Page 41 of Deck the Fire Halls

Prove I didn’t need him.

Except I did need a ladder, and when Hamish had asked Ren where he kept their ladder, Ren had urged—more like insisted—that Clay do the ladder climbing.

Clay, who just happened to be in the hardware store at the time, understood the assignment and agreed.

Hamish wanted the house done before four, so should Soren turn up, he’d know he missed his chance.

That was probably a little more catty than my MO, but Hamish could be convincing when he wanted to be. Or maybe pushy was the right word.

Either way, by three o’clock, it was done. I had icicle lights hanging from the gutters and soft colored Christmas lights across my porch.

“I love it. Thank you both so much,” I said. I couldn’t believe they’d both taken time out of their day for me. It was a kindness and generosity I wasn’t used to. “I really do appreciate the help.”

Clay folded his ladder and slid it onto his truck. “No problem at all. It’s what we do.”

Hamish stood beside me in my small front yard, looking up at my house. “It’s just so cute, and it’s all done before a certain someone gets home.”

No sooner had he said that than a certain someone came running around Clay’s truck.

He was wearing his firefighter long pants and a white T-shirt with the fire brigade emblem on his right pec. He was panting, as if he’d run here from the station.

He seemed to notice the newly installed Christmas lights before he noticed Hamish and Clay. “Hey,” he said to me, ignoring them. “I had to come see you. I’m so freaking sorry. I’ve been useless all day, and Doug threatened to fire me if I didn’t come sort myself out. Rob, I need you to know how sorry I am. I should have said yes last night. I’ve been kicking myself ever since. I just didn’twant to rush you, and I didn’t want you to regret anything, should we move too fast. I think you’re kinda great and I was getting too far ahead of myself, and I swear if you could please give me one more chance. You have to know, next time you ask me if I want to come in, I’m saying hell fucking yes. And you don’t have to ask me any time soon. Just whenever you’re ready again is okay with me. I’ll wait. As long as it takes. I’m sorry, Rob. I really am.”

I wasn’t sure what to say.

I wasn’t even sure I could speak.

But then Hamish, who was still standing there holding an empty Christmas lights box, made a weird, strangled sound. We both looked at him. “Ask him,” Hamish hissed at me. Then he pointed at Soren while staring at me. “Ask him!”

I might have panicked. “Do you know what rizz is?”

Soren blinked. “Uh . . . what?”

“Not that,” Hamish said, so very disappointed. “Oh my god. Ask him!”

Clay was laughing by his truck.

I had to ignore everyone and concentrate on Soren . . . in his too-tight firefighter T-shirt. “Do you . . . would you like to . . . ?”

Soren strode over to me, determined, and took my face in his hands. “Yes,” he said, then crashed his lips to mine.

Warm, soft lips, the hint of stubble, the heat of his palms on my cheeks made me melt into him.

Oh my . . .

Then a very high-pitched keening sounded nearby,which I realized was Hamish. I broke the kiss and glanced over at him, slightly concerned for his well-being, Soren keeping me close with his hand now burning into my neck.

Hamish had his hands to his face, doing a little skippity dance. “Nowthatis BDE.” But then Clay came over and dragged him away. “I want to watch,” he tried.

“See ya, guys,” Clay said with a wave as he basically threw Hamish into the cab of his truck.

“Thank you, again, for your help,” I called out.

Hamish had to roll the old-fashioned window down, which took considerable effort, if his enthusiasm was any gauge. “You’re welcome. I want details!”

The truck rumbled to life and Hamish had to roll the window back up as they reversed out of my driveway. Soren and I watched them leave, and then it was just us and a lot to talk about.

I turned to him, and, keeping his hand on my neck, he said, “I really am sorry. And I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help you put up the Christmas lights. Or that you felt I shouldn’t be the one to help. I’m sorry.”

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