by Kim Redford
“Let’s make it easy on them.”
“All right. I don’t think there’s a big rush to get there. Let’s go back to the station first. Somebody else might need the booster.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll text Slade we’re on our way and the drive-in is all clear.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Dune felt a sense of relief to know Storm was stable enough to go home and wait for her mom. He was also glad Sydney had accepted his offer. Slade didn’t have any business getting out and bringing his niece with him to pick up Sydney, since it’d only cause unnecessary stress and trouble. It’d also be easier on Sydney for him to take her straight home.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that she finished her text, put her phone in her purse, and started putting on her shoes. For the moment, all was right in the world, so he pushed down the accelerator to hurry them home.
A little later, he turned onto Cougar Lane and pulled into the parking lot of the Wildcat Bluff Fire-Rescue Station. The last of the dying sun bounced golden rays off the windshield of his pickup parked beside Hedy’s van with its transparent, colorful Santa Claus stencils on the back windows. As he’d anticipated, the bay door was open, so he drove inside and killed the engine.
Hedy gave him a wave from her wheelchair before she pushed the button to lower the bay door.
As he turned to look at Sydney, he picked up her slip and folded it into a smaller shape.
“You aren’t giving that back, are you?”
He grinned, knowing she knew he was teasing her. “You said you owed me something. Why don’t I take this as payment?” He tucked her slip into his front pocket.
“Okay,” she said, drawing out the word as if in thought. “But you owe me something in return.”
“What?”
“I’ll let you know.”
He chuckled as he opened his door. “I’m happy to owe you. Maybe I’ll come up with an idea on my own.”
She laughed as she shook her head. “I’d better not leave it up to you. No telling what you might want to give me.”
He stopped, looked back, and clasped her hand. “There’s a lot I want to give you if you’d let me.”
She smiled, hazel eyes twinkling with special warmth as she squeezed his hand. “First things first.”
“Right.”
“Hey, you two,” Hedy hollered. “Time’s a wastin’.”
“We’ll pick this up later,” he said, letting go of her hand.
She gave him a quick grin, picked up her purse, tucked her dress inside, and stepped down from the booster.
He took a deep breath as he felt her slip like banked fire in his pocket, threatening to ignite at any moment. He forced that thought from his mind as he jumped down from the rig and shut the door behind him.
He walked around the front of the booster and saw Sydney reach down to give Hedy a hug.
“I’ve got good news for you,” Hedy said. “Kent and I have been on the phone, corralling our cowboy firefighters.”
“Did you actually get them all to agree to a date—again?” Sydney asked, sounding hopeful.
“Did you ever doubt me? Thursday at nine. We gave them time to finish ranch chores before showing up here, all spiffy.” Hedy gave a sharp nod of her head, chuckling. “I told them to ‘be here or be square.’”
“I bet that lit a fire under them,” Dune said with a laugh.
“Nope,” Hedy disagreed, chuckling. “I don’t think that retro phrase meant a thing to them, but who cares? They’ll be here.”
“Thanks.” Sydney gestured toward Dune. “He’ll be here to help us, too.”
“Even better.” Hedy raised an eyebrow at Dune, cocking her head to one side as if considering the implications of his actions in helping Sydney.
He grinned, letting Hedy know he knew exactly what she was thinking about his volunteer work. “I’m Mr. December.”
“Hot dog,” Hedy teased, fanning her face with one hand as if he was too hot to handle.
“And I’m taking some time off work to make sure these Christmas events come off without a hitch,” he explained.
“That’s right generous of you,” Hedy said. “I hope you get a little something for all your trouble.”
He grinned even bigger. “I suspect I will.”
“Anyhow,” Sydney added, “now that the drive-in fire is taken care of, we can move forward on the calendar.”
“Glad all’s well that ends well,” Hedy said, “but I’d feel a whole lot better if Sheriff Calhoun caught that arsonist before somebody gets hurt.”
“Me too,” Sydney agreed. “I bet Bert and Bert Two wish it even more than us.”
“They’ve had their share of trouble. That’s for sure,” Hedy said.
“Bert invited you over to see his Bluebird of Happiness collection. Again.” Sydney gave Hedy a sassy grin. “After all, he bought them all from you at Adelia’s Delights, so you just might finally go over and see them.”
“He invited us all,” Dune added. “Bert Two said at Christmastime, the collection is well worth seeing.”
Hedy shrugged her shoulders. “I’d think summer with bright sunlight would be the time to see all that pretty blue glass sparkle.”
“Oh no,” Sydney disagreed. “It seems Bert dresses up the bluebirds or puts tinsel around them or some such thing for Christmas.”
“Dresses up the bluebirds?” Hedy appeared shocked as she looked from Sydney to Dune and back again. “I can’t imagine such a thing, or where he’d get the time to do it.”
“Maybe it’s not dresses.” Dune tried to make the bluebirds all dressed up for Christmas sound more reasonable, even though he definitely agreed with Hedy’s opinion.
“I hope not,” Hedy said in a clipped tone. “Anyway, where would he get dresses or ties or aprons or whatever to fit the bluebirds?”
“It’s probably just regular Christmas decorations like we all wear.” Sydney pointed toward Ash as he walked out of the back room, still wearing a big red bow around his neck. “But you’ve got to admit, we’re curious now, aren’t we?”
“Yeah, I’m getting there.” Hedy glanced at Ash and held out her hand. She wiggled her fingers, and he quickly leaped onto her lap. She stroked his sleek silver fur for a moment. “I may finally have to go over to Bert’s place and see all those bluebirds, or I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“You’ll make Bert’s Christmas if you do go.” Sydney leaned over and ran the palm of her hand down Ash’s back. “You could take a pie or cookies when you go, so you two could share a snack.”
“Just listen to you.” Hedy gave her a mock frown. “I’m about to get enough of your matchmaking ways.”
Sydney laughed, throwing back her head in delight. “Go ahead and admit it. You’re kind of sweet on Bert, now aren’t you?”
“Not a bit of it.” Hedy zipped her motorized wheelchair back. “Why don’t you two get out of here and let me take care of business?”
“Okay,” Sydney agreed. “I want to get home to Storm. But please say you’ll at least think about making Bert a happy man this Christmas.”
Hedy gave her a wink. “I’ll think about it. There, I’ve said it, so be off with you. And give Storm a kiss for me.”
Sydney gave a little wave, then turned to Dune with a smile.
“I haven’t got any bluebirds—” he started to say.
“Don’t even go there,” she interrupted as she slipped her bulging purse up over the crook of her arm.
Hedy chortled behind them. “Hey, Dune, I can fix you up real quick with a bluebird collection.”
“Thanks. I may need it.” He gave Hedy a knowing look before turning back to Sydney.
“Maybe you ought to go see Dune’s bluebird collection after he gets one,” Hedy said. “I bet once he gets done, th
ey’ll be dressed up like cowboys and cowgirls.”
“I doubt he’ll ever have a bluebird collection,” Sydney insisted, chuckling.
“I bet he can come up with some kind of collection real fast if he puts his mind to it,” Hedy added. “And there are always bluebirds in my store.”
Sydney grabbed Dune’s hand and tugged him toward the door that led outside. “You win. No more collection talk. And, Hedy, I’m done trying to get you to see Bert’s bluebirds, but why don’t you at least take pity on him?”
Hedy grinned as she waved goodbye. “Why don’t you do the same thing?”
Dune turned back and gave Hedy a conspiratorial look before he followed Sydney out of the station where night was quickly falling and a few stars were twinkling in the sky overhead.
She released his hand and whirled around to look at him. “Hedy knows just how to get everybody’s goat, doesn’t she?”
“You did push her a little hard about Bert, so naturally, she came back at you.”
“Yeah, maybe so. But it’s for her own good. And his.”
“She’s pretty observant about folks—like us.” He gave Sydney a long, slow, up-and-down perusal. “How about you show me your vintage lingerie collection? It’d be for my own good.”
“And mine?” She grinned as she put her hand in his pocket and fingered the soft fabric of her slip. “I guess I’d better invite you over some time, hadn’t I?”
He groaned, feeling heat surge through him. If she went any lower or tugged any harder, she’d know exactly how much she affected him, and in exactly what way. Maybe that’d be good. Maybe not. For now, he caught her hand, lifted it, and placed it over his heart. “Let’s go home.”
“I’d like that. I’d like it a lot.”
When she glanced up at him with a soft, searching look in her big hazel eyes, he couldn’t resist the temptation of setting his mouth to her soft pink lips. She tasted of honey and tangerine—sweet and tart and totally delectable. As he nibbled teasingly across her mouth, he felt a surprisingly warm breeze kick up. He heard the scatter of crisp, dry winter leaves as the sudden whirlwind danced around them, cocooning them in their own private little world.
He deepened the kiss, surging into her mouth, drawing her closer, driving their emotions higher and higher. He could almost hear the crackling of fire as their combined heat combusted into flames, but it was surely the leaves whipping around them. When she moaned and trembled against him, he felt his own body shudder in response. He wanted more, so much more, but now was not the time.
He raised his head to look at her. “As much as I want to continue this,” he said in a deep, rough voice, “I’d better get you home.”
She nodded in agreement, rubbing her arms with both hands as if suddenly cold now that she was no longer close to him.
“But I want a rain check on seeing your lingerie collection.”
“Is that what you want for Christmas?”
“That’s what I want to see you wear for Christmas.”
“Nothing else?”
He reached out and rubbed his thumb across her lower lip, now plump from their heated kisses. “That’d just be the appetizer.”
Chapter 16
A few days later, Dune pulled up in front of Sydney’s house after another long day of getting things ready for Christmas at the Sure-Shot Drive-In. He’d been quiet on the drive back from Sure-Shot, letting her catch a few winks of sleep.
He had no idea how she’d have managed all the coordination for the promotion, parade, and vendors on her own. Fortunately, they’d been able to make their headquarters in the snack shed and pick up food at the Bluebonnet Café while they pulled much of it together. Slade had been a big help taking care of Storm while they worked long hours. For the moment, they’d caught up enough that they could catch their breath.
He glanced at two tall, black wrought-iron vintage gas lamps that cast light across the front lawn. He parked beside Celeste and a shiny red four-seater ATV, a style that, fortunately, didn’t appear too similar to the one that’d thrown Storm for a loop. He figured the four-wheeler belonged to Slade, since it had Steele Trap Ranch written in Western curlicue lettering across the hood.
Sydney’s home looked ready for Christmas. Red-and-green light ropes twinkled from the tire swing, the oak tree’s broad trunk, the top of the porch railing, and along the peaked roofline of the old farmhouse. A soft yellow porch light emphasized the large crimson-and-gold wreath on the front door.
He turned off his dually and glanced over at Sydney. She’d leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes, obviously feeling the effects of another busy day. He wanted to kiss her and make it all better, for her as well as himself. Even more so, he’d like to take her to his place. Still, she belonged here on her family spread with her loved ones. Storm was doing well but still feeling the effects of her ATV spill. Sydney had stayed off her feet the last few days, so she was doing better, too. All in all, they were on course to make the holidays special for lots of folks.
Sydney took a deep breath, yawned behind her hand, and glanced over at him, looking a little sleepy, a little relaxed, a little vulnerable. When she gave him a small smile, he felt the heat he’d experienced before surge through him. Suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to throw out his best of intentions, take her back to Cougar Ranch, and join her on the narrow bed in his cowboy cabin.
“Here already?” She sat up, loosened her shoulders with a shrug, and stared outside the truck. “It’s pretty on the ranch at night, isn’t it?”
“Sure is. And it looks like your fireplace chimney is ready for Santa.”
“I’d just as soon he comes in through the front door, so he doesn’t make a sooty mess all over my floor.”
“Guess that could be a problem.” Dune reached over and squeezed her hand. “Let me walk you to your door, then I’ll get out of your hair.”
“You’re not in my hair, but I do need to go inside. I’m anxious to check on Storm, although I’m sure Slade has been taking good care of her.”
“I don’t doubt it for a minute.”
She pushed loose strands of blond hair back from her face. “It’s been quite a few days, hasn’t it?”
“That’s an understatement if ever I heard one.”
She nodded in agreement. “Thanks again for all you’ve done.”
“I’m glad to be of help.” He leaned toward her, wanting at least a goodbye kiss, but he abruptly stopped when the front door squeaked open and Christmas music flowed out into the night.
“Hey, you two, get on up here,” Slade called out in a deep, loud voice as he loudly thudded across the porch’s wooden floor.
Dune abruptly felt like a teenager caught bringing his girlfriend home too late. “I didn’t know you had a curfew.”
She chuckled, shaking her head. “That’s what having a big brother gets you. I can’t tell you the number of times he’s driven off guys who might’ve come back a second time.”
“Nobody’s driving me off.” He gave her a hot—if short—kiss that Slade couldn’t help but see from his stance on the porch.
“You do like to live dangerously, don’t you?” She caressed Dune’s cheek with the palm of her hand.
“If that’s what it takes to keep you in my life, then yes, I do.”
She leaned over and kissed him, making it long and steamy. “That’ll give Slade something to think about.”
“And me, too.” He cocked his head to one side, contemplating how leaving her was going to affect him. “Guess I won’t get much sleep tonight.”
She gave him a sensual smile before she leaned down and picked up her handbag. “And why not?”
“After that kiss? You know why not.”
“But what about—” she started to say, but she was interrupted by a loud knock on her window.
“Keep it up,
you two, and you’ll steam the windows,” Slade said as he pulled on the door handle.
Dune quickly unlocked the doors, then watched as Sydney got out and joined her brother. He didn’t know what to expect from Slade, but he was prepared for anything—even trouble. He opened his door, stepped outside, and walked around the front of his truck.
Slade drew his eyebrows together in a frown as he gazed at Dune. “Do I have to give you the talk about respecting my sister?”
“Oh, Slade!” She slapped her brother’s broad chest with the flat of her hand. “We are way past you trying to intimidate guys.”
He grinned, white teeth gleaming in the lamp light. “It’s about time.” He thrust out his big hand to Slade. “Give me a shake. I’d pay you to take her off my hands, but here you are doing it for free.”
Dune shook Slade’s hand, chuckling at the cowboy’s teasing words and feeling a surge of relief that they weren’t going to end up in a fight.
“Slade, stop it.” Sydney snagged Dune’s arm and tugged him toward her. “Nobody’s up for your jokes. We’re tired. And my feet hurt.”
“Well, come on inside,” Slade said. “I’ve got hot cider and gingerbread that’ll fix you up.”
“Thanks.” Dune meant the word in several ways, because he caught the look in Slade’s eyes that said he wanted his sister to be happy, even if it meant a drifter of a cowboy making that dream come true. Dune knew Slade would be watching out for his sister’s welfare, and he didn’t plan to give any room for complaint, because he respected Slade, and he was committed to giving Sydney the best he had to offer.
For a long time now, he hadn’t given anything to anybody. But maybe—just maybe—the path to his personal happiness and well-being was to make life a little better for others. In any case, he was well down the path of happiness with Sydney, and he had no intention of turning back.
“By the way, Kent and Hedy double-teamed me on the photo shoot,” Slade said in his deep voice. “Guess we’ll all have to show up now.”
“It’s about time.” Sydney gave him a light punch on his shoulder.
