Dax adjusted his black tie as he swayed from side to side to the jazzy blues emanating from the handheld Bluetooth speaker resting on his modern, gray cement bathroom counter. The guys would make fun of him for sure. They got their kicks out of harassing each other for wearing anything dressier than a t-shirt, but Dax had gotten used to it. He liked to look good, and he wanted to make sure he had his pick of the ladies tonight.

Going stag to a New Year’s Eve party where his boys were dropping like camel dung in the desert may not be the smartest thing to do, but he’d take his chances.

Blue’s Bachelors, that’s what his Park City firefighting crew called themselves. Not that they had completely sworn off women, but they did all seem to enjoy bachelorhood, until now. Blue and Stone had already fallen. Jeremy and Nikola were still safe. But for how long? Would they have to change their name to Blue’s Pushovers?

It wouldn’t happen to Dax. He had a foolproof method to keep women at bay with his three-date maximum policy. It granted enough time to have some fun and do a little making out—without the dreaded emotional stress on either side. It was good for them, and good for him. This method allowed him to get acquainted with hundreds of women. When the right woman did eventually come around, he’d know.

He pressed his palms into the counter and shook his head at the reflection in the mirror. He’d inherited his father’s eyes. Being completely honest with himself, he didn’t think his dream girl even existed; and if she did, she’d be way out of his league. She’d dump him just like his mom had dumped his dad, deserting the two of them so she could go “find herself” the day Dax turned fifteen. Now she was some jewelry heiress who was living the high life in her native Brazil.

“Computer, play Latin dance music.” The upbeat, sultry music livened his spirits.

He had learned to put the past in the past and be positive. And he was positive he would hook up with the hottest girl at the party tonight. He dug a healthy amount of sticky pomade out of its container and rubbed it into his palms before using it to sculpt and slightly spike his hair. He’d go easy on the cologne; didn’t want to knock the hotties over before they noticed his striking eyes and dashing smile.

Dax pulled into Pineapple’s parking lot thirty minutes later. The snow had finally stopped dumping, but the plows hadn’t had a chance to catch up, making for slippery roads. Good thing his truck could power through just about anything. He still took it slow. He wasn’t worried about getting stuck, but his truck wasn’t immune to ice.

He entered Pineapple’s with a few guys from the other shift. The Polynesian joint was a favorite amongst the local firefighters. Tonight, two of the three shifts were there. They rotated; 48 hours on, 96 hours off. One unlucky shift had to work tonight, and they’d be busy with all the weather-related car accidents sure to put a damper on New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Dax attempted to gain Stone’s attention, but he and his girlfriend, Abi, headed to the game room in the back of the restaurant where customers could throw a few darts and play a game of pool. Pineapple, the owner, was a good friend to the group, and tonight the game room was reserved for the Park City firefighting clan.

Dax had offered to give Stone a ride. They only lived a few houses apart in Summit Park, a development just west of Jeremy Ranch, but on the pauper’s side of the freeway where the sun didn’t shine as brightly on its residents, figuratively and literally. The Wasatch Mountain Range backed the development to the south, preventing full sunlight from reaching the homes. A few people had money in Summit Park, but nothing like the Jeremy Ranch snobs were blessed with.

The game room had been strung with twinkling lights you’d see hanging off someone’s eaves at Christmas. A large buffet table covered in floral sheets took up the entire back wall and a piano had been pulled from the corner and placed next to a wood floor area Dax guessed would be used as a dance floor.

Blue, Dax’s fire captain, gave him a squeeze on his upper arm. “You playing for us tonight?”

Dax responded with a wide grin. “You askin’ or tellin’, Cap?”

Blue let out a deep, guttural laugh. “Guess I’m telling. Lucy loves your playing, but don’t forget to order first.”

Dax nodded. He’d play for Lucy, Blue’s tough, yet seriously phat, firefighter girlfriend the guys would soon move up from New Mexico to be closer to Blue.

“Got it covered.” Dax had forgotten that they’d made a deal with Pineapple to each buy a large dish to share in exchange for letting them use the back room for their party. As Dax made his way through the crowd to order, he bumped shoulders with Stone. “Hey, man. I see you got Abi here safe and sound.”

Stone just nodded. He wasn’t much for conversation.

Abi flashed him a teasing smile. “You say that as if it’s a bad thing.”

“No way. I love that Stone found an amazing, beautiful woman to hang with on our days off, instead of hanging with the boys.”

Abi’s hand settled on her waist as her head tilted to one side. “And you don’t go out with the most beautiful girls in town on your days off?”

She was adorable when she pouted. “No one as beautiful as you, Abi.” Dax cuddled her into a hug.

“Hands off, man.” Stone pulled Dax from Abi’s soft return embrace.

Abi giggled. “Actually, someone more beautiful, talented, and intelligent than me will be here in a few minutes.”

Now she had his attention. “Who are we talking about?”

“My sister.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “And she just won a case she’s been working on for weeks.”

“A case?” Dax’s stomach dropped. “Please don’t tell me she’s an attorney?”

Abi crossed her arms. “And what’s wrong with attorneys?”

“They chase our fire engines around hoping for a kill, and I don’t think they even care if the kill is literal or figurative.”

“My dad’s an attorney as well. And you’re wrong.” Abi raised her chin. “They have to put up with the worst sort of people sometimes. Like the loser who tried to get my sister to go out with him tonight, but someone has to assure there’s due process and order in the world.”

Stone stared Dax down.

“Sorry, Abi.” Dax lowered his eyes. “I guess we can agree to disagree on this one.” He rolled back on his heels. “Guess that’s my cue to order some food.”

Feeling like an idiot, Dax turned and made his way back to the front counter to order. He had no reason to be such a jerk, other than the fact that his mom had hooked up with a cut-throat attorney when she had returned from her self-realization trip, then gave his dad a year of hell. Dax never knew a man could cry like that. Luckily, she never married the creep, but it was enough to make Dax sever ties with her. He had reconnected with his mother a few years ago, but their relationship would always be crappy.

“What’ll it be, Dax?” Pineapple’s cheerful voice rang out from behind the high counter, hiding his large frame.

Pineapple made it impossible for people to be melancholy around him. His jubilant, welcoming personality enlivened anyone within a hundred-foot radius, causing people to gravitate to him.

Dax tapped a finger on the counter as he studied the colorful food options above Pineapple’s head. “What hasn’t been ordered yet?”

“No one has ordered my famous Island style spicy chicken yet. And I know it’s one of your favorites.”

“I’ll take three of those then.” Dax shrugged at Pineapple’s surprised look. “Wouldn’t want to run out.”

Pineapple threw his head back in laughter. “Go big or go home.”

“You know it.” Dax extended his hand to fist bump Pineapple.

A gust of icy wind hit the back of Dax’s neck. He turned to witness an angel, cloaked in white and haloed in speckles of fresh glistening snow, enter the restaurant. A fluffy, white faux fur coat hid the top of her dress that seemed to puff out at the waist and extend down to the floor. It was made from that scratchy material, tulie, or something like that. He allowed his jaw to drop momentarily until their eyes met.

“Here’s my card.” Dax handed Pineapple his debit card without turning around. “I’ll get that from you later.”

Pineapple chuckled his understanding.

“Hello.” Dax made it to her side before any other fools could step in front of him.

She gave him an innocent smile.

He nodded. “Can I take your coat and find a place for us to sit?” Dax motioned to the two unoccupied tables. He guessed she was there for the party in the back, but he’d try to keep her away from the other single firemen for as long as possible.

She raised an eyebrow. “Thank you for your assistance, but I’m guessing, by your attire, that you don’t work here?”

“When the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen walks in and I want to keep her to myself, I’ll gladly wait tables to be close to her.”

“Well that’s too bad, because I like an honest man who tells me exactly what he’s thinking.” She handed him her coat, revealing a blue beaded top, cut above her waist to expose her midriff in the most tantalizing way.

Dax coughed away his sudden dry mouth. This girl had no idea the power a dress like that had on an unsuspecting male in his mid-twenties. The dress turned out to be a matching top and skirt. If it weren’t for her blond hair and green eyes, she could have passed for a princess from India.

He tore his gaze away from her dress to study her face. The creamy skin on her high cheekbones blushed at his gaze, while her full, glossy lips beckoned him. Her eyes had a distinctive green outer ring, but inside that ring held a familiar color; his father’s eyes. His own eyes were that same exact golden-brown. He had never met anyone before with that same exact coloring. Whereas his were a true golden throughout, the amber in her eyes splashed amongst the green. Those eyes, coupled with their dark, thick lashes sent his heart thumping against his chest.

She wrinkled her brow. “Did I overdress?”

“I think we match perfectly.” Dax flicked his black tie. “Don’t you?”

She batted those intoxicating lashes. “Great minds think alike, then.”

“And I think these two great minds ought to stick together this evening.” He offered her his elbow. “What do you think?”

She weaved her arm through his but didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. Her smile told him she was interested. This was going to be a New Year’s Eve to remember.

* * *

February placed his hand on Julia’s bare arm to lead her through Pineapple’s to the celebration. When their skin made contact, it caused her central nervous system to sizzle and her nerves to fire like an electrical storm off the Golf Coast. She knew she’d be attracted to him, but dang, he was hotter in person than she’d imagined.

Julia had claimed her prize. At least that’s how she felt; like she had won a date with the most gorgeous man in the western region. Trophy boyfriend. She liked the sound of that, at least until she could introduce him to her mom and dad as her boyfriend.

February led her to a dimly lit, crowded room in the back of the restaurant. The noise level bumped up a notch as they made their way through clumps of boisterous chatter. Her mouth watered at the strong aroma of slow roasted pig and citrus fruit. “I can’t believe I’ve never eaten here before. This place smells amazing!”

“It is amazing.” He pointed to several long tables pushed together to stretch the length of the room. “The food should be out in a few minutes.”

“Good. Because I’m starving.”

“Me too.” He gave her arm a light squeeze. “Hey, I never got your name. And what brought you here tonight?”

“It’s Julia. My sister invited me to join her and her boyfriend, Stone.”

February stopped suddenly and angled back to the front of the restaurant as if he might make a run for it.

Julia caught his hesitation. “Do you know Stone?” She thought all the firemen knew each other. By his nervous reaction, perhaps he and Stone had a falling out.

“Julia!” Abi bounced across the room to them. “I see you’ve met Dax.”

“Yes.” Julia smiled up at him. “He’s quite the gentleman.”

“Gentleman, huh?” Abi turned and eyed Dax. “You okay with attorneys now?”

Dax swallowed hard. Julia shrugged off the comment. Most people weren’t okay with attorneys, but it never took her long to educate them properly.

Julia measured herself against Dax. Her eyes came to where his lower neck met his chest, allowing her a perfect view of how his medium olive skin darkened at Abi’s comment. A birthmark came to the surface of his neck when he blushed. It resembled a Rorschach ink blot used for psychological testing.

“Can I steal Julia away from you for a minute?” Abi pulled on Julia’s arm as she nodded to Dax.

He looked as if he would object, but he didn’t.

Abi pulled Julia out of Dax’s earshot and said, “Don’t waste your time on him. Stone thinks the world of him but cautioned that Dax doesn’t go on more than two or three dates with the same girl. He has some rule about not getting too involved.”

Julia tapped her finger against her cheek as she mulled over Abi’s concern. “That’s excellent hearsay. I know now how I need to proceed.” She needed a boyfriend for her birthday, and Dax was the perfect candidate. He obviously had an issue with commitment, but that was doable. She would have to approach this from a different angle.

Abi pursed her lips. “We’re not in court here, Jules.” She threw her arms down at her sides. “Drop it.”

Julia raised her brows. “And how many times have I warned you to close off your heart to Stone?”

“You have a point.” Abi shrugged. “I’m excited to see how this will turn out. You never were one to bow down from a challenge.”

Julia scanned the room for Dax. He sat at the piano bench, fiddled with the mic, then motioned for Blue to turn down the overhead music.

“Who wants to get this New Year’s Eve party started!” Dax exclaimed, causing the mic to give off that momentary high-pitched squeal.

Exuberant shouts and claps rang out from the crowd as Abi grabbed Julia’s arm. “He can play the piano?” Abi questioned with a playful smile and approving eyes.

Dax played a few notes. “I hope you enjoy this first song. I’d like to dedicate it to a special lady, Julia, and ask her a loaded question.” He glanced up at her and winked as he began playing. “What are you doing on New Year’s Eve?”

Julia’s knees buckled as Dax began singing Harry Connick Jr’s rendition of one of her favorite holiday songs—the song she had listened to less than an hour before. Good thing Abi had a firm hold on Julia’s arm, otherwise she would have fallen to the floor.

“You okay?” Abi’s face clouded with concern.

“He could have given me a little warning before dedicating a romantic song to me and looking so, so…”

“Handsome?” Abi wiggled her eyebrows.

Julia sighed her contentment as she locked eyes with Dax. “Dreamy.”

Abi giggled. “I’ve never seen you twitterpated before, Jules. This is kinda fun.”

Determination solidified her resolve. “And he’s not going to get one date with me.” He’d get a girlfriend, not a date.

“That’s a relief.” An exotic, attractive man stepped in front of them, interrupting Julia’s eye contact with Dax. “Dax isn’t your type,” he said in a strong, Baltic-sounding accent. “Can I have this dance?”

Julia recognized him as November. He was cute, but no sparks. She couldn’t think of a refusal fast enough. Instead, she placed her hand in his and allowed him to lead her out to the dance floor where a few other couples had begun dancing. He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

Pulling her in by the waist, he turned her in slow circles to the jazzy rhythm. “I’m Nikola.” He breathed out an essence of black licorice.

“I’m Julia,” she said. His breath intrigued her. “This may be a strange question, but do you use black licorice breath mints. I like the taste and smell, but I’ve never found a mint I really enjoy.”

He opened his mouth slightly, demonstrating a black mint resting on his tongue. “This is from my country, very delicious. Would you like to try?” He inched his mouth closer to hers.

Her body stiffened. That had been a stupid question. She sometimes came off as interested when she wasn’t.

The music slowed, and the singing paused just long enough for Julia to pick up on the anomaly. In jazz, a singer took liberties with beats, but this was different.

“Nikola, don’t even think about it,” Dax sang a warning then continued to sing the correct lyrics.

Nikola shook his head, his face breaking into a reluctant smile as the laughter around them grew. “What do you say to that, Julia?”

She liked how he said her name and liked even more how he had respected his friend enough to withdraw. “I like you Nikola, but I gave Dax my arm this evening.”

“At least you haven’t given him your heart, yet. I might still have a chance.” His eyes studied hers, as if he were reading a captivating novel. Then, appearing to have sensed something, he nodded and gave a sigh of resignation. “Do you have another sister?”

“No.” She laughed. “But I could set you up with a few of my cute friends.”

“Just one.” He looked up at the ceiling as if speaking to the heavens. “I only ask for one.”

“Well, November, I think we have extra calendars at home. I could distribute them to my friends and associates until we find the one.”

“You know my month?” he said with excitement before kissing her forehead with gusto. The piano stopped suddenly seconds before Dax appeared at their side.

“Song’s over,” Dax said. “My turn to dance with the lady.”

“But there’s no music,” Nikola objected as he reluctantly released his hold of Julia’s waist.

“Who needs music,” Dax said, lifting Julia’s hand in the air above her head and spinning her in fast, tight circles. “We can make our own music.”

Julia’s breath caught in her chest, or that could have been nausea from the spinning. She cried out, “I think I’m getting sick.”

He stopped twirling her, then pulled her in tight to his chest as she teetered from side to side.

She blinked hard several times, willing her eyeballs to quit spinning. “Guess I’ll never be a competitive figure skater.”

Nikola handed Dax a small tin. “Between us.”

“What’s this?” Dax questioned with a wrinkled brow.

Nikola nodded to her. “Julia knows.”

Dax gave Julia an inquisitive look before examining the tin. Nikola left them to walk in the direction of the buffet tables now filled with an assortment of steaming meats and colorful fruits.

Dax held the tin in the air. “Do you know why he gave this to me?”

“Perhaps, but that information may cost you.”

“What are you saying, like a date at a fancy restaurant?”

“No.” Julia waved her hands in the air to dismiss his question. “I don’t date policemen or firemen or clients or anyone I’ve worked with in the past or may work with in the future.”

“I understand why you wouldn’t want to date a police officer.” He shook his finger in the air. “You would spend half your day together at the donut shop, but firefighters…” He raised his arms up from his elbows, motioning to his chest then his face. “How could you say no to this face?” He gave her a sultry look.

She nodded. “I may make an exception for you.” She smiled before wrinkling her face and shrugging. “But, the jury is still out. It’ll take some convincing. Could take years.”

“Years?” He took a few steps back.

It was obvious he had grown accustomed to having women fall at his feet.

“Okay.” She flicked a lock of her hair. “Months.”

“Months?” he said skeptically, clueing in on her game. He closed the gap between them.

“I’ll concede to weeks.” She gave a playful smile. “Now that we have conferred, that’s my final deal to the counsel’s plea.”

Dax nodded to Pineapple who strode toward the kitchen with an empty tray.

“Music.” Pineapple nodded back. “You got it, bro.”

Dax touched his finger to Julia’s cheek, causing her stomach to erupt into a flurry of bubbles. “Am I dealing with an unbiased jury here?” He gently placed a section of loose hair behind her ear. “Because weeks seems like an awfully long time for the jury to deliberate.”

Julia’s birthday was six weeks away. As nice as it would be to accept his date, she couldn’t risk him bailing on her before she could introduce him to her parents and settle her mother’s insatiable thirst to choose a mate for her spinster daughter. “Due process. We wouldn’t want the counsel to have insufficient time to make his case.”

“And making my case would involve spending time together?”

“That would be a reasonable request, but the counsel would need to present strong evidence and make a compelling closing argument to convince the jury.”

“I’ll take my chances.” Taking her right hand in his left, he reached his other hand down to hold her waist, then pulled her in close as the slow music began. “Someone cheated me out of the first dance with you this evening.”

“You guys joke, but I can tell you really care about each other.”

Dax grew somber. “I never had brothers, until now.” His warm, butterscotch eyes were clear and genuine, allowing his internal light to filter out through the cracks in their center.

Dax was a good man. Julia felt it deep in her soul.

“What’s your price to tell me why Nikola gave me the tin?”

“A mint.” She blinked at him.

“Bat your eyes like that at me again and you’ll get my entire package,” Dax said, releasing her hand and digging through his pocket for the tin.

Julia didn’t like where this conversation was headed. “Excuse me?”

He shot her a confused expression before her comment registered and a sudden flash of embarrassment colored his face. “I didn’t mean that.” His birthmark transformed to a deep brown.

“So, you okay with me being a good girl?”

“Exactly what I was hoping.” He handed her the tin.

She studied his eyes for the truth. A light flickered behind his amber eyes that she hadn’t noticed earlier, like a candle with a wooden wick, sparking as it burned. She believed him. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy that could lie even if he wanted to. She popped the tin by squeezing and twisting its top to find dozens of uniquely shaped small pieces of hard, black candy covered in a white dust. She rolled one in her fingers before placing it on her tongue. The bold taste bordered on overpowering, a testament that miniature things can be potent.

“Wow.” She sucked in a breath through her puckered lips. “That’s strong, but I love it.”

He looked at her with intrigue. “I’ve heard that sharing something you love will only make it more powerful.” He touched her lips softly with the tip of his finger.

She gave him a flirtatious smile. “Nikola told me that these mints came from his home country.”

Dax took the tin back from her and examined it. “Nikola has always been very private about where he’s from.” His eyes glistened. “I had imagined him fleeing a war-torn country.”

“Are you crying?” She wrapped her arms around his neck as they continued to dance.

“Between us.” Dax shook his head, as if to keep his tenderness in check. “Is that what Nikola said?”

“I love to see a man show his emotions.” Julia touched his neck where his birthmark had been prominent earlier. “My family rarely shows emotion. My dad’s amazing, but he was all about tough love, never allowed us to cry.”

“I’m afraid I grew up with the opposite; a Latin mother and a weepy father. That left me with little chance of being a tough guy. I think that’s why my parents started me in wrestling and martial arts at a young age.”

“Where’s your mom from?”

“Brazil.”

Julia dreamt of visiting Brazil. “I’ve heard that Rio is one of the most beautiful places on this planet.”

“I’ve never been. Perhaps someday, after the jury has come to a verdict, you’ll join me there.”

It sounded as if Dax could be open to a long-term relationship. “The other thing about the mint…I told Nikola that I wanted to taste it, and he assumed I meant…”

Dax’s jaw clenched. “That’s when he tried to kiss you.” The birthmark on his lower neck shot to the surface.

Julia leaned in, placed her lips on his birthmark, and gave it a tender kiss. “You taste like black licorice.”

“Thanks to Nikola.” He brushed her hair back away from her face. “And what does Julia taste like?” He touched his cheek to hers, his breath warming her skin moments before his lips skimmed across the surface, ultimately resting under her ear. The tropical touch of his kiss sent warm tremors cascading down her arm. “Honey?” he questioned with wonder.

“Yes, sweetheart?” she responded.

“I meant—you taste like honey.”

“I know.” She giggled.

He squeezed her waist with longing as his lips found their way down her neck, skipping over the beaded, sleeveless turtleneck to the bare skin on her shoulder. He nibbled at her shoulder for a few seconds before raising his face to hers. “Lemonade? You taste like honey and lemons. How?”

She shrugged. “Why only smell good when you can taste good too?”

His eyes widened. “You have no idea how intoxicating you are.”

The desire in his eyes frizzled her heart; it not only seared with heat, it sizzled in her chest. “About that whole midnight thing,” Julia said, staring at his lips.

“Waiting until midnight would be torturous.” Dax’s hands left her waist to cup her jaw.

Julia rose up on her toes to meet his open lips with hers.

“Hey, Dax!” yelled Blue. “Someone’s towing your truck.”