All I Want for Christmas...: Christmas KissesBaring It AllA Hot December Night

by Lori Wilde

  He opened the door for her. “No. I mean, I have time,” Jason clarified. The boys could wait on him, and Jeb had a key. “I have something this evening, but I have a few minutes now. Let’s go to the Java Express.”

  “That sounds good,” she said.

  The Java Express was busy, but Carrie, who dated one of the volunteer firemen at the station, was at the counter. She motioned them forward. There was a bit of grumbling until the customers saw it was Jason. Then the patrons waved and smiled.

  “They must really like you,” Kristen said after placing her order.

  Jason motioned to a table. “Misguided hero worship. They don’t seem to understand that it’s my job to pull people out of burning buildings.”

  “Ahhh. That girl in the Price Mansion. Yes, that was quite heroic. I hear she’s doing well.”

  “She’s fine.” This kind of thing made him uncomfortable. He didn’t like people calling attention to his work. And to him, that’s all it was. A job. He liked to help people. Some people worked at homeless shelters, he ran into burning buildings. He didn’t understand why everyone made such a big deal out of it.

  “So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?” Jason asked before sipping his coffee, which was black with one sugar.

  Kristen sipped one of the popular Christmas drinks with peppermint and mocha. Jason had stopped himself from scowling at her when she ordered. He didn’t know why people drank stuff that tasted like candy and had very little to do with coffee.

  “The auction,” she said. “Is there a certain approach I should take with the chief? And I needed to get the number of your friend so I can talk to him about a donation.”

  Jason chuckled. “Smile,” he said.

  “What?” Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

  “When dealing with the chief. A smile will go a long way.”

  “Ah. I see.” She grinned at him.

  His lower extremities took notice. It would not do to have tented pants in the middle of Java Express. So Jason looked down at his coffee cup rather than her remarkably pretty face with the high cheekbones and kissable lips that called out to him.

  “And your friend? The one with the collection?”

  “Marcus,” Jason said. The man might be one of his best friends but he didn’t want him anywhere near Kristen.

  That made him stop.

  Why would he be jealous if Marcus was interested in Kristen?

  The answer came quickly. Who knew what that smooth talker could convince her to do, and he felt protective of her. “I’ll deal with him,” he said.

  She wrote down something on a notepad. “Can you let me know by Friday what he might have to offer? I thought, perhaps, we could put some of the items up on our website to help generate interest.”

  “Sure. Sure. I’ll talk to him about it tonight,” he promised.

  Was that scent her? It was a mix of vanilla and cinnamon. Did she taste the same? Jason had a distinct urge to find out right in the middle of the coffee shop.

  He swallowed hard. He had to get out of there before he made a fool of himself.

  “Well, I need to get back to the station,” he lied, but saying he had a poker game didn’t seem right. Technically, he did have paperwork he needed to do and he was stopping by the station to pick up the chief, who insisted on going when he heard about the game.

  She glanced up at him surprised. “Okay. Thanks for your help.” She stuck out her hand. He held it in his for a few seconds before shaking it. Her skin was soft and creamy. His thumb brushed across her knuckles.

  Her eyes flashed bigger, but she didn’t yank away from him.

  He continued to hold her hand for a little longer than necessary and realized he had no intention of letting her go.

  Oh, crap.

  “Is there something wrong?” she asked.

  Jason shook his head. “No. That is... Um, would you like to go out on Friday night?”

  Smooth.

  Why had he done that? Why was his mouth saying the exact opposite of what his brain told him?

  She smiled sweetly and he knew exactly why he’d done it.

  * * *

  SANTA COULD HAVE landed on her table in the middle of the Java Express and Kristen would not have been more surprised. Assistant Fire Chief Jason Turner had just asked her out.

  Oh, heck yes.

  No. No. Remember. You heard the rumors. He’s a womanizer.

  Even though no one had seen him date women in Pine Crest. Word was he liked to keep his private life private.

  And he was definitely not her type. She usually went for slightly nerdy guys, who seemed as though they would be safe, stable partners.

  How has that worked out for you so far?

  She’d been engaged to safe, and he’d turned out to be a real jerk.

  Why shouldn’t she go out with Jason? Didn’t she deserve a little fun? She’d promised herself the next relationship would be about fun. No commitment. No strings. Just fun.

  And Jason was definitely the man for that.

  “That would be lovely. We can talk about the charity aspect of the ball. Where did you have in mind?” She couldn’t believe how calm she sounded. This man had been the star of many a late-night fantasy for her, and now he had asked her out. But she had mentioned the gala in case it wasn’t really a date. Maybe he only wanted to talk to her more about the auction items and she had jumped to conclusions.

  “We’ll go some place nice for dinner.” He finally let go of her hand, and it was as though she had been set adrift. When he’d touched her, her body had tingled from head to toe.

  “I’ll pick you up at your house. Say seven-thirty?”

  “Sure.” She put her number in his cell phone and handed it to him. Then she watched him leave. In his uniform or out of it, the assistant chief could stop traffic. In addition to being male model material with his square jaw and chocolate-brown hair, he had a body that had stopped her cold ever since she had been hired to plan the ball.

  And he had asked her out.

  What am I going to talk to him about? What will I wear?

  It was one thing to be surrounded by committee members discussing a charity event. It was quite another to be alone with a man like Jason Turner. Callie, her best friend, called him pure sex.

  Her mind had a field day trying to figure it out exactly what Callie had meant by pure sex. She’d had okay sex, and not-so-great sex. But she’d never had pure sex.

  Though sex in general was all she could think of when he was around. At the meetings she had to take notes so that she was forced to concentrate on what was being said. Otherwise she would have leaped over the table and devoured him long ago.

  As if. She checked herself. Kristen was not exactly known as the most assertive woman in the world. She was no doormat, but she wasn’t overly courageous when it came to men. Two bad relationships with selfish men would do that to a girl.

  But Jason was different. She had watched how he handled those women in the meetings. Kind, he had a way about him that sent those women aflutter every time he spoke. He might be a womanizer, but he was one who knew how to treat a lady.

  And he asked you out.

  She still couldn’t believe it.

  Her stomach roiled with nerves. She only had three days to get ready. It wasn’t long enough. Sure, she could throw a huge charity ball with only two weeks’ preparation including food, auction and music. But this date was the biggest thing she had to tackle in a long time. There was no time to shop for a new dress. Panic rose in waves.

  She pulled her cell from her purse and dialed the only person who might help.

  “I have a date!”

  * * *

  JASON STACKED the files neatly on his desk. There would be time to deal with them in the morning before the staff meeting. He had a poker game to host.

  “Jason?” The chief stood at his door.

  He stood. “Sir.” What could the old man want now? It was just like him to wait until the last m
inute to pile more work on Jason knowing they had a poker game to get to.

  “I hear you’re going on a date with the party planner for the gala.”

  How in the heck had he found that out? Jason didn’t think Kristen was the kind of woman who would run around telling people about their date.

  “Is that a problem?”

  “Only if you don’t treat her right. Kristen’s the daughter of a good friend of mine, and she’s a good girl. Before he passed away, I promised I’d look out for her. She’s not one of those women you normally date.”

  The older man had a point. The last woman Jason dated tried to pin him with a paternity suit, even though they had protected sex. The kid wasn’t his, which was proven with a DNA test. But it didn’t matter. The chief, of course, had blamed Jason for the choices he made. Jason couldn’t argue with that. His choices had been his choices. And after that whole episode, Jason had had to do some real soul-searching.

  Wait. The chief knew Kristen? Why had she asked for his help in approaching him? That was something he’d have to ask on their date.

  “She is a good person, which is why I asked her out,” Jason said. The bite in his tone had the chief lifting an eyebrow. “You should be happy, I’m taking your advice. I’m dating someone you’d approve of for a change.”

  “No funny stuff. You hear me? I’ve known this girl since she was a baby.” The chief gave Jason the evil eye, and Jason had to turn away so the old man wouldn’t see him smile.

  “Yes, sir.” Jason coughed to hide a laugh.

  And he told the truth. He had no plans for funny stuff. No, what he wanted to do to Kristen was serious business. He couldn’t wait to see what her lips tasted like when he kissed her, or how she’d react when his hand slipped up—

  “I’ll be keeping an eye on you, boy.”

  Splash. Just like that, ice-cold water on his very warm thoughts.

  “And the next time you want to ask a young woman out, don’t do it in the middle of a coffee shop. The whole town is buzzing. I’ll grab my gear and we can go. I’m ready to win all your money.”

  Jason sighed.

  He loved small-town living, but times like this made him wonder why he had ever stayed on after his dad recovered.

  Now, he had to date the woman of his dreams—at least, his dreams from the last few weeks—with the whole town watching.

  Well, since I’m going to do this, I should give them something to talk about.

  Jason smiled at the chief’s back.

  2

  KRISTEN STARED at the mirror in horror. “No, no, no.” Tears streamed down her face and onto the towel wrapped around her shoulders.

  She sniffled. “Universe. Why do you hate me? Why? I’m a good person. I’m kind to old people and animals. I go to church, well, sometimes. I help those in need.” The last few words came out in a blubbery cry.

  She sat down on the edge of her bathtub and let the tears fall. There had been no time to go to the salon, so she’d bought a box of color to brighten her locks a bit. Oh, it was bright. Gone was the dishwater blond, in its place was off-white cotton the texture of straw. Her silky hair, one of her only decent features, was a complete and total mess.

  I have to cancel the date.

  There was no other choice. She could not go out with the hottest guy in town with hair that looked like it belonged on the floor of a manger.

  She searched for her cell phone. Then it hit her. She had given Jason her number, but she had no way of getting in touch with him. And he would be by any minute.

  Flinging herself into action, she grabbed the blow-dryer. Once the mess was dry, she twisted it into a tight chignon. Then she sprayed on half a bottle of hairspray to make the cottony bits stay down.

  Hopefully, I won’t be near any open flames.

  The result was something that looked like a flattened cotton ball, but it would have to do. She painted smoky gray on her eyelids, and lined them with kohl. Maybe he would notice her face, rather than her insane hair.

  Of course, she still had the killer dress.

  The halter neckline and pencil skirt made her figure look decent, for once. She had worried that she would look like she was trying too hard, but her friend Callie had demanded she wear it. Telling her that she should go out with guns blazing.

  Shimmying into the dress she stopped. “You’ve got to be kidding.” Those darn Christmas cookies she couldn’t resist eating made it difficult to slip the dress over her hips. “Great.” She ran for the dresser and pulled on the tightest Spanx she could find. The dress finally fit over her hips.

  “Who needs to breathe?” she muttered as she slipped on her favorite bracelet. The silver bracelet was adorned with six tiny silver presents with delicate ribbons of velvet.

  The front doorbell rang and Bibi barked. “Calm down, girl. He’s one of the good guys.” She stepped into the black heels she’d purchased, only teetering slightly as she made her way to the door.

  Jason was dressed in a black suit and white shirt. She had never seen him in anything but his uniform or jeans. But this suit—well, she needn’t worry about anyone noticing her passed out on the floor with her cotton head in flames, because all eyes would be on him.

  “Hey,” she said as casually as possible. “Do you want to come in?”

  Bibi howled from the kitchen.

  He laughed. “Are you sure it’s safe? It sounds like the hellhounds aren’t too excited about me being here.”

  “Oh, Bibi is as loud as they come, but she’s a sweet girl. She just likes people to know she’s around so she can lick them to death. Besides, she’s blocked in the kitchen with the gate. Let me grab my coat and we can go.”

  She fumbled with the hall closet doorknob. She picked her black pea coat off the hanger. It didn’t exactly go with her outfit, but it was twenty degrees outside and she needed warmth.

  “It’s a shame to cover up such a beautiful dress,” Jason said as he helped her on with her jacket.

  “Oh, thank you.” She flicked a hand as if she wore this kind of thing every day. “I’m glad you showed up in a suit. I was worried I might be overdressed.”

  She sucked in a breath when his hand touched her neck as he helped straighten the collar of her coat.

  Jeez. Get a grip.

  “You go all out for the holidays. Those are a lot of lights outside, and from here I can see three Christmas trees.” He didn’t sound happy about it.

  She shrugged. “I love this time of year. The twinkle lights and lawn reindeer. Every once in a while you see people being kind to one another. It makes me feel better about life. Don’t you love it?”

  There was a long pause. “I—don’t really do holidays.” Jason waited for her to lock the door.

  Maybe she heard him wrong. “You don’t do holidays? Is it a religious thing?” She slapped a hand over her mouth. “I mean—I didn’t mean to insult you.”

  Jason shrugged. “You didn’t. My family doesn’t have much luck with holidays, even though my mom refuses to give up. She and Dad live just outside of town and turn the farm into Santa’s workshop. The kids around here love it, but after growing up with all that, I’m burned out. And then there’s the commercialism.

  “I don’t understand why people have to wait until the holidays to be nice to one another. And because people aren’t careful about using lights and candles, we see a surge in house fires. It’s devastating for the families involved.”

  Kristen had never thought of it that way. “I can see why you feel the way you do. But—” She forgot what she was about to say. A new dilemma had presented itself.

  He opened the door of the truck and she stood there for a moment. In order to get in his truck, she needed to hike a leg up on the sideboard. But the dress would not allow it.

  Great. Now what do I do?

  He stood there patiently waiting for her.

  “I—uh. I can’t get in,” she said honestly.

  “Did you forget something?” He touched her shoulde
r.

  “No, I mean my dress is so tight I can’t physically climb in.”

  She glanced up, and there wasn’t even a hint of a smile on his face.

  His brow furrowed and his lips were a straight line. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even think of it. I should have borrowed Jeb’s sedan. If you don’t mind, I may have a solution.”

  At this point she wanted nothing more than to run back in her house and crawl under the covers. Well, right after she tore off the Spanx, which were causing her to breathe funny. Or maybe that was Jason.

  “Okay,” she said, mortified.

  “Turn around and put your hands on my shoulders.”

  So far this wasn’t such a bad plan after all. She touched his shoulders and heat surged through her.

  “Pardon me,” he said as he slid his big hands around her waist and lifted her gently into the truck.

  “Thank you.” She scooted her legs around to the front. “And please don’t apologize. If my dress wasn’t so—”

  “Perfect,” he said. “And if I forgot to say it, you look beautiful.”

  Heat spread across her cheeks, and she was grateful for the dark interior. The men she usually dated didn’t say things like that. She didn’t know how to respond.

  He climbed in the other side. “I wanted to ask you something.”

  “Sure,” she said grateful for the change in subject.

  “Why did you ask about how to approach the chief? He says he’s known you since you were a kid.”

  She laughed.

  “I guess it’s time to come clean. He was a friend of my dad. I wanted to talk to you apart from the committee. And that’s what came out of my mouth at the time. I’m not normally the kind of girl who asks a man out for coffee and I was nervous.”

  “Yeah, I was kind of surprised, but I’m glad. To be honest, I had the same problem when I asked you out to dinner,” he said. “I wondered if you might be too busy with the gala to go out with me.”

  As if. She stopped herself from snorting.

  “So, did you grow up here?” he asked. Surely he’d have seen her before now. “I don’t remember seeing you before.”

  “We lived here when I was a baby. My dad grew up in Pine Crest and thought it would be a great place to raise a kid. When he was killed in the first Gulf War, mom rented out the house and we moved in with my grandmother in Soho, in New York City, so she could pursue her creative and religious interests. I was five.” She rolled her eyes.