Mistletoe Season by Michelle Major

CHAPTER TWO

TWODAYSLATER, at seven in the morning, Sam turned the corner onto the block where he lived, his pace even and his breath coming out in rhythmic puffs. The sky was just starting to lighten, but he’d gone for an early run when sleep had been elusive.

Before he’d joined the fire department a year and a half ago, Sam had never had trouble falling asleep. It didn’t matter if he was at home or on a buddy’s couch or in a woman’s bed—and that last was the location he preferred the most.

Something had changed since coming to Magnolia. He’d changed. His work had shown him a side of humanity that made him grow up fast. He’d first pursued the job because he liked the fast pace, the risk and the flexibility of shift work. But it was the service aspect that now meant the most to him.

Helping people in times of need humbled him, and the things he’d witnessed as part of his work deepened his commitment to the job. He wanted to earn the respect of his captains and coworkers, at least while he was on the clock. As much as he might want to some days, he couldn’t go back to the stupid lug of a happy-go-lucky guy he’d been.

Yet he also couldn’t quite let go of that persona, and keeping up appearances was a crap-ton of work.

His heart leaped in his chest as he noticed Bella in the front yard with Tater.

Just thinking about those frantic moments when he wasn’t sure his Toyota would stop before slamming into her was enough to make him break out in a cold sweat that had nothing to do with physical exertion.

But the averted tragedy wasn’t the reason for his accelerated heartbeat.

That was all Bella—her innate sweetness and easy beauty. He had to admit, it had taken him a while to notice what a prize she was, a quintessential—and literal—girl next door. She had straight chestnut-colored hair that fell just below her shoulders and a slim figure with the most beautiful skin he’d ever seen.

The other day in the vet’s office, Sam had felt like a lecher thinking about her softness when he was supposed to be tending to her injuries.

A creeper neighbor was the last thing a woman who lived alone needed in her life.

And Bella was his friend. That was the kicker. She was not only pretty, but she was fun to be around. She didn’t take herself too seriously or try to be someone she wasn’t. She was at home with herself in a way Sam envied. Like she’d never need to run away or pretend to be a person she wasn’t because it’s what people expected of her.

He wouldn’t ruin a real friendship with physical complications, no matter how she made him feel. Sam had dated plenty in his twenty-six years, but it was all casual. It didn’t mean anything. Bella meant something to him.

Tater, who was on a leash, noticed Sam first. The dog barked and hobbled in happy circles.

Bella shushed him and pulled the leash tighter so the dog couldn’t jump.

“He’s feeling better I see.” Sam hurried forward and dropped to the damp ground to accept the puppy’s effusive greeting.

“He has no respect for that cast,” Bella said, but she was smiling. “Who knew the hardest part of a broken leg would be keeping the dog calm over the next month so he can heal without reinjuring himself?”

Sam chuckled and petted Tater Tot in long strokes as the dog settled. “You really don’t have much experience with puppies.”

“Tater is like trial by fire,” she answered.

The afternoon she’d adopted the dog from Magnolia’s popular animal rescue, Furever Friends, had been the first time he’d noticed Bella as more than a friend.

She’d come home with the fluffy, wriggly puppy, and the look of adoration she’d given the dog... Well, Sam was still embarrassed to admit he’d been jealous of the animal.

“He’s going to miss you while you’re away.” He frowned when she let out a huge sigh. “Speaking of away, why are you still here? I thought you were leaving early this morning for Colorado.”

“I canceled my trip,” she said, and looked past him but not before he heard the catch in her voice.

“Why?” he asked as he straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow with his shirtsleeve.

She gave Tater’s leash a gentle tug. “I can’t leave him with a pet sitter while he’s in a cast. That would be too much to ask.”

“I’ll keep him,” Sam offered without thinking.

Bella’s soft smile did funny things to his insides. Things he didn’t want or need from a woman. “Your shifts at the fire department don’t exactly lend themselves to puppy sitting,” she pointed out. “Plus, aren’t you going to visit your family for Christmas, as well?”

He nodded. “I’ll take Tater with me. Come on, Bella. I feel bad enough about my part in his injury. You can’t spend Christmas alone. The guilt will be too much.”

Her pretty brown eyes rolled heavenward. “We both know guilt isn’t part of your makeup, Sam. I’ll be fine. Magnolia is so festive at this time of year. I’ll walk around downtown and enjoy the lights and decorations. Binge-watch all those shows languishing on my DVR. Have a mini spa day. It will be relaxing.”

“Tell me you went to the dance last night.” As part of the town’s annual holiday festival, the town council had coordinated some big dance at the old textile mill that was in the process of being renovated. There’d been flyers up all over the station publicizing it because the wife of one of the senior firefighters was in charge of marketing for the town. He’d made fun of the event to Bella, only to discover that she was excited about it.

He’d learned that his neighbor loved to dance.

Her smile widened. “I did go for an hour once Tater fell asleep in his crate. You should have seen how beautiful it looked. The guy who’s running the flower shop in town helped organize things, so there were these adorable arrangements of winter greenery on every table. It was perfect.”

“And did you dance?” Sam asked, unable to resist imagining spinning Bella on the dance floor.

“A little.” She gave a small shake of her hips that made his mouth go dry. Ridiculous, since she was wearing shapeless gray sweatpants and an oversize flannel shirt for the early-morning potty break.

“Any slow dances?” He forced a casual tone even as he questioned his sanity at fishing for that sort of information. But the thought of another man holding Bella—

“Nope.” Another sigh. “No one even asked me. I give off too many teacher vibes, according to my assistant principal.”

“There’s nothing wrong with teacher vibes.”

“They’re not sexy.”

Sam choked a little. He did not want to talk to Bella about sexy.

“I would have danced with you.”

“You weren’t there,” she answered with an arched eyebrow. “Besides, I don’t want a pity dance.”

“It wouldn’t be—”

“Save it, Anderson,” she interrupted with a wave of her hand. “I’m sure if you’d been there you would have been occupied—or maybe mauled is a better word—by your legions of adoring fans. Not to mention all those thirsty exes.”

“I can’t believe you used the word thirsty that way.”

Her grin widened. “I looked it up on Urban Dictionary to make sure I had the right usage. Too eager to get something or desperate. My knowledge of current slang is impressive, right?”

He laughed, a common occurrence when he was talking with Bella. One he hadn’t realized was as important as it had become until lately. “Don’t stay here alone, Bell. Come with me to the mountains. My dad and stepmom close down their resort for Christmas every year to accommodate the family.” The words spilled out before he thought better of them. “I’ll make sure you get your own cabin if you want privacy. Just come with me. I’m only staying a week. It will make me feel better about almost running over both you and Tater.”

“There’s that reference to guilt again.” She gave him an odd look. “Honestly, I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“I might surprise you with my depth.”

“Doubtful,” she answered, and he didn’t let the sting of that word show on his face. She studied him for a few weighted moments. “But okay. If you’re sure your family won’t mind? It would be better than a movie marathon, that’s for sure.”

Satisfaction rolled through Sam like an easy wave. “Are you kidding? My family is going to love you.”