Her Firefighter Hero (10 page)

“Sure. The hazard pay we made on the last fire allowed me to hire a new waitress and a cook to work part-time. The cook is very reliable. I'll ask her to close the restaurant that evening for me. We should be covered,” she said.

He flashed a smile so bright that she had to blink. And suddenly, she was excited by this opportunity. More and more, she seemed to be arranging for other people to cover the restaurant for her. To have some time to breathe. This would be a fun treat. Getting away for a while. Chatting with old friends she hadn't seen since Blaine's death. Maybe it was time for her to get out more.

“Thanks, Meg. I'll owe you big-time for this one.”

Meg. The last person to call her that name had been her husband. Hearing it again made her feel all warm and bubbly inside. And she reminded herself that this was not a date. It was simply a business function. It meant nothing. Just a regular night out. She was helping Jared meet his obligations without becoming entangled in a relationship neither of them wanted. It couldn't do either of them any harm. Could it?

Chapter Nine

M
egan stood in front of the mirror, putting on her dangly earrings. The ones that matched her blue beaded evening gown. She ran her hands over the long, silky skirt, happy that she could still fit in this dress. It'd been a long time since she'd put it on, and she barely recognized herself. She seemed like another person, her dress so different from the blue jeans, shirts and tennis shoes she normally wore every day.

She'd applied an extra bit of mascara and eye shadow, a pinch of color to her cheeks, and topped her makeup off with a hint of glossy color on her lips. She'd pinned her hair up on one side, leaving the reddish-blond curls to pour over her left shoulder. She couldn't remember the last time she'd dressed up for a fancy date.

Correction. Not a date. A favor. She was just helping out a friend. Saving Jared from all the matchmakers who would be milling around the forest supervisor's retirement party. She kept reminding herself of that fact.

So why did it feel like a date?

“You look nice, Mommy.” June sat on the edge of the bed in Megan's room.

“Thanks, honey.” Megan spritzed a bit of perfume on her neck. Not too much but just enough. Although this wasn't a real date, she still felt pretty and feminine. Which was refreshing, since she usually felt harried and dowdy.

“Are you gonna dance at the party?” June asked, adjusting her position so that she lay on her stomach, her elbows bent so she could rest her chin in her hands.

“Possibly.”

“With Jared?”

Megan froze. Turning, she looked at her daughter. A troubled frown tugged at the girl's high forehead. Megan realized she hadn't thought this through. Nor had she fully considered how it might impact her children.

“I probably won't dance,” she said as she sat on one corner of the bed and rubbed June's back.

“You should,” June said. “Jared likes you, Mom.”

Megan took a settling breath. “That's because we're friends.”

“Is he gonna be my new daddy?” June asked.

Whoa! How had she gone from doing a favor to marrying the guy? Megan was stunned that her daughter would even suggest it. But it was an indicator of why June had held such animosity toward Jared. She felt threatened and thought he was trying to take her father's place.

“No, honey. We're just friends. And even if I do eventually remarry, no one will ever take your father's place. Your daddy will always be ours, until the end of time.”

“Yeah, that's what Jared said, too.”

Megan inclined her head, surprised by this news. “He did? When?”

“A while back when he had dinner at the restaurant with Caleb and me.”

A warm feeling blanketed Megan, yet she didn't want to discuss the topic. She knew Jared must mean well. That he was trying to be considerate of their feelings. But it surprised her that he'd discussed her husband with her kids. “We're friends and nothing more.”

“So you don't want to marry Jared?” June asked.

Megan shook her head. “No, I don't. Not at all.”

June sat up. “Why not?”

Here it was. She had to voice her feelings out loud, because there was no getting around the truth.

“Because he's a firefighter, and I think that's a dangerous profession.”

“Oh.” June's forehead knitted in deep thought. She looked so grown-up for all her young years. “You're afraid he might get killed like Daddy?”

Megan nodded helplessly. Of all the people she should confide her deepest fear to, she'd never expected it to be her eight-year-old daughter.

June leaned forward and hugged her. “Don't worry, Mommy. God will take care of us. Everything will work out for the best.”

Tears burned Megan's eyes and she blinked. Her daughter's faith astounded her. Megan had spoken these words to her children on numerous occasions, yet she had said them more as a comfort thing. Now she had to search her heart and ask if she really believed it.

“Jared's a nice man,” June said. “I don't mind if you go out with him.”

Megan smiled. Ever since Jared had rescued June from the fallen tent, the girl had changed toward the man. “How did you get to be so smart?”

June shrugged. “I read a lot.”

Megan laughed, then kissed the top of June's head. “I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you, too,” June said.

Megan stood and slipped on her high heels, but a nagging suspicion nibbled at the back of her mind. She knew all too well that friendship between a man and a woman could soon blossom into something deeper. In fact, her mother had advised her years ago that she should marry her best friend. In college, that's what Blaine had been. Her best friend. And that's what frightened Megan the most. Friends was okay, but her relationship with Jared couldn't go further than that. It just couldn't.

“Wow, Mommy. You sure look pretty.” Caleb stood in the doorway to her bedroom, his eyes round and glowing.

Megan hugged her son. “Thank you, darling.”

“Can't I come with you?” Caleb asked.

“No, silly.” June nudged his shoulder. “Mom's going on a date with Jared.”

The boy screwed his nose up in disgust. “So? Why can't I come, too?”

“Because it's a date. They might want to hug and smooch and stuff like that,” June insisted.

Caleb looked at his mother. “You want to hug and smooch Jared?”

Megan bit back a gasp of surprise. “No, honey. It's not a real date. Jared and I are just friends. We're just going to this retirement party together.”

Caleb tilted his head in confusion, but the doorbell rang, shutting off any more explanations.

“I'll get it.” The little boy ran toward the living room with June hot on his heels.

Megan picked up her clutch purse and followed, walking slow on her skyscraper heels.

“Hi, Emily.” Caleb hugged the babysitter.

“Hi, buddy.” Emily ruffled the boy's hair.

“Mom got pizza for us,” June said.

“She did, huh?” Emily looked at Megan.

“Yes, there are several in the freezer. You'll have to bake one for each kid, and then whatever you like.” Megan gestured toward the kitchen.

Pizza in a town this size consisted of homemade or frozen from the grocery store. There were no pizza parlors available. Caleb had chosen a frozen pepperoni and cheese, while June had asked for a Hawaiian.

Caleb reached for a DVD and held it up for Emily to see. A Disney movie he'd watched at least six times before. “Can we watch this one tonight?”

Emily nodded. “Sure, whatever you like.”

“Mom's going out with Jared, but it's not a real date and she doesn't want to smooch him,” Caleb said.

Megan just shook her head. She would have laughed if it weren't so serious.

“Hi there.”

They all turned. Jared stood in the open doorway, holding a bouquet of yellow roses and baby's breath wrapped in green tissue paper in one hand and a single yellow rose in his other hand. Oh, boy. If this wasn't a real date, it sure felt like it.

“Hi, Jared. We're gonna eat pizza and popcorn while you're not on a date with Mom.” Caleb hopped up and down in his stocking feet.

Megan's face flooded with heat. She definitely should have explained a bit more to her kids. But she figured any more talking about the subject would only make things worse.

Jared smiled and glanced at Megan. “You are, huh? That sounds fun.”

He held out the single yellow rose to June. “This is for you, sweetheart.”

The girl blinked in awe. She reached out tentatively and took the rose, as if it was fragile and might break. “No one ever gave me a flower before.”

“Well, I'm glad to be the first, then,” he said.

She tilted her head and looked up at him with shy eyes. And when she spoke, her voice sounded rather timid. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome. Are you doing okay?” he asked, and they each understood his question. The tent mishap had been upsetting for all of them, especially June.

“Yes, I'm fine. How about you?” The shyness was gone as she gazed at his chin.

He gestured to his wound, where a small pink line showed where the stitches had been removed. “I'm great, but do you think the scar is too noticeable?”

June shook her head. “No, you can't hardly even tell.”

Both he and June smiled, and Megan knew the two had become friends.

“And these are for you.” Jared turned and held the bouquet out to Megan.

He looked achingly handsome in a pin-striped suit, red paisley tie and shiny black wingtip shoes. So formal in comparison to his Forest Service uniform. He'd slicked his dark blond hair back, his face freshly shaven. And he smelled very nice. In a rush, Megan felt a moment of absolute panic sweep over her.

He looked good. Too good. And she realized how much she missed the company of a handsome man.

This isn't a date. This isn't a date.
She kept repeating the words over and over inside her mind.

His gaze swept over her attire with approval. “You look absolutely stunning tonight,” he said, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Oh, that didn't help matters. In fact, his words made her feel weak in the knees.

“Thank you. You look nice, too.”

Sudden warmth flushed across her face. She took the roses, her fingers brushing against his as they wrapped around the green tissue. She felt an electric zap of awareness that left her disconcerted and uneasy. This no longer felt like just a favor for a friend. In fact, she wasn't sure what it felt like.

“Thank you. That's so kind of you. I'll put them in some water,” she said.

Carrying the flowers, she shifted into autopilot and walked into the kitchen to find a vase. Sandy followed, opening the fridge to peer inside, then the cupboard, to get out a pan to cook the pizzas on. “You're really lucky, Mrs. Rocklin,” the girl whispered.

“Oh, how's that?”

“He's romantic—and really hot!” She flashed a wide, knowing smile and jerked her head toward Jared.

Megan rested one hand on the counter and released a steadying breath. She agreed with Emily—though she wouldn't tell her so. But Megan would have to be half-dead not to notice Jared's dynamic good looks.

“That's my daddy.” Caleb's voice came from the living room.

Megan glanced over her shoulder. Her children were gazing up at a picture sitting on the fireplace mantel. It showed Megan and Blaine on their wedding day, dressed in their beautiful white clothes, smiling and happy.

“It is, huh?” Jared peered at the picture. “Your dad was a handsome guy,” he said, looking down at June.

“He was the most handsome man in the whole wide world,” the little girl said with conviction.

Megan's throat tightened. She didn't want to discuss her husband with another man. But she liked the loyalty her children had for their father. And then, she felt a humbling gratitude that God had led her to Blaine. All her life, she'd wanted to marry a good man and give her children the best father she could. She believed she had done that with Blaine. But now, she wondered if lightning could strike in the same place twice. Was it possible for her to ever find two such wonderful men? If so, she'd be truly blessed. But it couldn't be Jared. Her heart couldn't risk losing another man the way she'd lost Blaine. She needed to fall for someone who wasn't a firefighter. Someone with a safe, boring job.

“Well, we better be on our way.” She retrieved a delicate sweater from the coat closet, then picked up her purse.

Jared's eyes met hers. “You all ready?”

She nodded. As he opened the door, her heart was beating like a bass drum. She stumbled and he clasped her arm, steadying her. The warmth of his fingers sent tingles shooting up her arm.

“You okay?”

She gave a nervous laugh. “Yes, thank you. Sorry to be so clumsy. I'm not used to wearing high heels.”

“I know you ladies like to wear those skyscrapers on your feet, but if it helps, you look really nice tonight.”

Yes, it helped. At least he'd noticed. But then she wondered why she'd taken such great care with her appearance. It didn't matter. Did it?

He held her arm as they walked toward the driveway, where he opened her door and helped her step up into his truck. A round decal just below the window caught her eye. A picture of Smokey the Bear pointing a warning finger at her with the words Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires.

Another vivid reminder of what Jared did for a living.

“Careful there. We've got an hour-and-a-half drive ahead of us, so you can kick off your shoes and relax for a while.”

She smiled her gratitude and clicked on her seat belt. As he climbed into the truck, turned the key and backed away from her house, she glanced over and saw her two children and Emily with their noses pressed up against the windowpane. She returned Caleb's wave, feeling edgy and nervous. As though she were going to the executioner's block.

The low rumble of the engine sounded comforting yet set her on edge. This evening was a reminder of how lonely she'd been this past year. And she realized Jared was wreaking havoc on her well-ordered world.

* * *

“Are you warm enough?”

At Jared's question, Megan glanced up. He gripped the steering wheel with his hands, looking straight ahead. Although this wasn't a real date, he still felt kind of nervous. Afternoon sunlight blazed against the black asphalt. Soon, it would be dark. Jared barely noticed the scenery of the town whisking by as they turned onto the freeway.

“Yes, in fact I'm a bit hot,” she said.

He reached over and adjusted a knob on the dashboard. A whoosh of cool air brushed against his cheek.

“Is that better?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you.” She folded her hands primly in her lap.

“Do you own a car, or just a truck?” she asked.