Page 33 of A Gift for her Festive Firefighter

“Yeah?”

“Um, a-after Thanksgiving,” he began, his voice stumbling. “You think maybe we can go for a few more dates?”

“You want to go out with me again? We haven’t even left for the restaurant yet,” she began, fighting the burst of happiness within her and the flare of hope. “I mean, what if you don’t like my cooking on Thanksgiving or…”

“What if you hate the way I act watching football or dislike my place,” he countered, not moving but tensing slightly. “There are a lot of ‘what ifs,’ but I am positive I’ve never kissed a woman like that before – and I want to do it again… and often.”

A laugh slipped from her as she curled a little closer into his embrace, wishing she could purr like a kitten – because she would be doing just that. She heard his soft laugh as he kissed her temple once more and then put his finger under her chin, silently coaxing her to look at him.

“I like you… a lot,” he whispered.

“I like you too.”

“Then let’s focus on the ‘likes’ and avoid the ‘what ifs’ – because I’m serious. I could see us going on several dates, curling up in front of the television, me narrowly escaping buckshot aimed at my keister…” – and Holly burst out laughing as he joined in.

“We’ve got this,” he chuckled, “And if not, then I think we are both strong enough to figure it out. Now, do you want ‘Lucy’s’ on the circle? I know it’s silly and not exactly dinner food or ‘festive fall favorites,’ but I’m craving a big stack of pancakes and…”

“And it’s not ‘The Local Table,’” she interrupted, teasing him.

“Hush you,” he chuckled, leaning down to kiss the tip of her nose – before pressing his forehead against hers. “And you are right, but I promise that I didn’t kiss any of those girls.”

“I didn’t ask,” she whispered, standing there in the moment. “We’ve both dated other people before, and I don’t mind if we go to ‘The Local Table.’”

“I do, because you’re different,” he admitted softly. “We’re different. I want this to be special, and the last thing I’m going to do is copy what has gone wrong in my past when this feels pretty darn right. Deal?”

“Deal.”

“Pancakes?”

“Sounds amazing,” she chuckled, smelling something awful, and wrinkling her nose. “Let’s stop at the general store again to see if they have another type of puppy food.”

“You got it.”

Holly felt every eye in the place watching them and reveled in it. This was probably the best date she’d ever been on. Cade was such a sweetheart; so polite and friendly, outgoing, and, well, just everything she could have imagined him to be. They talked easily, and if they weren’t talking – then they were laughing or cutting up together. There was an ease between them that felt so good, so right, that it really hit home that this was what a relationship was supposed to be like.

Or so she imagined.

After dinner, they left her car parked near the circle and walked through the center of town, holding hands. The leaves were falling from the pecan trees, and the pines that were decorated each Christmas were silently waiting for their moment. Yes, there was a chill in the air, indicating that winter was indeed almost here… and this would be the first set of holidays in a few years that she would be celebrating.

And she shivered.

“Are you cold?”

“Just a chill.”

“Come here,” he invited, cozying up to her as they turned and began to walk back toward her car. “Maybe instead of walking in the moonlight, we can just sit and talk in the car, out of the evening breeze.”

Holly looked up at him and smirked.

“You just want to kiss me again, don’t you?”

“Am I so transparent?”

“Maybe… but I like it.”

“I’m glad,” he chuckled, affectionately rubbing his nose against hers as they walked slowly toward Butter.

Holly was reinstalling the fender on Cade’s truck while the A/C machine discharged the system on ‘Cajun’ Josephs’s truck. He was the pilot at the Flyboys Substation on the far side of town – and his evaporator coil was leaking coolant onto the passenger side floorboard.

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