Be Mine at Christmas(17)
Author: Brenda Novak

The mention of Kayla instantly raised Matt’s level of interest. “What for?”

“We’re going to Circus Circus, you know, for the kids. Then we’ll be staying over to have a buffet breakfast and do a little shopping. Christmas Eve is the day after tomorrow, so it’s pretty much our last chance. I thought I’d let you know in case you wanted to take the opportunity to be alone with Angela.”

Matt felt a sudden flicker of hope. Last night, he’d handled her the way he would a house fire—urgently and without finesse. She must’ve been disappointed. So…what if he brought her some flowers, took her out for a romantic dinner, spent the evening just getting to know her? If she didn’t touch him, he wouldn’t touch her. Then maybe she’d forgive him, let him start over… This time, he’d take it slower.

But she hadn’t called him even after he’d asked her to.

It was too late.

He shook his head. “Thanks, but I’m not going to bother her again. I don’t think she wants to see me anymore.”

“CAN WE GET IT FOR HIM? Please?” Kayla begged.

Angela didn’t have to ask For who? After breakfast, when they’d set off to do some Christmas shopping, Kayla had wanted to find a gift for Matt. Angela did, too. She just hadn’t expected to find anything quite like this.

“Please say yes,” Kayla said.

Angela lifted the sculpture of a fireman carrying a child to safety and read the plaque at the bottom. Safe from Imminent Danger.

Tracing a finger lightly over the face of the child, she took in the details—the smile, the rounded cheeks, the pigtails. It was a girl, which struck Angela as very significant.

“Angie?”

Angela blinked and finally answered. “Yes?”

“It’s perfect for him, don’t you think?”

It was perfect. It was also expensive, but his gifts to them hadn’t been cheap, and it said everything Angela wanted to say. Shelter her from harm. Keep her safe. Be a good daddy.

She could trust a fireman, right?

WHEN HE HEARD ANGELA at the station, asking to see him, Matt couldn’t believe it. He’d just decided she didn’t want anything to do with him. And now she was here?

Ruben, one of his men, directed her to Matt’s office.

Matt rounded the desk as Kayla came hurrying through the door.

“We got you a present,” she said breathlessly.

Angela followed, carrying a large square box wrapped in a paper decorated with little Christmas trees.

“You didn’t have to get me anything,” he said. But since it had brought them to the station, he was damn glad they had.

Kayla clasped her hands in front of her as if she could scarcely contain the excitement. “Open it!”

He would have, right away. Except Angela’s gaze swept over him from head to toe, so hot and hungry it nearly stole his breath. He hadn’t made any mistake last night—she wanted him as badly as he wanted her. So what was the problem?

He didn’t know, but he’d certainly ask. Because he now understood that his other plan would never have worked. Considering the force of what they were feeling, what they wanted, there was no way they’d be able to let their relationship develop slowly.

“Hi,” he said, his eyes locking with hers.

“Hi,” she murmured and gave him such a sexy, mysterious smile he got lost in it for a while—until Kayla tugged on his arm.

“Don’t you want to see what we got you?”

He doubted it could compare with what Angela had given him last night. Grinning, he took the package, set it on his desk and tore off the paper.

It was a bronze statue of a fireman saving a child.

“Do you like it?” Kayla asked.

He smiled as he stared at it. “I do. Very much. Thank you.”

“Now every time you look at it you’ll think of us,” she said.

He didn’t admit it, but he was afraid he couldn’t forget them even if he wanted to.

ANGELA REACHED FOR the phone half a dozen times without picking it up. Tonight was the night to tell him. Kayla had gone to Reno with Lewis and his family, so Angela was alone. She could talk to Matt, explain the pregnancy that had resulted from what had happened thirteen years ago and see what he’d like to do about it before she broke the news to Kayla.

Maybe he’d settle for annual or biannual visits. Why not? He wasn’t used to having a child. And it wasn’t as if Angela needed him for financial support. She did fine on her own. She’d suggest they share Kayla.

But what if he didn’t want to share? He didn’t seem like the type to have a part-time daughter. He seemed like the kind of man who claimed what belonged to him and took care of his own.

She wiped her sweaty palms on the old jeans she’d pulled on, along with a sweatshirt. She was scared. But picturing that essay, those question marks that had replaced Kayla’s last name, made Angela reach for the handset with enough resolve to get the job done. Kayla Jackson had a nice ring to it. Matt was a father to be proud of.

The phone rang just as Angela touched it. Taking a deep breath, she brought it to her ear. “Hello?”

“I want to see you. Will you come over?”

It was Matt. Of course. She’d known it would be.

Angela bit her lip. Could she really break her promise to Betty? What if he insisted on raising Kayla, and Stephanie managed to get her life together? Would he include her at all?

There were so many variables, so many risks….

“Angela?”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” she said and hung up.

CHAPTER EIGHT

STEPHANIE SAT ON HER COT and kept rocking, back and forth, back and forth. It was the only way to deal with the turmoil inside her. The methadone the nurse had given her was curbing her withdrawal symptoms, but nothing could ease her agitation over what she’d just learned.

When the nurse had called Angela’s work number, she’d been told that Angela was out of town. Then the nurse had explained that it was an emergency, and some assistant had said Angela had gone to Virginia City for the holidays.

Stephanie rocked faster. Virginia City. Angie had gone home without her. And she’d taken Kayla. After thirteen years.

Why? That was the question. There was nothing left in Virginia City.

Except maybe Matt.

ANGELA COULD SCARCELY breathe as she waited on Matt’s front step—and it didn’t get any easier once he opened the door.

Dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a blue striped shirt with a white T-shirt underneath, he was fresh from the shower. His hair was still damp and curled around his collar. She thought he looked better than she’d ever seen him. Especially when his lips curved into a crooked smile as his eyes swept over her, telling her that he liked what he saw just as much. “Come in.”