by Janice Lynn
Sophie glanced toward where the animal had been. Nothing.
Horrified and fearing the worst, she glanced to the ground below. Big mistake, as it made her head spin. There was no cat fallen to the sidewalk, thank goodness, just Ben and Andrew shining a spotlight up at her.
“He was here,” she insisted, squeezing her eyes closed as she fought off the new wave of dizziness. “When I climbed up here, the cat was stuck, too.”
“Likely story. You sure you just didn’t want to see me tonight to tell Santa your Christmas wish list?”
Sophie’s gaze shot to Cole’s pale eyes, barely visible in the light. He was teasing her, probably trying to startle her out of her nervousness. She was okay with that because it was working.
Eyes locked with his, Sophie shrugged and let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Like Ben said, the things chicks will do to get your attention.” Her teeth started chattering.
“Sophie,” Cole’s voice was low, his hand stretched out to her, “You have my attention. My full attention. Put the harness on and trust me to take care of you.”
She did trust him. Silly, because outside of his journal, she barely knew him, yet she trusted him completely. Probably just her impulsiveness getting her into trouble again. Or maybe that was her heart pitter-pattering at what he’d just said.
She breathed in deeply, the cold air settling heavily in her lungs. She had to let go of the limb.
Keeping her focus on Cole, she pried one hand loose from the branch, brushed the bits of bark and moss off on her jeans, then grasped for the harness. Following his instructions, she put it on, then took Cole’s hand.
“I’ve got you. Thank God,” he breathed, as he helped her onto the ladder.
Sophie was the one thanking God as the realization hit that she was alive and in one piece and Cole’s arms were around her, warming her chilled body.
For the briefest moment, she thought his lips brushed against the top of her head.
They hadn’t, of course. That she’d thought they had was pure craziness. Fear had obviously muddled her mind and she was in shock and hallucinating.
Such a sweet hallucination to have his arms around her and him kissing the top of head, though.
Sophie shivered.
“I’ve got you,” he repeated. “You’re safe now.”
She leaned back against him, thankful to be off the branch. Thankful he’d come for her.
“I’m going to lower us down,” he told her. “Are you ready?”
She nodded but felt wobbly, as if she’d fall if he let go of her. He must have known because rather than the ladder moving, he leaned in and turned her chin so she could look at him over her shoulder.
“I take it you didn’t climb many trees as a kid?”
She hadn’t expected his teasing tone now that she was out of the tree. But his silly question was exactly what she’d needed as laughter bubbled up inside her. Perhaps it was tinged with a bit of hysteria, but hysteria apparently went well with hallucinations, because she felt better than she had since realizing she couldn’t get down from the tree.
“It’s not the climbing that was the problem,” she managed to bite out, resting her chin against his warm fingers where he held her face. “It was the threat of a rapid descent.”
His eyes twinkled in the glow of the streetlight. “Gravity is so overrated.”
His face was so close to hers, the warmth of his body around hers comforting. She couldn’t have stopped herself from smiling even if she’d wanted to.
Her heart ka-thunked as Cole’s mouth curved in a grin back.
Yep, she was suffering from a complete and total mental breakdown, because she’d swear Cole looked at her with…well, something way more than just relief that his current assignment had ended well.
“Everything okay up there?” Ben called from the ground, obviously wondering why they hadn’t moved.
“She’s just getting her bearings,” Cole answered. The warm look in his eyes dissipated so quickly that she almost thought she might have imagined it all as he said, “We better get down there before they call for backup.”
Feeling as shaken from her encounter with Cole as she did from being stuck in the tree, Sophie nodded, and they began their trip downward.
“I may or may not have taken pictures,” Ben teased as Cole helped Sophie to the ground.
“You would,” Cole shot back.
“I did. It isn’t every day I get to see you rescue a beauty from a tree.”
“You just wish it had been you,” Andrew accused.
Ben grinned at Andrew. “I’m not the one who was dateless this weekend.”
Andrew rolled his eyes. “Here we go again about you and your date. Take out a billboard or something.”
Sophie appreciated the guys’ banter as it gave her a minute to collect her wits. She was on the ground. She was glad she was on the ground.
“Wasn’t there something about a cat being in the tree, too?” Andrew asked, obviously tiring of his conversation with Ben.
“Sophie’s cat abandoned her,” Cole told them.
“I hope he’s okay,” she fretted, looking around but not seeing any sign of him. “I don’t understand how he just disappeared.”
“You’re sure a cat was there, and you didn’t imagine that there was an animal stuck in the tree? Maybe the wind or something sounded like meowing?”
She glared at Ben. “Don’t ask me what I’m imagining right now.”
Andrew laughed.
Wrapping her arms around herself for added warmth, Sophie sucked in another steadying breath. “I’m sorry y’all had to come out to rescue me, but thank you for doing so. I’m so glad to be out of that tree.”
“Broke up an otherwise boring shift,” Andrew admitted.
“Not that we don’t appreciate boring,” Ben added.
Sophie’s gaze went to Cole. He’d grown quiet, distant. Nothing of that earlier light in his eyes was visible now that they’d returned to earth.
“Thanks. I don’t even know where to begin to repay you for saving me.”
Cole looked uncomfortable at her praise. “We were just doing our job.”
“Well, thanks for doing your job.” Her gaze went back and forth between the three men. “I guess I’ll head home now.”
Because the longer she stood there, the more awkward the moment was becoming, and her shivering was getting worse.
“Which house is yours?”
Sophie pointed down the street. “I, uh, thanks, again. Y’all are my heroes.”
“What are you doing?”
“Baking cookies.” Sophie didn’t turn to look at her sister, just kept doing what she’d been doing prior to Isabelle coming into the kitchen.
“Okay, let me rephrase my question. Why are you baking cookies first thing in the morning?”
“I’m bringing them to the firehall as a thank you for rescuing me the other night,” she admitted, cutting another cookie, tweaking the shape with a fork tine, then placing it onto the buttered cookie sheet.
“For Cole?”
“For Andrew, Ben, Cole, and whomever else is there today.”
Sighing, Isabelle shook her head. “I know what you’re doing.”
“Showing my appreciation?”
“Looking for an excuse to see Cole Aaron is more like it.”
“That’s not why I’m baking cookies. Besides, if that was what I was after, I wouldn’t need an excuse. I’ll see Cole this weekend when our group meets to go over what still needs to be done for the toy drive.”
True. She would see him that weekend. It was also true that she hadn’t seen him since he’d rescued her. For whatever reason, it felt as if weeks had gone by instead of merely a couple of days.
“So, thank him. Send a card. Write a letter
to the newspaper editor about how great our fire department is. Email Chief Callahan singing praises about his crew. There’s no need to go there.”
“I can do all those things, too,” Sophie agreed. “But why not do this? They came to rescue me late at night because I was too petrified to climb down by myself. The least I can do is make them cookies.”
Isabelle leaned back against the kitchen counter. “I’m worried about your fascination with Cole.”
“It’s just a thank you, Isabelle.”
“What about the quilt you’re making?” her sister pushed. “You’ve not said anything about it to me, but it’s for him, isn’t it?”
“I make quilts all the time. You know how involved I am with Quilts of Valor.” She played dumb because she didn’t want to argue with her sister. Isabelle meant well. “Besides, I don’t understand what the big deal is about my being nice—especially to someone who deserves my kindness. And yours, too, for that matter.”
Guilt momentarily flashed onto Isabelle’s face, but then she shook it off. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Sophie didn’t want Isabelle to worry, especially when there was no reason to. Cole barely tolerated her company.
Only, when she’d been up in the tree, when they’d been on the ladder, there had been something in his voice, in his eyes, in his touch…something that had probably only existed in her imagination, but oh, how sweet the seemingly impossible moment had been.
“By Cole?” she scoffed, knowing she needed to reassure Isabelle. “The man came up a tree and rescued me. Why would he hurt me?”
“From what I’ve gathered from what little you’ve told me about reading his journal, he has a lot of issues. We both know what the fallout from those type of issues can lead to. Dating him wouldn’t be smart of you.”
“I’m making the man cookies, not dating him,” she reminded, placing another cookie on the sheet pan.
“Do you want to date him?”
Sophie chose that moment to turn to put the pan into the oven before carefully turning back to her sister’s intense blue gaze.
“I feel badly for him. He’s a good person. He went through a lot, lives in a town where he only knows a few people and is obviously working hard in an honorable profession in his civilian life. Not to mention, he’s making a choice to give back by helping with things like the toy drive. It’s what we both wish Dad had been able to do.”
All true, and probably why she was so invested in Cole.
Especially after reading his journal and knowing he fought the same mental battles her father had.
“Besides, I need to drop off his Santa suit, too,” she reminded. “There’s no way I can charge the fire department for the alterations after they rescued me.”
“Someone here to see you, Aaron.”
Again? Cole straightened from where he’d been bent next to the tower, cleaning the truck, and knew who he was most likely to see when he turned around.
Which explained why his heart had zoomed into overdrive.
“Again?” Ben echoed Cole’s thought as his friend glanced up from where he was rubbing the truck down with a cleaning cloth.
“Maybe there’s another cat stuck in a tree,” Andrew suggested when he spotted Sophie. “Nope, looks like she brought you something again, though. If you don’t want these, I do.”
“Hi, guys,” Sophie greeted, brandishing a smile at each of them, but pausing as her gaze connected to Cole’s. “I’ve finished the Santa suit alterations and thought I’d deliver it. I brought these for you, too.”
Her tone was upbeat, friendly, but her eyes held questions. Questions Cole had asked himself over the past couple of days. He always came to the same conclusion.
He needed to stay away from Sophie. For both their sakes.
His gaze dropped to the plastic container she held. “What are they?”
“Cookies.”
“Cookies?” His gaze lifted to hers. She had that about-to-bubble-over-with-excitement look shining on her face, and he guessed what she’d done.
Her smile had enough wattage to power the whole town’s supply of Christmas lights as she nodded. “I baked them this morning.”
Cole popped the lid and was met by a heavenly scent. First wiping his hand over his pants leg, he lifted a perfectly decorated sugar cookie Christmas tree from the container and took a bite. It tasted even better than it smelled.
“Pass ’em around,” Ben demanded.
Cole grabbed a second cookie, a reindeer face, just in case the container came back empty, then handed it off to Ben, who walked away with it to share the wealth. Andrew followed close behind, snagging a couple of cookies.
Which left Cole standing alone with Sophie.
“I hope they’re okay.” Her smile was still in place, but he’d swear she just bit into her lower lip.
“I like them,” he assured. Oh, Sophie, what are you doing here?
“Oh, good.” She smiled again. “They’re a thank you for rescuing me.”
“No thank you was necessary for just doing our job. Besides, you’ve already thanked us.”
She shrugged. “Words didn’t seem enough.”
“These,” he held up what was left of the reindeer, then finished it off, “are enough. They’re amazing. I haven’t had any fresh-baked cookies in years.”
“Does your mom not make them anymore?”
She probably did. Cole just hadn’t been home to eat them. How could he when his family treated him as a hero and he knew that was the last thing he deserved?
“Not sure. I haven’t seen her at Christmastime for a few years.”
Sophie raised her eyebrows. “What? You don’t go home for Christmas?”
“Uncle Sam doesn’t make assignments based upon where mothers live.”
She studied him, wanting to ask more, he was sure, but rather than point out that he no longer worked for the government, she sighed. “I shouldn’t have pried. Sorry.”
Popping the rest of the cookie into his mouth and hoping the sugary sweetness abated the remorse Sophie’s expression filled him with, Cole shrugged. “You brought cookies. You’re forgiven.”
Her smile returned. “Is that all it takes to get your forgiveness? Cookies?”
“Can’t say, really. First time it’s happened,” he admitted.
“Then I’ll be thankful it happened with me.”
Sophie’s pleased expression making him uneasy, Cole turned to see where the cookie container was. Every firefighter on duty had made their way to the table where Ben set the dish. “I’d best go grab another or they’ll all be gone. Thanks for fixing my Santa suit.”
“Oh, yes, well, you’re welcome. I should be going, too. I still have a lot to do before opening the shop.”
“Doggie bandanas to make?”
Her eyes twinkled. “Amongst other things.”
“Do you ever do something just for you, Sophie? Something that’s not volunteering for a project or sewing something for other people?”
She looked indignant. “Sewing is for me just as much as it’s for the person who’ll end up with the finished product. Creating works of art that are useful makes me happy; knowing that what I’ve made will bring joy to someone else makes me happy, too.”
Because Sophie was a giving person.
She’d made him and the guys Cole’s favorite kind of cookies. Not since his mother had someone done something kind just for him. It was a bit humbling. Everything about Sophie humbled him.
“I truly appreciate you rescuing me, Cole. As silly as it sounds, I can’t recall being so terrified as when I glanced down and realized how far away the ground was.”
Sophie stuck in the tree had scared him, too. Fortunately, everything had turned out okay, but it easily could have been otherwise. “Just in case the need arises, I want you to pro
mise that you won’t go attempting another cat rescue on your own.”
“Cole,” she began.
“Sophie,” he countered, before she could refuse his offer, “I’ve trained for tree rescues, roof rescues, you name it. If your cat needs rescued, I’m your man.”
Her brows lifted and mirth filled her eyes.
“Professionally speaking, of course,” he felt the need to add. He couldn’t have Sophie taking what he’d said the wrong way.
“Of course,” she said with an adorable grin. “And you have my word. Should the situation ever arise again, I promise to call.”
Good. He didn’t want her risking her life for the cat. His concern was for her safety. Just a firefighter trying to keep a community member safe. Nothing more.
Yeah, right.
Chapter Eight
“So, that’s twenty-five boxes total at various businesses,” Sophie informed the group that weekend, taking a sip of her cocoa as she glanced over the paper she held in her other hand. She was grateful for the way the hot cocoa warmed her insides. She couldn’t believe how far the temperature had dropped that week.
It had even started spitting snow that morning and hadn’t let up yet. There wasn’t any significant ground cover yet, but there was starting to be a white dusting—with more scheduled to come throughout the day.
Sophie loved snow. They usually only had a few good snows each winter, and per the forecast, this one could be a big one.
She forced her attention on the paper she held so she wouldn’t focus on the man sitting across from her. Cole had been the last to join their group. When Ben and Andrew had arrived without him, she’d had a moment of wondering if he’d be a no-show. Relief she shouldn’t feel had washed over her when the café’s door had opened, and it had been Cole shaking snow from his boots on the Merry Christmas rug just inside the doorway.
He’d been nice enough when she’d brought the cookies to the fire station, but his friendliness had been on the surface only. She figured that was because he’d not wanted to encourage her.
“Next weekend is the Christmas festival,” Sophie reminded, tapping her pen against the tabletop as she studied the list she and Sarah had put together earlier that day. “Donations always peak that weekend. We’ll need to go by and collect them so we’ll have an idea of what we still need to fulfill requests.”