Free Be Mine at Christmas by Brenda Novak Page A

didn’t have to ask For who? After breakfast, when they’d set off to do some Christmas shopping, Kayla had wanted to find a gift for Matt. Angela did, too. She just hadn’t expected to find anything quite like this.
    “Please say yes,” Kayla said.
    Angela lifted the sculpture of a fireman carrying a child to safety and read the plaque at the bottom. Safe from Imminent Danger.
    Tracing a finger lightly over the face of the child, she took in the details—the smile, the rounded cheeks, the pigtails. It was a girl, which struck Angela as very significant.
    “Angie?”
    Angela blinked and finally answered. “Yes?”
    “It’s perfect for him, don’t you think?”
    It was perfect. It was also expensive, but his gifts to them hadn’t been cheap, and it said everything Angela wanted to say. Shelter her from harm. Keep her safe. Be a good daddy.
    She could trust a fireman, right?
     
    W HEN HE HEARD A NGELA at the station, asking to see him, Matt couldn’t believe it. He’d just decidedshe didn’t want anything to do with him. And now she was here?
    Ruben, one of his men, directed her to Matt’s office.
    Matt rounded the desk as Kayla came hurrying through the door.
    “We got you a present,” she said breathlessly.
    Angela followed, carrying a large square box wrapped in a paper decorated with little Christmas trees.
    “You didn’t have to get me anything,” he said. But since it had brought them to the station, he was damn glad they had.
    Kayla clasped her hands in front of her as if she could scarcely contain the excitement. “Open it!”
    He would have, right away. Except Angela’s gaze swept over him from head to toe, so hot and hungry it nearly stole his breath. He hadn’t made any mistake last night—she wanted him as badly as he wanted her. So what was the problem?
    He didn’t know, but he’d certainly ask. Because he now understood that his other plan would never have worked. Considering the force of what they were feeling, what they wanted, there was no way they’d be able to let their relationship develop slowly.
    “Hi,” he said, his eyes locking with hers.
    “Hi,” she murmured and gave him such a sexy, mysterious smile he got lost in it for a while—until Kayla tugged on his arm.
    “Don’t you want to see what we got you?”
    He doubted it could compare with what Angelahad given him last night. Grinning, he took the package, set it on his desk and tore off the paper.
    It was a bronze statue of a fireman saving a child.
    “Do you like it?” Kayla asked.
    He smiled as he stared at it. “I do. Very much. Thank you.”
    “Now every time you look at it you’ll think of us,” she said.
    He didn’t admit it, but he was afraid he couldn’t forget them even if he wanted to.
     
    A NGELA REACHED FOR the phone half a dozen times without picking it up. Tonight was the night to tell him. Kayla had gone to Reno with Lewis and his family, so Angela was alone. She could talk to Matt, explain the pregnancy that had resulted from what had happened thirteen years ago and see what he’d like to do about it before she broke the news to Kayla.
    Maybe he’d settle for annual or biannual visits. Why not? He wasn’t used to having a child. And it wasn’t as if Angela needed him for financial support. She did fine on her own. She’d suggest they share Kayla.
    But what if he didn’t want to share? He didn’t seem like the type to have a part-time daughter. He seemed like the kind of man who claimed what belonged to him and took care of his own.
    She wiped her sweaty palms on the old jeans she’d pulled on, along with a sweatshirt. She was scared. But picturing that essay, those question marks that had replaced Kayla’s last name, made Angela reach for the handset with enough resolve toget the job done. Kayla Jackson had a nice ring to it. Matt was a father to be proud of.
    The phone rang just as Angela touched it. Taking a deep breath, she brought it to her ear. “Hello?”
    “I want to see