by Kim Redford
“No angel.”
“Yes, you are. Today you saved our town and much of our county. Saved lives. Saved Dudley’s ranch house. Probably saved a Christmas tree farm. In my book that means you saved Christmas for hundreds of little kids this Christmas, next Christmas, and the Christmas after that.”
She shook her head at his reasoning.
“I know what it’s like since it happens every time I fight a fire. After it’s all over, after the adrenaline winds down, after everybody’s gone home, that’s when the fear or exhausting fatigue can hit. I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t have put you through this for the world.”
“And you?” She reached out, reacting to a surprising need to comfort him. He clasped her hand and rubbed his rough thumb across her palm.
He smiled as he jerked his head toward the table. “I brought beer and barbeque, didn’t I? Best comfort food I know.”
She nodded while tension unraveled in her chest. She took a deep breath as her heart slowed to an almost normal level. He understood. He’d been on the front line of fires. He’d felt the surge of conflicting emotions. He knew what it was like to win and lose in the fight for life.
“I’m here for you, trained and everything.” He chuckled, a deep, reassuring sound. “Why don’t you give me the chance to use what I spent all that time learning to do?”
She smiled, even as she realized he was intentionally trying to reassure her and lighten the situation.
“That’s better.”
She acknowledged that his training was working for her. She did feel stronger, like a computer overriding its programming. Yet maybe he wasn’t the answer. Maybe anybody would’ve done in his place. Maybe she just needed not to be alone. Still, she couldn’t help but doubt herself. He was here, not anybody else. And he understood.
“Much better.” He squeezed her fingers.
She took a deeper breath as her heart rate ratcheted down another notch. She had to admit he’d affected her strongly from the first. He’d awakened emotions long dormant. She could blame him for her panic attack. She wanted to blame him. But when he gently tugged her toward him, she didn’t.
“You’re safe.” He slipped into the water, pressed jeans, crisp fresh shirt, leather belt and all, and enclosed her in his arms.
He sounded good, the deep vibration of his voice spiraling throughout her. He felt good, all hard, smooth muscles wrapped around her. He smelled good, like spicy barbeque and fresh-baked bread. She took a deep breath, drinking him in as the ache in her chest receded and another took its place. Only this hot ache was much lower down. Her stomach growled, but she’d lost her hunger for food. Trey dominated all her senses.
Chapter 9
What was it about Misty that brought out Trey’s protective instincts? He held her gently when he wanted to crush her against his chest. He’d seen her savvy, sassy self. Now he’d glimpsed her vulnerable, inner self. Simply made him like her all the more. Panic attack. Over fire? There was a story there. He’d like to ask her, but it’d be rude and invasive and she’d probably resist sharing it. Maybe she’d tell him in time. She’d obviously overcome a lot of fear to fight that fire with him. It made her strong in his book. It gave him a bit of a mystery to solve. And it made her more delectable than ever.
He didn’t want to like and admire somebody who’d be leaving in a week or two. She might reel him in like a fish on a line before she tossed him back for being too country, too cowboy. He wasn’t used to being tossed back. And he didn’t figure he was going to get used to it, not now or ever. He’d take what he could get while he could get it. Dallas wasn’t all that far away. Bottom line, he’d find a way to keep her in Wildcat Bluff till Christmas. Sure was the right thing to do, her being his Christmas angel and all.
For now, he had her in his arms, and that was exactly where he wanted her. He could feel the sleek, soft wetness of her hair against his chin. Even wet as she was, he caught the scent of cinnamon and spice that reminded him of Christmas. Shampoo, perfume, or clothes, he didn’t know or care. Suited her fine. Just like her body fit him to a T. He’d known she’d be perfect for him from the first and now he’d proved it.
He still had a niggling doubt in the back of his mind about why she was in Wildcat Bluff. But he didn’t want to go there, so he thrust that thought into the cellar and slammed the door shut. He’d deal with her possible deception later, when the stars weren’t bright in the sky and she wasn’t warm in his arms.
He stroked down her back and felt the smallness of her waist as he pulled her closer. He heard her sigh, a soft escape of breath. He understood. He had the same feeling of rightness. When she clasped his shoulders to hold him tighter, he felt her damp, plump breasts warm against the solid muscles of his chest. Wet fabric didn’t leave much to the imagination. Now he wanted a hell of a lot more than a hug from her.
They might as well be naked. Warm water swirled around them, plastering their clothes to their bodies from the waist down. She was all delicious curves and valleys. He was getting hotter and harder by the moment. If he didn’t move away, he was going to reveal exactly how much he wanted her. Yet he couldn’t resist placing a kiss against her temple, a promise to keep when he wouldn’t feel like a heel for taking advantage.
She leaned back and touched a fingertip to her lips before pressing her kiss to his mouth as she mimicked his earlier touch. He kissed her fingertip, gentle when he wanted to be savage. Yet he understood the necessity of leashing physical needs to address emotional ones.
“Thank you.” She stepped back. “You came to my rescue.”
“Turnabout’s fair play. You came to my rescue earlier.”
“I’m not usually so needy.”
“It can happen.” He gestured toward the sack on the table. “That’s why I brought food for us.”
“It’s cold now.”
“Won’t matter.”
“True.”
“Want to eat at the table?” He gestured toward the round picnic table with comfortable chairs around it.
“We’re wet.”
“The night’s warm.”
He stepped out of the pool, dripping water from his jeans, and held out his hand. She hesitated before clasping his fingers and allowing him to help her out of the water. Her slight hesitation alerted him that she didn’t quite trust him. Not too surprising since she hadn’t known him long, but he wanted to change that fact. He wanted her to completely trust him.
She tried to shake out her capris, but they clung to her like a second skin. She glanced up at him. “Now that you’ve landed me, you aren’t going to toss me back as too scrawny, are you?”
Funny how she’d had the same thought he’d had earlier. “If you’re hooked, good and proper, I know how to reel you in.” He’d meant to be glib, but his words had come out with a ring of truth. “I have barbeque as bait.” He grinned to make light of his words, but still felt the seriousness underneath them.
She gave him an inquiring look and chuckled to ease the sudden tension. “Better be wary of what you hook. Might be more than you bargained for.”
“Bet I can handle it.”
“I wouldn’t bet against a cowboy firefighter EMT.” She motioned toward the sack. “But right now, I’m going for your bait.”
“That I can deliver.” He grinned, feeling his world slide back into place.
“You’d better,” she said with a lilting tease in her voice.
“I might even do you one better. I bet Ruby’s got some towels stashed around here.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting some of the water out of my hair.”
He walked over to a cabinet where he knew Ruby kept paper towels, napkins, and other such kitchen stuff. He opened a door, found kitchen towels, shook his head in disappointment, then tried another door and hit pay dirt. He pulled out three white bath towels and headed back to Misty where she stood by the table, d
ripping water down the length of her.
“Want me to dry you?” he asked with a suggestive tone in his voice.
“No thanks.” She chuckled as she held out her hands. “I believe I still know how to do it.”
“But where’s the fun in that?” He couldn’t resist teasing her, but his words held a kernel of truth, too.
She simply shook her head at him as she accepted two towels. She blotted her face, smearing her makeup a bit, before she wrapped a towel around her hair. She quickly patted down her body before she folded the towel, set it on a chair, sat down, and sighed in contentment.
He dropped his folded towel on the seat next to her. He wasn’t about to try and sluice off his jeans. Wouldn’t help much and he’d look like a wimp. Besides, they’d both air-dry pretty quick in the dry heat. He sat down, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Long, hard day followed by tasty barbeque and fine companionship made life right. He ripped open the food sack, pulled out beers, set them out, and then placed a white, square container of food in front of each of them. Last, he tossed her a bag with a fork and napkin.
“Don’t say a word about the utensils.” He grinned. “Ruby already raked me over the coals for improper table settings.”
“Reminds me, where are the tablecloth and candles?”
“Don’t even go there.”
She chuckled as she pulled the towel from her head, set it in a crumpled heap on the table, and fluffed out her damp hair. She tore open the cellophane package and took out her fork and napkin. “I doubt this flimsy napkin will be enough. I like my barbeque messy.”
“That’s why I brought the paper towels.”
“Good thing.” She grabbed a handful and slid the rest toward him.
He flipped open the plastic lid to his barbeque.
“Smells wonderful.” She opened her container, too. “You brought ribs?”
“Don’t you like them?” He glanced at her in surprise.
“You brought a lady the messiest food you could order.”
“Can’t fool me. That’s just the way you like it.”
“Right.” She pointed a rib at him. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse—”
“And chase the rider.”
“Spoilsport.”
“Already heard that one today.”
“Aren’t we sensitive?”
“What I am is hungry.” And he started in on his ribs, a tender, tasty treat if ever there was one.
As they scarfed up curly fries, jalapeños, potato salad, coleslaw, ribs, and beer, they were silently intent on their food.
Trey heard nothing except the trickling of the spring until a coyote howled an eerie cry in the distance. Soon the animal was joined by a chorus of other coyotes.
Misty tossed down her rib bone. “What is that noise?”
“Coyote pack.”
“Sounds dangerous. Are they allowed to roam free?”
“How are you going to stop them? They were here first. Besides, they’re good rodent hunters, so they help balance the ecosystem.”
“I’ve heard they go after small dogs in towns.”
“Only if their territory has been overrun and they’re starving with no place to go. It’s a shame for coyotes and dogs.”
“I guess Dallas spreading out onto farms and pastures could do it.”
“Yep.”
“But we’re safe?”
“Coyotes are basically shy creatures.” He gave her a mischievous glance, raising one eyebrow. “But if you’d like to sit on my lap, I’d be happy to protect you from any dangerous critters that might happen by. Warm you up, too, since you must be chilled, wet and all.”
She tossed a rib bone at him. “You’re just looking for trouble.”
“If you’d like to give me some, I wouldn’t complain.”
“I’m dripping-dry just fine without your lap.”
“Shame about that.” He shook his head in disappointment.
She laughed. “You’re just bad.”
“And that’s good?”
She tossed another rib bone at him, laughing harder.
“Hey, I’m going to be wearing more barbeque sauce than I’m eating if you keep that up.”
“But that’s good, isn’t it?”
“Now you’re the one who’s looking for trouble.”
“Think I’ve found it?”
He leaned toward her and wiped barbeque sauce from the corner of her mouth with his fingertip. He put his finger to the tip of his tongue. “Sweetest sauce I ever tasted.”
“Hah! What’s good for the gander is good for the goose.” She leaned in close to him and quickly licked the corner of his mouth. She sat back, looking quite pleased, obviously expecting him to go on teasing her.
But he felt her touch like a punch to the gut. If that was a sample of what she could do to him, he wanted her tongue all over him, licking and stroking and tormenting until he returned the favor. She was playing with fire and didn’t know it. Pretty quick, he wasn’t going to be able to control the inferno she was building in him.
“Trey?” She raised her eyebrows in obvious concern. “Was I out of line?”
“Hell no!”
He leaned over, grasped the back of her neck, and planted his lips on hers. She tasted like beer, barbeque, and a sweetness that could only be her own. He felt a growl lock in his throat as something feral threatened to bust loose. Yet he remained gentle, not about to spook her, as he nibbled from one corner of her mouth to the other, then probed slightly with his tongue.
When she parted her lips, his groan broke free as he pushed into her soft, warm depths. He heard her sigh, a soft, husky sound, as she returned his kiss, grasping his shoulders and pulling him closer.
“Howdy out there! Where are you two?” a woman’s voice called, breaking the stillness of the night.
Misty gasped and jerked back. “Is that the Gladstones?”
“If it is, I’m going to sic the coyotes on them.”
He heard footsteps on the brick walkway that led to the spring. He cursed under his breath at the lousy timing. He couldn’t even get up, not in his wet jeans, or he’d reveal exactly what they’d been up to out here.
Misty put a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with surprise and wonder, as she stared at him. “I guess that kinda got out of control. But we’ve been under a lot of stress.”
“Not out of control at all.” He tugged her hand toward him and kissed her soft palm. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since the first moment I saw you.”
She gently cradled his face with her hand. “We’ve been a little busy for you to follow up on that plan till now.”
“I didn’t know if you’d be so inclined.”
“Guess I am, or was, but we’d better leave it here.”
“You sure?” If he had time, he’d change her mind, but the footsteps were drawing close.
She nodded as she pulled her hand away and placed it in her lap.
“There you are!” Charlene stepped into the gazebo.
“We brought more to drink.” J.P. followed her, holding a tray of beers.
Trey leaned close to Misty. “You’re my Christmas angel.”
She shook her head in denial.
“Won’t let you forget it.”
J.P. set the tray on the table, seated Charlene beside Misty, and eased down in a chair. “Pretty place, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Misty agreed.
Charlene winked at Trey. “So, what have you two been doing?” She patted Misty’s hand, her fingers sporting red-tipped nails and sparkling rings. “Sugar, your hair is all wet, and your makeup’s a mess. Maybe you ought to check a mirror.”
Misty pulled her hand away, surprised at Charlene’s rudeness. Maybe she’d been struck by the green-eyed-jealousy monster despite being married to a nice-looking man
like J.P. and didn’t want another gal hanging out with Trey. Whatever the case, Misty knew her makeup wasn’t in the best shape, but she didn’t much care. And Trey didn’t appear to either.
But she’d learned something important about Charlene for her file. The perfectly put-together antique hunter liked to think she was the only woman on-site who could turn a man’s head.
Chapter 10
Misty caught Trey’s glance, but all he did was shrug and appear amused at Charlene’s comment.
“That’ll happen when you take a spontaneous dip in the spring,” Misty said, throwing Charlene’s words back at her. “Feels wonderful. You ought to give it a try while you’re here. Washes away all your troubles.”
Charlene clicked her long nails together as she smiled with crimson-tinted lips. “Skinny-dipping? Naughty girl.”
J.P. sat up straighter and gave Misty a closer look.
“Not at all.” Trey jumped into the conversation. “Clothes and all. Looked like so much fun I had to join her. We’re sitting here letting our clothes dry, enjoying the night and shooting the breeze.”
“He’s been telling me about his work as an EMT.” Misty decided to get the discussion away from her wet clothes and messy makeup.
“You’re an emergency medical technician?” Charlene’s big eyes widened in surprise and interest.
“Let me answer that.” Ruby stepped into the gazebo, carrying two battery-powered hurricane lanterns. She set them on the table before she took a seat across from Misty.
“Cozy.” Misty liked the soft illumination, but she hoped it didn’t reveal more makeup smears or too much about what she and Trey had been doing alone. She touched her lips, felt the puffiness, and wondered if they were swollen. If so, maybe nobody would notice. When she heard Trey’s soft chuckle, she knew he knew what was on her mind.
“Trey is one of our volunteer firefighters,” Ruby explained. “They also assist our community as paramedics.”
