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“Actually I don’t, Mom. I won’t ever know them, since I can’t have one of my own. After this incident it’s probably just as well, since it appears I’m not so great in that department.”
“Andrea—”
“It’s true.”
Her hope for a family wasn’t meant to be. She wasn’t destined to be a wife and mother, and she needed to get over her self-pity. Thankfully more customers entered the store, keeping her too distracted to wallow in her deepest emotional wants for the time being.
After lunch Andrea was showing her newest customer a music box when the chimes sounded. As she glanced up and saw Tessa’s striking father, she clung to the edge of the display table for support. He wore a forest-green crewneck sweater beneath his black bomber jacket. The lines bracketing his hard mouth led her to believe he was upset. It enlarged the pit in her stomach left from his distraught daughter’s visit earlier in the day.
He wandered around the shop inspecting the merchandise until she was alone once more, then approached her. “I heard what happened here this morning,” he said without preamble. “Sharon admitted she’d brought Tessa to the shop to get me a gift—she’d had no idea what was going to happen.”
Andrea took a quick breath. “Is Tessa all right now?”
“She’s fine. I had a talk with her and explained Santa already knew what she wanted without a letter.”
“Did that satisfy her?”
“Enough for her to go to school this afternoon. I’m sorry she made things uncomfortable for you.”
“She was the one who was upset. I didn’t want her to think I’d lied to her.”
“I appreciate you keeping my secret. Sadly, Tessa has gotten her way too often when she wants something. It’s a habit I’m trying to curtail.”
Andrea shook her head. “I didn’t help when I took matters into my own hands the other day to grant her wish. Forgive me. It’ll teach me not to do anything like that again.”
His dark brows rose. “You couldn’t have known the struggle I’ve been having, and it is Christmas after all, as you reminded me that first day.” His comment relieved her. “Right after Tina died, I’m afraid I indulged her too much. So did both sides of the family, but my wife’s in particular.”
“Naturally everyone is still grieving.”
“True, but I finally recognized that giving in to her at every turn wouldn’t make the pain go away and was setting a negative precedent for the future.”
“You sound like a very responsible parent doing the job of two on your own.”
“I’m trying, but I learned quickly that I can’t be the mom.” No. That job was given out to the very luckiest of women. “My housekeeper helps with that.”
Andrea smiled. “While I floundered, she handled Tessa very well at the shop.”
“Sharon said she was impressed you thought of the elf idea.”
“It was a stretch.”
Stillness enveloped them both while he studied her intently. “I don’t see a ring on your finger, so I presume you’re single.”
“Yes.” She fought not to show emotion. “My husband was killed in a car accident fourteen months ago. Like you and your wife, we thought we had a whole lifetime together.”
More silence, then, “That’s tragic.” The compassion in his voice got to her.
“Yes,” she said, followed by the first thing that came into her mind. “If you’ve come by to pay me for those gifts, your effort has been in vain.”
“I already got that message at the station,” he said in a grating voice. “One of my reasons for being here is to thank you properly. You’ve convinced me there really is a Santa Claus.”
“If I could do that to a man of your age, then I’m convinced miracles really do happen.”
His dark brows quirked. “A man of my age?”
“You’re older than ten, right?” He chuckled. “What’s the other reason you came in?”
He shifted his weight. “My closest friends have invited me to a Christmas get-together tomorrow night. If you’re not busy after work, would you like to come with me?”
His invitation excited and dismayed her at the same time. “I’m afraid I can’t, but thank you.”
“You already have plans with the person who took you out of town?”
Her mother must have told him. “That’s not it. I went to visit one of my best girlfriends at Barrow’s Lake. She’s been having a bad time lately. We’re planning a Christmas Eve party for our other friend who’s on her second honeymoon right now. When she gets back, they’re going to renew their wedding vows. I was hoping that in making plans, it would cheer up my friend.”
“Did it help?”
“I don’t think so.” And all the trip had done for Andrea was make her realize she was in a depression and needed to climb out of it.
“I used to water-ski there from time to time when I was in my teens. As I recall, there was an inn.”
“Yes. The Gingerbread Inn. My family went there every summer for years. Casey is staying there right now. It’s where we’re planning the party.”
“I see. You made a quick trip.”
He was too observant for words. “Yes. I didn’t want to leave my mother alone too long.”
“She’s charming.”
“I’ll tell her.” Andrea wished he would leave.
“Is there someone else in your life, then? If so, just tell me.”
His persistence surprised her. “No. I mean, there isn’t anyone else.”
“But you’re still turning me down.”
“Yes,” she answered in a quiet voice.
“Is it because it’s too soon for you?”
“Yes.” Another monosyllable. She grabbed at the excuse, which wasn’t far from the truth.
“I’m a grown man, as you reminded me earlier, so I’m going to be blunt. If I were to call you up in say a month and ask you out, do you think you would go?”
She sustained his gaze. “I’m afraid not.” Andrea could be blunt, too. She had to be to protect her heart from this man whose chosen career could be cut short in a fire. She couldn’t handle that kind of anguish a second time. She wouldn’t.
“I have to admit it’s refreshing to meet a woman who speaks her mind, even if I don’t like the answer. Maybe we’ll see each other again, Mrs....”
“Fleming.”
If she wasn’t mistaken, she saw a hint of satisfaction light up his eyes. “Even if you didn’t want to know, my friends call me Rick.”
After he left the shop, Andrea was so out of sorts she couldn’t calm down. Once she’d closed up, she made a sandwich and watched TV to get her mind off him, but it didn’t work.
After a restless night in bed she was a wreck. But by morning she refused to feel any more guilt over the way she’d let Rick Jenner know she didn’t intend to go out with him in the future. His dangerous line of work loomed too negatively on the horizon for her to consider getting to know him better.
Andrea was thankful for a busy day that kept her and her mom going nonstop. But when it got to be seven o’clock, she marched her mother to the back door. “You’ll be late for your party at the church if you don’t leave now. I’m sure Rex Medors will be there if he’s back from California.” Andrea so wanted her mother to find someone to share her life.
“I hope so. Now, promise me you’ll come to the house in the morning. We’ll fix a big breakfast and talk.”
“As long as it’s not about Captain Jenner.” Andrea had confided the situation to her mother, who admitted she understood Andrea’s fears. Her mom had agreed that firefighting was a terribly dangerous profession, so enough said about him. “Have a good time with your group.”
By ten to eight there weren’t any more customers. Andrea decided to close the shop for the night, and she dimmed the lights. But before she set the electronic locks, a tall, dark figure swept through the front door. Rick!
Beneath his bomber jacket he was dressed in a silky black shirt and gray trousers. Her mouth went dry just watching those long powerful legs stride toward her. His chiseled male features stood out in the soft glow of the Christmas lights. He was an incredible-looking man whose male scent, combined with the soap he used in the shower, assailed her.
His veiled eyes traveled over her. “Good evening. It looks like I got here just in time. As you can see, I decided not to wait a month to see you again.”
Her breath caught. “I—I wish you hadn’t come.”
“So do I.” His deep voice resonated inside her. “I didn’t like being rejected twice yesterday, so I have to ask you a question. Have you been out with another man since your husband died?”
“No. I guess it’s obvious.”
“I haven’t been with another woman since Tina’s passing either.”
She wished he hadn’t told her that. His admission made everything way too personal.
“To be honest, Mrs. Fleming, I don’t like this attraction any more than you do. Maybe if you come to the party with me, we’ll both get this out of our system and it won’t seem so important.”
Maybe for him... But Andrea knew herself too well. This man already did stand out in her mind. She averted her eyes, unable to think clearly with him so darkly attractive and disturbing.
“I already took Tessa over there to be with Julie, because my housekeeper needed to visit her brother tonight. Under the circumstances I don’t expect to make it a late night.”
“Even so, I’m not ready to go anywhere with you.”
“I’ll wait while you change.”
“No— I meant—”
“I know what you meant. What will an hour out of your life hurt?”
More than he could possibly know. She should refuse him, but at the last moment she caved like a fool. “Will there be other children there besides your daughter and her friend?”
“Just Matt, Julie’s younger brother. He’s four. Why do you ask?”
“Because it’s Christmastime and I feel like I should take something for the family, to be polite.”
“They don’t expect anything.”
“Maybe not, but I couldn’t go empty-handed. Give me a few minutes to pick something out.” Normally when she was invited to a party, she took the hostess a gift, but in this case she’d give the children a present.
Aware of his haunting presence, she walked over to the rack on the side wall and sorted through the dirndls that would fit a six-year-old. They were all darling. Andrea picked two and then reached for a child’s dark green Tyrol hat.
“You’re being too generous,” he commented as she wrapped each gift in different colored foil paper and ribbon.
She flashed him a quick smile. “Christmas is for children. I can’t resist.”
Charged with adrenaline, she hurried upstairs. After a quick shower she put on lipstick and ran a brush through her hair. She left it loose without a part. Her choice of outfit was easy. He’d already seen her in her Christmas suit and would realize she hadn’t gone to any extra trouble for him. Her hair swished against the collar of her camel hair coat when she put it on.
After grabbing her purse, she went back downstairs for the gifts and set the locks. Rick cupped her elbow during the short walk to his red Toyota parked down the street.
“Busy day?”
“Yes. And you? How many fires did you have to put out today?”
“Only four.”
Her body shuddered of its own volition. “Have they proved arson on the art-gallery fire?”
“Yes, but catching the culprit is something else again. The last notorious one in Providence set over 150 fires before he was caught.”
“That’s horrifying!”
“Agreed, but let’s not talk about work tonight.”
No. Let’s not. What he did for a living kept her awake at night.
He made desultory conversation with her about the weather as they drove to Duncan Circle, an area not that far from downtown. The five houses on the circle were lit up for Christmas. One of the yards had a full manger display. Half a dozen cars had parked near number 42. He pulled behind another car and parked.
Rick escorted her inside the foyer and helped her off with her coat before removing his. People had congregated in the living room, which had been beautifully decorated for the holidays.
While Rick introduced her to Deanna and Benton Ames, two excited little girls came running up to him with a younger boy trailing them.
“Daddy!” Tessa hugged him.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
“Come in the family room. We’re watching the Grinch.”
“I will in a minute. Tessa? You remember Andrea. I invited her to the party. Andrea? These are Deanna and Benton’s children, Julie and Matt.”
“Hello.” Andrea smiled at them.
“Hi,” the two children said, but Tessa gave her only a brief, cool glance.
It crushed Andrea, who was instantly aware Rick’s daughter wasn’t happy to see her. Hopefully she could get her to warm up. “It’s so nice to meet your friends, Tessa. Are you having a wonderful time?”
