A Cowboy Firefighter For Christmas (Smokin' Hot Cowboys 1)

by Kim Redford

When the fire-rescue meeting broke up, Trey held the screen door open for Hedy so she could zoom down the ramp to her vehicle. He hugged Storm and watched her dance outside before she clattered down the brick stairs.

  Sydney gave Trey a big hug and whispered in his ear. “Now don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” And she pointedly glanced at Misty.

  Trey chuckled as he caught her meaning. “Wouldn’t think of it.”

  “Bet there’s plenty you could think of.” Sydney joined his laughter before she hurried outside after her daughter.

  Kent held up his hand and high-fived Trey. Slade gave him a wink. And then the two cousins were out the door, letting the screen door slam shut behind them. Quiet descended on the kitchen. Trey hooked the lock on the screen before he shut and locked the main door. He turned back to Misty.

  She smiled. “Guess we’ve got our show on the road.”

  “Looks like it.”

  “If you two need me for anything, ask me tomorrow.” Ruby covered a yawn with one hand. “I’m off to bed.”

  “It’s been a long day,” Trey agreed, “but we don’t have time to lose if we’re going to make this benefit work.”

  “Place is yours if you want to stay up and make plans.” Ruby glanced in the direction of the gazebo. “Why don’t you take cider down to the spring? Ease your feet in the water. Sure to feel good.”

  He glanced at Misty. “You up for that?”

  “I’d enjoy it. But I don’t want to keep you up.”

  He smiled as he clasped her hand, feeling that familiar surge of heat. “I think I can last a little longer.”

  Ruby cleared her throat. “Don’t let me interrupt anything.”

  He chuckled as he looked at his friend, who was grinning at the hand-holding. “We’ll just grab drinks and be on our way.”

  “No need to rush.” Ruby waved good-bye as she headed down the stairs. “Nighty-night.”

  Trey watched as Temple got up, leisurely stretched, and ran ahead of Ruby so he could lead her into the suite. She quietly shut the door behind them.

  He turned back to Misty. Finally, they were alone. It had taken all day, but they’d managed it.

  She picked up their mugs from the table. “I’ll pour us fresh cider and turn off the stove.”

  He glanced around to make sure all was in order. Everybody had pretty much cleaned up after themselves. He snatched the last bite of gingerbread, ate it, and set the Santa Claus plate in the sink. No doubt about it, Christmastime had the best goodies to eat.

  “One last plate.” She picked it up, rinsed it off, put it in the dishwasher, and started the wash cycle.

  “I’m sure Ruby will appreciate all the cleanup in the morning.”

  “Least we can do for her wonderful hospitality.” Misty poured cider into their mugs, then handed him one and picked up the other.

  “Need anything else?” He made one last glance around the kitchen and was satisfied nothing was left undone.

  “I’ll keep notes in my head.” She turned out the lights except for the one over the stove. She walked down the stairs to the living room now lit only by the purple, fuchsia, and apple-green lights of the peacock tree.

  “That’s some tree, isn’t it?” He joined her downstairs.

  “Sure is. I heard you had a little something to do with getting it set up.”

  “Followed orders. Can’t take credit for anything else.”

  She glanced up at him, almost glowing in the colorful lights of the tree. “I think you can take credit for a lot. That’s a beautiful work of art.”

  He shrugged. “Ruby’s the talented one.”

  She reached out and gently wrapped her fingers around his forearm. “Come on. Let’s create something nobody’ll ever forget.”

  He knew she meant the benefit, but his mind slipped back to Storm and an image of another little girl who had yet to be. He clasped Misty’s soft, warm hand with his bigger one. “I’m ready when you are.”

  He led her out to the sunroom. Christmas lights illuminated the area. He checked to see if the Gladstones were still on the swing, but they were gone. Most likely they’d taken a drive to look at Christmas decorations around town. He hoped they weren’t at the gazebo.

  Misty tugged him over to the back sliding door, dropped his hand, and stepped outside.

  He joined her. “Cooler this evening.”

  “Surely this heat wave will break soon.” She started down the lighted brick path.

  “Did you shop in Old Town today?” He wondered if she’d bought the dress there as he followed the seductive sway of her skirt.

  “I drank tea with Hedy in her wonderful store.”

  “That’s when y’all cooked up this benefit?”

  “Right.”

  When they reached the gazebo, he checked around for the Gladstones, but he didn’t see them anywhere nearby. He didn’t hear them either. The only sounds that broke the silence of the night were the trickle of the spring and the wind in the pines. He smelled pine and dry grass, maybe a little dust from the drought, but that was about all.

  “It’s so pretty here.” Misty set her mug of cider on the table, then reached into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out her phone. She set it on the table beside her mug.

  “Yeah.” But he was thinking about her, not the gazebo. He set his mug down across from hers. He didn’t want his phone anywhere near the water, so he took it out of his back pocket and set it on the table.

  “Before I leave Twin Oaks, I want to put on a swimsuit and take complete advantage of this pool.” Misty kicked off her sandals and walked over to the water.

  “Let me know when and I’ll join you.”

  She chuckled as she pulled up her skirt, sat down on the edge of the pool, and put her feet in the water. “Feels wonderful. Come on and join me.”

  He just shook his head as he watched her. She had no idea how everything about her was affecting him. He didn’t want to talk about the benefit. In fact, he didn’t want to talk at all.

  She moaned in delight as she kicked upward with one foot and a spray of water sparkled in the white fairy lights.

  That did it. He toed off one boot, then the other. He stuffed his socks in his boots, rolled his jeans up to his knees, and sat down beside her—close enough to feel her body heat. He eased his feet into the warm water.

  “Wonderful, isn’t it?” She raised her foot and let water drip down from her toes.

  “Nothing better, well—almost nothing.” He glanced sideways at her. She was better, no two ways about it.

  “So much happens around here. I feel as if I’m bouncing from one major crisis to another every day.” She reached down and let water flow through her fingers. “Know what I mean?”

  “A lot is going on. Christmas is a great time of year, but it’s a tough time for some folks, too.”

  “Like strong emotions?”

  “And loneliness.”

  She caught her breath on a slight hiccup and struck the water hard with the heel of one foot.

  “Misty?”

  “Nothing.” She kicked the water harder. “I mean, you’re right.”

  “I heard therapists are busy during the holidays.”

  She tossed him a strained smile. “But I bet not in Wildcat Bluff.”

  “Maybe you’re right.” He felt as if he was missing something important about her and the holiday, but he didn’t know what.

  She took a deep breath and quickly released it. “I’m not sure how to start planning the chili cook-off. But mostly I keep thinking about that kitten.”

  “I called the vet and he’s doing okay so far.”

  She chuckled. “I called, too.”

  “But it’s still too early to know if he’ll make it.”

  “He’s going to live. I just know it.” She stood up and walked over
to the spring where it bubbled up and cascaded down to the pool. She held her fingers under the running water. “Now, we need to make plans.”

  “Right.” With the white fairy lights twinkling in Misty’s blond hair and across her yellow dress, she looked like a golden goddess come to Earth. His Christmas angel.

  “Date. Venue. Food.”

  “Let’s see. We don’t have too many options.” He forced his mind back to business. “Christmas in the Country is this weekend. Christmas Eve is on Saturday this year. Best time to have the chili cook-off would be on Saturday before the hayride. I’m fairly confident we could work it into the schedule.”

  “That’d be perfect.” She clapped her hands in delight. “Did you say a hayride?”

  He chuckled at her excitement. “I’ll be driving. You want to ride with me?”

  “Absolutely.” She flicked water toward him. “Venue? You know this town better than I do.”

  “School cafeteria is the best place.”

  “Is that possible?”

  “As far as I know nobody else is using the space at that time, so I don’t see why not.”

  “We could put the chili entries in a row, so folks could walk down the line or mix it up.” Misty mimed where she’d set up the entries.

  “Good idea.”

  “We might include extras like corn chips, shredded cheese, and chopped onion to go with the chili.”

  “I like it.” And he liked her enthusiasm, too.

  “Do we want to invite local folks who benefit from fire-rescue or open it up to the general public?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I’d go with everybody. The more the merrier.” She excitedly tossed a handful of water into the air. “How do we let people know about the chili cook-off?”

  “We usually announce benefits by putting fliers in Old Town windows and in the newspaper. We can also put up an announcement on the town’s website. The Wildcat Bluff Sentinel comes out once a week.”

  “Is there time to get information to the paper?”

  “I’m pretty sure there is. I can write up a notice tonight and send it to Cuz Teddie for his weekly column.”

  “But don’t we need approval for the date and venue?”

  “Let’s assume it’s a go till we hear otherwise.”

  “Okay—if that’s the way things are done around here.” She rubbed the tip of her nose as if in thought. “What will Teddie need for his column?”

  “Pretty much the usual thing.” Trey considered it a moment. “Wildcat Bluff Chili Cook-Off. Saturday evening before the hayride. School cafeteria, unless otherwise notified. Benefit for Wildcat Bluff Volunteer Fire-Rescue animal oxygen mask kits. Something like that.”

  “I like it.”

  “News will spread fast by word of mouth.”

  “Even better.”

  He grinned at her. “Sounds like we’ve got a handle on your benefit.”

  “Our benefit.” She walked over and looked at him. “We wouldn’t be this far along without your help.” She leaned down and placed a quick kiss on his lips. “Thanks.”

  “Is that all the thanks I get?”

  “You want more?”

  “Don’t I deserve it?”

  “Guess you do.”

  She sashayed over to a chaise lounge with plump aqua cushions. She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a compelling look before she sat down, stretched out her long legs, and leaned back. She beckoned him with her long fingers.

  No words were necessary. He got up, stalked over, raised her long legs, and sat down. He gently set her ankles on his thighs and stroked her bare feet in widening circles. He massaged her soft, smooth skin—ever so slowly—up her ankles to her calves to her knees. He hesitated at the edge of her skirt before he continued upward with his strong fingers massaging the firm skin of her thighs that felt hotter with each touch of his hand. Soon he would reach the center of moist, hidden heat that beckoned him closer.

  “Not fair,” she said in a husky voice as she slowly sat up. “I’m getting all the thanks, not you.”

  “I’d have to disagree.” He pushed her skirt up higher.

  She leaned toward him, thrust her fingers into his thick hair, and placed a heated kiss on his lips, licking and nibbling across his sensitive flesh.

  He groaned as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. He deepened the kiss as he plunged into her mouth—tasting, teasing, tormenting—as he set them both ablaze.

  She came up for breath, smiled at him, and spread her fingers across the hard muscles of his chest. She massaged him as he’d massaged her and he felt his nipples harden in response. He grasped her shoulders and eased her back against the chaise lounge as he nestled his lower body between her legs. He took a deep, shuddering breath as he cupped her breasts with both hands, feeling her soft roundness completely fill his palms.

  Still he couldn’t get enough of her. He kissed her swollen lips, then trailed kisses from the corner of her mouth across the edge of her jaw to her earlobe, where he nibbled the soft flesh with his teeth. He was rewarded with her quick shiver and intake of breath. He kissed down her throat as he eased the straps of her dress off her shoulders and slowly pulled down the bodice. He glanced downward to see her round breasts with rosy tips revealed to him.

  He kissed her twin mounds while he moved one hand down her body. He eased up her dress and found her hot, moist center through sheer silk. He massaged and tweaked until she writhed up against his hand, panting with need. He caught her mouth with his own and plunged inside just as she shuddered with release.

  “Oh,” she gasped, breathing fast. “Let me thank you, too.” She found the bulge in his jeans, grasped the zipper, and started a slow descent.

  He groaned, knowing she was tormenting him on purpose, drawing out the suspense till he could feel her hand give him what he’d been aching for since the first moment he saw her.

  And in that long moment between anticipation and fulfillment, he heard the loud chirping of a cricket.

  She stiffened in his arms and pulled her hand away.

  Puzzled, he looked into her green eyes.

  “My phone.”

  “Call ’em back later.”

  “Might be an emergency.”

  “I’m an emergency.”

  “Won’t take a minute.”

  He sat up, took a deep breath, and stalked over to the table. He grabbed her phone. As he handed it to her, he glanced down. Two words glowed in the night. “Texas Timber.”

  Chapter 21

  Trey jerked up his zipper the inch Misty had lowered it as he watched her walk away to take her phone call from Texas Timber. He felt blindsided, but he should’ve known better. She was too perfect. She’d said all the right things at all the right times. Everybody liked her, trusted her, and wanted to be with her. She was even leading the charge to get animal oxygen kits.

  And she had to be working for Texas Timber, the rattlesnake in his woodpile. How could he believe anything she’d said or done since the first moment he’d met her? Every sultry look. Every sweet kiss. Every hot touch. For that matter, maybe she didn’t even have a fire phobia that led to panic attacks. Surely she couldn’t have faked it all. But that thought might go to prove he still wanted to believe in her.

  Why hadn’t he at least looked her up online? That was a quick and easy check. But he’d been fighting fires, taking care of cattle, getting ready for Christmas in the Country. He hadn’t had a free moment. But he should’ve made time. He’d involved his family, friends, and community. He sorely regretted inviting the fox into the henhouse. But he was on alert now, and all his protective instincts were in play.

  One major question remained for consideration. How far was Misty willing to go to get a signature for Wildcat Ranch on a Texas Timber agreement? Start fires? Cut fences? Crawl into his be
d? The first two—he had to stop. The second—well, why not? If she was willing to take advantage of him, why couldn’t he return the favor? He knew how to slip a halter on a heifer. And that wouldn’t be one bit of imposition on his part. If she was determined to get animal kits for volunteers, that was all to the better. If she wanted to help with Christmas in the Country, fine by him. If she wanted to snuggle, he wouldn’t kick her out of his bed. But he’d keep one eye open all the time.

  That brought him to his second round of reasoning about his not-so-nice Christmas angel. Was she working with somebody? And if so, whom? It could be an outsider, local, or just about anybody—except his friends and family. He’d trust them to the ends of the Earth. Still, he didn’t see how she could be handling all the problems on her own, particularly since she hadn’t been in town or she hadn’t shown herself in town before now.

  At least he knew why he’d had that uneasy feeling about her from the first. He didn’t want to accuse her if she wasn’t guilty, but he couldn’t take a chance on her innocence. Too much was at stake. At least now Texas Timber had a face. Misty Reynolds. Devil or angel, he’d make that final decision at some point. Sooner or later, he’d find out why she was really in town. He hoped he was mistaken about her, but he doubted it. Why else would Texas Timber send her here?

  Misty raised her voice. “Yes, Audrey. I understand you’re available 24/7. I am, too. I’ll get you a detailed report tomorrow morning. And I’ll stay in touch. Good-bye now.” Misty disconnected and slipped the phone in her pocket.

  “Everything okay?” Trey pretended to know nothing about her call, but his mind was racing with everything he’d learned about her. Texas Timber must be keeping her on a short leash if she had to make herself available anytime day or night. Either that or what she was doing in Wildcat Bluff was vitally important to the company.

  “Sorry. I had to take that call.” She sat down at the table and took a sip of cider.

  “Trouble?” He picked up his boots and socks before he sat down across from her.

  “Not really. I’m on vacation, but some clients need to be reassured no matter what.”

  “Christmas can affect people that way.” He rolled down the legs of his jeans. “You never said what you do for a living.”