A Mistletoe Proposal. Rebecca Winters

work.

      She saw him say something to Benton before he returned with two coats. He helped her into hers and she felt his hands tighten a little on her upper arms. It sent curling warmth through her body.

      “Don’t look now, but there’s sprig of mistletoe above the door. All’s fair,” he said before pulling her close so he could press a warm, firm kiss to her lips. It caught her totally by surprise.

      “Rick—” She let out a quiet gasp.

      His eyes seemed to smolder in the twinkling lights. “I’ve been wanting to do that since we got here, and I refuse to apologize.”

      After he shrugged into his jacket, they left the house and walked to the car without speaking.

      While her pulse still raced from that kiss, he drove quickly but expertly to her apartment, slowing down as he entered the alley. He parked outside the back entrance.

      Without more words he got out of the car and came around to open her door. “Before I leave you for the night, I’m coming inside with you.”

      Her heart thudded. “I’m not up to company.”

      “This isn’t in the nature of a social call. Benton has a theory about this arsonist, that this lunatic might be back to do more damage along this street, and I’m inclined to agree with him. I want to come in and check your place out thoroughly.”

      “You mean upstairs, too?”

      “That’s the part I need to see. The art-gallery fire was set on the third floor. Is your father here already?”

      “Not yet, or his Blazer would be here.” She felt panicky to think of him checking out her apartment. It was kind of messy, but her real concern was the fact that she’d thought she’d seen the last of him. Now he was going to invade her private space, putting them on a more intimate footing. “What about Tessa?”

      “She’ll sleep there tonight. Right now I want to concentrate on your shop. With all its wooden inventory, it would appeal to this pyro. You can be certain he’s cased it pretty thoroughly. I know I’ve alarmed you, but it’s better to be on the alert. It won’t take me long.”

      Andrea pressed the remote so they could go inside. “We have the most up-to-date security system installed. The fire department did a safety check here in October.”

      “That’s good to hear, but some arsonists have an inside track to avoid getting caught. Just so you know, the police are patrolling this area 24/7, especially after dark, so you should feel safe.”

      “Why do people set fires?”

      He gave his shoulders an elegant shrug. “What’s wrong with anyone who goes berserk in our culture? In their case they start fires to cover up a crime or pay someone back for a wrong. But I’ve a gut feeling this one loves to light fires for the fun of it. He wants notoriety and is the worst kind. It won’t take me long to check out the ground floor, then I’ll come up.”

      Leaving him to his work, she ran up the stairs. The shop had been so busy she hadn’t had time to straighten the living room of her apartment. After hanging up her coat, she picked up some odds and ends and hurried into the kitchen to put things into the dishwasher. Once that was done, she raced to the bedroom to make her bed. He’d think she was a sloppy housekeeper.

      While she was tucking the quilt beneath her pillow, he walked in. She saw his glance touch on the bed, then the eight-by-ten picture of Gunter on her bedside table. No doubt he had a similar one of his wife in his bedroom.

      First he checked out her bathroom, then walked over to the bedroom window. After opening it, he looked out. When he reshut it he turned to her. “I’m glad to see the fire escape leads down from your kitchen window. A would-be intruder couldn’t get in this window unless he had James Bond’s scaling equipment.”

      “That’s reassuring.”

      “But as an extra precaution you need dowels for all the windows upstairs and down. It’ll make more trouble for him or any intruder and buy you a little time if someone wants in. What do you have for personal protection?”

      “I carry pepper mace on my key chain and keep bear spray in the drawer.” She indicated the bedside table.

      He nodded. “Do you have a gun?”

      “No. I’d rather use spray.”

      Without any more questions, he walked back out to her sitting room. She had no Christmas decorations upstairs. Until now she hadn’t even thought about doing her own decorating, because her emotions had been in deep freeze.

      But no longer. Her pulse raced just looking at him.

      “You have a lovely modern apartment here. In an older building like this, it’s a surprise.”

      “I know. Before my marriage I lived with Mom. Gunter and I were going to buy a house here, but he died too soon for us to decide on one. The loft seemed the perfect choice to remodel so I’d be close to my work.”

      His hands went to his hips in a purely masculine gesture. “I would have sold my house to help let go of memories if I didn’t have Tessa, but any more changes to her life would have been disastrous at the time.”

      “They already are.”

      He shot her a probing glance. “What do you mean?”

      “She didn’t like me the other day, and likes me less after seeing me with you tonight.”

      Lines bracketed his mouth. “Don’t read so much into everything, Andrea.”

      Andrea didn’t want to go down this road, but tonight’s experience had left her with no other choice. “Your daughter doesn’t want to share you with anyone else.”

      He took a deep breath. “She has to share me every day when I go to work. Between all the love from her grandmothers, aunts, Sharon— from my colleagues’ wives and her kindergarten teacher, she’s learning to adapt.”

      “That’s not the same thing, and you know it. When she looked up and realized I was with you, she shut down. She feels a child’s jealousy that you would give personal attention to another woman besides her. I don’t want to be that woman.”

      She noticed his chest rise and fall from a tumult of emotions. “This phase will pass.”

      “Sometimes that phase lasts years.”

      His eyes narrowed. “What else is going on inside you?”

      Andrea tossed her head back. “Isn’t Tessa’s negative reaction enough to let you know this wasn’t a good idea? She’s so precious and you’re her whole world. Your daughter needs more time.”

      His features hardened. “You didn’t answer my question,” he said, ignoring her comments. “I know for a fact you feel something for me, but you’re doing your damnedest to pretend otherwise. Why?”

      At his question she backed away from him. “I appreciate your checking out my apartment, but if you’re through here, you ought to go back to the Ameses’ house to be with your daughter. It will reassure her she hasn’t lost you.”

      He moved closer. “I’ll take your advice under consideration, but not before I get the truth from you. They say it makes you free. Do me that favor and I swear I’ll never darken your doorstep again.”

      She wouldn’t look at him. “Tonight we got this out of our system and your daughter had to pay the price. More than ever I’m not interested in a relationship.”

      Rick reached out and grasped her upper arms. “You’re lying or you wouldn’t have come to the party with me, and I can prove it.” Before she could cry out, he lowered his dark head and covered her mouth unerringly with his own. There was a hunger in his kiss that ignited her desire in spite of everything she’d tried to do to stop it. Without being able to help it, her mouth opened to the seductive pressure of his.

      He