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

by Ellie Hall

  He pulled out his phone and made a call, hoping for a favor. He was sure the flowers and chocolates would make her happy, despite what she said about them being for her sweetheart. But he had a more practical way he wanted to make her days a little better. First, he had to get her out of the house and himself in.

  Chapter 7

  Sadie

  Sadie had no doubt the flowers and chocolates from her alleged secret admirer were actually from Tripp, but she had to make him know she wasn’t so easily won over and she wasn’t available. Even if that weren’t true, strictly speaking.

  He said he was going to be at the Hawk and Whistle for dinner again? She’d go, but not alone. She didn’t want to give anyone the wrong idea but needed to stage a fake sweetheart to show Tripp the extent of her unavailability. She needed someone tall, handsome, rugged, rich… No, she couldn’t use any of his brothers. Sadly, that sounded like a situation she didn’t want to get in the middle of.

  Michael, from her department, popped to mind. He was athletic and a great skier. Intelligent though prone to anxiety. After Danielle flirted with him relentlessly for weeks when he’d started working at the resort, he indicated he wasn’t interested in women the way she’d hoped. He was perfect. She sent him a text.

  He replied with a few questions, mainly about what to wear. A couple of hours later she found him waiting by the entrance to the pub.

  “Is this about the website redirect because Danielle did not ask me to do it.” He slapped his fingers over his mouth.

  Sadie raised an eyebrow. “Then who did she ask?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You’re too handsome and wholesome to lie, Michael.”

  “You’re right. I’m a terrible liar. All I know is she thinks you’re fake dating that hot beefcake who owns the resort.”

  “I am. Sort of. And his name is Tripp.”

  “Is he single?”

  “He’s in pursuit, I think.” The idea both excited her and filled her with dread.

  Michael grabbed Sadie’s sleeve as she entered the pub on a cold gust of air. “Wait. You are fake dating him?”

  “Shh,” Sadie hissed. “It’s complicated. At work I am. Outside the office, absolutely not.”

  Sure enough, he was seated at a table inside, but this time with a couple she recognized from town.

  Sadie laced her arm through Michael’s, making a big show of their entrance.

  Kayla approached. She took a long look at them and then her gaze flashed to Tripp. “What is going on?”

  “We’re looking for the lovebird table. Is it available?”

  Kayle smirked. “Oh, honey. I made that up. You were both mooning over each other and I’ve been doing well on tips so the poppers were on me.”

  “I don’t understand,” Michael said.

  Kayla looked him over and as perceptive as ever, it appeared she quickly understood what was going on. “Handsome but no potential here. If you’re single, I’d love to introduce you to my friend Aaron. Anyway, follow me.” She led them across the dining room and seated them at the table next to Tripp.

  “I was thinking over there, by the window,” Sadie hissed. It was in full view of Tripp but not close enough for him to overhear their conversation. She now had two purposes. Make Tripp jealous but also weed out any information from Michael about Danielle, especially after his slip of the tongue and overhearing the conversation the other day.

  “I’m sorry, sweetie. That table isn’t available.” Kayla perched her hand on her hip.

  “No one’s sitting at it,” Sadie protested.

  “Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to argue with the waitstaff? We might spit in your food.” Kayla lifted an eyebrow.

  Sadie and Michael recoiled.

  “I’m kidding. But you’re sitting here.”

  “Do you have any dishes with kale?” Michael asked as he took a seat.

  Sadie shook her head.

  “How about quinoa?”

  “Nope.” She set a basket of cheesy bannock bread on the table between them. “I’ll be back with water.”

  Michael glanced at Tripp who didn’t hide his curiosity at the newcomers. “Listen, I don’t know what you’re up to, but—”

  “Just a friendly meal between friends,” she whispered. But her eyes were glued to Tripp. She couldn’t look away. He’d shaved, for one thing, revealing his chiseled jaw. His eyes were bright in the low light. The muscles of his chest and arms flexed when he shifted, leaned in to say something, or leaned back with laughter. She swallowed. Hard. Was it possible for him to be more ruggedly handsome than earlier that day? The day before? Three years ago?

  As though sensing her staring, Tripp excused himself from the couple at his table and turned to Sadie and Michael.

  “They’re out of guacamole. The nachos aren’t the same without it.”

  “Uh, okay,” she said.

  When she didn’t make introductions, he turned to Michael. “We haven’t met.” Tripp extended his hand. “I’m Tripp Hawkins.” His hand was noticeably larger and firmer than Sadie’s dining companion. “Is he your Valentine’s Day sweetheart?”

  Michael gulped. “Do you mean is she my Valentine’s Day sweetheart? No, my date is with a tub of Chubby Hubby ice cream and season four of Fixer Upper. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Hawkins. I’d better get going.” He stood up to leave.

  Tripp barely suppressed a grin. “You can call me Tripp and it’s nice to meet someone who appreciates home design.”

  “I prefer interiors, but those two are genius.”

  “I agree with you there. Are you leaving Sadie so soon?”

  Someone excitedly called to Tripp from the entry and he turned to greet them.

  Michael leaned into Sadie and hissed, “I don’t put up with rich people’s ridiculous requests all day to be your fake date. I thought he was your fake boyfriend. He’s big enough to crush me. Despite how attractive he is, I’d certainly mind. Now, I need me some Chip and Joanna.” He wrapped his scarf around his neck. “You owe me, Sadie.”

  She winced. “I have a box of chocolate almost as big as this table.”

  “I’d prefer the flowers but you need to stop playing games and get honest with him.” Michael pointed to Tripp’s broad back. “I, for one, do not want to be caught in the middle of your fake love triangle or whatever it is. Also, I cannot understand why you’d object to someone as handsome as him giving you that look.”

  “What look?”

  Kayla passed, apparently hearing and seeing everything that went on in the restaurant, and gave Sadie an I told you so face.

  “The look he gave you when we walked in. When we walked over. When we sat down. I was getting dagger eyes and you were on the receiving end of love heart eyes the size of saucers or that box of chocolates you mentioned. On second thought, you can bring them to me tomorrow.”

  Michael hurried from the restaurant and before Sadie could follow, Tripp took his seat. He pressed his palms together. “Am I correct in guessing Michael is not your sweetheart.”

  Sadie rolled her eyes and then held her hands in the air between them. “Whatever you’re trying to do. Stop.”

  Tripp took the outsides of her hands between his and pressed them together. Warmth immediately raced through her fingers and arms, pooling in her chest before burying itself deep in her belly, waking up the flutters of excitement that only Tripp Hawkins had ever been able to cause.

  “Cold hands,” he said. His voice was a low rumble that she recalled all too well. It filled her with the memories of desire.

  “Cold feet.”

  He tilted his head in question. “Here?”

  She did like foot rubs but that’s not what she meant. “You walked out.”

  “I thought you accepted my apology yesterday. Forgave me.”

  She did but she didn’t want to get too close. Her heart was fragile enough. “Tripp. I can’t do this.”

  Kayla was there with her order pad as if on cue to keep Sadie put.
“What can’t you do? Order dinner? Let me help. We have a few specials. Although we’re out of guacamole, the cook came up with this brilliant idea for Irish nachos. Homemade potato chips topped with—”

  Sadie interrupted Kayla before she rattled on because she didn’t want to lose her train of thought. “I’ll take that.”

  “Make it two,” Tripp added.

  When Sadie turned her gaze back to him, her train of thought had left the station. Instead, she got lost in his eyes, the way they sparkled and crinkled around the edges as though he were gazing at something both rare and beautiful. His lips quirked in an almost mischievous way and then turned up into a grin.

  “Tripp, don’t look at me like that.” Kayla and Michael were right about the love heart eyes.

  “Like what?” he asked, feigning innocence.

  “Like you like what you see.”

  “I do like what I see.”

  “I said I forgave you but I can’t go through this with you.”

  “Go through what?” His lips quirked in an

  “I don’t want you to think there might ever be something more between us.” It pained her to say it, but she already felt like she was playing with fire. The last time she did, she was burned. She’d promised herself, never again.

  Tripp leaned back in his chair. “You can’t blame a guy for trying.”

  “So, you’re going to stop trying?” she asked. Relief and disappointment rolled through her belly like choppy waves at sea.

  He shrugged. “At least let’s have dinner and allow me to bring you home. After that, I won’t ask you to meet me here again.”

  “What about the gifts at work?”

  “I thought those were for your sweetheart.”

  “Very funny.” She hadn’t like pushing the truth. It would only cause a mess but she didn’t want to give him the wrong idea and he was as stubborn as ever.

  “Actually, aren’t they from your secret admirer? he asked.

  “How’d you know?”

  “Lucky guess but I know almost everything that goes on at the resort.”

  “You basically said you didn’t want anything to do with it. Too much responsibility and all that.”

  “I’m reconsidering.”

  “Doesn’t that mean you have to get married?”

  “Yes, I do.” The words sounded like a dare, like a challenge, like a promise.

  Just then, Kayla brought them both heaping plates of Irish nachos, topped with sour cream and olives.

  Sadie tried to probe Tripp about what he meant, but he steered the conversation to her. She tried to direct it back to him but he volleyed it into her court. They went back and forth like this until the conversation took on a natural flow and they talked about everything from the mud run the resort was going to host the following summer, the kinds of dogs they liked, and an animal adoption organization Sadie had heard about.

  Once more, Tripp footed the bill.

  “Thank you, but this doesn’t mean we were on a date.”

  “Is it still okay for me to bring you home?” he asked as they stepped outside and into the chilly night.

  Despite being bundled up, Sadie hopped on her toes. “Sure.”

  The truck warmed almost instantly. Enclosed in the vehicle cabin, she picked up his familiar scent: woodsmoke and the fresh, clean shot of soap she’d get and always loved so much after she’d nestled into him. The smell carried her back in time to memories: them skiing at night under the stars, warming up afterward in the lodge—closed to the public but still serving the resort’s famous hot cocoa. She always piled hers high with marshmallows. The kisses he’d plant on her lips, warming them through.

  “You know, things really are different now.”

  “Yeah,” he answered vaguely as though lost in his own thoughts.

  “I never expected to work at the resort.”

  “What’s your pay?” he interjected.

  “Huh?”

  “Never mind,” he said as though realizing his faux pas. “I just want to make sure you’re compensated fairly.”

  “Some days it’s not worth the aggravation with my boss. She’d wanted her assistant to get the promotion but HR gave it to me. Danielle is hardly qualified but the two have held it against me for the last year.” Sadie wondered since Danielle was actually trying to prove she and Tripp weren’t really together, if she was also capable of sabotaging her couples’ package project by redirecting the site to a singles website profile as Michael indicated.

  Tripp grunted.

  “The healthcare package is fantastic. You can include a family member if they reside with you.”

  Tripp parked on the street near her house.

  Even though they weren’t on a date and she wasn’t going to let things go farther, being with him reminded her of better times. When everyone was happy and healthy.

  His sparkling gaze met hers and he reached to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Sadie, you look sad.”

  She shook her head and swept her fingers under her eyes.

  “I’m not. Not at all. Remembering happy times.”

  “We had some, huh?” His smiled was wide.

  The two spent the next hours reminiscing. If it had been a warm summer’s night their laughter would have echoed off the sides of the surrounding mountains. Stars sparkled overhead, crisp in the night sky.

  “You always did know how to chase my blues away,” Sadie said, after glancing at the clock.

  Something had softened between them. It was too bad they couldn’t create new memories to go with the old.

  “I’d better head in.” She sighed.

  They’d turned to face each other while they were talking and their knees touched. Sadie knew the moment she shifted the spell would lift. Her heart would harden and she’d go back to facing reality. She parted her lips. “Thanks again for the meal and—” She waggled her finger between them. “This. I hadn’t laughed like that in a while.”

  “It’s like music to my ears. I always did like making you laugh, smile…”

  Sadie felt herself sliding toward Tripp as though down a mountain. She couldn’t stop herself. He moved closer too. She felt his breath on her cool cheeks, warming her through in the way only he ever could.

  His eyes dipped to her lips. Hers lifted to his.

  Excited anticipation rose up inside, casting away the doubts, the trepidation, the worry.

  They were only a heartbeat away from each other.

  She’d always known he was the one. No one had ever made her feel so adored.

  A chunk of falling snow dropping from the corner of the house’s roof caught her eye and she startled. Then she sat back before thrusting herself toward the dash and windshield of Tripp’s truck. “Where’s my car?” It hardly ran. Why would someone steal it? Maybe her father took off. But why? How?

  A large hand rested on top of hers, holding her fast. She didn’t want him to let go but she had to make sure her father was alright if he was still there. What had he been thinking?

  “Tripp, I have to go—”

  Chapter 8

  Tripp

  “Sadie, wait.” Tripp held onto her hand as much of a lifeline for him as it seemed to be for her. They’d connected, sitting there in the truck for the last minutes. Hours? He’d lost track of time.

  She spun in the seat. “You don’t understand.”

  “Let me explain. I had Austin’s Tow and Plow shovel it out. They’re making repairs. It’ll be back before you leave for work in the morning.”

  “They’re not open at night. Their prices are—”

  Tripp shook his head. “I want to make sure the girl I’d like to be my Valentine’s Day sweetheart has a safe vehicle to drive.”

  She paled but ignored the comment. “How’d they start it?”

  “I guess you left the spare key at the shop when you went in for an estimate. He’d been meaning to give it back to you.”

  “You didn’t go inside?”

  “Break i
nto your house? No.”

  She leaned back on the seat, apparently relieved.

  He also arranged to have the driveway plowed, the path to the door cleared, and would have a few cords of wood delivered, though he hadn’t made that call yet.

  “You didn’t have to go through all that trouble.”

  “It wasn’t trouble. I’m happy to help.”

  “I’m fine, Tripp.”

  “You’ve said that a few times but the Sadie Collins I knew and loved was better than fine.” He said it and he’d meant it. She now carried a burden, keeping her from the free-spirit he knew still dwelled inside her. He saw glimpses when she’d smile, laugh, or get caught up in conversation and forget the walls she’d erected.

  Nonetheless, she stiffened at the word love. “Thanks for helping me out: the car, clearing the snow…”

  “Don’t forget the wood.”

  “Good night, Tripp.” Her fingers hesitated on the door handle. She turned back to him.

  He leaned a fraction closer, certainly interested in picking up where they’d left off before she noticed the car missing. He should’ve warned her but he wanted it to be a surprise, which was why he’d parked on the other side of the house where the driveway was mostly out of sight.

  She tucked her chin and then got out of the truck.

  “Good night, Sadie,” he called softly after her.

  He had an overnight at the Firehall which meant he couldn’t go through with phase three of his plan until after lunch the following day.

  He knew the flowers and chocolates were more of a woman’s love language than clearing snow and car repairs but Sadie was from Hawk Ridge Hollow. Like most people there, she had a certain amount of rustic know-how and practicality—a necessity when the mountains were steep and the winters long. But the town also had a certain elegant charm. It drew an elite clientele and that had somehow shaped the population as well. Sadie and the residents were down-home and upscale in many ways.

  Still, she wasn’t open to trying again with him. His third tactic would require more planning. Seeing as it as almost Valentine’s Day, he put in for time off from the Firehall—something he’d never done in twelve years of employment except for during his father’s accident. Plus, he had some research of his own to do.