Her Firefighter Hero (4 page)

“No, Jared's got to get back to work, kids.” Megan chewed her bottom lip, looking worried and stressed.

“Ah,” Caleb grumbled. “I haven't been able to swing for the longest time. Can't he take a look, Mom? Please?”

Interesting how the boy asked his mother's permission, as though naturally assuming Jared would be willing to do the task. And once more, he realized how much this family was missing their dad. It didn't help that Caleb was looking at him with such deep desperation that it tweaked his heart. Jared couldn't say no. But little June had misgivings. He could tell from the way she sat quietly looking at him. As though she couldn't make up her mind whether she liked him or not. And that softened his heart, because she was so young and innocent. Because she missed her dad.

“I can take a quick look,” Jared said.

Okay, not smart. Hadn't he just been itching to get out of there? He needed to go before this little family squeezed its way any further into his heart.

Before it was too late.

“Well, if you've got the time. The swing's out back. The toolbox is in the garage. The kids will show you the way,” Megan said.

“Sure! Come on. I'll take you there.” Caleb hopped off his chair and headed for the back door.

June followed behind, seeming hesitant to accept Jared's help. “When it works, it's the best swing ever. My dad made it for us out of an old tire, but it needs a new rope.”

“Yeah, you're gonna love it,” Caleb chimed in.

Jared nodded his head and followed the two kids outside. Before he knew what was happening, Caleb had slid his hand into his, talking nonstop.

“My dad put in this grass for us last summer. He wanted us to have a nice place to play. He threw the baseball to me and showed me how to wrestle,” the boy said.

Jared listened without saying much. Along the way, they passed a semitruck and the mobile kitchen, both parked beside the garage. The portable kitchen was a white structure with window cutouts for serving food. Without a word, Jared sized it up, thinking it should work out fine for the catering job. When Megan was ready, he'd return to inspect her other equipment, just to make sure she had what she needed to do the job. But so far, he wasn't overly concerned.

“Someday I'm gonna get me a dog. I just got to convince Mom,” Caleb continued in a happy voice.

“You do, huh?” Jared didn't know what else to say.

“Yep. My dad was gonna get me one, but then he died. Now Mom says we're too busy for a dog. She says it'd have to stay home all the time while we're at the restaurant working.”

“It'd poop all over the place anyway,” June said.

“But I'd clean up after it. Besides, it'd be good to have a watchdog to protect us in case some bad guys try to get into our house,” Caleb said.

Jared's heart constricted with compassion. He thought about how difficult it must have been for these two children to lose the father they loved. And he was glad to do something to help them out.

“Bad guys aren't gonna break into our house,” June said, but she didn't sound convinced.

“Well, they might,” Caleb argued.

June just shook her head.

“Daddy bought a new rope for our swing, but he got killed before he could put it up,” the girl informed Jared in a matter-of-fact voice.

She showed him where the yellow rope lay coiled on the workbench in the garage. After inspecting the black rubber tire, Jared quickly set up a ladder and a sawhorse to hold the weight of the tire as he hoisted it over the sturdy tree branch. He then shimmied up the ladder and tied a knot in the rope to hold it tight. A gust of warm air blasted him in the face, and he thought about the dry winter they'd had and the coming fire season. He had no doubt he'd be seeing more of Megan over the coming months, and that caused a flutter to fill his chest.

Caleb was the first to try out the swing. As Jared pushed the little boy through the air, his laughter was infectious. Even June smiled. Jared never knew that making two kids happy could bring him so much joy, as well.

Glancing up, he caught Megan watching him from the kitchen window. Heat flushed the tips of his ears. Her face looked quiet and pale. As if she didn't approve of him being here. He knew this had been her husband's job. He should still be here, pushing Caleb and June on the swing. Not him. Not a stranger. These weren't his children. This wasn't his wife and family. Tension knotted the muscles at the base of Jared's neck. It was best not to get too attached to these youngsters or their beautiful mother.

As he continued to look at Megan, he saw a slight frown tugging her delicate brow, and her eyes filled with misgivings. Tim Wixler had told Jared what a happy couple Megan and her husband had been. Now she was cautious and guarded.

A flurry of emotion overwhelmed him. He really needed to go. He said his goodbyes and suffered through a heartwarming hug of gratitude from Caleb. Even June thanked him. But Jared didn't go inside the house to tell Megan farewell. And as he got into his Forest Service truck and drove away, he reminded himself that he didn't want another woman in his life. His ex-wife had left him for another man. She'd found happiness with someone else. Someone that wasn't him. Jared had no desire to put his heart at risk a second time.

Megan was a contractor for catering meals to the firefighters and nothing more. He had put out a fire at her restaurant, fixed her washing machine and the tire swing. That was enough.

At least, that's what he had to keep telling himself to make sure his heart stayed safe.

Chapter Four

M
egan walked up the front steps of Connie and Tim Wixler's tan stucco house. Lifting her head, she caught the tangy aroma of barbecue in the air. The afternoon breeze fluttered over her, teasing wisps of hair around her face. Although it was unseasonably warm, the air held a slight chill and she was glad she'd worn a sweater.

Connie had arranged for a babysitter for Caleb and June. A teenage girl from down the street had come over to stay with the two kids. Megan thought it was kind of nice to have a night away from her children. She couldn't remember the last time. On the one hand, she felt guilty for not spending more time with them. After all, they were her main priority now that Blain was gone. But on the other hand, she longed to feel carefree and happy again. And she wondered if that was even possible anymore.

She knocked on the door but didn't wait for someone to answer. Having been here dozens of times over the past ten years, she turned the knob and stepped inside.

“Hello! Anyone here?” she called to the empty living room.

Voices and laughter came from out in the backyard. The house smelled of boiled eggs and potatoes, and she figured Connie must have made her delicious potato salad.

She walked into the kitchen, noticing the clutter of dishes, plastic wrap and food items spread across the countertops. No doubt Connie had been cooking up a storm. But why make so much food for just three people?

Through the screen door, Megan caught sight of Tim standing in front of the propane barbecue. Brian Dandrige, the superintendent of the Minoa Hotshot crew, and his girlfriend, Gayle, stood beside the table. Sean Nash, the crew boss of the hotshots, and his fiancé, Tessa, were chatting with Connie over a bowl of chips, dip and finger foods. Old friends, every one. Other than seeing them at the restaurant now and then, Megan hadn't mingled with them much since Blaine's death. Not because they hadn't called or come by to visit her. She just hadn't wanted to socialize much with other people.

Megan felt suddenly edgy and anxious. She hadn't realized dinner at Connie's house would include some of Blaine's old coworkers. She thought it would be a quiet evening, just the three of them.

Taking a deep breath, Megan tried to settle her nerves. Blaine had been gone almost a year, and it was time for her to get out and be around others. But it wasn't easy. In a way, she felt disloyal to Blaine for moving on and living while he had died.

Stepping over to the screen door, she pushed it open and went outside.

“Hi, Megan! It's so good to see you,” Gayle called.

“Hi there!” Megan smiled and waved, doing her best impression of pretending she wanted to be here.

“Howdy, Megan. How do you take your steak?” Tim asked.

“Medium well. Where do you want me to put this?” She lifted the bowl of pasta salad she'd brought with her, hoping she had enough for this large crowd.

“Over there.” Tim pointed his tongs at the picnic table, set up beneath the shade of a tall wisteria tree in full bloom. The afternoon breeze wafted the sweet aroma of flowers to her.

Breathing deeply, Megan turned and froze. Across the expanse of green grass, Jared Marshall stood beside the table holding a can of soda pop in one hand. The afternoon sun gleamed against his dark blond hair. He was dressed casually in a pair of navy blue slacks and a white polo shirt that fit his muscular arms and chest to perfection.

Her gaze locked with his for several pounding moments. His dazzling blue eyes crinkled at the corners, and she realized he was just as confused as she was. Maybe Tim had thought this a good way for Jared to get to know the crew leadership in an informal setting. Brian and Sean were year-round employees. The rest of the hotshot crew was seasonal, working during the summer months and into the early autumn.

But in a rush, Megan realized what was going on. This gathering wasn't just for the hotshots to get to know their new FMO. Her mind quickly did the math. Eight people were here. Four couples. Each of them were romantically involved, except for her and Jared. This was a setup, pure and simple. Connie and Tim had been pushing her for months to let them fix her up on a blind date, but Megan had refused. Obviously, Connie had decided to ignore her and had paired her with the handsome fire management officer. A pseudo blind date. Under false pretenses. Because Connie knew Megan would never have agreed to come otherwise.

“Megan, I'm so glad you're here. You can help me with the baked beans.” Connie engulfed her in a warm hug.

“You've been very devious,” Megan whispered.

“Yes, but you'll forgive me. You always do. And since you're here, try to have a teensy bit of fun.” Connie spoke low, for her ears alone. Then the woman drew back and smiled as she whisked the bowl of pasta salad out of Megan's hands. “I'll take this for you. It looks delicious.”

Connie turned toward the table. “Jared, would you please get Megan a drink?”

“Sure,” came his hesitant reply. His gaze shifted to her flushed face, and he jerked one shoulder. “What would you like?”

“Something diet,” Megan said.

He brushed past her as he reached inside the cooler chest. He rattled around in the ice for a moment before pulling out a diet cola. After he popped the tab, he handed the can over with a smile. They drew together close enough to chat without including everyone else in their conversation.

“It looks like we both got ambushed,” he said.

A warm, fluid feeling washed over her. He would have had to be blind not to realize that Connie had paired them up for the evening. Obviously he hadn't been in on the surprise either, but Megan didn't know if he resented it or not. And her face heated with embarrassment.

“You didn't know there would be other people here tonight, either?” she asked to confirm.

He shook his head, an uncomfortable smile curving the corners of his handsome mouth. “Nope. I thought I would be their only guest. I think we got played by a couple of masterminds.”

She took a sip of her soda, the carbonation burning her throat as she swallowed. “Yeah, some matchmakers. But I fear it's mostly Connie's doing. She's not pleased until everyone is happily married off. She just doesn't understand the word
no
. I'm so sorry about this.”

“Don't be. It's not your fault.”

And she knew it wasn't Jared's fault, either. She just wasn't ready to start dating again. Especially not someone who worked in such a dangerous profession. Nor was she prepared to bring a man into her small family. Even having Jared fix the swing in her backyard had upset little June. Megan knew it wasn't because June didn't like him, but because he wasn't the girl's father. Caleb was young and loving toward everyone, but Megan didn't want to push June too fast. The girl wasn't ready for another daddy in her life. Neither was Megan ready for another husband. It was that simple.

Or was it? Megan sighed. Maybe she should at least try to find happiness with another man. And yet, she couldn't seem to let go of Blaine. They'd been college sweethearts, and she'd loved her husband for so long that she didn't know how to stop now that he was gone. Honestly, the thought of dating another man made her feel disloyal to the love she'd shared with him.

“I figure we have two choices this evening,” Jared said in a soft voice. “We can leave right now, or we can stick it out and try to have some fun.”

“There's a third option,” Megan said, trying not to sound too angry.

He quirked one brow. “And what's that?”

“We could strangle Connie and Tim and then flee to South America.”

Jared laughed, a rich baritone that seemed to soothe her jangled nerves. “I'm afraid the cops would catch us for sure. Are you okay with spending some serious time in jail?”

She shook her head. “No, I've got children waiting at home. We better stick with option number two.”

“I'm game if you are.”

“Okay,” she conceded, trying to be a good sport. But it wasn't easy.

She stooped down and petted Connie's dog. An old basset hound named Sam.

“My kids keep asking me for a dog,” she said.

“Yeah, Caleb told me. Are you going to get them one?”

She shook her head. “Maybe someday. Right now, we're never at home. And the poor animal couldn't come with us to the restaurant. It would violate the health codes. But Caleb keeps asking anyway.”

“I've been thinking about getting a dog myself.”

She crinkled her nose. “Really? They are lots of hard work. I keep telling Caleb that, but he won't listen. He informed me the other day that kids are supposed to have a dog. That he needs to learn responsibility. And what better way to do that than by taking care of a new puppy?”

Jared chuckled. “Don't worry. I'm pretty sure Caleb and June will grow up normal and well-adjusted even without a dog.”

“I hope so.” She laughed, trying to sound happy. But inside, she was screaming. She already liked this man too much. Spending more time as his date tonight would only make matters worse. But it looked as if she didn't have a choice right now. Not unless she wanted to be rude.

“Would you like some chips and salsa?” he asked, indicating the colorful bowls Connie had set out for her guests.

“Sure.”

He accompanied her over to the table nearby. His voice was deep and warm. He bumped against her arm and the feel of his fingers against her bare skin made her entire body thrum with reaction. Megan glanced up in time to see Tessa playfully swat Sean on the shoulder. He said something that made her laugh. In response, Sean gave her a hug and kissed her lightly on the cheek. Tessa snuggled in close against his chest. They were engaged to be married in December and seemed so natural and happy together. And Megan envied the love they shared.

“They're a cute couple, aren't they?” Jared said, noticing her gaze.

“Yes, they are. They deserve to be happy.”

“They definitely do. Where are your kids tonight?” Jared asked.

“Home with a babysitter.”

“It must be nice to have a night off.”

“It is,” she said.

She looked up, meeting his eyes. He stood close enough for her to feel his warmth. To catch his scent. She stared at him, mesmerized. Frozen in time. For several quiet moments, nothing existed in the world except him. An insane notion, considering they were standing in Connie's backyard and surrounded by lots of other people. Then, Megan came to her senses and stepped away.

But she was still speechless.
Think!
What should she say? Something to appear ordinary and unaffected. To regain her composure and fight off this emotional assault.

“How long have you been here in Minoa?” she asked.

There. That was good. Something normal and logical.

“Not quite a month. This is my first job as a fire management officer.” He picked up a tortilla chip, scooped up some salsa and popped it into his mouth.

“What did you do before this assignment?”

“I was the superintendent of a hotshot crew in Arizona. Tim and I used to work together back in the day. We've been friends for a long time, so I was happy to accept this job,” he said.

She wasn't surprised. The world of wildfire fighting could be quite small. “So, I guess you're pretty good at fighting wildfires.”

He shrugged. “I like to think so, but I'm cautious, too. I don't take any unnecessary risks that might endanger my crew. Their safety always comes first with me.”

Blaine had been cautious, too, but it hadn't stopped a firestorm from rolling right over the top of him with very little notice. When the forest supervisor had brought her the news of her husband's death, he'd told her that Blaine hadn't suffered much. Which Megan knew was code for he'd died in a fiery inferno that had killed him very fast.

Tears burned the backs of her eyes, and she looked away so Jared wouldn't see. Shaking her head, she tried not to think about that now.

“Did you know my husband?” she asked.

“What was his name again?”

“Blaine Rocklin. Before coming to Nevada, he worked on a hotshot crew in Colorado. But over the years, he worked on quite a few fires in Arizona and Idaho.”

Jared shook his head. “I'm sorry, but I don't think I ever met him.”

At the mention of Blaine, warning bells jangled inside her head, and she stepped farther away. Jared was exactly the kind of man she'd vowed never to love. And yet, a sudden jolt of longing speared her. She felt so comfortable being with him. It was kind of nice to be a couple again. To feel as if she belonged. Especially when Jared was so easy to talk to. But knowing what he did for a living, she told herself it would never work. She had to think about her kids. To think about their future. No more sitting at home worrying that she might receive a dreaded phone call. Or the Forest Service supervisor might show up on her doorstep to bring her the horrifying news that the man she loved was badly hurt or killed in the line of duty. Nope, her heart couldn't take that risk. Not ever again.

* * *

“Time for charades. Each couple is going to be a team,” Connie called to the group after they'd finished eating their steaks and fresh strawberry pie.

Jared blinked, his mind racing. Couples meant he'd be with Megan again. There wasn't any way he could politely get out of it. But charades? He'd never played games with his ex-wife before. In college, she'd been fun-loving and he'd enjoyed being with her, but after they'd married, Sharon had changed. She'd come from a wealthy family. In school, she'd let her hair down and done whatever she wanted. But once they were married, it seemed that earning money was the most important thing to her. She'd never approved of his decision to work for the Forest Service. He didn't earn enough, nor did he receive the kind of attention in his career that she thought he deserved. And yet, he'd loved his work. And she'd come to resent him for it.