Dreaming Of Christmas: A Fool's Gold Christmas / Only Us: A Fool's Gold Holiday. Susan Mallery

       Chapter Six

      Dante walked into the Fool’s Gold fire station with a list and an idea for a plan. He spotted Charlie by her rig and called out to her.

      She turned to him and raised her eyebrows. “You’re wearing a suit.”

      He glanced down at his clothes and then back at her. “Yes.”

      “Looks uncomfortable.”

      “I’m used to it.”

      Charlie was tall, over five-ten, he would guess, with broad shoulders and plenty of muscle. He didn’t know much about what it took to be a firefighter, but he knew physical strength was a part of it. Still, at that moment, she had the happy, glowing smile of a woman in love.

      “You didn’t come here to model clothes,” she said. “What’s up?”

      “I heard you spoke to Evie about a work party for her sets. I wanted to talk to you about that. How do I get something like that organized?”

      “You volunteering?”

      “I am.”

      “Know which end of a hammer hits the nail?”

      “I’ve done construction.”

      She looked him up and down. “I have my doubts.”

      “It’s how I got through my fancy college.”

      “Was it fancy?”

      “There were bows and lace.”

      She grinned. “Okay, I like a man who can take a little teasing. Now, about the work party. Do you know Patience McGraw?”

      “No.”

      “She’s a hair stylist, and her daughter is in Evie’s class. Which means nothing to you. Okay, the point is she mentioned the work party, as well. So we’ve been coordinating. Let me get my notes.”

      She disappeared out a side door, then reappeared a minute later, carrying a piece of paper. There were a couple of dozen names and phone numbers on it.

      “Evie has a supply list,” Dante told her. “We put that together when we went to see the sets.”

      “Good. We’re thinking next Saturday. It’s early enough in the season that not everyone is busy.” She waved the names and phone numbers. “How many people are you willing to call?”

      “As many as you want.”

      “I like that. You have potential.” She tore the paper in half and handed one of the pieces to him. “Oh, and make sure Rafe, Shane and Clay are there. I keep meaning to mention it, but I haven’t yet and I’m working a double shift.”

      “I’ll get them there.”