Chapter Three

 

 

He'd made a mistake coming here. Derek sat across from the beautiful woman he'd met less than a week ago, lost in his own thoughts as the dinner progressed. When they'd loaded him into the ambulance, his throat and lungs had been raw. The last thing he remembered was thinking he was going to die. Each breath had been agony, then mercifully, he'd passed out. When he'd come to, she had been there, looking down at him with eyes that were so compassionate he knew she had to be an angel. Everything had been white, and silver, and then she came into focus, smiling at him. His own guardian angel.

She'd probably laugh her ass off if she knew what he was thinking. But it was true. She would never know how much that meant to him. He was used to being alone. He'd forced himself to get used to it, now that he'd lost everyone in the world who ever meant anything to him. He knew not to get close, but God, sometimes...sometimes he wanted that so badly.

Even though he'd known he was going to die there in that burning hell, guiltily, he'd had the accompanying thought—at least I'm not alone. Kevin had been there. But Kevin had a family. When the ceiling had started to go, Derek had pushed Kevin out of the way. The burning beam had landed on him, pinning him, fracturing the ribs in his left side. He'd saved Kevin, like he couldn't save Jared, and nearly lost his own life in the process.

But who would miss him if he were gone? Kevin had a wife and three beautiful kids. He had nothing. No one.

Here Carlie was again, his angel, coming to his rescue. His lips curved up at that thought. It could just be coincidence that this was what she'd planned to cook, but he figured as thoughtful as she was, she'd made things that she thought wouldn't be so hard on his throat when he swallowed. Like mashed potatoes. For him, not for Rick. Even the rolls were soft, not crusty.

"Derek? Are you all right?"

Carlie's voice brought him out of his thoughts. She reached out to touch his hand and he tensed.

"Yeah...I'm fine. This is really good, Carlie."

"Thanks," she responded, but he could see she was wondering about his lack of appetite.

Just then, Rick's cell phone rang. He excused himself and went into the living room to take the call.

"Uh-oh," Carlie murmured.

There was no doubt from hearing Rick's side of the conversation that he was going to have to cut dinner short. In a few seconds, he re-entered the dining room, an apologetic look on his face.

"Gotta go?" Derek asked.

"They've got three alarms out already on this one. Looks like some kind of accelerant was used. It's an apartment complex they stopped working on last May when the company folded." He shook his head.

"Insurance money," Derek said, taking a bite of potatoes. "Want me to ride along?"

Rick grinned. "Nice try. No, you stay here and get well. If I don't see you again before Friday, you two have a Merry Christmas. And thanks for dinner, Carlie."

"You're welcome." She waved a goodbye as he picked up his coat and hurried out the door, leaving Derek and Carlie alone.

Derek's heart pounded oddly in what felt like anticipation. He sat forward in his chair, meeting her eyes, and saw the reflection of his own uncertain emotions there.

"Well, it certainly sounds bad." Carlie looked down at her plate. "Thank goodness the complex was empty." She offered a tentative smile as she stood up, reaching for Derek's plate.

"I'll get it." He didn't want her waiting on him like he was an invalid.

She shook her head. "Nope. You just rest for a minute or two while I clear the table. Then, we're going to go tree shopping."

He couldn't help but smile at her childlike excitement. She seemed so happy, just looking forward to something simple like buying a tree. "They're probably picked over by now," he said teasingly.

"Maybe I'll find a bargain," she replied saucily.

Derek laughed. "We better get going. I'll have to get it into the stand and—hey, do you have a bucket we can put some sand and water in? If we can stand it up in that, it'll last longer."

Eagerly, Carlie nodded. "I do. I actually had a real tree um...about five or six years ago. Of course, I had to do all that myself. My husband, Dan, wasn't into Christmas." She gave a short laugh and Derek could hear the self-deprecation in it. "I wish I'd known that before I married him."

Derek stood up, careful not to look at her. The hurt in her voice made him want to go find Dan and kick his ass. He picked up two of the bowls. "Dan sounds like a real prince."

"He was." She cocked her head caustically. "Or at least, he thought he was. We weren't married long. Two years."

She looked so alone, standing in front of the sink, trying to keep her voice steady. She turned to face him, a too-bright smile on her luscious lips as she pushed the memories away. "I have to get a coat." She started past him, and then stopped, looking up into his eyes. "Thank you," she said quietly. "Thanks so much for going with me."

For a moment, Derek couldn't speak. She was thanking him? If she'd only known just how much he dreaded Christmas this year! In the short time he'd known Carlie Thomas, she'd not only erased the dread, she'd brought back some of the holiday spirit into his life—something he thought could never happen again.

He reached out and laid his palm against her cheek. "You shouldn't be thanking me, Carlie. I'm the one who's monopolizing your hospitality." She started to protest, but he shook his head. "Christmas...may not be the best time for us to have met."

Surprising him, she put her hand over his, holding it close to her face. "I'm thinking—it's the very best time of all, Derek. Are you sure you feel up to Christmas tree shopping?"

He smiled at the concern in her eyes. It had been a long time since any woman other than Carlie had looked at him like this. He could get used to it. "If we don't go, you'll have to take the last one left. It'll be a Charlie Brown Christmas tree."

Carlie's eyes rounded. "I'll hurry. Can you be ready in five minutes?"

He stepped back to let her by, fighting down the urge to kiss her. If you do, you'll ruin everything. It's too soon. Too soon. He forced the teasing note into his tone. "Lady, I'm ready now. Let me grab my jacket."