The screen came to life, showing a mountain as the background for a spectacular light show.
A collective gasp rose from the group.
Erin recognized that range. It surrounded the fairgrounds. She couldn’t believe it. The project he’d been working on so diligently had been for them. A rush of emotion swirled in her chest as she looked from the screen to Nate. Happiness, gratitude, other feelings she didn’t dare name. He might not understand her vehement disapproval of the fireworks show, but he cared. Enough to find a way around them this year, and that touched her in ways she couldn’t even voice.
A lump rose in her throat.
“This technology is called VisionPlex, a high-resolution projection system capable of shooting images onto 3-D surfaces, such as the mountains cupping the county fairgrounds.”
“How does it work?” asked Commander Bresil, the representative from the police department.
“It’s a process that involves simultaneous imaging from numerous high-tech projectors working in conjunction with one another. The options for the images are as endless as our imaginations. You want safe fireworks? You’ve got them. This technology has been used on the Academy Awards and Emmy shows, among others.”
“Wow,” said Commander Bresil, clearly impressed.
“We tested it on the fairgrounds last week, as you can see. We used images of traditional fireworks bursts, but that’s just one option.” He paused, letting the screen speak for itself. “Let me assure you, it’s even more sensational live. To enhance it, we’d also use FogScreen technology along the sides, to frame out the show.”
“Which is?” Brody asked.
“FogScreen is a device that produces a wall onto which more images can be projected. A wall,” he added with a smile, “of misted water. Much safer in light of this fire season, I’m sure you’ll agree. FogScreen technology is the innovation of the decade in the special effects world.”
“What’s the catch?” Walt Hennessey asked.
“No catch. But here’s the best part.” Nate rocked slightly on his feet, a smug smile on his face. “We’d be the first city in the nation to use these technologies in an outdoor alternative Fourth of July event. Little old Troublesome Gulch—imagine that? Environmentally conscious. Cutting edge, not to mention spectacular. The total package, if I do say so myself.”
“We stand to make history,” said Mayor Ron Blackman, with wonder in his voice.
“Bingo,” said Nate, pointing toward him.
Erin could do nothing more than sit back and watch. Her heart felt full to bursting for the thought Nate had put into this idea. He spoke so passionately, captivating the whole room. Well, except for, perhaps, Hennessey, but that was to be expected.
Watching Nate, so sexy in his element, she sighed.
Brody jostled her with his shoulder and whispered, “Stop looking like a lovesick sophomore.”
“Oh, shut up.” She scrunched her nose at him.
“What about the sound? The flash-bang? The oohs and aahs?” Hennessey asked, his tone almost plaintive.
Erin accidentally scoffed, but covered it just as fast with a fake cough into her hand. The city manager had always been known as a whiny control freak. Even he couldn’t deny this was the best choice for Troublesome Gulch, but he’d darn well try.
Now, if it had been his idea in the first place…
Ah, gotta love politics.
“Sound’s included,” Nate assured the man. “Music, laser, special effects—all tailored to what we, as a committee, decide. Polly?”
The secretary flipped the lights back on.
Nate spread his arms. “As always, it’s your choice. I know we’d have to work quickly, but I have a lot of jumping-off points. Walker Pyrotechnics simply can’t stand behind a fireworks show with the liability so high, though. My two cents?”
He paused.
The entire group held their breath.
“Why risk everything during one of the worst fire danger seasons we’ve seen in years when you have the opportunity to put Troublesome Gulch in the news with something this unique?”
“What about cost differences?” Brody asked, playing devil’s advocate. Erin knew he was one hundred percent behind the light show.
“Technically, the VisionPlex and FogScreen alternative would almost triple the cost, but I don’t plan to charge the city an extra cent. Consider it my gift to my new hometown. A hometown I do not want to see go up in flames.”
More murmured excitement.
“Not only that, but the Pinecone and a couple of other local restaurants I contacted have agreed to provide boxed picnic meals, gratis. A community-wide effort for safety. What more can you ask for?”
He crossed his arms over his chest and looked to each one of them, his eyes gleaming when they met Erin’s. “So. Do we mitigate the fire danger and give the city something really special this year?”
“I vote, yes,” said Mayor Blackman quickly, shrugging when Walt threw him an incredulous glare.
“Absolutely,” said Brody, the same time as Erin. They laughed.
“Copycat,” she whispered.
One after another, everyone eagerly agreed to the alternative show, until the whole room sat staring at Walt Hennessey, who couldn’t hold back his pout. “Well, if you all think it’s a decent alternative…”
“Not decent. It’s a fantastic alternative. Groundbreaking,” Erin emphasized. She could see the others nodding in her peripheral vision but kept her focus on the recalcitrant city manager. “Let’s give the Gulch a legacy beyond the infamous prom night tragedy, Walt, which is just about all we’re known for anymore. It’s about time, don’t you think?”
Hennessey seemed to roll this around in his head, most likely calculating how the change would reflect on his position personally. Finally, he threw up his hands. “Okay, Walker. Looks like I’m outvoted. You’re on.” He released a peevish sigh. “I’ll arrange a press conference to let the citizens know.”
“Excellent. If you’d like, I can have my people write up some media releases, Walt, since we’re intimately acquainted with the technology.”
“Fine.” Walt pouted. “I’d like to read everything before it goes out, though.”
“Of course,” Nate said. “I wouldn’t think of handling it any other way.” He smiled at the group. “I’m glad we could settle this so quickly, and I applaud your progressiveness. We’ll need to meet tomorrow to iron out some of the details. But, I promise, you won’t regret this.”
The task force members dwindled away one by one until only Brody, Erin and Nate remained. Nate was at the front of the large room. Erin fussed around and took her time at the other end, although she only had to pick up her purse and her information folder and leave. It had to be pretty obvious she was stalling.
“Want me to walk you out, Er?” Brody the Clueless said.
She shot a glance toward Nate and lowered her tone to be sure Nate couldn’t hear them. “If you don’t mind, I want to have a word with Nate first.”
Brody half sat on the edge of the table, casually crossing his feet. “Okay, I can wait.”
“No,” she said, a bit too quickly. She felt the heat rush into her complexion. “I mean, you don’t have to.”
His face spread into a slow leer, and he waggled his brows. “Well, hot damn, DeLuca,” Brody said under his breath. “Want me to lock the conference room doors behind me?”
She lifted her chin. “Oh, be quiet. I said talk.”
“I know what you said.” Brody leaned in. “Just in case you wondered, I approve completely.”
“Gosh, I can rest easy now,” she said, in a droll tone. “Thanks.”
“Seriously, give him a chance, Erin,” Brody said, as he pushed away from the table. “I remember you telling me you wanted to take the scary steps, to find your way out of the darkness, like I did.”
She angled her gaze away, crossed her arms tightly and rested them on her baby bulge. “Yeah? So?”
“It’s
not easy, sweetheart.” He chucked her under the chin gently. “Believe me, I know. But it’s worth it. And Nate’s a damn good guy. I befriended him initially because you asked us to. But, after getting to know him, he and I would’ve been friends anyway.”
She bestowed a sincere smile. “I’m glad.”
He spread his arms. “Look what he pulled off today. No more fire danger worry. He’s top-notch.”
“I know. I’m just not sure I’m ready for more steps. He might not even be interested.” The thought made her feel ill.
“How will you ever know if you don’t try?” Brody cocked one eyebrow to punctuate his rhetorical question, then squeezed her shoulder and headed out.
The door closed behind him, and Nate looked up from where he’d been packing up his equipment. “Still here?”
She hesitated at the back of the room. “Is that okay?”
He grinned. “Of course.”
How will you know if you don’t try? Brody’s question rang in her ears, thumped in her heart. The damn man had a point. Shoring up her resolve, Erin strode toward Nate as confidently as a lumbering Winnebago in an ugly uniform could. She stopped directly in front of him. He looked up, questions in his gorgeous turquoise eyes.
“Can I help you?” he asked, playfully.
“You already did.” With that, she took his face in both of her hands and kissed him. Deeply.
Wow.
She couldn’t be less interested in sex at this point in her pregnancy, but damn if that kiss didn’t set a deep, primal throb in motion in spite of her. When she pulled away, his eyes were dark with desire, too.
“What was that for?”
“To thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He set his remote pointer aside and pulled her against him. “Thank me anytime. For anything.”
“Nate, honestly. I’ve been having nightmares about that damned fireworks display, but no one in city management was going to listen to me.” She expelled a breath, searching for words. “What you did, coming up with an alternative, and an amazing one at that—” she shook her head in wonder “—you have no idea what that means to me.”
For a few moments, he seemed to battle with his next comment. “Actually, I do.”
Confusion drew her forehead into a small frown. “What do you mean?”
“I did the whole thing for you. Because of you.” He grasped her upper arms and leaned back, studying her. “Before I explain, how are the hormones raging today?”
She shrugged out of his grasp and whomped him on the chest, laughing as she did so. “Shut up and tell me.”
“Okay. It’s about time anyway.” His shoulders raised with a deep breath, then dropped. “I know everything, Erin. About your prom night, what happened.”
Her eyes widened. A million different feelings tumbled through her in a split second, leaving her breathless. “How?” she managed to choke out.
“It accidentally slipped out in conversation.”
“Brody,” she said, shaking her head.
He pressed his lips together. “Please don’t blame him. He would never violate your confidence. He just assumed I knew since we’d…been intimate.”
“Oh. Of course.” She stared at the floor. “How long have you known?”
“Awhile.” He paused, lowered his tone. “I wish you’d told me.”
She pushed out a frustrated sound. “How do you tell someone that? How?”
He pulled her against him, wrapping her in a hug, smoothing his palms down her back. “I understand your fear. But, had I known—” a sigh “—some of the things I said in anger when I first found out about the baby—”
“It’s okay.” She rested her cheek against his chest, melting into the embrace, inhaling his now-familiar scent. “I deserved them.”
“No, you didn’t. I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t said anything. I’ve never been in this position before, and I honestly didn’t know how.”
“It’s okay.”
“That night…I don’t know what I would’ve done if you’d been, I don’t know, disgusted.”
“Ah, Erin.” He kissed the top of her head, reached up to stroke her hair. “I wish you could get inside my head so you could see yourself through my eyes. You grabbed my attention the moment you walked into the bar that night. Everyone else melted away. If you had any clue how beautiful you are.”
“I’m not, though. You haven’t seen—”
“I don’t care.” He pulled back and hunkered down slightly, holding her upper arms in his hands and forcing her to look at him directly. “Not one bit. You make my breath catch every time you walk in a room, do you know that?”
“Man, you’re easy.”
“No. Don’t try to joke your way out of this. You’re…you’re special, scars or no scars.” He shrugged. “Hell, do you think I’m physically perfect?”
“Uh, yes,” she said, with sarcasm in her tone.
“You do?” he said, sounding both pleasantly surprised and distracted by her answer. “Sweet.”
She shouldered away from him, but he pulled her back into an embrace, laughing. He held her there in his arms, rocking slowly. The tone sobered. “Listen to me. This is hard, but it all has to be said sometime, so…here goes. I know I’m not…Kevin.”
“Oh, God.” She sucked a breath, buried her face against his chest.
“It’s okay,” he rushed to say. “It really is. I’m not trying to replace him.”
“You don’t have to say this,” she pleaded.
“Yes. I do.”
Ashamed, she held on tightly, wadding the back of his shirt in her hands.
“I can accept not being the love of your life, Erin. I’m secure enough in who I am for that, okay?”
“But—”
He laid a hand on the back of her head. “Please let me finish.”
She felt ill, but didn’t continue to protest.
“We’re having a baby. And we’ve become friends easily. Closer than friends. Even you have to admit that.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I just want a chance. I know I said I didn’t care if you and I had any kind of relationship that day at the Pinecone. I didn’t mean it. That was my lie.” He paused. “You crushed me when you left that hotel room.”
She looked up at him, chin quivering. “God, Nate—”
“Shh. I’m not asking for another apology, and I’m not going to bring up that damned note for the rest of our lives, okay?”
She nodded.
“I just want you to know…it wasn’t a no-strings, one-night-stand kind of deal for me. For one thing, I’m not that guy. That aside, every moment with you felt different from the beginning. More intense.”
She swallowed, with difficulty. “For me, too. Hence the note. I panicked. I ran.”
He pressed his lips together, looking sad.
“I’m so scared, Nate,” she whispered, pressing her cheek against his chest again.
“Of course you are. I am, too. We’d be idiots if we weren’t. We’re going to be parents, and we’re just now becoming a part of each other’s lives. That’s damned terrifying.”
She couldn’t comment.
He lifted her chin with one finger, urging her to meet his gaze. “I really do get it. I’m not asking you to pledge your life to me. It’s way too soon for that, for both of us. I’m just asking for a chance. A new start. That’s all I want.”
“How? After all we’ve already been through?”
He kissed her gently, nipping at her lips. “How about something simple. I ask you for a date and you say yes?”
She laughed wryly, glancing down at her belly. “That’s definitely doing things backward. I’m carrying your child, and we spend virtually every night together.”
His lips twitched. “Yeah, I thought of that, too. But who says we have to do things like the rest of the world? Conformity is overrated.”
He kissed her again, and she leaned into it, breathing him i
n, leaving her lips against his after the kiss.
Finally, he pulled away. “We’re special. Don’t you feel it, too?”
“Yes, but—” She bit her bottom lip and blinked, warring with herself, with all her mixed-up feelings. She peered up at him, wary. “I honestly don’t know if I can let you see my scars. I don’t even look at them if I can avoid it.”
“Honey, there is no rush. I’m talking sweet, old-fashioned courtship, not hot sex.”
She smirked. “Bummer.”
“Well now—” he held up a hand “—that can be renegotiated at any time. Believe me.”
“I was kidding. I’m an elephant, if you hadn’t noticed.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “All I’ve noticed is that you’re my beautiful Erin. And we’re having a baby.”
“I’m not beautiful, though. That’s what I keep trying to tell you.” Distress pooled tears in her eyes. He just didn’t get it. “I’m scarred. Extensively. I’ve had a million surgeries, it seems. Skin grafts. Plastic surgery.” She raised her shoulders, then let them drop in defeat. “There’s nothing more they can do, and it’s not pretty.”
“Erin DeLuca. Every part of you that makes you the woman you are is beautiful to me. I couldn’t care less about the scars.”
She wanted to believe it, but…
“That’s just because you haven’t seen them.”
“Not true. Once you know me better, you’ll believe that. The point is, I don’t have to see them. Until you’re ready.”
“What if I’m never ready?”
A look she couldn’t quite name moved across his face. “We’ll work through it.”
A thick pause ensued.
“There’s more, yes?” he urged.
She nodded. Gulped.
“Might as well lay it all out on the table.”
Fear clutched at her. “Please understand—ugh, I shouldn’t even ask that of you.”
“It’s okay. Whatever it is.”
She trembled, knowing that once she said it, she couldn’t take it back. But she had to say it. Do or die. “I feel…disloyal.”
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