body shuddered of its own volition. “Have they proved arson on the art-gallery fire?”
“Yes, but catching the culprit is something else again. The last notorious one in Providence set over 150 fires before he was caught.”
“That’s horrifying!”
“Agreed, but let’s not talk about work tonight.”
No. Let’s not. What he did for a living kept her awake at night.
He made desultory conversation with her about the weather as they drove to Duncan Circle, an area not that far from downtown. The five houses on the circle were lit up for Christmas. One of the yards had a full manger display. Half a dozen cars had parked near number 42. He pulled behind another car and parked.
Rick escorted her inside the foyer and helped her off with her coat before removing his. People had congregated in the living room, which had been beautifully decorated for the holidays.
While Rick introduced her to Deanna and Benton Ames, two excited little girls came running up to him with a younger boy trailing them.
“Daddy!” Tessa hugged him.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
“Come in the family room. We’re watching the Grinch.”
“I will in a minute. Tessa? You remember Andrea. I invited her to the party. Andrea? These are Deanna and Benton’s children, Julie and Matt.”
“Hello.” Andrea smiled at them.
“Hi,” the two children said, but Tessa gave her only a brief, cool glance.
It crushed Andrea, who was instantly aware Rick’s daughter wasn’t happy to see her. Hopefully she could get her to warm up. “It’s so nice to meet your friends, Tessa. Are you having a wonderful time?”
The others nodded, but Tessa only stared at her. On impulse Andrea decided to give the presents out now. “I brought each of you an early gift for Christmas.”
Once she’d handed them over, Julie’s eyes shone like stars. “Do we have to wait till Christmas to open them?”
Andrea smiled. “No. You can do it now.”
“Is it okay?” Julie looked to her parents for permission.
Benton winked. “Go ahead. I’m curious to see myself.”
His children tore off the wrappings, but it took some urging from Rick before his daughter undid her gift. Julie squealed in delight as she held up her dress. Matt had already put the hat on his head.
Deanna picked up the wrapping paper. “I believe you’ve made our children’s Christmas, Andrea. Thank you for being so thoughtful and generous.”
Rick nodded. “I’ve been telling her she needs to be careful or she’s going to give away all her shop’s profits.”
“Where children are concerned, it’s worth it.”
“Agreed,” Deanna murmured. “What do you all say to Andrea?”
“Thank you, Andrea.” This from Matt.
“I love my dress,” Julie said.
There was nothing more than a mumble from Tessa, who held the dirndl in her hand.
“Why don’t you girls go in the bedroom and put on your new dresses for us to see.”
“Come on, Tessa.” Julie started running and Rick’s daughter followed her down the hall. Matt trailed after them.
A frown marred Rick’s handsome features. “I’m sorry about that, Andrea. I don’t know what’s gotten into my daughter.”
Andrea could tell her appearance had been a huge shock to Tessa. To see her daddy with another woman at a party like this changed her happy child’s world. That was what had caused her to dart away unable to appreciate the gift. But what she said aloud was, “I think she’s still upset about the gingerbread man missing from the shop.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t believe she behaved so badly.”
“It’s all right. Please don’t worry about it.”
Deanna gave them an understanding glance. “She’ll get over what’s wrong before long. In the meantime I have to tell you that your red suit is incredible. Where on earth did you get it?”
“In Germany.”
“I thought it had to be an import. I wish they made clothes like that here. Except you have to look perfect in it the way you do.”
“Thank you, Deanna.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Benton grinned.
“You’re making her blush,” Rick teased. He was wrong. Rick was the reason she was blushing, because he hadn’t taken his eyes off her. “Come on, Andrea. I’ll introduce you to the others.”
From what she could tell, all of them were colleagues associated with the work Rick and Benton did. They talked shop, laughing and joking at the same time. One of them was a female firefighter named Susie Anderson. The attractive redheaded woman couldn’t take her eyes off Rick.
Andrea understood. In her life she’d met her share of good-looking men, but few came close to Rick with his dark, almost brooding looks. Gunter’s blond, blue-eyed coloring had given her husband a different kind of appeal.
While Rick was discussing the recent rash of fires in the area with Benton and the others, Andrea turned to Susie, who seemed very friendly. “How long have you been a firefighter?”
“Eight years.”
Andrea couldn’t imagine it. “I guess everyone asks you how you got into it.”
The other woman smiled. “I come from a family of firefighters starting with my grandfather, then my father and all my brothers. I was the youngest of five children and the only girl. It’s the only world I ever knew and I became one as soon as I could qualify, to prove to my brothers I could do it, too.”
Laughter escaped Andrea’s lips. “You’re a real heroine to me.”
“In my family I had to fight for my place, and I guess it rubbed off.”
“I know I’d be terrified to enter a burning building. I honestly don’t know how you find the courage to do it.”
“You get used to it. I’d go crazy if I had to sit at a desk all day.”
“I wouldn’t like that either.”
“Of course, I’d give it up if the right man came along and we had children, but until that day comes...”
Sometimes the children don’t come. But Andrea didn’t dare tell Susie that.
“I’m
