Firefighter Under the Mistletoe

by Melissa McClone

  “Go for it.” She winked. “I want to see what you’ve got.”

  Her playfulness pleased him. All of her did. Being with Thomas out here was cool even though she’d kicked his butt skinning. “Great.”

  “Yeah.” Her grin seemed a constant up here on the mountain. “I’ll have more energy to beat you down.”

  Her eyes sparkled and matched the beaming smile on her face. A fresh pink colored her cheeks. He’d never seen a woman so full of life, healthy and vibrant.

  Christian stared at her mouth. He wanted to know what her lips tasted like. “I knew there had to be a catch.”

  “There’s always a catch, Welton. Sometimes you get lucky and other times you don’t.”

  He flashed his most devilishly charming smile. Most women appreciated it. Maybe Thomas would. “I like getting lucky.”

  “Feeling lucky today?”

  Her flirty tone sent his temperature up ten degrees. “Yeah.”

  She brushed the crumbs off her lap and stood. “Then let’s get going. I have a bet to win.”

  “I still have a chance.”

  Not with skiing, but with her.

  She gave him the once-over. “I never knew you were such an optimist, Welton.”

  “I always knew you were so cynical,” he teased.

  Amusement twinkled in her eyes. “Try it, you might like it.”

  He’d like to try something, all right. He was pretty sure he’d like it. Her.

  She drank a sip of water. The tip of her tongue darted out and ran over her lips.

  Christian liked flirting with her. He liked being with her. The more he learned about Thomas, the more intrigued he became. His usual tricks weren’t going to work with someone like her. She was so confident, so comfortable with men.

  A challenge, yes. But not as impossible a one as Christian had first believed. He saw signs that he was cracking that hard shell of hers. She came out skiing. She flirted. He was finally getting to her. He wasn’t about to give up now.

  With a potent mix of excitement and adrenaline pounding through her veins, Leanne skied through the trees and the knee-deep powder. The one good thing to come from the Gnarl Ridge fire was additional ski terrain. She made the most of it today. With Welton.

  Watching him get winded on the ascent and trying to pretend as though nothing was wrong made her want to laugh. But he’d impressed her by stopping the charade and admitting defeat. She respected that. Not many men were as sure of themselves as he was.

  She would love spending more time with him. He was easy to talk with, easy to hang with and easy on the eyes. He was probably easy when it came to other things.

  Nope. Better not let her lonely mind to go there with the handsome firefighter. For all she knew, he might not be ready to settle in Hood Hamlet. He had things to work out with his family. He could decide to take off on another extended road trip to figure out what was important in his life now.

  Leanne stopped. The edges of her skis sent snow flying into the air. She turned uphill to watch Welton ski.

  Pretty impressive. She had to give him credit. Even after she’d lapped him doing extra runs—two in her case—he hadn’t cursed, shot her dagger-worthy stares or puked. Definitely a different kind of guy.

  Welton stopped next to her, spraying her with powder. “You’re one badass, Thomas. I can’t believe you lapped me and still beat me down another time.”

  “You sure know how to sweet-talk a lady.”

  “You’re no lady. Not the way you just booked down the mountain. Not to mention up it.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “Go right ahead. It is one.”

  That meant a lot to her. “I’m up for one more run.”

  Christian stared at her in disbelief. Shock, really.

  She tried not to laugh. “But we can call it a day.”

  “You’re a total ringer.” He sounded amused, not upset. “You wore me out on purpose.”

  “Guilty as charged,” she admitted. “But you deserved it for being so cocky and arrogant.”

  He flashed her a lopsided smile. “What if I was only trying to impress you?”

  Was he serious? That would be so sweet. No, he had to be joking. “Yeah, right.”

  Christian didn’t say anything. But that didn’t mean he hadn’t been teasing her.

  “You did better than I thought you would. Better than a lot of guys have in the past,” she admitted. “And that’s a compliment, in case you were wondering.”

  “I’ll take it.” He drank water. “Can anybody keep up with you?”

  “Sean Hughes. Well, before his accident last Thanksgiving, but he’s getting back to where he used to be,” she said. “But it’s not as if I always try to ski people into the ground.”

  “So the bet—”

  “I really like your Chicken Marsala.”

  Welton laughed. “I never stood a chance.”

  “There’s always a chance,” she said. “Do you want to go double or nothing?”

  His smile crinkled the corners of his eyes and made Leanne’s heart want to sigh. “I may be younger than you, Thomas. But I’m not stupid. No sucker bets for me anymore.”

  “You pick up quick, Welton.”

  Wicked laughter lit his eyes. “You should see what else I can pick up.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “I’d be happy to show you for real…”

  The invitation hung in the air. Joking again or flirting this time? Maybe a combination?

  Temptation drew her closer to him. She forced her legs to stop moving.

  Silly. This was Welton. He knew better. So did she. He had to be joking. Just like at the station. Yet a part of her wished…

  No, that was loneliness talking. Leanne couldn’t cross that line with Welton. She couldn’t take that chance even if he made her feel like…a woman. So not good. All she’d ever wanted was to fit in. She’d done that in spades both at the fire station and with OMSAR. She didn’t need Welton—okay, her attraction to him—to mess that up for her.

  Today had been fun. Much better than skiing solo. She enjoyed his company. But being anything other than skiing or climbing partners didn’t make sense. They were at different places. Not so much age-wise, but in life. Welton liked playing the field. When she started dating again, she wanted to find Mr. Right. Best not to get too attached to him. Too close.

  Leanne raised her chin. “Thanks, but I’ll pass. Call Rachel or Alexa. I’m sure one of them would be happy to oblige. You’ve still got a few days until the breakup deadline.”

  Welton laughed. Definitely joking. Good.

  Disappointment squeezed her chest. She adjusted her grip on her poles.

  Confusion knotted Leanne’s stomach. Her reaction made no sense. She wasn’t looking for fun or a fling. She wanted forever.

  No matter how handsome or charming or entertaining, Welton wasn’t a forever kind of guy. Leanne gave him a long, hard look. Not even close.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  THREE days later, Leanne stood outside Mr. Freeman’s General Store on Main Street. She’d come straight from her shift. Only a few skiers, snowboarders and people heading to their jobs were out, but she noticed a change in Hood Hamlet.

  Excitement buzzed in the air. So did optimism. Possibility. Hope. It was all due to one person. Welton.

  She stared at the flyer she’d hung in the window.

  Leanne had to laugh. She’d been wrong. Not about Christmas magic. That didn’t exist. But she’d been wrong about the celebration he’d proposed.

  Believe it or not, his pipe dream was becoming a reality.

  The adage many hands made light work had never been truer. Adults and children, merchants and stay-at-home moms were helping to make the event happen. The downturn in the economy had hurt all of them. Now they saw a chance to change things, if they worked together.

  The community effort warmed her heart.

  Leanne loved Hood Hamlet. She had since the first time she
visited her grandparents when she was a little girl, but seeing everyone work on the celebration made the small town feel that much more special.

  Amid the snow-covered street and icicles hanging from the buildings, the sounds and sights of Christmas increased by the day. White lights and garland were a Hood Hamlet tradition, but not the lighted figurines and festive trees that had been added. The charming window displays in storefronts were new, too.

  So much work. So much effort. So much love for this town and each other. She hugged the stack of flyers in her hands against her chest, careful not to wrinkle them.

  Footsteps crunched on the sidewalk. Chains on tourists’ cars rattled against the snow-covered road. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” played from a speaker outside Muffy Steven’s coffee shop. The sound of someone whistling along with the tune carried on the cold air.

  Recognition blasted through her. Welton whistled at the station, too. Leanne glanced left. A family of five with a dog barreled down the street. The Norwegian elkhound pulled against the leash. She looked right, past two snowboarders.

  There he was.

  Taller than the others, Welton strode in her direction. He wore a striped beanie on his head. He’d changed out of the station’s navy colored uniform into jeans, a blue jacket and winter boots.

  His gaze met hers.

  Leanne’s pulse kicked up a notch. The casual style of clothing looked so great on him, almost as if he’d stepped off the pages of an outdoor magazine spread. But his killer smile made her breath catch in her throat.

  Wowza. She liked seeing his smile directed straight at her. Liked it a lot. Leanne swallowed. Probably too much.

  He stopped in front of her. Amusement gleamed in his eyes. “Didn’t we just spend the night together?”

  Heat rose up her neck. Had her face just given her away? “You, me and seven others.”

  “With all this time we’re spending together, people are going to talk.”

  “It’s the fifth day in row.”

  His gaze sharpened with interest. “You’ve been counting.”

  Uh-oh. Leanne liked being with him, but she didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. “I’m only counting so I’ll know when I can go back to doing what I want on my days off.”

  “Ski.”

  “And climb.” Her words sounded lame. “I still haven’t decorated my Christmas tree yet.”

  “Eight more days. That’s all we have left.”

  She thought he liked working and spending time with her. The fact he didn’t bristled. “You’ve been counting, too.”

  He glanced across the street at a family of skiers loading their gear into a minivan. “Not for the same reason as you.”

  What did he mean by that?

  “Too bad we’re not skiing this morning,” he continued.

  Leanne would rather be skiing with him today. Not him specifically, she corrected. Any one of her ski partners.

  She straightened. The top of her head came close to the tip of his nose. Welton redefined the expression tall, dark and handsome. “Well, your event isn’t going to happen without some work. You had to realize that would mean our days off.”

  A sheepish expression crossed his face. “I didn’t really think that part through.”

  She laughed. “Figured as much.”

  He motioned to the store window. “So that’s the flyer.”

  “Tim Moreno had them for me at the snowboard shop. Mr. Freeman waved me down to get his.” She read the colorful flyer hanging on the front window of the store. “Come celebrate Christmas Magic in Hood Hamlet with a day of small town holiday fun and old-fashioned good cheer.”

  “Zoe did an amazing job designing it,” Welton said. “I like the photograph of Main Street she used. Is it one of yours?”

  Leanne was pleased he remembered her photography. “I took the picture at the tree lighting ceremony the day after Thanksgiving. The fresh snow, white lights and giant decorated Douglas fir screamed Christmastime to me.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “You really aren’t a Grinch except when it comes to…”

  “Let’s leave Christmas magic out of this, ’kay?” She handed him half the stack of papers. “We need to get these passed out.”

  He waved his flyers. “The list of activities has grown.”

  “More people stepped up after the meeting. Carly asked if we minded. I told her to do what she felt would be best for Hood Hamlet. That’s what she did.”

  “Caroling, concerts, dogsled rides, horse drawn sleigh rides, a snowboarding demo, a snow-sculpture contest.”

  Leanne nodded. “Don’t forget the craft bazaar, cookie decorating, card making, beer and wine tasting and the dinner and silent auction to benefit Hood Hamlet Fire and Rescue’s Christmas Toy Drive and OMSAR.”

  “Not bad with only a few days planning.”

  “Not bad at all,” she agreed. “People might show up.”

  Christian grinned wryly. “Admit it. You’re impressed.”

  Grudging respect grew, too. “I…am.”

  “Knew it.”

  She hoped that was all he knew. Her attraction intensified each time she saw him. Better get away from him now. “You canvas that side of the street. I’ll do this one.”

  Leanne took two steps toward Wickett’s Pharmacy that served the best chocolate malts at an old-fashioned soda counter.

  Welton touched her shoulder. “Wait.”

  She stopped, conscious of his hand on her even though she wore a camisole, a turtleneck, a fleece pullover and a soft-shell jacket. His light touch made her feel tingly. “What?”

  “What’s the rush? We have all day. Let’s grab a cup of coffee. Do this together.” He lowered his arm to his side. “I want to discuss a few things about the dinner.”

  Tempting, but she couldn’t give in to it. She had to fight her attraction. “We have a lot to accomplish today. The flyers need to be taken to all the surrounding towns, too. And I have plans this afternoon.”

  “A date.”

  The guy needed to stop jumping to conclusions. “Babysitting.”

  His brows furrowed. “Babysitting?”

  “Watching other people’s children.”

  “I know what babysitting is.” Christian sounded annoyed. Good. That was how he made her feel. “Whose kids?”

  Austin and Kendall were biologically Nick’s kids, but Garrett had adopted them. “Hannah and Garrett Willingham’s.”

  “Okay,” Christian said after a long moment. “Let’s split up so we can get the flyers passed out faster. Call Hannah when you can and ask if she minds if I come over to babysit with you.”

  Leanne laughed. “Yeah, right.”

  But Christian wasn’t smiling.

  “Come on.” Perplexed, she stared. “You can’t be serious.”

  His eyes darkened to a midnight-blue. “Why not?”

  “You don’t look like the babysitting type.”

  “There’s a babysitter profile?”

  “Mary Poppins. Nanny McPhee.”

  He made a face. “We need to talk about the dinner. It’s important.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “I’ve watched kids before.”

  “What kids?”

  “My niece.” He sounded offended she’d question him. “My cousins have kids, too.”

  Okay, the guy was an adult, but she’d seen Paulson around kids. She gave Welton a dubious look.

  “Kids like me. Ask Owen. Not that you need to call him or anything.” A vein throbbed at Christian’s jaw. “After the kids go to bed, you and I can work on the event.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Only eight more days to go. The longer we procrastinate—”

  “I’m not procrastinating,” she interrupted. “It’s all happening so quickly.”

  “Quick is good.”

  “If you’re climbing light and fast, yes,” she said. “But if not, it’s better to take your time and think things through carefully.”

&nb
sp; “There’s not time for that.”

  Unfortunately, she knew he was right. That made this…harder.

  “Ask Hannah,” he said.

  The papers in Leanne’s hands crinkled. She loosened her grip on them. “The kids will expect you to play with them.”

  “Call her.”

  He sounded earnest, but… “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “I stand duly warned,” he said. “It’ll be fun.”

  Maybe for him. Not for her.

  She was having too many odd and inappropriate thoughts involving Welton. Playing house with the hot firefighter was a recipe for disaster. One she couldn’t afford. Time to take charge of the situation and stop spending so much time with him. The solution didn’t appeal to her, but she didn’t have a choice. She had to put an end to this now.

  “You know, I’m sure you’ve got lots to do, Welton. Women-to-woo. Hearts to break before your second Monday in December deadline.” She moistened her dry lips. “Forget about being cochair on the event. You’ve kicked it off. Turned it into reality. That’s enough. I’ll take care of the rest myself.”

  His eyes darkened, narrowed. “You’re already in charge of the toy drive.”

  “I don’t mind.” For her self-preservation, she needed to convince him this was the best, the only. “So many of the jobs have been delegated already.”

  He studied her.

  “Really,” she said, in case he had any doubts.

  Christian was thinking about it. She could tell. This was going to work.

  “Sorry, Thomas,” he said finally. “I can’t dump all this on you in addition to the toy drive. That wouldn’t be fair.”

  “Fair?” Her voice rose. She lowered it. “I’ve seen you play Ultimate Frisbee and darts. Fair isn’t part of your vocabulary.”

  “Those things involve winning. I don’t like to lose. But this is different. We’re going to be cochairs and I’m babysitting with you, too.”

  The sincerity in his voice threw her for a loop.

  Maybe he wanted to work with her, spend time with her.

  Her pulse skittered. She was flattered. Interested. What was she going to do?

  “After you talk to Hannah, text me her address and the time you want me there,” he continued.