Page 43 of Second Chance Christmas

And she meant everything. The past douche faced fiancé. burned houses, Christmas and New York City. And in that order.

He simply continued to hold her attention with his deep gaze. Waiting to see what she wanted next, no doubt. A repeat of what they were doing back at the grocery store would be nice. But this time she would crawl over his lap. spread her legs over him and slide down that well-built body all the while kissing the hell out of the man.

“Are we alone?” The question was out of her mouth before she thought better of it. Something she apparently did often around him. Too often for comfort.

“For now. Have something in mind?”

Funny, she didn’t remember the golden specks in his eyes. Her gaze slipped to his mouth.

“I was thinking about dessert.”

Her phone buzzed and the interruption jerked her back to reality. Aspen pulled away with a nonchalance she could never pull off. So confident, easy-going as though they were not thinking about firehouse sex in broad daylight.

The urge to ignore the phone was so strong she nearly hit the end button without looking at the screen.

But the adult part of her couldn’t.

Aspen was everything Lewis wasn’t. Where Lewis was too busy trying to make partner at his law firm to care for anyone around him, Aspen made time to connect with those he cared about. Took time to ask the important questions. He listened.

And if she’d wanted to strip down to her lacy bra and panties and make out right here in the kitchen she had no doubt he’d do it without hesitation.

She pulled her phone from her bag. “Ugh. No.” Speak of the devil. Just what her daydidn’tneed.

At least that’s how she felt today. Last week might have been a different story, but today she didn’t want to talk to a man who so easily gave up on her. Or maybe he wasn’t all that into her to begin with.

Aspen pushed back his chair. “I’ll give you some space.”

She flicked the screen and ended the call before stuffing the phone back in her bag.

Yes. Space. The more she could get the better.

“No.” She reached between them and grabbed his hand before he could stand and walk away. “It’s not important.”

He flashed a grin. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. It’s not who I was hoping.”

He nodded and returned to her side and propped an elbow on the table, their empty plates forgotten to the side.

“What were you going to say earlier? You said something about me forgetting something.”

Aspen’s lips curled up in a slow grin. “I was going to say you forgot about me.”

Ha. Not likely. “How do you mean?”

“The B&B, the countdown to your leaving Dixen. Your next big job…” He raised his hands and wiggled his fingers. “I have two hands and I’m told I’m pretty good at fixing things.”

She couldn’t be so lucky and unlucky all at once. Her Ivy Effect must be out of whack. Every time she got good news, something else in her life was bound to break. It happened like clockwork. So what was up? “Really? Are you offering to help? What about the firehouse?”

“I’ll still be on call, and they can radio me in if an emergency arises. We’re only ten minutes out, five with a siren.”

She considered his offer. The only thing keeping her from dancing around the room was she knew herself. Any extra time with Aspen would be disastrous for her no-men policy. Hadn’t she just proved that to herself? He was easy on the eyes, sure, but it went deeper than that. The more time she spent with him, the more old feelings rekindled and escaped the neat and tidy box she’d stored them in a long time ago.

“But, I’m not that easy.”

“Oh.”Figures. See. Ivy Effect.

“It’s true.” He pulled a chocolate-covered cherry from a container in the center of the table and popped it into his mouth as he offered her one. He made her want to shake him to continue, which of course fell right into his wicked plan, whatever that may be.

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