Firefighter Under the Mistletoe

by Melissa McClone

  Wind howled through the trees, but he was warm and comfy in the queen-size bed. The only thing that would make it better was if he weren’t alone. Thoughts of Leanne filled his mind, making it difficult to fall back asleep.

  What was going on? Christian had spent over a year sleeping in the same bunk room with Leanne. Sure he’d noticed her. Especially during the summer when she wore a tank top and shorts to bed. What guy wouldn’t? She had a killer body. Of course, every guy at the station pretended not to notice.

  He rolled over, trying to get comfortable.

  But he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He wanted to know if she was thinking about him. Maybe if he peeked into her room and she was awake

  “Christian,” a familiar feminine voice called.

  Oh, yeah. He wouldn’t have to sleep alone, after all. Christian raised himself up on his elbows. He’d hoped to see her standing next to his bed in a sexy nightie or nothing. She was dressed for the storm outside. “What’s going on?”

  “Sorry to wake you so early,” she said. “I received a call-out for a mission. Two teenagers were skiing, but never made it home. Their car is still in the parking lot.”

  He brushed his hand through his hair. “It sounds nasty out there. You won’t be able to do much in this weather.”

  “They’re just kids, Christian. We have to do something.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  “There’s no room. Hughes is picking a few of us up. He’s got a plow on the front of his truck.” She smiled softly. “Get some sleep. Make yourself at home. Eat whatever you want.”

  The thought of her outside in this weather chilled him to the bone. He didn’t want her to go, but he couldn’t ask her to stay. Not when she had a job to do and people to help. “When will you be home?”

  She inhaled deeply. “I have no idea. Just lock the door behind you when you leave.”

  He wasn’t going anywhere. Not until he knew she was back, safe and sound. “I may stick around.”

  “Whatever you want.”

  Christian knew exactly what he wanted—her. But that wouldn’t take Christmas magic. That would take a Christmas miracle.

  Leanne ran outside. She tossed her backpack inside the shell on the back of Hughes’s truck and shut the hatch.

  Snow swirled around her, pricking her face and sending a chill down her spine. She hoped those two kids found shelter for the night.

  She climbed into the pickup truck and slammed the door. Bill Paulson and Jake Porter sat in the back of the dually. “Hey, guys. Where’s Moreno?”

  “Stomach flu,” Hughes said.

  Paulson motioned to her driveway. “What’s Welton’s truck doing here?”

  She fastened her seat belt. “It was safer for him to stay the night than drive home in this storm.”

  Paulson’s nostrils flared. “That’s the excuse Welton used so he could sleepover?”

  “Come on, Paulson.” Hughes drove out of the town house development toward the main road. The plow attached to the front of the truck pushed snow out of the way. “I’m sure you’ve used that one yourself.”

  “Not with Thomas, I haven’t,” he said.

  “Welton didn’t ask to spend the night,” she clarified. “I invited him. I do have a spare bedroom.”

  “So what happened?” Porter asked.

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but nothing happened.” She didn’t appreciate his assumption something would. “We’re only spending time together because of the Christmas celebration. Thanks to all of you, in case you’ve forgotten.”

  “Stop protecting the guy.” Paulson’s jaw thrust forward. “Knowing Welton, I’m sure he tried something. Pretty much anything in a skirt is fair game with him.”

  “I don’t wear skirts,” she reminded. “I told you nothing happened.”

  Hughes glanced her way with a grin. “You must have shut him down real good when he made his move.”

  Leanne sighed. “Welton didn’t make a move. Why would he when I’m just one of the guys?”

  The traction tires sounded against the snow. The wipers continued to sweep back and forth.

  “Be careful around him, Leanne,” Hughes said finally.

  “Real careful,” Porter said.

  “There’s nothing going on.” She leaned back against the truck’s headrest. “I don’t understand why you guys are acting like this.”

  “We care about you,” Porter said.

  Hughes nodded. “None of us want to see you get hurt.”

  Again was left unspoken, but the word hung on the air.

  Paulson nodded. “You can do better than someone like Welton.”

  Leanne knew Christian wasn’t the right man for her. He couldn’t give her what she wanted—a commitment—and no way could she give him what he wanted—a no-strings relationship. Though that hadn’t stopped her from kissing him. Last night and under the mistletoe were the most action she’d had in six months. Okay, her choice. But still…

  Christmas wasn’t all that far away. New Year’s Eve a week after that. She didn’t want to be alone. Truth was, right or wrong, she wanted to spend the holidays with Christian. More than she’d wanted anything in a very long time.

  Christian couldn’t go back to sleep. He understood why Leanne had to go. Helping others, making a difference, was why he’d become a firefighter. But that didn’t lessen his concerns about her.

  What the hell was wrong with him? All this time he’d worked with Leanne, and seen all the rescues she’d gone out on, he’d never worried about her. He shouldn’t be acting and feeling this way over a woman who’d seen more danger on the mountain than he ever had. A woman he wasn’t even dating. Or fooling around with. Or kissing.

  He showered then headed down to the kitchen where he scrambled a couple of eggs and toasted two slices of wheat bread. Sitting at the breakfast bar in her kitchen, he stared out the window.

  Snow continued to fall. Not quite a blizzard, but close. Low visibility. Big, fat, wet snowflakes. Freezing temperatures.

  Christian was inside and warm while Leanne was probably out in the middle of it. The thought brought a chill. Yes, she was capable and strong. He didn’t doubt her abilities or skill, but anyone was susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite. Even someone as experienced as her.

  What little appetite he’d had disappeared. He moved the eggs around his plate with his fork.

  Wait a minute. Christian straightened. Rescuer safety was always the priority. Every news station always reported that whenever anything happened on the mountain. OMSAR wouldn’t head out in weather like this. Leanne was safe.

  Except he couldn’t forget the concern in her voice.

  They’re just kids, Christian. We have to do something.

  When kids were involved, emotions ran high and the stakes changed. But Leanne played by the rules. He hoped she was a stickler for them today.

  His gaze strayed to the window again. He wished he knew what was going on. Maybe he could find some information…

  The radio had no reports. Neither did the Northwest Cable News channel, nor the internet.

  Christian released a frustrated sigh. Being on this side of a rescue—the waiting side—sucked big-time.

  A blanket of white continued to fall from the sky.

  The not knowing grated on his nerves.

  This must be how his family had felt when he and Owen had been on the mountain. Maybe even with his firefighting.

  Family is so important, Welton. You need to work things out. Compromise.

  Christian knew why family meant so much to Leanne now. She didn’t have one. But he did. He pulled out his cell phone and pressed the button for his grandparents’ house. The voice mail announcement clicked on after the fourth ring.

  “You’ve reached the Weltons,” his grandma’s pleasant voice said. “We’re out and about at the moment. Leave your name and number. We’ll call you back when we get home.”

  Beep.

  “It’s Christian.
” Uncertainty coursed through him. This was his family even if he hadn’t felt like a part of it for a while. “I wanted to say hi. See what you and Grandpa were up to. It’s snowing up here on the mountain. I’m looking forward to seeing you at the Christmas Magic dinner. Talk to you later.”

  He pressed the end call button on his phone.

  Okay, that had taken less than a minute. Leanne would be happy he called. Now what?

  Christian needed something to do to distract him from thinking about Leanne out there. He washed his dishes and cleaned the kitchen. He stripped the sheets from his bed and gathered them up with the towel from the bathroom to take to the laundry room.

  The door to Leanne’s room was ajar.

  Christian wondered if she had anything that needed to be washed. He pushed open the door with his foot.

  What the…

  The flowery, frilly feminine decor of Leanne’s bedroom was completely different than the rest of the house. Completely opposite to Leanne herself. Lace, flowers and pink. Not just one shade, but many shades. So…girly.

  What was going on? She was one of the guys at the station and on the mountain. Even in town. Kickass tough and un-emotional. That Leanne wouldn’t be caught dead sleeping in a room decorated like this.

  Christian remembered how tender and nurturing she was babysitting. The emotional woman he’d held in his arms last night, the one who’d kissed him so gently before thinking better of it. This decor fit that Leanne better.

  But he still didn’t get it. Her. The woman was a total contradiction. Which one was the real her?

  Christian wasn’t sure he wanted to know. He liked the softer side of Leanne more than he thought possible. But he didn’t want to find himself in a relationship, pushed into a corner having to live up to the demands of someone else. For both their sakes, it would be better to think of her only as Thomas again, one of the guys, a total badass and hardnose, not the attractive, sexy, desirable woman he wanted to kiss again.

  And he would. Once she got home from her mission.

  Hours later, Leanne arrived home tired, wet and cold. Welton’s truck was still parked in her driveway. That surprised her. But pleased her, too.

  She pressed the keypad on her garage. The door opened automatically. She dumped her gear inside. A shower and food were her first priorities. She’d unpack and dry things later.

  With her boots off, she entered the house.

  Christmas carols played on the stereo. The scents of basil and tomato lingered in the air. Oh, man, it smelled so good. Her stomach growled. She climbed the stairs.

  Christian stood at the stove stirring something in a pot. Leanne’s heart jolted.

  He smiled at her. “You’re home.”

  She studied him, feeling much warmer than a minute ago. Home had never felt so good. “The kids found shelter last night. They made their way to Highway 35 once the sun came up.”

  “Hungry?”

  “Starving.”

  “I raided your fridge and cupboards. Found enough for spaghetti and meatballs.”

  Her chest tightened. Cocoa used to always make something for her to eat when she returned from a mission. Zoe, too. And now Christian…

  “Thanks,” Leanne mumbled, not wanting to give in to the emotions swirling through her. “This is exactly what I need.”

  He poured and handed a cup of coffee to her. “You’re wet.”

  She nodded. Sipped. The hot liquid tasted so good, but she would have preferred a kiss.

  “Grab a shower,” he said. “After you warm up, we can eat.”

  A few of his kisses would take the chill right away. But a few of his kisses would never be enough. Leanne wanted so much more. Too bad “more” would never happen with a commitment-phobe like Christian.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  THE next few days passed by in a blur between work at the fire station and in town on Christmas celebration. Ever since the lunch at her town house, something had changed between her and Christian. Something good.

  They didn’t kiss, but accidental touches and brushes of the hands happened more frequently. Phone calls and texts were exchanged when they weren’t together. Which wasn’t often. They didn’t discuss only the upcoming event, either.

  It was…nice.

  Leanne was willing to leave it at that. For now. She wanted to ask Christian if he wanted to go on the annual snowshoeing excursion on Christmas Day with her and her friends. All she needed was the opportunity and the nerve.

  On Thursday, two days before the big celebration, Leanne went down the mountain to go shopping with her friends at the closest mall.

  “I love girls’ nights, I mean, days, out.” Zoe Hughes stared at the glittery Christmas decorations and lights hanging from the mall’s ceiling. She spun around to take in all the sights. The bottom of her skirt flared, showing the tops of her brown leather boots. The woman knew how to take a plain skirt and blouse and turn it into high fashion with a couple of choice accessories. “Especially when it involves shopping with my girlfriends.”

  “Here, here.” Carly Porter wore a purple sweater, faded jeans and a big smile on her face. Life and love with Jake and their nine-month-old baby girl sure agreed with her. “I love being a mom, but I have no time for myself.”

  Hannah laughed. “You won’t until Nicole goes to college.”

  Zoe smiled at Leanne as if they were partners in crime. “At least we don’t have to worry about that.”

  “I know I don’t.” But a longing deep inside Leanne ached. She forced a smile. “I doubt it’ll be long for you.”

  Carly raised a finely-arched brow. “You and that hottie firefighter seem pretty close.”

  Zoe nodded. “He’s gorgeous.”

  “Total eye candy,” Hannah said.

  Leanne looked at each one of them. “You’re married women.”

  Hannah laughed. “True, but we can still look.”

  “Looking is all I’m doing myself,” Leanne admitted. “I wish we weren’t just working on the celebration together.”

  “Tell Christian that,” Zoe encouraged. “He looks like he’d rather be working on you.”

  Carly laughed.

  “The kids love him.” Hannah glanced at a group of high school students performing Christmas carols. “They want to know when you two are going to babysit again.”

  Zoe looked at her. “You and Christian babysat together?”

  “We had work to do and thought after the kids went to bed would be a good time,” Leanne explained.

  “He’s totally into you,” Carly said.

  Leanne was afraid to hope. “You think?”

  “Come on,” Zoe said. “You know these guys better than anyone. A man doesn’t offer to babysit unless he’s got ulterior motives.”

  “Jake did with Carly,” Leanne countered.

  “Jake was still crazy about Carly even after she’d been gone for six years,” Hannah said. “The kids told me you and Christian kissed.”

  Leanne’s cheeks burned.

  Zoe tapped her foot. “Spill. Now.”

  Thinking about Christian’s lips against hers made Leanne’s temperature rise. “A mistletoe kiss. That’s all.”

  “I remember when Sean first kissed me under the mistletoe.” Zoe sighed. “Mistletoe should be mandatory all year long.”

  “I kissed him.”

  The three women stared at her. “You?”

  “I wanted to get it over with. I was going to give him a peck on the cheek, but he turned his head and I ended up kissing him on the lips.”

  Zoe pursed her glossed lips. “And?”

  “So where did you want to go to look for dresses?” Leanne asked.

  Mischief gleamed in Zoe’s eyes. “Somewhere where we can find you a dress so sexy the firefighter will be dragging you under the mistletoe all night long.”

  Heat rose up Leanne’s cheeks.

  Carly and Hannah laughed.

  “You like him,” Carly said.

  “Of course I lik
e him,” Leanne said. “He’s a good firefighter.”

  “Is he a good kisser?” Zoe asked.

  Yes. Leanne got chills thinking about his kiss. But she wasn’t ready to tell her friends that. She noticed the North Pole Village right in front of them. “Oh, look, it’s Santa.”

  “This is the best mall Santa ever,” Carly said. “There isn’t a long line. Let’s tell him what we want for Christmas.”

  Leanne would do anything to keep the subject off her and Christian. “I’m game.”

  “Sure,” Zoe said.

  “Lead the way, Carly,” Hannah said.

  Leanne took up the rear. The other women seemed to know exactly what they wanted for Christmas. All she could think about was Christian.

  Her turn.

  Santa’s blue eyes twinkled as she approached his chair. His cheeks were rosy. He even had dimples. “Do you want to sit on my knee?”

  “Uh, no thanks, Santa.”

  “So what would you like for Christmas?” he asked.

  Christian popped into her mind. As if she could ask to find him under her tree on Christmas morning tied with a pretty red ribbon. “I’d like new skins.”

  The lines on Santa’s face deepened. “Skins?”

  “For my skis.” Leanne thought about skiing with Christian. That had been such a fun day. “I climb and backcountry ski.”

  “Oh, that would be a practical gift.” Santa’s blue eyes twinkled behind his gold wire-rimmed glasses. “But I know what you really want.”

  “You do?” What she really wanted was a family.

  Santa nodded. “To get that, you’re going to have to believe.”

  Okay, this Santa was a little weird, but he’d piqued her curiosity. “Believe in what?”

  “Christmas magic, Leanne.”

  “How do you know—” a six-foot-tall elf escorted her away before she could finish “—my name?”

  She glanced back, but Santa was already talking to a child dressed in a fancy party dress with matching bows in her hair.

  “Ready to shop until we drop?” Zoe said.

  The exchange with Santa left Leanne feeling strange, unsettled. Maybe shopping would make her feel a little less off balance. “Sure. Where do you want to start?”