Authors: Dani Jace
Her answer earned her a sexy squint. He latched onto her arm while balancing the desserts in his other lion-like paw.
“You’re always warm. Is that a firefighter thing?”
“Your body always has me cooking like a three alarm blaze. But I’m going to need a drink or two to take the edge off.”
The reservist side of him endeared her. Since college, she actually mingled better around new people, those who didn’t already perceive her in a certain way.
Bobby greeted them at the door dressed in kakis and long sleeve polo.
“Hey Sis. Merry, Merry.” He pecked her check and shook Ray’s hand. “Glad you didn’t have a shift today, bro. Come on in. I’m sure you could use a little cheer.” By the dilation of his dark brown eyes, she guessed he already found some.
“Well?” She handed her brother the gifts.
“Take a look at her hand.”
“Congratulations, bud.” Ray’s shoulders relaxed as they followed him inside.
Decorated right from Southern Living, with large sprays of pine, berries and candles, the large house brimmed with people. Jo couldn’t imagine turning a house into a home. After growing up with men, she continued to live a sparse existence. Her only extravagances consisted of a custom-built surfboard and recent collection of lingerie. Some of which she wore under her clothes at the moment. Her face heated to probably the shade of her red jacket.
From the looks of the house, Sarah and her business partner, Nate, raked in the bucks. Jo would have never guessed from her demeanor. Looks, money and brains. Go Bobby.
Her brother led them to the kitchen and poured them drinks.
“You deserve the best.” Jo toasted.
“To you and Sarah. A lifetime of happiness.” Ray raised his Scotch and downed it in one swallow. “And it looks like you’ve inherited quite an extended family.” His blues eyes narrowed as he surveyed the crowd. A telltale muscle ticked along his face.
Her shy, sexy firefighter. So hot.
Sarah appeared of nowhere and wrapped her in a hug. “Glad you both came. Merry Christmas.”
Jo smiled returned the greeting and snagged her hand. The platinum setting and large rock on top probably cost Bobby several month’s salary. Not a jewelry connoisseur, she was impressed none the same. Then it hit her. Their dad wouldn’t see his son get married. Her throat closed and her eyes watered.
“Are you okay?” Sarah put a hand on Jo’s shoulder.
“Dad would have loved you.”
Ray snugged an arm around her waist, shoring her up.
Jesus. The smallest things he did melted her heart.
* * * *
Ray clasped Jo’s hand as the guests gathered around the buffet in the dining room for the blessing. He said a silent pray of thanks for having her in his life again.
After they went to the food line, he tugged her sleeve and led her from the crowd to a solarium at the back of the house. They sat on an elevated hearth.
“Hungry?” He enjoyed seeing her eat and would be happy for her curves to return.
“While you feasted last night, I had a bowl of cereal.” She took a bite of roll, chewing with gusto, engrossed in her meal. The stress and physical demands of the academy had leaned her out.
“Sorry, I should’ve sent some food home with you. You know I would’ve been with you if I could have.”
She laid a hand on his. “I’m not busting you for having to work. Besides, going on the call with you guys was a blast. Next year it might be me working on Christmas.
“I’ll volunteer to work with you.” He put his hand on her knee.
Her eyes lit up. “Aww, you would too wouldn’t you?” She picked at the rest of her food then glanced around. “You ready? We could stop by the station.”
He sighed in relief. “Sorry, parties aren’t my scene. Especially not with the affluent.” He’d come from a meager background. After being a child of a single parent and being around Cappy as well as being in the Guard, he related to the everyday working class. Even his chosen profession relayed those values. On holidays when his mom decided they needed to hang with her newest man, he’d protested, wanting to spend Christmases with Bobby, Jo, and Cappy. After Jo left for college, the holidays turned lonely. “The last few years, I’ve usually worked. The guys with families wanted to be off, and it didn’t matter to me.”
She put her plate down and ran her arm though his. “I’m so glad you had the crew.”
“You’ve made this a perfect Christmas Day.” He tugged her against his shoulder.
“Come on. We’ll say we’re stopping by the station, which won’t be a lie.”
“You sure you’re ready?” He wanted her to enjoy her day, but it didn’t look like she’d get to spend much time with her brother considering all the guests.
A secretive smile creased her lips. “I’m ready to get back to the Christmas tree.”
Hell, yeah.
* * * *
Jo warmed as Ray’s eyes paled. His stare reminded her of earlier in the morning. They found Sarah and Bobby in the kitchen, surrounded by well-wishers.
Sarah caught her elbow. “I want you to meet my partner.” She turned to the man standing beside her. “Nate, this is Jo. Bobby’s sister.”
His spongy handshake forced Jo to wipe her palm on her jeans.
“Ahh, defamed surfer turned fire girl.” The slender man offered a scant smile.
“Nate!” Sarah swatted him.
What had she ever done to him? His narrow nose only made his eyes appear closer together. Unruly blond hair curled at his ears.
Bobby turned from another guest wearing a frown.
Her lover’s hand rode protectively at her back as he towered over the little ferret. “Ray Andrews.” The jeweler’s knuckles ground together in her lover’s gargantuan palm. She’d never seen Ray use his size or strength to intimidate, but found his protectiveness endearing and sexy.
“Wimp turned jewelry boy, right?”
“Gemologist,” Nate winched.
He had to be good at gemology or she couldn’t understand Sarah tolerating such a man.
“Whatever.” Ray’s tone bordered on violence.
“Ray’s a firefighter, too, and a friend of Bobby’s.” Sarah latched on to Bobby’s elbow.
Nate flexed his fingers.
“In fact, we’re on our way to take some goodies to his station for the crew.” Jo kissed Bobby’s cheek. Then she ushered her man away from certain jail time. Her poor brother. He’d be constantly subjected to the skinny prick.
Back in the Hummer, Ray lowered the windows and punched on the stereo. “Can you believe that guy?”
Buckling her seatbelt, she laughed. “I believe jewelry boy’s sore knuckles will be reminding him of your handshake for a day or so.”
“You really brought food to take by the station?” He started the truck.
She produced two coconut pies from a bag behind her seat. He shouldn’t have been surprised. She’d learned from a young age to never visit a firehouse without bringing food.
“You melt my heart, Dahlin’.” He leaned in and touched his lips to hers.
* * * *
As they left the station, twilight crept at the horizon.
Looking much more relaxed, Ray leaned back in his seat and turned the radio to Christmas carols. He just turned onto the driveway to the cottage when his cell went off to the tune of Mission Impossible and his shoulders went rigid under the black leather.
Jo attempted to lighten his mood. “Your call, should you decide to accept it.”
He cut the engine and plucked the phone from his pocket. “Merry Christmas, Mom.”
She turned her head, stifling laughter. Geez, she bet Bobby had
Folsom Prison Blues
as her ringtone.
“Great. Just about to have dessert…something a little tart, a little sweet.” His gaze rolled over to her.
Jo gasped, but the dark blue fire in his eyes confirmed the compliment.
“How’s yours? Actually, Jo and I are spending Christmas together. Sure, here she is.”
Jo accepted the phone. “Merry Christmas, Mona.”
“Ray’s so glad you’re back home, hon.”
“It’s good to be back.” Finally, with him, she wanted to say. “How’s your Christmas?”
She went on about her man and place in Philly for a minute or so. “Well, y’all be good to each other, okay?”
“Will do. Here’s Ray.” She handed the phone back.
Ray’s tone sounded more parent to child than the other way around. He’d grown up, but Mona hadn’t. Never would. The conversation stopped, breaking her psychological evaluation. “I like the ring tone.”
“It’s literal.” He exhaled as his head fell against the headrest.
Out of her seatbelt, she leaned over the console “So, do I have a ringtone?”
“You have a new one.” He ruffled her hair.
She remained touched by the way he stood up for her against Nate. All the nasty comments and accusations she’d endured in California. They were just as bad as her night in jail. “Okay let me have it.”
“
Fire Woman
, of course.” He grinned.
“By the Cult? Get out.” He knew the classics. They’d heard them enough around her dad.
He exited and rounded the truck then opened her door. “How about some more fire, woman?” He pulled her into his arms.
His lustful words shot warmth between her thighs.
“You’re going to be sore.”
“I’m counting on it.” He tugged her upstairs.
Inside, he turned on the tree lights and moved over to the bedding by the tree before unbuttoning his shirt. She followed suit.
When she was down to only the bustier and garter belt, he caught her hand. “Turn around.”
His breath felt hot against the back of her neck. She’d never trusted a lover enough to be taken from behind, but he would never hurt her. His only desire since they’d been together was to please.
“That’s good.” He unbuckled his belt. His jeans hit the floor. In a dark voice, he said, “Now, on your hands and knees.”
Whoa. Not a question. She shivered at his command. He closed a strong arm around her waist and followed her to the floor.
He plucked a strap that held her hose and let it smack playfully against her rump. “Ruff, Ruff.”
“Meow?” She trembled as he nestled against her.
“Here kitty, kitty. Get ready. This big dog’s going to make you purr.”
She hoped he had a defibrillator kit.
Bobbing in the large February swells, Ray felt at home with Jo next to him. The brief warm spell had lured them into wetsuits to catch some waves. He admired her form in all black. Even in a hood, she remained beautiful. And his.
That part he still had trouble believing. Sometimes he woke in the middle of the night and pulled her close in reassurance. Since staying with her on his days off, he didn’t have the troubling nightmares from his time in Iraq. Instead, he dreamt Harley wooed her away from him with his bad boy ways or she left for California again. The latter would never happen, but the former….
“So have Bobby and Sarah set a date yet? It’s been two months?” He stared behind them as they waited for the next set.
“In a hurry? Do you know something I don’t?” She frowned. “She’s not pregnant, is she?”
“Huh?” He cut his gaze back to her. “Naw, I’m just being pissy.”
He couldn’t wait for her to graduate from the academy. He was tired living out of a backpack and paying rent for a house he hardly set foot in, but, she hadn’t asked him to move in.
“I know. I’m ready for some resolution, too. The sun’s shining and the waves are barreling. Let’s just seize the day.” She raised her hands skyward welcoming the warm rays.
“I’m going to seize you shortly, Dahlin’. After surfing, we’ll be doing some extreme warm up activities.” Her peered over at her.
“That’ll work. And then you can grill me on some fire science.”
“How about you work for treats?”
From behind them, a rogue five-footer charged for shore. Paddling like a fiend, he caught it in time. The back of his board lifted.
She kept pace making the same wave. Popping into a lunge, she found her footing, and streaked to his left. He cut to follow her. Surfing with her most of his life, he predicted her moves. Water sliced beneath his board in a crisp sound as he flew over the water in a weightless freedom. He never got over the mix of exhilaration and peace surfing provided. The ocean had a way of changing his mood even on the worst of days.
After a few more rides, he was starving. “How ‘bout I fix us breakfast and then I’ll warm you up?”
She licked her lips. “How ‘bout you warm me up first.”
In the outside shower, he helped her out of her wetsuit. The thought of taking her here had crossed his mind numerous times, but chill bumps on her shoulders kept him from turning on the water. “Let’s get upstairs.”
Still in her swimsuit, she wrapped a towel around her and then ran a finger down the center of his chest. Her golden eyes flashed. “First one there is on top.”
He let her win.
After stripping off his suit in the bathtub where hers already lay, he rounded the corner into her bedroom. She lay naked on the sheets. Her cheeks flushed under his gaze and her nipples puckered.
The vibration of his cell on the nightstand startled him and wilted his growing erection.
Jo glanced at the display and handed it to him.
“Hey mom.”
She rolled off the bed and dressed.
The tight yoga pants and clingy spaghetti top with no bra stirred him again.
She winked and left the room.
He half listened, replying in one word answers while donning the jeans hanging on the bedpost. By the time he made it the living room, Jo sat on the deck having coffee. He admired her through the sliding glass door. She seemed hypnotized by the rhythm of the waves. The light breeze ruffled her ringlets of coppery-blond. He imagined his fingers twined in the mass of curls.
“Okay, well let me know,” he said ending the call with his mother. Things were souring in Pennsylvania. He gave it a couple of months or less before he’d be helping her move back.
He wanted Jo now. He stepped outside, where she intently gnawed her thumbnail.
Hell.
She’d seemed fine when they were surfing. The urge to pick her up and carry her to bed as promised tensed his muscles. Sex would fix what currently bothered him, but it didn’t usually work that way for women. She kept a tough exterior, but he’d always been able read her signals when she was worried or down.