Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

“ Y ou’ve got it bad, man.”

Aspen glared at his brother before refocusing on the daily checklist for the upkeep of the fire station. All he could see was Ivy in reindeer slippers and cute pajamas. Worse, seeing her out of them as he peeled every last stitch of clothing from her body. Those beautiful eyes of hers peeked out from under a mess of hair and nearly caused him to drop the ax on his own foot this morning.

He stood there a good minute, startled by the strange feeling in his chest the second he saw that damn frying pan raised. Amused and awestruck all at once was the best he could come up with.

His cock pulsed against his zipper. The fucker had been hard since he stole a kiss from her just as the sun hit the horizon.

“I’m serious. You’ve gone over that list three times and still don’t realize you already did it this morning too. That’s an A-class case of smitten. Listen to me, I know these things. There’s only so many times you need to check air tanks, suits, and compartment organization, bro.”

“You know these things, huh?” Aspen eyeballed his younger brother with a look that didn’t mean much confidence in what he offered.

“Okay, so I’m no love guru, but I know what I’m looking at and that, my friend, is you with your head so rattled you don’t know which way is north right now.”

He was right. For the last thirty minutes he’d lost track of what he was doing every five minutes and had to start all over. It infuriated and baffled him all at once. Seeing Ivy again rattled his head more than he anticipated. He’d spent the last two weeks mentally gearing up to seeing those sweet brown eyes and that beautiful smile of hers but he might as well have been doused with a cold bucket of water for all the help it did.

Aspen tossed the clipboard on the bumper of the fire engine and leaned an elbow on the rig to hear his brother out, if only partially. Otherwise, he would nag him until either an alarm went off or he clocked him a good one across the jaw.

“I’m just saying—” His younger brother raised his hands as if to wash his hands of the whole conversation.

Good.

“Let’s move on, shall we?”

“You’re not listening to reason.”

True. Reason would not have had him out at the B&B before dawn chopping wood. He’d had it on his route for later in the day, but couldn’t help steering his truck in her direction the second he turned the ignition over in his truck that morning.

For what? Hoping to have her run to him, throw her arms around him and say she missed him? Could they have another go? Hoped things could go back to the way they were? Yeah, well, if he thought that they were even a possibility maybe he did deserve a skillet to the head.

His armor of indifference didn’t seem to stand up to the insistent peppering of Kade’s questions. But he hadn’t cracked it yet and the last thing on his mind was admitting he still had a weakness for one Ivy Sunday Winters.

But he did.

“If you would say something that made sense, maybe. But since you’re wrong, the only thing I have is a job to see we keep in top shape. Especially with all the newcomers rolling in for Dixcemberfest.”

A wide, goofy grin spread over Kade’s face and made him look every bit of his twenty-five years. “Every time I hear the word I hear dick fest and pussy galore.”

He stared at his brother. “You would. You leave me to deal with the crowds alone while you chase ass again, I’ll put your ass on kitchen duty for a month.”

His brother’s eyes went wide.

“No arguments. You have a job to do.”

Aspen brushed by him without another word.

He needed coffee. Fuck it. He needed whiskey. But he’d settle for the caffeine.

“Nice try in changing the subject. Ivy has your gut in knots, man, and you don’t know what to do about it.”

“What can I do?” he snapped. “She’s only here for a few more days at best and then she’ll be gone again. Maybe for another eight years. Forever. Who the hell knows?”

Kade leaned a shoulder against the rig with a fucking grin on his face that made Aspen want to hit something.

“So what are you going to do about it?”

He rocked back on his heels, head thrown back, looking for some divine intervention to keep him from thunking his brother on the head.

His game plan consisted of him staying away. Aspen told himself a million times after learning Ivy would be back in town for Christmas that he would do just that—stay away. But that didn’t happen just like his brother wasn’t likely to drop the subject any time soon.

“There’s nothing to do,” he finally admitted.

Kade closed the hatch to the apparatus compartment and nailed him with a look that said he didn’t buy what he was putting down. That made two of them, but it didn’t matter. Not anymore.

“She doesn’t know, does she?”

And there it was. The crux of what Kade really wanted to talk about.

“And she never will. Now drop it, Kade, or so help me God I’ll help dent that damn hard head of yours.” He rubbed a hand down his face, feeling tired for the first time in a long while. “She doesn’t need me to stir up past memories or give her doubts about the what ifs thrown at her right now. Or ever, as far as I’m concerned. What would it change, anyway?” He snatched up the clipboard and made his way to the other end of the garage where the station stored extra equipment in a back locker room.

Kade followed.

“Nothing,” he answered his own question as he flipped the lock and started unloading box after box.

“You have to tell her sooner or later, Aspen.” Kade took the boxes he handed over and stacked them on the outside.

“She was barely eighteen and I was too old for her. It wouldn’t have worked out. Maybe it was for the best that I didn't find her when I went looking for her.

“Bullshit. You’re barely two years older than her and it sure didn’t matter when you guys were high school sweethearts. When she got cold feet, you let her slip away. Plain and simple. And is it too late? I don’t know, you tell me. You’re the one that was out at her place at the ass crack of dawn today Hell, you beat the sun. That’s volumes, brother.”

Irritated Aspen reached into the dark recess of the storage room to flick the light switch but banged into the stash of mop pails and brooms with a clatter.

“You talk too fucking much.” He bit out as he righted the whole mess. His brother’s words sliced a little too deep for comfort. Normally he didn’t pay attention to anything the kid of the family said but lately, he made more sense than not. Cold feet? Seeing Ivy Sunday run from their wedding and make a mad dash to a waiting cab left a hole in him not easily filled.

He could have run after her, convinced her to come back, but he’d let her go and decided to wait. Let her have a few days to herself and then he would search her out. Only the week he’d waited had been too long. She and her whole family had left town.

“You know the entire crew was out this morning doing the same. I didn’t want her or Mrs. Winters to freeze to death. Part of the whole job description.”

“Right. They were. Only you got a two-hour jumpstart on the schedule.” His brother clapped him on the shoulder. “Man, had I known this job came with built-in excuses to visit pretty girls, I would have joined the team long before now.”

Aspen tossed the box of decorations he’d been looking for and it landed against his kid brother’s chest a little too hard. “Uphhh. I’m kidding, man, lighten up. How long is Ivy staying in town?”

“If Mrs. Winters has a say, her granddaughter would be here indefinitely.”

“And you? And by the way, does Ivy know that?”

He stopped shuffling through the boxes and pegged his brother with a glare. “Doesn’t matter what I want, Kade, now drop it. I do know that Mrs. Winters has something up her sleeve. I only wish she’d included me in on it.”

“And we’re back at square one.”

“Moving back here was a good choice after Jace, no regrets there. But Mom is still not happy you signed on so don’t push your luck. I could have you on kitchen duty indefinitely. Don’t push the Ivy subject.” He had to draw the line somewhere. “It’s just not going to happen. No matter how much I wish I could change the past.” He couldn’t even get her to have dinner with him. Years of training honed his senses like a razor’s edge. So why couldn’t he slice through his own thoughts and get down to the true grit of why Ivy showing up in his town messed with his head more than he cared to admit?

It wasn’t about the one that got away or ego.

Whether he wanted to admit to it or not, though, the answer stared him in the face more so now that she was back in Dixen, but no way he would outright say it. Not to Kade, and definitely not to himself.

“Seeing how messed up you are over Ivy, do you think what happened with your ex turned out for the better?”

“That’s another what if question I don’t have the answer to. Ask me in another year and we’ll see.”

Aspen killed the lights and stepped out of the storage room.

“Look, we have things to do and I have a Santa sleigh to set up. Are you going to help or are you going to keep pestering me about things that are better off left buried?”

“A little of both. I’ll help carry the boxes out but no way in the world I’m helping you set up that hideous monstrosity you call a Christmas decoration. Sheriff's been a little on edge lately with his daughter expecting any day now. With your current luck, he’ll pass by and arrest us for even thinking about putting this thing up again this year.”

“It’s tradition.”

“Sure back in the day before the whole big dix name was pinned on our asses. We can’t live that shit down. Now all the high school kids stick their mom's dildos on the reindeer antlers as a joke. I didn’t like being the one sent out to de-dildo the sleigh last year, Aspen, Kade countered.

Aspen had to admit, the slight of a twenty dildos in his brother’s hands and catching a picture to torture him with was priceless.

“Please don’t make me set this up again.”

Aspen paused. “My current luck? What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Are you going to deny the kids of Dixen, Alaska their Santa sleigh?”

“Abso-fucking-lutly.”

“Fine. I’ll do you.” Aspen grabbed a stack of boxes. “The men will be back soon,” he called over top of the stack.

“Yeah, yeah. I know,” his brother waved him off. “My turn to slave to the apron. Not sure I like this whole older brother’s also my boss angle,” he teased, punching his brother in the arm playfully. “But I’m telling you. Mom would be proud of what I’m whipping up today. This one I think I nailed. Practiced all through college.”

“What? Ramen noodles?”

Before raising a family, their mother had been a master chef at one of the finest restaurants in Vancouver. When she married their father and moved to Dixen, she opened her own restaurant all while raising five rowdy boys and a sassy daughter. The woman saw to it her children knew their way around a spatula and skillet. Except for Kade. The man took to the kitchen like Rocco would take to the desert.

“Please tell me you asked Mom to cook it and bring it by.”

Kade rubbed his hands together with a shake of his head. “Not this time. I’m going full all in. All Kade, all the way.”

“That’s what scares me. Thank God Ivy turned me down.”

“We’ll come back to that in a little while,” his brother promised—or threatened, depending on how you looked at it. “I’ll have you know today’s menu will be so good it’ll knock the suspenders off the entire crew.” His brother pressed the tips of his fingers to his mouth and made an audible kiss. “You’ll want me on kitchen duty for life when you taste what I have in the works. Like I said, I’ve been practicing.” Kade turned away but did a one-eighty. “I forgot. I need a couple of things for the store and Dad phoned while you were out doing heroic deeds at Ivy’s.”

He didn’t have the energy to touch that one. “And?”

“He asked you to stop by when you get a chance. Something about Ryder needing to run through some safety measures with the new bakery equipment he’s having installed.”

Ryder, the third oldest of the Kennedy crew, took over the family-operated grocery store when Aspen stepped down to become a firefighter and later a hotshot down in Cali. “Got it. Leave the list on the counter and I’ll pick up the items in a few minutes.”

Maybe if he kept busy enough, he could forget Ivy was in town long enough to survive Christmas.

I VY SNATCHED THE KEYS to the Caddie from the side table by the kitchen door after disconnecting with Jon and took a second to pray over the wheel the old-timer would crank. Faded shades of yellow cracked through a few split clouds and glistened across the ice crystals formed over the hood. “Please. Please. Please let something go right today.”

After several years away in Seattle, Ivy wasn’t used to the heavy snowfall anymore. But then, Seattle brought its own challenges.

Relief warmed her veins even if the cold of the leather bit through her jeans. She missed the seat-warmer of her car on days like these. She slumped over and let a sigh of half relief, half dread at what came next as heat filtered through the vents and gradually warmed the spacious cabin. She snatched a quick glance at her watch.

In record time, Ivy wove through the light traffic and hoped the oversized white Caddie would not stand out among the crowd as she paid little attention to the speed limit.

Snow-capped peaks rose in the far distance and offered a stark relief against the once again graying skies and lent a touch of elegance to the small town. Fresh snow dusted parts of the sidewalks and manicured pines the size of small buildings dotted the entire length of Main Street. In between each tree stood old-fashioned lamp posts straight off a Hallmark card. From each post hung giant red velvet ribbons with their clipped ends waving in the chilled breeze as if greeting holiday shoppers and passersby.

Ivy smiled. As a child and later on in her teenage years, her family would sign on to help with the town’s decoration. This year the running theme seemed to be reindeer. One, in particular, she would wager.

All the storefront windows featured a large silhouette of the town’s newly minted mascot. Fresh garland lined the window frames with various glittery baubles to finish off the festive touch. At night, everything would twinkle with hundreds of lights, another postcard moment.

She slowed when she spotted Dixen’s firehouse. The white building stood back from the road with a huge empty lot in the front. For ease of access with the fire engines, she surmised.

She sat up, curved her arms over the wheel, and squinted. “What is that?” She took a double glance. Off to the side of the fire station, someone with a big sense of humor rigged up a scaled fire truck as a makeshift sleigh. Complete with a fat plastic Santa in the back and a flashing red light for Rudolph’s nose in the front. It even featured eight not-so-tiny reindeer down the sides of the large toy fire truck in lieu of tires.

“Cute.” She laughed. If not a little tacky in the paint department. Someone had a good idea, but not a clue on how to use a paintbrush.

Fireman red plaid and black jeans came into view from around the back. She slowed to a crawl for a better look.

Aspen stepped out from behind the rig, every defined muscle easy to spot even from the street. He’d always loved Christmas decorations.

Thick forearms peeked out from rolled-up cuffs and she pressed the brake to enjoy how he flexed lifting a fat, plastic reindeer into place.

A loud blast of a horn brought her attention back to the road, and she realized she’d come to a complete stop outside the firehouse. “God, Ivy! What is wrong with you!” She pressed a hand to her forehead. “Get your head in the game.”

Nerves had her hands shaking like a leaf in a tornado as she turned into the grocer’s parking lot a couple of minutes later. She killed the ignition and sat there counting out each breath as she gathered her composure.

Her phone buzzed from deep in her jacket pocket and she jumped to dig it out from among the empty cookie baggie still stuffed in her pocket.

A message flashed along the top that notified her of a new email.

She nearly forgot to breathe for the next few seconds as she read over the email.

Dear Ms. Winters,

We are happy to inform you that we were very pleased with our interview yesterday afternoon. Due to the high demand in the area of Victorian home renovations and your expertise in bed and breakfasts—thank you, Gran— should you wish to work with myself and my wife in the restoration of our inn, we accept your proposed plans. Should you be willing to start the day after Christmas, we are willing to double your fee. More details to come. We have reserved a time for a follow-up call at noon your time. Talk then.

S he fist-pumped the air which caused the car to rock and several people to look her way.

“Yes!” Her Facebook update wouldn’t be a lie after all. One more conversation and the job would be hers. She could already see the trimmings she wanted to add to the wraparound porch. The banisters that would need some loving from a good architect. Her brother, Colden would be perfect for the job. She really enjoyed working with him on the few occasions he could pull away from his own growing architecture business.

Having a good understanding of her profession, he completely understood her need for organization and having everything planned down to the tiniest detail. When he wasn’t busy building his skyscrapers, he liked to get out from behind mountains of blueprints and get his hands dirty with hands-on jobs like hers.

She hit reply and confirmed the time with her soon-to-be new employer and took a moment to let the possibility of her future not melting into a pile of goo sink in. She just might survive after all.

A pang of something, she didn’t know what, settled over her. Unfamiliar as it was it felt like guilt or like she missed something important and couldn’t remember.

Ivy dug in her handbag for a pencil and scribbled the call into her planner and sat back. She would need to call Colden soon, too. Before he committed to another job. She hoped he didn’t mind working over New Year’s.

She peeled back the cuff of her sleeve. Eleven o’clock. Christmas tree delivery in an hour then she could deal with calling Gran again and letting her know the change of plans. She couldn’t feel guilty, but a certain weight lodged in her belly at the thought of backing out when she told Gran she would stay through Christmas. Then again, leaving the day after was not breaking her word.

Then there was Aspen. She wouldn’t let a couple of hours spent with the man dictate her emotions.

Ivy cracked her knuckles and rolled her head. “Game time. Food, more lights because she refused to untangle that blob of bulbs sitting on the front porch, stop off for the new curtains Gran had put an order in for, another few cans of paint and then back home for the trees and the call. I got this.” She fixed the rearview mirror and caught a stray hair that escaped her loose braid.

From the left, a blur of bright red and white caught her eye in the mirror. A smiling face came into focus as Ivy caught the reflection of a slightly older version of Mrs. December waving at her as she shuffled across the partially empty parking lot.

“Oh, Ivy.” Mrs. December held her door open as Ivy slipped from the warmth of the car and into the embrace of an old family friend. Mrs. December preferred to fight against her short stature with smart heels that reminded her of something Samantha from “Bewitched” wore and midnight black hair streaked with silver piled high, held only in place by at least half a pack of bobby pins and a healthy dose of hairspray. Through the opening of her coat, Ivy caught a glimpse of a wide belt cinched around her middle creating soft, feminine pleats along the bottom half of her dress.

Classy and stylish. You would never know she’d never left Dixen for the big city life.

She was the perfect balance between two eras.

Berry red lips peeled into a welcoming smile. “I hoped I would run into you today. Aspen said you would be around getting supplies.”

Ivy knew there was less chance and more stalking involved but only smiled. The older woman gave Ivy one final squeeze before pulling back.

Fine lines graced the edges of soft brown eyes and the cold teased a fair pink to color robust cheeks made plump by her affection for cookies and her husband’s bakery, no doubt. This only lent to the happy sparkle in the older woman’s eyes.

See. This town was Hallmark-fucking-perfect.

“Aren’t you a sight to see! It’s been too, too long, Ivy honey. After our talk this morning I hoped I would get to see you sooner rather than later. Merry Christmas, sweetie.”

Ivy smiled widely. “Merry Christmas to you too, Mrs. December.” She couldn’t help but laugh at the warm welcome and enthusiasm. “I trust Mr. December is back at the bakery with fresh ideas on how to beat Mr. Hardt this year?”

Mrs. December’s hands made a muffled thump as she clapped her gloved palms together. “That man hasn’t left the bakery since Thanksgiving. I’m beginning to think I might not ever have sex again. Or at least not until after the New Year the way this year is going.”

Okaaay . “Neck to neck I see. That has to create some excitement. Nothing like a good old-fashioned competition.”

Mrs. December nudged her wire-rimmed glasses a notch up her nose as she rolled her eyes. “Honey, there isn’t one old-fashioned thing about this year but the two old geezers trying to outdo each other. But you won’t hear me complain when all the extra food goes to the orphanage.”

Mrs. December’s passion for as long as Ivy could remember. A minute later Mrs. December looped her arm in Ivy’s as they sought refuge from the cold in the grocery store. “With Mr. December’s bread delivery to the church, what’s the score now?”

Ivy moved to grab a cart, but Mrs. December beat her to it.

“Who can keep up these days? I’m too worried about my cookie delivery for the Dixcemberfest. You know the girls gather at my house every year, but this year we’ll have to work double time with the growing number of people coming to our small town to join our festivities. And this year your gran has added to it.”

“I heard. Will you be using the bakery this year?” They passed a stand filled with wrapping paper and bows. Another with pretty bundles of variously flavored cookies and another with the dreaded fruitcakes. All of them made their way into the cart and Mrs. December continued. “Have you ever tried to fight for a little kitchen space with a master baker? I like being married and I’d hate to take a rolling pin to the man, you know what I mean.”

Ivy fought back a laugh. Instead, she canted her head a little. “Fair and good point.”

She had seven brothers and sisters. Fighting for space growing up came with the territory.

“I know a thing or two about it.”

Mrs. December smiled. “I bet you do, hon. So I’ve talked Mr. December into a quick kitchen makeover. A new stove and while I’m at it a new countertop section to expand my kitchen. You should come out and see it. You would love it! Aspen can bring you. He’s overseeing the installation of the new stove tomorrow. I’d love to get your professional thoughts on the new design of the kitchen too. ”

With a shaky laugh, she asked, “Umm. I’m a little busy at the B&B. I don’t know if I can pull away.”

“Oh, there’s plenty of time. I bet if you ask, Aspen would love to help you at the B&B. With only a few days until Christmas, you’ll need to hurry. Plus, Mrs. Hardt just put in new countertops at her place. I haven’t revealed mine yet and I want to make sure they are perfect. Can you help? I want them to blow the stockings off Mrs. Hardt’s kitchen and have all the girls chatter about it for months?”

Small-town entertainment at its best.

“Well then. That’s pretty hard to turn down. How do we know what Mrs. Hardt’s counters look like anyway? How are you so sure yours will beat hers?”

“Your gran dug up some pictures on Facebook, of course.”

Ivy didn’t know if she wanted to sigh or laugh. Instead, she said the only thing that made sense. “Naturally.”

In went another bag of goodies followed by a stuffed snowman and something sparkly for girls’ ponytails. She didn’t get a good look because her eyes were too busy spotting a man in a red plaid shirt and black jeans walking around a corner with a short brunette.

She picked up the pace a little with Mrs. December in tow. “Oh, hon, I see the fire chief is here.” She reached out and patted her arm and leaned in a little. “Has he asked you out on a date yet? Your gran mentioned you were single again.”

“What? Is there no one that doesn’t know?” The opening notes of “Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer” carried over the shoppers, and Ivy felt a keen affection for that song at the moment. She drew a deep breath and swallowed the automatic denial that wanted to come out. “I’m only here long enough to touch up the place, Mrs. December. I have a job offer in New York and I’m taking it.” She hoped she didn’t sound rude dodging the question, but that was a question she didn’t want to touch in the middle of the bread aisle. Besides, it was neither here nor there.

“Then I better work fast.”

Ivy had a feeling the other woman didn’t mean her kitchen renovations with how she worried her lip and tapped her chin. The creases around her eyes deepened too, and that made Ivy raise a brow in question.

“Work fast?”

“Never mind, hon. You know splitting my time between the cookie baking and helping out down at the sheriff’s office makes a schedule really tight this time of year.” Mrs. December came to an abrupt stop by the eggnog and red wine with a conveniently placed strip of condoms hanging on the side. “Oh, excuse me hon.”

Mrs. December didn’t even flinch when placing two boxes of ribbed extra-large in the cart and Ivy fought to hold back a smile. She only wished her sex life was that active.

“By the way, hon, did I mention Aspen would be there?”

She drew in a deep breath. “A couple of times now, yeah.”

“It never hurts to mention the important information, you know. Is there any way I could convince you to fit an old lady into your schedule?” Ivy did her best to hide a grimace as she fished out her planner from her shoulder bag and thumbed through the pages. “Let me see what I can do.” She didn’t have the heart to tell her no.

Mrs. December peered over her shoulder. “Oh, look tomorrow works perfectly,” she said, pointing at the only space Ivy mentally penciled in to use for the dreaded tree decorating of however many trees her gran had coming today.

“That will be okay, right dear? Say noon-ish? It will only take a couple of hours. You’ll see.”

After almost four years of working with clients, nothing ever took only a couple of hours. Mrs. December continued, unaware of Ivy’s inner cringing. “The girls are due the day after so that will give us enough time to do any changes. Of course, I’d pay you for your expertise and time, hon.”

“Is there a shortage I should know about, ladies?”

A warm, deep smoky voice spoke up beside them and Ivy’s stupid heart did a funny quiver in her chest. Right that second, Ivy wished she could follow her own advice and stay clear of man territory, but Aspen had a way of luring even the deepest of emotions to the surface.

“Hey, Ivy! It’s so good to see you!”

Ivy turned to find a skinny brunette a couple of inches taller than herself coming straight for her, arms spread.

“Julie! It’s been too long!”

Julie, the youngest of the Kennedy siblings, unwound her arms from her and pulled back, smiling. “I can’t believe you’re actually here. Aspen said as much but I wouldn’t believe him until I saw you for myself.”

“It’s true,” she laughed nervously.

“We’ll have to catch up while you’re in town. I have to go before Ryder has a heart attack,” Julie grabbed her hands. “Promise me we’ll have some girl time?”

“I would love that.”

They’d been best friends in high school but drifted apart as time went on. “I’ll call you.” Julie pulled her in for another hug. “See you later.”

“Be careful out there. Lots of ice on the road.”

Julie waved to everyone as she nodded to her brother’s warning.

Ivy shook her head with a small laugh and turned to peer up at a set of deep brown eyes and a grin that pulled on strings that had no business being connected to her heart.

“Speak of the devil, we were just talking about you, handsome,” Mrs. December spoke up. Which was a good thing because for a second she lost all ability to form syllables. That voice, the way it still held sway over her. She needed out of Dixen ASAP. Had it only been an hour since she saw him last?

“We were? I mean, we were.” She smiled. “Mrs. December needs help with her stove and countertops.”

“You can never be too careful when dealing with kitchen appliances,” Aspen offered with a slow smile. “I’m here to see Ryder about the same thing.”

“Touché.” Her mind raced to keep up with her mouth because it was primarily weighed down with other questions such as, was he stalking her? And was that dinner date still open?

“I’ll see you two tomorrow then. Aspen, you’ll pick Ivy up, right?”

“Sure, Mrs. December. See you then.”

That made twice people volunteered to fling them together. She quietly wondered if the whole town was in on trying to hook them up, or if it was just Gran and her tightly-knit group of friends.

And as fast as she came barreling into her morning the woman was gone, half-filled cart and all.

“They sure are putting in overtime.”

“You caught on too?”

“You’d have to be blind and deaf to not notice what the three amigas are up to.”

“Yep. I never took Gran to be such a masterful schemer but must have pulled a couple of all-nighters with her girlfriends to try to pull off the biggest game of matchmaker in Dixen history.”

Aspen leaned his weight forward on the handle of his cart and slid Ivy a side-eye look that summed up their entire day in the span of a heartbeat. “I’ll second that.”

Ivy snagged a couple of wine bottles and stashed one under each arm.

A smirk played with the edges of Aspen’s lips as he gestured a hand toward his cart. She slipped them in and before she could talk herself out of it went back for two bottles this time whiskey. “No judging,” she said when a smirk pulled at his lips.

“Not a fucking peep if you invite me to whatever party you’re throwing. Hands down it’s going to be better than the lonely night I have set up,” he reassured her.

“Ya know something, it’s almost a damn shame to let them think we’re not onto them.” Ivy side-stepped that trap like a pro. “Cruel since their best efforts are going in the trash alongside the fruitcake.”

She snapped her gaze to his. “I keep telling everyone, but I don’t think anyone is listening. I won’t be here long enough for their plan to work anyway. Besides, did any of them think to ask what I wanted? What you want? No. It’s not like there’s anything between us.”

“So, have you thought of an excuse on how you’re going to ditch me and the town’s square Christmas party tomorrow night?”

Ivy took a deep breath and laughed at how he always cut right through any awkwardness and dove in headfirst. “I’m not leaving that fast.” Or not at all if she didn’t get back to the inn before noon. “I’ve only come up with a couple of excuses so far. But,” she held up a finger to tap the side of her head. “I know I can do better by dinnertime tonight.”

“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea.” His voice was low and his lips peeled back in a smooth, easy smile.

“Aspen Kennedy, are you inviting me to dinner again?” Ivy arched her brow.

“I do happen to get hungry around six and there are only so many meals you can share with a bunch of rowdy firemen. Your messy braid and planner would be a sight for some very sore eyes.”

He reached over and gave the end a soft tug.

She stepped closer. “My planner, huh?” He made it sound as though it was a bad habit.

“I’ll admit the way you write in that thing with such passion has me intrigued.”

Oh.

“Don’t look so perplexed. I like different. You should know that. When everyone else is staring at tiny screens and looking for the next bell or whistle you go old-school. I always liked that about you.”

She never thought of it that way. “Is that all that has you intrigued?” Ivy stifled the urge to smack her forehead. She hadn’t meant to ask the question but it was out before she should shove her foot in her mouth.

Aspen pulled to a stop mid-aisle and she raised her gaze to his. “Not at all, Ivy Sunday.” He leaned in until she could see the golden specks in his brown eyes.

He stroked a finger along her jaw and she was right back on the eve of her wedding night filled with excitement and fear of the future.

“Say you’ll have dinner with me. Please? Or are you going to make me work harder for it?” His voice took a sexy, roughened dip and sent a chill of excitement along over her body.

He slowly straightened but kept his gaze fixed on hers. “While you think about it, care to share at least one of the excuses you’ve come up with on how to dodge Dixcemberfest and Mrs. December’s kitchen remodel? So I can counter it properly later, of course.”

She blinked in confusion at the rapid change of subject. Excuses? “Oh, the town part? I’m not showing my hand that easily.” She quickly regained her composure and brushed off the rush of excitement that threatened to take over. What was she? Still in high school? No control over how he made her body react with a simple brush of a finger?

His low-rumbling laugh was contagious with how much easygoing small-town energy he worked into the warming sound. Some people just knew how to not let anything bother them.

Not her. And a point that made them such a great couple once upon a time. He balanced out her crazy big-city energy.

Aspen pressed a hand to the small of her back and guided them around to the other side of the vegetables and gathered enough potatoes to feed a small army. Next went in cloves of garlic and some red bell pepper. She wouldn’t read anything into the small gesture no matter how fast her mind wanted to click over to the loving, caring touch. He had always protected those around him. Sometimes the gestures were small, like now. And other times he’d gone the extra mile to help others.

It was in his nature as much as it was in hers to notice the small things. And she so easily fell into the safety he provided. She did it in high school and if she didn’t grow some steel in her backbone she would fall all over again. That couldn’t—wouldn’t—happen. Not again. Dixen, Alaska, the big dix man himself and everything about this place had no room in her life anymore.

Aspen pushed aside the cart and between the cabbage and squash pulled her into his arms. Old habits had her cheek resting over his heart and her hands wrapping around his middle. What was she just telling herself about steel backbones?

“What has you so worried, sweetheart? Talk to me.”

He stroked a hand down her hair.

Her eyes dipped closed. Just a second wouldn’t hurt anything. All those nights of questioning her sanity about walking on him came tumbling back. What the hell had she been so scared of back then? Being trapped in a small town was the short, albeit dumb answer.

She cleared her throat. “Gran. She’s gone and has left me with the B&B for the holidays.”

He whistled low, his hand still in her hair. “Mastermind at work, indeed. So she was up to something this morning.”

His deep voice made his chest rumble and she nuzzled closer.

“Apparently. This Christmas she’ll be living it up Vegas style while I’m tending to the B&B, dolling up the place with new curtains and putting some fresh paint on a few walls before heading out to New York the day after Christmas. Remember the guy from the pictures this morning?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, the sexy fox of a grandpa promised her lights and flashy shows and now I’m left with the B&B and all the newcomers she has lined up this year.” She felt a panic attack rising. Air seemed to stop short of entering her lungs. She closed her eyes and took a couple of small breaths to calm herself. Errant tears threatened to spring up but she fought them back. No one needed to see her wiping tears away in the produce section.

“Easy, baby. I’ve got you. I--”

He paused, leaving whatever he was going to say for some other time as he brought her head off his chest with his warm, strong hands around her face. He stroked the callused pads of his thumbs near the crease of her lips. Her mouth parted as his gaze stroked along her lips.

Her tongue darted out and passed over her bottom lip.

“Aspen, I--”

His expression turned passionate, like flipping a switch. He turned from friend only to would-be-lover.

Ivy sucked air into her lungs.

And just like that, she was finally one of those people. The ones who didn’t care where they were when the hottest kiss of their lives happened. Audience be damned.

Aspen rumbled a growl of appreciation, bent and hauled her up his body. Fearing she would fall, her legs wrapped around his thick waste the second his lips claimed hers. A warm swipe of his tongue had her lips parting for him.

She reached up and took his scruffy cheeks in hand and deepened their kiss, stroking her tongue over his. Melting into him as if trying to reclaim all those missed years.

Hot liquid pooled between her thighs to soak her panties.

Between them, his hard-on thickened and she rocked her hips over the steel length. Damn she’d forgotten how thick and long he was. How he could fill her up, stretch her body with a delicious ache Their last love session was the eve of their wedding. It had been the hottest night of their lives that left them spent. She’d even feared they’d have nothing left for their wedding night. Both were barely graduated with the world in front of them. And then she ruined it the next day.

His hands cupped her ass and he drew her to him, dry humping her pussy with small thrusts.

Air came in short supply, but she didn’t have it in her to pull away.

Every fantasy of having him back in her life clawed to the front of her mind. His taste, his scent wrapped around her soul and for once in a long while she didn’t care about anything.

Breathing heavy she broke the kiss. Leaning her forehead against his, she said, “I love when you touch me. Kiss me. You still taste like peppermint and coffee.” Something else she didn’t mean to say but it seemed whenever she was around him it didn’t matter what she wanted. Her body and heart took the wheel and her brain and good sense were shoved in the backseat.

“You’re in danger of getting fucked in public.”

“Yeah, I think that might be a little too much for a town this small.”

Aspen brushed a kiss over her forehead and helped her climb back down his body until she stood on her own two feet.

Both of them needed distance. She cast a look around and lucky enough not many people bothered looking their way.

A warm finger tilted her chin around. “Why the hurry to leave Dixen? Tell me the truth.”

“I have a life to get back to, Aspen.” Her words hurt him. Damn! Couldn’t she catch a break! She saw it in the way his eyes shuttered and the soft need she saw there dimmed.

“Why don’t you come by the station tonight? I can fix you that dinner I promised and we can talk. Maybe you could help us find the perfect place to set up the Christmas tree and Kade would love to see you again. He’s been moping around the station all morning because he didn’t get to see you first. And then we can form a plan to get the B&B finished so you can make your quick exit.”

Burn.

But wait. She drew in a sharp breath. “Trees!” Eyes wide she clutched the end of the cart. “Oh no, Aspen! What time is it?”

“I don’t know. Maybe a quarter past…”

“I gotta go. Shit! And I’m going to miss the call. The curtains and the paint…” She kissed him smack on the lips and then turned. “I’ll call you later.”

Maybe leaving him with the impression she wanted more was wrong, but that kiss was more for her than him. Why? Because it would be the last time she ever shared the same breath as Aspen Kennedy if she could get a hold of herself, that is. She couldn’t afford a mess up right now and getting involved with her old flame was a fuck up of epic proportions. After everything she’d lost in the past couple of months, she would not lose the one job that would put her back on the planned road of success she wanted so badly. She needed this job and truth be told, she needed the money. And out of Dixen before her heartstrings felt any more unsolicited tugs or she jumped the hot fire chief in the middle of the produce section.