Her Firefighter Hero. Leigh Bale

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СКАЧАТЬ kind of sad,” Connie said.

      Megan snorted. “Not half as sad as trying to explain to my two children that their daddy won’t be coming home because he was killed in the line of duty.”

      Connie pushed aside the syrup bottles and reached out to hug Megan. “I know, sweetie. You’ve been through a lot and I’m so sorry. But please don’t give up on love. You’re a wonderful person and have so much to offer some good guy. One day, you’re gonna meet someone special and have a long, wonderful life together.”

      Megan just nodded, not really believing she could ever be so blessed to experience that kind of exquisite love a second time.

      “Catering meals for the firefighters would still be great for your business,” Connie said.

      That was true.

      “But what would I do with Caleb and June? They’ll soon be out of school for the summer and needing even more attention.”

      “You could take them to child care.”

      “Yes, but not overnight. I spend so little quality time with them as it is. When they’re not in school, I hate for them to be out of my sight if it’s not absolutely necessary.”

      “So, take them with you. It’ll be fun for them,” Connie said.

      Megan arched one brow. “You mean up on the mountain?”

      “Sure. They’re well behaved and will stay close by while you deliver the food. They’ll look at it as an adventure. You don’t need to stay overnight and serve the meals. You can hire reliable people to do that for you.”

      Megan couldn’t argue with that. Connie made a valid point. She liked for her kids to see her working because they usually pitched in and helped. Megan knew that was also a great way of teaching children to have a good work ethic. “But we don’t have enough people to run the restaurant and also go up on the mountain to feed all the fire crews. We’re talking about hundreds of hungry men and women.”

      Connie shrugged, looking undeterred. “So, hire more people to help you out. You’ve done it before. Summer is your busy time. Lots of hungry tourists coming through town. It also means that many high school students are out looking for jobs. In a dinky town this size, they’re kind of limited on employment options. I have no doubt they’d love to chop lettuce and serve food for minimum wage. And the school lunch cooks are out of work, too. They’d love a summer job. If we have a forest fire, you can be the shuttle to drive the food up to the base camp every day. And June and Caleb can ride along with you. You get to spend time with them, and they’d have a good time. Problem solved.”

      It sounded so simple when Connie put it that way.

      “We could definitely use the money,” she said.

      But catering meals meant she’d have to work around the firefighters. No doubt she’d end up seeing Jared Marshall now and then, too. And for some reason, being around the enigmatic FMO made her feel nervous and jittery inside. She didn’t understand why, but she realized she liked the guy already.

      “I’ll help you,” Connie said.

      “So will I,” Frank called from the kitchen.

      Megan’s face flushed with heat when she realized Frank had been listening in. She thought she was crazy to even consider taking on the job. But maybe Connie was right. The thought of earning enough money to bring her bills current was an enticement she couldn’t resist. And if she refused to do the work this year, Jared might not ask her again next year. She’d be passed over while he hired some big restaurant out of Reno. It wouldn’t be often. The surrounding mountains usually only had one or two fires each year. And she could always sell the mobile kitchen later on, after fire season was over with. But it wouldn’t be wise for her to pass up this golden opportunity.

      “Look, honey, I know you’re still upset about losing Blaine, but this catering job is safe. And all you’ve got to do is say yes,” Connie said.

      An abrasive laugh slipped from Megan’s throat. “It’s not safe no matter what you say, but I guess the fire camp should be harmless enough.”

      “That’s right,” Connie said. “And now that I’ve convinced you on this one thing, maybe you’ll also listen to me regarding your love life. It’s time to start dating again. You need a night out for a change.”

      “Ha! I own the only restaurant in town and there’s no movie theater. So what am I going to do on a date? Drive out and look at the lake?” Megan pursed her lips.

      “It sounds kind of romantic to me. Cuddling up to a handsome man who has eyes just for you,” Connie said.

      Megan didn’t agree. Going on a date was as appealing to her as a case of the measles.

      The bell over the door tinkled as a man and woman came inside. Connie hurried to wait on them, calling over her shoulder. “Think it over. Tim said he knows someone he’d like to set you up with. He told me to ask you about it.”

      “Who is it?” Megan asked.

      Connie shrugged as she pulled her notepad out of the pocket in her apron. “Beats me. Tim just said he’s a nice, steady guy.”

      Great. Steady and boring. But that was what Megan needed in her life. No more excitement. No more wildfires to make her anxious at night when she should be sleeping.

      Connie provided their customers with menus and two glasses of ice water. In her heart, Megan knew dating another man wouldn’t work. She didn’t want to jump into another relationship. Not as long as she had June and Caleb to think about.

      Still, she did consider the possibilities. A lot, in fact. As she served food and closed up the diner later that night, her thoughts trailed back to Jared Marshall. His smile alone was enough to make her heart beat faster.

      After locking the front door, Frank walked with her and the sleepy children out to the parking lot and said goodbye. Standing beneath the dim glow of a streetlight, Megan let the frigid night air cool her work-flushed face. A heavy doubt blanketed her. A constant companion she couldn’t seem to banish from her heart and mind.

      As she buckled her two kids into their seats and closed the door, a chilling breeze smelling of rain swirled around her. She walked to the driver’s side, thinking that the catering job wouldn’t be too bad. It would be a lot of hard work, but that never frightened her. Loving and then losing someone to a wildfire was a different matter entirely. It absolutely terrified her. And she couldn’t go through that again. No, not ever.

      * * *

      The microwave buzzed, letting Jared know his dinner was ready. Having just gotten home after a long day at work, he changed into his old blue jeans and a worn T-shirt. Switching off the light in his bedroom, he padded barefoot through the dark living room to the cheery lights of the kitchen. Reaching for a hot pad, he opened the microwave and slid his dinner onto the kitchen table. A frozen spaghetti- and-meatballs concoction from a cardboard container. Nothing fancy, and nothing like the meal he’d had at Megan’s diner the day before, but it’d fill up his rumbling stomach.

      The doorbell rang and he jerked his head around. He glanced at the clock on the wall. Nine twenty-eight. Who could be calling at this late hour?

      Walking СКАЧАТЬ