Tastes Like Sugar (Collier’s Creek Christmas)

Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

SULLY

If my sister didn’t love this miserable cat so much, I’d have left it up here to fend for itself. I’m sure Sizzle has climbed—and successfully dismounted—this tree a billion times. But apparently, it’s this morning, when I had the bright idea to go for a brisk walk before the sun rose, that he chose to escape the house and dart up the damn tree.

The stupid thing still has stitches from a lump extraction. Hence the reason he got stuck and I felt compelled to rescue him.

Look how well that worked out for you.

Maybe if I fell and banged myself up a little—nothing too serious, maybe just some scratches and a sprained ankle—then this cutting awkwardness would disappear.

I peer down at the ground and immediately look forward.

Heights are the worst. It’s a really, really long way down. And while that’s a distraction—albeit a shitty one—from the horror bouncing around in my brain from what I’ve just learned, I’d prefer not to pass out.

But apparently, I don’t need to worry, as Hayes is making his way up, looking frustratingly rugged and handsome—seriously, has he filled out and bulked up since I last saw him?—which is distracting.

Obviously three days won’t do that to a man, but Jesus, he seriously does look impressively muscular and sexy in his uniform.

And that is something I absolutely should not be thinking about.

“You doing okay up here?” His voice is deep, carrying gravel that pebbles my skin.

“Yep. Could do with getting my feet on the ground, though.” I release a chuckle that is 100 percent awkward and self-deprecating. Middle-aged men shouldn’t need to be rescued from trees. It’s one of those “no shit, Sherlock” facts that I’m sure everyone knows.

Plus, it’s freezing.

I’d managed five thousand steps, which kind of kicked my ass. The couple of miles was definitely enough to have my legs aching. Honestly, I have no idea how I managed to pull myself up this damn tree.

Being stuck up this stupid tree for what was likely fifteen minutes before Mrs. Mason happened to spot me when she was going to her trash can isn’t the best way to start any day. While my perspiration is long gone, I’m seriously cold. Any trace of sweat has, I think, turned to ice.

“We’ll have you down before you know it.”

I risk a glance at Hayes, and a sigh rushes out of me. He’s barely three feet away. Thank Christ.

I latch on to my relief. It chases away my mortification.

“Hey.”

That one word and my heart stutters. That he shoots me a lopsided grin, which is exactly as I remember it, doesn’t help my reaction to him.

“You ready to hand me Sizzle in a second?”

I nod mutely, not trusting myself to speak. Hayes has paused his climb, his face in line with my stomach.

“Okay. First, let me latch this strap around your waist. That okay?”

As I bob my head, I lift Sizzle carefully, giving Hayes room to work. With deft fingers, he’s quick to secure a strap around me. I follow the cord with my gaze and realize he, or someone, has secured it to one of the thick branches.

That I didn’t see that happen means it really is time for me to get down and warm.

“Okay, let me take Sizzle from you. When I’ve got him, I want you to hold on to the ladder with your right hand. Can you do that?”

“Yeah.” I flick a glance at the ladder. It’s right there, within reaching distance.

“Great. When you’ve got a good grip, you can move your right foot, place it on the rung, then let go of the branch before holding on to the ladder with both hands. You think you can manage that?”

“As long as I don’t look down,” I admit.

“You don’t need to look down. You just focus on the ladder and don’t look at anything lower than my face, okay?”

My gaze connects to his, and I breathe a little easier.

Hayes’s steady voice is soothing, carrying a certainty that is less arrogance and more genuine assurance.

While my fear doesn’t fully dissolve, his presence alone lets me know he’s got this. Got me. And fuck if that doesn’t make me sag in relief.

“Okay,” I finally answer, not caring too much that it’s taken me a while to respond.

His smile is immediate. I lose his gaze when he focuses on Sizzle.

“Come on, Sizzle. I swear you’re getting to the end of your nine lives.” Hayes reaches out, and I loosen my grip once I know he has a firm hold on my sister’s cat. “Jesus H. Christ, no wonder you couldn’t get yourself down. I know I shouldn’t body shame, but what on earth has Abigail been feeding you?”

A bubble of laughter escapes me. The sound catches Hayes’s attention, and we make eye contact. A soft smile forms as he glances up, but rather than cutting it off, I laugh louder, relief probably mingling with hypothermia.

“You doing okay up there?” Zoey calls up. The sound of her voice sobers me pretty quickly.

Laughing my ass off while stuck up a tree probably isn’t the safest or wisest move.

“All good,” Hayes answers. “We’re heading down now.”

That’s my cue.

With Hayes’s heat at my back, we make quick work of descending the ladder safely. As soon as my feet hit concrete, I expel a heavy, shaky breath.

“Let’s get you to the rig and checked out.” Hayes’s warm hand presses against my back.

I feel like sagging in relief, but I’m already mortified. Plus, I realize as I glance around, we’ve gathered quite an audience.

What I want is to head back to my sister’s and evaluate my life choices.

A wave of heat encompasses me as he leads me to the rig, his firm hand doing things to my stomach it has no right to do.

My reaction says everything.

Hayes is under my skin, and I really, really can’t have him burrowing his way in further. The ramifications are more than I can process.

“Oh my goodness, are you okay?”

My sister’s already at the rig, Sizzle in her arms and worry in her expression.

A wave of warmth washes over me. “Yeah, I am now.” I risk a glance at Hayes, who’s still rooted at my side, though a frown furrows his brows as he looks at Abigail.

“Shit, you’re freezing.” Abigail’s all frown and concern.

I don’t even have the chance to nod and confirm before a thick, warm blanket is wrapped around me. I jolt even as I sigh into the welcome heaviness of the wool. Hayes fills my vision as he stands directly in front of me, tugging the corners of the blanket under my chin.

It’s no use. Avoidance is completely impossible.

Flicking my gaze up, I pause and swallow hard when once again, his intense eyes capture mine. There’s a slight tilt of his lips, but more than that, curiosity floods his features.

“You know Abigail?” he asks.

Heat hits my cheeks, and I’m fully aware Abigail’s still at my side, concern pouring off her while she’s still trying to wrangle Sizzle in her arms. “Uhm.”

“You probably don’t recognize Tom, Michael,” my sister says.

Her words snap Hayes’s attention to her. “Tom?”

“Yeah, it’s been years since he visited here; honestly, you can’t have been more than six. Tom’s my brother. Rhys’s uncle.”

I cut my gaze to my sister. A wide smile is directed my way—apparently, she’s confident I’m not about to collapse or die of hypothermia anymore. Though, I’m pretty sure I’m dying inside.

I fucked my nephew’s best friend.

“Sully?”

At my name spilling from Hayes, I close my eyes.

Abigail chuckles. “Sully? Geez, it’s been years since I heard you called that.”

Hayes is impossible to ignore, his presence demanding. Our gazes connect and my gut tightens. It shouldn’t. If I were a God-fearing man, which I admittedly am not, I’d be worried for my soul and that the lustful thoughts synonymous with Michael Hayes would lead me straight to hell.

What have I done?

“I’m…. It’s…. I didn’t….” I shift under his scrutiny, the blanket slipping a little. I snag it quickly.

“You’re also going to be working together at the station. Isn’t that incredible?” Abigail butts in, all smiles and clueless of Hayes’s scrutiny.

“You are?” His brows shoot up, but there’s no accusation in his tone. No, the poor guy looks more confused than a chameleon in a bag of Skittles.

I nod and release a shuddery sigh. I’m still freaking cold, and I’m certain I’m about to have an adrenaline crash. “Yeah. I’m the new office manager taking over from Marge. I officially start in eight days, but I’ll be around the station next week to learn the system.”

Hayes blinks slowly. A few beats later, he bobs his head. I suspect everything is falling into place—my reaction to him being a firefighter on Thursday specifically.

Fuck knows what his thoughts are about me being Rhys’s uncle.

“Isn’t that incredible news, Michael?” Abigail pipes up. He immediately looks her way, a warm smile forming. “Are you off tonight?”

“Yes, ma’am. Just about to finish a forty-eight-hour swing as soon as we get back to the station.”

Shit. “I’m so sorry,” I cut in, mortified.

Hayes shakes his head; this time his smile is all for me. “A callout like this, where everyone ends up safe, is the best way to end a shift.”

I suspect he’s being generous and that the crew would much rather be ready to clock out, but I appreciate his attempt at not making me feel bad.

“In that case, come over for dinner tonight,” Abigail says.

There’s an extra heavy thump in my heart, like the bang of a starting pistol, before my pulse races.

“A home-cooked meal at the Miller house?” Hayes nods, a bright smile forming and making his deep brown eyes practically sparkle. “Heck yes, I’ll be there.”

My heart lurches in my chest. He wants to come for dinner?

Abigail shoots him a pleased smile before returning her attention to me. “Let’s get you inside and warmed up.”

That sounds like an incredible suggestion. I turn to Hayes, and despite the churning in my gut, I shoot him a smile that I’m sure is all embarrassment. “Thanks so much for… you know, for saving my ass. And the damn cat.” I glance around. Most of the crew are packing up, but there are a couple clearly listening in. Zoey’s talking to one of Abigail’s neighbors. It’s Sue, the intake nurse at Collier Creek’s hospital. “I really am sorry that you all had to come out here.”

Waving me off, Hayes says, “It’s all good. It’s our job, and I wasn’t bullshitting about finishing our long shift this way. It stops the last hour from dragging, so you did me a favor. Hell, I probably owe you a coffee or something in thanks.”

Did he…?

“That sounds like a great idea,” my sister cuts in.

I flick a wide-eyed stare at her. Her grin is blinding as she peers over at me. The innocence in her expression is far from sweet or real. Jesus, if only she knew that I’d got naked with her kid’s best friend. I can’t imagine she’d be throwing me in Hayes’s path then.

“A good way to end your shift, too, right, Hayes? I absolutely know your first stop is CC’s,” she says.

Hayes chuckles. “You know it is. No way I can rest until I’ve had a decent coffee and unwind properly before I crash.” He turns his attention to me. “How about you let me buy you that coffee in thirty minutes? I might even throw in breakfast, since you mastered the ladder like a pro.” His wink is ridiculously sweet and endearing.

He’s also impossible to say no to.

“Okay.” It’s not gracious, but fuck, that means we have to talk this shit out, right?

“Awesome.” Hayes nods and backs away as a couple of his crew get in the fire truck. “It’s a date.” He bobs his head as I stare wide-eyed at his retreating form.

A date? It can’t be a date.

I turn to my sister, more flustered than I care to admit. The woman’s smirk is self-satisfied, and her hazel eyes, the shade identical to mine, are lit with amusement. I narrow my eyes at her. “What was that?”

She shrugs and Sizzle squirms in her arms. “I’m freezing my ass off out here. Come on.”

She’s not the only one. Shit, the blanket. I start to tug it off my shoulders as I look up when the truck engine starts.

“Don’t worry about that. You can give it to Michael tonight,” my sister says.

“Hey.”

I startle at the sound of a familiar voice and turn, taking in Zoey. “Hey, Zoey. I’m so sorry about all this.”

“Puh-lease.” Much like Hayes did, she waves it off. “No worries at all. I’ll see you Tuesday, right?” She’s already backing away as I nod. “Before then, don’t let Marge force you to eat a slice of her fruitcake. Not unless you want an expensive trip to the dentist.”

I barely manage an uncertain nod before she jumps on the rig and offers me a wave.

“I forgot you know Zoey.” A tug on my arm gets me moving and falling in step with Abigail. “Just one more reason why you made the right call to stick around and take up a position here.”

Not committing, I offer a hum. My sister is a force of nature. Her intentions are always good, but she has a tendency to get carried away. Our nine-year age difference sort of gave her a free pass to be the boss of me while I was growing up. Not that she doesn’t listen when I say no or tell her to back off. She does both immediately, recognizing when she oversteps. But the woman does like to interfere.

We step into her house, the warmth making me sigh in relief. I feel frozen to the bone.

“Go grab a hot shower. You have plenty of time before meeting Hayes.”

I definitely will, but I need to know… “Don’t you think it’s odd, me going for a coffee with Hayes?”

This is my nephew’s best friend we’re talking about. I’m sure to hell my sister’s clueless about the effect his offer of buying me coffee and the “date” comment had on me. Why wouldn’t she be? But Christ, I’m what, fifteen, sixteen years older than the man. Isn’t even the idea of us being friends a bit weird?

“Pfft, Michael’s a good kid.”

Somehow I hide my wince. Kid .

“Wait till you get to know him better. He’s such a good guy. Friendly and has time for everyone. We’ve always adored him.”

Her words don’t make me feel any better. Especially as the “we” reminds me of how my sister’s family feels about Hayes. They treat him as one of their own.

“I’m sure you’ll feel the same in no time.”

Jesus. If only she knew.

“You’ve been through a lot, and Hayes is the perfect guy to show you around, help you settle in… help you put yourself out there a bit more,” she tags on with an arch of her manicured brow.

By putting myself out there, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t mean me being naked and spread eagle in Hayes’s bed.

Letting a natural smile settle, I send it her way and nod. It’s best I just shower and get this coffee… meeting over with.

Hayes didn’t appear to be too freaked out. Maybe he’ll quickly brush it off with a chuckle and promise to keep what happened between just the two of us. I rub at my chest, ignoring the reason why the possibility of that being his reaction makes me feel worse. I wave Abigail off as I leave the room.

With a sigh, I try to make sure it’s my last one. It’s no hardship hanging out with Hayes. In truth, I’m grateful, if not a little mortified. I feel like I owe him an apology even though I was as clueless as him.

I’ll play it by ear.

As the water sluices over me, heating my frigid bones, I relax. It’ll be fine. Hayes is a good guy.

Washing my hair, I consider Abigail’s words, continuing to stumble over Hayes being the “perfect guy.” It’s not even a surprise when my cock chubs. Hayes’s broad shoulders filled out his firefighter’s uniform to perfection, and those damn eyes and that smile of his…. I shudder and actively avoid taking myself in hand.

Masturbating over the man who should be—is?—off-limits is wrong. I will my dick to behave.

So why on earth does anticipation bubble in my stomach? That and have me picking up the speed as I wash myself down while mulling over which sweater I should wear that will make me look younger than my years?

Wrong .

I wince.

But why the hell did our night together have to feel so right?