Second Chance With A Firefighter (Rich & Rugged: A Hawkins Brothers Romance Book 1)

by Ellie Hall

  There, she was lonely even though she wasn’t alone. Depressed even though she was grateful with each passing day. She’d counted her blessings just as they silently counted down the days until the inevitable. It tore her up inside, devastating her.

  “If we can’t be friends are you officially single?”

  Tripp yanked her from her thoughts.

  Caught off guard she said, “Yes.” Then she snapped to attention. “You have a scheming face.”

  “You know me well.”

  “I thought I did. Turns out I didn’t at all.”

  He glanced away as though stung and toward all the Valentine’s decorations. She watched him closely. Obnoxiously, his lips turned up.

  “Now you’re smiling. Why?”

  “You’ll find out.” His grin was wide then.

  “I’m really leaving this time.” She pulled her hat low on her head.

  “Can I bring you home?”

  “Not tonight. But thank you.”

  “Let me walk you to your car.” He stood and left several bills and a generous tip on the table, like the gentleman he always was.

  “Um, how about to the door?” She pointed.

  “Fair enough. I’ll take what I can get. For now.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You’ll find out.”

  She didn’t have the energy to probe him. It had been a long day.

  Sadie said goodbye to Kayla and her friend made a kissing face behind Tripp’s back as he grabbed a mint.

  Sadie shook her head.

  “Mark my words,” Kayla whispered

  “You didn’t say anything.”

  “Mark my lips.” She winked. “He has a brother, right?”

  Sadie held up four fingers.

  “Ooh, la la. I like the odds.”

  She knew her friend was joking and stifled a laugh despite the circumstances.

  Sadie and Tripp stepped into the cold night. The air was crisp and the stars clear.

  “Thanks for dinner and your honesty.” Sadie stepped to leave but slipped on a hidden piece of ice.

  Tripp gripped her arm. “Whoa there.”

  She glanced up at him. “Thanks.”

  “Of course.” In his clear eyes she saw his lasting apology or maybe she felt it. She glanced down at his hand, still holding her in place.

  Their breath clouded as they lingered in front of the restaurant.

  A car’s lights beamed over them and pulled into the lot, jarring them from the moment.

  “Oh, right. Have a good night,” Sadie said.

  Tripp remained under the lamplight as she glanced over her shoulder and walked away. The warmth from his eyes, from his touch, and the promise not to let her go kept her from shivering on the walk home. The honesty in his apology and confession filled her heart. But doubt was like a fog in her mind, preventing her from trusting any of it.

  The next day, Sadie huffed and puffed as she walked up the flights of stairs to her office. She vowed not to be late and factored in the additional time since she refused to take the elevator. When she reached the office, a large bouquet covered her desk. It was outrageous with red, white, and pink flowers: roses and tulips, peonies and ranunculus. Sparkly sprigs in silver accented the arrangement.

  “From your boyfriend, Danielle?” Sadie asked her boss’s assistant.

  She grunted. “Funny.”

  Michael breezed by. “No, they’re for you. Seems you have a secret admirer.”

  “You looked at the card?”

  He passed it to her.

  She turned it over.

  Dear Sadie,

  No flower is as beautiful as you.

  Love, your secret admirer

  Warmth brushed across her cheeks. Her heart felt both buoyant and rebellious—buoyant at the sweet gesture, it had been so long since anyone had done something so thoughtful. Rebellious because the message her mind gave her: it wasn’t real, it wouldn’t last, she’d be left broken again.

  There was only one person who knew peonies were her favorite and they were hard to come by that far north in February. She remembered when Tripp had surprised her with a bouquet for no reason: a random Monday. After a long day. Just because. But she wasn’t going to go back to him after her humiliation. After his betrayal. After she’d finally let the past go.

  But perhaps it was a coincidence. There was also an assortment of other flowers. They could have been from anyone—she couldn’t imagine who else though. Certainly not Michael and hopefully not anyone from the dreadful dating website.

  She opened her email and was thankful to see a response to her inquiry about the fake account. They deleted it after she provided a few additional pieces of information.

  Even though she was used to pushing her emotions away, she couldn’t stop thinking about the night before. She felt an unexpected sense of peace. Like she’d finally set down baggage she didn’t even realize she’d carried.

  As usual, she went home for lunch. All was well, for the time being.

  She arrived back at the office, just before the town bells rang and stood outside the office door catching her breath from climbing all the stairs. The rise and fall of voices came from the other side. Busy in meetings all morning, Morgan hadn’t been in and Sadie hadn’t spoken to her since the previous day. She braced herself for her boss’s wrath. Instead, Danielle and another woman spoke in semi-hushed voices. Notably, she heard her name.

  “The money. Of course,” Danielle said. “Have you seen her house?”

  “They were at the Hawk and Whistle last night.”

  “I doubt they’re really dating. I bet she’s using him.” Danielle’s voice rasped.

  Sadie’s stomach plunged.

  “Well, I’ll be exposing her and maybe winning him for myself.” Her coworker wheezed a laugh.

  But she didn’t hear the rest of what they may have said because from behind Morgan cleared her throat sharply.

  “You’re not paid to eavesdrop, Ms. Collins,” her boss warned.

  Chapter 6

  Tripp

  Tripp hardly had a chance to think about the meal shared with Sadie at the Hawk and Whistle because the Firehall received a call shortly after midnight to assist a neighboring crew. It was arduous, focused work as they fought a chimney fire that had spread rapidly. However, before he fully rested his bone-tired body on the cot in the dormitory, he found himself recalling how he’d gummed up the courage to apologize and told Sadie the truth. He’d bared it all. He no longer feared she’d reject him because of his shortcomings. He’d already done the wicked deed himself. It took him a long time to realize he’d pushed her away because he was afraid she’d tell him to get lost if he was anything other than the strong man she’d always known.

  As the evening in the pub had worn on, he was pleased they’d made progress and even moved onto talking about their lives. Although, he sensed she left some details out. She was as beautiful and bright as ever, but she seemed preoccupied. Like something weighed on her. He wished he knew. He was strong, physically of course, but he’d endured a lot of loss with his family. Too bad he didn’t realize it back then before it was too late.

  He could help her if only she’d open up. Then again, Sadie said they couldn’t be friends so it shouldn’t have been a surprise to him that she kept some things to herself. But considering she didn’t have a boyfriend and wasn’t dating that didn’t mean they couldn’t be something more.

  An idea grew boldly in his mind, kindled by hope. He resolved to try to win her back. There were still several days until Valentine’s Day—the anniversary of when he’d ruined everything three years before. He was going to make it up to her. As he drifted toward sleep, the plan inspired the night before fully came together. Inspired, he jumped from the cot and grabbed his phone, placing a quick order and hoping it would arrive at the resort ahead of her.

  Later that day, after Tripp’s shift at the Firehall, he wandered into the quaint village. Aside from his vis
it to the Hawk and Whistle the night before, he hadn’t stepped foot on the cobbled streets for several years—mostly because he’d been avoiding the questioning stares caused by the gossip that was sure to have spread after his breakup with Sadie.

  The doughnut shop on the corner still boasted the best (and only) doughnuts in town. The lights from the bookstore glowed softly. The ski apparel and souvenir shops modestly advertised sales on gear and hand-crafted items.

  Even though Tripp loathed to admit it because he preferred a life of humility, the Hawkins brothers were like local royalty. His great grandfather was a pioneer and staked claim to the mountain, lake, and surrounding valley. He called it Hawk Ridge Hollow in part because of their last name but also because of the birds nesting nearby.

  Years later, his grandfather opened a small lodge at the foot of the mountain after what started as friends and family visiting to ski and enjoy winter sports became a steady stream of people asking to use the mountain for recreation. After that, Tripp’s father built the empire comprised of the hotel, much of the village, and the ski resort. He developed it on their home land and farther afield, creating a network of winter-related enterprises that brought in a previously unforeseen amount of money.

  The family had a certain reputation for their rugged and entrepreneurial spirit alike. Their credibility came from how well they ran their businesses, employed locals, treated everyone from workers to guests with fairness and kindness. Plus, all five of the brothers were raised on the slopes.

  They’d all even skied for the national team and Owen medaled at the Olympics. Of course, in their own ways, they’d gone on to experience success. But he wasn’t sure they were happy. In fact, he hadn’t spoken to any of his brothers in a few years—since shortly after his father’s untimely death and breakup with Sadie. The fact that they’d become estranged crushed Tripp but he knew the various losses caused them all pain in their own ways.

  Not much had changed in town, but he supposed he had.

  He found himself in front of Mom and Lollipop’s Candy Shop, a place he and his brothers visited with money they’d earned from chores. Jars filled with jelly beans, gummy bears, and hard candies lined one wall. A display with handmade chocolates on the other. A garland of hearts hung in the window. Like with the inheritance, their father believed money had to be earned. The boys had to work for their loot but that didn’t mean Tripp couldn’t spoil Sadie.

  As he entered the candy store a rush of sweet confection met his nose along with the mouthwatering scent of chocolate.

  Mom, as she was known to the locals, the owner’s hair was as white as ever, her cheeks just as rosy, but she was decidedly rounder than Tripp remembered. She tilted her head. “Tripp Hawkins, is that you?”

  He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  As he approached the counter, her gaze lifted because of his height. “As I live and breathe. It’s been ages since you were in here. If anyone ever tells me candy’ll stunt your growth, I’d like them to have a look at you. You and your brothers used to clean me out.” She laughed. “Can I get you a peppermint snowball or a caramel turtle? I know you loved those.”

  “I came for a Valentine’s Day assortment.”

  “Oh.” The word fell between them.

  “For Sadie Collins, you remember her?”

  “Oh,” she repeated but this time with what sounded like a mixture of surprise and relief. “In that case…”

  Tripp surveyed the various sized boxes from small to large—with a middle sized one shaped like a heart. “Do you have anything like that but bigger?”

  “All you Hawkins boys always did like the biggest, the best…I’ll go in the back and see what I can come up with.” Moments later she returned with a heart-shaped box the size of a kitchen sink. “This big enough?”

  “Sure is. Please, fill it up.” Meanwhile, he penned a quick note on a complimentary card on the counter and signed it your secret admirer. Even though to his mind it was no secret.

  After accepting a sample of a new maple-buttercream-pecan candy she was working on, Tripp made his way to the resort. He had full access so he opted to use a side door and took the stairs up to the corporate offices. He found an unoccupied porter and had him bring the chocolates to Sadie’s department.

  Afterward, he roamed the grounds of the resort, preoccupied with memories, noting several changes and upgrades, and wondering how the board had maintained such a high level of quality and care without his father’s keen eye and high expectations. Then again, there had been the issue with the elevator, and he’d heard a report that several chairlifts were down for maintenance. A few guests complained about the restaurant staff and apparently, towels were in short supply. None of that would have been allowed on his father’s watch. Mom, from the candy store, was right, the Hawkins men always went for the biggest and best.

  Tripp sighed as he found himself where he’d started by the entry close to the stairs. As he opened the door, an enormous bouquet of flowers hit him square in the chest.

  “Excuse me,” Sadie’s voice called from the other side. “I’m sorry. Didn’t see you.” She balanced the blooms on top of the box of chocolates.

  “Secret admirer?” Tripp asked.

  Her head poked between the bouquet, framing her face. One eyebrow lifted with curiosity or suspicion, he wasn’t sure. She was indisputably adorable. “What are you doing here?”

  He shrugged. He wasn’t sure, actually. She seemed flustered though, hopefully, nothing else had gone on in her department.

  “You were asking about these? They’re for my Valentine’s sweetheart. I’m on my way to see him now.”

  A grin rose to his lips. “I thought you were single? But I see you’re exiting by the stairs. I prefer them myself, a good source of cardio.”

  “You would. After all, you and your brothers were always racing each other, trying to outdo one another.”

  Another reminder of all that had changed and yet there they were, right where their relationship had started. They’d met at the resort when she and her friends would go there for cocoa. It was his mother’s recipe and possibly the only and best thing she’d left them with before she took off. Another sigh escaped. That was why it was easier to stay away.

  “Next time Rocky challenges you to a race on the ice you’ll win or if Dallen tries to wrestle you, you’ll finally hold your own.” Teasing laced her voice.

  “I always held my own.” He counted off the flag football wins, racing on the slopes, and other competitions. “Just because I’m the oldest brother doesn’t mean I’m an old man.”

  She lifted onto her toes as though inspecting for gray hairs but between the flowers and uneven ground with the snow and ice, she started to lose her footing.

  Tripp reached for her, planting his hand on the small of her back since her arms were full. He thought of the night before when their hands had brushed, when he’d reached for hers. It was that contact that felt like it slowly brought him back to life and out from under the glacier he hid beneath, despite his regular and close brushes with fire.

  She harrumphed as he steadied her. The reminder of her smooth curves made his pulse double. His hand heated, shooting flames through his limbs.

  “How are you brothers anyway? Haven’t seen much of them.”

  Tripp shrugged. “You might say we’re estranged.”

  She tucked her head back. “I’m awfully sorry to hear that.”

  “Yeah. Me too. Anyway, it looks like you have to get those to your Valentine’s sweetheart. Wouldn’t want them to freeze in this cold.”

  She started walking but struggled to move forward on a straight path on account of the large load in her arms.

  Tripp swooped in and took them from her hands. “Let me carry those to your car.”

  “Fine. And thank you.”

  Tripp gave her a quick sidelong glance, soaking up the glow on her cheeks, the green in her eyes, and the pink of her lips.

  They passed the employee parking lot
but he didn’t ask any questions. They continued down the street and took a few turns before he realized they were walking to her house. Maybe she liked the extra exercise too. Not that she needed it. He knew under the coat and warm layers, her body was perfect: mountains and valleys, sculpted curves and smooth skin. His pulse tripled. That was probably all the cardio he needed.

  Snow covered the roof of her house, along with the car in the driveway. A narrow path led to the door that looked like it had been carved by squirrels or badgers.

  “You need someone to plow you out?” he asked.

  She hefted the chocolates and flowers back into her hands. Their hands brushed again, sending warmth blazing through him like an inferno.

  She hesitated. Maybe she felt it too. But then said, “No, we’re doing just fine.”

  He could see they were not. They. Her father? Mr. Collins always had a strong sense of homeowner’s pride and protection over his daughter. Likely, he knew the story of their breakup and wouldn’t take a shine to Tripp’s presence on his property. But something wasn’t right. Nonetheless, he asked, “Um, I can bring those inside if you’d like.”

  She shook her head, or more accurately, the flowers shifted left to right and left again. “No, thanks.” Her words were dismissive. He didn’t want to push her. The ground between them was fragile enough.

  “If you get hungry later, I’ll have a plate of nachos waiting for you at the Hawk and Whistle.”

  She mumbled something from behind the bouquet and walked carefully along the path. Tripp waited for her to get inside before walking back the way he came.

  It seemed like finances were tight. Maybe something was wrong with the car and she couldn’t afford to get it repaired. Her house wasn’t far from the resort so it made sense for her to like to walk unless the weather was bad. However, a storm was predicted to hit in a couple of days and he didn’t like the idea of her walking around in it.