Page 38 of Second Chance Christmas

She busted out laughing and winced.

“Easy. Sorry. You’ll probably be sore for a couple of days from the pressure of the seatbelt over your ribs. Good thing your gran still has this hunk of metal. It’s like a tank. I think you could go a few rounds with a semi-truck and walk away unscathed.”

“Good to know. I won’t press my luck if you don’t mind.”

Aspen lifted a brow and smiled that dreamy, sexy smile that made her body tingle with silent promises of long nights by a fire.

“Better yet,” he said, his voice low and gruff.

“Either you’re my guardian angel or you’re really good at playing a hero and have epic right time, right place kind of timing.”

He tightened his grip on her hands enough to help ease her nerves. “I’ll go with the right place, right time, I guess.” He shrugged with a wide grin that brought warmth to his features.

“Either way, lucky me.” He continued to look at her as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. This did nothing for her already racing heart. Emotions bubbled as one hundred and one questions came at her all at once. She was just in an accident, for God’s sake. She should be shaking and scared, right? But as Aspen continued to check her for injuries she couldn’t help but feel…safe.

“I think you’re okay to move, but let me help you out.”

He unclipped her seatbelt, slid an arm beneath her legs and had her out of the car and firmly in his arms before she could protest.

“Wait. My planner and phone.” He lowered her down and reached in to snag her things from the car’s front seat.

He handed over her things and scooped her up again and held her tightly against his broad muscled chest; his strong arms more comforting than she cared to admit to at the moment. “So you’re going all out on the hero stuff, huh.” She looped her arms around his neck.

Aspen smirked. “It’s written in the job description.” Ivy felt his muscles roll beneath her touch as he shrugged. “Besides, my mom always said if you’re going to do something…”

“…do it right the first time,” Ivy finished for him. “Smart woman.”

“Agreed. Let’s get you inside and warmed up.” Aspen walked into the firehouse to the tune of several catcalls and low whistles from the on-duty firefighters. He stepped through a side door that led directly into a kitchen and a wave of warmth chased away the cold air that followed them inside.

Off to the right, she could see the fire engines and all their equipment. In the far end of the kitchen was a set of stairs she assumed led to sleeping quarters.

“Ivy, good to see you!” Several of the guys she went to school with waved and smiled her way.

Ivy gasped with surprise. “I see the big dix crew is here!” she teased with a laugh.

Rowdy, masculine laughs filled the kitchen.

Luther, one of Dixen’s firehouse crew stood a playful grin spreading across his handsome face. He looked like he had a long night and was ready for bed, but happy all the same. Pointing at her hero, who currently had his brows pinched together in a cringe, said, “Aspen here has a way of keeping us all together. Only a few of us spread wings and left town. The rest of us either joined the police force or stuck it out here.”

Ivy nodded. “I see.” Another aspect of Aspen she remembered vividly. He was a born leader whether he liked it or not.

Looking around she’d forgotten the power of childhood friendship and seeing all the men from Aspen’s football team, or most of them anyway, brought about a pang of nostalgia. A feeling deep within bloomed. She missed this, she admitted to herself. Everyone here knew her name, her family, and vice versa. Back in Seattle, she was lucky if the cashier returned her smile.

Ivy smiled. “I missed you guys.”

“Okay… okay. Take it down a notch, boys.”

“Any need for an ambulance, Chief?”

Aspen slipped her into a nearby chair. “Are you sure you’re all right, baby?” he asked softly close to her ear. It felt incredibly intimate for him to care for her like this and she couldn’t shake the feeling of liking it way too much for her own good.

“Positive. Nothing a couple of aspirins can’t fix.”

Ivy looked around the tidy kitchen as Aspen spoke with his men. Though they were in the middle of a meal, the place still looked well organized. Cleaned and polished from top to bottom. Heck, even the trash can looked scrubbed.

“Luther and Mac, secure the car. make sure there’s no gas leak. Give me a few minutes and I’ll take care of cleanup of ourformerChristmas decorations.” She caught the drawn-out emphasis on the word former and cringed a little. Nothing like being a sleigh killer.

“You got it, Chief,” came Luther. Everyone else followed suit and made their way to their duties.

---