Some Kind of Christmas

  Some Kind of Christmas

  ~a holiday short~

  By Jody Holford

  Souls tend to go back to who feels like home.

  N.R. Hart

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2017 by Jody Holford. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Author.

  Jody Holford

  PO BOX 255 Sumas WA

  98295

  Visit Jody’s website at www.jodyholford.weebly.com

  Cover design by Tanya Baikie Cover art from iStock

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  November 6, 2017

  To my family, at Christmas and always.

  ~ One ~

  She’d set Christmas on fire. It’s not that bad. It’s just a few flames. Ellie Wexly continued to tell herself that as she sprayed the white foam directly at her gas burner. The non-stop buzz of the smoke alarm hurt her ears, but until the fire was doused, she couldn’t leave it. With a few more loud sprays from the red canister—which had come with the basement suite, thankfully—Ellie backed up out of the kitchen. She set the fire extinguisher on the floor and went to the smoke detector.

  Fanning it with her pointless apron—she’d managed to stain the clothes beneath despite the layer of protection—she groaned loudly when a knock came at the door.

  “Ellie! Help is on the way. Can you hear me girl?” The door jiggled and she could just picture Mr. Coby in his bathrobe, his hair everywhere, wondering if he was going to have to break down the door. Or worse, trying.

  Unable to shut the stupid alarm off, she glanced at the door, then decided it was more important to stop the sound than unlock the door. She grabbed a dining chair, pulled it over to the alarm and climbed up. Her fingers barely brushed the round detector so she went up on tip toes and tried to unscrew it. Apparently it wasn’t a twist off.

  “Ellie! I’ll go get my key.”

  Oh lord. Why the heck had she thought she could cook herself a nice little Christmas treat when she couldn’t even manage a microwave most days? Just because she was good with instructions didn’t mean following a recipe would turn her into Gordon Ramsey.

  “I’m fine!” She hollered but doubted he heard her. Stupid, stupid smoke detector. Pressing the little button in the center, she said a whole bunch of words she shouldn’t have. Tugging on the cover, she pulled with all her might, which just wasn’t enough. Twist and tug. She smirked and tried it.

  The cover came off, but she lost her balance at the same time, tipping the chair as the door crashed in. As her head hit the edge of the coffee table right before her body thudded against the carpeted floor, she realized the stupid beeping had finally stopped.

  Her stomach pitched, she blinked rapidly and then her vision was filled with triplets. Hot triplets. Nope. That’d be three firemen. Same outfit and her head hurt, so she gave herself a break on thinking three hot brothers had just suddenly shown up in her living room.

  One of the men kneeled beside her as the other two disappeared. “Can you hear me, Ellie?”

  Despite the pounding in her head, yes she could. She definitely could. Ellie smiled, trying to sit up. Mr. Corby came to her side. She winced when she turned her head to tell him she was alright.

  “How about you just stay still while I make sure you’re okay,” the fireman said, his large, warm hands pressing gently against her shoulders.

  “Fire is out. Gas fire on the stove. She alright?” A faceless voice asked. She didn’t try to see where it had come from since her head was spinning.

  “Not sure yet. She’s got a goofy grin on her face and a gash on her head. Grab me the first aid kit.”

  Hey. My grin isn’t goofy. A memory tugged in her brain, tickling her thoughts by dipping in and out. She looked at the fireman and wondered why he looked so familiar.

  “You okay Ellie girl?” Mr. Corby yelled in her ear.

  Moving just her eyes, she looked at him. “I’m…fine.” Her throat was drier than overcooked toast.

  She winced when cool liquid touched her head. “Ow.”

  When her eyes roamed back to the fireman, he was staring at her, amusement crinkling the corner of his green eyes. What shade of green was that? A cross between emerald and forest maybe. It was a really bad time to be worrying about how her hair looked, but she couldn’t be responsible for her brain’s odd wanderings at the moment.

  She tried again to sit up. Mr. Corby moved down to her feet, bent at the waist and put his hands on his knees. He was, indeed, wearing his robe and his hair reminded her of one of those shaggy dogs whose eyes couldn’t be found.

  “What were you doing, Ellie?”

  “Sir, can you move back a little? She’s okay, but I’d like to take her to the hospital and get her checked,” green-eyed-sexy-guy said. Belatedly, she realized what he said.

  “No. I don’t want to go to the hospital. I’m okay,” she croaked.

  As if her life was a well-timed farce, the paramedics walked into her small living room. Ellie groaned. “I’m fine.”

  The other firemen had disappeared again and Mr. Corby had given her some space. The paramedics were pushing their way in, talking to fire guy like they knew him.

  “What do we have?”

  “Possible concussion. Give me a sec?”

  The fireman leaned close enough she could smell the subtle scent of his spicy cologne over the hint of smoke on his gear.

  “You’re going to the hospital, Ellie. If I have to take you there myself,” he said, his voice low and husky and making her stomach dip more than the bump on the head had.

  She stared at him, ready to…say something to explain that she’d do what she pleased when it hit her. She knew him. And he knew her.

  “You’re not the boss of me,” she said. Mortification swamped her like she’d tossed herself head first in a lake.

  The deep, husky chuckle did nothing to cool her skin. Nor did the gentle brush of his knuckles against her cheek. “You haven’t changed one bit, Ellie. And there’s no way I’m risking an ass kicking from your brother if anything happens to you. So be a good girl and let these guys check you out. I’ll meet you at the hospital.”

  “You going to let us in there, Cooper or what?” One of the paramedics wedged herself in between Ellie and the fireman, starting her own assessment.

  Cooper faded from her vision and Ellie closed her eyes and bit her lip. There was no way she’d embarrass herself more by yelling after him and telling him that she had so changed. And a lot more than a bit.

  ~ Two ~

  Cooper glanced at Sharon, a nurse he'd taken out a couple of times and waved. "I'm checking on a friend. Came in with possible concussion, response to fire call."

  Sharon pointed toward the swinging doors that ready employees only. "She went back fighting, saying she didn't need to see a doctor."

  That sounded like Ellie. He started for the doors and turned when Sharon said his name. "Merry Christmas."

  He smiled. "Same to you."

  It was Christmas Eve and he was off for the next four days. The unexpected gift of his last call definitely hadn't been on his wish list, but he wasn't letting Ellie walk out the door until they caught up.

  Bro-code still applies, even years later. He'd friended Tommy on Facebook ages ago and knew his old friend was following in his father's footsteps and working at the bank in their hometown. But Ellie. What was she doing in the big-- or bigger than Maitland,
Michigan-- city?

  "It's a little ridiculous that a grown woman can't manage to use a stove," said a voice behind the curtain Cooper was passing. He thought the tone was condescending, but continued to pass by until Ellie's voice halted his steps.

  "I don't remember asking you your opinion. Can you please just let me go? I'm fine."

  "Right. Your definition of fine is nearly killing yourself by making some soup," the slightly familiar voice said.

  Cooper pushed the curtain back and saw that Ellie was sitting on a hospital bed, one of those gowns covering her small frame. How the hell could that be cute? Her hair was a bit messy, since it'd been pushed to the side to allow for a couple of stitches right near the hairline. The doctor with her was one Cooper had seen before but he couldn't remember his name.

  "Excuse me, you can't come in here. I'm seeing to a patient."

  Cooper eyed the guy and assessed his snotty tone in combination with the way he actually looked down his nose at Ellie, whose red cheeks suggested she was once again, embarrassed. Cooper didn't know the guy's name, but Doctor Dick seemed to fit.

  "He's probably here for me, Byron," Ellie said, one side of her adorable mouth tilting up. Don't think about her mouth, dude. She's your friend's baby sister. She's no baby. And you and Tommy haven't hung out in years. Doesn't matter. Code still applies.

  Doctor Dick gave him the once over, an eyebrow lifting, maybe in response to the jeans and long sleeve Henley Cooper wore. Or the heavy black boots that he typically used for his bike. He'd brought his truck to the hospital though, thinking Ellie might need a ride.

  "Really, Eleanor? I'm very busy and don't have time for this. Listen, you can't stay here. We're booked. You do have a mild concussion so can you get someone to check in on you?"

  "I'll be checking in on her. Often," Cooper said, causing the doc to turn around and look at him again.

  "I meant through the night. Eleanor needs someone there in case her symptoms worsen."

  "I'm fine on my own," Ellie said, casting a pleading glance at Cooper. The loneliness in her tone made his chest feel like he’d dropped a pile of bricks on it.

  She clearly wanted to escape. And maybe put this jerk in his place. He could help her with both of those things. In fact, as a once honorary brother to her, it was practically his duty. Though the way he went about it probably crossed all sorts of lines and blurred them to the point of non-existent.

  He stepped toward Ellie where she was wringing her hands together on her lap. Leaning in, he covered her hands with one of his and looked at the doc. "You spoke in English, Doc, so I know what you meant. And what I meant was, I won't leave Ellie alone for one minute. I'll be by her side all night." He looked to Ellie. She was staring at him, her mouth open just a little-- enough to be enticing as hell-- and her eyes had that dazed thing going on again. He realized, with no small amount of alarm, that he wanted his mouth on hers. Badly.

  Knowing it wasn’t the time or place, but needing to solidify his words, to both her and the doc, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead, lingering as he inhaled the sweet scent of Ellie. He put his free hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. In the back of his mind, he recalled a memory he’d long since forgotten about: Ellie at thirteen, worrying that she hadn’t been kissed. He’d laughed when he found her sitting on the steps of her house because she’d told him she was a sure to be a cliché and it had taken his teenage brain a moment to remember the “sweet sixteen and never been kissed” adage. How could he have forgotten that he’d been her first kiss? Probably because, at the time, it had meant nothing—he’d barely brushed his mouth across hers, trying to boost her confidence—when she’d squawked and jumped up like he’d bit her.

  Something shifted in his chest, moving over and making room for the girl who maybe had changed more than he'd thought.

  He pulled back, loving the contented intimacy of her gaze. "Right, Ellie?"

  "Huh?"

  Cooper laughed. "You trust me to take good care of you, right? So we can get you out of here and finish having Christmas."

  She nodded, clearly still a little uncertain. Looking at the doc, wanting to beat his chest with the amount of awesome he felt right that moment, Cooper grinned. "There you have it. Sign her out, Doc. Me and my girl are ready to go. And as you said, you're very busy."

  ~ Three ~

  Ellie stared at Cooper’s profile, her forehead still tingling from the heat of his lips. He’d kissed her once before. On the mouth. At least she hadn’t behaved like a complete freak this time. At thirteen, when Cooper’s mouth touched hers, she’d jumped back in such surprise, she was sure he’d never speak to her again. Instead, he smiled, gave a little laugh and said, “There. Now you don’t have to worry.” He’d gone in the house to find Tommy and it was like the moment was just a dream she’d conjured up.

  Which is what this moment felt like sitting beside him in the dark as he drove them toward her place in his quad-cab truck. He seemed to have a grin stuck to his lips, which wasn’t helping to settle her mind or her pulse. Was it possible Byron had underestimated the concussion? Perhaps she had a severe head trauma that was causing her to hallucinate. Right. And you just happen to be hallucinating your childhood crush. Ellie snorted out a laugh and Cooper looked her way.

  “You okay, sweetheart?” Good God. It was enough that he was mouth-wateringly hot. Add to that the whole protective fireman thing. But if he was going to throw endearments around like pennies, she might as well just knock herself in the head again so she’d have an excuse to pass out.

  “I’m fine. What are you doing, Cooper?”

  He looked back at the road, one hand on the wheel, and took her left hand in his free one. She tried to believe the goosebumps trailing up her skin were from the cool weather, but since she was sitting on a heated seat and nearly sweating with the proximity of all that was Cooper, it was a bold faced lie.

  “I’m taking you back to your place, Ellie. I had no idea you were in the city. My heart just about stopped when I saw you lying there.”

  Her own heart was working double time. She couldn’t seem to slow it down. Cooper stopped at a red light and looked her way.

  “How’d you know it was me?” She’d lost the glasses, braces, and frizz head when she went to college. She’d done the freshman fifteen in reverse and stopped choosing clothing that let her hide. It was safe to say her old friends wouldn’t recognize her without a second glance.

  Cooper lifted his hand and touched her top lip with his thumb, running it along the slight scar there. “The eyes and the scar. You’ve always had the most kick ass eyes. And how could I forget the guilt that came along with this?”

  She swatted his hand away, reminding herself she was a full grown woman and didn’t need to be swooning at her brother’s friend’s feet. Plus, the light had turned green. She pushed aside the comment about her eyes—he was just being polite.

  “It wasn’t your fault, Coop.”

  “I double bounced you,” he said, pressing the gas.

  It was true. She’d been eleven to his fifteen and he’d told her he could knock her over. Stubbornness was more than a family trait. It was a way of life. She’d told him to give it his best try and on the third bounce, she’d gone down, which wouldn’t have been a problem if her knee hadn’t collided with her mouth. Her tooth went right through her lip and blood had gone everywhere. Cooper had been so apologetic. She’d gotten three stitches and there was still the tiniest of scars over her top lip, just where it arched on the right side.

  “You bought me an entire box of jumbo freezies,” she said, just remembering.

  “It was the least I could do.”

  As he drove, she watched the lights out the window. The pretty colors, some twinkling, some not, were one of her favorite parts of the season. Mr. Coby’s son in law had hung colored icicles along his rooftops and Ellie smiled, seeing they were on, when Cooper pulled into the driveway. The older house had a wide and long drive, a generous fron
t yard, and a wide picture window. Ellie’s heart actually clutched at the scene before her. Mr. Coby’s daughter was laughing at something while her father stood at her side. Her husband held their youngest son up so he could hang something on the tree. The older son stood between his grandfather and mom.

  Tears pricked her eyes and it took her a second to realize Cooper had turned off the truck. Realizing she was taking him away from his own holiday, she pasted on a bright smile.

  “Thank you for driving me. You really didn’t have to,” she said, pretending she didn’t miss the feel of his hand holding hers.

  “I did have to. It would have been all kinds of weird to make you cab it back while I drove here.”

  She scrunched her brows at him. He still had a touch of that boyish twinkle in his eyes. He and Tommy had seemed so cool to her. She’d adored her brother and tagged along whenever he said she could. Cooper had always treated her so kindly. Unlike a lot of the kids her own age, he saw beyond the oversized glasses and lack of style.

  Whether it was the bump to the head, the overwhelming sensation of being so near him and remembering that he had kissed her full on the mouth, or just a touch of Christmas blues sneaking in, Ellie still hadn’t picked up on his intent. Just like the first time he’d kissed her when she was fourteen. She’d been worried about attending a party because a friend told her about ‘spin the bottle’. Cooper told her it was no big deal and like it was nothing out of the ordinary, he’d planted his lips against hers for a whole second and a half, then said “see?” Clearly, he’d either held out back then or improved immensely.

  Pulling her back to the moment, Cooper got out of the truck as she was grabbing her purse and had her door open before she reached for the handle. Holding out a hand, he waited for her to take his. When she slipped out of the truck, he didn’t step back, which brought their bodies flush. All the circuits inside her body fired in different directions, crisscrossing into one lusty tangle. Stop it. He’s your brother’s friend. He’s like a pseudo brother. And you are as good at relationships as you are at cooking. Hence the irritation that had all but dripped off of her ex as he’d taken care of her stitches.