by Nina Quinn
Copyright ©2019 by Nina Quinn
All rights reserved. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any form without prior written permission of the publisher, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution, circulation, or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and
incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons,living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Dear Friend,
You are the reason I write these stories and I sincerely
appreciate you! Many thanks for your support. If you enjoy this eBook, I invite you to sign up for my newsletter.
“Friends with Benefits”
As a thank you, you will receive a link to a FREE eBook. Once you become a newsletter subscriber, you will receive
announcements of new story releases, notices of sale prices, and you will be first in line for the opportunity to be part of my review crew.
Happy Reading,
Nina Quinn
Prologue
Twelve Years Earlier
Jenny’s mom had tucked her into bed, kissed her forehead, and told her not to let the bedbugs bite. There was a nip in the air as summer fell away into fall and mother closed the window before leaving the bedroom.
It had been just the two of them for as long as Jenny could remember. Her mom worked hard to put food on the table and clothes on her back. Despite the shortage of money, they had a home filled with love and laughter.
Jenny slipped into a pleasant, peaceful sleep.
And awakened to a nightmare.
The moment Jenny opened her eyes, they stung and burned and tears welled in her eyes. The smell of smoke filled her nose and choked her. Jenny screamed for her mom.
Her mother didn’t answer.
Didn’t open the door.
Didn’t come for her like she was supposed to.
The smoke grew thicker, and Jenny covered her mouth and nose with the hem of her pajama top. She got out of bed and dropped to the floor, just like she’d learned in school, and crawled toward the door.
The door to her room blew open and a fireman entered her room. Protective gear covered him from head to toe, and an ax hung at his waist. She reached for him and he knelt before her, scooped her up in his arms, and hurried from the room.
He held her tightly against his chest, and she hung onto him knowing he was going to save her. The sound of the flames roared in her ears, and she screamed for her mother.
Time slowed to a crawl, and it seemed to take days for them to reach the front door and the safety of the front yard. The air outside was crisp and cool. Not thick and hot like dragons breath.
The man took off his helmet and covered her nose and mouth with his oxygen mask. She took in shaky breaths and coughed. Red lights flashed all around them, then blue lights joined the red. The ground rumbled, and Jenny watched the roof cave into the house. Sections of the walls crumbled to the ground.
Bright embers billowed from the building like fireflies in the night. Screams filled the air and it took several minutes for Jenny to realize the screams were hers.
Chapter One
Jenny Russo never thought she’d see the day where she walked down Main Street of the small town where she’d been born. Where a fire had gutted her home and stolen her mother from her. But here she was, almost a week into her return to Rockville, Colorado.
The bell above the diner door tinkled when she entered. She waved at Carol and took a seat facing the window so she could people watch. Carol came by with her coffee.
“The usual this morning, Jenny?” Carol was one of those amazing waitresses that never had to write down an order.
Jenny smiled at the older woman, “Yes, please.” She’d eaten breakfast in this same diner for the past five days and already she was considered a regular.
Rockville was a sleepy little town in the Colorado Rockies. The people were friendly, the crime was nonexistent, and the community was close-knit. Neighbors helping neighbors, and those in need were lent a helping hand. It was all very charming, and very different from New York City where she’d spent the last dozen years. Her Aunt Karen had taken her in when her mom had died in the fire.
Aunt Karen had passed away three months ago. Jenny received a modest inheritance and the deed to the property where she’d spent her first ten years. She’d come to Rockville to decide what she wanted to do with the property and the tragic memories of her past. Except, she’d been there almost a week and hadn’t mustered the courage to see what remained of her childhood home. She just couldn’t face the nightmares that had haunted her for nearly half her life.
Carol set a plate of eggs over-easy with cheesy hash browns and a slice of ham in front of her. Cheese made everything taste better. If she kept eating these big breakfasts her muffin top was going to blossom into a cake.
Today was the day. She’d decided. No more fretting, no more procrastinating. Right after breakfast, she was going to head straight to the property and make a decision.
Except when she left the diner, she couldn’t resist the smells wafting out of the Soap Shoppe. She spent an hour in there deciding between the scents of cucumber melon, bergamot and lily, and berries and cream. In the end she purchased one of each, because really, a girl should be able to splurge a little.
Then there was the candle shop. The owner invited her into the back of the store to watch while she made a batch of chamomile and lavender candles. He chatted about the recent gossip going around town as if she knew who was who.
By the time Jenny grabbed a bite for lunch and decided a mani-pedi was definitely in order, it was closing in on late afternoon.
Now, she was done procrastinating.
The house was on the outskirts of town at the end of Laurel Lane. Ten minutes out of town she rounded a corner and slowed the car to a crawl when the remains of the house came into view.
The lot was large, several acres according to the deed. A chain-link fence surrounded the ruins, presumably to keep out trouble. The walls of the house were charred, burned halfway to the ground. No glass remained where windows had once been. The doorway gaped wide and empty without the door. The concrete steps leading to the front entry, pristine and white.
Jenny pulled into the driveway, parked the car and sat for a moment, remembering. Her heart pounded in her chest as she recalled that night so long ago. She’d wanted the nightmare to belong to someone else, but there it was right in front of her. She felt oddly numb and disconnected.
The gate kept outsiders out, but didn’t prevent the memories from reaching her. She didn’t have a key, but she left her rental car and walked around the fence line.
Only a pile of tumbled bricks remained of her mother’s bedroom in the back. A heap of rubble to mark where her mother had died. The numbness began to wear off and her breath came in short gasps. She continued around to the front of the house, leaned against the fence, and let the tears begin.
∞∞∞
Nathan Frost was running late. Again. This was his Friday night to be at Ruby’s and if he showed up even a minute late she would hand him his balls on a platter. Nothing like an eighty-nine-year-o
ld woman to keep half the town in line.
He finished mucking out Gunner and Ginger’s stalls, threw down some hay for the two horses, and headed for his truck. Ruby would no doubt give him grief for smelling like shit. Literally. He’d ride with the windows down, air things out a bit.
Nathan turned down Laurel Lane and rounded the corner when the old Russo place came into view. Not a day passed that he didn’t think about the young girl he’d pulled from the burning house on that long ago autumn night. He passed the charred house daily on his way to and from the station.
He’d been a brand spanking new firefighter and that had been his first major fire fight. His heart still bled for the little girl he’d pulled from the flames. That night had changed her life forever. He often wondered what became of her.
It surprised the hell out of him to see a sedan parked in the driveway. He slowed down and noticed a young woman at the fence. Straight hair, black as midnight hung to her waist. The hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention instinctively knowing who she was.
Now he was really going to be late to Ruby’s. “She’s going to tan my hide.”
Nathan pulled into the drive, careful not to block in the other vehicle. Women got uptight about that sort of thing. He threw the truck in park and climbed out of the cab.
The woman jumped when he’d closed the door of his truck. Tears streaked her face. She wiped at them as it embarrassed her he’d seen them.
“I didn’t mean to startle you, Miss.” He stepped closer and extended a hand. “Name’s Nathan Frost. Can I help you with something?”
She stared down at his hand and hesitated a moment, then clasped his hand and looked up at him.
Holy hell. Those eyes. Those Caribbean blue eyes. He’d know them anywhere. Little Jenny Russo had grown up. And she was fucking gorgeous.
“I’m Jenny. I was just--remembering. I used to live in this house, before the fire.” She released his hand. Quickly. Like dropping a hot potato. She’d felt it too, he’d bet on it. His whole arm tingled from the zing of electricity he’d felt at the first touch of her hand. That right there was some weird shit.
“I remember that fire. I’m sorry for your loss.” He hooked his thumbs in his jean pockets. Otherwise, he might not be able to resist the urge to touch her again.
Jenny looked surprised and studied his face, but there was no recognition. “Thank you. I’m sorry, I don’t recall having known you.”
He hadn’t expected her to remember him. That night had terrified her, probably scarred her for life. That he’d been the one to save her, and not her mother, well, he wasn’t sure he wanted to remind her that he’d failed her all those years ago. It still haunted him.
“No worries. Small town, I knew of you and your mom, but wasn’t really an acquaintance,” he said. “You moving back to town?”
Jenny shook her head and turned those sea blue eyes on him. “No. I’m here to decide what to do with the property. I have a job waiting for me in New York, so I really need to make a decision.” She gazed at the property again. “Looks like it should be demolished. Then maybe I can at least sell the lot.”
Nathan couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She had to be twenty-two or twenty-three now. He was too old for her he knew, but the attraction was undeniable. She was beautiful and perfectly formed. Curves in all the right places. Places he’d like to put his hands. His mouth. Shit, he was in trouble.
“Let me take you to dinner, Jenny.” Well, that came out of nowhere now didn’t it?
Her eyes grew rounder and her pretty mouth formed a perfect letter O. Shit. She was going to say no. He wanted her to say yes, so he had to think fast. “I work for the city.” That wasn’t a lie. “I can help you out with some of the permits you need to secure before you can begin demolition of the house.” Asbestos removal required a shit-ton of permits.
Jenny smiled then, and that dimple he remembered made an appearance. His jeans were suddenly a little tighter than he liked them. Particularly in the zipper area.
“All right. I could definitely use some pointers on how to get started. When and where would you like to meet?” she asked.
Smart girl. “I actually have reservations at Ruby’s for dinner. I’m running a bit late, but it’s about a mile down the road on the left. You can follow me, how’s that sound?”
“That sounds good. Ready when you are,” she said.
He moved to open her car door for her, and she slid behind the wheel. He had to adjust himself the minute he got in his truck. Damn.
∞∞∞
Holy hotness, Nathan was just—wow. Tall, dark, and handsome was the understatement of the century. Those ice-blue eyes were so clear and bright they almost glowed. The tiny lines at the corners of his eyes when he smiled told her he laughed often.
Okay, so they also told her he was older than her by at least a decade, but so what? No middle-age spread on that man. Nothing but muscles for miles.
God, was the car overheating? Jenny checked the gauges to be sure. Nope. It was thoughts of Nathan causing that flash of heat.
Offering to help her with the permit nightmare was seriously nice. Everyone in this town had gone out of their way to be kind. She’d forgotten what a joy a small town could be. All these years, she’d thought herself a city girl. But was she? She wasn’t quite sure anymore.
She pulled out behind Nathan and followed him to the restaurant. A sign at the entrance said closed, yet the parking lot was jam-packed. Good thing Nathan had reservations. It looked like the entire town had turned out. The food must be fantastic for so many people to be here at, Jenny checked her watch, four-thirty? Huh. Looked like the geriatric dinner hour was a thing in Rockville.
Excitement fluttered in her stomach like little butterflies. The chef in her loved nothing more than checking out a new restaurant. There was always something to learn from a successful eating establishment, no matter how modest. If it was packed, there was something good in there. She could hardly wait.
Nathan was back at her car door, opening it to let her out. He placed his hand on the small of her back as he walked her to the front door. She shivered at his touch.
“They must have forgotten to flip the sign over when they opened,” Jenny said, pointing to the closed sign.
Nathan didn’t comment.
The moment Jenny entered the main dining room, she knew something was off. The dining tables were arranged in rows with an aisle running through the center from the front of the restaurant to the back. Each table had a hot plate, assorted produce, cooking implements, and each table had one if not two people in various stages of food preparation.
Jenny leaned closer to Nathan and whispered, “This isn’t what I was expecting.”
He looked down at her and grinned, “I’ll explain in a minute.”
“Nathan Frost is that you? Young man, are you ever going to arrive on time?” The elderly woman who’d asked the question had to be nearing a hundred. Her voice cracked, but it boomed across the dining room.
“My apologies Miss Ruby,” he said, and gave a nod of apology.
“Is that a woman with you, Nathan?” Ruby squinted in their general direction. “About damn time you had a date. Take your usual spot young man. And for the love of God, open a window. You smell like horse shit.” The entire assembly smirked or giggled.
Nathan took Jenny’s hand and lead her to the far left of one of the middle rows. He left her in front of the table while he opened a window. Ruby was right, he did smell a little bit like horses. And hay. And a scent that was all his own and had her wanting to stand closer.
Judging from the food on the table, it looked like they were making Ruby’s version of green chili chicken enchiladas. Except it appeared the cream sauce was cream of chicken soup and the green chilies were Colorado variety. Which meant they weren’t chilies at all, but green bell peppers. Ugh. That was wrong on so many levels. Jenny’s inner chef grimaced, and she wrinkled her nose. She pressed her lips together to keep from
saying something stupid.
Nathan leaned in close, his breath whispering in her ear. “Ruby’s had the restaurant up for sale for nearly two years. No takers. So, the town takes turns coming out on Friday nights for cooking class. It helps Ruby live a little more comfortably until she finds a buyer.”
Jenny felt her eyes mist over. That was about the sweetest damn thing she’d ever heard. She turned her attention to the front of the room and made an attempt to get her and Nathan caught up with the rest of the class.
Jenny handed him the soup can and motioned for him to open it. She got going on shredding the chicken with a couple of forks.
Nathan gave her a blank look after opening the cream of chicken soup. “Now what?” he asked. She snagged it from him and handed him the onion to chop.
The soup and sour cream got mixed, and Jenny chopped up the bell peppers. Nathan’s progress with the onion was painfully slow. Though they were now on the same step as the rest of the class, so she resisted the urge to take over the onion duty. He already smelled like a barn. What was a little onion compared to that?
The class moved on with the next steps with some direction from Ruby. Nathan still worked at chopping that darned onion. He wiped at his eyes a time or two. Okay, ten at least, and kept on chopping. When at long last he finished, he smiled at her, wiped at his dripping eyes again and said, “I’m much better at most things, but cooking isn’t one of them.”
“I noticed. Luckily, you’re in good hands.” Jenny stepped closer and whispered, “I’m a chef, so I’ll um. . .take it from here. You can just stand there and look pretty.” Nathan smirked. And it was a damn sexy smirk at that.
Nathan cocked an eyebrow, opened his mouth, shut it, then shook his head. She didn’t figure he took a lot of orders from most people. But, then again she wasn’t most people. She was in her element even in this makeshift kitchen. As a newbie chef, she wasn’t used to managing kitchen staff and being in control of anything. So taking charge of this meal prep was a small victory, and it felt wonderful.