Page 307 of Screwged for Christmas

“No need. I’ll take you wherever you need to go,” offered Aspen before he slipped through the doorway and out of sight.

Yep. Just as overprotective and take charge. She’d argue her point and make the call herself just to rile him up a bit, but she didn’t have the heart to take away the joy she saw on his face while caring for her.

Soft, sappy and lining yourself up for more heartache.

She needed to get control of herself.

Kade gathered her in his arms again and took a quick glance to make sure Aspen was out of hearing range and then leaned in. “Between you and me, it’s about time someone took out that hideous monstrosity. That thing was fugly to the tenth degree. Scared half the town’s kids and I’ll swear it under oath if asked. It turns into an egg-throwing bull's eye for the teenagers before Christmas or a dildo rack. More often than not both.”

Ivy hid a smile behind her gloved hand and the brotherly jab Kade delivered to Aspen’s decorations.

“Kade Kennedy. It’s so good to see you.”

“You too baby girl. Still sexy as ever. How do you not have a train of horny fuckers not trailing after you a mile long?”

That was Kade. filthy-mouthed laid-back, and a sense of humor wider than the Grand Canyon.

“Glad you’re okay. I mean, I know you wanted to make an entrance when you came by the fire station for yours truly, but…WOW! You really outdid yourself!” Kade hooked his thumbs through his suspenders and bounded on the balls of his feet with a playful energy.

Like the rest of the crew, he wore a long-sleeved white cotton pullover neatly tucked into worn, black jeans that outlined powerful thighs and a well-endowed package.

From the looks of it, he was the only one that liked the use of suspenders, which he worked like a Don Juan of fire stations. Neatly combed hair and a pearly white grin topped off the polished playboy look.

“Your brother is right. Still a player.”

“Maybe. Listen,” Kade knelt next to her chair and took her hands in his. “He’s happy you’re here. No pressure. Just give him a chance, okay?”

“Chance for what, Kade?”

He scratched at his clean jawline for a second considering his words. “He’s still in love with you, you know?”

Ivy sensed the second Aspen rejoined them in the kitchen and looked his way as Kade went back to cooking.

He stood in the doorway. His gaze locked on her—bright, intelligent and way too perceptive for her comfort. As though he saw more than she wanted when he looked at her. Ivy didn’t know what to make of that.

“Here, let me take that.”

Aspen strode across the kitchen, slipped her coat off and tossed it over the back of the chair as Kade served up three large plates of the best-looking spaghetti and meatballs she’d ever seen.

Oregano, garlic and pasta. Sweet, sweet heaven.

“Everything looks and smells so divine. Just like your mom’s. I catch an extra pinch of extra oregano and is that fresh parmesan in the sauce, too?”

“I see you remember,” Aspen said as he slid into a seat next to her, his thigh brushing against her. Aspen drew close, his cologne wrapping around her and if they were alone she knew a moan would have slipped out.

“Be careful,” he teased in a whisper. “He’s warned me he cooked this himself this time. Mom had nothing to do with it.”

She laughed and turned to Aspen, his presence as overwhelming as the food. His eyes sparkled with a playful mischief she had missed that caused her to momentarily lose her train of thought.

She swallowed hard. They locked eyes and for a second the firehouse faded and they were alone. Just the two of them and all the memories of them together.

Kade scooted forks across the table and broke the spell. then came a plate full of garlic bread

“You two need a room,” he asked ruefully earning him a scowl from Aspen.

“Fine, fine. I’ll leave you two alone for now.” Kade’s gaze left his brother’s to find hers. “On another note, I’ve been here all day. I thought maybe you forgot about me. Way to hurt an old crush’s feelings by leaving them last on the list.” With one hand filled with garlic bread and the other a ladle, Kade clapped a hand over his chest and faked a wounded heart.

“Old crush, huh?” Aspen teased before taking a bite of noodle and sauce.

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