I nod and tell him my number. My phone pings in my bag, and I’m giddy about having his number now. It’s juvenile, but makes me happy. Something I haven’t been in a long time.
We both have dorky smiles on our faces. On him, it’s attractive and endearing, and I don’t care. I’m going on a date with the hottest man on the planet. We talk for a little bit, but it’s time for me to go because the man is at work.
“I should get going. You have things to do,” I avert my eyes.
“Maybe, but would you mind if I hug you?” He offers me his hand, pulling me into a tender hug.
With his arms around me, his scent fills my lungs, and it’s like a balm soothing everything. I missed his embrace. We say goodbye, and I swear I float my way back to Beth’s apartment before I stress about what I should wear.
SEVEN
JACE
Damn,Larissa is stunning. When she showed up at the fire station yesterday, I couldn’t believe my eyes. From the moment I laid eyes on her, she was beautiful. I can’t help but appreciate how she dressed up for me, and with her rested and healthy, she makes me breathless. I am relieved I spent forever trying to find the right pants and shirt.
Never once in all my years did I go through several shirts trying to figure out which appeared the nicest. I never understood what my mom and sister dealt with when they tried on a million different outfits, preparing for a nice family dinner, or going out with their husbands. Now, I get it. I want to impress Larissa.
There’s no denying it, no stopping me. I want her. She’s mine. This possessive need to have her is new to me, but I can’t get rid of the feeling. I stayed away, never returning to the hospital.
Okay, that’s a bald-faced lie.Yourevisited the hospital, but stayed outside, second-guessing yourself. She doesn’t livehere, and you can’t move to the city. You’re a wildfire hotshot firefighter. The mountains are home.
But as the time away from her started getting longer, my obsession with her took root. I looked into any open positions in New York City, and there are a couple, but it’d be a demotion. However, sitting across from her now, hearing her soft voice, smelling her sweet scent.It’ll be worth it.
“I was so happy you came by the fire station.”
“Me too.” She smiles and opens her mouth to say something when I get a whack on my shoulder.
“Jace. Good to see you, man. Glad to see you and the boys are safe. Thanks for working on that fire.” Old man Ryder nods at me and Larissa before escorting his wife to a table.
The elderly Teagarden sisters—Viola, Violet, and Vivian—get up out of their seats and introduce themselves to Larissa. “We didn’t want to be rude, because it’s been ages and a day since you have been on a date, but if you could talk to Ryder, you can talk to us,” Viola says.
“Now you are not from around. Are you moving here?” Vivian asks.
“Of course she’s moving here. Why else would she be on a date with our hunky bachelor hotshot?” Violet interrupts.
“Well, if we were younger, we’d be chasing the hotshots all over this mountain, whether or not we lived here. It doesn’t mean a thing. They could just be looking for a little nooky,” Viola says.
Larissa and I both glance at each other. I want to laugh, but my poor date’s embarrassment bothers me.
“Ladies, ladies. Thank you for showing some interest, but this is our first date.” And that statement is going to bite me in the ass. The whole town is going to be talking about this tomorrow. “And I would like a second one.” And another shotin the foot by the secretive grins of the older women. “So, if you could, please let us enjoy our meal so we can continue our date.”
“Of course, Jace, of course. You two have a nice evening.” All three women wink at me as they scurry back to their table, whispering under their breath and peeking glances over at us with smirks.
“Sorry about that,” I say. This is the case after a wildfire or any fire on this mountain. People are always approaching us, giving thanks, and dropping off food. And whenever the Teagarden sisters are around, you can never predict what’s going to come flying out of their mouths.
“Nothing to be sorry about. I’m glad everybody wants to thank you guys. And don’t most small towns have an eccentric older crowd?” She laughs it off, and I appreciate how she can find the humor in the situation. “What you do is amazing and needs to be recognized.”
Jake, a former hotshot and now sheriff of Black Timber Peak, approaches our table, gives me a chin lift, and smiles at Larissa. “Barlow, good to see you out. Ma’am, I’m Jake. Nice to meet you.” He shakes her hand, and I laugh at how he still doesn’t introduce himself as the sheriff. His wife comes up behind him. “And I’m his wife, Maitlyn. Welcome to Black Timber Peak.”
“Hello, I’m Larissa.”
“You guys did good out there. Thanks for making my job a little easier,” Jake says.
“You mean to tell me you don’t miss it?”
A grin and a shrug are his response. There’s no denying it. Fighting a fire is its own rush, and it’s clear he misses the rush a bit.
“Of course he misses it, but there’s no way he’s going back to fighting fires. It’s bad enough I worry about bullets being shot at his head.”
