Temptation came in six-foot-plus packages.

Hanna tidied the kitchen with Brad working quietly at her side. She’d fully expected to spend the rest of the evening hot and bothered, and desperately trying not to look as if that’s how she felt.

It wasn’t until she finally sat down with a piece of paper to make a list of what she needed to deal with after the fire that the heat Brad had lit inside cooled far too quickly.

Driver’s license, credit card. The entire contents of her wallet. The only thing she didn’t have to deal with were birth certificates and the legal work the lawyers had put together regarding Crissy and her. Those were carefully stowed in a safety deposit box.

The realization that the lawyers’ office would have to replace everything they’d lost as well made her shiver. So many important papers—she was glad she’d listened to her friends when they’d recommended paying the expense for the box “just in case.”

She tucked her daughter into bed that night, holding her little girl extra tight for a moment. “You okay, baby?”

“I’m not a baby,” Crissy protested.

No, from the way she cuddled in tight she was a kitten same as the ones that they’d gone outside to say good night to before Crissy had her bath and crawled into borrowed pyjamas. “You’re right. You’re my beautiful girl. You were very good today.”

Crissy made a face. “Do I have to go to school tomorrow?”

Hanna nodded. “Ms. Fields would be sad if you didn’t. So would Emma and the rest of your friends.”

Tears welled up in Crissy’s eyes. Not fake ones, as if she was trying to get out of going to bed, but true, deep sadness. “I have to tell them all my things got burnt up.”

“I know, sweetie. I’m sorry.” She held Crissy, finally allowing herself to truly think about the realization that had hit while making her list.

Some things were irreplaceable. Not many, but things like Crissy’s baby book, and the bits and pieces Hanna had saved over the years and put together as a memento—those were gone forever.

But it was her job to make sure her little girl realized that they still had what was most important. Each other. “We won’t be able to replace everything at once, but after school tomorrow, we can do some shopping.”

Crissy’s head dipped then she kissed Hanna sweetly and cuddled in with her borrowed teddy bear and probably fell asleep before Hanna had made it back into the hallway.

She went to the living room to rejoin Patrick and Brad.

Patrick sat in his recliner near the fire. The matching chair to his sat empty in the middle of the room while Brad stretched his legs out in a much larger chair on the other side.

She hesitated.

Patrick shook his head before pointing at the empty chair. “Connie wouldn’t mind one bit if you put your feet up and relaxed.”

Hanna moved quickly and sat down, the soft cushions cradling her like a warm hug. “Thank you.”

“What are your plans tomorrow?” Brad asked.

“I need to work on replacing things, and I’ve got to find a new apartment for January first, so—”

“Hold your horses,” Patrick interrupted. “Put that to the bottom of the list. The house hunting.” He held up a hand to stop her protests. “Little missy, you’ve got enough things to worry about right now without putting something on your plate that makes no sense. It’s only two weeks until the New Year. With the holidays, it’s going to be impossible to find accommodation and deal with everything else. I want you to plan on staying here, and we’ll make sure that you get settled somewhere good by the beginning of February.”

Part of her wanted to protest, but the other part that was smarter than her sense of pride took a deep breath and accepted the help.

The memories of having to do that back when she was pregnant with Crissy rushed in again. Good memories, because good people had helped, but painful as well, because…

She met Patrick’s gaze straight on. “That’s a generous offer, and I know Brad told me to stop repeating myself, but thank you. I so appreciate you opening up your home to me and Crissy.”

The old man nodded, a strange sort of satisfaction written in his expression. “Glad to help. That’s what we’re supposed to do, especially at this time of year.”

She opened the notepad Brad had given her and looked down at the long list of tasks to accomplish she’d made earlier, trying to make some sense of when she’d be able to get it all done. The fire crackled and she made notes, but as the list got longer, her sense of hopelessness grew as well.

Floorboards creaked, and she glanced up to discover Brad kneeling beside her chair looking her over with a concerned expression. “You okay?”

She was not going to cry. “I’m a little tired.”

A soft snore carried on the air. Patrick had fallen asleep in his recliner, feet outstretched and totally relaxed.

Brad chuckled softly. “So’s my dad. Why don’t you head to bed?” he suggested.

As tempting as it was, Hanna had dealt with this before. “If I go to bed now, working tomorrow night will be terrible. I have to stay up until at least midnight or I’ll be off my routine.”

His gaze drifted over her face. “You’re back to work tomorrow?”

She nodded. “I have to. I’m down one job already, and I can’t afford to miss any other days.”

“Will you get any time off over the holidays?”

Hanna considered the calendar she’d drawn on the notepad. “Almost a week, which is good, and bad. I’ll have time to get caught up on a lot of the things I need to do.”

“Bad because you don’t get paid if you don’t work, right?” His expression softened with understanding as she nodded. “Hanna, if you need any—”

She placed her fingers over his mouth to stop him before he went too far. “Please don’t offer me money. You’ve already done more than enough. I promise I’ll ask if it gets bad.”

Something flashed in his eyes. Hanna’s fingers burned as the intimate connection registered, her hand over his lips. An echo of him licking her fingers in the kitchen rushed up, and suddenly she was back to running hot and cold.

He wrapped his fingers around her wrist, clearly in control as he turned her hand over and pressed a kiss to her palm.

Hanna found it difficult to take a deep breath.

He let her fingers go and cleared his throat. “On a different topic, you and I are supposed to have a date tomorrow.”

It took a moment to remember, and when she did, the strange, discombobulated sensation grew in her belly. “I thought we weren’t going to date while Crissy and I are living here.”

“I said nothing would happen that you didn’t want,” he reminded her. “Dating doesn’t mean we’re jumping into bed. It means we’re spending time together, and I don’t see why we shouldn’t go ahead with that part of the deal.”

Could he tell how hard her heart was pounding from him mentioning sex? Hanna opened her mouth to refuse before realizing it would be an utter lie to say she didn’t want to spend time with him.

The other part was the truth as well. “I’m…a little overwhelmed right now,” she confessed.

He cupped her cheek, stroking his thumb gently over her skin. “Can you trust me to keep an eye on you, sugar? To not push too far, too fast?”

Maybe it made no sense, but that was the one thing she absolutely knew was true—she trusted him. “Okay.”

His lips curled upward. “Okay, you trust me? Or okay to a date?”

He was going to make her say it, the meanie. “Yes, I trust you. You mentioned horseback riding, but I don’t think we’ll have time.” She raised the notebook in the air. “I need to deal with a lot of this tomorrow. I also have to drop off and pick up Crissy from school, and I promised we could go shopping, so I need to hit the bank. And somewhere in there I have to have a nap.”

“What time do you start work in the evening?”

“Usually at eight o’clock. I thought I’d get Crissy to bed before I leave, to make sure she’s okay. I’ll leave once she’s down.”

Brad grinned as a particularly loud snore rolled from the chair to their right. “We’ll leave the horses for now. What if our date tomorrow involved me helping you with your list? We can take Crissy to school then get the most important things done in the morning. I’ll bring you back here after lunch, and you can nap until it’s time to pick her up from school.”

It sounded the way everything he offered did. Far too generous. “It’s not much of a date,” she pointed out.

“It’ll be a great date,” he insisted. His gaze dropped to her lips. “I plan to hold your hand. Lots. Maybe kiss you. More than once.”

There was no way he could miss the shiver that shook her from top to bottom. “Oh.”

He glanced at his father before standing and offering her a hand. “Come on, sugar. If you can’t go to sleep until after midnight, then we’d better find something less sleep-inducing to watch than a fire.”

It felt strange and yet wonderful to slip her hands into his and let him tug her from the room. “Where are we going?”

A soft chuckle drifted her way. “Trust me.”

She did, far too much, and she couldn’t afford for that to be her downfall. Still, his hand was big and warm around hers as she followed at his side into a room that needed no explanation.

This time Hanna laughed. “You have a man cave.”

The living room had been all about comfort, centered around the fireplace. This room had a pool table that filled half the space, while the remaining half had overstuffed chairs and a couch facing the biggest TV screen Hanna had ever seen in her life.

Brad brought her to the couch and let her settle in one corner. He took off for a brief moment before coming back with a fluffy blanket in one hand, the remote control in the other.

He sat down, not in the opposite corner, but right in the middle. His weight dented the seat cushion hard enough to cause her to roll partly toward him. Hanna’s leg and hips bumped his. He flicked the blanket out and covered their lower bodies, wrapping her up in a warm cocoon between the fabric and his nearness.

It was still perfectly respectful. She’d sat this close to her friends before whenever a group of them had crowded onto the same couch.

This? Totally different.

“Christmas movies,” Brad suggested. “We can do a countdown of the top ten all-time best holiday classics.”

“What if my top ten are different than your top ten?” Hanna teased, surprised she managed to get the words out.

“Well, that would be a travesty because my top ten are the ultimate top ten.”

He clicked on the power, turned to Netflix and started up a movie. And before she could say anything, he reached over and caught her fingers in his. Holding her hand on top of the blanket as the action unfolded on the screen before them.

Once her heart rate slowed slightly, she found herself relaxing against him, eventually leaning her head on his shoulder. Letting his presence give her a small moment of pleasure.

Tomorrow was back to the real world and everything she had to do to take care of herself and her daughter, but right here and now, she was going to enjoy the pocket of peacefulness.

Brad couldn’t remember the last time he’d had an evening end with his date’s head on his shoulder, the woman sound asleep.

Hanna had held on until about eleven forty-five, at which point he didn’t think it was worth wiggling to keep her awake the way he’d done all the previous times she’d started to nod off.

The fact she was comfortable enough to sleep cuddled against him was a good thing. Or at least, he tried to reassure himself that it wasn’t because he was the most boring person on the face of the earth.

He’d have to assume his promise to go slow and be trustworthy had been accepted at face value. Which is why he had the ability to spend that last fifteen minutes staring as she breathed evenly, chest rising and falling against his arm. He’d kept hold of her hand until she wiggled it free, curling her fingers under his biceps and burrowing in tight, which was equally acceptable in his book.

Her lashes lay against her cheeks, and he was struck by how privileged he was to have her in his home. Utterly aware of how hard the next days would be for her, and wishing all over that he could take away the burden.

He could have sat there staring for hours. Instead, he woke her gently, sliding from under the blanket and easing away as she made it to her feet and blinked hard.

Two minutes later she was safely behind her door, soft movements of her getting ready for bed enough to make him turn on his heel and head back to the living room to see if his father was still there.

Patrick was awake, leaning forward and staring into the fire. His head dipped rhythmically, as if listening to a conversation only he could hear.

Brad leaned on the doorframe. “I’m headed for bed,” he announced.

His father glanced over his shoulder, blinking in surprise. “I should do the same. Although I suppose I’m just changing locations—I can sleep here as easily as I can there.”

Brad stepped forward and offered a hand to assist his father to rise to his feet. “You’ll sleep sounder in your bed.”

“I’ll only sleep for as long as my brain will let me,” Patrick complained. “Keep thinking about your brother. Wish there wasn’t this wall between us.”

Patrick leaned heavily on his canes to move forward. He looked older than usual, not because of his motion but because of the weariness in his face.

The way he always looked when he talked about Mark.

Brad kept his mouth shut until he helped his dad into his room. “Give it time. Keep the door open.”

His father nodded, then offered a wave goodnight, leaving Brad with his thoughts and frustrations.

Mark wasn’t a rotten person. He just had priorities wrong, as far as Brad could tell. Money meant everything to his brother, in the “it flows through his fingers faster than he can make it” kind of way.

He took himself off to bed, carefully opening the door leading into the shared bathroom, but the door on her side of the room was closed. Hanna was long gone to sleep.

He tried his best to be up and moderately happy in the morning, but that was asking a little much. Patrick drifted through the room, answering Crissy’s questions about the next time he’d be in their classroom.

“Ms. Fields said we can read Christmas stories when you’re there because it’s the last day before the holidays,” Crissy told him excitedly before her face turned sad. “It was on an announcement paper in my backpack that got burnt up.”

“I’m sorry about your backpack, but thank you for reminding me,” Patrick said, pointing to a paper bag on the counter. “It’s not new, but I found something this morning for you to use.”

Crissy left her bowl of cereal and scurried across the room, bringing the bag with her to Hanna and crawling into her mom’s lap to open it.

As the straps of the brightly flowered bag came into view, Crissy made a low sound of happiness. “It’s so pretty.”

Brad turned his attention on his father. Patrick wore something near a smile but not quite, fading in and out. “It was my wife’s. She used it when she went to town for special events. It’s got strings to close it up tight and a hidden zipper compartment. There’s even a strap to wear across your body. Better than a backpack.”

Crissy squirmed out of Hanna’s lap and raced to Patrick’s side to let him show her all the secrets.

A soft touch settled on his shoulder. Brad glanced up to see Hanna waiting there, fighting for composure.

He trapped her fingers, giving them a squeeze.

Then a dancing little girl was in front of him, flowered strap crossing from shoulder to hip as she twirled to show off her gift. “This was your Mommy’s,” she informed him before planting her hands on his knees and leaning forward to tell him earnestly, “I’ll take good care of it, I promise.”

“My mom would be pleased to see her bag going to school.” He glanced at his father. “Seriously. Mom liked to make people happy.”

Patrick nodded. “That she did.”

The morning chaos slipped into a familiar routine as breakfast was finished and teeth were brushed. Brad ended up with three people in his truck, Crissy in a booster seat he’d grabbed from the emergency supplies at the fire hall the previous day.

He waited by the school as Hanna dropped Crissy off, walking her to the door and giving her a kiss. The flash of the brightly coloured bag was the last thing visible as Crissy slipped away.

Hanna climbed into the truck and stared out the front window, obviously lost in thought, which he understood, yet at the same time he wanted to be there for her. He reached over, pulled off her left glove and slipped her hand into his, wordlessly aiming them for the bank.

Her gaze dropped from the window to their hands. She glanced up at him then back at their hands, but didn’t say anything.

By the time she got back in the truck after the third stop, though, Brad grinned when she was the one who reached over and tangled their fingers together on top of the booster seat.

By eleven thirty they’d finished all of the tasks they could do in town, including a visit to her insurance company. He’d walked in with her on that one, standing back, but there if she needed help—he was the Fire Chief. If he could make anything go faster, he was going to.

Finally, Hanna stepped out onto the boardwalk, taking a deep breath before letting it out slowly. Brad tucked himself next to her to protect her from the wind that was swirling snow around them.

“Are you done?”

She leaned on the wall behind her and lifted her eyes to his. “For now? I am beyond done.”

“Lunchtime.” He didn’t wait for an answer. He was starving, so she had to be as well. “Come on.”

She walked hand-in-hand with him into Buns and Roses before her fingers slipped away.

He glanced down to see her cheeks were rosy red, far brighter than they’d been outside in the cold wind. Ahead of them Tansy Fields was eyeing them with a great deal of curiosity.

She popped out from behind the counter and came over to wrap Hanna in a tight hug. “I’m sorry, honey. I heard about the fire. I’m glad you and Crissy are okay.”

Hanna nodded. “Thanks. Brad’s helping me get things straightened out with the insurance and everything.”

It sounded an awful lot as if she was giving an explanation for why they were together, which was all right, except she didn’t say a thing about the fact that this was a date, indicating Hanna was still attempting to deny it.

As Tansy headed back behind the counter, Brad slid closer to Hanna, slipping his arm around her waist and turning her toward the menu as if it was the first time either of them had seen it. “Have something to warm you up, sugar. It’s been a long morning.”

The expression on Tansy’s face was totally worth it, and suddenly something nipped him, hard, on the waist. He jerked upright before realizing Hanna had slipped her hand under his jacket and pinched him.

He peeked down, trying not to grin.

She leaned in close. “Behave,” she warned.

“This is me behaving,” he murmured back.

Thank God she laughed, the soft sound rolling over him and making his heart pound. And when she didn’t run away, but curled against him as they put in their orders, something inside him melted.

He liked how brave she was. He liked how she’d been so resilient all morning, facing questions and uncertain timeframes.

They tucked themselves behind a table in the corner. Christmas music played cheerfully in the background, Hanna’s cheeks bright red as she pulled off her toque and scarf and tucked them into the pocket of her borrowed coat. “Thank you for lunch.”

“You’re welcome.” He eased his chair around the corner so they were closer to each other rather than directly across, placing his hand casually on the tabletop, palm up.

When she didn’t check to see who might be watching before lowering her fingers to his, that warm spot inside got even gooier.

She lifted her gaze to meet his, blinking shyly. “This is a funny date.”

“I think it’s a great date,” he assured her, stroking his thumb over her knuckles, breathing in deep and letting his happiness show.

She stared at his fingers, her tongue sneaking over her lips. Everything in him tightened.

He forced himself to keep his touch gentle. “It was a productive morning, as well. Sounds as if you’ve got all the right balls rolling, and now you’re stuck on the waiting part.”

Hanna wrinkled her nose. “The part I hate the most. And it’s the government, so getting documents, especially over the holiday season, is going to be nearly impossible.”

“Another reason for you not to worry about moving out until February,” he reminded her. “It will take as long as it takes—there’s no use panicking over the rest of it.”

She opened her mouth, and he was certain she was going to say another thank you when she dipped her head firmly and changed the topic. “All the offices I clean are closed Boxing Day and the rest of the week, so that will be a good chance to get caught up on anything I need to, or if I have to go to Calgary for any documentation.”

He thought of something else. “I know you made a bunch of calls last night, but is there any family you should get in touch with? To let them know about the fire so they’re not worried when they try to call on Christmas Day?”

Her fingers went absolutely still, and before he could catch her, she’d slipped them away, clutching her hands together in her lap as she stared down. Shaking her head.

So different from the warm and giving woman he’d spent the morning with. This Hanna looked like a puppy someone had kicked.

“Hanna? What’s wrong?” he asked softly, lowering his voice.

She took a deep breath. “I have no family except Crissy.”

He waited, leaning away as Tansy brought their food to the table. Desperately hoping this wasn’t the moment Hanna’s friend would choose to tease.

Miracle of Christmas miracles, Tansy either was too busy to stay or she’d caught the gist of the moment, because she gave a quick finger wave and hurried away.

Hanna picked up her spoon and stirred the soup, thick chunks of vegetables rolling to the surface as savoury-scented steam curled upward.

“Hanna.” Her name came out as if he were begging, and he was in a way. He wanted that bright, happy woman back. The one who’d been there only a moment earlier. “I’m sorry I asked a question that touched a nerve.”

She put down the spoon, determination on her face as she reached across the table and curled her fingers over his fist, squeezing in reassurance. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just surprised you didn’t know this gossip. I haven’t seen or heard from my parents in years, and I’m an only child.”

Another family with internal tension. Unfortunately, it was all too common. “I’m sorry. My brother doesn’t come around very often, and when he does, there’s inevitably a fight.”

“With you?” she asked.

“With Dad, to tell the truth.”

Her eyes widened. “How on earth could someone fight with Patrick? He’s the most agreeable, kindest man I’ve ever met. With a heart of gold.”

He gave her back her hand and pointed at her spoon to get her to start eating before the food got cold. “I’m glad you think my father’s amazing. I’m actually kind of jealous.”

She stopped with the scoop of thick broth halfway up, her mouth hanging open. “Jealous?”

“It’s good you like him,” Brad told her, smiling wickedly. “But you’re my girlfriend.”

Her spoon dropped with a clatter, and she grabbed her napkin to wipe up the splatters. “Brad.”

He offered his napkin as well. “Did you just call me a brat?”

“If the boot fits,” she offered.

Food took precedence, easy conversation and ready smiles returning. Brad tucked away the bit of information about her family for future conversation, and that was the end of it until they got home.

His dad had left a note on the table by the front door. He’d gone shopping but would be home in time for supper.

Hanna headed down the hallway to take her nap when she stopped, turning to examine Brad intently. “We haven’t really gone on enough dates for you to call me your girlfriend.”

“Does it really have anything to do with how long we’ve been seeing each other?” he insisted, stepping closer. “Hanna, I didn’t ask you out because I thought we’d have fun and fool around for a couple of months then go our separate ways. I like you. A lot. I don’t know where this is going to end up, but I want you to be thinking about me—about us—seriously.”

He was only inches away now, her head tilted back so she could look up at him.

Hanna swallowed hard.

He pointed above their heads to where he’d fastened a bunch of mistletoe on the far side of the rafter where it wasn’t noticeable until he stood right in that spot.

“You are a brat,” Hanna said softly.

“We don’t want to break any Christmas rules,” he reminded her before tucking his fingers under her chin. He inched forward, slow enough she could escape if she wanted, as he brought their lips together.

A soft touch. Once. Twice, before deepening the kiss. Demanding a little more, and when Hanna willingly opened her lips so he could sweep in, everything in him tightened to rock.

Except his blood which seemed infused with effervescence, or maybe helium, because his feet were about to float off the ground.

Her hands landed on his shoulders, fingers digging as she held him, neither pushing away or pulling him closer. Right where he was seemed fine by him.

The kiss went on and on until his head was ready to explode. He was one step away from—

No, he was taking a step away, smile firmly in place as he backed up.

Hanna blinked at him, breathing shakily.

“Sweet dreams,” he told her. “I’ll wake you when it’s time to pick up Crissy.”

He turned his back and walked away, whistling happily.