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“I know.” Her voice had an awful tremor. Time to change the subject. “How can I help you?”
“Tessa and I talked about a special gift to give my housekeeper for Christmas.” Naturally he hadn’t brought his daughter with him. The last thing he would want would be to get her excited all over again about the gingerbread man. “Mrs. Milne is the widow of an army officer—she came to us before my wife died.”
Another widow who’d been married to a man in a dangerous career.
“Tessa loves her, so it has to be the perfect present. That’s one of the reasons I’ve come to your shop.”
“That’s nice to hear. Do you think she’d like a nutcracker or a pyramid?”
“A nutcracker. Tessa was enchanted with the ones she saw in the window.”
Andrea had been enchanted by his precious child. “We have a wonderful assortment of soldiers. The big ones are right over here. Maybe you’ll see one that appeals to you the most.”
He followed her over to the table. “They’re all fabulous.”
“What was her husband like?”
“She’s mentioned several times he looked splendid in his uniform.”
So had the man standing next to her when she’d gone to the station.
“Splendid... Hmm...” Andrea’s keen eye landed on her favorite soldier, who stood fifteen inches high. She picked him up. “Meet the major general. He served in the French Napoleonic cavalry from 1804 to 1815, the most powerful branch of the grande armée. Fourteen hundred officers like this one performed with great gallantry.”
Their hands brushed as she handed it to him. The contact sent a warm sensation through her body. His eyes held hers for a moment before he examined the nutcracker.
“I—I love this one.” Her voice faltered in reaction to his nearness. “This white uniform makes him stand out. It’s an exact replica of the uniforms they wore, down to the black hat and green-and-gold trim on the cuffs and bottom of the jacket.”
“It’s exactly what Tessa would want to give her.” His husky tone set her pulse racing. “I’ll take it.”
“Good. I’ll find the box for it in the back and wrap it for you. Be sure to keep the box. These signed nutcrackers become a collector’s item and are more valuable if you have the same box they came in.”
“I didn’t realize that.”
She couldn’t breathe until she was away from him. Good grief. She’d always heard about widow’s hormones, but had never given it any thought until now. If a doctor were to examine her, he’d declare she had palsy.
After finding the box in question, she returned to the counter with it. “If you’ll notice, there’s a piece of parchment inside that tells you about the major.”
“She’ll love it.”
Andrea’s hands were unsteady as she wrapped the gift in green foil with a red ribbon. He gave her his credit card. She put the receipt in the sack before handing him everything.
“Mom and I appreciate your business.” She flashed him a smile. “Merry Christmas. Since I’m closing up, I’ll walk you to the door.”
Andrea knew she was being obvious, but she wanted him to leave and never come back. It was the exact opposite of her experience with him the first time he’d come into the shop. She couldn’t afford to make more of a fool of herself than she already had. He could have no idea that seeing him again had been very hard on her.
Oddly enough, she sensed he wasn’t ready to go yet. If he knew she was a widow, he wouldn’t be able to leave fast enough, but he hadn’t asked.
A tiny nerve pulsed at the side of his hard mouth before he opened the door. “Thank you again for your generosity to my daughter. Merry Christmas.” He hesitated a moment, then left.
The second his hard-muscled frame disappeared, she locked up and hurried to her bedroom to pack for her overnight with her mother. Once back downstairs, she turned off the lights, set the electronic locks and slipped out to her car.
On purpose she drove past the hotel where he’d fought the blaze earlier. Like pressing on a sore tooth that increased the pain, she needed to remember what he did for a living. There was no point in getting interested in him. After losing Gunter, she didn’t want to go through another horrific loss again.
If he could be killed in a freak car accident, what chance did Rick Jenner have of surviving his world much longer? He willingly put himself in danger every time he climbed onto that truck.
To her chagrin Andrea was strongly attracted to him. His sensual appeal reached down to the deepest part of her, bringing her alive again after more than a year. She was so vulnerable right now, it was frightening. If he came near her again, intuition told her a man like him could become an addiction.
But what could be worse than getting into a relationship with a firefighter? She’d wait for him to come back to her after his shift was over, fearing that if he was late, she’d learn he’d died.
The fact that she’d turned on the radio to find out about the fire proved how anxious she was about his welfare already. He’d admitted his wife hadn’t liked it. What wife could, unless she were a police officer or a firefighter herself?
Memories of the accident assailed her. We’re sorry, Mrs. Fleming. Your husband didn’t make it.
Andrea was sorry she’d met Captain Jenner, and prayed she’d never see him again. By the time she reached the house, she was convulsed in tears that made no sense. For months now she’d been trying to build a new life. Now suddenly he’d come along with that darling daughter of his, reminding her of what she’d lost and what she could never have. It was his fault she was falling apart.
* * *
Rick had promised to watch the Christmas special with Tessa as soon as he got home. Wishing his mind wasn’t still on Andrea, he entered his house and added his gift for Sharon to the growing pile of presents beneath the tree.
Tina’s parents had brought their gifts over early. Too many gifts. His own parents’ presents would come later, in moderation. Tessa looked at the wrapped presents every day while she waited impatiently for Santa to come. Rick had hidden any gifts he’d bought for her in the basement along with the big present. They’d come out of hiding on Christmas morning.
He would have to work the afternoon shift that day, but the following day he had off to spend the day with Tina’s parents, who lived in Providence, and then they would all be getting together. His parents and one of his married brothers who lived in nearby Cranston would drop by and then spend New Year’s with him and Tessa at the house.
“Rick? Is that you?”
Sharon always said that. She had radar for ears, which was a good thing to keep them all safe. Rick thought of her as the rock who stabilized his world and Tessa’s. There was no finer woman anywhere. What would he have done without her?
“I’m home. Where’s the cutest little girl in the entire world?”
“I’m here, Daddy.” She came running into the living room in her princess pajamas and dived into his arms, smelling sweet from her bath. He kissed her, loving this child who made his life worth living. “I’ve been waiting for you. Come in the family room. We’re watching Charlie Brown’s Christmas. Sharon made us popcorn.”
“I can’t wait!” He carried her through and sat down on the couch in front of the TV. Rick kept her on his lap while they munched and laughed. There was something touching about Charlie Brown, who’d picked out the only real tree for their Christmas play. But the dog’s crazy antics as he danced on the piano brought down the house for his daughter.
“He’s so funny. I wish I had a Snoopy shirt like that lady at the shop.”
Rick remembered the way she’d looked in it. Tonight he’d gone back to get Sharon’s gift. And to take another look at Andrea. If he hadn’t given in to temptation, he might have been all right.
Who are you kidding, Jenner?
The whole time he was telling himself to stay away, he found himself entering her shop so he could feast his eyes on her in that stunning outfit she’d worn to the station. She’d produced such a sensation with the guys, he was afraid he’d never hear the end of it.
He moaned inwardly as memories of Tina passed through his mind to conflict him. But not enough to stop him from wanting to see her.
The inevitable guilt had passed. If he had to see the psychiatrist again, it would be for some other problem, because Rick had gone back to the shop when it hadn’t been necessary. He’d needed to see her again and had used any excuse to drop by.
“Before I forget, Deanna called here today and has invited you to a Christmas party on Saturday night after you get off work.”
“Benton mentioned it to me at the fire scene. It will all depend on my shift ending on time.” He really didn’t want to go. “Right now it’s time for this young lady to get to bed. Let’s go get your teeth brushed, then I’ll read you a Mrs. Piggle Wiggle story.”
Between Tina and Rick, they must have read the little stories to her a hundred times. Tina’s mother had given the books to Tessa. He knew it made Tessa feel closer to her mother.
“Good night, Sharon.”
“Good night, cutie.”
“Thanks for everything,” Rick murmured. “I couldn’t do this without you.”
“Sure you could.” But she said it with misty eyes.
* * *
“Mom?” Andrea had just finished putting some more inventory out on the floor. “What are you doing here this morning?”
“I thought I’d get to work on the bills. Come in the back and have a bagel when you get a minute.”
“I’m through now. You’re a lifesaver!” The weather had turned freezing and gloomy. She was glad for the company. To her shock she’d been brooding over the firefighter who refused to leave her thoughts day or night.
Furious with herself for being this vulnerable, Andrea sat down with her mother, who’d made them coffee, too. “I’m afraid this cold front is keeping the customers away till later in the day.”
“It felt like Siberia on the way over here.”
She eyed her mom. “I can tell something’s on your mind. What is it?”
“Your father called me late last night.”
“Don’t tell me Monica has left him again.”
Her mother nodded.
“Didn’t she do this last Christmas?”
They both chuckled. “Yes.” Thank goodness her mom could laugh about it. She’d fallen out of love years ago. For a long time Andrea had prayed her mother would meet someone wonderful and worthy of her. He would have to be terrific.
“I hope you got off the phone fast.”
“I did. He’s driving in to Providence and wants to see you.”
“Thank you for warning me, but what do you bet he doesn’t?” Following her remark, they both heard the Christmas chimes.
“Maybe that’s your father now.”
“I don’t think so. He’d call first.” She got up from the desk. “I can’t believe anyone ventured out in this.” As she walked into the front of the store, Tessa Jenner came in accompanied by an older woman.
Andrea was delighted to see her. “Hello, Tessa.”
“Hello.” Her cheeks were rosy from the cold.
“What can I do for you on this wintry morning?”
A pair of green eyes looked up at her, reminding Andrea of Tessa’s father. “We came to buy Daddy a Christmas present before I have to go to school. It’s a secret.”
“Well, how exciting!”
The older woman smiled. “I’m Mrs. Milne. I take care of Tessa.”
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Andrea.”
“Tessa begged me to bring her here,” the older woman explained.
“I see. What kind of present are you looking for?”
Tessa pointed. “I want to buy that nutcracker over there on the shelf.”
“Which one? There are five of them.”
“The one with the gold crown and the cape. He has black hair and looks like Daddy.”
Tessa had to have noticed him the first time she came into the shop. Andrea reached for the sixteen-inch-tall nutcracker and brought it down. “Do you know something? You’re right. He does kind of look like your daddy. This one is King Arthur. A great king. Come over to the counter. I’ll get a box and wrap it for you.”
“Thanks.”
While Mrs. Milne handed her a credit card, those innocent eyes staring out of an angelic face looked up at Andrea. “Where’s my gingerbread man? He’s not in the window. Can I hold him again?”
Uh-oh. “He’s not here anymore, remember?” She smiled at her.
But Tessa’s lower lip started to quiver. She was about to cry. “Where is he?”
It appeared Tessa hadn’t understood what Andrea meant.
Was this the real reason the little girl had asked the housekeeper to bring her to the shop? Her heart had been set on him. Andrea had to think fast as she handed the woman her package and credit card. “One of Santa’s elves came for it.” That was as much as she dared tell her.
She expected a smile, but Tessa’s face screwed up in pain. “No, he didn’t.” Her response took Andrea back. “My daddy didn’t mail my letter to Santa yet. It’s still home. My gingerbread man is gone! You promised Santa would bring it to me for Christmas!” She broke down in heart-wrenching tears and hugged Mrs. Milne’s legs. Andrea felt as if she’d been stabbed in the heart.
“I’m sorry.” Andrea mouthed the words to the other woman, feeling helpless to do anything.
The housekeeper nodded in understanding. “We’d better go.” She led a desolate Tessa out the door.
After they left the shop, Andrea looked at her mother in anguish. “I didn’t know what to say to her. Mr. Jenner is giving it to her for Christmas. I already made one mistake with him and didn’t want to make another for fear I’d give away his surprise.”
“Don’t worry about it. She’ll get over it when she finds it on Christmas morning. I must say she’s about the cutest little girl I ever saw in my life. Except for you,” she added. “No wonder you wanted her to have that gingerbread man. It was meant for a child like that.”
“I agree, but she was really devastated.”
“When you were her age, you had a few meltdowns, too.”
“I probably did, but this seemed different. She believes I lied to her.”
“Honey, you know children.”
