Wild Fire

by Tiffinie Helmer

  “Could we stop and see the accident site?” he asked.

  She glanced worriedly at him. “Are you sure you want to?”

  “It’s not a matter of want, more of need to. I need to see where it happened. It’s all dark in my memory. Does that make sense?”

  “Yes, it does.”

  She shifted with her right hand and held the steering wheel with the fingers of her left since her arm was encased in a sling.

  “How’s the shoulder?” he asked. “Should you be driving?”

  “I’m fine to drive, don’t worry. And the shoulder is on the mend.”

  “Aren’t we a pair?”

  She turned and glanced at him. “At least we’re both still here.”

  “Amen.” He laid his head back, and before he knew it he was asleep.

  “Gideon?”

  He jerked awake at Kennadee’s touch.

  “We’re here,” she said softly.

  “Where?” He rubbed his face, wincing when he bumped his nose, and tried to get his bearings.

  “The crash site,” Kennadee said. “We don’t have to look at it today. It isn’t going anywhere.”

  “No. No, that’s fine. I want to see it.” He needed the layout of the land in his head. In his experience, not knowing was worse than reality.

  Kennadee unbuckled her seatbelt, waiting for him to do the same. “Do you need help?”

  Christ, he hated feeling like an invalid. “No, I got this.” He released his seatbelt and joined her on the other side of the truck. They walked across the road and looked over the embankment.

  “Holy shit,” he whispered. “How the hell were you able to rescue me?”

  “It wasn’t easy.” She subconsciously rubbed her arm.

  He looked down the steep ridge to the rushing river below.

  “I was a dead man if you hadn’t shown up when you did.”

  “That’s not true. You could have gotten yourself out on your own…maybe.”

  “Thanks for that, but you and I both know it’s not true. God, Kennadee, how will I ever repay you?”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “I owe you my life.”

  “No, you don’t. I’m trained to save people in such situations. I’m just glad that yours is a success story. I need as many of those as I can in my line of work.”

  “Can I hug you?”

  She laughed. “Of course. You’ve done more than hug me in the course of our lifetime.”

  He pulled her into his arms, being careful of her injured shoulder. “Thank you so much. I really, really wasn’t ready to die.” He held her close to him, dragging in her scent of fireweed and hot summer nights. He could get drunk on the smell.

  When the embrace became too long, he released his hold but didn’t let her go. He gazed down into her hypnotic green eyes for a moment before lowering his head to capture her mouth.

  At the touch of their lips, she folded into him. He took advantage, pulling her in closer.

  God, she tasted so sweet. Sweeter than he remembered. Her taste was intoxicating. The way her body moved into his, filled his valleys and he her curves, had desire raging to the surface.

  “Wow,” he said, when she broke the kiss, gazing up at him with wide, surprised eyes.

  “Wow,” she echoed. “That was…”

  “Something,” he filled in for her.

  “Yeah, something.” She looked up at him with such amazement, he couldn’t help but take that as a good sign.

  This woman was his, even if she didn’t know it yet. Somehow, he had to get her to realize that he was also hers.

  Chapter 10

  “I need to talk.” Kennadee rushed into Sorene’s house, which was still under construction mode, though a lot of progress had been accomplished since the last time she’d visited the lake cabin.

  “Is everything okay?” Sorene asked, her long, blond hair pulled up and anchored with no less than three pencils. She wore her customary Carhartt overalls and flannel shirt. She was in the process of varnishing the stunning mantel over the stone fireplace where she’d carved a forest scene with wolves hidden among the birch trees. The piece was worthy of a New York gallery.

  “No. I’m sure you heard since we live in such a small town that I saved Gideon Rasmussen the other day.”

  “That’s all everyone is talking about, and great work, sis. I’ve always said you were hero material, or is the correct term heroine?”

  “I don’t want to be a hero. I was just doing my job.” She paced the length of the vaulted room, stopping to gaze out the large windows that overlooked the hot spring lake.

  “Yet, you weren’t on the clock.”

  “As a firefighter and EMT that doesn’t matter. If you come across an accident or a situation that needs help, you help. That’s all I was doing.”

  “And the problem is…?”

  She chewed on her thumbnail, not meeting Sorene’s eyes.

  “Ah,” Sorene said. “The problem is Gideon. I know you two had some history. Is there more to it than that?”

  “No. Yes. I don’t know. He kissed me,” she blurted out. This is why she was here, she needed to talk to someone. Sorene was a great sounding board, and she needed help putting things back to rights. She felt out of control, and not out of control in a thrilling way. This felt like she couldn’t keep her footing on an icy surface.

  “And how was it?” Sorene prompted.

  Good. No, great. “Decent,” she said.

  “Are you being truthful to yourself?”

  “Damn it. I hate that you know me so well.”

  “Isn’t that why you’re here? Let me take a stab at it. He kissed you, your world tilted, and now everything seems different.”

  “Yes, that—I don’t like it.”

  Sorene laughed. “I always knew that one day a man would burn through you. Wake you up.”

  “I don’t need to be woken up by a man.”

  “You have continued to keep men at arm’s length, taking what you want from them, and then letting them go. Anyone gets too serious about you, and they’re history. Sound about right?”

  “Maybe,” she reluctantly admitted. “I enjoy men and dating. My life isn’t conducive to a serious relationship.”

  “Firefighters get married all the time,” Sorene pointed out.

  “Marriage? Why did you bring up marriage? It was one kiss.”

  “Yet, I bet you can’t stop thinking about him. You were willing to drive him home from the hospital, when really that isn’t something you would normally do. And you’re going out with him tomorrow.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because Dad asked me what your favorite flower was.”

  “What does Dad have to do with this? Oh no, he isn’t…”

  “I don’t know if he is or not, just that Gideon asked Pete what your favorite flower was and he asked Dad who asked me. And since I have no idea, I’m now asking you so I can report back.”

  “Dad better not have matchmaking ideas in his head. I warned him.”

  “I’m not aware of it if he is, but really, would it be so bad? I’m now glad he stepped in with Ash and me. Without his and Ash’s dad sticking their noses into our business, who knows if we would be engaged now. I’ll be forever grateful to those meddling men. Just don’t let them know that. It will swell their heads even further.”

  “Seriously? You don’t mind that they pretended Ash’s dad was dying to get the two of you together?”

  “Well, that part of their plan needed work, and I hated the worry it caused Ash, but we are both very happy with the results.”

  “You’re crazy. If Dad interferes in my life like he did with yours, he will be in for a world of hurt.” No one tried to manipulate her and got away with it.

  “I’m sure you’ll know soon enough if Dad is meddling, until then, I promised him I’d find out your favorite flower.”

  “If I have a favorite, it would be fireweed. No one will be able to find them this
time a year.” Fireweed was the first flower to bloom after a wildfire, and that had always appealed to Kennadee, to know the devastation of wildfire would soon be covered in tall stalks of fuchsia flowers.

  “Any close seconds?” Sorene asked.

  “I’m not that kind of girl. I don’t go for that romantic crap. He should save his money. Cut flowers just die anyway.”

  “You’re too young to be this jaded.”

  “I’m not jaded, just a realist.”

  “Realist or not, a little romance never hurt anyone.”

  She begged to differ. Romance led to love, and her life was just fine without adding that heartbreaking, sticky emotion to it.

  The door burst open, and Ash stumbled in, his arms full of wood flooring. “Hey, Kennadee.” Ash walked past her and set the heavy box down in what would be the dining room.

  “Need some help?” she offered.

  “Not until your shoulder has a doctor’s note saying it’s fully healed.”

  She’d forgotten about her damaged wing. It was second nature for her to jump in when she saw that someone needed a hand.

  “Hey, I heard you and Gideon are going out. You know he really had it bad for you in high school.”

  “Does everyone know we’re having dinner tomorrow?”

  Both Ash and Sorene nodded.

  “The whole town?”

  Again, they nodded.

  “How?” She hadn’t said anything. Her dad was smart enough not to spread gossip like this. Realization dawned. “It was Pete, wasn’t it?”

  “He’s a tad excited. In his eyes you’re a goddess for saving his son’s life,” Ash said. “He’s telling everyone who comes into Heart Bait and Tackle. And now the town is taking bets that another Wilde will soon be off the market.”

  Kennadee growled. “I’m not a freaking loaf of bread.”

  “You’re much more expensive than a loaf of bread,” Ash said. “More like a steak.”

  “See, I would have said lobster,” Sorene said, tongue in cheek. “But then I’ve known her longer than you have.”

  “Very funny,” Kennadee said.

  “How is Gideon doing?” Sorene asked, somewhat changing the subject.

  “Actually, he’s bouncing back from surgery a lot of faster than I thought.”

  “He’s always been like that,” Ash said. “Remember when he broke his leg snowboarding? It wasn’t two weeks later when he duct-taped a beanie over his toes and strapped the cast in the bindings of his snowboard and flew down the mountain. It’s hard to keep him down.”

  “Didn’t he end up with a broken arm that matched his broken leg after that stunt?” Sorene asked.

  Ash laughed. “He did. His dad was furious.” He laughed again, remembering. “Good times.”

  Kennadee couldn’t hold back the smile, remembering the experience herself. The Gideon she recalled had been a hellcat—untamed, always in some sort of scrape or thinking up some crazy stunt.

  No wonder she didn’t recognize the suit-wearing doctor when she’d pulled him out of the wrecked vehicle.

  “Ryder, Dare, Avery, and Dad are coming over later to help lay the floors,” Sorene said. “Why don’t we have a girl’s night out? I’d rather not be here with all that testosterone.”

  “Hey, you don’t want to watch your man do manly things?” Ash beat his chest.

  “Every one of you will want to take charge,” Sorene said. “Too many chiefs and no one willing to take direction. I’d rather not be a witness to that.”

  “Instead of a girl’s night out, how about a girl’s night in?” Kennadee suggested. “I can pick up some wine, we can have cheese and fruit and maybe cucumber sandwiches?”

  “Let’s,” Sorene agreed. “I’ll call Catriona and you call Zoe. It’s been too long since we’ve done this.”

  Kennadee liked this new sister. Sorene had always been too busy filling their mother’s shoes to be a real sister. Ash was good for her.

  Chapter 11

  “I have movies.” Kennadee joined her sisters in the living room and waved two DVDs in the air.

  “No way do you get to pick,” Zoe said, already in her flannel pajamas and curled up in the corner of the couch with a throw over her legs. “Knowing you, they’ll be action flicks.” She raised a brow in challenge.

  “Come on, Die Hard and Backdraft are classics,” she said. “Besides, you picked last time, and I’m not sitting through another foreign film with subtitles.”

  “It’s my turn to pick,” Catriona said, entering the room with a bowl of freshly made popcorn. Sorene followed her in with napkins and bowls.

  “So, what are we watching?” Kennadee dreaded the answer.

  “Mamma Mia,” Catriona replied with a knowing smile.

  “Mamma Mia? Isn’t that a musical?” Kennadee groaned.

  “Yes, it is, and you’re going to love it.” Catriona gave her a smirky smile, knowing how much she hated musicals.

  “I can’t believe you haven’t seen it,” Sorene said, curling up in their dad’s leather recliner.

  “Seriously,” Zoe said. “Meryl Streep is the bomb. I want to be her when I grow up.”

  “You can’t make me watch another musical,” Kennadee said, feeling like she’d already lost this battle but not willing to concede just yet. “I hated the last one.”

  They all three gasped. It was Catriona who scolded, “Les Misérables is a classic.”

  “And Hugh Jackman is in it,” Sorene added.

  “Man, he’s hot.” Zoe sighed.

  “Not in that movie, he wasn’t,” Kennadee muttered. “It was depressing.”

  “Of course, it’s a tragedy,” Catriona pointed out the obvious.

  “You have that right,” Kennadee muttered.

  “You need to broaden your horizons, educate yourself with classic literature,” Catriona continued.

  “Why in the world would I want to do that? That type of literature makes me want to put a bullet in my head. Besides, Backdraft is educational. Think of the people who have been saved from house fires by watching this movie.” She held up the DVD for emphasis. “No one has saved a life by watching Les Mis.”

  “How many times have you seen Backdraft?” Sorene didn’t give her a chance to respond. “I’m sure you have it memorized.”

  So, what if she did? She flopped onto the couch, taking the corner opposite Zoe, leaving the floor of pillows for Catriona.

  “I’ll tell you what,” Catriona said, passing the popcorn bowl around. “You watch Mamma Mia without complaining—”

  “Or heavy sighing,” Zoe added.

  “Or rolling your eyes and making those raspberry sounds,” Sorene added too.

  “—and we’ll watch Backdraft after,” Catriona finished.

  “Promise?”

  They grumbled in agreement and started Mamma Mia. Twenty minutes in and Kennadee was on her feet, dancing and singing along with her sisters to ABBA.

  By the time the movie was over, they were giggling and Kennadee had a feeling of happiness fill her.

  “This was nice,” she admitted. “We should do this more often. Especially now that Sorene and Catriona are getting married.”

  They all agreed and decided right then and there to make the first Friday of every month girl’s night.

  “When are you getting married, by the way?” Kennadee asked. Neither Sorene nor Catriona had set a date.

  “I’ve told everyone that I don’t even want to think about planning a wedding until the lake house is finished,” Sorene said.

  “And I need to get through my grand opening of Mystic Heart, and figure out a place to live,” Catriona said. “Avery wants us to live in his apartment above the bar and refuses to consider living in my room above the Mystic Heart.”

  “Have you even spent a night at the Mystic Heart?” Zoe asked. “You’re basically living with Avery,” she said, and then pointed a finger at Sorene. “And you’re living with Ash. Not the best examples to give your baby sister.”
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br />   “Hey, she’s the one living in sin, and I’m not living with Avery,” Catriona was quick to point out. “I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. He’d think he won his argument to shack up over the bar. In fact, I’m sleeping here tonight in my bedroom.”

  “Uh…you are?” Zoe said, looking worried.

  “Is that a problem?” Cat asked.

  “Kind of is, yes. I’ve taken over your room.” She glanced at Sorene. “Yours too.”

  “Why?” They both asked together, puzzled.

  “I don’t really want to tell you yet.”

  Catriona turned to Kennadee. “Do you know what she is up to?”

  “Nope, not a clue. It’s not like I’ve been home much—that is, not until I hurt my shoulder.”

  “Come on, Zoe,” Catriona said. “Tell us what you’re up to.”

  “Please, let me have a little more time. I don’t want to jinx it.”

  They all three shared a look and Sorene shrugged. “Okay, but if you need to talk or need help, you can come to us.”

  “I know that. Don’t worry.”

  “So, what are you going to do on your date with Gideon tomorrow?” Sorene asked Kennadee, changing the subject even though it was killing all of them to know what Zoe was doing upstairs with the rooms.

  “I haven’t a clue,” Kennadee said. “You probably know more than I do.”

  “You’re going out with the hot new doctor?” Zoe asked. “Do you know how many single Heartbreakers are making bogus appointments at his clinic in the hopes of catching his eye?”

  Gideon was a good-looking man, so that tidbit didn’t surprise her in the least. “Sounds like his practice if off to a great start.”

  “Someone is going to scoop him up if you don’t lay a claim on him first,” Sorene said.

  “That would be the last thing I would do, and you know it.”

  “It’s not so bad, being in a relationship,” Catriona said. “I’ve quite enjoyed it.”

  “Same here,” Sorene said dreamily.

  “It might be fine for you two, but the last thing I need in my life is a man.”