Safe in the Fireman's Arms. Tina Radcliffe
Чтение книги онлайн.
Читать онлайн книгу Safe in the Fireman's Arms - Tina Radcliffe страница 5
Название: Safe in the Fireman's Arms
Автор: Tina Radcliffe
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Короткие любовные романы
Серия: Mills & Boon Love Inspired
isbn: 9781474033466
isbn:
He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, making a hard right at the last minute. Why not take the long way around to the photography studio, past Bob Jones’s shop? Make sure everything was okay with his fellow shopkeepers.
Or possibly, just one Maggie Jones.
He’d never admit it to anyone, but he’d been thinking about her a lot since yesterday. Maybe it was her jaunty ponytail the color of warm caramel. Or the way she chewed on her lower lip as she concentrated. Or the way she looked at him, with those owlish brown eyes that seemed to see...everything. Next to her cousin Susan, a man might overlook the mousy brunette.
That would be a mistake.
It was the strangest thing, he mused. The incident report paperwork should have taken five minutes, tops. But he couldn’t stop asking questions. Couldn’t say what had gotten into him, either. Except that Maggie Jones disturbed him. That concerned Jake, because he hadn’t been disturbed in a very long time.
At his age he had no energy to put into women. Generally he didn’t have to, either. Since his wife died, women naturally seemed to think he needed taking care of. He didn’t. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop them from trying to get his attention, though he’d never shown an interest before.
Thankfully things were slowing down. Of the twenty-two men on the Paradise Volunteer Fire Department, he was one of the oldest. Lately he’d started to feel his age.
Jake inhaled as he glanced out the window of his pickup toward the outline of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the distance. The scent of pine and clean air, mixed with all that was Paradise, filled his senses.
Paradise had healed Jake more than he deserved. More than he could have ever hoped. He could never finish paying penance for his sins. For the life lost that day ten years ago. He knew it and he assumed God knew, as well. Still he managed to get through each day with a smile and a sense of humor. That was all a man could ask. Right?
Or maybe not. All he knew for sure was that in the last twenty-four hours he’d started thinking about things he never imagined he’d have a chance to ever consider again.
The wind shifted and Jake smelled something else in the breeze. Change. Yeah. He knew it was coming, yet he didn’t embrace the fact. No, these days he was only wary. Maybe a little scared, too.
“What lies ahead, Lord?” Jake murmured. “Prepare me. Whatever it is.”
Maggie reached for her denim jacket and headed outside, where Susan waited at the curb in a gleaming, red convertible sports car. Her husband, Al, owned a new-car dealership in Monte Vista and humored his wife by letting her test-drive a vehicle every now and again. Maggie pulled open the door and slid in.
She looked over at Susan, who wore a bright red halter sundress, the exact shade of her car, and a wide-brimmed straw hat. Then she glanced down at her own jeans and beige scoop-neck top. “I’m underdressed.” The words were a dour admission.
“No worries.” Susan smiled. “We’ll get you into my boutique this week and liven up your wardrobe.”
Maggie mustered a weak smile.
“Any problems with the house?” Susan asked.
“No. It’s perfect. I’ve already planted herbs. I’ve got a spot along the fence where I’m going to set up my hives, and next week I’ll start planning my garden.”
“Wait a minute. Back up. Hives? As in bees?”
“Yes. I’ve ordered two honey-bee boxes.”
“Bees. Okay.” Susan shook her head. “Bees aside, how is the house itself? There’s not much furniture in there.”
“Enough for me. Right now, I’m just grateful it was available.”
“Truly a God thing,” Susan said. “We nearly sold the place, but the deal fell through at the last minute.”
“I’m very grateful to you and Al for letting me rent it from you.”
“I don’t want your money. You’re family.”
“I need to pay my way, Susan.”
“Fine for now, Mags, I’m just thrilled to have you back in Paradise,” Susan said.
Maggie shook her head. “I didn’t realize how much I missed you and your folks and Paradise until this week.”
“Well, it’s awfully sweet of you to give Daddy the chance to go fishing. This is his best birthday present ever. Not many people would dare to take on a shop that fixes everything from bicycles to computers.”
“Eclectic. Not unlike me. It makes perfect sense for me to run the shop, and I really enjoy it.”
She did, and she loved taking things apart and repairing them. In a perfect world she’d hang out at the shop on a regular basis. Unfortunately her bank account didn’t agree. A real job was her next priority.
She wasn’t going to think about the one she’d quit in Denver, nor her recent and depressing past. Not today. Today was Saturday and another day toward the future. A future she would choose. Not her parents.
They drove down the main drag of Paradise, toward the outskirts of town, where the ballpark and the new fairgrounds waited.
“Where am I volunteering?” Maggie asked, taking in the view of the tall conifers that lined the road.
“The bait shop.”
Maggie shot straight up in her seat. “The bait shop? Of all the places to volunteer, you pick the bait shop? I don’t know anything about fishing.”
“Think, Maggie. Where will all the men be? Where they sign up for their fishing license, of course.”
“Yes. Of course. No-brainer.” Maggie nodded. “What I don’t understand is why you think I care? I only just recently got rid of a man. I am not looking for another.”
“Margaret Jones, are you going to sit there and tell me you didn’t find Jake MacLaughlin to be the best-looking man you have ever set your eyes upon.”
“What does he have to do with this conversation?” Maggie sputtered.
“Answer my question.”
“Oh, he’s handsome, all right, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I thought so.” Susan released a satisfied smile.
“You’re married. Why are you looking?”
“I’m merely prescreening the field as my duty to you.”
Maggie released an unladylike snort.
“You never know,” Susan continued, “Jake could be your one.”
“One СКАЧАТЬ