Читать книгу A Mistletoe Proposal: Marry Me under the Mistletoe / A Little Bit of Holiday Magic / Christmas Magic in Heatherdale - Rebecca Winters, Abigail Gordon - Страница 10
ОглавлениеRICK HADN’T IMAGINED that buzzing sound. With the greatest of reluctance he allowed her to tear her mouth from his without pulling her back. “Your father?” Both of them were out of breath.
“I’m sure it is.”
“This late?” It was after ten.
“Yes. He drifts in and out at will.”
The buzzer went off again. Her parent sounded impatient. “You’d better answer.”
“I know, but I need to freshen up for a minute.”
Rick studied her features and glazed eyes. Her lips looked swollen and his five-o’clock shadow had put a rash on her face. All in all she looked slightly ravished for a first kiss, but he felt no shame. On the contrary...
“Would you like me to go down and let him in while you repair the damage?”
She blushed. “If you wouldn’t mind.”
“It would be my pleasure.” With his body throbbing from unassuaged longings, he went back downstairs and undid the lock. He’d met her mother. Now was his chance to meet Andrea’s father.
To say her graying parent in his North Face parka was shocked to see Rick standing there was an understatement. He gave him the once-over with dark blue eyes reminiscent of Andrea’s. “I thought one of Andrea’s friends was parked outside. Who are you?” he asked, sounding a bit territorial for the father of a grown woman.
“I’m Captain Jenner of Ladder 1 at the downtown fire station. You must be Mr. Bernard. Your daughter will be right down. Come in.”
Once he was inside, Rick shut the door. Her father looked around the office. “I can smell smoke.”
“That’s right. There was a fire in the art gallery two shops up the street the other night, set by an arsonist. I just got off duty and came by to let your daughter know the police will be patrolling this area more heavily until January. But she needs to pay special heed when she’s here alone.”
“I never liked the idea of her living upstairs, but would she listen to her own father? Andrea’s mother always let her be too independent, so what can you expect?”
As Rick grimaced, he heard footsteps on the stairs. “Hi, Dad. Mom said you’d be coming by.”
Andrea came down in jeans and a T-shirt. Everything she wore she filled out to perfection, but that was a quick change, he thought. Rick had the strongest suspicion she didn’t want her father to know anything about their evening, especially the passion they’d just shared.
She gave her dad a kiss. “You’ve met Captain Jenner. His crew put out that fire he was talking about. He’s been making an inspection of the buildings around here and checked my fire escape to see what kind of access it has to the upstairs. He was just leaving.”
Rick glanced at him. “It was nice to meet you, Mr. Bernard.”
“I appreciate you keeping my little girl safe. She shouldn’t be living here on her own. Did she tell you about the bear spray?”
“Yes.”
“It’s good stuff. Go for the eyes.”
Rick flicked his gaze to Andrea. “Be sure to get those dowels put in the windows. Good night. I’ll let myself out.”
After having to prematurely relinquish Andrea, whose incredible response had set him on fire, Rick had been forced to pull himself together to let her father in the door. But he’d been reeling from the taste and feel of Andrea, so that the meeting with her parent had barely scratched the surface of his mind.
However, now that he was on his way back to the party, he had time to reflect and couldn’t help wondering about the relationship between her and her father. She was such a warm, demonstrative woman, but she’d controlled that emotion around him. Andrea had lived through her parents’ divorce and had obviously been affected by the pain.
There was so much Rick didn’t know about her, but he planned to find out. One truth was perfectly clear. When they’d heard the buzzer a few minutes ago, she hadn’t been ready to let him go. Her desire was every bit as explosive as his. Both of them had experienced a moment of sheer ecstasy, and it was going to grow stronger no matter how much she might want to fight it.
But she was right about his daughter. Tessa had been jealous of his attention to Andrea. He could see that he would have to be extra careful and realized he needed to follow Andrea’s advice and take Tessa home. There’d be other nights for sleepovers.
Deep in thought, he drove back to the party. Being a good friend, Deanna didn’t ask any probing questions about Andrea’s quick departure. He talked to everyone for a while, noticing that Susie had already left.
Rick was glad Susie had seen Andrea involved with him, in order to end any speculation or hope that he might be interested. Before he took Tessa home he sought out Benton, who was in the kitchen on the phone.
After he hung up, Benton motioned Rick over to the counter with a scowl on his face. “There’s a certain pattern our fire starter has been following. One of my sources believes he’s a colleague working among us. He’s too good at what he does. These fires have been done by an insider.”
Rick groaned. He thought of the guys assigned to Ladder 1 and couldn’t imagine them going berserk. Two of them were here tonight with their wives. The thought of having to be suspicious of any of them tore him up inside. “It wouldn’t be the first time one of our own turned bad.”
“Nope. Watch your back, Rick. If it’s true, then this guy not only likes setting fires, he’s got a vendetta. I’ve got my guys going through every history to find out who might have it in for the department or one person in particular.”
Rick let out a low whistle. “I know one firefighter who pretty well hates my guts, but I haven’t worked with him for at least a year.”
“Who’s that?”
“Chase Hayward. When we have more time, I’ll tell you about him.”
Benton frowned. “That’s a place to start. Let me know when you come up with any other names.”
“You can count on it. Thanks for the party. Sorry Andrea had to leave so fast. Her father came into town and she had to go home.”
“No problem, as long as it didn’t spoil your evening.”
“Not spoil. Just...complicate things a little.” The result had left him breathless and wanting more of the same excitement only she could engender. “Talk to you later.”
He gathered up his daughter, who’d fallen asleep on the family-room couch. She wakened enough to smile as he slipped on her parka. After he carried her out to the car and strapped her in the back car seat for the ride home she fell asleep again.
While he put her to bed, his thoughts were on Andrea. His teeth snapped together when he thought of her father showing up when he did. One taste of Andrea hadn’t been nearly enough. Rick had only half believed her excuse that she’d needed to leave to get home to see him.
Trying to tamp down his charged body, he turned out the lights and shut Tessa’s door. As he walked through the house, it felt like the night before Christmas. The words floated through his mind—“not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” He couldn’t believe it, but the darkness of his life seemed to have lifted and a new sense of purpose had taken over. Like it or not, Andrea Fleming was responsible for this metamorphosis.
When morning came, Tessa ran into his room to hug him. But the first words out of her mouth brought bad weather for the rest of the day. “Daddy? I wish you hadn’t brought Andrea to the party.”
Startled, he sat up. “Why not?” He knew the answer, but he needed to let her talk this out.
“I don’t like her,” she said in a tremulous voice.
“Can you tell me why?”
“Julie said she might be my new mommy and I don’t want a new one.” On that note she buried her face in his chest and sobbed.
Rick rocked her in his arms. What to say that would comfort this child he loved more than life itself? For the past year his heart had cried out that he didn’t want another woman in his life either. But he hadn’t counted on Andrea....
At this juncture he didn’t dare lie to Tessa, who took everything so literally. But at the same time, he wasn’t about to stop seeing Andrea. He had no idea where things were headed with her. Possibly nowhere, except that deep inside he didn’t believe that.
“Right now Andrea is a friend I’ve met. She’s been very sad.”
That brought Tessa’s head up. “How come?”
“A year ago she was with her husband in Germany when they were in an accident and he died.”
He could hear his daughter’s mind ticking over. “And now he’s in heaven like Mommy?”
“Exactly.”
She wiped her eyes. “I bet she cries a lot.”
Rick groaned inwardly. “I’m sure she does.”
Tessa touched his cheek, reminding him he needed a shave. “You used to cry.”
His throat practically closed up from emotion. “We all had to cry so we’d feel better.”
“Do you feel better?” she asked in all earnestness.
“Better than I did.”
“Me, too.”
“Then let’s go eat and then we’ll build a snowman in the backyard.” From the window he could see snow had fallen during the night. Not a lot, but just enough to blanket everything in white. He had some shoveling to do. “I’ll make us Mickey Mouse chocolate chip pancakes.”
“Can I put in the chips?”
He smiled, thankful that so far they’d gotten through this tense moment in one piece. “That’s your job.”
Half an hour later he’d showered and shaved and they were just finishing their pancakes and bacon when he heard his cell phone ring. He checked the caller ID and saw that it was the battalion chief calling. He frowned before clicking on. “Hey, Rob—what’s up?”
“Plenty. I know it’s your day off, but we need all the extra help we can get. A couple of guys are out with stomach flu, one from your ladder. Just a minute ago there was a big explosion at the downtown furniture mart. We’re calling in help from all over the city.”
That sprawling monster? “Say no more. I’ll be at the station as soon as I can.” He hung up with a grimace. “Sweetheart, I hate to do this, but there’s an emergency at work. Go tell Sharon I have to leave.”
* * *
“Dad? Do you want more scrambled eggs?”
“No. I think I’m done, but I could use some more coffee.”
Andrea poured another cup for him. He’d slept on the couch and had opened his Christmas present early because he’d be gone hunting over Christmas. She’d listened to him rant about the numskulls at his work.
While he’d turned on the TV and was grazing the channels for the news, Andrea had slipped into the bedroom to phone her mom. To her delight she found out that Rex was taking her to dinner that evening. Then the subject changed to Rick Jenner and the scene with Tessa.
“But I can’t talk about that right now, Mom. I’ll call you later once Dad’s gone.”
After she came out of her bedroom, she saw breaking news flash across the TV screen. “...case you just joined us, we’re in downtown Providence on the scene of a raging nine-alarm fire that is engulfing the old furniture mart.” Nine?
Her father whistled. “That’s one mean fireball. I’d hate to be the firefighter I met last night.”
Andrea was already quaking in her boots over Rick. Today was supposed to be his day off. She’d heard one of the firefighters say they could all stay up late for the party and sleep in. But word of a fire of this magnitude would reach every firefighter in the city. She hadn’t known Rick long, but she knew he wouldn’t stay in bed once he heard the news. Her stomach muscles tensed.
“The recent rash of fires in the downtown area seems to indicate an arsonist might be involved.”
Andrea remembered what Rick had said. I’ve a gut feeling this one loves to light fires for the fun of it. He wants notoriety and is the worst kind.
When her father turned off the television, she wished he hadn’t. Now that she’d seen the fire, she couldn’t think about anything else. “I’d better head home to make things right with Monica.”
Andrea pretended she didn’t know anything about their troubled marriage. “What happened?”
“I told her when I married her I didn’t want to get involved with her kids.”
No. Andrea’s father could hardly handle having one child of his own. What a blow it must have been to her mother when she discovered the kind of man she’d married. The difference between him and someone like Rick Jenner, who adored his daughter and was devoted to her, was too astounding to contemplate. She found his parka and helped him put it on.
“It’s good to see my little girl.” After putting a new can of bear mace on the coffee table as his contribution to her Christmas, he gave her a hug. He’d always had trouble parting with his money unless it was for more ammunition or a new scope for his rifle. She thanked him and hugged him back before going downstairs with him.
“It’s a fine day now that it’s snowed,” he exclaimed after opening the door to the alley. “But I’d rather be up in Alaska.”
That was his mantra. “Drive safely.”
The second he took off, she raced upstairs to grab her things, then ran down and got into her car. Once out on the street she could see the dark plumes of smoke over the downtown area, making her feel sicker as she listened to the radio report. Without conscious thought she drove to the fire station. If she saw Rick’s Toyota there, then she’d know he’d been called in to help fight the blaze.
After turning into the driveway to the station parking lot, she spotted it with several other cars and broke out in perspiration. But maybe he was inside the station. She had to find out, and she went in. To her consternation she discovered there was only a skeleton crew on duty. Captain Jenner had been called to the downtown fire.
It was too late to remember that someone on duty would tell him she’d been by. So much for her avowal that she wasn’t interested in any kind of a relationship with him. She wasn’t, but she feared the danger of a fire of that magnitude. Her thoughts leaped to Tessa. The idea of her daddy not making it back home was too ghastly to contemplate.
She called her mother again. “Have you seen the news about the fire on TV?”
“Yes. I’ve been watching, and I thought immediately of Captain Jenner.”
“I was fixing Dad’s breakfast when he turned on the news.”
“Where’s your father now?”
“He’s gone back home. I’ll come over later, but there are some things I need to do first.”
“All right, darling.”
Andrea headed to the hardware store. When she came out the smoke in the sky wasn’t as black as before. Part of her wanted to drive down by the fire, but another part preferred to stay in denial about him fighting the fire, so she headed for the shop.
While she listened to the news she kept busy placing the dowels and cleaning up after her father. By now the fire was 95 percent contained, but there’d been injuries. A number of firefighters had been taken to Providence general hospital. One had died on the way after a wall had collapsed on him, but no names were being given out yet.
Andrea cried out in anguish. It could be Rick, or one of his friends at the party. She couldn’t breathe until she knew the truth. Without hesitation she drove to the hospital. The main streets en route had been plowed. Andrea parked underground and followed the signs to Emergency.
When she saw Rick’s name on the wall chart, her heart thudded like the striking of an anvil. After inquiring at triage, she was told he was in cubicle eight and she could go back. Behind the blue curtain she found him.
To her everlasting surprise and gratitude, he was sitting on the end of the hospital bed in his uniform, breathing oxygen. As far as she could tell, nothing else was wrong with him. When he saw her walk in, his eyes suddenly gleamed a brighter green. Surrounding him were three of the foulest-smelling, grubby-looking firefighters she’d ever seen.
Arney and Jose she recognized from last night’s party. “Hey, Andrea,” they said in unison with a decided grin. “You’re one sight for sore eyes. How did the boss find you and how come he’s so lucky?”
A smile broke out on her face. “I must say you guys looked a little better last night,” she teased, ignoring their questions.
“Yeah, well, now you’re seeing the real us.”
“Whoa—” the other firefighter exclaimed. “I know I’ve never seen you before.” His blue eyes studied her in a way she found too bold. “Someone introduce me.”
Jose smiled. “Andrea? As you can see, Chase is dying to make your acquaintance. Andrea runs the Hansel and Gretel shop downtown.”
“Is that so? Well, I’m just going to have to drop by, then.”
Andrea hoped he wouldn’t.
“Chase swung in from another station to assist,” Arney explained.
Thankfully the attending physician came in and took Rick’s vital signs, preventing her from having to make a comment. Something about the other firefighter’s attitude was borderline obnoxious to her.
“Can he drive back to the station with us, Doc?”
“I can’t release him for an hour. Just so you know, your captain won’t be going to work tomorrow. For the time being it’s home and total bed rest. Follow my advice and you shouldn’t have any lasting effects.”
The guys didn’t sound happy about it, but Andrea rejoiced that the doctor had taken charge. For the rest of today and tomorrow he’d be safe!
After the doctor left the cubicle, Rick pulled down his mask, still staring at her. “All right, you guys. Get out of here.”
Andrea thought he sounded slightly hoarse but completely like his confident self. She sent up a silent prayer of thanksgiving that Tessa’s daddy had been spared to live another day.
“We’re going.” Arney grinned and punched him on the shoulder. One way or another the guys managed to give a physical manifestation of their affection and relief by a nudge or some other gesture.
Their camaraderie revealed they were a close-knit family of which she wasn’t a part. This was Rick’s element, a whole other world, and he was happy in it. She could see that. They belonged to a special club, unconsciously making her feel excluded.
Chase filed out last, not paying attention to Rick. He gave her a look that made her uncomfortable. “I’ll be getting in touch with you.” She wanted to call back, “Please don’t.”
When they were alone she urged Rick to lie back down, but he ignored her. Maybe she was wrong, but something about the other firefighter seemed to have made him tense. His next question was unrelated. “How did you know I was here?”
She told him the sequence of events, starting with her father sleeping over. Through narrowed lids he appeared to digest everything she said. “I thought you didn’t want anything more to do with me.”
“I don’t, but the nine-alarm fire was on every channel.”
“You knew it was my day off.”
“True—however, it was such a huge fire I figured you’d be called in. When I drove to the fire station and saw your car in the parking area, then I knew you’d gone on duty.”
“You actually drove there to see?” A glint of satisfaction entered his eyes.
“Yes. I was concerned when I found out there were injuries...and a death.”
He nodded gravely. “A father of four.”
“I heard. It’s so tragic.” Her voice shook. “Thank heaven it wasn’t you. Tessa wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
“I don’t plan to die on her if I can help it.” He bit out the words.
“I realize that.”
“Now that you’re here, would you be willing to wait long enough to drive me to the station for my car when I’m released?”
“I’ll drive you home first,” she said without hesitation. “Doctor’s orders. We’ll arrange for your car later. Don’t talk anymore, Rick. Give your throat and lungs a rest. If you’ll give me your housekeeper’s phone number, I’ll let her know you’ll be home in another hour.”
Andrea knew she shouldn’t be overjoyed that he wanted her help to get home. But if he hadn’t asked her, she would have worried that much more about him.
* * *
When the nurse pushed Rick outside the hospital in the wheelchair, Andrea was waiting right there in her car. The woman was tying him up in knots. He climbed inside and fastened the seat belt before they took off. If it had taken him breathing too much smoke to see her again, he wasn’t complaining.
The doctor had said his heart rate was a little high. What the medic didn’t know was that moments before, Andrea had walked into the cubicle. After figuring he’d never see her again unless he made it happen, he knew the shock of realizing she’d come to see him on her own had played havoc with his vital organ.
A lot could happen in twenty-four hours. He planned to use every one of them wisely.
“Are you feeling terrible?” Andrea sounded anxious.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
He looked over at her lovely profile. “I’m sorry that the death of one of my colleagues alarmed you enough to bring you to the hospital. I’m sure it was a reminder of what happened to your husband. I wish you could have been spared. Tell me. What did you do with your day after your father left?”
“Besides worry about you, I bought some dowels and put them in the windows.”
“I’m glad you took my advice.”
“If they’ll act as a deterrent, then I’m indebted to you.” He noticed her hands grip the wheel a little tighter. “Was the furniture mart a set fire?”
“Benton thinks so, but it’ll take a day to find the proof.”
She flashed him a glance. “What’s your opinion?”
“I think this particular pyro is having a field day.”
“Tell me about your friend who died. How old are his children?”
“He has two teenagers and two in their twenties.” Rick saw telltale tears trickle from her eyes. “Becoming a firefighter is a lot like joining the military. Everyone knows there’s going to be risk.”
“I’m sure they do.”
He wanted to get off that subject to talk about something more important. “Is your father going to be in town for the week?”
“No. When he comes two or three times a year, he’s always just passing through.”
“It’s obvious you’re very close to your mother.”
“As opposed to my father, who was never a family man, but I’m sure you already figured that out even before you met him.”
“It’s his great loss for not spending time with you. He told me he doesn’t like you living on your own.”
“He said that because the loft is small and I don’t have a guest room for him.”
“Andrea? Be serious.”
“I am. He hates my couch.”
Rick shuddered to think what kind of father hers had been. All the lost opportunities.
Andrea pulled into his driveway, where she parked to the side to leave room for another car. He gave her a covert glance. “What are your plans for the rest of the day?”
But he didn’t hear her response because he’d already opened the passenger door and Tessa had come running out of the house without boots or a parka. “Daddy—” She sounded ecstatic and flew into his arms.
After giving him a hard hug, she stared at Andrea. While his mind sought an explanation his daughter could handle, Andrea spoke up. “Hi, Tessa. Your daddy needed a ride home because he was so excited to see you. Now I’m going home.”
His little girl shifted her gaze back to him. “Sharon said you breathed too much smoke, Daddy. I’m going to take care of you because Mommy told me to.” She pulled on his hand to get him out of the car.
His daughter’s sweetness made his heart quake. “You always take perfect care of me.”
“See you,” Andrea called to them before backing out of the driveway. Helpless to do anything else at the moment, Rick had to let her go. The last thing he saw was the sheen of her wet blue eyes before she drove off.
Tessa helped him inside the house. “Sharon says you have to take a shower and go straight to bed.”
His housekeeper met him in the foyer. “We’re glad you’re home. I’ll bring you dinner when you’re ready.”
Rick was so drowsy from whatever had been put into his IV, he barely made it to his bedroom. After he collapsed on the bed to get his second wind, he knew nothing more until thirst brought him out of a deep sleep. He reached for his water and drank until he’d emptied the glass.
When he opened his eyes, he discovered it was quarter after nine. That was the time he’d gone to his room last night. It meant he’d slept twelve hours! The last thing he remembered was being ordered to bed.
He rolled off the mattress, aware he was breathing more easily. He didn’t feel he needed the inhaler. But once on his feet, he still felt weak. Some breakfast would make all the difference.
After a visit to the bathroom, he left for the kitchen in his sweats and T-shirt, expecting to see Sharon and Tessa, but they weren’t there. He checked the note on the fridge under the magnet.
Nancy came over this morning and took Tessa home with her so you could sleep. She’ll bring her back this afternoon. I’ll be home from the grocery store shortly. Your friends brought your car home from the station, so don’t worry about a thing.
He drank a quart of milk and munched on a banana and a couple of peanut butter sandwiches before checking his phone messages. There were half a dozen, but of course nothing from Andrea. She didn’t have his cell phone number, but he had given her the land line number so she could call Sharon. But when he checked those messages, there still wasn’t one from her.
Remembering the tears in her eyes before she’d backed down the drive, he realized she’d heard Tessa and didn’t want to say or do anything to upset his daughter more. Though touched by her sensitivity, he didn’t want Andrea distancing herself because of it. He’d find a middle ground for them no matter how long it took.
As he walked down the hall, he heard the sounds of the animated elf band he’d set up around the Christmas tree. He frowned. That was odd. He hadn’t remembered hearing it on his way to the kitchen.
Clearly mystified, he headed for the living room and collided with a heavenly female form just coming down the hall in jeans and a melon-colored cotton sweater.
Andrea, as he lived and breathed.
A cry escaped her throat. “I thought I heard you in the kitchen.”
“I needed food.”
She bit her lip. “In case you weren’t dressed, I didn’t want to surprise you, so I turned on the elf band.”
His hands shot out to steady her. Sharon must have let her in this morning. “How long have you been here?”
“Not long.”
“What a welcome surprise,” he murmured in a gravelly voice. Maybe he was dreaming. All he knew was that he had to taste her mouth again. He’d been hungering for it since the other night.
“No, Rick—” she begged. “This isn’t why I came over.” But it was too late. He’d already stifled most of the sound. In the next instant he pressed her against the wall in the hall and found himself devouring her, bite by delicious bite. What made everything more miraculous was that she was giving him breathtaking permission.
Between the flowery scent of her hair and the warmth of her luscious body, he felt transported. He forgot the time as his hands roamed over her back and hips. Being with her like this made him feel young and alive again. She clung to him in a way that told him she was experiencing ecstasy, too.
“Why do you say no when you mean yes? You’re torturing me.”
“It’s not on purpose,” she whispered against the side of his neck.
“Yes, it is. Do you have any idea how beautiful you are? How exciting?” He kissed her scented throat. “Ever since I saw you through the display window, I fought not to want you, but it happened anyway.”
“I know,” she admitted, sounding breathless. “I never thought I could feel this way again and I didn’t want to either. I still don’t.” She eventually tore herself from his arms. “This couldn’t be good for you. I came to find out if you were all right. How are you feeling?”
Andrea could ask him a question like that after what they’d been doing in the hallway? “Would that I could wake up every morning feeling this...marvelous.” If he wasn’t mistaken, she blushed. “But I need a minute to shower. Promise me you won’t leave, or you’ll have to put up with a grubby firefighter whose beard must be two inches long.”
Her eyes studied his features. “Maybe an inch,” she teased.
“By what miracle are you here?”
“I called to see how you were. Sharon said you were still sleeping and Tessa had gone out with her grandmother. When I asked if there was anything I could do, she said I could babysit while she went shopping. Since I promised to stay till she came back, you have my word I won’t leave. But after your shower, you need to lie down, Rick. Doctor’s orders.”
He grinned. “Yes, nurse.” Rick pressed a hot kiss to her mouth before disappearing, but knowing she was waiting for him, he decided it was going to be the fastest shower and shave in history.
