by Leigh Bale
Hmm. If Jared didn’t know better, he might think that Connie and Tim had planned this situation on purpose. His common sense told him that wasn’t the case, but after the evening of surprises they’d had, he wouldn’t put it past Tim to pull a spark plug or two in order to stop the engine from working.
“Sure, I’d be happy to,” Jared said.
He spoke the words with misgivings. As he looked at Megan’s rusty old truck, he figured it had seen much better days. He wanted to get her home safely, but then what? She needed wheels to get around town with her kids. And to drive up onto the mountain to cater meals to the firefighters. The last thing he wanted was for her to be stranded midway on the mountain while the fire crews went hungry. He didn’t want to worry about her, but she was one of his contractors now. She needed a reliable vehicle that would get her from point A to point B without any trouble.
So, what could he do about it?
“Jared and I will see about repairs for you first thing tomorrow morning. Don’t you worry about a thing,” Tim told Megan.
“Thanks. I’d appreciate that.”
Jared opened the passenger door to his truck and waited while she climbed inside. Closing the door, he walked around to the driver’s seat. He’d inserted the key, started the engine and flipped on the headlights before she spoke again.
“I’m sorry about this.” Her voice sounded soft and sincere.
He stared out the windshield as he pulled onto the narrow road. “It’s no problem. Car troubles are a part of life. And I live just a couple of blocks away from you, so we’re in the same neighborhood.”
She glanced his way. “Yes, I know.”
Of course she did. She’d come over to see him last week, when she’d agreed to work as a caterer for him. He had to remind himself that her husband used to work for the Minoa Hotshots. She’d been a firefighter’s wife, just like his ex-wife. And yet, she seemed to fit in so well with the other hotshots. Without resentment. Without hating everything about small towns. Without longing for the large shopping centers and bright lights of a big city. Instead, he got the vibe that Megan was well-adjusted to living here in Minoa. That she actually liked being here. If only Sharon had been the same way, their marriage might have worked.
“Have you lived here long?” he asked.
She nodded, gripping the armrest with whitened knuckles. No doubt she was still upset about her truck. “Yes, eight years. We moved here just after June was born.”
“Do you like it here?” He decreased his speed as he turned down Main Street.
She flashed a smile. “Oh, yes. It’s a sweet community. Perfect for raising a young family. I wouldn’t live anywhere else now. I grew up in Elko, Nevada, but my husband grew up here. That’s how we got the restaurant. His father died five years ago and left the diner to us. Since I’d graduated from culinary school, I loved to cook. It seemed a perfect fit. A great way to do what I love. Then, four years ago, we bought the mobile kitchen, to cater meals to the firefighters. While Blaine worked his job as a hotshot, I ran the diner and catering business. But we never thought it would end so soon.”
Her voice cracked and so did his heart. He held the steering wheel with both hands. “I’m sorry you lost him.”
“Thanks,” she said very quietly.
And that was that. They didn’t speak again until they arrived at her house. The air seemed to fill up with a lot of unspoken words. They both had past loves and broken hearts. Hopes and dreams that had been dashed to smithereens. Vanquished yearnings that kept rattling around and making a lot of noise in their minds.
He pulled into her driveway and killed the engine, then hopped out and hurried around to open her door. He helped her down, then walked with her up the dark sidewalk to her front doorstep. The cool night air smelled of rain. Another lightning storm that had the potential to start a forest fire in the mountains. Except for being set up on a blind date by Connie and Tim, it’d been a perfect evening. Despite his misgivings, he had enjoyed himself tremendously.
“I know neither of us planned it this way, but I had a lot of fun tonight,” he said.
“Yeah, me too. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
She stood close, and he gazed into her soft brown eyes. A hypnotic force seemed to pull him nearer, until his gaze lowered to her lips.
The porch light came on and the door jerked open.
“Hi, Mommy!” Caleb called.
June bulldozed her way past her brother and stood there with her arms crossed and a disapproving frown curving her mouth. “Hey, are you gonna kiss my mom?”
“No! Of course not.” Heat flooded Jared’s face.
“June, don’t be rude,” Megan said.
“Yuck! I’d never kiss a girl. You might get a disease.” Caleb stuck out his tongue in disgust.
“You won’t get a disease,” June said.
“Will, too,” Caleb replied.
Jared couldn’t help laughing. If he had two little kids, he’d want them to be just like Caleb and June. But the situation was anything but comfortable.
“Sorry, Mrs. Rocklin.” The babysitter pulled the children back inside the house and closed the door.
Jared breathed a sigh of relief, but he couldn’t help chuckling as he jerked his thumb toward the house. “Looks like you’ve got two little watchdogs.”
The children had hopped up on the couch and had their noses pressed against the glass windowpane as they peered out at them.
“Yes, they’re a bit overly protective of me. I’m sorry about that.” She turned her back on the kids and gave Jared a half smile, her eyes filled with unease.
He looked away. “They’re good kids.”
“Yes, they are.” She hesitated. “Thanks again.”
He nodded. “You’re welcome.”
They looked at each other, each assessing the situation for what it was. Her eyes mirrored his concern. Neither one of them wanted to be hurt again. For that reason alone, they couldn’t take this relationship any further.
“Well, I’ll say good-night.” He slipped his hands into his pockets.
“Good night.” She waved as he stepped down off the porch and sauntered toward his truck.
He got inside and fired up the vehicle, but waited until she went inside before he backed out and drove away. It’d been a long time since he’d been out on a date and driven a woman home. A long time since he’d thought about kissing someone good-night. And the sad truth was that he wished he had met a woman like Megan about ten years earlier.
Chapter Five
The following morning, Megan sat on the sofa in her living room tying her shoelaces when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Caleb cried as he dashed for the door.
Standing on tiptoes, the boy had trouble negotiating the dead bolt. June, who was much taller, helped him turn the lock. The door whooshed open to reveal Jared standing there with a wide smile.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Jared!” Caleb launched himself at the man.
As usual, June held back, a bit withdrawn.
Jared scooped the boy up and swung him around. Caleb’s laughter filled the air like musical wind chimes. Watching them together, a lump rose in Megan’s throat. She remembered her husband doing this exact same thing.
Still holding her son, Jared smiled at June. “How are you, sweetheart?”
She sat on the edge of a chair and folded her arms, lifting her chin in a haughty stare. “I’m fine, thank you. But what are you doing here?”
“June! Don’t be rude,” Megan said, though she couldn’t help wondering the same thing. She felt like her daughter. Filled with trepidation. She hadn’t seen Caleb this happy since before his daddy’s death. Her son was young and might soon lose most of his memories of h
is father, but June was older. And like Megan, would never forget.
Jared shrugged, seeming undeterred by the girl’s glower. “I was hoping to speak to your mom for a few minutes, if that’s okay.”
June didn’t respond.
Megan stood and waited for Caleb to settle down. In spite of knowing that Connie was opening the restaurant for her that morning, Megan had woken up early. Worried and too nervous to sleep the night before, she had dressed and gotten the kids their breakfast, planning to walk with them the six blocks to Main Street. She needed to speak with Grant Metcalf, the owner of the only gas station in town. Hopefully, he’d be able to haul her old truck into his garage for repairs as soon as possible. And hopefully, the work wouldn’t cost her an arm and a leg.
“Jared, look! I’ve got a loose tooth.” Caleb gritted his teeth and pressed against a wobbly tooth in the front.
“Yeah, that’s great, buddy,” Jared said. “How’s the swing working out?”
“Great! You wanna come out back and see it? When I pump my legs hard, I can go so high.” Caleb lifted his arms over his head to emphasize his words.
Jared glanced Megan’s way. “Maybe tomorrow. Right now, I need to speak with your mom, and then I’ve got to get into work.”
Megan’s heart gave a maddening thump, then sped up into double time. Her son liked this man. A lot. And so did she.
Looking out the living room window, she saw a strange truck parked in her driveway. Jared owned a blue pickup truck, but this one was different. At first glance, she thought it must be his work vehicle. It was Forest Service green, but had no markings to indicate that it was a government-owned vehicle.
“What are you doing here so early in the morning?” she asked.
He set Caleb down and jerked his chin toward the driveway. “I’ve got a business matter I need to discuss with you. Can I speak with you outside for a few minutes?”
Wondering what on earth he wanted, she stepped out on the porch with him and called over her shoulder to the children. “You kids stay inside. June, help your brother find his shoes and put them on.”
“Ah, I wanna come with,” Caleb groaned.
Megan gave him a stern look. She didn’t want her children around when she told Jared that he should stop coming over here. “Finish your breakfast and get your shoes on, son. I’ll be right back.”
She closed the door firmly against the boy’s protests and went outside with Jared. He led her to the driveway, finally stopping beside the green vehicle. Gleaming water droplets clung to the front fender, as though it had been freshly washed. Jared pressed his fingers against the passenger door. As usual, he looked dashing in his Forest Service uniform. He stood there, tall and handsome, and flashed that devastating smile that made her stomach swirl with butterflies.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning. What’s up?” Okay, not too harsh, but blunt enough to let him know that she wanted to get down to business.
He tapped the front fender with his finger. “Since you’re without wheels right now, I thought maybe I could help you out.”
Confusion fogged her brain. “What do you mean?”
“I thought you could use this truck.”
She stared at the vehicle as if it was a three-headed monster. “I don’t understand.”
He shrugged his powerful shoulders, a smile widening his sun-bronzed features. He’d slicked his hair back with a bit of gel, and his jaw was blunt and determined. “It’s a loan. To use while you’re working with me. You can drive it here in town and also when you cater meals to the fire crews up in the mountains this summer. Whatever you need. You can return it once the fire season is over in the fall.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she had to consciously close it. “But I’ll have my own vehicle repaired soon. I can use it to drive up in the mountains.”
He shook his head, his voice light but insistent. “No, your truck is too old and unreliable. I don’t want you and your people broken down somewhere on a deserted road where there isn’t any cell phone service to call for help. I told you when you agreed to be one of my contractors that I’d provide some of the equipment you’ll need for your work. And that includes this newer truck. Besides, it’ll save you wear and tear on your vehicle.”
She blinked in shock. “Who does this one belong to?”
“Me. I bought it three months ago at a surplus sale. At the time, I didn’t really need it, but it was in excellent condition and such a good price that I didn’t want to let it go. The Forest Service is the original owner, so it’s been maintained very well. It’s got a trailer hitch, so you can pull your supplies behind and you shouldn’t have any problems with the engine.”
She took a step back. “Oh, no. I can’t accept this.”
He met her eyes, looking surprised. “Why not?”
“I don’t accept handouts.”
His brow crinkled with disapproval. “It’s not a handout, Megan. It’s a tool. A truck. So that you can do your work to feed the fire crews. That’s all.”
Hmm. She wanted to believe him but couldn’t help feeling suspicious. It was more than just a truck. It was him inserting his life into hers and helping her out even though she hadn’t asked for it. His continued generosity touched her, but she wouldn’t accept charity. Not as long as she could find a way to help herself.
“How about if I rent it from you?” she asked.
He opened his mouth, then closed it, as though he wanted to argue, but realized it was futile. “Okay, but just enough to cover the mileage. Say twenty dollars a month?”
She snorted. “How about a hundred dollars a month, along with parts and service?”
He folded his arms, making the fabric of his sleeves tighten around his big biceps. “Make it fifty and an occasional home-cooked meal, and we’ve got a deal.”
Oh, boy. His terms would mean that he’d be coming over to her house now and then to have dinner with her and the kids. Laughing, joking, having fun. Becoming good friends. And she couldn’t let that happen.
“I’ll agree to seventy-five,” she said, omitting anything about fixing him dinner.
He stood before her, his legs spread slightly. Unfolding his arms, he rested his hands on his lean hips. Solid and tenacious. But she could be stubborn, too. On the one hand, she wanted to accept his offer. She’d be crazy not to. She’d already spent a sleepless night wondering how to pay for major repairs on her old junker truck. Wondering how she was going to get her kids back and forth to school and the restaurant, much less haul food up on the mountain. But on the other hand, Jared was being too generous. There to bail her out of trouble as he’d done with the washing machine and the ride home the previous night. And it’d be crazy to have him over to the house for supper with the kids. Kind of like jumping from the pan into the fire.
He shook his head, the sunlight gleaming against his dark blond hair. “Nope. Fifty dollars a month or no deal.”
So he’d called her bluff. They stood there looking at each other in a standoff, and neither of them spoke for several pounding moments. She couldn’t deny the urge to accept all that he offered. It’d be so easy to say yes. To give in and make life easier on herself. But it was an illusion. She’d pay a heavy price later on. She couldn’t get any closer to him. Even as friends. No, not again. She just couldn’t. She opened her mouth to tell him so, but the words wouldn’t come out.
“Agreed, but you’ll have to eat your home-cooked meals over at the restaurant,” she finally said. “As a general rule, I only have Sunday and Monday nights off, so I’m not usually here at home during the dinner hour.”
Of course, she could invite him over on her nights off, but she didn’t say that. It was better not to offer that option to him.
Placing the key in her hand, he flashed a smile so bright that she had to swallow.
<
br /> “Agreed,” he said. “And we’ve already had Grant Metcalf tow your truck over to his garage for service.”
“We?” she said.
“Yes, Tim and me. He thinks the alternator’s gone out. If that’s the case, Grant said he’ll have to order parts, which could take several weeks before the repairs are done.”
She shook her head, feeling dazed. He’d made this matter so simple for her. She hadn’t had to do a single thing. “You’ve already spoken to Grant about my truck?”
He jerked one shoulder. “Yeah, Tim and I took care of it for you early this morning. I thought it might help you out since you’ve got the kids to deal with and all.”
“I was going to see Grant now,” she said.
“Actually, Tim made the first call to ask the mechanic to come over and tow your truck back to his garage and take a look at the engine,” he said. “I just followed up to find out what he thought the problem was. Tim says the guy’s good. And seems that he is, because Grant said it can be fixed but it will take time.”
Oh. So Jared hadn’t acted completely on his own. Like all the other hotshots, he was just looking out for Blaine’s widow. And she shouldn’t be surprised. Even though Jared had never met him, her husband had been one of their own. And they had been a big, happy family. And while Grant wasn’t a hotshot, he’d gone to high school with Blaine, and they’d been close friends for a lot of years. She couldn’t really fault the guys for taking care of the family Blaine had left behind.
Not when she needed them so much.
And it was obvious that, more and more, Jared seemed to fit right in with the hotshots. He kept rescuing her from one problem after the next. And she could get used to this. To become complacent and comfortable. But she knew security was a mirage. A facade that didn’t last. She had to stay sharp and independent so that she could ensure her kids were taken care of. But her service in her church congregation had taught her that gratitude was also important. And right now, she was very grateful.
“Thank you. You’ve made everything so easy for me,” she said.