By ten to eight there weren’t any more customers. Andrea decided to close the shop for the night, and she dimmed the lights. But before she set the electronic locks, a tall, dark figure swept through the front door. Rick!
Beneath his bomber jacket he was dressed in a silky black shirt and gray trousers. Her mouth went dry just watching those long powerful legs stride toward her. His chiseled male features stood out in the soft glow of the Christmas lights. He was an incredible-looking man whose male scent, combined with the soap he used in the shower, assailed her.
His veiled eyes traveled over her. “Good evening. It looks like I got here just in time. As you can see, I decided not to wait a month to see you again.”
Her breath caught. “I—I wish you hadn’t come.”
“So do I.” His deep voice resonated inside her. “I didn’t like being rejected twice yesterday, so I have to ask you a question. Have you been out with another man since your husband died?”
“No. I guess it’s obvious.”
“I haven’t been with another woman since Tina’s passing either.”
She wished he hadn’t told her that. His admission made everything way too personal.
“To be honest, Mrs. Fleming, I don’t like this attraction any more than you do. Maybe if you come to the party with me, we’ll both get this out of our system and it won’t seem so important.”
Maybe for him... But Andrea knew herself too well. This man already did stand out in her mind. She averted her eyes, unable to think clearly with him so darkly attractive and disturbing.
“I already took Tessa over there to be with Julie, because my housekeeper needed to visit her brother tonight. Under the circumstances I don’t expect to make it a late night.”
“Even so, I’m not ready to go anywhere with you.”
“I’ll wait while you change.”
“No— I meant—”
“I know what you meant. What will an hour out of your life hurt?”
More than he could possibly know. She should refuse him, but at the last moment she caved like a fool. “Will there be other children there besides your daughter and her friend?”
“Just Matt, Julie’s younger brother. He’s four. Why do you ask?”
“Because it’s Christmastime and I feel like I should take something for the family, to be polite.”
“They don’t expect anything.”
“Maybe not, but I couldn’t go empty-handed. Give me a few minutes to pick something out.” Normally when she was invited to a party, she took the hostess a gift, but in this case she’d give the children a present.
Aware of his haunting presence, she walked over to the rack on the side wall and sorted through the dirndls that would fit a six-year-old. They were all darling. Andrea picked two and then reached for a child’s dark green Tyrol hat.
“You’re being too generous,” he commented as she wrapped each gift in different colored foil paper and ribbon.
She flashed him a quick smile. “Christmas is for children. I can’t resist.”
Charged with adrenaline, she hurried upstairs. After a quick shower she put on lipstick and ran a brush through her hair. She left it loose without a part. Her choice of outfit was easy. He’d already seen her in her Christmas suit and would realize she hadn’t gone to any extra trouble for him. Her hair swished against the collar of her camel hair coat when she put it on.
After grabbing her purse, she went back downstairs for the gifts and set the locks. Rick cupped her elbow during the short walk to his red Toyota parked down the street.
“Busy day?”
“Yes. And you? How many fires did you have to put out today?”
“Only four.”
Her body shuddered of its own volition. “Have they proved arson on the art-gallery fire?”
“Yes, but catching the culprit is something else again. The last notorious one in Providence set over 150 fires before he was caught.”
“That’s horrifying!”
“Agreed, but let’s not talk about work tonight.”
No. Let’s not. What he did for a living kept her awake at night.
He made desultory conversation with her about the weather as they drove to Duncan Circle, an area not that far from downtown. The five houses on the circle were lit up for Christmas. One of the yards had a full manger display. Half a dozen cars had parked near number 42. He pulled behind another car and parked.
Rick escorted her inside the foyer and helped her off with her coat before removing his. People had congregated in the living room, which had been beautifully decorated for the holidays.
While Rick introduced her to Deanna and Benton Ames, two excited little girls came running up to him with a younger boy trailing them.
“Daddy!” Tessa hugged him.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
“Come in the family room. We’re watching the Grinch.”
“I will in a minute. Tessa? You remember Andrea. I invited her to the party. Andrea? These are Deanna and Benton’s children, Julie and Matt.”
“Hello.” Andrea smiled at them.
“Hi,” the two children said, but Tessa gave her only a brief, cool glance.
It crushed Andrea, who was instantly aware Rick’s daughter wasn’t happy to see her. Hopefully she could get her to warm up. “It’s so nice to meet your friends, Tessa. Are you having a wonderful time?”
The others nodded, but Tessa only stared at her. On impulse Andrea decided to give the presents out now. “I brought each of you an early gift for Christmas.”
Once she’d handed them over, Julie’s eyes shone like stars. “Do we have to wait till Christmas to open them?”
Andrea smiled. “No. You can do it now.”
“Is it okay?” Julie looked to her parents for permission.
Benton winked. “Go ahead. I’m curious to see myself.”
His children tore off the wrappings, but it took some urging from Rick before his daughter undid her gift. Julie squealed in delight as she held up her dress. Matt had already put the hat on his head.
Deanna picked up the wrapping paper. “I believe you’ve made our children’s Christmas, Andrea. Thank you for being so thoughtful and generous.”
Rick nodded. “I’ve been telling her she needs to be careful or she’s going to give away all her shop’s profits.”
“Where children are concerned, it’s worth it.”
“Agreed,” Deanna murmured. “What do you all say to Andrea?”
“Thank you, Andrea.” This from Matt.
“I love my dress,” Julie said.
There was nothing more than a mumble from Tessa, who held the dirndl in her hand.
“Why don’t you girls go in the bedroom and put on your new dresses for us to see.”
“Come on, Tessa.” Julie started running and Rick’s daughter followed her down the hall. Matt trailed after them.
A frown marred Rick’s handsome features. “I’m sorry about that, Andrea. I don’t know what’s gotten into my daughter.”
Andrea could tell her appearance had been a huge shock to Tessa. To see her daddy with another woman at a party like this changed her happy child’s world. That was what had caused her to dart away unable to appreciate the gift. But what she said aloud was, “I think she’s still upset about the gingerbread man missing from the shop.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t believe she behaved so badly.”
“It’s all right. Please don’t worry about it.”
Deanna gave them an understanding glance. “She’ll get over what’s wrong before long. In the meantime I have to tell you that your red suit is incredible. Where on earth did you get it?”
“In Germany.”
“I thought it had to be an import. I wish
they made clothes like that here. Except you have to look perfect in it the way you do.”
“Thank you, Deanna.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Benton grinned.
“You’re making her blush,” Rick teased. He was wrong. Rick was the reason she was blushing, because he hadn’t taken his eyes off her. “Come on, Andrea. I’ll introduce you to the others.”
From what she could tell, all of them were colleagues associated with the work Rick and Benton did. They talked shop, laughing and joking at the same time. One of them was a female firefighter named Susie Anderson. The attractive redheaded woman couldn’t take her eyes off Rick.
Andrea understood. In her life she’d met her share of good-looking men, but few came close to Rick with his dark, almost brooding looks. Gunter’s blond, blue-eyed coloring had given her husband a different kind of appeal.
While Rick was discussing the recent rash of fires in the area with Benton and the others, Andrea turned to Susie, who seemed very friendly. “How long have you been a firefighter?”
“Eight years.”
Andrea couldn’t imagine it. “I guess everyone asks you how you got into it.”
The other woman smiled. “I come from a family of firefighters starting with my grandfather, then my father and all my brothers. I was the youngest of five children and the only girl. It’s the only world I ever knew and I became one as soon as I could qualify, to prove to my brothers I could do it, too.”
Laughter escaped Andrea’s lips. “You’re a real heroine to me.”
“In my family I had to fight for my place, and I guess it rubbed off.”
“I know I’d be terrified to enter a burning building. I honestly don’t know how you find the courage to do it.”
“You get used to it. I’d go crazy if I had to sit at a desk all day.”
“I wouldn’t like that either.”
“Of course, I’d give it up if the right man came along and we had children, but until that day comes...”
Sometimes the children don’t come. But Andrea didn’t dare tell Susie that.
“I’m sorry to hear about your husband, Andrea. I can’t imagine anything worse than losing a spouse.”
Her throat tightened. “It was an awful period in my life, but it’s behind me now and life has to go on.”
“That’s so true. My grandfather died in a fire, but my grandmother was amazing about it. She’s my idol.”
Andrea shuddered. She couldn’t handle the conversation any longer. As if Rick had picked up on her thoughts, he walked over and supplied her with some more eggnog and hors d’oeuvres. Soon the children came into the living room once more.
A subdued Tessa walked over to her daddy looking absolutely precious in her outfit. “Aren’t you coming to watch the movie?”
“Not yet.”
Julie stared up at Andrea. “This is my favorite dress in the whole world!”
“You look adorable in it. So do you, Tessa. Those dresses are called dirndls. Years ago the children in Germany used to wear them all the time.”
“Do you have one, too?”
“Yes. I have several. The first present my husband ever gave to me at the shop before we were married was one that looked a lot like yours.”
“Is he from Germany?” Julie wanted to know.
“Yes.”
“How come he didn’t come to the party?”
“He died a year ago.”
“Oh. So now he’s in heaven.” She looked crestfallen. “Do you miss him a lot?”
Andrea’s heartbeat sped up. “Yes.”
“My grandma died. She’s in heaven, too.”
Tessa’s silence over her own mother’s death caused Andrea’s eyelids to sting. This conversation had to be terribly painful for Rick, as well.
“Your dress is really pretty. Did it come from Germany?”
“That’s right, Julie.”
“Are you from Germany?”
“No. I live here in Providence.”
“She runs the Hansel and Gretel shop.” Rick intervened. “They sell nutcrackers and music boxes.”
“I want to see it!”
“Ask your parents to take you.”
To Andrea’s relief, Deanna came over to join them. It seemed as if the more Julie talked, the more Tessa clung to Rick. “You children come with me. I’ve got A Charlie Brown Christmas for you to watch.”
“Daddy and I already saw it.”
“Then we’ll watch Rudolph. We’ve got a lot of fun Christmas videos.”
Rick put a hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Tessa, go with Deanna.”
“But—”
“No buts.” He spoke firmly. “This is a party and Andrea hasn’t finished talking with everyone yet.”
Those green eyes glazed over with tears. “Will you come in the other room later? You promised.”
“I know I did, and I will in a while.”
When they were out of sight Andrea turned to Rick, sick with worry. “I think this would be the perfect time for me to leave. My father’s in town and expects to see me tonight.” It was the truth, but even if her father didn’t make it, Rick wouldn’t know that. “Will you explain to Deanna and Benton? If Tessa doesn’t see me leave, it will be better. I’m sure as her father you understand what I mean.”
His eyelids drooped, veiling his expression. “Of course. I’ll get your coat. Deanna will watch Tessa until I get back.”
“I hope your friends won’t think I’m very rude for leaving.”
“No. Deanna could see how Tessa was behaving and will understand better than anyone why we left. Don’t you be concerned about it.”
“I wouldn’t hurt your daughter for anything in the world.”
“You think I don’t know that?” He sounded disturbed. “Until tonight I had no idea she could behave like that to you of all people. I’m sorry, Andrea.”
“Please don’t be. The little darling has been used to it being just the two of you. Tonight she felt her bond with you was threatened.”
As a first date, it had bombed completely in ways Andrea hadn’t foreseen. But it had served as a wake-up call why a relationship with Rick wouldn’t work.
She saw him say something to Benton before he returned with two coats. He helped her into hers and she felt his hands tighten a little on her upper arms. It sent curling warmth through her body.
“Don’t look now, but there’s sprig of mistletoe above the door. All’s fair,” he said before pulling her close so he could press a warm, firm kiss to her lips. It caught her totally by surprise.
“Rick—” She let out a quiet gasp.
His eyes seemed to smolder in the twinkling lights. “I’ve been wanting to do that since we got here, and I refuse to apologize.”
After he shrugged into his jacket, they left the house and walked to the car without speaking.
While her pulse still raced from that kiss, he drove quickly but expertly to her apartment, slowing down as he entered the alley. He parked outside the back entrance.
Without more words he got out of the car and came around to open her door. “Before I leave you for the night, I’m coming inside with you.”
Her heart thudded. “I’m not up to company.”
“This isn’t in the nature of a social call. Benton has a theory about this arsonist, that this lunatic might be back to do more damage along this street, and I’m inclined to agree with him. I want to come in and check your place out thoroughly.”
“You mean upstairs, too?”
“That’s the part I need to see. The art-gallery fire was set on the third floor. Is your father here already?”
“Not yet, or his Blazer would be here.” She felt panicky to think of him checking out her apartment.
It was kind of messy, but her real concern was the fact that she’d thought she’d seen the last of him. Now he was going to invade her private space, putting them on a more intimate footing. “What about Tessa?”
“She’ll sleep there tonight. Right now I want to concentrate on your shop. With all its wooden inventory, it would appeal to this pyro. You can be certain he’s cased it pretty thoroughly. I know I’ve alarmed you, but it’s better to be on the alert. It won’t take me long.”
Andrea pressed the remote so they could go inside. “We have the most up-to-date security system installed. The fire department did a safety check here in October.”
“That’s good to hear, but some arsonists have an inside track to avoid getting caught. Just so you know, the police are patrolling this area 24/7, especially after dark, so you should feel safe.”
“Why do people set fires?”
He gave his shoulders an elegant shrug. “What’s wrong with anyone who goes berserk in our culture? In their case they start fires to cover up a crime or pay someone back for a wrong. But I’ve a gut feeling this one loves to light fires for the fun of it. He wants notoriety and is the worst kind. It won’t take me long to check out the ground floor, then I’ll come up.”
Leaving him to his work, she ran up the stairs. The shop had been so busy she hadn’t had time to straighten the living room of her apartment. After hanging up her coat, she picked up some odds and ends and hurried into the kitchen to put things into the dishwasher. Once that was done, she raced to the bedroom to make her bed. He’d think she was a sloppy housekeeper.
While she was tucking the quilt beneath her pillow, he walked in. She saw his glance touch on the bed, then the eight-by-ten picture of Gunter on her bedside table. No doubt he had a similar one of his wife in his bedroom.
First he checked out her bathroom, then walked over to the bedroom window. After opening it, he looked out. When he reshut it he turned to her. “I’m glad to see the fire escape leads down from your kitchen window. A would-be intruder couldn’t get in this window unless he had James Bond’s scaling equipment.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Marry Me under the Mistletoe Page 6