Meg Lacey - The Fireman's Christmas

“What consequences?”

“Are you always this pushy?” Tessa asked in a prickly tone.

“Sorry I’m late, guys.” Rhonda’s breezy greeting interrupted their conversation and was followed by a loud scraping sound as she dragged a chair over from a nearby table without missing a beat. “The E.R. was packed to the rafters when I left, and no one could figure out how to unjam the computer. I just might have to borrow your Eric someday for that, huh, Tess? Hey, you guys started without me!”

“Tessa was hungry,” Danny replied, eyes twinkling.

Rhonda snorted. “So what else is new?”

Since she owed her friend big-time for pulling this stunt, Tessa didn’t feel at all guilty about eating without her. “I didn’t think you’d make it,” she explained. “In fact, I wasn’t sure what you had planned for tonight at all. Your message was very brief. Unusually so.”

Her thorny comment caused Rhonda to smile crookedly. She spread her fingers through her hair, tousling her short red curls. “That’s ’cause I was late already, and only had time to give you the basics after I talked to Danny. No, thanks,” she said, waving Jorgi away as he approached with a menu. “I’ll just grab something at home.” She picked up Tessa’s untouched water glass. “The whole idea was just too perfect. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.”

“Yeah, perfect,” Tessa muttered, eyeing the tray of cheesecakes another waiter carried past their table.

“You didn’t think of it because you didn’t know about my aunt’s surgery until I ran into you at the E.R. last week,” Danny pointed out. “But Tessa’s not sure she even needs child care.”

“What are you talking about, Tessa?” Rhonda flapped a napkin open on her lap. She picked at the parsley garnish which was almost the only thing left on the antipasto plate and turned to Danny, jerking a thumb in Tessa’s direction. “She told me she wished Eric and Josie didn’t have to go with her to work because they’re bored to tears, but they’d be worse off stuck in her dinky condo all day. She told me she’d give anything if they could go someplace where they had room to play and other kids to play with.”

A scowling Tessa pointed a finger at herself. “Sitting right over here, guys.”

“What else did Tessa tell you?” Danny asked solemnly. Only the humorous glint in his eyes and the twitch on one side of his mouth gave him away.

“She said she wanted them to be safe.” Rhonda turned to Tessa. “How much safer can they be than with a fireman? He’s a trained EMT, for God’s sake!”

“Oh!” Tessa gave an exaggerated jump. “Sorry, were you talking to me?”

“Did Tessa tell you how much she loves kids?” Rhonda asked, pointing at Danny with a piece of celery. “She used to be a den mother, and a volunteer at Josie’s preschool a few years ago. She’s great at organizing games and outings so that everyone’s happy. When you said you were looking for a new babysitter, the whole thing just clicked in my head. And now that you’ve met, everything’s settled, right?”

Her unhampered, unflagging optimism was one of the things Tessa loved about her friend. It was also one of Rhonda’s most annoying traits, depending on the day. Today it was annoying.

“It’s not as easy as that,” Tessa replied. “I have to—”

“Think it over, right?” Danny said.

His voice sent another shudder through Tessa’s midsection. No man deserved to be so sexy. This could definitely be a problem, she thought.

“So what’s the problem?” Rhonda asked, as if she’d read Tessa’s mind.

Danny looked at her in silence.

“There’s no problem,” Tessa insisted. She felt her cheeks warming beneath the double scrutiny. “I said I’d think it over and I will, but I’m not sure this is what’s right for my kids just now. Look, Rhonda, I appreciate your concern and the trouble you went to, but I am an adult and would appreciate it if you didn’t try to order my life or push me into anything. I’ve had enough of that, thank you very much. My ex-husband saw to that.”

For the second time that evening Tessa reached for her purse. She knew she was acting like a total idiot, rushing out like this, but she didn’t like being pressured into things too fast, because she always felt she made bad decisions when she did—and Rhonda knew that.

Tessa opened her wallet and tossed a couple of twenty-dollar bills on the table to cover her share of the meal. Then she stood. “Look, my kids are waiting at home. It was good to meet you, Danny. I’ll let you know what I decide.”

Danny stood politely as she backed away from the table. She made the mistake of looking into his eyes. They glittered like polished stones, only warmer and softer. His head tilted slightly to one side, his expression a mixture of curiosity, appeal and unabashed interest.

She thought he might try once more to convince her, and braced herself. But only a little. With a jolt, she realized she wanted to be convinced.

Instead he only flashed her a grin. “It was nice meeting you, too, Tessa. Rhonda has my number in case you’re interested.”

Tessa smiled back, because she couldn’t help herself. He had that kind of smile.

“You can’t leave yet,” Rhonda said, throwing up her hands in disgust.

“I’ll call you tomorrow, Rhonda.” Tessa marched toward the exit, excruciatingly aware that Danny was watching her retreat. Rhonda’s incredulous voice followed her as she escaped through the door.

“I don’t believe this! She left without even having dessert.”

Tessa pulled to the curb and sat for a moment trying to get her nerves under control. Though there’d been little traffic on the streets at this hour, her heart raced as if she’d just maneuvered through an obstacle course and her cheeks felt warmer than the early-morning temperature warranted. She gripped the steering wheel to stop the slight trembling in her hands.

Too much caffeine, she lied silently.

In order to calm down, she forced herself to study her surroundings—not a difficult task at all. She loved these old neighborhoods with their fake Tudors, and soaring Victorian monstrosities. The yards were large by any standard—an acre or more each—and the trees were massive. Old neighborhoods were definitely the best, she thought, exiting her van. Even when they were rather shabby.

Spotting the address Danny Santori had given her on the phone last night, Tessa walked up the path that led to a huge, wraparound porch with a welcoming double leaded-glass door set in the exact center. She stopped and stared.

Shaded by a pair of oak trees that allowed the sunlight to spill onto the yard in dappled diamonds, the Victorian home in front of her possessed that effortless aura of dignity and authority that upstart modern homes would never have. The paint had faded to a soft, uneven blue and the white window frames were flaking a bit, but that didn’t detract from the enchanting two-story bay tower that anchored one side of the house. Several high peaks on the roof looked made for a pair of mischievous squirrels to slide down on a frosty day.

“Oh, my,” Tessa breathed, delighted by the warmth emanating from the home. This was the kind of house she’d always wanted her kids to have. Forgetting some of the hesitation she’d felt earlier, she stepped forward, taking care not to trip over the weeds growing between the cracks in the walk. She stopped for a closer look, brushing her hand over the small green leaves nestled happily between two flagstones. Not a weed after all. She closed her eyes at the fragrance. Thyme. The herb had spread from the plants that bordered the sidewalk on each side.

She plucked a sprig and tucked it into her pocket before continuing toward the broad white steps of the porch. Glancing to either side, she was dismayed at the overgrown and neglected landscaping. Someone had once started to make a difference here, then allowed it to slide into a jungle. Her fingers practically itched to sort through the perennials. But first things first.