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“It itches,” I admitted through my teeth. “A little.”
Rosie breathed a quiet laugh.
“Your tie is crooked.”
I stifled a groan. “That doesn’t really surprise me.”
Rosie set her plate aside. “Here. Let me fix it.”
I didn’t dare move a muscle as I stood there facing Rosie. Her small, light fingers expertly and deftly straightened my tie. When she pushed it snug to my throat, her knuckles brushed against my skin. My pulse leaped. I shamelessly took the opportunity to stare as Rosie kept her gaze focused on my tie. Her lashes fanned against her cheek and the slightest hint of a blush stole up her neck, a darker shade than her makeup.
A whistle went up from one of the firemen on my crew - Eddie Hackman. He was only a few years older than me, but that made him the senior guy in the firehouse, second only to Chief Wright, so he took it upon himself to mercilessly tease anyone younger than him.
“Looks like Lawson and Simmons have outdone us all,” Eddie declared. “No ugly sweaters in sight for them. Do we have a door prize for Best Dressed Couple?”
Rosie snatched her hands away from me as if I’d burned her. When she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, I could see her fingers trembling.
“If you wanted to wear a dress, Eddie,” she replied, her voice surprisingly strong and clear despite the nerves she was hiding. “I would have been happy to help you out. I have the perfect pair of high heels you could have borrowed, too. They have these adorable little bows on the toes.”
A wild whoop of delight went up in the firehouse. While the crew cheered at Rosie’s quip, Eddie leaned back in his chair with a smile and saluted her with a wink. I grinned down at her, feeling as if the buttons would burst off my uniform with pride. It wasn’t easy working in a firehouse full of men who mouthed off and ribbed each other endlessly, but Rosie could hold her own. She might look like an angel but she had a fire behind those eyes that I couldn’t help admiring.
“Nice comeback,” I whispered.
A small smile tipped the corner of her mouth up and a dimple flashed in her cheek.
“Thank you. I get a lot of practice.”
Before I could take a breath to respond, a shout went up.
“Hey, it’s snowing!”
A clatter of chairs scraping and a murmur of interest swept through the room as everyone made their way into the apparatus bay. Holly Hollow was well-known for its legendary white Christmases. Every year like clockwork, the snow piled up, blanketing the little town in a cozy layer of white.
But this year, the snow was late. There had been a few flakes scattered here and there since Thanksgiving, though not enough to accumulate properly. With Christmas arriving this Saturday, everyone wanted to see the first real snow of the season and the magic it brought to the holidays.
The apparatus bay was ablaze with lights. One of the garage doors slowly slid open, revealing an ink-black night beyond. Big, fluffy white snowflakes drifted in slow, lazy circles. Street lamps lining the road cast golden globes of illumination into the thick snowfall.
“Looks like we’ll be shoveling the sidewalk in the morning, gentleman,” Chief Wright said.
Eddie Hackman pretended to cough.
“I think I’m coming down with something, boss. Might have to call in sick tomorrow.”
“Nice try, Hackman.”
From the corner of my eye, movement drew my attention. Rosie stepped up to the door, extending her arm out, palm up. Snowflakes landed in her palm, melting against her skin. Unbuttoning my uniform jacket, I crossed the room. She hadn’t grabbed her coat on the way out here, and in this sharp, icy wind, she could easily catch cold.
“You’re going to freeze,” I said, coming up behind her.
Rosie turned her head slightly to acknowledge me as I draped my jacket around her shoulders. But she kept her gaze on the snow.
“I wouldn’t even care. It’s beautiful.”
A flurry of snowflakes landed in her hair, clinging to her lashes.
“It feels like I’m living in a fairy tale. I’m so glad I moved here.”
I raised my eyebrows and slid my hands in my pockets to keep them warm.
