Alec helped Becca clear the hearth and lay a new fire for the expected guests, glancing over at her from time to time to make sure she had really recovered. The only other time he’d seen her cry was at the emergency room when she was ten. A few colleagues at the software startup had been prone to meltdowns when stressed, and her brother had mentioned Becca was under some pressure, too. But why?
She probably wouldn’t tell him if he asked. Plus, he didn’t need to know to complete his mission for Rob. Resigned, he went back to wiping the ornaments. He managed to save the glitter on many of the decorated red and green glass balls. The more damaged ones would simply look like well-loved family ornaments.
She stopped buffing the coffee table. “I’m almost done.”
“Take your time.” He swept the room with a gaze. “Where’s the angel?”
“Thank goodness I didn’t find this earlier. It would have been covered with smoke residue.” She opened the box and handed him the golden ornament. “I thought an angel was more appropriate than a star considering where we are.”
“Right.” Angels Glen. After settling the ornament at the top of the tree, he climbed down and dusted his hands. They were making progress. “I think the tree looks good.”
Becca rubbed down a sofa arm and gazed at the tree. “I agree. I can’t see any soot at all.”
“Told you it would be fine.”
She gathered her cleaning rags and glanced at the old Victorian clock on the low cabinets lining one wall. He appreciated that the hotel chain had kept his family’s heirloom, which had fascinated him as a kid. “It’s pretty late in the day for coffee.” She sagged against the sideboard, her brows lifting in question. “But I can make a new pot if you want.”
He didn’t want her to go to any trouble for him. “A glass of water would be great.”
“I’ve got that, too.” She started toward the kitchen.
He took the ladder out to the shed and returned, uncapping his bottle and studying her.
She set her own water on the marble island. “What about I treat you to a pizza from Ciro’s?”
“I hate to tell you this, but he’s been closed for years.”
“Darn. I’m craving a pizza.” Her mouth quirked to one side.
“Doesn’t mean we can’t make one.” Alec sipped. She was still thinking she needed to pay him somehow. “Or eat something else.”
Trixie’s muffled barking reminded them the dogs remained penned. Becca pushed off the counter. “I think it’s safe to let the dogs out now.”
“I’ll do that.” He detoured to open the office and followed their mutts into the kitchen.
Trixie danced in front of him, and he patted her and told her to sit. She sat. He fed her a bite of kibble and praised her.
“It’s getting dark.” She huffed out a sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose.
He set his water bottle down. “Are you going to cry again?”
“No.” She heaved out a big breath. “I’m fine if you don’t count the pizza craving.”
With her hair caught in a messy ponytail and streaks of grime on her pinched face, she didn’t look fine. He’d hoped his earlier reassurances would have helped, but she looked as if she still felt guilty. If not about the tree, then what? The “hard time” her brother had mentioned?
She tugged the elastic from her silky hair, the action pulling and holding his gaze. He leaned his hips against the counter. “Something besides the smoke mess is bothering you.”
“How did you know?”
He opened his mouth to mention her brother, but snapped his jaws shut. “I’ve never seen you this upset. Do you want to talk about it?”
She seemed about to speak, maybe even confide in him, when his satellite phone rang in the pocket of the vest hanging from a peg. Neither of them spoke. His unit sounded again, and he squelched a sigh. “I should probably answer this. There could be an emergency.”
“I’ll take the dogs out if you want privacy.”
He shook his head. “That’s not necessary.”
“But Brandy’s standing at the door, asking.” She let both pets out and followed them. “Come get us when you’ve finished.”
* * *
“Well, what do you know?” Becca asked no one in particular.
Certainly, the dogs weren’t paying her any attention. Both Trixie and Brandy sniffed around the bottom of the small wheeled commercial dumpster behind the row of bare lilac bushes. The pavement here ran behind the neighbors’ houses in one direction and in the other disappeared into the mountain woods.
“Becca?” Alec called from the backyard. “Where are you?”
“Finding the trash can.” She went through the gap in the branches and waved to him.
She had been on the verge of telling him about her ex-boyfriend but had been saved by the bell—literally. Now that she’d had time to think, she’d decided an explanation would serve only to embarrass her. One humiliation a day was enough.
“New plan.” Alec patted Brandy. “That was Mrs. Nettles. Her dog’s at the vet’s. His clinic is on the other side of the pass.”
“Oh no.” Becca climbed the back steps with him. “I hope it’s nothing serious.”
“I don’t think so. She wants to bring her pet home, but she can’t get over there. Her daughter has her car.”
“You’re going to drive her over to get her puppy, I bet.” Becca squelched her disappointment. She’d hoped he would stay a little longer. That possibility looked lost now. “I understand.”
A tiny groove cut between his dark eyebrows. “I’d like to, but you—”
She held up a hand to stop him. “We’ll have pizza another time, and Brandy can stay with me so you won’t worry about her while you’re gone.”
“Wait. This is where my new plan comes in.” He followed her into the kitchen. “We drive over together, drop Mrs. Nettles at the veterinarian’s. Her daughter plans to meet her there, and then we can take off. Find some pizza.”
He looked at her with an eager expression, making that errant lock of hair dip all the way to his eyebrows. “I know a great new pizza place there. Better than Ciro’s.”
That was quite an enticement. Becca braced her hands on the counter. As yummy as pizza sounded, she didn’t know where she would fit. Literally. Alec’s truck didn’t have a bench seat. “If this means riding in your truck bed, I don’t want to go, but we could take my car if you want? I probably will fit better in the back seat than you, so you’d have to drive.”
He pushed his hair back. “You trust me with your little coupe?”
She paused. Based on their tree-cutting excursion, Alec seemed like a safe driver. But maybe he wasn’t? “Is there any reason why I shouldn’t?”
“My driver’s license is clean, if that’s what you want to know.”
“Excellent news.” At least that proved he’d never run afoul of the traffic cops. “I’m thinking we won’t be running into any bears, either. I want my car to remain intact.”
“We shouldn’t, but then we won’t be leaving groceries inside.”
She nodded. “And we’ll be in the car driving home with the leftovers.”
“You really think there’s going to be any pizza left?”
* * *
Becca checked out the small bungalow with a front yard the size of a credit card as Alec parked the car in the drive. She stepped out when Mrs. Nettles rushed from the house.
“Thank you for getting here so fast, Alec. The vet said he’d wait for me to get there, but I’d hate to hold him late.” Her attention switched to Becca. “And you’re coming with us, too?”
“You remember Rebecca MacDonald? From high school?” Alec gestured to her, and she waved and smiled.
“Rebecca?” Mrs. Nettles peered through her glasses, tugging her Christmas reindeer sweater down around her ample hips. “You were in my mini-mart the other morning.”
Becca nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”
“I’m sure you weren’t expecting to meet me there, either. The store gets me out in the community and brings in enough for a trip to Cabo every year.”
Baja California? Becca never imagined her old English teacher would spend her retirement jetting off to Mexico. Mrs. Nettles gave her an approving onceover. “So, you’re living in Angels Glen now?”
“Temporarily.” Becca pulled the passenger seat forward. “Let me crawl into the back seat and you can sit up front.”
After climbing in, Mrs. Nettles turned around to speak to her. “You must stop by and catch me up on all your doings, but your return to town is worthy of celebration.”
“That’s going too far.” Becca laughed, heat warming her face. Mrs. Nettles sounded as if she’d been waiting for Becca to come back.
“Nonsense. I hope you’ll be here for the carol sing on Christmas Eve. We hold it at the park gazebo with a lighted tree. I have the music sheets, and you can get a candle at the store.” She put a hand on Alec’s arm when he settled behind the wheel. “I really appreciate you both running me over. Termi’s getting old, and being around the other dogs makes him nervous.”
“What breed of dog is Termi?” Becca asked.
“He’s a pedigreed dachshund. My cousin raises them, and she’s an Arnold Schwarzenegger fan. Termi’s short for the Terminator. You know that movie?”
“Sure do,” Becca agreed.
They got on the road out of town, and once over the mountains, Alec followed Mrs. Nettles’s directions to the veterinarian. They both went inside with her upon arrival. Termi had come through his surgery fine. When her daughter arrived, Mrs. Nettles climbed into the car with her puppy dog, waving her hand and reminding them about the Christmas Eve caroling.
Alec dangled her car key. “You want to drive now?”
“Why? You’re the one who knows where this fabulous pizza place is. The sooner we get there, the better. I’m starving.” Becca climbed into the passenger seat and waited for him to settle behind the wheel. “That was really a nice thing you did, bringing Mrs. Nettles to get her puppy dog.” As a star football player, Alec had always been popular in high school, but maybe he’d also been liked for his kindness and consideration. Sweet. “And I really appreciate your help today, too.” She tugged the sides of her vest closer. “With everything.”
“You’re welcome.” He rested a hand on the gear knob without staring the car. “But your hotel company shouldn’t have sent you down here on your own.”
She jerked upright. “Why not? I’m capable of doing the job.”
He groaned and stared out at the deepening dusk. The veterinarian’s office lights went dark. “Sorry. That came out all wrong.” He paused. “Okay?”
She didn’t know why his opinion mattered so much, but it did. She crossed her arms. “What did you mean to say?”
“I know you’re capable, but it’s unfair to provide you with no backup.”
“You’re right.” She eyed the frustration on Alec’s face. “I pretty much left the office without fully investigating the situation, but I’m still glad I came.”
“Why?” His brow furrowed.
“I wouldn’t have had a chance to get to know you again.” She slid her hands into her vest, unable to meet his gaze. Even if that were true—and she supposed it was—he didn’t need to know.
He remained silent, and she tugged a loose thread in her pocket. The silence stretched between them for what seemed forever. He was probably trying to find a way to tell her he felt just the opposite. She pulled her hands free and rubbed her palms down her thighs. “I’m anxious to try this pizza place.”
He reached over and squeezed her hand.
Tingles danced up her arm and lodged in her heart. They’d moved from mortal enemies to the friends level, and she didn’t want to feel all tingly and warm whenever Alec touched her. Did she?