The Fireman's Ready-Made Family

by Jules Bennett

  “Oh, I’m very serious. Since you refuse to release one of your other men, you can be the one to go.” The mayor picked up the file and tapped the edge of it against his desk. “I’ll discuss your review with city council and we will take it from there.”

  “You do that,” Drake said. “But I will be at that meeting. I will get my position back, and you won’t be able to do a damn thing about it. Do you want to know why? Because you won’t get reelected. I’ll make sure of it.”

  Tipton’s eyes narrowed. “Is that a threat?”

  “It’s whatever the hell you want it to be.” Unable to resist, Drake swept his hand across the desk, sending papers flying. “Have a good day.”

  Pleased that he’d held his rage in check for the most part, Drake stormed out of the office, the door slamming back against the wall.

  He’d never been suspended before in his life. And suspended without pay? Whatever. He had a good chunk in savings, and at least his men would be able to hold on to their positions a bit longer.

  But this sucked.

  On the bright side? Now he had more time to devote to a certain blond nurse, and he intended to start right away.

  * * *

  Marly had just put brownies in the oven when her doorbell rang.

  “Can I get it, Mama?” Willow called from her bedroom.

  Fear settled in Marly’s stomach. She’d had another threatening text from Kevin earlier, claiming he would find her if she didn’t come back to him within a week. She knew he would make good on his threat.

  “No, honey,” Marly called back. “I’ve got it.”

  She’d been home less than an hour, but she’d promised Willow they would make brownies as soon as she’d gotten off the bus. Now the baked treats were in the oven and dinner wasn’t even started. Priorities—they had them in order. Lately, due to all the stress, Marly was either cleaning or baking. One was by far better for her waistline, but not nearly as comforting.

  Marly glanced out the picture window in the living room and couldn’t help but smile when she saw Drake’s truck at the curb. No matter what she said to him about backing off, deep inside she was glad he hadn’t.

  Since when did she turn into a woman who played games? She didn’t want to be that woman. Damn it, she was all on board with the friendship thing, but then he’d gone and kissed her, making her forget everything but the fact she wanted him on a more intimate level.

  But she wouldn’t risk the inevitable action Kevin would take if Marly moved on with another man.

  The thought had her shivering as she flipped the lock and pulled the door open.

  “Hey.” Drake smiled, but the gesture didn’t quite meet his eyes. “Can I come in?”

  Stepping aside, Marly motioned for him to enter. Before she could question what was wrong, Willow came riding through the house on a hobby horse, donned in her cowgirl boots and a Native American headdress made out of construction paper.

  “Hey, Chief! Did you come for a brownie?”

  Drake squatted down and held up a small red fireman’s helmet that he’d had hidden behind his back. “I actually came to give this to you.”

  Marly’s heart melted...as if there was much more to melt where this man was concerned.

  The horse dropped to the wood floor with a clatter as Willow jerked off her homemade headdress and threw it to the floor, promptly putting on her new helmet. “This is awesome! Thanks, Chief.”

  Drake patted the top of her hat. “You look like a natural.”

  Willow peered up from beneath the brim. “Does this mean you’re here to give me a ride on the engine, too?”

  Coming to his feet, Drake sighed. “Sorry, sweetheart, not today. But, if you can give me and your mom five minutes to talk, I have another surprise for you.”

  Willow squealed and clapped. “I’ll give you six minutes. Because six is bigger than five.”

  Willow bounced back down the hall toward her bedroom, counting in a singsong voice without a care in the world. But as Marly turned her attention to Drake, she knew this man with the worry lines between his brows had something weighing heavily on his mind.

  Without a word, Drake walked over to her couch and eased down, resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. He didn’t look at her, didn’t say a word.

  “Now you’re really worrying me,” she told him. “You haven’t even flirted or tried to steal a kiss.”

  The joke was meant to get a reaction, but...nothing. Then another level of fear rose to the surface.

  “Did you hear something about Jeremy?” she asked, crossing to sit in the secondhand accent chair adjacent to him. “Talk to me.”

  “It’s not Jeremy.” Raking his hands through his cropped hair, Drake let out a sigh and finally turned those worried blue eyes on her. “I’m sorry I just showed up like this.”

  “It’s okay,” she told him. “What happened?”

  “I was suspended without pay until further notice.”

  “What?” Marly sat up straighter in her seat.

  “The mayor insisted we let go of one more firefighter and I disagreed and informed him I refused to lay off any more of my men... I may have said a few other choice words, as well. In the end he figured I was the best candidate.”

  Marly hadn’t seen Drake’s temper. Well, she had, but only when he’d learned the ugly truth behind her scars. She honestly couldn’t believe this was a man who would get violent.

  “How does he expect my guys to keep working endless hours, doubling up on shifts and putting themselves in the line of danger every day when they’re running on empty?”

  Marly jerked back and stared at him. He was worried about his men? He wasn’t worried about the fact that he would have no income?

  “I can’t wait until the election in a few months,” Drake added.

  A chill crept over Marly. The election. The reason for Kevin’s threats...or one of the reasons. He wasn’t lying when he said he’d find her. And when he did come looking, she had no clue how she could fight him. Because he would come. And the longer he waited before he lost patience, thinking she’d return, the angrier he’d be when he finally found her.

  Marly shifted toward Drake. “Did you get that helmet for Willow before you talked to the mayor?”

  Shaking his head, Drake eased back on her sofa and stretched his legs out in front of him. “No. I went back to the department and broke the news to the guys. I grabbed some things from my locker and the helmet for Willow.”

  Tears pricked her eyes. “That may be the sweetest thing anybody has ever done for her.”

  Drake shrugged and glanced away. “It’s no big deal.”

  Obviously he wasn’t a fan of her praise, but what man would get suspended and immediately think of the men he was leaving behind and a five-year-old little girl?

  A hero. The title fit him perfectly, whether he wanted to wear it or not.

  “Are the adults done talking?” Willow yelled from her bedroom.

  Marly laughed. “You can come on out, honey.”

  “Good.” Willow ran down the hallway. “I smell the brownies. Can I have one when they come out of the oven?”

  “I don’t think so, sweetie. After dinner, though.”

  Drake came to his feet. “I’ll go. I don’t want to disrupt your dinner.”

  “You said you had another surprise for me.” Willow came to stand beside Drake, her helmet still resting atop her head and blond curls hanging down her back.

  “Willow,” Marly scolded in a half whisper. “If Drake needs to go, you just be thankful he brought you the helmet.”

  “I don’t need to go,” he retorted with a smile. “I just don’t want to be in the way.”

  “You’re not in the way.” Willow grabbed his hand. “You wanna stay for supper?”

  Marly couldn’t ignore that tug on her heart at the sight of Willow’s hand in Drake’s. She was so trusting, so innocent. In some ways that was a blessing, because Willow had no idea why they were aw
ay from Kevin.

  “I’m throwing some chicken on the grill,” Marly told him. “You’re more than welcome to stay. As you’ve heard, we have brownies for dessert.”

  Drake’s smile spread across his face as he looked from Marly to Willow and back to Marly. “It’s the best offer I’ve had all day. Let me run out to the truck and get the other surprise.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “That’s good, but hold the ball like this.”

  Drake squatted down and turned the football until the laces were out. Covering Willow’s delicate hand with his own, he drew her arm back and helped her launch it across the yard. Well, maybe not all the way across, but far enough to get a whoop of delight out of her.

  “You did it.” Drake gave her a high five and watched as she ran after the ball. “Come on, we’ll do it again.”

  After assisting her about three more times, he let her go on her own. Each time she launched it in the air, she was jumping up and down.

  “Here,” he told her. “Let me stand down here and we’ll pass it back and forth now that you’ve become a pro on me.”

  Willow laughed. “You’d better back up. I throw it far now.”

  To boost her newly found self-esteem, Drake backed up, knowing he could move forward pretty quickly to catch it.

  “Dinner is ready,” Marly called from the small patio area.

  “Mama,” Willow whined. “We were just starting to pass.”

  “You can pass later.”

  Leaving no room for discussion, Marly took a plate of chicken into the house and left the back door open, an invitation for them to follow.

  Teaching this sweet little girl to play football—while wearing her cowgirl boots, no less—and going in to sit down to a home-cooked meal with a family felt very...right.

  Growing up, his mother had always stressed the importance of family dinners, and he’d always known he would want that same connection, that same ritual with his own family.

  He couldn’t help but feel that tug right now, but he knew to keep his heart on guard. No matter what he might be ready for or might be feeling, Marly was still running scared.

  Honestly, he was scared, too, but he was ready...or at least he was ready to try for more. The time had come for him to move forward, and he knew in his heart that Marly was the woman to move on with. Now if he could only get her to trust him... He had to give this a shot; he couldn’t let this second chance go when it was right within reach.

  Willow was standing on a stool washing her hands at the kitchen sink, and Drake went over to help Marly get plates ready.

  “I’ll take care of everything.” She waved a hand toward the table. “Go have a seat.”

  Ignoring her orders, he pulled cups from the cabinet and filled them with ice, then poured lemonade from the pitcher she had sitting on the counter.

  All too soon they were all gathered around the table, eating and passing the food around, after Willow had said the blessing. Drake cut up Willow’s chicken while she chatted about her school day and how everyone was excited for the upcoming festival.

  “Oh, I’ve got those flyers in my truck.” He cut another piece of chicken, so thankful he didn’t have to head home and microwave a hot dog. “I picked them up earlier today, but with everything else, I forgot.”

  “When can I get that engine ride?” Willow asked, shoving more chicken into her mouth.

  “Honey, I’m not sure—”

  Drake held up a hand and cut Marly off. “I am taking some time off work, but if you wouldn’t mind a buddy of mine giving you a ride, I can set that up one day after school.”

  Even though Drake was looking at Willow, he saw Marly’s eyes go wide. “Drake,” she scolded.

  “Tomorrow?” Willow asked, wide-eyed.

  “As long as he’s not out on a call,” Drake promised with a smile. He loved seeing that hope in Willow’s eyes, loved seeing how excited she got when discussing his own passion. “I’ll let your mom know tomorrow.”

  They finished dinner, and Drake insisted on helping with the dishes. After a bit more passing the football with Willow, he hadn’t realized how late it had gotten until Marly yelled out the back door that it was Willow’s bath time. Drake picked up the ball, and by the time he’d gotten back in the house, Willow was nowhere to be seen. He heard water running in the bathroom down the hall and he assumed Marly was back there doing her nightly ritual. Alone.

  He admired her. Not once had she complained or even acted as exhausted as he knew she had to be. Being a single mother working a full-time job had to be trying...not to mention dealing with whatever weighed heavily on her heart that she kept bottled inside. Independent and strong, she chose to face her battles head-on. She was a warrior.

  Drake pulled his keys from his pocket and set the football on the end table. He wanted Willow to keep it. Who knows? Maybe he’d be back to pass with her again.

  Just as he opened the front door, Marly called his name. When he glanced over his shoulder, she was holding a towel and washcloth.

  “Don’t leave,” she said. “Can you give me twenty minutes to get her into bed?”

  He’d give her all the time she wanted because the fact she wanted him to stay was a huge step.

  “Sure.” Drake nodded, pretending as though this wasn’t an important milestone.

  He barely caught a glimpse of her sweet smile as she disappeared back down the hall. Drake took a seat on the couch and realized that since he’d been at Marly’s, he hadn’t thought of the mayor or his absurd suspension.

  Wait until Cameron and Eli heard about this. They’d explode. They’d head down to the city council offices and stage a two-man protest.

  Of course, Cameron was still working the undercover thing, so who knew when Drake would hear from him to even tell him about the issue.

  When his cell chimed in his pocket, he pulled it out, but nothing showed up. Then he saw Marly’s phone on the side table, near his arm. The face was lit up and he honestly wasn’t trying to be nosy, but the glaring message was hard to miss.

  You have 3 days left. I’m coming for you.

  Above the cryptic message was Kevin. Must be the ex. Even his name sounded like a jerk.

  Drake resisted the urge to pick up her phone and send this Kevin guy a message, but he wouldn’t do anything to hurt Marly.

  He didn’t have to wait too long before Marly came back down the hall. The bottom of her gray T-shirt was damp, her hair was falling from her ponytail, and even though she looked like she could drop to sleep at any moment, to Drake, she looked beautiful.

  “I don’t know what you did to her, but she was out before I could finish cleaning up the bathroom.”

  Marly dropped to the sofa beside him, tipped her head back against the cushion and sighed.

  The column of her throat was exposed, nearly begging to be kissed. But that she’d invited him to stay didn’t mean she had something more in mind than just talking. Marly had the lead here and he would just have to follow...no matter how difficult holding himself back would be.

  “Thank you.” Turning her head against the cushion so she could face him, Marly offered a sweet, tired smile. “For the helmet, the football...for coming here and talking to me. After the way I left things at Eli’s house, I was worried that maybe you wouldn’t want to see me again.”

  Drake shifted, pulling his knee up onto the sofa. “You left because you were concerned about me. I’d be a jerk if I decided you weren’t worth the trouble of seeing again. Besides, I wanted to give Willow the helmet and the football. Seeing you again is just icing on the proverbial cake.”

  Marly started to adjust her bangs, but Drake intercepted her hand and pulled it into his lap. “You look fine. Whether your scar is exposed or not, Marly. It doesn’t define you.”

  Those brown doe eyes studied his face. Drake wanted to know what she saw, what she thought when she looked at him. He prayed she saw a man who truly cared for her, a man who would go as slow as she needed if she would j
ust give him a sign that she would eventually be ready to trust and open up.

  “What will you do about the suspension?” she asked, obviously dodging the topic of herself.

  Drake continued to hold on to her hand. “Fight it. There’s a council meeting next week, and I plan on being there. I also plan on writing up a letter stating what all the mayor has done since taking office—the layoffs, the budget cuts, the new lights and flowers all around town that could’ve been one of my men back on the job. They can’t expect the town to remain safe and out of debt as long as he’s at the helm.”

  Marly turned her hand over in his so they were palm to palm. “You’re pretty amazing. It’s a rare man who would be more concerned about an entire town than his own suspension. I can’t get over how you still thought of Willow during all of that.”

  Drake laced their fingers together. “It’s not hard to think of people I care about, no matter what’s going on in my life.”

  He didn’t want to bring the ex into the picture, but he did want to get her reaction and see if perhaps this could lead to that open door he’d been waiting for.

  “Your cell went off while you were back there,” he told her. “A text from Kevin.”

  Her eyes widened for a second, then closed as she nodded. “I’m sure you saw what it said.”

  “I did.”

  Lifting her lids, she met his gaze. “And?”

  “You have three more days,” Drake told her. “Has he been threatening you still?”

  Marly nodded. “He never stopped. I blackmailed him into giving me a divorce, but he’s still under the impression I’ll come back home.”

  “How did you blackmail him?”

  Marly’s free hand toyed with the ratty hem of her T-shirt. “I have pictures,” she told him. “Of me. I took them to the police.”

  Drake squeezed her hand, wanting her to continue, but at the same time he feared what she was about to reveal.

  “He has friends on the force,” she went on, still looking down at her damp shirt. “They have put me off for months, saying they would look into my allegations, but each time I call, I get the runaround again.”