Author

Chapter One

Spencer McBride loved Christmas. He especially loved Christmas in Last Stand, Texas. He loved the whole season. The parties, the food and drink, the Christmas trees, the decorations, Santa and his elves, the Christmas market, Christmas carols, presents, mistletoe. If it had to do with Christmas, Spencer loved it.

It wasn’t a secret. Everyone who knew Spencer knew he loved Christmas.

The tree-trimming party was an open house at the Corbyn Mansion, and took place every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to start off the season. Everyone in town was invited. Trees for people to decorate, each with a different theme, were placed in every room on the ground floor. The whole place was lit up like a—well, a Christmas tree. Emma, Delilah and Amelia Corbyn really knew how to throw a party. Delicious cookies and beverages, alcoholic and non, were set on tables in each room. Since Delilah Corbyn was the chef who owned Dragonfly restaurant, the food was always great.

The Corbyns had outdone themselves this time. Mistletoe hung everywhere. In the doorways, from chandeliers, even in unexpected places like over a couch or hanging from the mantel. He wondered if one of the women had plans and, if so, who they planned to catch. He said as much to his brother Graham and Graham’s wife Bella. They were still newlyweds so he figured they’d already scoped out any excuse to kiss.

What’s with the mistletoe?

This is my first Corbyn tree-decorating party, Bella said. Don’t they usually have mistletoe?

Yes, Graham said.

At the same time both men said, But not this much.

Who is that pretty redhead? Spencer asked catching sight of a woman he didn’t know. She wore a long-sleeved, sparkly dark red dress. It hugged her curves lovingly but the best part, in Spencer’s opinion, was that it was blessedly short, showing off dynamite legs. You’d think with her red hair, it wouldn’t look good, but Mama Mia, you’d be wrong.

I don’t know, Graham said. Do you, Bella?

Bella shook her head. I haven’t seen her before.

Neither have I. And he’d have remembered her, that’s for damn sure.

He set off to wrangle an intro to the cute redhead. But he couldn’t find anyone who knew her. And she’d disappeared. He thought he’d find her in one of the rooms at the Corbyn Mansion, but no luck so far. Maybe she’d left already.

As he left the room someone called his name and said hello. He waved, and looking back over his shoulder, he ran smack into a woman in the doorway. He tried to grab her to steady her, but missed.

Oh, crap, the redhead said, wiping at her dress ineffectually. He realized her glass of wine was now empty.

Damn. Totally my fault, he said. I hope that wasn’t red wine.

Looking down, she said, No, it’s white. Or it was. Thank goodness.

Her voice was low-pitched, sweet and warm, a mix of bourbon and honey. Spencer snatched several napkins from a passing waiter. I’m really sorry. I’ll pay for the dry cleaner.

She looked at him then and smiled. No, it’s my fault as much as yours. I wasn’t looking where I was going either.

Her eyes were blue. Not plain old blue but a clear blue the color of the Mediterranean at sunrise. Eyes fringed with thick, dark lashes and set in a face with high cheekbones and a mouth made for kissing. He looked upward and smiled.

What? She looked up too.

Mistletoe, Spencer said, pointing upward.

She appeared startled, then flustered. Uh, I don’t think so.

Unsurprised, Spencer laughed. How about we settle for a handshake? He held out his hand.

She put her much smaller hand in his and shook with a firm grip. I’m Georgie Durant.

Spencer McBride. You must be new in town. Or just visiting. Obviously he hoped she was the former.

Yes, I’m new. I just moved here about a week ago. Some of my coworkers brought me to the party. I worried I was crashing but— She shrugged. They swore it didn’t matter.

Way too many people here to worry about one more. Besides, the Corbyns welcome everyone to the party. It’s tradition. Since they still stood in the doorway, he looked up again. Like mistletoe.

She laughed. Nice try, but it’s still not happening.

He grinned but didn’t reply.

Lana Jones, a paramedic he worked with sometimes, stopped to talk to Georgie. After greeting Spencer, she pulled Georgie away with her. Looking over her shoulder, Georgie said, Nice to meet you. Maybe I’ll see you around.

I can guarantee you will, Spencer muttered to himself.

The next time he saw her she was standing in the doorway of the library. Under the mistletoe. Again. The library was Emma Corbyn’s domain, which was reasonable since she was Last Stand’s head librarian. Books lined shelves from floor to ceiling. He’d bet his last dollar they were organized just like the public library. There was a huge tree on one side of the room, already partially decorated with lights and some ornaments. A roaring fire, dark wood furniture with red upholstery, and an oriental-style rug gave the room an elegant vibe. Knowing the Corbyn ancestors had been in Last Stand since the Texas Revolution, he knew there were antiques all over the place. Finally, a table with a bunch of kids making something with glue and sparkles completed the picture.

The woman in the doorway made the setting perfection. At least this time he hadn’t actually run into her. He walked up behind her and said near her ear, You’re standing under the mistletoe again. Some men might wonder if that was deliberate.

I am not. Georgie looked up and frowned. Purely accidental. Besides, it’s hard to avoid. And it’s still not happening.

Darn. Oh, well, no harm in trying. I’m Spencer and I’m very single.

Georgie laughed. Well, that’s original. I’ll give you that. Most men don’t come right out and say it.

I wanted to be clear, so that you’d know when I ask you out it’s legit.

Hmm.

That was noncommittal. What about you? Any husband or boyfriend?

Oh, I’m single too.

Great. We have something in common. Besides meeting under the mistletoe.

Just then the carolers came through. Dressed in Victorian period clothes, they circulated through all the rooms singing Christmas carols. Problem was, he turned around and she was gone. Damn, why did she keep disappearing?

Ordinarily he’d have shrugged and taken it as a sign. But there was something about Georgie Durant that intrigued him, so he kept looking.

He poked his head into each room, determined to at least get her phone number the next time he saw her. Unless she’d left already. Luckily, she hadn’t. He found her in the foyer, standing under another sprig of mistletoe that hung up high from a chandelier.

Hi.

Hi. Why do we keep running into each other?

Probably because I’ve been looking for you. You realize you’ve done it again, right?

Done it again?

He cast his eyes upward. You should be more careful. All men aren’t as understanding as I am, he added modestly.

She looked up too, and frowned. Oh, for—I can’t go around looking up every time I stop to talk or to glance around a room.

I suppose not. But you do seem to have a knack for the mistletoe.

Entirely accidental. I’ve never been to a party with mistletoe coming out the yin-yang.

Spencer laughed. Great description. How about we shake hands again? Unless you’ve changed your mind? he added, knowing she hadn’t.

You’re very persistent, aren’t you?

You say that like it’s a problem. Solemnly, he held out his hand. They shook and he thought again that she had a surprisingly strong grip. Maybe she was a physical therapist.

So tell me, Georgie Durant, what brought you to Last Stand?

A new job. I’ve been in Houston for the last few years and I needed a change.

Who do you work for?

The fire department. I’m a paramedic.

That explained her grip. Spencer stared at her. He’d been off for the last week or he’d surely have met her.

Spencer? Why are you staring at me?

Sorry. I was just surprised. I work for the Last Stand Fire Department too. Firefighter paramedic.

Really? Why haven’t I met you? I’ve been here a week.

I’ve been on a break for the last week and out of town. I knew they were looking for another paramedic but no one told me you were the new hire. Which he’d take up with his so-called buddies. I can see why, of course.

I don’t understand. What does that mean?

Are you kidding? A beautiful single woman joins the paramedics and not one of my friends tells me?

She blushed and laughed. Beautiful is stretching it but thanks.

He looked at her, taking in the wavy red curls, picture-perfect face and killer body in that sparkly red dress. She was cute, but a beautiful kind of cute. Nope. If anything, beautiful is an understatement.

*

Want to go sit somewhere and talk for a while? Spencer asked.

Spencer might not have heard of her, but she’d heard of him. Earlier, when she asked Marcella Henderson, the friend who’d brought her to the party, about him Marcella’s response had been, Spencer McBride? Yeah, he’s a great guy. Great-looking. Hot. A bit of a flirt but he’s a lot of fun. Why?

No reason. I ran into him earlier tonight. Literally ran into him.

Marcella laughed. That’s a novel way to meet a guy.

Tell me about it. A flirt who’s a lot of fun. Well, that had warned her off. But still, she admitted to curiosity. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to simply talk to him. She was going to work with him, after all.

He led her to a sofa in one of the less busy rooms. She wasn’t sure what they called this room. There were so many rooms she couldn’t keep up. Only a few other people were in there and they were over by the tree, talking. The room was small and cozy, with dark wood furniture and a blazing fireplace, a parquet floor with a beautiful Aubusson carpet and a smaller tree that was mostly decorated by now. And cookies and beverages set out on a table.

Do you want a cookie? Spencer asked her.

Yes, how did you know?

He was grinning widely. You had a gleam in your eyes that said, ‘Chocolate. I must have chocolate.’

What are you, a mind reader?

No, but I know a fellow chocolate lover when I see one. He got up, walked to the table and came back with cookies—chocolate, naturally—on a paper plate. He took one and handed her the plate.

She took one, bit into it and nearly moaned with pleasure. Oh, my God, this is so good.

Courtesy of Delilah Corbyn. She owns Dragonfly restaurant.

I’ll have to try it out if these cookies are an indication of her food.

Trust me, the rest of their food is great too. He leaned back and relaxed. Casually dressed in a pair of dark slacks and a button-down, long-sleeved dark green shirt, he was something to look at.

Stop drooling, idiot. So he’s cute. Big deal.

So, Georgie, tell me about you. You said you left your last job because you needed something different. Why did you choose Last Stand?

She had to finish the cookie before she could speak. Which gave her time to consider her answer. She sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him she’d left primarily because of a failed love affair. No, that was a tidbit she’d keep to herself, thank you very much. Partly because they had an opening. Partly because a friend of mine who used to live here told me I’d love it here. But mostly because I wanted out of Houston and the Hill Country has always seemed like a great place to live. I’ve visited the area a few times over the years. When I seriously considered moving, I stayed in Fredericksburg for a while and visited Last Stand. I really liked it here, so I took the job when they offered.

All very good reasons. We’re lucky to have you.

How do you know that? You haven’t worked with me yet.

Because the department wouldn’t have hired you otherwise.

Oh. She hadn’t thought of it that way. Are you a local?

Born and raised, he said with a nod. I left for a while for training and worked for a year and a half in Dallas but I came back. My entire family is here.

I met a Dr. McBride. I’m guessing he’s your brother? He was with the woman who owns the pie shop. Charlie, I think she said.

That’s Turner. I have two brothers, both doctors. My dad is a retired GP.

I’ve heard about him too. Everyone speaks so highly of him.

Yup. I’m the renegade. Well, besides my sister Jessie. She raises mustangs.

Oh, you have a ranch?

My family does. Jessie runs it now, with some help from our mother.

So your sister’s a cowgirl. Are you a cowboy?

He laughed. Not anymore. I still ride. And help Jessie with the horses, mostly when I can’t get out of it.

You said you were a renegade. Is that because you’re not a doctor?

Right. I like medicine but all those years of school were not my thing.

You need education to be a firefighter paramedic.

True. But not twelve years of it. I wanted to get on with my career but I still wanted to be involved with medicine.

Good point. So you’re happy with your career?

I love it, he said simply.

That was refreshing to hear. A lot of people at her last job weren’t happy. But they wouldn’t do anything to change it. They just complained. How do you split up your work? I’m so new I don’t really know much about how the department works. I’ve only been out on a few calls, and they were with Marcella.

Marcella’s good. But the whole department is good. You’ll like working here. He reached over and took another cookie. When he finished he said, "You asked how it works. We—those of us who are also firefighters—rotate through. We have set days, but