Page 305 of Screwged for Christmas

Aspen reached across her lap and killed the engine, which kept right on purring as if nothing happened. “You know you didn’t have to take out my Santa sleigh to get my attention.”

He gently gathered her arms in his hands as he slowly checked her for any injuries. “I don’t think you have any broken bones but you shouldn’t move too fast. It was a light impact, all things considered.”

“Is that a dildo?” she managed to ask without her jaw hurting too much.

Aspen busted out a laugh. “Long story. Don’t move your neck, sweetheart. Let me check you over real quick and see if you need to go to the hospital.”

“Nah. I’m good. Just a bit of a headache. I just banged my head a little. Freaking old cars don’t exactly have all the trimmings of the newer models. Like side airbags.”

He ran his hands over every inch of her body and if he wasn’t careful, he was going to find what his touch did to her nipples.

When he paid no attention, she slowed his hands with a soft touch. “Aspen, look at me, I’m fine.” She pressed a single finger under his chin and drew his gaze to hers. “Honestly.”

He looked tense and worried but steadily in control. That was her Aspen.

He pressed his mouth into a fine line before his features relaxed as he accepted her words. “You scared me to death,” he said in a low voice. “Had I known you liked to play bumper cars with Santa sleighs I would have waited a couple of days before setting up the rig.”

She busted out laughing and winced.

“Easy. Sorry. You’ll probably be sore for a couple of days from the pressure of the seatbelt over your ribs. Good thing your gran still has this hunk of metal. It’s like a tank. I think you could go a few rounds with a semi-truck and walk away unscathed.”

“Good to know. I won’t press my luck if you don’t mind.”

Aspen lifted a brow and smiled that dreamy, sexy smile that made her body tingle with silent promises of long nights by a fire.

“Better yet,” he said, his voice low and gruff.

“Either you’re my guardian angel or you’re really good at playing a hero and have epic right time, right place kind of timing.”

He tightened his grip on her hands enough to help ease her nerves. “I’ll go with the right place right time, I guess.” He shrugged with a wide grin that brought warmth to his features.

“Either way, lucky me.” He continued to look at her as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. This did nothing for her already racing heart. Emotions bubbled as one hundred and one questions came at her all at once. She was just in an accident, for God’s sake. She should be shaking and scared, right? But as Aspen continued to check her for injuries she couldn’t help but feel…safe.

“I think you’re okay to move, but let me help you out.”

He unclipped her seatbelt, slid an arm beneath her legs and had her out of the car and firmly in his arms before she could protest.

“Wait. My planner and phone.” He lowered her down and reached in to snag her things from the car’s front seat.

He handed over her things and scooped her up again and held her tightly against his broad muscled chest; his strong arms more comforting than she cared to admit to at the moment. “So you’re going all out on the hero stuff, huh.” She looped her arms around his neck.

Aspen smirked. “It’s written in the job description.” Ivy felt his muscles roll beneath her touch as he shrugged. “Besides, my mom always said if you’re going to do something…”

“…do it right the first time,” Ivy finished for him. “Smart woman.”

“Agreed. Let’s get you inside and warmed up.” Aspen walked into the firehouse to the tune of several catcalls and low whistles from the on-duty firefighters. He stepped through a side door that led directly into a kitchen and a wave of warmth chased away the cold air that followed them inside.

Off to the right, she could see the fire engines and all their equipment. In the far end of the kitchen was a set of stairs she assumed led to sleeping quarters.

“Ivy, good to see you!” Several of the guys she went to school with waved and smiled her way.

Ivy gasped with surprise. “I see the big dix crew is here!” she teased with a laugh.

Rowdy, masculine laughs filled the kitchen.

Luther, one of Dixen’s firehouse crew stood a playful grin spreading across his handsome face. He looked like he had a long night and was ready for bed, but happy all the same. Pointing at her hero, who currently had his brows pinched together in a cringe, said, “Aspen here has a way of keeping us all together. Only a few of us spread wings and left town. The rest of us either joined the police force or stuck it out here.”

Ivy nodded. “I see.” Another aspect of Aspen she remembered vividly. He was a born leader whether he liked it or not.

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