Black Flame Read Online Free Page A

undergarments…”
    “I see,” Deneen said quickly. As amusing as it was to watch Jimmy Mason try to describe a woman’s intimates, she wasn’t about to make him say “bra drawer.” The poor man appeared to have no experience with women at all. How he had come to be a part of Matthew’s circle of friends, guys who’d been known for partying and boisterous pranks and a way with girls, was completely beyond her. As best she could remember, there had been rumors of one girl or another managing to snag his company for a party, a movie, a dance, but he’d never had a girlfriend.
    “Well, in that case, I’ll be glad to move my things in. When are they coming back?”
    “Not until after the new year. They’re going to stay in Nashville for three weeks.”
    “Three weeks ?”
    “Yes, rig workers work three-week hitches. Twelve hour days, seven days a week, with time off in between. Didn’t your sister tell you anything about the oil industry?”
    “I, um…” As a matter of fact, Jayne had talked about the oil rigs quite a bit when she and Matthew had come home for a visit last fall. But it had been too boring. Or, if Deneen was truly honest, it had been too painful to see her parents and extended family fawn all over Jayne while she described hauling equipment and water to the rigs, and Deneen had tuned her out mostly out of jealousy. “So, which room is it? I should probably get settled before…before…um, what are you doing for the rest of the day, anyway?”
    Jimmy’s expression tightened and he began picking broken eggshells up off the table and collecting them in a bowl. “I’m making the dressing. That, and baked goods, can be made ahead. I’ll prepare the rest of the holiday meal tomorrow, of course. I’ve got an errand to run, and then, well, I guess since you’re here you’ll want dinner, and I’ve got leftovers from last night. And then I’ll probably do some work in my workshop.”
    “Oh!” Deneen said, injecting as much enthusiasm as she could into her voice, considering that the man clearly was unhappy that she was here. “Your workshop? What sort of work do you do?”
    “I make things. Useful things. Although, this evening I’m just finishing preparations for tomorrow, when I will be taking part in a Christmas brunch for disadvantaged families, as part of an organization for which I volunteer.”
    Disregarding his confusing explanation of his workshop activities, Deneen saw a way to ingratiate herself. “Oh, I’ve done that! I help out at the food bank back home from time to time. I’d love to come along tomorrow and help.”
    “That’s very nice, but I’m to impersonate Santa Claus. As you can imagine, only one false Santa is needed, as additional impostors might confuse the children, who have been led to believe there is only one.”
    “But I can help cook or serve or watch the little ones. It’ll be fun!”
    “Well, I guess you could help me hand the presents out,” Jimmy conceded reluctantly. “I’ve got them wrapped and tagged with gender and age. Here, you can box them up, if you want, while I’m cleaning the kitchen.”
    Deneen felt her spirits lift as she followed him down the hall. At least she’d be celebrating with someone. Christmas—which had threatened to be a very un-festive affair this year—was looking a little more promising.
    “There’s Chase’s room; you can make yourself at home. And this is my room,” Jimmy said, opening the one door which had been shut.
    Deneen preceded him into the bedroom and stopped short. Mounded on top of a bed made with military precision was a very tall stack of boxes wrapped in red paper, next to a number of brown paper grocery bags. The gifts were all different sizes and shapes, but they were precisely wrapped and taped. The same fastidiousness was evident in the rest of the room. On the desk was a blotter with a laptop in the center. Shelves held dozens of neatly arranged books. A wall cabinet was filled with