Twins on the way change everything!

Firefighter Liam McBride is back in Loon Lake for the summer. Ellie Harding, his sister’s childhood friend—and cancer survivor—is perfectly willing to shelve her dreams of a forever family while they have a fling. But then they find out she’s pregnant—with twins! Are they on the path toward happiness? Or a collision course toward heartbreak?

CARRIE NICHOLS grew up in New England but moved south and traded snow for central AC. She loves to travel, is addicted to British crime dramas and knows a Seinfeld quote appropriate for every occasion.

A 2016 RWA Golden Heart® Award winner and twotime Maggie Award for Excellence winner, she has one tolerant husband, two grown sons and two critical cats. To her dismay, Carrie’s characters—like her family—often ignore the wisdom and guidance she offers.

Also by Carrie Nichols

The Marine’s Secret Daughter The

Sergeant’s Unexpected Family

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

His Unexpected Twins

Carrie Nichols

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09144-2

HIS UNEXPECTED TWINS

© 2019 Carol Opalinski

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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In loving memory of my cousin

Captain Donald “Chuck” Elliott

of the Springfield (MA) Fire Department.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

Extract

About the Publisher

Chapter One

“How about that new guy from—”

“No.” Ellie Harding paused mid-slice in the sheet cake she was dividing into equal squares to scowl at her friend’s attempts at matchmaking.

Meg McBride Cooper stood on the opposite side of the rectangular table, a stack of plain white dessert plates cradled against her chest. Ellie and Meg were volunteering at the payment-optional luncheon held weekly in the basement of the whitewashed clapboard church on the town square in Loon Lake, Vermont.

“I don’t need or want help finding a date,” Ellie said, and considering what she’d survived in her twenty-seven years, going solo to a friend’s wedding shouldn’t even be a blip on her radar. Did her friends think she couldn’t find a date on her own? Memories surfaced of how she’d sometimes been treated after her cancer diagnosis. She knew her friends didn’t pity her, but experiencing being pitied behind her back as well as to her face as a child had made her more sensitive as an adult.

Ellie pushed aside memories and went back to slicing the chocolate frosted cake with vigorous strokes. Heck, guys called her. Yep. They called all the time. Slice. They called when they needed a shortstop for a pickup softball game or a bowling partner. Slice. One even called last month, asking if she had a phone number for that new X-ray tech. Slice.

Meg plopped the plates onto the table with a thunk and gnawed on her bottom lip as she gazed at Ellie. Yeah, Meg was feeling guilty and wanted to confess something.

“Spill it,” Ellie ordered.

“Now, don’t get mad, but...” Meg sighed. “I asked Riley if he knew anyone who might be interested in being your date for the wedding.”

“Uh-oh. Is Meg trying to set you up with arrestees...again?” A fellow volunteer, Mary Carter, came to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ellie, another sheet pan clutched in her hands. Mary was the future bride in question and a transplant to their close-knit central Vermont community, but she had jumped into town life and activities with enthusiasm. “Really, Meg, don’t you think Ellie can do better than a felon? I’m sure if I asked, Brody could contact one of his old army buddies. I’ll tell him to only choose ones that have never been arrested.”

Meg rolled her eyes. “I’m sure asking Brody won’t be necessary, Mary.”

“Just in case...” Mary set the cake next to the stack of plates. “Ellie, what are your feelings on speeding tickets, because—”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Meg interrupted and made an impatient sound with her tongue.

Ellie stifled a giggle at their antics but couldn’t decide if she was grateful or annoyed. Now that her two besties had found happily-ever-afters, they seemed to think it their sworn duty to get her settled, too. So what if she hadn’t found Mr. Right yet? Between long shifts as a nurse in the ER and studying for a more advanced degree, she led a full, busy life, thank you very much.

Mary winked at Ellie. “At least I’m not trying to set her up with someone who’s been arrested.”

“As I’ve told both of you already, that guy wasn’t under arrest.” Meg planted her hands on her hips. “He just happened to be in the building and Riley recruited him for a police lineup, that’s all there was to it. No crime. No arrest.”

Ellie continued to slice the cake. “If there was no crime, why was there a police lineup?”

“I meant he didn’t commit a crime.”

Mary slanted a look at Ellie. “Please correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the witness identify him?”

“Mary,” Meg huffed. “You’re not helping.”

“Sorry,” Mary said, but her grin told a different story.

Ellie sucked on her cheeks to stifle a laugh, grateful to be off the hot seat, even temporarily. She appreciated her friends’ concern but she wasn’t a project. At times like this, Meg conveniently forgot she hadn’t dated anyone for five years until Riley Cooper came back to town after serving in the marines in Afghanistan. Ellie decided not to point that out because her friends meant well. And she didn’t want to turn their attention—and matchmaking attempts—back to her.

Meg blew her breath out noisily, disturbing the wisps of curly red hair that had escaped her messy ponytail. “I’ve explained this to you guys like a thousand times already. It was a case of mistaken identity. I swear.”

“Uh-huh, sure.” Mary laughed and elbowed Ellie. “Ooh, maybe Riley can get the sheriff’s department to start an eligible bachelor catch-and-release program.”

“You guys are the worst,” Meg grumbled, and began laying out the plates.

“Yup, the absolute worst, but you love us, anyway.” Ellie grinned as she plated cake slices.

“Yeah, it’s a good thing—Ooh, Ellie, how about that oh-my-God-he’s-so-gorgeous guy coming down the stairs? If I wasn’t hopelessly in love with Brody...” Mary bumped shoulders with Ellie and motioned with head.

Ellie’s gaze followed Mary’s and her heart stuttered. Liam McBride. What was he doing at the luncheon? She’d had a serious crush on Meg’s brother since...well, since forever. At four years older, Liam had seen her as an annoying kid and had treated her accordingly. By the time she’d matured enough for him to notice, she’d been “his kid sister’s friend” for so long she doubted it registered that she was a grown woman.

“What? Who? Where?” Meg whirled around and made a sound with her tongue against her teeth. “That’s Liam.”

“Liam?” Mary’s eyes widened. “You mean that’s—”

“Ellie’s date for the wedding.” Meg swiveled back, clapping her hands together, her mouth in a wide smile. “It’s perfect.”

“What? No.” Ellie took a step back, shaking her head and holding up the knife as if warding off marauding zombies. She could accept matchmaking between friends. Even being relegated to Liam’s friend zone would be acceptable, but begging for a pity date? Nuh-uh. Not gonna happen. No way. “Absolutely not.”

“No... No?” Mary glanced at Liam again and snapped back to Ellie, looking at her as if she were insane for refusing. “I don’t know why you wouldn’t want—”

“Because he’s Meg’s brother.” Ellie sneaked another glance at the sexy six-foot-two hunk of firefighter strutting toward them.

From his chronically disheveled dark brown hair and broad shoulders to his slim hips, long legs and that touch of confident swagger, Liam McBride oozed pheromones. And Ellie longed to answer their alluring call by throwing herself at his feet, but good sense, not to mention strong self-preservation instincts, prevailed. Thank God, because she didn’t relish getting stepped on by those size 13 Oakley assault boots. To him, she was his little sister’s friend. The girl who used to make moon eyes at him, the teen who blushed and stuttered every time he talked to her. When she’d been diagnosed with cancer in her teens, one of her first thoughts had been that she might never get to kiss Liam McBride.

“Be right back,” Meg threw over her shoulder and rushed to meet her brother as he crossed the room.

“Oh, my. I mean, I had no idea,” Mary whispered, leaning closer to Ellie. “Whenever she mentioned her brother, I was picturing a male version of Meg. You know...vertically challenged, wild red hair, freckles.”

Ellie burst out laughing, but drew in a sharp breath when Liam’s head snapped up. His gaze captured hers and his lips quirked into an irresistible half grin. The air she’d sucked in got caught in her chest. Why did he have to be so damn sexy? As if handsomeness had been handed out unchecked on the day he received his looks.

“Liam takes after their dad,” she whispered to Mary. And not just in physical appearance.

Ellie knew Liam and his dad had buried themselves in work when Bridget McBride got sick. Firefighting was an admirable profession, but relationships needed care and feeding, too. All Ellie had to do was look at her parents to understand the cost when one partner checked out emotionally during a life-threatening situation. She might have survived the cancer that had plagued her childhood, but her parents’ close relationship hadn’t. As an adult she knew the guilt she’d carried throughout her teen years was irrational, but that didn’t stop it from gnawing at her whenever she saw her parents together. What happened to them proved no relationship was immune to life’s challenges.

So she’d admire the sexy firefighter, and if given the chance, she’d take that secret Make-A-Wish kiss, but she’d keep her heart and hopes for the future far, far away from Liam McBride.

“Heart? You listening?” she asked sotto voce before sneaking another longing glance at Liam.

* * *

Liam’s footsteps had faltered at that distinctive laugh. Ellie Harding. Her laughter, like her honey-brown eyes, sparkled and drew him in whenever she was close. Today, her long, shiny dark hair was pulled back and secured with one of those rubber band thingies his sister and niece favored. He shook his head and tried to force his thoughts into safer territory. As his sister’s friend, Ellie was off-limits, a permanent resident of the no-dating zone. It was a good thing they lived three hours apart so he wasn’t faced with temptation on a regular basis. The last time he’d seen her was at his nephew’s christening, nearly nine months ago.

The fact that she’d had cancer as a child and could have died had nothing to do with his resistance to her charms. Nothing at all. He’d hate to think he was that shallow, despite knowing the destruction illness left in its wake.

No. His reluctance was because messing with a sibling’s friend could have nasty consequences. He and his best friend, Riley Cooper, were just patching up a huge rift in their friendship. Riley had broken the bro code and Liam’s trust by getting Meg pregnant before deploying to Afghanistan and disappearing from her life. But all that was in the past. His sister was crazy in love with Riley, who’d come back, taken responsibility for his daughter and convinced Meg to marry him. Riley was also the reason for the glow of happiness in his sister’s eyes these days.

So he’d buried the hatchet, and not in Riley’s privates as he’d longed to do once upon a time. He was even spending saved vacation time in Loon Lake to help his brother-in-law renovate. Meg and Riley were outgrowing their modest cottage-style home after the birth of their second child, James.

His gaze met Ellie’s and objections scattered like ashes. Damn, but off-limits would be a lot easier if she weren’t so appealing. Why some guy hadn’t scooped her up by now was a mystery. He almost wished one had and removed temptation. Almost. Something he kept buried deep and refused to explore railed against the picture of Ellie married to a random dude, forever out of reach. Except out of reach was where she needed to stay, because he’d filled his quota of losing people. From here on out, his heart belonged to his job. Stay back three hundred feet, Ellie Harding.

“Liam, what are you doing here?” Meg asked.

“I’m here to help Riley with your addition, remember?”

“I mean here...at the luncheon.”

“When you weren’t home, I remembered you volunteered here on Thursdays.” He shrugged. “So, here I am.”

She grinned and looped her arm through his. “You have no idea what perfect timing you have.”

Then she began guiding—yeah, more like frog-marching—him across the church basement toward Ellie of the twinkling eyes and engaging laugh.

Liam’s indrawn breath hissed through his teeth. “Uh-oh.”

“You’re the answer to our problem,” Meg said in a too-bright tone, and squeezed his arm.

“Huh, that’s new.” He gave her a side-eye look. “Usually you’re accusing me of being or causing the problem.”

Meg’s expression was calculating, as if sizing him up for something. Crap. He knew that look and nothing good ever came from it. Now that she was happily married, she seemed to think everyone should be. Living three hours away, he’d managed to avoid her less-than-subtle hints that it was time he settled down. He loved his sister and was happy to help with the interior finishing work on her new home addition, but he wasn’t about to let her manipulate him into any sort of permanent relationship. Even if the intended target had the most beautiful golden eyes he’d ever seen.

He made a show of looking around. “Where’s Riley? Why isn’t your husband here solving your problems? Isn’t that what he’s for?”

“Nah, he can’t help with this one, so enjoy being the solution for once, brother dear.” Meg stopped at the table where Ellie and an attractive dark-haired woman about the same age were dishing out slices of chocolate cake.

“Meg tells me you need me to sample that cake.” He winked at Ellie, who blushed. His breath quickened at her flushed features. Friend zone, he repeated to himself, but his mind kept conjuring up unique and enjoyable ways of keeping that pretty pink color on her face.

Meg tugged on his am, acting like her seven-year-old daughter, Fiona. “First, agree to our proposition, then you can have cake.”

Ellie was shaking her head and mouthing the word no. Obviously whatever Meg had in mind involved her. Despite his wariness, he was intrigued.

Meg was nodding her head as vigorously as Ellie was shaking hers. “Ellie needs a date for Mary’s wedding.”

“I do not. Don’t listen to her. This was all your sister’s harebrained idea.” Ellie dumped a piece of cake onto a plate and it landed frosting side down. She cursed and he cleared his throat to disguise his laugh.

“But Liam is going to be in town, so it’s perfect,” Meg said.

He winced. Tenacious was Meg’s middle name. Another reason to keep Ellie in that friend zone. He’d have to live with the fallout into eternity.

“Hi, I’m Mary. The bride.” The raven-haired woman set aside the slice with the frosting side down and thrust out her hand. “And you’re welcome to come to my wedding with—” she glanced at Ellie “—or without a date.”

He untangled his arm from Meg’s and shook hands. “Thanks, I—”

“Oh, look. They need help at the pay station,” Meg said, and scooted away.

“Nice meeting you, Liam. I’d love to stay and chat, but I promised to help in the kitchen.” Mary disappeared as quickly and efficiently as his sister.

“Cowards,” Ellie muttered, and shook her head. “Look, I’m not hitting you up to be my date for the wedding. I’m fine going by myself.”

He nodded. Ellie was smart and independent, but that didn’t mean she wanted to go to a wedding alone if everyone else was paired up. They could go as friends. And if he happened to hold her close as they danced... He shook his head, but the image of Ellie in his arms wouldn’t go away. Huh, Meg wasn’t the only tenacious person today. And damn if Meg hadn’t once again manipulated him. “Are you saying you don’t want to go with me? I’ve been known to behave myself in public.”

Ellie raised her eyebrows, but her eyes glinted with mischief. “That’s not what I’ve heard.”

“Lies and exaggerations. Don’t believe a word you hear and only half of what you see.” He pulled a face.

“Uh-huh, sure.” She laughed and went back to dishing out cake.

Her laugh washed over him and he arranged the plates so the empty ones were closer to her. People had begun lining up at the other end of the string of tables, but no one had reached the dessert station yet. He took advantage and hurried to Ellie’s side of the table. He could help hand out the cake. Yeah, he was a regular do-gooder and it had nothing to do with standing next to Ellie and breathing in her light, flowery scent. “Why don’t you want to go to this wedding with me?”

Ellie shook her head. “I’m not looking for a pity date.”

He sighed. If she knew where his thoughts had been, she wouldn’t be saying that. Besides, it wasn’t like a real date because they’d be friends hanging out together. As simple as that. “So how do I appeal to your better nature and get you to take pity on me?”

“What? No. I meant...” she sputtered, her face turning pink again. She made what sounded like an impatient noise and put the last slice of cake on a plate.

He shouldn’t, but he enjoyed seeing her flustered and if he was the cause, all the better, because she certainly had that effect on him. “How did you do that?”

She looked up and frowned. “Do what?”

He could get lost in those eyes. Focus, McBride. He cleared his throat and pointed to the last cake square on the plate. “You made those come out even.”

A smile spread across her face and she glanced around before leaning close. “It’s my superpower.”

“I’m intrigued,” he whispered, but he wasn’t referring to cake or plates.

She straightened and turned her attention to a woman who appeared in front of them. “Hello, Mrs. Canterbury. Cake?”

After the woman had taken her cake and left, he bumped his hip against Ellie’s. “Whaddaya say, Harding, help a guy out. Do your good deed for the month and come to this wedding with me?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Why? So I can perform CPR on the women who faint at your feet?”

Liam threw his head back and laughed. He spotted Meg watching them, a smug expression on her face. He’d deal with his sister later. Maybe he could interest Fiona in a drum set or buy James, who would be walking soon, a pair of those annoying sneakers that squeaked.

Except he was intrigued by the idea of going with Ellie, so he gave her what he hoped was his best puppy-dog face. “Please. I hear it’s the social event of the season.”

“Oh, brother,” she muttered and rolled her eyes.

Why had it suddenly become so important for her to say yes? He should be running the other way. Ellie didn’t strike him as the sort of woman who did casual, and that’s all he was looking for—with Ellie or anyone. Keep it light. No more wrenching losses. But that damn image of holding her while dancing, their bodies in sync, sometimes touching, wouldn’t go away.

“How long are you staying in Loon Lake?”

Her question dragged him away from his thoughts and he frowned. “Exactly when is this wedding?”

“You missed the point. That was my attempt at changing the subject,” she said, and greeted an elderly woman shuffling past.

Liam smiled at the woman and tried to hand her a dessert.

The woman shook her head and held up a plate loaded with meat loaf, potatoes and green beans. “Gotta eat this first, son.”

Liam nodded, put the dessert back on the table and turned his head to Ellie. “I’ll be here for a month.”

“Goodness gracious, son, it won’t take me that long to eat,” the woman said before meandering off to find a seat.

Ellie giggled, her eyes sparkling with amusement, and he couldn’t look away. She’s Meg’s friend. Are you forgetting about cancer and how much it hurts to lose someone? Sure, she was in remission, but there was a reason that term was used instead of cured. In his mother’s case, the remission didn’t last. Ellie was off-limits for so many reasons. But that message was getting drowned out. “So, you’ll go with me to this wedding?”

“Look, Liam, I appreciate the offer, but—”

He leaned closer, dragging in her scent, and tilted his head in the direction of his sister. “It might shut her up for a bit. Let her think she got her way.”

“Hmm.” Ellie sucked on her lower lip for a second, then shook her head. “Nah. It’ll just encourage her.”

“It’ll throw her off the scent if we hang out for a bit. We’ll know that’s all we’d be doing, but she won’t.” He’d lost his ever-lovin’ mind. Yup, that must be the explanation for pursuing such an idiotic suggestion.

Ellie smiled and continued to hand out the cake. Although she had fewer freckles than she had as a kid, she still had a sprinkling of them high on her cheekbones and the bridge of her nose. He wouldn’t have thought freckles could be sexy, but on Ellie they were, and he had to fight the urge to count them by pressing his fingertips to each one. Or better yet, his tongue.

“But we won’t really be dating?” she asked during a lull in the line of people.

“Did you want to date?” What the hell was he doing asking such a loaded question? He handed out the last piece of cake to an elderly man in a Red Sox baseball cap.

“Meg means well, but it might be nice to take a break from her matchmaking efforts.” She picked up the plate with the frosting-side-down slice and held it up. “Split?”

“Sure.” He reached for the fork she offered. His fingers brushed hers as he took the utensil and their gazes met. “Thanks. Looks delicious.”

Her cheeks turned pink, making the tiny freckles stand out even more. As if they were begging for someone—him—to run their tongue along them. He cleared his throat and jabbed his fork in the cake.

“So, whaddaya say, Harding, do we have a deal?”

She shrugged. “Sure, McBride, why not?” Someone called her name and she turned away to leave but said over her shoulder, “We’ll talk.”

He set the fork on the empty plate and watched her disappear into the kitchen. She never did answer his question about wanting to date. Not that it mattered, because they would be hanging out. No dating. No relationship. Nice and safe: the way he preferred it.

Chapter Two

“Check out the guy who just walked in.” Stacy, the triage nurse on duty, elbowed Ellie.

Ellie looked up from the notes she’d been studying to glance out the large glass window into the emergency waiting area. Her heart sped at the sight of Liam dressed in jeans and a dark blue Red Sox championship T-shirt approaching them. She hadn’t seen him since the community luncheon two days prior, but he hadn’t been far from her thoughts. If Stacy hadn’t spotted him first, Ellie might have wondered if he was figment of her overactive imagination.

Ignoring Stacy’s obvious curiosity, Ellie opened the door to the triage area. “Hey, what are you doing here?”

“Hey, yourself.” He gave her that sexy half grin that threatened to leave her in a puddle.

Janitorial, mop up triage, please.

She clutched the clipboard across her chest as if it could protect her vital organs like a lead apron during X-rays. “Everything okay?”

“Heard you’d be getting off soon.” He shrugged. “Thought you might like to grab some supper with me.”

In the little office, Stacy cleared her throat, but Ellie ignored her.

Was he asking her on a date? “And where did you hear my shift was ending?”

“I asked Meg.” He put his hands into his front pockets and hunched his shoulders forward. “So, how about some supper?”

A pen dropped, followed by a sigh. Stacy was probably memorizing every word and detail of the encounter to pass along later in the cafeteria.

Ellie shuffled her feet. Was she going to do this? Repeat after me: “not a real date.” “Sure. I’ve got some extra clothes in my locker. If you don’t mind waiting while I change.”

From the sound of it, Stacy was rearranging files on her desk, and evidently, they were fighting back.

Ellie grinned and turned around. “Stacy, have you met my friend Meg Cooper’s brother, Liam?”

Stacy stepped forward and stuck out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Liam.”

“Let me get changed. I’ll be right back,” Ellie said while Stacy and Liam shook hands.

Stacy laughed. “Don’t rush on my account.”

Despite Stacy’s comment, Ellie hurried to her locker. Had this been Liam’s idea or was Meg somehow behind this? After changing into jeans and a short-sleeved cotton sweater, she undid her hair from the braid and brushed it out. Even if this wasn’t an honest-to-goodness date, she wanted to look her best. She fluffed her hair around her shoulders and applied some cherry lip gloss and went in search of Liam.

Hands shoved in his back pockets, Liam stood in front of the muted television in the waiting area. He turned as she approached and smiled broadly. “I gotta say, Harding, you clean up nicely.”

“Not so bad yourself, McBride.” She put her purse strap over her shoulder and waved to Stacy through the window. The triage nurse was with a patient but glanced at Liam and back to Ellie with a grin and a thumbs-up.

“I thought we’d take my truck and I can bring you back here for your car,” Liam said as the automatic doors slid open with an electronic whoosh.

A light breeze was blowing the leaves on the trees surrounding the parking lot. A thunderstorm earlier in the day had broken the heat and humidity, making the evening warm but comfortable.

“Sounds good.” Sounds like a date.

Using his key fob to unlock his truck, he approached the passenger side and opened the door for her. “Riley says that new hard cider microbrewery on the town square has great food.”

“They do. Best burgers in town, if you ask me.” She sucked on her bottom lip as she climbed into his truck. Everyone in Loon Lake knew Hennen’s Microbrewery was the place to hang out with friends, while Angelo’s was the restaurant you brought your date to. So, not a date. At least we cleared that up.

Once she was in the passenger seat, he shut the door and strolled around the hood of the truck. He climbed in and settled himself behind the wheel.

“Yeah, Meg mentioned that Angelo’s has added a dining patio but—” He started the truck and music from the Dropkick Murphys blasted from the speakers. Leaning over, he adjusted the volume. “Sorry about that.”

His movements filled the front seat with his signature scent. She was able to pick out notes of salty sea air, driftwood and sage. Thinking about his aftershave was better than trying to figure out what he’d been about to say about Angelo’s. Okay, color her curious. “You were saying something about Angelo’s new patio.”

He checked the mirrors and the backup camera before leaving the parking spot. “Hmm...oh, yeah. Meg said during the winter you can see across the lake to their house from the patio.”

Serves you right for asking. “That’s cool.”

He cleared his throat. “She was going on and on about how romantic the new patio was with something called fairy lights.”

Not exactly subtle, Meg. Ellie fiddled with the strap of her purse. “Yeah, they’ve got small trees in ceramic pots scattered around with tiny LED lights strung around the trunks and branches. Very pretty, with lots of atmosphere.”

The air in the confined space felt supercharged with something...awareness? Chemistry? She couldn’t be sure, couldn’t even be sure that he felt it, too. Maybe this was all in her head. All one-sided, like it had been in her childhood.

He glanced at her for a second before bringing his attention back to the road. “So, you’ve been to Angelo’s patio?”

Was he trying to get information on her social life or lack thereof? “No, but Mary and Meg have both been.” She huffed out her breath. “Believe me, I’ve heard all about it.”

He reached over and laid his hand over hers. “Sounds like I may have to take up the challenge to be sure you get to experience this patio, too.”

Her heart did a little bump, but she laughed, hoping to brazen through. “You signing me up as their new janitor, McBride?”

He squeezed her hand and brought it to his chest. “You wound me, Harding. I was thinking more along the lines of the waitstaff. I can see you in a white blouse and a cute little black skirt.”

“Glad we cleared that up.” She laughed for real this time. Date or not, there was no reason she couldn’t enjoy being with Liam. Even if anything that could happen with Liam had nowhere to go. They didn’t live in the same town. And then there was the whole thing with Liam having used his job to avoid dealing with his emotions. Even his sister couldn’t deny that truth. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy hanging out with him while he was here. Having a life-threatening illness like lymphoma had taught her she didn’t want to die with regrets if she could help it. After enduring chemo coupled with radiation, she’d been in remission for almost nine years, a good chunk of time, and her oncologist was optimistic but the experience had changed her outlook on life.

“How are the renovations coming?” she asked.

He squeezed her hand and put it back on her lap. “Is this you changing the subject?”

“So you can take a hint.”

He jokingly muttered something about respect for her elders but launched into an amusing story about framing out the new master bedroom closet at Meg and Riley’s place.

“That house is going to be awesome once the addition is finished.”

He made a hum of agreement. “Yeah, I guess she made the right choice moving here.”

“She said you had tried to get her to move into one of your rentals.” She hadn’t seen Liam’s place, but she knew he owned one of those iconic Boston three-family homes commonly referred to as “three-deckers” by the locals. He’d purchased it as a bank foreclosure and had been remodeling it ever since, according to Meg. Ellie knew it was Liam’s pride and joy.

“I did, but she’s always loved this town and that vacation home. Even all the repairs it needed didn’t deter her. My sister can be stubborn.”

Ellie laughed. “Yeah, so I noticed.”

“But I gotta say, she made the right choice for her.” He stopped for a red light.

“What about you?” The words were out before she could prevent them.

He turned his head to look at her. “Me? I’m exactly where I belong.”

Yeah, that’s what she thought. And like Meg, he was happy where he lived.

Swallowing, she pointed out the windshield. “Green light.”

She glanced at Liam’s strong profile. Could she be happy in Boston? “No regrets” included trying new things, new places.

Hey, Ellie, aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself? This wasn’t even a real date.

The route along Main Street took them past a few rectangular, early-nineteenth-century gable-roofed houses gathered around the town green. Some of the stately homes had been repurposed as doctors’ offices, an insurance agency and an attorney’s office, but some were still single-family residences.

The manicured common space boasted a restored white gazebo that doubled as a bandstand for concerts and picnics in the summer. Homes soon gave way to brick-fronted businesses, and the white Greek Revival church where they held the weekly lunches. With its black shutters and steeple bell tower, the church anchored the green at one end.

No doubt the town was picturesque, but she recalled how, when she was sick, the women of Loon Lake had worked year-round to keep the Hardings’ refrigerator full of casseroles and sandwich fixings. In the summer, the men had made sure their lawn was mowed. In the winter, the men plowing for the town had been careful to keep the end of their driveway relatively clear.

He pulled the truck into one of the angled parking spots in front of the pub-style restaurant. “I’m assuming you’ve been here before, since you said you liked the burgers.”

“Yeah, I’ve been a few times with some of the people from work.”

He turned the engine off and opened his door. Ellie opened hers and was getting out when he came around to her side. He put his hand under her elbow to steady her as she scrambled out. His touch sent sparks up her arm...straight to her core.

You’d better be listening, she cautioned her heart. Liam and I are hanging out, nothing more. Unlike Angelo’s, this wasn’t a romantic date place. Since this wasn’t a date, she had no right to feel disappointed. And she certainly had no right to be using or thinking the word romantic in context with anything she and Liam did.

They strolled across the sidewalk to the entrance, his hand hovering over the small of her back, not quite touching. How was she supposed to read the mixed signals he was sending? Maybe it was all her fault for trying to read things into his actions and words that weren’t there. Your fault because you wanted this to be a date and it’s a let’s-hang-out night. She swallowed the sigh that bubbled up.

He turned his head toward her as they made their way toward the restaurant. “Something wrong with Hennen’s?”

Had he picked up on her confusion? She shook her head. “No. It’s fine.”

“Hey, I’m not such a guy that I don’t know what ‘fine’ in that tone of voice means.” He held the glass entry door open.

After stepping inside, she glanced up at him, her eyebrows raised. “And what does ‘fine’ mean?”

The outer door shut, leaving them alone in the restaurant’s vestibule. A small table with a bowl of wrapped mints and stack of takeout menus stood off to one side. Muffled sounds—music, conversations and clinking of dishware—came from beyond the inner door.

“I’m thinking it means there’s something wrong and I’m expected to figure it out.” His light blue eyes darkened.

Lost in those eyes, she had to swallow before she could speak. “And have you figured it out?”

“No, but I have an idea how to fix it.” He took a step toward her, his intense gaze on her lips.

“Oh? You can fix it without even knowing what it is?” All thoughts of why she was even upset flew out of her head. Liam’s sexy and oh-so-kissable lips took up all available space.

“Uh-huh,” he said, and lowered his head. “I was thinking of kissing it and making it all better.”

She noisily sucked in her breath. Were they really going to do this? Here of all places?

“Are you in?” His voice was hoarse, his expression hopeful as his gaze searched hers.

She rose on her tiptoes, placed her hands on either side of his face, pulling him close enough she smelled breath mints. “Does this answer your question?”

He dipped his head until his lips latched onto hers. The kiss was gentle, probing but firm. Her sigh parted her lips and his tongue slipped inside. The kiss she’d been waiting for her entire life was even better than she’d thought possible. It was sexy enough to send heat to her most sensitive areas and yet sweet enough to bring tears to her eyes. Make-A-Wish, eat your heart out.

She wanted it to last forever, but cooled air and noise from the restaurant blasted them as the inner door opened. Someone cleared their throat and Liam pulled away so quickly she swayed. His hands darted out, coming to rest around each side of her waist and lingering for a moment before dropping away.

“Ellie?” a familiar voice inquired.

Liam stepped aside and she came face-to-face with Brody Wilson. She groaned inwardly. As if getting caught kissing in public wasn’t embarrassing enough, it had to be by someone she knew, someone who would tell his fiancée, Mary, who would tell Meg. Trying to salvage the situation, Ellie plastered a smile on her face, which was probably as red as the ketchup on the tables inside.

“This is, uh...a surprise.” She turned toward Liam. “Have you two met?”

Brody juggled a large white paper bag into the other hand, then reached out to shake. “We met very briefly at Meg and Riley’s wedding.”

“Speaking of weddings, you must be the groom.” Liam shook hands. “I met the bride a couple days ago.”

“Yes, Mary mentioned that.” Brody nodded, his assessing gaze darting between them.

“Are Mary and Elliott with you tonight?” Ellie glanced through the glass door to the restaurant.

“No. They’re at home.” He held up the bag. “I stopped to grab burgers on my way back from checking in on Kevin Thompson.”

“Checking on Kevin?” Ellie touched Brody’s arm. “Did something happen?”

Kevin Thompson was a local youth who could have headed down the wrong path if not for Loon Lake’s caring residents. Ellie knew Riley and Meg had encouraged Kevin to stay in school, and Brody and Mary had boosted his self-confidence by having him interact with the kids at their summer camp for children in foster care.

The camp had been Mary’s dream. When she and Brody became a couple, they’d started a nonprofit and made her dream a reality. Their farm on the edge of town was the perfect spot.

Brody nodded. “Yeah, he sprained his wrist yesterday.”

“Oh, no. Wasn’t he your helper for the carnival preparations?”

Brody sighed. “With Riley working on their house and picking up overtime hours, I hate to ask him, but I may have to if we’re going to be ready on time.”

Liam quirked an eyebrow at her. “What’s this about a carnival?”

“I help out with a childhood cancer survivor group,” Ellie said. “We counsel survivors and those going through treatment. Plus, every year we put on a carnival as a fun activity for the kids.” She enjoyed giving back to a group that had been so helpful when she’d needed it. “We have as much fun as the kids and it’s important for them to see they can get through sometimes grueling treatments and enjoy life.”

“What sort of help do you need?” Liam asked Brody.

Brody stroked his chin with his free hand. “Mostly muscle and someone to assemble wooden booths. You good with a hammer?”

Liam bobbed his head once. “Sure. I’d be happy to help out.”

The inner door opened and Brody stepped aside to let a couple pass through. “Ellie, why don’t I give you a call later and we can make arrangements.”

“That sounds good. You might want to get home before those burgers get cold or you’ll be in trouble with Mary.”

“Yeah, we don’t want that.” Brody laughed and winked.

* * *

Liam’s hand found the small of Ellie’s back as if magnetized. He licked his lips at the cherry taste that lingered on them. What had he been thinking, kissing her like that in public? Yeah, no thinking involved. Ellie’s presence tended to scramble his thought process.

A hostess inside the restaurant greeted them and led them to a booth.

“Thank you for offering to help out with the carnival,” Ellie said as she slid into the seat. “You’re here working with Riley and now spending off-time working some more. Hardly seems fair.”

He sat across from her. “Are you going to be there?”

“Yeah. I always help out,” she said, and picked up the colorful menu.

Normally he’d run a mile from reminders of the disease that claimed his ma. Just thinking about cancer made his skin crawl, but he could man up and do this. For Ellie. “Then I’m in.”

She gave him a big smile and flipped open the menu. Yeah, that smile was worth giving up a few hours to help some kids. He should regret the kiss but he didn’t, couldn’t regret something that felt so damn good. With that kiss, tonight felt more like a date, despite him being careful not to turn it into one.

He’d decided to keep things casual with Ellie because being in remission was no guarantee the cancer couldn’t return. Nothing like wanting his cake and eating it, too, or in this case, wanting his Ellie and none of the burdens of a real relationship. How the hell was he going to make this work?

“Do you want to?”

Ellie’s question brought him back with a jolt. Had he said any of that aloud? “Huh?”

She tsked. “I asked if you wanted to split an appetizer.”

Before he could answer, someone called her name. Two men in EMT uniforms approached their booth. Liam frowned at the way they strutted over to Ellie’s side. The tall one appeared to be around Ellie’s age, while the shorter, dark-skinned one was older.

“Sorry, Ellie, we didn’t mean to interrupt your date,” said the older one.

She glanced over at Liam. “Oh, we’re just—”

“On a date but it’s no problem.” What the hell prompted him to say that? He was still striving for control, for keeping his feelings casual. If they’d run into two of Ellie’s female friends, would he have made the same claim? If he were a better man he’d know the answer. Since he didn’t, that put him in the “not a better man” category.

“We’re not staying, just picking up our supper, and noticed you in here while we were waiting,” said the younger guy.

“I’m glad you came to say hi,” Ellie said. “This is my friend Liam. Liam, this is Mike and Colton. As you can plainly see by their uniforms, they’re EMTs. It just so happens Liam is a firefighter.”

Liam shook hands with both men, applying a bit of pressure with the younger one, Colton, whose intense gaze had been on Ellie since they’d come over to the table. Yeah, more juvenile than a better man would behave, that’s for sure.

“We missed you at the softball game last weekend,” Colton said to Ellie, but gave Liam the once-over as he said it, as if Liam had prevented Ellie from playing.

Ellie rested her elbows on the table, lightly clasping her hands together. “Sorry I missed it. Did you win?”

“No. We got clobbered.” Colton shook his head and scowled. “That’s why we need you.”

Mike backhanded his partner on the arm. “Looks like our order’s up.”

Colton nodded but didn’t take his eyes off Ellie. “The cops challenged us to another game to raise money for a K-9 unit. You in?”

“Sure.” Ellie smiled and nodded. “Give me a call when you get a time and place.”

Liam bit down on the urge to tell the guy to get lost already. If Colton was interested, why hadn’t he taken her to the new patio at Angelo’s? Pot? Kettle. You brought her here instead of trying to get reservations at Angelo’s.

“Some of the guys were talking about getting a bowling night together.” Colton mimed holding a phone. “I’ll give you call.”

“Hey, man, you can’t pick her up while she’s on a date with someone else,” Mike said, and attempted to pull his partner away from the table.

“Sheesh, I wasn’t picking her up, just asking if she was interested in bowling. It’s for charity,” he grumbled, but turned back and grinned at Ellie. “See ya, Els.”

Els? What the...? Liam ground his back teeth as the two EMTs walked away. “He was definitely trying to pick you up.”

Ellie rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. Colton called a couple months ago asking if I had the number of the new X-ray tech.”

So this Colton was a player? Well, he could go play in someone else’s sandbox. He and Ellie were...what? Hanging out to get Meg off their case did not a relationship make.

“Believe me, he was hitting on you,” Liam insisted.

She glanced over at the two men leaving the restaurant.

“Maybe it didn’t work out with the X-ray tech,” Liam muttered, and shook the menu open with a snap.

“Maybe.” She shrugged and set her menu down.

Did she have feelings for this Colton? He pretended to be interested in the menu’s offerings. “That Mike guy—”

“Stop right there. You’re not going to try to tell me he was hitting on me.” She heaved a deep sigh. “Mike’s happily married. He has a beautiful wife and two sweet daughters, all of whom he adores.”

Before he could say anything more about either EMT, a petite waitress with a short blond bob and an eyebrow piercing came over to the table.

“Hi, I’m Ashley, and I’ll be your server tonight,” she said, and rested her hand on the table near his.

“I’ll have a bacon cheeseburger and onion rings,” Ellie told the waitress.

Ashley nodded and scribbled on her pad without taking her eyes off him. He echoed Ellie’s order because he’d been too busy fending off her would-be suitor to read the menu.

“Now who is getting hit on?” Ellie said in a dry tone as she watched the perky blonde sashay across the room.

“Who? The waitress? She looks barely old enough to be serving drinks.” He sipped his water. “And we were talking about you. Colton was definitely hitting on you.”

She made a derisive sound blowing her breath through her lips. “I find that hard to believe.”

He shook his head. Did she not know the effect she had on guys? That megawatt smile that made her eyes sparkle created a pull, one he couldn’t deny. So why wouldn’t any other guy feel the same? “What? Why would you say that?”

“Because guys don’t see me like that. All they see is a shortstop for their softball team or a bowler for charity.”

“I don’t know who put that idea in your head, but it’s simply not true. And I’m a guy, so I should know.” Damn. Why did he say that? If she liked this Colton dude, saying things like that might give her ideas.

She snorted. “I don’t see you putting the moves on me.”

“What if I were to put a move on you?”

“Yeah, right,” she sputtered, and shook her head.

He let it drop, but began calculating how many moves he could make in thirty days.

Chapter Three

Several times during the day on Friday, Liam considered excuses to get out of helping Ellie with her carnival. Last weekend had been the anniversary of his mother’s death from stage 3 breast cancer that had spread. The years had muted the pain, but he wasn’t looking forward to all the reminders because it also reminded him of his friend and mentor, Sean McMahan. During Liam’s year as a probationary firefighter, Sean had taken him under his wing and they’d become close. Cancer had claimed Sean eighteen months after Bridget McBride. And yet he couldn’t—wouldn’t—let Ellie down, so that evening, he accompanied her to the church where they were setting up for the carnival. He’d insisted on giving her a ride when she mentioned meeting him there. Generosity didn’t enter into his offer; ulterior motives did. He wanted to see if she’d planned on coming or going with that EMT Colton, but her eager acceptance of his offer reassured him.

Liam resisted reaching for Ellie’s hand as they descended the stairs to the brightly lit basement. The place buzzed with the sounds of hammering, chatter and laughter. The scent of raw wood and paint permeated the air.

“I promised to paint some of the signs and to help Mary corral some of the younger kids. We’re providing nursery services to our volunteers,” Ellie said with a touch on his arm. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Brody waved Liam over and wasted no time putting him to work constructing a booth for one of the carnival games. Brody gave him a rough sketch of what it was supposed to look like. After helping with Meg and Riley’s renovations, this would be a cinch.

As Liam got busy laying out the precut wood Brody had supplied, a towheaded boy of around ten came to stand next to him. The boy shuffled his feet but didn’t speak.

Liam picked up the first pieces. “Hey, there, I’m Liam. What’s your name?”

“Craig.” The boy glanced at his paint-stained sneakers. “Are you Miss Ellie’s fireman?”

The pencil in Liam’s hand jumped and messed up the line he’d been marking. Calm down. He’s a kid asking a question, not making an observational statement. “I’m a fireman.”

The boy’s gaze rested on Liam. “I always wanted to be one.”

Liam’s heart turned over at the look of wistfulness on the boy’s face. Did this kid have cancer? Or was he one of the survivors? The boy’s choice of words hadn’t gone unnoticed. “Have you changed your mind about it?”

Craig shook his head. “Nah. But my mom gets a worried look on her face when I talk about becoming a fireman...like she wants me to pick something else. She’s been like that ever since my cancer.”

“You still have lots of time to decide what you want to be when you grow up.” What the heck was he supposed to tell the kid? Liam glanced around but everyone was busy building or shooing young ones back into one of the side rooms being used as a nursery.

The boy shrugged. “Yeah, the doctors say I’m in remission, but my mom still worries.”

Liam knew how the kid’s mom felt. He worried about losing more people to cancer, including Ellie, but he couldn’t say that to the boy. “Do you think you could help me get this put together? I could use the extra hands.”

Craig’s face lit up as he vigorously nodded his head. “I sure would.”

“Okay.” Liam handed him a peanut butter jar full of nails. “You can hand me the nails when I ask.”

The kid looked disappointed so Liam rushed to explain. “That way, I don’t have to stop and grab one each time. This will go a lot faster with your help. And I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about firefighting as we work.”

Craig seemed to consider it. “I just wish my mom wouldn’t get that scared look when I talk about being a fireman.”

“Well, you’re still a little young to join. Maybe by the time you’re old enough, your mom will feel better about you becoming a firefighter.”

“I hope so. Does your mom worry?”

Had Bridget McBride worried when he joined the fire department? If she had, she’d kept it hidden. Of course, following in his dad’s footsteps may have made a difference. He honestly didn’t know if she worried because she’d never said so. “She might have.”

“My mom says it’s dangerous.” The boy pulled his mouth in on one side.

Liam put his hand out for a nail. “I won’t lie and say it isn’t, but that’s why you attend the fire academy for rigorous training and learn all you can about the job before getting hired. Even after you get hired, you’re on probation.”

“Huh?”

Liam resisted the urge to ruffle Craig’s hair. Chances are the kid would be insulted. “It means you’re still learning from the older guys.”

Craig carefully laid a nail on Liam’s outstretched palm. “You gotta go to school to be a fireman?”

“You sure do. Lots to learn about fires and staying safe.” He hammered the boards together. At least with firefighting you had training and were in control of the equipment. It wasn’t as if you could train for cancer. And doctors and others were in charge of the equipment to fight it, leaving you helpless. “We do all that training so we know exactly what to do to make it less dangerous. I can talk to the crew here in Loon Lake and see about taking you on a tour of the fire station. Maybe see what it’s like to sit in one of the rigs.”

Craig pulled out another nail. “That would be awesome. Thanks.”

Liam nodded. “Sure thing. I’ll talk to some of the guys.”

“Miss Ellie says you’re in Boston.” Craig scrunched up his face. “How come?”

Liam took the nail. “That where I live, and my dad and his dad before him were on the Boston Fire Department. That’s why I joined up.”

“My dad’s a lawyer. Is your dad still a fireman?”

“No, he’s retired.” Even after several years, it still felt weird to say that. Liam always thought Mac would be one of those guys who stayed until they carried him out the door. Had his dad let Doris talk him into retirement? He liked his dad’s new wife. It had been awkward at first, seeing him with someone other than his mom, but now he was glad they’d found happiness together.

“What about your mom? Can you ask her? Maybe she can talk to mine and tell her it’s okay.”

Liam shook his head and swallowed. “I’m afraid not, buddy. My mom died.”

“Cancer?”

“Yeah.”

The boy nodded, looking much older than he should have. “That’s a—” He broke off and glanced around. “That sucks.”

“It does.” Liam bit back a laugh. What had the kid been about to say? He caught that because he’d had to watch his language around his niece, Fiona.

“But Miss Ellie says you can’t live your life afraid because you had cancer or you wouldn’t have a life.”

* * *

Liam began cleaning up after Craig left. He’d have to track down some of the guys at the Loon Lake station and see if they could arrange something for Craig. Maybe even something for the boy’s mom to set her mind at ease. Ellie had said how she’d had to fight her parents’ need to smother and hover even after she’d been in remission for the golden five-year mark. Her words, as repeated by Craig, kept coming back to him. You can’t live your life afraid because you had cancer or you wouldn’t have a life.

“I wanted to thank you for pitching in.” A deep voice behind him caught Liam’s attention.

He turned to Brody Wilson. “Hey, man, no problem. Glad to help.”

Brody chuckled. “And earning Ellie’s gratitude probably doesn’t hurt, either.”

Liam couldn’t deny he liked putting that light in Ellie’s golden eyes. “Looks like you have your hands full.” Liam tipped his chin toward the curly-haired toddler chasing another boy around under Mary’s watchful eye. Earlier, Brody had been chasing after his active son.

“Yeah, Elliott’s a handful. When he’s not sleeping, he’s full speed ahead. He has no neutral.” Brody’s love and pride were evident in his voice and the expression on his face as he watched his son.

Liam knew from Ellie that Brody had adopted Mary’s young son from her previous relationship with his half brother, Roger, who had wanted nothing to do with the baby. Elliott may have been rejected by his biological father, but Brody’s love for the boy was obvious. “He’s got lots of space to work off that energy. Meg tells me you’ve got a lot going on out at your farm. Some sort of camp for foster kids to come and enjoy fresh air and animals.”

Brody laughed. “Yeah, believe it or not, I had picked that particular place thinking I wanted quiet and isolation.”

Liam didn’t know much about Brody except what he’d heard from Meg or Ellie. But the guy had been through some nasty stuff during his time in the army, so his wanting someplace to nurse wounds, even the unseen kind, was understandable. “Funny how that sometimes works. What happened?”

“Mary and Elliott happened.” Brody’s expression went all soft. “I know it sounds corny, but they made me want to do what I could to make this a better world.”

Brody had that same look Riley got when he talked about Meg. Ha, maybe it was something in the Loon Lake water. “And so you started the camp?”

“Camp Life Launch started as Mary’s idea, but I guess you could say I took it and ran with it. Some of the guys I served with in the army are pitching in and we’ve even talked about doing something for returning veterans who might want to help with the kids or simply be surrounded by nature. You’d be surprised how calming watching the night sky or a pair of alpacas snacking on carrots and enjoying the sunshine can be.”

Liam nodded and an idea struck him. Something Craig had said. “Sounds like something these kids might benefit from, too. Ellie says it can be hard for them to just be children, even after the cancer is under control.”

Brody wiped a hand over his mouth. “You might have something there. The older ones might even enjoy volunteering as counselors to younger ones, show ’em life-after-cancer stuff. Kevin and Danny, those two boys your sister and brother-in-law were helping out, have turned into a valuable resource helping with some of our youth campers. I’ll definitely talk to Mary about it.”

Just then, Brody’s curly-haired boy toddled up to Liam. “Alley-oop,” he said, thrusting his arms up and balancing on his toes.

“Alley-oop?” Liam shook his head and looked to Brody for help.

Brody chuckled and ruffled his son’s hair. “Sorry, big guy, I don’t think Liam understands Elliott Speak.”

The boy bounced on his toes. “Alley-oop, alley-oop.”

Brody glanced at Liam and laughed. “He’s saying ‘Elliott, up.’ He’s asking you to pick him up.”

“Oh, okay, that I can do.” Liam bent down and picked up the smiling toddler. He settled Elliott on his hip. “Have you been trying to keep up with the other kids? I think James is more your speed since he’s still new to this whole walking gig.”

“Won’t be long before James will be running around, too.” Brody laughed as he leaned over and chucked his son’s chin. “Mary and I have started discussing giving this guy a brother or sister. We’ve been immersed in getting Camp Life Launch going this past year but things are settling down.”

“Alley Daddy.” The boy bounced up and down in Liam’s arms.

“Yeah, that’s your dad.” Liam hung on to the agile toddler. Warmth spread across his chest at the feel of the toddler’s sturdy weight in his arms. Holding Elliott had him thinking of what it would be like to have his own family. “You want to go back to him now?”

Elliott gave Liam a grin and pointed. “Alley Daddy.”

Liam handed him over to Brody and the toddler threw his arms around Brody’s neck.

“Alley Daddy.” The toddler rubbed his face on Brody’s shirt.

“I sure am, big guy.” Brody rubbed the boy’s back and turned to Liam. “He hasn’t mastered his name yet.”

Liam laughed. “I just got Fiona to say Liam and now James is calling me Meem.”

“Meg is practically glowing these days. I’m so glad to see her happily settled.”

“Yeah, I guess Riley has been good for her.”

“Well, I know Mary and Elliott are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Brody shook his head as if in wonderment. “And I have a feeling this camp will be, too. If you ever want to stop by, feel free. Although I can’t promise we won’t put you to work.”

“I may just do that,” Liam said. Brody had the same glow of happiness as Meg. Would he ever be so lucky as to find such contentment? An image of Ellie came to mind and even the specter of her cancer returning couldn’t chase it away.

“Thanks again for all the help. You should come back on carnival night and see everyone enjoying all your hard work.”

Brody strolled over to Mary, who waved to Liam. Brody said something to her and leaned down and gave her a kiss.

“Hey, I see you’re fitting right in.” Ellie came to stand next to him.

“Fitting in?”

“Talking to Craig. He’s been wanting to meet you ever since I told him I knew a real live fireman.” Ellie hooked her arm through his. “Of course I was referring to your dad, but I guess you’ll do.”

“Hey.” He drew his brows together and scowled, but his lips twitched with the need to grin.

“Did he ask about the job?”

“Yeah. He said his mom was trying to talk him out of it, but he’s kinda young for her to be worried already.” Liam leaned down and filled his nose with her scent.

“Things change when kids get cancer, and his mom has had a tendency to hover since his diagnosis. Firefighting can be considered a dangerous job.”

Sure, but unlike cancer, he was in charge. “Yeah, I told him about all the training and safety equipment. I’d love to try to set something up locally if he wanted to visit the firehouse.”

“That’s really sweet of you. Thanks.” She squeezed his arm. “What were you and Brody talking about?”

“He was telling me about the summer camp they’ve set up at their farm. When he said they had youths who’d turned their lives around act as counselors, I suggested kids like Craig might be interested in something like that, too. Maybe even act as advisers or counselors to children still going through that.”

Her eyes widened. “You did that?”

“Yeah, why?” He tried to shrug it off, but the fact that she seemed pleased made his stomach swoop like it had on the day he’d shed his probie status with the department.

“I think that’s a great idea. Thanks so much for suggesting it to Brody.” She gave him a strangely amused smile.

Warmth rose in his face. How could he have been so oblivious? “You’ve already suggested it to him?”

She patted his chest. “Doesn’t mean it’s not a great idea, and I appreciate you taking an interest.”

He grunted. “Are you patronizing me?”

She looked genuinely hurt and he regretted his accusation.

“Absolutely not,” she said before he could apologize. “Mary and Brody offered to give me a ride home so you won’t have to go out of your way to take me back. Your sister’s place is in the other direction.”

“I brought you. I take you home,” he said, and scowled.

“Okay.” She checked her watch. “It’s still early. How about if I make some popcorn and we watch a movie? That is, if...if you want to.”

He draped an arm over her shoulder. “I’d love to.”

* * *

Ellie tried to contain her excitement as Liam drove them to her place from the church. How was Liam supposed to see her as an adult if she acted and sounded like her teen self around him? She’d even been sitting on the steps to her place waiting for him when he picked her up. Way to go, she scolded herself. Except he’d said yes to popcorn and a movie. And now she probably had a big goofy grin on her face.

They pulled into her driveway and drove past a rambling log home more suited to Architectural Digest than Loon Lake. Although she hadn’t been inside she knew the floor-to-ceiling windows in the back offered a breathtaking view of the lake. The motion-sensitive lights came on as Liam’s truck approached the three-car garage where she rented the upstairs apartment. Despite living here for six months, she had yet to meet the absent owner of the impressive main house. Her rental was handled through a management company.

Liam pulled his truck next to her car. “Am I blocking anyone if I park here?”

“No. It’s fine. The log home’s owner is still absent.”

He hopped out of his truck. “Who owns it?”

“That’s the big Loon Lake mystery.” She started up the stairs to her apartment. Partway up, she turned to him. “There’s a rumor it belongs to Thayer Jones, that ex-hockey player who grew up here. But no one really knows. Even Tavie Whatley doesn’t know for sure.”

Liam laughed. “Then it really is a mystery.”

Warmth flowed through her at his laugh. “Yeah, I didn’t think it was possible to do anything in this town without Tavie knowing all the details.”

Seventysomething Tavie Whatley ran Loon Lake General Store and much of the town from her perch behind the cash register. She and her husband, Ogle, were not only fixtures in the community but the force behind many of its charitable endeavors. Brody jokingly called Tavie Loon Lake’s benevolent dictator.

She unlocked her door and they entered her small but efficient kitchen. She loved the light gray bottom cabinets, porcelain farmhouse-style sink and open shelving above a wooden countertop. A breakfast bar divided the kitchen from the living area. Off the living room was a short hall leading to her bedroom and the bathroom.

“I’d give you a tour, but this is really it—other than the bedroom...” She cleared her throat. Why did showing Liam her bedroom feel so awkward? Her bed was made and there wasn’t a stuffed animal in sight: an adult bedroom. Huh, did she want to avoid reminders she was an adult and old enough to be sexually active? “How about some popcorn?”

“Sounds good. Need help?”

“Thanks. I got it covered.” She handed him the remote. “You pick something while I get it.” She pulled out her glass microwave popcorn maker, glancing at him sprawled on her sofa. Don’t get any ideas, she cautioned herself. They were hanging out, sitting together and watching a movie. She set the microwave timer and looked over at him again. She swallowed. When had her couch gotten so small?

Liam was flipping through the movies on her paid streaming subscription. “What do you feel like watching?”

“How about that new action movie with what’s-his-name?”

He turned his head to give her one of his sexy half grins. “Are you psychic? That’s the one I’ve been wanting to see.”

She laughed. “Just another example of my superpowers.”

The timer on the microwave dinged and she removed the glass popper. She poured the popcorn in the bowl and salted it. Handing Liam the bowl, she plopped down next to him.

“How about this one?” He clicked on a movie selection. “It’s got what’s-his-name in it.”

She tossed a popped kernel at him, but he caught it in his mouth and grinned as he chewed. He set the bowl on the coffee table and leaned closer.

She couldn’t be sure who moved first, but their lips found each other in a sweet kiss that held the promise of more. All thoughts of movies and actors flew out of her head. He angled his face closer and she—

The music for the movie startled her and she abruptly pulled away. “Sorry.”

“I’m not,” he said, brushing her hair off her cheek and tucking it behind her ear.

He leaned back on the couch and pulled her into his side. She cuddled next to him and tried to concentrate on the movie, but it wasn’t easy with his body warm against hers and his luscious scent surrounding her.

As the credits rolled he set the empty popcorn bowl on the end table next to the couch and picked up a book that had been on the table.

“This looks like a textbook.”

“Yeah, working on my advanced nursing degree.”

He nodded. “So you can finally move away from Loon Lake?”

“What? Absolutely not.” She wasn’t about to abandon the people who’d been there for her and her family when they’d needed it. “I like living in Loon Lake.”

He flipped through some of the pages. “Will you be able to use the new degree at the hospital?”

“I suppose I could, but they’ll be breaking ground soon on a skilled nursing facility and I’m hoping to work as a nurse practitioner there. If I time it right, I will have my gerontology degree when they finish construction.”

“Skilled nursing facility?”

Ellie grinned. “A nursing home.”

“Is that nurse speak?” he asked and wiggled his eyebrows.

She rolled her eyes. “C’mon, you’re not turned on by nurse speak, are you?”

“Only if you’re the one speaking it.” He put the book back and settled against the cushions. “Sounds like you have it planned out.”

“I want to help the people I’ve grown up with. Give back to a community that gave so much to me. I haven’t forgotten how everyone rallied around when I was sick.” Damn. She hadn’t meant to bring up the past like that. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

When he didn’t comment but put an arm around her shoulder, she relaxed against him. “What about you? I heard you’re determined to follow in your dad’s footsteps at the fire department.”

He nodded. “That’s the plan. I should hear if I made captain soon. My dad was one of the youngest captains and I’m hoping to follow suit.”

“So we haven’t convinced you yet that Loon Lake is a great place to live?” She tried to keep her tone light, but she needed to hear him say it so maybe her stupid heart would get the message.

“Are you kidding?” He shook his head as he toyed with her hair. “The Loon Lake firehouse is part time. If not for guys who are willing to work in the department on their days off from full-time jobs, Loon Lake FD would be an all-volunteer one.”

“And that’s bad why?” Her body tensed on behalf of the guys she knew who worked for the town.

“It’s not bad. It’s how most small towns are able to afford full-time protection,” he said. “But it’s not what I want.”

She swallowed. Yeah, that’s what she thought. Riley Cooper and Brody Wilson might have embraced small-town life, but Liam evidently didn’t feel like he could do the same.

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