by Lori Foster
Releasing Shelby, he reached for the man.
Panicked, the idiot swung the gas can in an awkward arc. Gray ducked—and then drilled him. One clean shot to the chin that took the guy’s feet out from under him. He went flat again, the can falling well out of his reach.
Suddenly Tucker snapped, “What the hell? Damn you, Morgan, why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were busy flirting with Kady. Besides, I wanted to let Gray hit him a few times first.”
Gray took advantage of that confession, hauling the man up and punching him one more time before Tucker bellowed, “That’s enough!”
Knowing the procedure, Gray stepped back and began explaining everything while Tucker put the man in handcuffs.
Lisa joined him then, half her family following along. She stopped by Shelby, kneeling down to hug the dog. Shelby glanced at her, licked her face, then stared with evil intent at the man being led away.
Shohn and Garrett had just walked the fence. “The gas is all along the base of the fence,” Shohn said. “Guess he planned a big fire.”
“Guaranteeing he’d get away,” Garrett said.
Still furious, Gray nodded. “It’d be hard to pursue him if we had to go through flames to do it.”
Garrett surveyed everything, then rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m thinking you’ll have to close the marina for a day so we can burn it off. Better that we do it before some kid gets more than he bargained for playing with matches.”
“Agreed.” Gray stared at Lisa. She hadn’t yet come to him. “Lisa?”
She stayed by Shelby but looked up at him. With her cousins and uncles around her and other family crowding in, she said, “So I don’t have to go back to my house.”
Damn, but he loved her. He didn’t look at anyone else, never broke eye contact with her. He just smiled. “No, you don’t.”
“This is one of those times,” Morgan said, “when not being the cop is a good thing. Tucker will be tied up for hours with that ass, and you’re free and clear.”
“Yeah.” Gray went to Lisa, pulled her up and against him and then kissed her silly.
He vaguely heard her brother say, “I feel like I should be protesting this.”
“Do,” Amber said, “and she’ll annihilate you.”
It wasn’t until Shelby leaned against his leg that he managed to end the kiss. With one hand on Shelby’s neck, the other at Lisa’s waist, he said, “I love you.”
She nodded, smiled. Blinked back a few tears. “I love you, too.”
There was more murmuring about fast, but Gray ignored them all.
Shohn spoke up. “Does this mean you’re staying?”
Gray was about to tell him not to pressure her, but Lisa said, “Yes!”
And then her family did so much cheering and carrying on that he couldn’t get anything said. Men were shaking his hand, women were hugging him. He got separated from Lisa while the congrats went around.
He’d just gotten to her when Amber threw herself against him, squeezing him tight. For a slight woman, she had her fair share of strength.
Laughing, Gray accepted the hug until she dropped back to her feet. The second she freed him, he pulled Lisa close again.
“We’re alone,” Amber said to the two of them, “so I have a couple of things to say to you.”
Lisa leaned into his side. “Beware, Gray. She has that intense look in her eyes that means she’s about to shock us.”
Amber started to speak but pulled back. “Do I really? I mean, I’ve heard that before. That I give myself away.” Hands on her hips, more to herself than anyone else, she muttered, “Maybe that’s why I can’t catch Noel off guard.”
“Noel?” Gray asked.
“Noel Poet,” Lisa explained. “He’s a firefighter with Garrett, and Amber’s boyfriend.”
Amber snorted. “He’s never even kissed me, so how could he be my boyfriend?”
“My guess?” Gray smiled at her. “You probably scare the poor guy.”
Amber looked thoughtful for a moment, then dismissed that notion with a shake of her head. “I don’t scare you, right?”
“No.” Because he’d only have peripheral involvement with her, through Lisa. But if he’d ever thought to get close to her, then hell, yes, she would scare him.
“There. I’m not scary at all.”
“If I could make a suggestion?” Gray waited until he had the attention of both women. “If you want to kiss him, make a move. No reason you should have to wait.”
“Hmm. You know, you could be right. If he was here today instead of on duty, I’d give it a shot just to see his reaction.”
Gray grinned. Yeah, he believed her. Amber Hudson wouldn’t shy away from many things—definitely not a man.
She shook her head. “So anyway, back to you guys. I was waiting, holding back until—”
He and Lisa both laughed.
“—I knew for sure you’d be working it out.” She winked at Gray. “You haven’t disappointed me. I don’t even think you needed the incentive of the other guys I brought around to get you motivated.”
Gray wasn’t surprised to learn that had been her ploy. “When it comes to Lisa, believe me, I’m very self-motivated.”
“So I see.”
“Amber,” Lisa warned.
Amber leaned to look beyond them, around them, then she said, “High five, cuz.”
Confused but compliant, Lisa smacked palms with Amber.
“Sometimes,” Amber told her, “a one-night stand turns into forever. I’m proud of you! You went for it, so kudos to you.”
Lisa went mute and Gray frowned. “How...?”
Waving a hand, Amber explained, “I knew where Lisa had traveled, and after grilling Gray when I first met him, I knew where he’d been. The timing lined up, so it seemed obvious to me, especially after seeing the two of you together. But don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
Gray rubbed his face. Yeah, she was scary, all right.
“Now, about you staying in Buckhorn.” Amber smiled at her red-faced cousin. “Have you thought about working remotely? Casey does it sometimes and he said all you’d really need is reliable internet, a quiet place to work, some meeting software and voilà! Cybermeetings, instead of face-to-face, are the in thing. You work out all the deets in online meetings, then limit your travel to a few days a month. What do you think?”
After a few expectant seconds when Lisa looked thunderstruck, she grabbed Amber, squealing as she hugged her.
Amber laughed with her. “So you like the idea?”
“I love the idea!” Lisa gave her cousin a big smooch, then held her away. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of it. I mean, I’ve been involved in cybermeetings for different clients. I’ve just been so stressed, and then Gray was here, and...” Winding down, she said, “You’re a genius.”
“That’s what I keep telling people.” She held up her hand and Gray high-fived her as well. “My work here is done. Oh, how I love a happy ending.” Clearly pleased with herself, Amber moseyed off.
Gray brought Lisa around for a quick kiss. “You think that would actually work?”
“As Amber said, it’s the in thing. My company wants me, so I think they’ll be all over it.”
He searched her face and had to ask, “It’ll make you happy?”
“You make me happy. Shelby makes me happy.” She inched closer. “Keeping my job but losing all the travel will make me happy.”
He grinned. “Then I’m happy, too.” He touched her face. “And since you’re compromising, what do you think about me doing the same?”
“How?”
“I’m not rushing you, I promise. But I want to marry you, and when we do—”
“Gray.” She threw herself aga
inst him, bounced a little, then grabbed his face and kissed him.
Gray didn’t mind the interruption, not with Lisa holding him tight, bubbling with excitement. But as the kiss ended, he grinned and asked, “Is that a yes?”
“Yes!”
Happiness threatened to take out his knees, but he stiffened his legs and kept her close to his heart. “We won’t need two houses. Doesn’t matter to me where we live, so either I’ll rent out my house and Shelby and I will live with you, or you can sell your place and live here with us. I know it’s small, but I thought it was just going to be me. Now that it’s us, you and me and Shelby, we can remodel or add on.”
She covered her mouth.
Gray hurried to say, “Or we can keep both and worry about it later. Or buy something new. Or build, or—”
“Gray.” She said his name this time with tears in her eyes and a trembling smile. “Yes to marrying you, yes to having only one house for you and me and Shelby, but I honestly don’t care which one.” She inhaled, brushed a tear from her cheek. “Yes to loving you.”
“And yes to staying in Buckhorn?”
“It’s my home,” she whispered. “I’ve always enjoyed it, but now that you’re here, I never want to leave.”
Together, they turned to head back to the gathering of her family. Lisa spotted Amber saying something to Adam while Adam tried to shake his head and refuse.
Lisa grinned. “It looks like my brother might be next on Amber’s radar.”
“Good. He’s a nice guy. He should be happy.” When Lisa slanted a dubious look up at him, Gray said, “What? She does good work. I trust she’ll do right by him.”
Lisa laughed over that, but she didn’t deny it. Amber had been helpful, not that either of them had really needed a nudge.
Mingling into the crowd of Lisa’s big family, with her at his side, Gray recognized the truth. He’d left behind his old life and all the strife. He’d have been happy with the slower lifestyle, the change of pace.
Instead, he’d gotten so much more.
Because now, he had it all.
* * * * *
BACK TO
BUCKHORN
I never know where a story (or characters) might take me, so I like to have info up front.
Now, though, I feel like I have enough great research material to write many more firefighters!
To all the following people who answered firefighter questions, thank you very, very much!
Katie Fairbanks, Deborah Lamoree, Andrew Naylor, Walter Fairbanks, Brian Wood, Joan Swan & Rick.
You all rock!
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER ONE
SUNGLASSES SHIELDING HIS eyes from the hot afternoon sun, Garrett Hudson watched the front of the airport, scanning each female who strode out. He could have gone inside to baggage claim, but then he might’ve missed her. He stayed on the alert; people changed over time, and there was a good chance Zoey would look right past him. Though she’d had a few brief visits back to the area, they hadn’t seen each other in years, and she expected his sister, Amber, to be her ride. But a busted pipe at the bookstore had sidelined Amber, and he got recruited at the last minute, which meant he was running late.
Would he recognize her? How much had she changed? He remembered her as the quirky girl from high school, the one who had danced without caring what others thought, who laughed at the oddest things.
Often the odd girl out, not that she’d ever seemed to care.
He remembered her being kind, always speaking up for the underdog, always befriending the other odd ducks, not because she minded going it alone, but because she knew they did.
What he remembered most about her, though, was her mouth. Full lips. Soft smiles. An easy laugh.
Not only did she have the sexiest mouth he’d ever seen, but she also talked a lot. Sometimes nonstop.
Back then, he’d been amused by her.
And he’d always wanted to kiss her. Badly.
For the tenth time, he checked his watch. When he looked up again, a new crowd of people surged out, dragging luggage along in their wake. He scanned each face, his gaze going past an older couple, a young mother with a kid, a bedraggled brunette—
His attention zipped back.
No way. Could it be? He’d think not, except for the way she zeroed in on him while biting her lip. That was a tip-off.
Zoey had always bit her lip when uneasy.
Damn. What the hell had happened to her?
She looked... Trying to be kind, he decided on not good.
Starting forward, he called out, “Zoey Hodge?”
She stared right at him, proving she did, in fact, recognize him. That probably accounted for the lip biting, too. He knew he’d always made her nervous...which was why he’d never gotten that kiss.
Anytime he’d made a move, she’d dodged him.
When he got close, she groaned and covered her face with both hands. And stood there. On the walkway in front of the airport with people forced to move around her.
“Zoey?” Pushing his sunglasses to the top of his head, Garrett bent to see her face. She stood several inches shorter than his six-two. Given the clothes she wore, he had no idea about her build.
But she smelled like throw-up. “Zoey.” Why wouldn’t she look at him?
“Can you just go away?”
He straightened. “Come again?”
She made a shooing motion with one small hand, then quickly covered her face again. “I’ll get a bus. Or cab. Or...I’ll walk if I need to.”
Hands on his hips, Garrett considered her, but because he needed to be back at work soon, he decided to just take charge. In most instances, with most people, that worked.
He scooped up one bag, grabbed the handle of the other. “I’m taking your luggage.” He stepped away...and waited.
Dropping her hands with an overly dramatic sigh, she said, “Fine! Suffer me.”
Her makeup was everywhere, making her green eyes a focal point in her face, which was framed by badly tangled, dark brown hair.
But that mouth...damn, it looked as good as ever.
Ignoring her comment—what could he say?—he started off. “I’m parked this way.” She grudgingly followed.
Trailing behind him, she said, “I don’t always look like this.”
God, he hoped not. “Want to tell me what happened?”
As if she’d been waiting for him to ask, she started babbling. “There was a crying kid on the plane. He puked on me. I’d checked all of my luggage instead of carrying it on, so the mother gave me this—” she looked down at the baggy gray T-shirt “—this thing to wear. I think it was her husband’s. Anyway, I got most of the mess washed off my face and chest, but there wasn’t enough water in the tiny bathroom to get it out of my hair. I smell bad. I look bad.” She pointed at him. “And you had to show up?”
His mouth quirked. Yeah, he’d always remembered Zoey Hodge as being different. Eccentric.
Original.
Off the top of his head, he couldn’t remember any other woman screeching at him in accusation. “What’s wrong with me?”
Her expression said it should have been obvious. “You’re you.”
“Okay.” What the hell did that mean?
She bit her lip again. “That is...well, you know I had a crush on you in high school.”
“You did?” News to him. Hell, he’d had a crush, but had never acted on it.
“Well, of course I did.”
With no idea what to say, he just nodded.
“And,” she cont
inued with emphasis, “when you see an old crush after so many years, well, it’d be better not to reek, right?”
“You’re fine,” he lied. The baking sun amplified the smell, so he was glad when they finally got into the covered garage.
“I was all set to explain to Amber, to maybe even laugh about it—”
“Really?” He couldn’t imagine.
“—and instead you’re here, seeing me like this, making me even more humiliated and—”
“Amber had a small catastrophe. I was the only one available.”
“Catastrophe?” She stopped dead in her tracks. “Is she all right?”
“She’s fine. Her bookstore’s a little soggy, though, thanks to a broken pipe.”
She started walking at a fast clip to catch up with him. “Oh, man.” She pushed back her long matted hair. “Well...I don’t mean to be ungrateful.”
“You’re out of sorts.” Under the circumstances, she had a right to be grouchy, but she wasn’t. More like frazzled, and plenty embarrassed.
They reached his truck and he put the bags in the back then went around to open her door for her. “We can leave the windows down and the smell won’t be so bad.” He hoped.
She groaned dramatically and got in. Poor thing. She even had stains on the top of her sneakers.
She noticed him looking and wrinkled her nose. “It’s in my shoes. I can feel it squishing when I walk.”
Sympathy kept the smile off his face.
One hand on the roof, the other on the door frame, Garrett watched her buckle up. Out of the blinding sunlight, he saw that no part of her had been spared. Her hair. Her face. Her jeans. Only the god-awful, too-big, men’s gray shirt was clean, but it didn’t add much to the getup. “The kid really hurled on you, huh?”
She turned to him, shading her eyes against the sun. “The little guy was so sick.”
Even under the unusual circumstances, something about her had him analyzing all her features. Big green eyes, slightly upturned nose and that lush mouth. She had small hands and delicate wrists, so she was probably still slight of build. But under the clothes, Garrett couldn’t tell for sure.