As they pushed through the doors into Buns and Roses, a veritable assault of Christmas scents struck Hanna full in the face. Cinnamon and ginger and rich peppermint, and she stopped to take a deep, appreciative breath.

Crissy tugged on her fingers, impatient to keep moving. “I see Emma,” she said, bouncing on the spot. “And Sasha and Mary and Alicia.”

Hanna helped her out of her coat. “I won’t keep you from your friends.”

“And you need to see your friends.” Tansy’s familiar voice was joined by her sister Rose and the other women Hanna had begun to gather with on a monthly basis. Friends Hanna knew had her back, and who cared deeply about her.

It felt wonderful to be in the midst of that kind of caring.

“I thought we were doing girls’ night out,” she teased.

“Today is girls’ day in,” Rose quipped. Her festive Christmas vest with shiny gold trim contrasted beautifully against her dark skin and hair. “Come on. We rearranged the shop so it’s got a comfy corner for us to sit and gossip while the kids have room to play.”

Tansy locked the door behind her, flipping the open sign to closed then brushing her hands satisfaction. “Now I can break out the spiked eggnog.”

“One of the benefits of partying where you live,” another of their friends teased. Brooke waved at Hanna before tightening her ponytail then patting the chair next to her. “Come sit by me. We haven’t had a chance to talk for a while.”

All of her friends were there except for Tamara who had been replaced by her sister Lisa. Not really replaced, but the cheerful woman was a welcome addition as she sat with the little girls and got busy helping them make Christmas decorations.

Ivy Fields settled in the chair on the other side of Hanna. “How are you?”

Wonderful? Excited? Quivering on the edge of something that seemed momentous? Hanna looked for the right words to share when she realized all of her friends carefully watching right now were thinking about the fire.

They weren’t fixated, like Hanna was, on the fact that a certain oversized fireman was doing weird and wonderful things to both her libido and her heart.

“We’re doing fine.”

Brooke patted her arm. “You make sure you let us know if there’s anything you need. I lost a bunch of stuff once when we had a fire in the shop. It was only a couple of boxes, but it was tough.”

Hanna had been adding to her replacement list, but when it came down to it, the page was short. “We’ve never had a lot of things,” she admitted. “Between a tight budget and it just being me and Crissy, the things that are most valuable to us are memories.”

“That’s how it should be,” Ivy said with a gentle smile.

A couple of them got up to bring in snacks, but Ivy continued to study her until Hanna had to ask. “You seem to have something on your mind. Is something wrong at school?”

Ivy glanced over to where Crissy was happily playing with the other little girls. She reached into her pocket and pulled out an envelope, turning her body strategically so no one else could see. “I thought you should take a peek at this. It’s Crissy’s letter to Santa. Obviously, I don’t have it anymore because we mailed it to him.”

Hanna nodded in understanding then unfolded the page. It was her daughter’s childish printing with some adult additions—Ivy’s contributions. But as her gaze moved down the page, Hanna’s heart began to pound.

She glanced up to see Ivy watching her with great curiosity. Hanna folded away the page before the girls caught her with it. “Oh boy.”

Ivy smiled. “Out of the mouths of babes.”

There were so many things she wanted to say, but she wasn’t about to defend herself, because she and Brad weren’t doing anything wrong. But the idea Crissy was already wishing for more turned her hopes and her concerns a little higher.

She stuck with the safer topic to discuss. “Does she really think Patrick Ford is Santa?”

Soft laughter escaped her friend. “That’s the part you’re going to focus on? Okay, I won’t tease you about getting kisses, or the fact that your daughter has chosen to act as matchmaker. Yes, I think she’s pegged Patrick for Jolly St. Nick.”

It didn’t seem too dangerous an idea. “Do you think I need to talk to her?”

Ivy shook her head. “Out of all the people she could imagine to be Santa, Mr. Ford is one of the safest. He’s not going to disappoint her with un-Santa-like behaviour, and he’d probably get a kick out of explaining how Santa can travel around the world in twenty-four-hours and still be home in his bed at a decent time.”

Patrick would get a kick out of it. So would Brad, but the idea of sharing the rest of the letter with anyone else was out of the question.

She handed it back to Ivy. “Keep this for now, please?”

Ivy tucked it away without arguing then smiled. “I’m glad you have something good happening over the holidays.”

Hanna ignored the question in her eyes.

Ivy leaned closer to make sure no one overheard them. “It’s nice to have somebody to kiss.”

That was very true.

Hanna enjoyed the party and the visit with her friends, but when they paused the party and all gathered together to lay a pile of presents at Crissy’s feet, Hanna felt herself on the edge of tears.

Emma explained what was going on. “Since all your things are gone, you get extra Christmas presents. We gave up one of ours.”

Lisa added the details. “All of the girls asked their moms and dads to give them one less thing, and then they got you something special.”

Crissy’s eyes were shining and she couldn’t speak. The only thing that squeaked out was a heartfelt “Thank you.”

“You get to open them right now,” Tansy told her, dropping onto the floor to hand up the first package.

While Crissy worked on unwrapping her surprises, Lisa turned to Hanna and offered her an envelope. “We grownups did the same. We gave up one present, but instead of buying you things, we figured you should pick them yourself.”

Happiness wrapped up in layers of shiny friendship flashed hard, and tears came to her eyes. “You guys are incredible. Thank you.”

She strolled around the group, offering hugs and individual thanks to all her friends.

Crissy squealed as she opened a box and found a stuffed dog with floppy arms and legs. It wasn’t exactly the same as the one she’d lost, but it was close enough to have come from the same litter.

As Crissy wrapped her arms around the present with joy in her eyes, Hanna had to turn her back and bury her face against Ivy, using her friend as a crying board.

Happy tears were still tears, and not something she wanted Crissy to worry about. Not today.

The afternoon passed quickly. When it was over and everyone was gathering their things to get ready to go, Hanna found herself looking out onto the street at a familiar face. Wondering where she’d seen—

It was Mark. Brad’s brother. The man who’d surprised her.

She made sure Crissy was still busy before she slipped on her coat. Speaking quietly to Tansy, Hanna let her know she’d be a minute. “There’s someone I need to talk to. I’ll be right back.”

She headed out the door, not completely sure what she intended.

Mark was staring in the window of the shop next door to Buns and Roses. It was a photography store that had sample portraits in fancy frames on display.

She followed his gaze to discover Mark was staring at a photograph of the Ford family. Her insides tangled up even more.

It was an old photo taken years earlier when Connie Ford was still alive. They were all dressed in jeans, leaning against a wooden rail fence that she recognized. The ranch’s namesake lone pine tree stood proudly visible in the corner. Brad’s hair was shoulder length, and he had an arm around his brother’s shoulders. Patrick stood tall, his hair not the gleaming white it was now, but a salt and pepper shade. Connie smiled proudly, surrounded by her men.

Maybe Hanna was high on Christmas fumes, but suddenly all of her anger against Mark vanished as if someone had punctured a balloon. Didn’t mean she was going to turn down a chance to give him hell, though.

She cleared her throat. “Mark?”

He twisted on the spot, his eyes widening as he stepped back. “You.”

She thrust her hand forward. “Hanna Lane.”

He glanced at her fingers then back up at her face as if suspicious of her motives.

It struck her as funny considering he was at least a foot taller than her. “I’m not going to hurt you,” she deadpanned.

His lips twitched as he shook her hand briefly. “I’m Mark, although you already know that. Instead of saying hello, I’ll say I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. And I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“Apology accepted,” Hanna told him. “But you were rude. Just to be clear.”

He snorted. “Figures my brother would get himself a blunt-spoken girlfriend.”

Having someone else call her Brad’s girlfriend felt very, very good. “I saw you out here, and it’s not my place, but I’m going to say it anyway. I don’t know why you and Patrick are fighting. But it seems as if you’re throwing away something good. You’ve got someone who cares a lot about you. Some two. Two people, that is,” she explained herself. “Because I know Brad cares about you as well.”

“When he’s not threatening to hurt me.”

She raised a brow. “You deserved it.”

Mark made a face. “Blunt again. You’re right. I did, but it just— you don’t know—” He stomped away a couple steps before turning back. “It’s not that easy.”

“Good things never are easy,” she said firmly, her gaze caught for a moment by her daughter. Crissy was dancing with her friend, hand in hand, holding the stuffed dog between the two of them. The toy’s ears flapped as if it were laughing with joy. “Oftentimes, the most rewarding and valuable things take a lot of our energy and hearts, but they’re worth it in the end.”

Mark didn’t say anything, but he was examining her face. He glanced in the window of Buns and Roses, his gaze lingering on Crissy. He turned back to Hanna as he figured out the relationship. He gave a brisk nod. “Thanks for not going ballistic on me, and I promise I won’t sneak up on you like that again.”

“I promise not to hit you with anything unless you deserve it,” Hanna offered back. She looked him in the eye and realized she didn’t have to lie. “It was nice to officially meet you. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas,” he repeated.

She went back into the warmth of the shop and caught hold of Crissy, holding on to her reminder of how much work it was for good things to happen, but how valuable it was at the same time.

She had her daughter, and she had something special developing with Brad. One step at a time. He’d been so patient and wonderful with her.

Maybe it was time for her to take a step closer as well. Something that would take effort on her part, but make him happy. The thought sent a shiver up her spine, but that wasn’t a bad thing, she reminded herself. Anything worthwhile took hard work and might feel a little dangerous at first.

Now she had to look for an opportunity so she could take it.

Hanna and Crissy had returned from their afternoon party with a pile of presents and a boatload of joy shining in their eyes.

Patrick pulled Crissy into a game in front of the Christmas tree. Brad joined Hanna in the kitchen. She stood at the counter, flipping through the pages of his mother’s recipe book.

She’d spent the afternoon with her girlfriends. He was pretty sure he’d been talked about at some point. He could hardly wait to figure out what had been said.

“What’re you looking for?” he asked.

“Your father mentioned a cake your mom used to make during the holidays. I thought I’d put it together and sneak it under the tree for him.”

It was impossible to resist. He stepped behind her, resting one hand on the counter then reaching around her to flip to the page she needed. “That’s a great idea.”

She rotated in the circle of his embrace, and when she smiled up at him there was more than enough heat in her expression to make him happy. “Brat.”

He chuckled. “I think you’ve forgotten my name.”

Hanna pressed both hands to his chest, but instead of pushing him away, she slid her hands down his waist until they rested on his hips, holding him in place. “Trouble? Mischief?”

He wasn’t sure what was going on, but he could work with this. “Sure.”

After a quick peek around him to make sure no one was watching, Hanna went up on her tiptoes and offered her lips.

He smiled as he brought one hand up to cup her cheek. “I don’t know what’s come over you, but I like it,” he murmured when the brief kiss was done.

Her lashes fluttered open. “Just following the rules,” she insisted.

Hanna lifted a hand and pointed over their heads.

She must’ve crawled on the counter to hang the batch of mistletoe. It was taped near the top of the cupboard with what he knew was the only tape in the kitchen cupboard—plain, black duct tape.

Brad laughed out loud before her fingers landed on his lips, cutting off the sound.

They both stood and listened to see if his sudden outburst brought the attention of a certain little girl, but when the voices happily chatting in the living room stayed where they were, she slid her fingers away, pausing with a single one over his lips.

“Quiet,” she ordered.

“Not a single peep,” he promised before driving his fingers into her hair and tilting her head so he could kiss her again, this time hard and deep.

It wasn’t enough. Not when, instead of responding shyly, she nipped at his lower lip and sent a spike of lightning through his body.

The next thing he knew, he’d lifted her, settling her butt on the counter. Sliding her knees open so he could press their torsos together. The aching ridge of his cock nestled against her soft center, and he tugged her hips forward so they rubbed, pressure building.

She’d pulled her lips from his and stared into his eyes as he rocked against her, panting lightly, both of them listening intently, ready to break apart on a moment’s notice.

When the voices grew quieter, echoing from the mudroom, Brad decided he was truly getting absolutely nothing on Christmas Day because he was about to get a present he hadn’t expected.

Sure enough, Patrick’s voice rang from near the door. “We’ll be back in a bit. The kittens need cuddles.”

The door closed firmly before they’d had time to respond, and the silence in the house thickened.

An instant later Hanna had hold of his shoulders, fingernails digging in. She was the one to pull him closer and take his mouth by storm, tilting her hips against his in encouragement.

Glory hallelujah. Brad didn’t think, he just took advantage of the moment and kept going. Accepting her kisses. The sweet, lustful press of her tongue teasing his. Grinding his hips against her in a decidedly non-innocent manner, lust building until she whimpered.

He slid one hand directly behind her to keep them connected, jerking her shirt from her pants and stealing his other hand under it to grasp her breast.

Hanna’s head tipped back against the cupboards as a groan escaped her lips.

He wanted to strip her bare. He wanted to take her to his room and bury himself in her body, but what he had was here and now. The clock ticking, her fingers digging into his shoulders.

She didn’t want him to let go.

He put his teeth to her neck and nipped. Soothing it with a kiss before sliding up to an earlobe and doing the same thing there. Meanwhile, he slid his fingers under the soft fabric of her bra, teasing her nipple until it tightened. The entire time they rubbed together at that one dangerously combustible point.

“Brad. I’m close,” she warned.

Him too, but damn if he was going to stop before she’d arrived.

He picked her up, shuffling two feet to the nearest wall and pressing her back against it so he could lean in harder. Applying more pressure to her clit as her eyes widened, and she scratched her fingernails down his arms.

He was holding on by a thin thread, ready to let go the second she did when, thank God, her legs tightened around his hips, squeezing in tiny convulsions as a breathless cry escaped her.

Brad lost it. Rocking against her now, hard enough the little Christmas knickknacks along the top of the wall rattled, making musical jingle bells sound faster than any street-side Santa.

It was wrong in so many ways, but that was the beauty of the perfect Christmas gift. It wasn’t what you’d asked for, but it was exactly what you needed at that moment in time. Brad waited until the pressure built, pleasure tingling along his spine hard enough to make him want to scream.

Hanna cupped his face with both her hands, bringing their lips back together as he came. Hot and wet with a rush of endorphins that wiped out all worries about how dirty and out of control he’d been because she was kissing him. Holding on tight as if to squeeze the last dredges of pleasure from what they’d done.

When he pulled back, she looked as dazed as he felt, her smile decidedly on the naughty-list side.

“Dangerous vegetation, that mistletoe,” he muttered.

Hanna laughed, and the amusement he’d held back earlier escaped, rolling up from his toes as he settled her back on her feet and offered her a delicate kiss. One that said he not only enjoyed what they’d done, but that he liked her.

He backed away before pinching the tip of her nose. “Have fun cake-baking.”

Her gaze dropped momentarily to the front of his jeans where a noticeable wet spot had formed, and her cheeks went deep red.

“I need a shower,” he informed her just to watch her embarrassment rise.

Then she surprised him again, offering a shy wink. “I enjoyed that.”

So had he. And he was going to enjoy the next step even more, because that’s what this latest escapade said. Hanna had made a decision to push the line forward, which meant his wish list was being answered. At some point, hopefully in the near future, they were going to make love, and he could hardly wait.