"Hmmm," he said.

"Well, I do see eggs and cheese," said Merilee. "I can make omelets."

"So can I," he said, and pulled out the carton of eggs. "You sit down and relax and I'll cook."

That sounded good to Merilee. She sat petting the cat and watched as Zach worked. He seemed at home in the kitchen. Heck, he seemed at home in his own skin. With a body like that, no wonder.

"Here you go. We can pretend it's pizza," he said, setting a plate in front of her.

It wasn't a fancy omelet-just eggs and cheese and some onion he'd found and chopped and sauteed. Still, sitting at Zach's cozy kitchen table, enjoying it and sipping instant hot cocoa was as satisfying as dining at a fine restaurant.

"You're pretty good in the kitchen," she said.

He shrugged off her compliment. "We take turns cooking at the station," he said. "I can make all kinds of stuff."

"You'll make some lucky woman a great wife," she teased. Now why had she said that? Fresh warmth crept into her cheeks.

His looked a little sunburned, too. "I'm not much of a commitment guy."

Now her face was on fire. "I didn't mean..." she began.

"Oh, I know," he said quickly. "I didn't mean-that is, uh, it's a gamble," he finished lamely.

She nodded. "You're right."

An uncomfortable silence drifted into the cozy kitchen and spread big black wings over them as they finished their omelets. At last Merilee managed a chipper, "That was great. Thanks."

"No problem," he said, taking her plate.

She studied him as he put their plates in the dishwasher. The sinews in his arms, the wide shoulders, the long legs that looked like they could leap buildings in a single bound-everything about him said strength and confidence. Only at the mere mention of marriage he'd reacted like an elephant in a room full of mice. Merilee had once read that elephants feared mice for a very real reason: if one ran up its trunk the elephant wouldn't be able to breathe. Hmmm.

"You know, I'd love to see the rest of the house," she said. Now, that was bold. Her sisters would have been proud.

"Sure," he said, and she could hear in his voice that he was relieved she had turned them away from the dangerous topic of marriage.

He started by leading her upstairs. The cat accompanied them, as if equally interested in inspecting the improvements Zach had made.

The house was all charm-interesting slopes, cubbyholes, and balconies, crown molding and bead board. "I finished the master suite in August," he said, leading her into what was obviously his bedroom. She took in the king-sized bed with its rumpled, brown comforter and felt a fresh sizzle on her cheeks.

"Uh, it's kind of a mess," he said, kicking a pair of blue boxers under the bed.

As he threw the comforter up over the rumpled sheets Merilee flashed on an image of two bodies happily putting them in that condition. The female one looked suspiciously like her. "It's very big. Your bed." Oh, Lord.

"It gets the job done," he said with a grin, and led the way down the hall.

They stopped by a second room, which was doubling as an office, and then checked out the guest room. This one appeared to be freshly painted. Robin's egg blue, lovely. It held an antique dresser with an oval mirror and a bra.s.s bed covered with a quilt done in fabrics predominantly blue.

"The furniture was my grandma's," he said.

Merilee stepped over to the bed for a closer inspection of the quilt. A star pattern, hand st.i.tched. "Did your grandma make this?"

"Yeah. She made one for both of us kids."

"I bet she loves this house."

"She would've," he said. "She died three years ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry." She always hated hearing that people had lost loved ones.

"I miss her," Zach said simply. "She was a big part of my life when I was a kid. We visited her and my granddad every summer. I never saw her just sitting, you know. She always had something going on and she was always making something for someone."

"Sounds like she was a wonderful person," said Merilee. And it sounded like Zach had the perfect family growing up. Wouldn't he want to replicate it?

"She was great," he said. "Live life to the fullest, that was her motto."

"Good advice," said Merilee. Advice she should take.

"Gram practiced what she preached, too. She was taking an Alaskan cruise when she died. Stroked out at the sight of the Mendenhall Glacier. Not a bad way to go," Zach finished as they went back downstairs. "So, here's the dining room. Living room over here."

Merilee walked past him into the living room. "This is great. It would look really awesome if you painted one wall a dusty rose."

He nodded thoughtfully.

"And I could see a Christmas tree in the bay window."

For some reason the suggestion made him squirm. He twisted his neck like he had a sudden crick in it.

Maybe he wasn't catching the vision. Merilee continued, "Not a fake tree; a big, fat one you go out and cut yourself and then load up with lots of old-fashioned ornaments. You know, like the Griswold family tree in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

He smiled. "That movie rocks."

"I love it, too," said Merilee. "Especially the part where the squirrel jumps out of the tree."

He gave a snort. "Oh, yeah, and the gift box with the cat in it. Sorry, Tom. Nothing personal," he added, and picked up the cat, stopping it from circling his legs.

This man proudly displayed his grandmother's quilt, took in stray cats, tried to help women who had been unjustly fired. With such a big heart, why was he so afraid of sharing his life with someone? Of course, she barely knew him so it would be rude to ask. She wished she could, though.

Instead, she said, "I love the window seat. My grandma in Oregon has an old house with a window seat. When we were little she stored all kinds of games in it for us to play when we visited: Monopoly, Aggravation, Clue."

"Oh, man, I remember playing Clue with my brother and the neighbors' kid," said Zach, shaking his head and smiling. "I always won."

"Me, too."

"Yeah? n.o.body beats me," he teased.

"Guess you've never met your match. Until now," she retorted. Merilee White, are you flirting? Who knew you had it in you!

"Yeah, well, we may have to see about that. I bet my mom still has the game somewhere."

"Let me know if you find it. If you're brave enough."

That made him chuckle.

Flirting was fun. And empowering. Merilee grinned, pleased with herself.

Until she realized she had run out of things to say.

Actually, she had a lot to say. Why are you afraid of commitment? Want company in that big bed? Let's go get a Griswold Christmas tree and see how it looks in your bay window. None of those were appropriate. There was nothing more to say about Tom the cat, either, since he appeared to be over his eating disorder.

It was probably time to go home. Had Cinderella gotten hit with this same wave of disappointment when the clock struck midnight?

"I guess my work here is done," Merilee said, keeping her voice light. Maybe Zach would suggest she stay a little longer. Maybe he'd say he had a copy of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

He didn't. Instead, he nodded and set the cat down. "Okay. I'll run you home."

Would he have been so quick to run either of her sisters home? Of course not, and maybe Zach would be asking her to hang around if she'd tried harder to be more like them. Why hadn't she gotten to the mall and bought some hot new clothes and makeup?

Why did she think that would make a difference? Sigh.

Back outside the snow was still at work, laying an ever-thickening carpet on the ground. The falling flakes made the festive lights on the surrounding houses look blurry and soft, like a Thomas Kinkade painting. Merilee stopped a moment to take it all in. "This is such a lovely season," she murmured. "Sometimes I wish it could be Christmas all year long."

"Once a year is more than enough," said Zach, crunching past her.

What a sad thing to say! "I don't think I've ever met anyone who didn't like Christmas," she mused as they drove home. Oh, no. Had she just said that out loud? Way to go, stupid.

"It's just the family thing gets a little too much, you know."

No, she didn't know. She loved spending the holidays with her family. Her brothers always made a special trip out to join the others, and they all packed the house from floor to attic. On Christmas Eve her mother made a huge turkey with all the tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs, which they washed down with fruit punch. Later they'd consume copious amounts of Christmas cookies (never good for the diet, but Merilee intended to splurge this year anyway) and after dinner her sister Gloria would play the piano and they'd sing carols. Then they'd all go to the candlelight service and sing more carols. On Christmas morning they ate cranberry pancakes and opened presents. Someone always slipped a game of some sort under the tree, which they then spent the afternoon playing while stuffing themselves with turkey sandwiches and leftover dressing. What was not to like about Christmas?

"I guess it depends on the family," she said.

He looked at her in surprise. "Don't tell me, your family is perfect."

"Oh, we're not perfect," she admitted. "But we're close to it. And we have fun together."

He responded to that remark with a grunt. Very telling. His grandmother may have been great, but obviously the rest of his family didn't measure up.

They would have ridden the rest of the way in silence if Merilee hadn't thanked him for taking her home.

"That's the least I could do since you got my cat to eat."

She suspected the cat had gotten himself to eat but decided to leave Zach to his delusion. "I was happy to help."

They were in the parking lot of the Angel Arms Apartments now and Zach slid the vehicle to a stop. "I'll walk you up to your apartment."

"Oh, you don't need to," she protested. Surely he'd had enough of her by now.

But he was already out of the car and coming over to open her door. There was nothing to do but be gracious and let him be n.o.ble. And wonder if she should invite him in for eggnog.

She was still debating when they reached her door. "I loved seeing your house," she said as she fumbled for her key.

"Thanks for the paint suggestion," he said.

Would you like to come in for a minute and warm up? No, that was stupid. He hadn't gotten that cold walking from the SUV to her front door. How about some eggnog? He probably liked it spiked. Heck, he probably preferred beer. I have a quilt on my bed, too. Want to see it? Gag.

She was so busy trying to think of what to say that she didn't pay close attention as she opened the door. A streak of white slipped out and bolted down the open walkway for the stairs and freedom. "Oh, no! Queenie!"

"I'll get her," Zach offered and took off after the cat.

And Merilee took off after Zach.

Just as she'd feared, Queenie had quickly disappeared. "She's an inside kitty. She can't be out here. Oh, and if Mrs. Winnamucker sees her or something gets her..." It was all too gruesome to contemplate.

"Don't worry, we'll find her," Zach said, bending over and peering under the rhododendron bushes.

In spite of her concern for Queenie, she couldn't help noticing what a fine b.u.t.t he had. Did that make her a bad cat mommy?

"There she is." A moment later he was on his hands and knees in the snow, reaching under the bushes. "Come on, cat. I know you've got a fur coat but you don't really want to be out here."

It appeared Queenie did because she retreated further. "You got any more of those kitty treats?"

Merilee had left the box at Zach's house. But wait. "I've got something that will work just as well." She rushed back to the apartment and grabbed a can of Salmon Supper, then hurried back to where Zach was crouched by the rhodies. "This should bring her," she said, and opened the lid with a pop.

Sure enough, a moment later a little white head poked out from under the bushes. Slowly Queenie edged forward, sniffing the air.

Zach s.n.a.t.c.hed her up. "Gotcha."

"What's going on out here?" called a high, tremulous voice.

"It's the apartment manager," hissed Merilee. "I'm not supposed to have a cat. I'm screwed."

Sure enough, a moment later, Mrs. Winnamucker appeared, her red coat thrown over a bathrobe, her feet slipped into boots and her favorite red hat pulled down over her curls. "Miss White?" Her eyes got big. And then they narrowed and her mouth turned down at the corners. She took a deep breath, causing her ample chest to puff out and making Merilee think of the big bad wolf about to blow down a house. "That cat-"

Oh, this was so not good.

"It's mine," said Zach, thinking fast. "He, uh, ran away. I was out looking for him."

Mrs. Winnamucker's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"And I was helping him," added Merilee, trying desperately not to look guilty as she shoved the can of cat food at Zach.

Mrs. Winnamucker still looked suspicious, but since all she had was her suspicion she had to content herself with simply saying "I see" in a tone of voice that added, what you're up to.

"Well, thanks for your help," Zach said to Merilee. "Guess I'd better let you get in out of the cold."

"You're welcome. Any time," Merilee said. Then, with a nervous smile for Mrs. Winnamucker, she scurried back to her apartment, leaving Zach stuck with her kitty.

By the time she shut the apartment door her heart was pounding. She felt like a criminal who had managed a lucky escape. She also felt badly that poor Zach the fireman had been left holding the bag. Or, rather, the cat.