, I thought maybe you could slip it in with her toys from Santa. It’s in my purse in the living room.”

  He leaned forward with a concerned expression in his eyes. “I’m sorry I came across so heavy-handed with you in the beginning, Andrea.”

  “But I understand why you did.”

  “You’re an amazingly forgiving, generous person. You need to know I’m no longer going to tiptoe around Tessa where you’re concerned. You shouldn’t have to either, because I intend to go on seeing you. Yesterday I told her you’re my friend. It gave her a lot to think about.”

  Andrea stood up in panic. “We can’t be friends, let alone anything more. It won’t work.”

  His handsome face darkened with lines. “Why not?”

  “You know why.”

  “Because of Tessa?”

  “That’s a part of it.”

  He got to his feet. Suddenly the bedroom seemed so small. “What’s the other part?”

  “I meant what I said before. I don’t want to get into another relationship if that’s where this is headed. Just a few minutes ago you admitted you fought your initial attraction to me, too. It’s because in the end I can’t give you what you want any more than you can satisfy my needs. We’re better off parting company for good today.”

  A dark brooding look descended. “How can you be so cold-blooded when just a few minutes ago we were communicating in the most elemental of ways and didn’t want to stop?”

  She lifted her chin. “That’s called chemistry, but it doesn’t supply all the other things needed to make up a relationship that will last forever.”

  “You and I have both learned the brutal lesson that nothing can be counted on to last forever, but a fire’s been lit and it’s not going to go away any time soon.”

  “It will if we don’t see or talk to each other again,” she responded emotionally.

  “You think it’s that easy to douse the flames licking at us? I fight fires every day. Some become fully involved. That’s what has happened to us.”

  Andrea shook her head. “I don’t believe it can’t be put out. I met that attractive female firefighter Susie at the party. Deanna told me she’s single. During the time I was there, she didn’t take her eyes off you. A woman with interests like yours would be a great match for you.”

  His mouth thinned. “What interests?”

  “You both fight fires. It’s who you are and what you do.”

  “If I’d been interested in Susie, I would have taken her to the party.” His voice grated.

  “Fine. All I’m saying is, there’s a whole world of wonderful women out there who, given the chance, would love you and your daughter and want to start a new family with you.”

  “But you’re not one of them.”

  “I can’t be.”

  His dark expression grew forbidding. “You’re keeping something from me, and I mean to find out what it is.”

  “Yoo-hoo, Rick.”

  Mrs. Milne couldn’t have chosen a better moment to return. “I have to leave now.” Andrea started down the hall to the living room. Rick was right behind her.

  “If you want me to fix you and Andrea something to eat, just tell me,” his housekeeper called from the kitchen.

  “Thanks, Sharon, but we’re fine right now.”

  Andrea hurried over to the couch to get her purse. Just as she pulled out the gift-wrapped book to give to him, Tessa came running into the house straight past Andrea. “Do you feel better now, Daddy?”

  “I sure do.” He lifted her in the air and kissed her. “Where’s your grandmother?”

  “She had to go to the dentist.”

  “Did you have a nice time?”

  “Yes, but I wanted to stay home with you. You slept a long time,” she said. Then her glance fastened on the Christmas present in Andrea’s hand and she looked at her. “Did you bring that to Daddy?”

  Finally a connection. Since her talk with Rick, Andrea felt she had permission to do what came next, but her heart was pounding too fast. “No. I brought it for you.”

  “But it’s not Christmas yet.”

  “I thought you might like it now.” She handed it to her.

  “What is it?”

  Rick lowered her to the floor. “Why don’t you open it and find out?”

  Tessa quickly tore off the paper. “Look, Daddy—it’s the gingerbread man!” she cried. For the first time since the disaster at the shop, Rick’s daughter looked up at her with a smile.

  “I promise that Santa will bring you your gingerbread man. But while you’re waiting for Christmas morning, this will be fun to read. It was one of my favorite stories growing up.”

  “Mine is Mrs. Piggle Wiggle.”

  Andrea’s heart melted. “I loved those stories, too.”

  “My favorite’s about the boy who wouldn’t clean up his room.”

  “That’s a really good one. My mother used to read them to me. I think my favorite was the Slow-Eater-Tiny-Bite-Taker Cure. But the really funny one was about the Radish Cure.”

  A giggle escaped. “I know. Will you read the gingerbread man to me?”

  Andrea’s gaze darted to Rick, whose eyes glowed with a warmth she could feel permeate her body. “I’d love to. Come and sit down on the couch by me.”

  Together they went through every page identifying all the characters while she read the story. Tessa was totally engrossed.

  Andrea would always treasure this moment, but now it was time to go while she could leave with a good feeling. She closed the book and put it in Tessa’s hands. “That was fun. Thank you for letting me read it to you. Now I have to leave.”

  “You do?” Andrea heard a slightly wistful tone. Well, what do you know? she thought.

  “Yes, but I bet your daddy would love to read it to you. He’s been waiting for you to come home and needs to get back to bed.” Andrea’s gaze flew to Rick’s. “Get better soon. I’ll see myself out.”

  To her shocked surprise, Tessa followed her to the door. “I love my book.”

  “I’m glad, darling. Bye.” She left the house, closing the door behind her. This was the best way to end things. Cold turkey.

  Before long she pulled into her mother’s driveway. “Mom?” she called out when she entered the house.

  “In the kitchen.”

  Andrea found her making the fondant for the pecan rolls she gave to her friends at Christmas. “How soon will Rex be over?”

  “Not for a couple of hours. I want to hear more about you and Tessa’s father.”

  “I left the party early to get home because of Dad. Rick insisted on doing an inspection of the shop and the loft. He said there’s a firebug on the loose. On his suggestion I bought some dowels and put them in the windows.”

  “That’s a good idea, honey. I’m worried about you staying there.”

  “I’ll be fine, Mom.”

  “Then why are you so tense?”

  “Is it that obvious?” She averted her eyes.

  “I’m your mother.”

  “I made a huge mistake. He...kissed me and I let him.”

  “Was it a terrible experience?”

  Andrea could hardly swallow remembering the rapture she’d felt. “No, of course not.”

  “But?”

  “I didn’t want it to happen.”

  “That’s not really true—otherwise you would have stopped him. I’m
glad this happened. Darling—Gunter’s been gone fourteen months. You’re free to look at another man and to care about one again. I have eyes and can see how attractive Captain Jenner is. You wouldn’t be a woman if you didn’t notice him.”

  “But there’s a big problem, because he’s too gorgeous!”

  Her mother laughed out loud before she poured the hot fondant onto a buttered marble slab. “Well, you’ll have to blame his genes for that. Andrea, you’re so young, with a whole life ahead of you. You knew someone else had to come along one day.

  “Why does the idea of getting to know this man cause you so much angst? Don’t let guilt that you might be betraying Gunter’s memory prevent you from getting to know him or any man better.”

  “It’s not guilt, Mom. Trust me.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. So what’s wrong?”

  “I told you before. After losing Gunter, I don’t want to care for a man whose chances of dying on the job climb astronomically because of his profession.”

  Her mother studied her for a long moment. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

  “Yes. I feel doubly sorry for Tessa. She lost her mom. One of these days she could lose him, too. That poor little girl will spend her whole life worrying about him. You should have seen her earlier. She’d been with her grandmother, but she came running into Rick’s house like a rocket to hug him. It caught at my heart. Rick admitted his late wife didn’t like his job either.”

  “Well, you have to look at it this way. He’s one of those selfless men who loves what he does for a living. What would we do without his kind? In caveman days he would be the one who went out to hunt for meat to bring back for everyone,” she teased. “Seriously, some men are made that way. You can only admire them.”

  “I do, and I’ve always asked myself how they can do it, but now it has hit home to me in a more personal way. Yesterday should have been his day off, yet there he was in the heart of some holocaust with no one to save him.”

  “I understand they work on the buddy system.”

  “Even so, they can die. One did yesterday.”

  Her mom let out a troubled sigh. “What are you going to do?”

  “I have no intention of going out with him again.”

  By now her mom was spreading the pecans on the paper. “Did you tell him that before or after he kissed you?”

  Andrea’s cheeks filled with heat. “Before.”

  “I must say he lives up to his reputation for living dangerously. I wish I could help you with your dilemma. If you truly mean what you say and don’t want to see him again, you could be missing out on a great love affair.”

  “Not if it’s cut short.” Not when I can’t give him or any man a baby. He’d told her Tessa needed a sibling. With the right woman, Rick could have several more children.

  “I’m going back to the loft. I need to clean and do a wash before work in the morning. I hope you and Rex have a great evening. I can’t wait to hear about it tomorrow.”

  As soon as Andrea got home she lit into her housecleaning until she was ready to drop. But she still spent a restless night dreaming about Rick, and she got up early the next morning to put more merchandise out on the floor. Her mother joined her in time to wait on a steady stream of customers. The weather had warmed up, bringing in shoppers.

  The chimes sounded again. She happened to glance toward the entrance and found herself staring into the blue eyes of the firefighter she’d met at the hospital. He’d warned her he’d look her up, but she really resented it when he knew she’d been at the hospital to see Rick. “Andrea Fleming. I was hoping I’d find you here. Remember me? I’m Chase Hayward, from the hospital. How’s the invalid?”

  He was attractive in his own way, but he had an aggressive nature she hadn’t liked at the hospital, and liked less now.

  “I would imagine he’s still recuperating. This is my mother, Mrs. Bernard. Mom? This is one of the firefighters who came to the hospital to see Tessa’s father.”

  “How do you do?”

  His smile widened. “Now I know where Andrea gets her looks.”

  “Thank you. If you two will excuse me, I have some business in the back.”

  She wished her mom hadn’t left her alone with him. “Are you looking for a special gift? We have nutcrackers and pyramids.”

  “No. I didn’t come to buy anything. I wanted to ask you out to dinner this evening, unless you and the captain are an item.”

  This man would be the last person she’d ever want to go out with, but how to do this tactfully so as not to offend him or affect his relationship with Rick? “I’m friends with the captain’s daughter and haven’t been out with another man since my husband passed away. I still miss him terribly.” Though it was the truth, she’d gotten past the pain since meeting Rick.

  “I’m sorry you lost your husband.”

  Andrea had nothing more to say to him. “So am I. If you’ll excuse me, I have more customers waiting.”

  “Andrea?” Her mother walked up to her with a serious expression. “You’re wanted on the phone. I’ll take over for you.” Andrea had the impression it was Rick, and she went to the back of the shop. Unfortunately she was breathless when she picked up. “Hello?”

  “I’m sorry if I’m getting you at a bad time, but this couldn’t wait.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Yesterday you walked out on me and Tessa. After you left, she told me she wished you had stayed to read some more books to her. There’s been a breakthrough.”

  “That makes me happy. She’s very precious,” Andrea said in a shaky voice, “but I’m afraid I can’t talk any longer.” Thrilling as those words were, it didn’t change her decision.

  “Don’t hang up. Your mother just told me Chase Hayward was in the shop.”

  She blinked. “Yes?”

  “Is he still there?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What did he want?”

  There was no use lying to Rick, who sounded so terse. “He said he didn’t come to buy anything—he wanted to invite me out to dinner.”

  “What did you tell him?” His voice sounded an octave lower.

  “That I’m still mourning my husband. Then Mom told me I was wanted on the phone. What’s wrong?”

  “Do me a favor and drive over to my house as soon as you can get here. Ask your mom if she’ll take over while you’re gone. This is important, Andrea.”

  “Rick—”

  “Just do it!” He sounded fierce before she heard the click and the dial tone.

  Stunned by the call, Andrea found her mother on the shop floor and told her Rick needed to see her right away. “It sounded like an emergency.”

  “Then go, and don’t worry about me.”

  Andrea grabbed her purse and coat before flying out the back door. She couldn’t imagine what was going on, but knew it had to do with the other firefighter. During the drive she reflected on the scene at the hospital and Chase’s cocky behavior. Andrea felt as if he couldn’t have cared less about Rick’s condition. He hadn’t acted the same as Rick’s other friends and colleagues.

  To her surprise Rick came outside when he saw her drive up. His long, well-honed body was clothed in jeans and a polo shirt, drawing her gaze. Andrea parked behind his car. He walked over to help her out. “Thank you for getting here so fast.”

  “It sounded urgent.”

  “I know I frightened the hell out of you, but I had to do something to get your attention.” He cupped her elbow as they walked into the house.

  “Where’s Tessa?”

  “Sharon’s gone to pick up her and Julie at school. Let’s go in the kitchen where we can talk.”

  “You sound much better today.”

  “I’m fully recovered.” In the next breath h
e pulled her into his arms and gave her a long, hungry kiss. To her shame it went on and on and left her gasping for breath once he relinquished her mouth. “I had to do that before we talk about Chase Hayward.”

  She saw his lips tighten. So she hadn’t imagined tension between them at the hospital. “I hope you know I’m not interested in him.” Andrea decided to tell him everything. “I’m sorry to say I didn’t like him. Among other things he has an attitude problem.”

  “There’s a lot more wrong with him than you can imagine.” At this point the glaze of desire in Rick’s eyes had vanished, to be replaced by the dangerous glittering look he’d given her in the shop that first morning. He let go of her arms so she could sit down at the table.

  “I take it you’re not friends.”

  “Anything but.” His hands went to his hips in a totally masculine gesture. “We joined the department at the same time eight years ago and worked at the same station for three years. He always saw everything as a competition. After his divorce, he got worse. When I was promoted to captain of my own ladder truck and transferred to the station I’m in now, it was a great relief.

  “A year later I learned he’d made captain at our original station. On the rare occasion when we were fighting the same fire, he was openly hostile to me when the other guys couldn’t hear him. Arney confided that Chase was jealous of me because not only had I been promoted earlier than him, but I’d made captain of the ladder truck in the downtown station.”

  “Why would he care?”

  “Because our station fights the most dangerous fires. It’s a matter of pride with him.”

  With those words it felt as if a bomb had exploded inside her. Rick had just given her more reason to walk away from him as soon as Sharon got back.

  “That had to have been a wound to his colossal ego,” she murmured.

  “You could say that. He was the only firefighter I knew who didn’t come to my wife’s funeral. As Benton said, he was conspicuous by his absence.”

  In a fraternity like theirs, Andrea realized any absence would be noticed. “Then I don’t understand why he came to the hospital with the other guys to see you.”

  “I’ve been asking myself the same thing, but I think I know now.” His hands gripped the back of one of the chairs. “How long was he there at the shop?”