Saved by the Firefighter

by Rachel Brimble

  He ran his gaze over every part of her, from the cute flats on her feet to the skinny black jeans worn with a pale peach shirt. He inhaled. She’d left her blanket of thick blond hair loose to cover her back. He’d never forget how good it felt to have her tresses lie across his chest as she slept...

  She picked up the glass of red wine she’d ordered and turned. Her brow furrowed as she scanned the packed bar.

  He swallowed against the longing that pulled at his chest and stood. He raised his hand. “Iz. Over here.”

  She turned and her face immediately broke with a wide smile. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”

  Relief rippled through him and he took her hand, tugging her gently forward to plant a kiss on her cheek. “It’s fine. Hope a table by the window is okay?”

  “It’s great.”

  He helped her onto the high stool and she immediately eased her hand from his. “Thanks.”

  Disappointment tugged at him. She clearly wanted to maintain space between them. She put her purse on the table and took a sip of her drink, her gaze turned toward the window. “It’s a gorgeous evening. The sunset makes Templeton look prettier than ever.”

  Her whimsical tone alerted Trent that something bothered her. “What’s wrong? Did something happen today?”

  She turned, her blue eyes instantly shadowing. “Kind of. Yes.”

  He raised his eyebrow in question.

  She took another sip of her wine and slowly replaced it on the table before exhaling. “Richard Crawley came by my apartment.”

  Annoyance prickled along Trent’s spine, but he fought to keep his expression impassive. “And?”

  “He caught me in the parking lot just as I was on my way to the new gallery you told me about.”

  “You spoke to Marian?”

  “Better. I spoke with Jay Garrett.”

  He smiled. “Straight to the source, eh?” When she didn’t return his smile, Trent frowned. “So, what does Garrett’s gallery have to do with Crawley?”

  “He’s a partial investor in another gallery in the city.”

  Unease whispered through Trent’s gut.

  “And he said if Jay wasn’t interested in exhibiting my work, he would be.” She sighed, picking up her glass. “Which means I would move away from the Cove. At least for a while.”

  “Surely you wouldn’t consider—”

  “As a matter of fact, I didn’t say no.” She met his gaze over the rim of her glass, took another sip. “And I still haven’t, even though Jay didn’t exactly show me the door.”

  “He’s interested in your work?”

  “Yes.”

  Relief should’ve loosened some of the tension from his shoulders, but all Trent could think about was that Izzy still considered Crawley’s interest. After all this time, would it be her work that prevented any chance of them being together, rather than his?

  He forced a smile and clasped her hand where it lay on the table. “So you have two galleries wanting your work. That’s great.”

  She stared into the depths of her glass and he frowned. “Isn’t it?”

  When she lifted her head, her eyes were shadowed with concern. “I don’t know.”

  “This has always been the dream, right?”

  She slid her hand from his and twirled the stem of her glass. “Of course. And to have my work shown in the city is bound to be better than it being shown here in a town as small as the Cove. Plus, I can’t help thinking it would do me good to get out of Templeton and leave everything that hurts so much behind. Moving to the city could be just what I need.”

  Trent took a long slug of his drink, his mind whirling with what to say and do as a horrible sense of loss inched into his stomach.

  She stared at him. “What are you thinking?”

  He took a deep breath. He could never lie to her. “I’m thinking I’ve haven’t considered your work as something that might come between us working things out.”

  Her gaze held his. “Yet your work is a huge obstacle for me.”

  Trent closed briefly closed his eyes before opening them again. “Right.”

  “I’m not being obtuse, Trent. I’m telling the truth. Your work and the way Robbie died...they’re too closely connected and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get past that. Don’t you want me to do whatever makes me happy? A move away from here, from Robbie, could be it.”

  “I’d never stand in your way.” He took a drink. He couldn’t. If he did, what sort of man would that make him? What sort of friend?

  “So you think I should go to the city? You agree that’s where I’m the most likely to get my work recognized?”

  He put his pint on the table and licked the froth from his upper lip. It was no good. He had to be honest with her. Had to be honest with what was in his heart. “I didn’t say that either.”

  “So what are you saying?” Her cheeks flushed as her gaze searched his. “I feel so torn. I always thought I knew exactly what to do with my career. Yet here I am without any clue what to do. What if the city is the opportunity of a lifetime?”

  “What if I’m your opportunity of a lifetime?” He squeezed his eyes shut. “I mean...” He looked at her. “Oh, Christ. Look...” He took her hand again. “I want you. You know that, but I can’t offer you an exhibition. I don’t have the money or the connections Jay and Crawley have, but what I do have is me. Someone who knows and cares about you. I don’t want you to go. I want you to stay right here where I can see you every day. But if you want to leave...” He looked deep into her eyes. “I’m the last person who will try to stop you.”

  Every part of him wanted to get up, stand in front of her and kiss her—hard. So she could feel just how strongly he felt. So there could be no doubt in her mind that his feelings for her were unlikely to ever lessen or abate. Four years he’d wanted her. Four years...

  He dragged his gaze from her lips and plucked two menus from the holder beside him. “Let’s talk about something else. I wanted you to have a good time tonight, and this feels the opposite.” She took the menu he offered her and Trent perused his, his heart beating hard. “What are you having?”

  When her answer didn’t come, Trent looked up.

  She stared, her gaze determined and her shoulders straight. “You can’t save me, Trent.”

  Trent stilled. “What?”

  “Robbie died and then you told me about Aimee. You can’t save everybody, and if that’s what you’re trying to do for me, then that’s more reason than ever for me to get away from here.”

  He shook his head and looked at the menu. The passion swirling in his blood pulsed with insult. Was he trying to save her? Was that what his frustration was really about? No. It couldn’t be. He wanted to be with her. Period. As partners. Best friends. Lovers. “I’m not trying to save you.”

  “No? Then what are you doing?”

  He met her steady gaze. “Trying to make you mine and me yours.”

  She stared at him for a long moment before her eyes softened. “Trent, please try to understand. I can’t spend every day wondering if today is the day I lose you. I have no one who needs anything from me. I’m free to do and go where I want, and maybe that’s exactly what I should be doing instead of keeping all this anger and sadness pent up inside. My pictures could be a hit in the city. I could make more money than I’ve ever dreamed of.”

  “And you think money will make you happy. It never made anyone happy. You know that.”

  She put down her menu and looked past him toward the bar, her face unreadable, her eyes turned away from him.

  He studied her beautiful profile. “I’d never hurt you, Iz. I know you don’t need me protecting you or caring for you, but Robbie...”

  “Would’ve wanted you to.” She met his gaze, tears glinting in her eyes. “And ma
ybe part of me wants that too, but I’m scared, Trent. Really, really scared.”

  He laced his fingers with hers. “And you think I’m not? I told you about Aimee to make you understand you’re not alone in this and life goes on. Aimee died fourteen years ago, but I still think about her every day. She was twelve years old, I was seventeen and was meant to be looking after her but was too interested in chatting with the girl down the street to worry about what Aimee was up to in the house. The fire...” He inhaled a shaky breath. “It happened so fast, and by the time I ran back to get her out of there, flames roared from the upstairs window. I tried so hard to get to her, but the neighbors...they were pulling me back, calling 999.”

  She squeezed his fingers, a tear slipping over her cheek. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  “It was and that’s something I have to live with for the rest of my life.” Regret, sorrow and anguish twisted his heart and he took a breath, praying she heard him. “You’ll think about Robbie every day too, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop living. I want to make you happy. I want you to trust me, but if going to the city is what you think will work for you, then you should go. I just didn’t want you to go not knowing how I feel about you.”

  She drew her hand from his and as she picked up her glass, the wine trembled. “I’ll always trust you to take care of me. It’s not that which makes this so hard. It’s me I don’t trust. I don’t trust that I could handle losing another person. People die and people are born, and if we get into this, I have a feeling it could be something special.” She took a sip of her wine. “I couldn’t bear losing you. I couldn’t bear losing Kate. You’re all I have left. Us being together, me staying in the Cove could be a very bad decision.”

  “Iz—”

  “If I stay here, if I try the gallery in Templeton, I’m not sure how much longer I can keep denying my feelings for you run deeper than friendship.” Another tear rolled over her cheek. “But I can’t stop the fear that, eventually, I’ll lose you too.”

  Admiration and hope surged through him that she’d showed her utter vulnerability for the first time in months. This was the Izzy he’d be drawn to years ago. This was the Izzy who was soft, caring and loving, yet stronger than anyone he knew. He thought that person had gone along with Robbie, but deep down Izzy...his Izzy...was still there, struggling to find a way out.

  Trent pushed to his feet and closed the space between them. With his heart pounding with the weight of her possible rejection, he looked into her eyes, slid his hands over her shoulders and moved in close.

  Her beautiful eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to kiss you.”

  Even as her gaze darted around the bar, her tongue poked out to wet her bottom lip as though anticipating what came next. That was all the permission he needed.

  He slid one hand to the back of her neck, under her perfect mane of silky hair, and drew her closer. With his other hand rested on her thigh, he gave a final perusal of her exquisite face before lowering his mouth to hers. Once again, her sweet taste astounded him and made him yearn for more. The electricity between them was dangerous. Hot enough to burn and powerful enough to last a lifetime.

  She was rigid for a few seconds before she turned pliant, her soft moan into his mouth sexy and inviting. Whether it was the months he’d been forced to watch her grieve from afar, he had no idea, but never before had he felt so connected to anyone.

  He touched her face as he kissed her, making a silent pact that if she allowed him, he’d look after her for the rest of his life.

  He touched his tongue to hers and kissed her deeper, resisting the urge to pull her closer, knowing she was conscious of the people around them. The background music continued to pump from the speakers, but the patrons’ voices seemed to have quieted, and all Trent was aware of was the sound of her supersexy exhalations and her tight grip on his biceps.

  Slowly, she pulled back. Her cheeks pink and her eyes happy. “Well, there you go, then.”

  He grinned. “Yep, there you go.”

  She coughed and picked up a menu. “I need a burger, fries and a side order of garlic bread.” She lifted her gaze to his and smiled. “I’m starving, and if you kiss me like that again, I’m going to forget to eat.”

  He laughed and slid back onto his seat. “Well, we don’t want that, do we?”

  CHAPTER NINE

  IZZY EASED FARTHER back into the sofa in the far corner of her studio and let Kate do the talking. Inexplicable tension pulsed between her friend and Richard Crawley and Izzy had no idea why. They seemed to have taken an instant dislike to each other, but fortunately, Kate wouldn’t have to endure him very much longer. He’d called this meeting two days before it had originally been scheduled because he’d needed to get back to the city earlier than anticipated.

  As the tension between Kate and Richard mounted, Izzy was grateful for the small mercy of his early departure.

  Kate continued to speak and Richard’s usually cheerful persona continued to dissolve.

  “So, all in all, that’s where we’re at.” Kate closed the notepad in her lap and laid her pen on top of it. “Izzy will take the cover shot of you and the other firefighters tomorrow, and then the other firefighters’ will be done one by one around the Cove or in the studio, wherever she thinks best.”

  He frowned. “And in the meantime, you’d like me to visit Maya and her parents in the hospital?”

  Kate nodded. “Yes, but as you have been called back to work, I was going to suggest Izzy and Trent go instead.”

  Knowing the underlying tension in her friend’s tone indicated irritation at best, out-and-out war at worst, Izzy leaned forward. “It would be good to garner as much publicity as possible for the calendar before its release. You visiting Maya, getting to know her and her parents, will interest the press...not to mention delight Maya.”

  He turned to Kate. “Could you give Izzy and me a moment alone?”

  Izzy inwardly groaned. She didn’t want a moment alone with Richard if his annoyed expression was anything to go by. The kind and interested look in his eyes before had slowly diminished ever since she hadn’t readily agreed to his offer to exhibit her work.

  Kate held his gaze before turning to Izzy and raising an eyebrow.

  Izzy sighed. “It’s fine. Why don’t you put on some coffee? Richard will be leaving soon.” She faced Richard, her spine rigid. “Right?”

  He nodded, his mouth set in a grim line.

  Kate stood and held out her hand to Richard. “Then I’ll say goodbye until we next see each other.”

  He took her hand. “It’s been a pleasure.”

  Tension permeated the air. Richard clearly had no idea how passionate and focused Kate was about her work. Mess with her ideas and strategies when kids or animals were involved and woe betide the target of her retaliation.

  As soon as Kate disappeared into the kitchen at the back of the studio, Izzy faced Richard. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Done what?” He relaxed his shoulders, his gaze softer. “Look, cards on the table. I meant everything I said about the gallery in the city and I really hoped to have your decision before I left.”

  “So that’s more important to you than what we can do to help Maya?”

  “Of course not. Whatever you decide about the gallery, I’ll still do the calendar.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Izzy stood, unconvinced and completely aware her new reaction to Richard was most likely more about her than him. Wasn’t she inwardly grappling for an excuse not to take him up on his offer in the city? Wasn’t she just too scared to leave Templeton in order to try something new and unexplored? She held out her hand. “Look, why don’t we say goodbye for now and I’ll see you tomorrow for the cover shot?”

  He stood and pushed his fallen hair from his brow. “Fin
e. When will you let me know your decision about the gallery?”

  “Whenever I’ve decided...which isn’t yet.”

  “I don’t understand why you are biting my hand off. The city—”

  “I need to be honest with you. There’s every chance I’ll choose to stay in Templeton. This is my home and—”

  “You’re making a big mistake.” He shook his head. “Your pictures are too good to stay in a place as small as Templeton.”

  “If that’s true, they will eventually find their way to the city on their own merit, regardless of where I am.” She walked toward the door and opened it, turning to face him as he came closer. “In the meantime, I’d rather find out for myself whether staying in Templeton is a mistake.”

  “It sounds to me as though you’ve already made up your mind.”

  “I think maybe I have.”

  He stood opposite her and Izzy was forced to tip her head back to meet his eyes. His gaze traveled over her hair and face. “You have my card. Call me. Anytime.”

  She nodded. “Thank you.”

  With a final lingering look, he turned and left the studio. Izzy closed the door firmly behind him and released her held breath.

  Kate emerged from the kitchen, holding two steaming mugs. “Has he gone?”

  Izzy strode forward, taking one of the mugs from her friend. “Yes. Awkward doesn’t even come close to what that farewell was like.”

  “Well, I’m glad he’s not here anymore. The guy’s a jerk. I really wish I had another celebrity lined up and I could let Crawley go.” She sipped her coffee. “But I haven’t, so we’re stuck with him.”

  “What don’t you like about him? You seem awfully wound up right now.”

  “I am. Everything about him has wound me up since he called me last night. Not to talk about Maya, or the calendar, but about you.”

  “Me?” Izzy narrowed her eyes. “What did he say?”

  “That he thinks you are lowering yourself by staying in the Cove. That he had the ability to turn your life around.” She shook her head, her gaze angry. “What gives the guy the right to think there’s anything wrong with your life the way it is? He’s a jackass.”