Sweet Montana Christmas (11 page)

Traitorous beasts.

She shouldn't be doing this—getting hooked by the lure of a strong male body and a kiss that was unlike any she'd had before.

What would Mama do?

What would Mama do?
What am I thinking?

This man wasn't staying in Missoula. There was no future. She may have ignored a lot of her mother's messages, but she believed the one about the problem with giving herself away for free.

“We don't care,” her hands replied. “This is a big, strong, sexy hunk of a guy. He feels so good.”

She was losing her mind.

Forcing her hands back into her control, she pushed back, gasping for air. “I ... I need to pee. See you!” She slammed through the door and shut it in his face.

I need to pee?

She sank to the floor, her back against the door, laughing so hard it was a good thing the bathroom wasn't actually a necessity. OMG, she was such an idiot. After today she wouldn't have to worry. Zach would never take her on another date.

Never.

• • •

“Are you nervous?” Julie asked Sue Anne.

“A little.” She'd convinced the businesswomen's social committee to allow her to donate several large trays of chocolates to the spring social at the airport, hoping it would open doors in a section of Missoula she didn't know.

But that wasn't the only reason she was nervous.

Would Zach be there? What would he say? More importantly, what would she say?

Hi, I didn't really have to pee, but I'm scared to get close to you.

He must have thought she was a real ditz. He hadn't called since, and two weeks had passed.

She must have made an impression. Just not the good kind.

But he was confusing. His words kept her at arm's length, but that smoldering heat in his eyes told her he wanted a whole lot more than friendship.

Sue Anne loaded the boxes in the back of her Subaru, prepping herself to put on an airy, superficial mask of nonchalance. After years of her mother's training and social events, she should be good at this, but she couldn't pull off the supreme confidence that Brittany, or even her mother, had. No matter what was going on in her life, her mother could mold her features into a flawless mask and make everyone else feel at home.

A pang of homesickness touched her heart.

“Sure you don't need me?” Julie asked.

“I'll be okay.” She hoped. “You get to open up tomorrow instead of coming with me tonight.”

“Anything I need to know?”

“Can you start making some fudge in the morning? I pretty much wiped us out, and I'm not planning on bringing any back.” She grinned. Chocolate was a woman's best friend, and there would be plenty of women at this event.

“Will do.”

It took about a half hour to drive to the airport, unload, and set up her stands. Carefully, she lined each tray with a paper doily and stacked it high with chocolate samples. The meal caterer smiled at her as she set up an arrangement of finger foods on the other side of the narrow hall. The savory smells of oregano-flavored sauces mingled with the sweet aroma of fruit-enhanced candy.

“Smells good in here,” Melissa Anton said.

President of the group. Be nice.

“Yes, it does. Lots of good food.” Sue Anne slapped on her best smile.

“I'm going to snag one of these for later,” Melissa said. “Don't want to wait until they're all gone. I bet they're dynamite with red wine.”

“If that's your goal, I suggest this one.” Sue Anne pointed to the dark chocolate fudge she'd experimented with the week before. “It doesn't have any flavoring to compete with the wine.”

“Thank you!” Melissa's voice was chipper, that of someone who was ready to have a good time.

“If you like it, stop by my shop. I've got minipacks for sale that will introduce you to a lot of great new flavors.” She handed the woman her card.

“You're by Bernice's Bakery in the Hip Strip. I love that area.” Melissa smiled and moved to the snack tables.

Soon the area was filled with women wedged in closely next to each other, vying for plates, napkins, and food before hitting the wine table and settling down in the conference room. Sue Anne tried to chat with each of them and rapidly went through her stack of business cards.

“These aren't bad. Do you have any with Flathead cherries?” Brittany was as polished as ever.

“Ooh, I like those, too,” another woman said.

“What a wonderful idea!” Incorporating another local fruit into her shop offerings would be good for business. “Once they're ripe, I'll have to make a trip to the lake to get some.”

“You don't have to go that far,” Brittany said. “They have them at the farmer's market in July.”

“Ah, but I like to buy directly from the source—experiment with the different vendors to see what works best.”

“And who wouldn't turn down a trip to the lake in the spring—it's so pretty!” Liz smiled at her.

Sue Anne smiled back, her optimism increasing as more and more of the women took business cards and said they'd stop by.

Soon the area cleared out as people got their food and gathered in a conference room.

“Why don't you join us?” Melissa called from the doorway. “You're a member. You might enjoy this.”

Sue Anne hesitated. She might run into Zach.

So what? Getting business was what was most important. And they were going run into each other at the gym sooner or later.

“Be right in.”

She draped plastic over the chocolates, grabbed a few things from the snack table, and picked up a glass of merlot before joining the others in the conference room.

The airport director was giving a presentation when she slipped into a seat at the back. She listened idly. What did this guy think of Zach? She knew so little about where Zach worked, a tour probably wasn't a bad idea—in case she ever saw him again.

“So let's go into the back and take a look at the training room, squad room, and fire engine,” the director said. He opened the door and led them down a few corridors. They entered a darkened room with monitors and keyboards on several desks. Computers hummed in the corners of the room.

“This is our training room. Our security officers need to stay up to date on all the airport regulations and warnings from the FAA. It one of the ways we keep you and other travelers safe.”

The door at the back of the room opened.

“Ah, here's Zach. He's going to help to lead the tour and answer any questions you might have.”

Damn.

Their gazes met, and he looked away.

Double damn.

Time to imitate Mama when she'd been dumped. She turned to the girl next to her. “Isn't this fun?” she said in her “cute” voice.

“Sure is. And he's not too bad looking either.” The woman gestured at Zach with her water glass.

“No. He isn't.” A sense of sadness washed over her. What had she done wrong?

Oh. Yeah. Disappeared after he kissed her.

It had been a wonderful kiss.

Too bad it didn't look like there'd be any more or a chance to follow where kisses like that led. Probably just as well. He's leaving, she reminded herself, and she needed to focus on her business. It was time to start acting on her expansion plans.

“What do you do all day?” Brittany's voice had a determined breathy quality as she sidled closer to the man in uniform.

Sue Anne's muscles tensed.

“A lot of what we do is routine,” Zach said, smiling at Brittany. “Patrols, maintenance on the vehicles, that kind of thing.”

“Have you ever had to rescue someone?” Brittany was inches from him.

“We did have a car rollover last month. The woman survived, but we had to use what everyone calls the Jaws of Life to get her out.”

“Wow. That's fantastic.” Brittany put her hand on Zach's arm.

Once again, the woman was confident and sure of her movements, while Sue Anne had never been that way with a guy, despite her mother's training. Where Brittany looked like a leading lady, Sue Anne was cast as the humorous sidekick. But Zach had appeared to like Sue Anne anyway. What was he going to do with Brittany's serious come on?

“Do you work out a lot?” Brittany continued.

Zach glanced at Sue Anne and then down to the hand on his arm. Gently, he disengaged her fingers before answering. “As much as necessary,” he said.

Guess that answered that question.

Undeterred, Brittany said, “Where do you work out?”

“At one of the local gyms.” Another look at Sue Anne.

“But where?” This time Brittany turned in the direction of Zach's stare.

Sue Anne couldn't help herself.

She smiled broadly.

Funny sidekick kicks ass of leading lady. Yes!

“I think it's time to move along,” the airport director said. “Let's take them through the squad room to the fire truck.”

The squad room turned out to be pretty much what she'd expected it to be: a large, square room with a kitchenette at one end, a few tables and chairs, as well as a large conference table in the center. Doors led to men's and women's changing and rest areas.

Zach hadn't ever mentioned that twist.

“Excuse me.” She raised her hand. “Are there any female members of the team?”

The director's smile dimmed. “Not at this time.” His voice was clipped, as if he expected a feminist attack. “We certainly welcome women.” His smile returned. “Are you thinking of applying?”

She felt the heat in her cheeks as everyone, including Zach, stared at her.

“I don't think so. I make chocolates.”

“Ah.” The director's smile grew more genuine. “You must be the one. I've had a few of your treats. Excellent.”

“Yes, they are,” Zach said.

They passed through a few more doors to a big garage. A gleaming, lime-green fire truck filled much of the space. As Zach led the tour around the vehicle, Sue Anne fell to the rear of the line. She did not need a further confrontation with Zach. Everyone needed to think of her as that nice lady who made chocolates, not someone attached to a hunky airport guy.

“Do you know him?” one of the other women asked.

“Uh, kind of. He helped me find my car after my last trip.”
And he kissed me. Very, very well.

Maybe there was a way to fix it so they could resume the friendship they'd had. She knew he was leaving. She'd just have to make sure her heart stayed intact in the process.

“Let's head up to the tower, now. Zach, could you bring up the rear so we don't lose anyone?”

“Sure.”

To Sue Anne's relief, Brittany had moved her focus to the airport director and was trotting along at the head of the line.

“I didn't know you'd be here.” Zach's breath tickled along the back of her neck.

“I joined so I could get the word out about my chocolates.”

“I see.”

“Look, I'm sorry.” She turned toward him.

“For what?”

“For ... um ... ditching you after our date.”

“Because you had to pee?”

“Shh!” So much for dignity.

He grinned at her.

“Got everyone, Zach?” The director's voice echoed from the top of the stairway.

“Yep. Coming right up.” He caressed her arm. “Want to go out again sometime?”

Her skin blazed where he'd touched her. Keeping her heart intact wasn't going to be as easy as she'd hoped.

“I thought you didn't want to date—because you're leaving.”

“As friends.” His smile lost a little of its luster. “That's what I meant—let's go out as friends.”

“Then we're going to need to talk about this touching and kissing stuff.” She lowered her voice.

“You don't like it?”

I like it too much.

“It's not appropriate if all we're going to be is friends.”

“Oh. Okay. I'll give you a call.” The chill in his voice was back.

Sue Anne stared out the back window, nursing her cup of coffee. The sky was a relentless steel gray, had been that way for weeks. Spring teased at Missoula with days so warm you could abandon your coat, only to be followed by frosty mornings that lasted way into the day.

This Friday was looking like it may be somewhere in between. According to the weather forecast, the weekend was supposed to be warm, perfect for getting out of town for a hike or a ride up to the Bison Range.

Too bad she had no one to enjoy it with.

Last night, Zach had started to ask her out, but he'd never followed up on it, avoiding her for the rest of the group's time at the facility. Maybe he'd call, but she doubted it.

Where had she gone wrong? She replayed the conversation in her head. Again. Like Missoula's weather, he'd teased her with a springtime thaw, only to follow it up with a frost.

She knew what the answer was, she just hated to admit it, even to herself.

He didn't like it when she'd put limits on their physical contact. It wasn't that she didn't want sex, she did, and a nooner with a good-looking man would be perfect.

As long as that man wasn't Zach. She could feel the tug of his personality—the strong, dependable type with a fatal flaw—he wasn't in it for the long term.

But his kiss fulfilled every fantasy she'd ever had.

The man was trouble on two legs—two strong legs. Attached to a great-looking butt. Leading up to strong shoulders attached to arms that held her close...

Argh!
She needed to stop thinking like this.

She wanted a guy who wanted all of her—the good and the bad—for the long term. Zach was fun to be with, he had stable employment, and his mother had taught him manners. Even the type of job he had said he was considerate of others.

Or was it the power he liked? Some men in uniform had quite a need for control.