About the Authors

SUSAN CARLISLE’s love affair with books began in the sixth grade, when she made a bad grade in mathematics. Not allowed to watch TV until she’d brought the grade up, Susan filled her time with books. She turned her love of reading into a passion for writing, and now has over ten Medical Romances published through Mills & Boon. She writes about hot, sexy docs and the strong women who captivate them. Visit SusanCarlisle.com.

Born and raised just outside Toronto, Ontario, AMY RUTTAN fled the big city to settle down with the country boy of her dreams. After the birth of her second child Amy was lucky enough to realise her lifelong dream of becoming a romance author. When she’s not furiously typing away at her computer she’s mum to three wonderful children, who use her as a personal taxi and chef.

Also by Susan Carlisle

The Brooding Surgeon’s Baby Bombshell

A Daddy Sent by Santa

Nurse to Forever Mum

The Sheikh Doc’s Marriage Bargain

Highland Doc’s Christmas Rescue

First Response collection

Firefighter’s Unexpected Fling

Pregnant with the Paramedic’s Baby by Amy Ruttan

Available now

Also by Amy Ruttan

A Mummy for His Daughter

A Date with Dr Moustakas

NY Doc Under the Northern Lights

Carrying the Surgeon’s Baby

Royal Doc’s Secret Heir

First Response collection

Firefighter’s Unexpected Fling by Susan Carlisle Pregnant with the Paramedic’s Baby

Available now

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Firefighter’s Unexpected Fling

Susan Carlisle

Pregnant with the Paramedic’s Baby

Amy Ruttan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90210-0

FIREFIGHTER’S UNEXPECTED FLING & PREGNANT WITH THE PARAMEDIC’S BABY

Firefighter’s Unexpected Fling © 2019 Susan Carlisle Pregnant with the Paramedic’s Baby © 2019 Amy Ruttan

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.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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Table of Contents

Cover

About the Authors

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Firefighter’s Unexpected Fling

Back Cover Text

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

EPILOGUE

Pregnant with the Paramedic’s Baby

Back Cover Text

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

EPILOGUE

About the Publisher

Firefighter’s Unexpected Fling

Susan Carlisle

When the best-laid plans…

…go up in smoke!

In this First Response story, with his impending promotion, hotshot fire captain Ross Lawson has no time for romance. Until stunning paramedic Sally Davis starts work at his station… Even if she wasn’t his best friend’s recently divorced sister, a workplace romance is out of the question. But their blazing attraction burns bright and deep and soon becomes one fire Ross might not want to put out!

To Brandon Ray.

Some family you love even though they married in!

CHAPTER ONE

SALLY DAVIS PULLED her bag and a portable bottle of oxygen out of the back of the ambulance. The heat from the burning abandoned warehouse was almost unbearable. Her work coveralls were sticking to her sweating body.

This structural fire was the worst she’d seen as a paramedic working with the Austin, Texas, Fire Department over the last year. Her heart had leaped as the adrenaline had started pumping when the call had woken her and the dispatcher had announced what was involved. These were the fires she feared the most. With a warehouse like this, there was no telling who or what was inside. There were just too many opportunities for injury, or worse.

She watched as the flames grew. The popping and cracking of the building burning was an ironic contrast to the peace of the sun rising on the horizon. She didn’t have time to appreciate it though. She had a job to do.

Moments later a voice yelled, “There’s someone in there!”

Sally’s mouth dropped open in shock as she saw Captain Ross Lawson run into the flames. Even in full turnout gear with the faceplate of his helmet pulled down and oxygen tank on his back, she recognized his tall form and broad shoulders. Sally’s breath caught in her chest. What was wrong with him? Her heartbeat drummed in her ears as she searched the doorway, hoping…

Sally had seen firefighters enter a burning building before but never one as completely enveloped as this one. She gripped the handle of her supply box. Would Ross make it out? Would there be someone with him?

The firefighters manning the hoses focused the water on the door, pushing back the blaze.

Every muscle in her body tightened as the tension and anticipation grew. Ross was more of an acquaintance, as she’d only shared a few shifts with him since moving to Austin. However, he and her brother were good friends. More than once she’d heard Kody praise Ross. From what little she knew about him he deserved Kody’s admiration.

Right now, in this moment, as she waited with fear starting to strangle her, she questioned Ross’s decision-making. Since she had joined the volunteer fire department back in North Carolina, Sally had been taught that judgment calls were always based on the safety of the firefighter. She doubted Ross had even given his welfare any thought before rushing into the fire.

The loss of one life would be terrible enough but the loss of a second trying to save the first wasn’t acceptable. In her opinion, Ross was taking too great a risk, the danger too high. He hadn’t struck her as a daredevil or adrenaline junkie but, then again, she didn’t know him that well. Was this particular characteristic of Captain Lawson’s one of the reasons Kody thought so highly of him?

James, the emergency medical tech working with her, stepped next to her. “That takes guts.”

A form appeared in the doorway, then burst out carrying a man across his shoulders. The sixty pounds of fire equipment he wore in addition to the man’s weight meant Ross was carrying more than his own body weight. Sally had to respect his physical stamina, if not his reckless determination.

Two firefighters rushed to help him, but he fell to the ground before they could catch him. The man he carried rolled off his back to lie unmoving beside him, smoke smoldering from his clothes.

“You take Captain Lawson. I’ll see to the man,” Sally said to James as she ran to them.

Ross jerked off his helmet and came up on his hands and knees, coughing.

Placing the portable oxygen tank on the ground, she went to her knees beside the rescued man, clearly homeless and using the warehouse to sleep in, and leaned over, putting her cheek close to his mouth. As the senior paramedic at the scene, she needed to check the more seriously injured person. Ross had been using oxygen while the homeless man had not.

Her patient was breathing, barely. She quickly positioned the face mask over his mouth and nose, then turned the valve on the tank so that two liters of oxygen flowed. By rote she found and checked his pulse. Next, she searched for any injuries, especially burns. She located a couple on his hands and face. Using the radio, she called all the information in to the hospital.

“We need to get this man transported STAT,” Sally called to her partner.

Another ambulance had arrived and took over the care of Ross, leaving James free to pull a gurney her way. With the efficiency of years of practice, they loaded the man and started toward the ambulance. She called to the EMT now taking care of Ross. “How’s he doing?”

The EMT didn’t take his eyes off Ross as he said, “He’s taken in a lot of smoke but otherwise he’s good.”

“Get him in a box. I still want him seen,” she ordered.

Ross shook his head. “I’m fine.” He coughed several times.

“I’m the medic in charge. You’re going to the hospital to be checked out, Captain.”

He went into another coughing fit as she hurried away. She left the EMT to see that the stubborn captain was transported back to the hospital.

Minutes later she was in the back of the ambulance—the box, as it was affectionately known—with the homeless man. While they moved at a rapid speed, she kept busy checking his vitals and relaying to the hospital emergency room the latest stats. The staff would be prepared for the patient’s arrival.

The ambulance pulled to a stop and moments later the back doors were opened. They had arrived at the hospital. A couple of the staff had been waiting outside for them. Sally and one of the techs removed the gurney with the man on it.

As other medical personnel began hooking him up to monitors, she reported quickly to the young staff nurse, “This is a John Doe for now. He was in a burning warehouse. Acute smoke inhalation is the place to start.”

Just as she was finishing up her report, the gurney with Ross went by. She followed it into the examination room next to the John Doe. Ross’s coat had been removed and his T-shirt pulled up. He still wore his yellow firefighter pants that were blackened in places. Square stickers with monitoring wires had been placed on his chest connecting him to machines nearby. Aware of how inappropriate it was for her to admire the contours of his well-defined chest and abdomen, she couldn’t stop herself. The man kept himself in top physical shape. It was necessary with his field of work but his physique suggested he strove to surpass the norm. No wonder he’d been able to carry the man out of the burning building.

His gaze met hers. Heated embarrassment washed over her and she averted her eyes. Ogling a man, especially one that she worked with, wasn’t what she should be doing.

Ross went into another round of heavy coughing that sent her attention to the amount of oxygen he was receiving. The bubble in the meter indicated one liter, which was good. Still, at this rate it would take him days to clear the smoke from his lungs.

Sally stepped closer to his side and spoke to no one in particular. “How’s he doing?”

One of the nurses responded. “He seems to be recovering well. We’re going to continue to give him oxygen and get a chest X-ray just to be sure that he didn’t inhale any more smoke than we anticipated.”

“I’m right here, you know.” Ross’s voice was a rusty muffled sound beneath the mask. He glared at her. This time her look remained on him.

“You need to save your voice.”

He grimaced as a doctor entered. What was that look about? Surely, he wasn’t afraid of doctors.

Slipping out of the room as the woman started her examination, Sally stepped to the department desk and signed papers releasing Ross and the John Doe as her patients into the hospital’s care. Done, she joined the EMTs at her ambulance.

She gave James a wry smile. “Good work out there this morning.”

“You too,” he replied as he pulled out of the drive.

In the passenger seat, she buckled up, glad to be out of the back of the box. She wasn’t a big fan of riding there.

She shivered now at the memory of when she’d been locked in a trunk and forgotten while playing a childhood game. To this day she didn’t like tight spaces or the dark. Being in the square box of the ambulance reminded her too much of that experience. It was one of those things she just dealt with because she loved her job.

Sally leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Ross’s light blue gaze over the oxygen mask came to mind. She’d met Ross Lawson soon after she had moved to Austin and gone to work for the Austin Medical Emergency Service, the medical service arm that worked in conjunction with the fire department that shared the same stations and sometimes the same personnel when a fireman was also qualified to work the medical side. As an advanced paramedic, she was assigned Station Twelve, one of the busiest houses of Austin’s forty-eight stations. It just happened that it was the same station where her brother and Ross worked. She hadn’t missed that twinge of attraction when she and Ross had first met any more than she had this morning. But she had never acted on it and never would.

A relationship, of any kind, was no longer a priority for her. She’d had that. Her brief marriage had been both sad and disappointing. Now she was no longer married, all she wanted to do was focus on getting into medical school. It had been her dream before she’d married, and it was still her dream. At this point in her life a relationship would just be a distraction, even if she wanted one. She was done making concessions for a man. Going after what she wanted was what mattered.

The ambulance reversed with a beep, beep, beep. It alerted her to the fact that they had arrived at the firehouse. When they stopped, she hopped out onto the spotless floor.

She loved the look of the fire station. It was a modern version of the old traditional fire halls with its redbrick exterior and high arched glass doors. A ceramic dalmatian dog even sat next to the main entrance. The firefighters worked on one side of the building and the emergency crew on the other. They shared a kitchen, workout room and TV room on the firefighter side. They were a station family.

James had backed into the bay closest to the medical side of the building. The other two bays were for the engine, quint truck and rescue truck. They hadn’t returned yet. The company would still be at the warehouse fire mopping up. When they did return, they would also pull in backward, ready for the next run.

Before she could even think about cleaning up and heading home, she would have to restock the ambulance and write a report. The ambulance must always be ready to roll out. More than once in the last year she’d returned from a call only to turn around and make another one.

“Hey, Sweet Pea.”

She groaned and turned to see Kody loping toward her. “I told you not to call me that,” she whispered. “Especially not here.”

He gave her a contrite look. “Sorry, I forgot.”

“What’re you doing here anyway?”

“I left something in my locker and had to stop by and get it. My shift isn’t until tomorrow.”

Sally smiled. She couldn’t help but be glad to see her older brother. Even if it was for a few minutes. He was a good one and she had no doubt he loved her. Sometimes too much. He tended toward being overprotective. But when she’d needed to reinvent her life, Kody had been there to help. She would always be grateful.

“I heard that Ross was the hero of the day this morning.” He sounded excited.

“Yeah, you could say that.” He’d scared the fool out of her.

“You don’t think so?”

Sally started toward the supply room. “He could have been killed.”

Kody’s voice softened. “He knows what he’s doing. I don’t know of a better firefighter.”

“He ran into a fully enveloped burning warehouse!” Sally was surprised how her voice rose and held so much emotion.

“I’m sure you’ve seen worse. Why’re you so upset?”

“I’m not upset. It just seemed overly dangerous to me. Instead of one person being hurt there, for a moment I thought it was going to be two. He has a bad case of smoke inhalation as it is.” She pulled a couple of oxygen masks off a shelf.

“How’s he doing?” Kody had real concern in his voice.

She looked for another piece of plastic line. “He’s at the hospital but he should be released soon. They were running a few more tests when I left.”

“He’s bucking for a promotion, so I guess this’ll look good on his résumé. See you later.”

“Bye.” She headed back to the ambulance with her arms full. She had no interest in Ross’s ambitions and yet, for some reason, his heroics had been particularly difficult for her to watch.

Ross returned to the station a week after the warehouse fire. He had missed two shifts. The doctor had insisted, despite his arguments. He liked having time to work on his ranch but the interviews for one of the eight Battalion Chief positions were coming up soon and he should be at the station in case there were important visitors. Now that he was back, he needed to concentrate on what was ahead, what he’d planned to do since he was a boy.

Thankfully the man he’d gone in after was doing okay. He would have a stay in the burn unit but would recover. Just as Ross and his grandfather had. Ross rolled his shoulder, remembering the years’ old pain.

He’d hated to miss all that time at the station, but it had taken more time to clear his lungs than he had expected. Still, he had saved that man’s life. He didn’t advocate running into fully engulfed houses, but memories of that horrible night when he was young had compelled him into action before he’d known what he was doing.

Memories of that night washed over him. He’d been visiting his grandpa, who’d lived in a small clapboard house outside of town. He’d adored the old man, thought he could do no wrong. His grandfather had taught Ross how to work with his hands. Shown him how to mend a fence, handle a horse. Most of what he knew he’d learned at his grandfather’s side. His parents had been too busy with their lives to care. So most weekends and holidays between the ages of ten and fourteen Ross could be found at his grandfather’s small ranch.

The night of the fire, Ross had been shaken awake by his grandpa. Ross could still hear his gruff smoke-filled voice. “Boy, the place is on fire. Get down and crawl to the front door. I’ll be behind you.”

The smoke had burned Ross’s throat and eyes, but he’d done as he was told. He’d remembered what the firefighter who had come to his school had said: “Stop, drop and roll.” Ross had scrambled to the door but not before a piece of burning wood had fallen on his shoulder. But the pain hadn’t overridden his horror. He’d wanted out of the house. Had been glad for the fresh air. He’d run across the lawn. It had been too hot close to the house. Ross had coughed and coughed, just as he had the other morning, seeming never to draw in a full deep breath. He’d looked back for his grandpa but hadn’t seen him. The fear had threatened to swallow him. His eyes had watered more from tears than smoke.

Someone must’ve seen the flames because the volunteer fire department had been coming up the long drive. Ross had managed between coughs and gasps of air to point and say, “My grandpa’s in there.”

The man hadn’t hesitated before he’d run toward the house. Ross had watched in shock as he’d entered the front door. Moments later he’d come out, pulling his grandpa onto the porch and down the steps and straight toward the waiting medics. It wasn’t until then that Ross had noticed the full agony of his back.

Both he and his grandpa had spent some time in the hospital. They’d had burns and lung issues. His grandfather had been told by the arson investigator that he believed the fire had started from a spark from the woodstove. Ross only knew for sure he was glad his grandpa and he had survived. Regardless of what had started the fire, Ross still carried large puckered scars on his back and shoulder as a reminder of that fateful night.

Last week, the moment he’d learned there was someone in the house he’d reacted before thinking. His Battalion Chief hadn’t been pleased. Only because the outcome had been positive had Ross managed to come out without it damaging his career. He had been told in no uncertain terms that it wasn’t to happen again. The message had been loud and clear: don’t have any marks against you or you won’t make Battalion Chief.

It was midafternoon when he was out with the rest of the company doing their daily checkup and review of the equipment that he saw Sal walking to the ambulance. Her black hair was pulled up away from her face and she wore her usual jumpsuit. She glanced at him and nodded. Memories of the look of concern in her eyes and a flicker of something else, like maybe interest, as she’d watched him in the hospital drifted through his mind.

Ross had known she was Kody’s sister before she’d joined the house. Over the past year they had shared shifts a few times. With him working twenty-four hours on and forty-eight off and her not being able to work the same days as her brother, they hadn’t often been on the same schedule. Still, he’d heard talk. More than one firefighter had sung her praises. A few had even expressed interest in her. They had all reported back that they had been shot down. She wasn’t interested. There was some speculation as to why, but Ross knew, through Kody, that she was a divorcée. Maybe she was still getting over her broken marriage.

Swinging up on the truck, Ross winced. He had hit something, a door facing or a piece of furniture, on his way out of the burning house. At the hospital they had been concerned with the smoke inhalation and he’d not said anything about his ribs hurting because he hadn’t wanted to be admitted. The pain was better than it had been.

He checked a few gauges and climbed out again. This time he tried not to flinch.

Sal came up beside him and said in a low voice, “I saw your face a minute ago. Are you all right? Are you still having trouble breathing?”

“No, I’m fine. I’m good.”

She gave him a skeptical look as her eyebrows drew together. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” If he wasn’t careful, she’d make him see a doctor. Did she have that God complex firefighters joked about? The one that went: What’s the difference between a paramedic and God? God doesn’t think he’s a paramedic.

She scrutinized him for a moment. It reminded him of when his mother gave him that look when she knew he wasn’t being truthful. “You were in pain a second ago.”

He’d been caught. She wasn’t going to let it go. Had she been watching him that closely? He’d have to give that more thought later. “I have a couple of ribs that were bruised when I came out of the house.”

“Did you tell them at the hospital?”

Now he felt like he had when his mother had caught him. Ross gave her a sheepish look. “No.”

“That figures.” She shook her head. “You firefighters. All of you think you’re superheroes.”

He grinned. “Who dares to say we’re not?”

She just glared at him. “Feeling like one of those a minute ago?”

He relaxed his shoulders. “I’ve been wrapping it. I just have trouble getting it tight enough without help.”

“You shouldn’t be doing that. You need to stop that and just take it easy. Ribs take a while to heal.”

“It’s hard to do that when you have chores to do at home.”

“Don’t you have a wife or girlfriend who could help with those?”

“I don’t have either.” He’d never had a wife. Had come close once but it hadn’t worked out.

“Come in here—” Sal indicated the medical area “—and let me have a look. Get rid of that bandage.” She didn’t wait for him, instead she walked toward the door as if she fully expected him to follow her orders.

Ross hesitated a moment, then trailed after her. He looked back over his shoulder. He didn’t need any surprise visits from the bosses just when he was being looked over for more injuries. He hated showing any signs of weakness.

He rarely came to this side of the building. Sal was in the spacious room with a couple of tables and chairs, and a wall of supply cabinets.

She pushed a stool on wheels toward him. “Take your shirt off, then have a seat.”

He couldn’t do that! She would see his scars. He didn’t completely take his shirt off around people for any reason. How to get around doing so had become a perfected art for him. The other morning at the hospital it had been a fight, but he’d convinced first the EMT and then the hospital staff it wasn’t necessary to take his shirt off.

She left him to go to a cabinet across the room. Ross took a moment to appreciate the swing of her hips before he pushed his T-shirt up under his arms.

When she returned, she had a pair of scissors in her hand.

“Hey, I don’t think you’ll need those.”

She smirked. “They’re to cut the bandage if I need to.” She then gave him an odd look but said nothing about his shirt still being on.

He explained, “It hurts too much to lift my arms.”

She nodded, seeming to accept his explanation. “Your bandage is around your waist, not your ribs. It wasn’t doing you any good anyway.”

He gave her a contrite look. “I told you I’d done a poor job of it.”

“You’re right about that. It doesn’t matter. I’m taking it off. And you’re leaving it off.”

“Is that an example of the tender care I’ve heard so much about?” Ross watched her closely.

Her gaze met his. “I save that for people who shouldn’t know better.”

One of his palms went to the center of his chest. “That was a shot to my ego.”

She huffed. “That might be so but I’m stating truth. Can you raise your arms out to your sides?”

He winced but he managed to do as she requested. Sal stepped closer. She smelled of something floral. Was it her shampoo or lotion? Whatever it was, he wanted to lean in and take a deeper breath. Her hands worked on the bandage, removing it; her fingers journeyed across his oversensitive stomach. He looked down. Her dark hair veiled her face. It looked so silky. Would it feel that way if he touched it?

No! What was going on? He’d never acted this way around any of the other women he worked with. He hardly knew Sal. She was the sister of one of his best friends. Was he overreacting because he’d not had a date in so long? Whatever it was, it had to stop. His sister wanted to set him up on a blind date. Maybe he should agree.

Sal gathered the bandage in her hand, stepped away from him and dropped the wad into a garbage can.

Ross couldn’t help but be relieved, but he was disappointed at the same time. He lowered his arms.

“Okay, arms up again. Show me where you hurt.”

With his index finger, he pointed to the middle of his left side. Sal bent closer. Seconds later, her fingers ran over his skin. “Does it hurt here?”

“Yeah.”

“I can see some yellowing of the skin. You should’ve said something at the hospital.” She straightened.

Why did she sound so put out? “You’ve already said that. Besides, the chest X-ray was clear.”

She stepped closer. “I’m going to check you out all the way around.”

In another place and time, that would have sounded suggestive. And from another person. He and Sal had never had that kind of interaction.

She ducked under his arm and stepped around to his back and then returned to his front before moving away.

Ross missed her heat immediately. He didn’t even know her, and he was having this reaction. Why her? Why now?

“If that isn’t better in a few days, you need to have another X-ray. You also need to take some over-the-counter pain reliever for the next few days.”

Even in a jumpsuit more suited for a male, Sal looked all female. He must have messed up his mind as well as his side in that fire. These thoughts had to stop here.

Her quipping “You can pull your shirt down now” brought him back to reality.

Ross walked toward the door, tucking his shirt in as he went. “Thanks, Sal.”

“By the way, I think what you did at that house was both brave and stupid.”

CHAPTER TWO

ROSS DIDN’T OFTEN get involved in the social side of the fire department but he was making an exception this time for two reasons. One, the annual picnic was a good place to take Olivia and Jared, his niece and nephew, while they were visiting. Two, it would be nice if he was seen by the bosses interacting positively with his fellow firefighters and the first responders at his station. He needed any edge he could get to gain the promotion.

The event was being held at one of the large parks in town. Not being a family man, Ross had only been to a few of them. There would be the usual fare of barbecue, baked beans, boiled corn and Texas-sized slices of bread. Desserts of every kind and drinks would also be provided. Along with the food were child-friendly games and crafts. Jared and Olivia were excited about the games. He was more interested in the menu; it was some of his favorite food groups.

Ross looked around the area for a parking space. The weather was clear. It would be a perfect day for the event. He scanned the vehicles to see if any belonged to the members of his station. Kody had said he would be there. Would Sal be with him? Why would he care about that? She’d been on his mind too much lately.

Ross enjoyed having the kids around. They came for a weekend now and then, but this time they were staying for a little more than a week while his sister and her husband were out of town. Normally, they would have stayed with his parents but they were off on a cruise. He had sort of volunteered and then been asked to take them for ten days. On the days he worked, a friend’s wife had agreed to watch them.

He pulled his truck into a spot in the already half-full parking lot teeming with people. Seconds later, Jared and Olivia were climbing out, their eyes bright with excitement.

“Yay, there’s face painting. I want to go over there.” Olivia pointed to a tent not far away.

“I want to go ride the pony,” Jared said over his sister.

Ross raised his voice above it all. “Circle up here. We need to have a couple of ground rules. Number one, we stay together, and number two, we stay together. If I lose you kids, your mother and father will be mad at me.” He grinned at them. “Got it?”

“Got it!” they chimed in.

“Okay. Why don’t we go have lunch first, then we can make the rounds and do anything you like afterward?”

He raised a hand for a high five. Jared and Olivia enthusiastically slapped his palm.

They made their way to the buffet-style line that had formed under a large shelter and joined it.

The kids each held their plates as he served pulled pork onto their sandwich buns. While he was filling his plate with ribs, he looked across the table to see Sal taking some as well. How long had she been there? “Hey, I didn’t see you over there.”

This was the first time he’d ever seen her in anything but a jumpsuit. Today she was wearing a simple sky blue T-shirt that was tucked into tight, well-worn jeans. A thin belt drew his attention to her hips. She looked fit but not skinny. Her hair flowed down around her shoulders. This version of Sal was very appealing.

Her eyelids flickered and she said shyly, “Hi, Ross. I think you’re a little busy to notice much.”

“You’re right about that.” He looked for the kids and found there was a gap between him and them. He saw Sal’s grin and forgot what he was doing. He hurriedly returned to picking out his ribs and moved forward. The kids each added a small bag of chips to their plates. When they were all finished, they picked out canned drinks from large containers filled with ice.

When Ross turned around after getting his, he noticed Sal pulling her drink out of a bucket next to his. It didn’t appear anyone was with her. Their eyes met and she gave him a soft unsure smile. She looked away over the sea of picnic tables and walked away. Would she have joined them if he’d asked? Did he want her to?

“Come on, kids, let’s see about finding a place to sit.” He nodded forward. “Jared, head out through the picnic tables that way.”

The boy did as Ross said and he and Olivia followed. As they moved along, a number of people he knew spoke to him. He called “hi” and kept moving. Finally, he saw Jared doing a fast walk toward an empty table. Relieved they had found one, Ross settled in for his meal.

He spied Sal weaving through the tables, obviously searching for a place to sit.

She came close enough that he raised his hand and called, “Hey, Sal, come join us. We have room.”

Her face brightened at her name, but when she turned his way she looked hesitant, as if trying to figure out a way to refuse, but she came their way.

As she set her lunch down next to Olivia’s and across from him, she said, “Thanks. Kody and Lucy are coming but they’re running late.” She looked around her. “There sure are a lot of people here. I had no idea that it’d be like this.” She slipped her legs under the table.

“Austin’s isn’t a tiny fire department. The families really turn out for the picnic.” What was happening to him? He didn’t invite single women he worked with to join him for a meal. It was against departmental policy for firefighters and medical personnel at the same station to see each other. But this wasn’t a date. He was just being nice.

He wasn’t dating right now anyway. In college, he’d dated as much as any of his friends. During the early years of joining the department he’d done the bar scene with some of the other bachelors for a few years but that had got old fast. It was hard to see about the ranch and work his odd hours and keep that lifestyle.

Once he’d been serious about someone, but it hadn’t worked out. She’d hated his schedule and had been afraid he might be hurt or killed. After a messy breakup, he’d decided to concentrate on his career and not worry about the aggravation of maintaining a relationship for a while. For now, he’d like to keep things casual, uncomplicated. Maybe after making Battalion Chief he would give serious thought to settling down. But that wouldn’t or couldn’t include seeing someone he worked with.

“I see.” She glanced at Jared and Olivia. “I didn’t know you had children.”

Olivia giggled.

“This is my niece and nephew. They’re spending a couple of weeks with me while my sister and her husband are out of town. Sal, this is Jared and Olivia.”

Olivia gave her a curious look. “Your name is Sal? That’s a boy’s name.”

“That’s what your uncle calls me at work. My name is really Sally.”

His niece wrinkled her nose. “I like Sally better.”

Ross did too. It suited her. To think he had never really wondered what her full name was.

Sally looked down at Olivia and smiled. “You know, I do too.”

That was interesting. Why didn’t she ever correct anybody at the station?

Sally turned her attention to her food and the rest of them did as well. She handed over a napkin to Jared. Ross looked at him. He had barbecue sauce running down his chin.

The boy took it from her.

“Good sandwich?” Sally asked, smiling.

“Yes.” Jared grinned.

“I can tell. Mine’s good too.”

“Uncle Ross’s must be good too because it’s all over his face.” Olivia pointed to him.

They all laughed.

“He looks like a clown,” Olivia blurted out.

They all broke into laughter again.

“What?” He wiped his mouth and looked at the napkin. There was a lot of sauce on it.

“It’s still on there,” Jared stated.

Ross tried again to clean his face.

“It’s still on there,” Olivia said with a giggle.

“You guys are starting to hurt my feelings.” Ross liked the sound of Sally’s laughter—sweet and full-bodied.

“Here, let me see if I can help you.” Sally held up her napkin. “Lean toward me.”

Ross did as she suggested as she shifted toward him. Their eyes met and held for a moment. There was a flicker of something there. Awareness, curiosity, interest?

Sally blinked and her focus moved on. A moment later she rubbed a spot on his cheek and sat back.

“She got it,” Olivia announced.

However, she had left a warmth behind for him to think about.

“Jared,” Sally said a little too brightly, as if she had been affected as well. “How old are you?”

“Nine.”

“What do you like? Football? Baseball…?” Her attention remained on him as if she was truly interested.

“Soccer.”

“Soccer. I’ve watched a few games but I don’t know much about the rules.”

Ross grinned as Jared lapsed into a full monologue about soccer playing. It hadn’t taken long for Sal, uh, Sally to find the kid’s sweet spot.

When he ran out of steam Sally was quick to ask, “Olivia, do you have something special you like to do?”

“I like to draw.”

“Do you draw people, or animals or landscapes?” Sally took a bite of her sandwich while waiting for an answer.

Olivia wrinkled her forehead. “Landscapes? What’s that?”

“Pictures of trees and grass,” Jared offered.

“That’s right.” Sally gave him a smile of praise.

“No, I like to draw horses. I drew a picture of Uncle Ross’s horses.”

Sally’s attention turned to him. She seemed surprised. “You have horses?”

“I do. I own a few acres out west of town.”

“You need to come see Uncle Ross’s horses sometime. They’re beautiful.” Olivia let the last word trail out. “Their names are Romeo and Juliet.”

Sally smiled at her. “Are they, now?” She looked at him with a teasing grin on her lips. “Interesting names for horses.”

“Hey, they were already named when I bought them.”

She grinned. “So you say.”

They returned to eating their meals.

As they finished, Olivia asked, “Uncle Ross, can I go have my face painted now?”

Jared turned to him. “And I want to ride the pony.”

“We can’t do both at the same time. Who’s going first?”

Both their hands went up.

Sally covered her smile with a hand.

Ross looked at her and shook his head sadly. “I can handle a company of men at a fire with no problem but give me two kids.”

Her look met his. “I think you’re doing great.”

She did? For some reason he rather liked that idea.

Sally pushed her plate to the center of the table. “Maybe I can help. I can take Olivia to have her face painted while you take Jared to ride the pony. We can meet somewhere afterward.”

Ross looked at the children. “That sounds like a plan, doesn’t it, kids?”

They both nodded.

He looked around. “Okay, we’ll meet over there by the flagpole.”

Sally stood. “Then we’ll see you in a little while. Olivia, bring your trash and we’ll put it in the garbage on the way.”

To his surprise Olivia made no argument about cleaning up. Instead she did as Sally asked. As they headed toward the face-painting booth, Olivia slipped her hand into Sally’s. She swung it between them.

Sally strolled with Olivia across the grassy area toward the activities. Ross’s niece and nephew were nice kids. They seemed to adore him and he them. Her ex-husband, Wade, had never really cared for children. He’d always said he wanted his own but he’d never liked others’, thought they were always dirty. More than once he’d worried they would get his clothes nasty when they were around. Thinking back, she didn’t understand what she’d seen in him. How she’d even thought herself in love.

Wade had been the local wonder boy. Everyone had loved him, thought he was great. She had too, which was why she’d given up almost everything she loved to make him happy. They hadn’t been married long when she’d learned he was having an affair. She’d tried to work it out but Wade wasn’t going to change his ways. How had she been so oblivious? What she had thought was real and special had all been a lie. Finally, she’d filed for divorce.

Her judgment where men were concerned was off. All her trust was gone. Never would she be taken in like that again. She mentally shook her head. She wasn’t going to ruin a nice day thinking about her ex-husband.

Half an hour later, she and Olivia were on their way to the flagpole. Olivia had a large fuchsia star on one cheek and smaller ones trailing away from it up across her forehead, along with a smile on her lips. Sally couldn’t help but smile as well at how proud the girl was.

As they approached the pole, Ross and Jared walked up. The grin on Ross’s face when he saw Olivia made Sally’s grow. He had such a nice smile. Wide, carefree and inviting. She’d really been missing out on something special by never having seen it before. Most of their interactions had been working ones where there had been no time for smiles.

Ross went down on one knee in front of Olivia. “I love your stars.”

Sally watched the similar-colored heads so close together. Ross would make a good father someday. “How was your pony ride, Jared?”

“It was fun, but not as much fun as riding Uncle Ross’s horses.”

“Can we go play in the jumping games?” Olivia pointed toward the inflatable games set up across the field.

“Yeah, Uncle Ross, can we?” Jared joined in.

Sally looked back at the crowd in line for food. Were Kody and Lucy here yet? She didn’t want Ross to think he had to entertain her as well.

“Sure we can.” Ross started that way with Jared and Olivia on either side of him. He glanced over his shoulder. “Sally, you coming?”

“Sure.” She hurried after them. If he didn’t mind, it would be nicer than just standing around waiting on Kody and his daughter to show up.

As Jared and Olivia played in the inflatable game with the net sides, she and Ross stood outside watching them dive and roll through the small multicolored balls.

After a few minutes of uncertain silence, she said, “Jared and Olivia are really sweet.”

“Yeah, I think they’re pretty great. Their mom and dad are raising them right.”

“Is your sister older or younger than you?” She was more curious than she should be about Ross.

“I’m older, but sometimes she treats me like I’m the younger one. She worries about me being a fireman, or not being married. I know she cares but it does get old.”

“I know the feeling. Kody likes to worry over me. My father encourages it as well. I don’t know what I’d do without Kody though. He’s the one who encouraged me to move out here. Best thing I’ve ever done.”

Kody had told her that she needed to get away from the memories. More than once he had talked about how much he and Lucy liked living here. He’d even tried to get their parents to move out west as well.

“That’s right, y’all aren’t from around here. You moved out here from North Carolina, isn’t that right?”

“Yeah, after my divorce Kody told me there was plenty of work for a paramedic out here. So I decided to come.”

“Kody said something about you having been in a bad marriage. I’m sorry.”

Sally was too. She didn’t take marriage lightly.

“Hey, Aunt Sally.”

She turned to see Lucy running toward her with Kody not far behind. Lucy reached her and wrapped her arms around her for a hug. Sally loved her niece. On Sally’s days off she often helped Kody with Lucy. Occasionally he needed Lucy to stay over at Sally’s while he worked his shift. Sally didn’t mind. She enjoyed spending time with her niece. “Hey there. I was starting to wonder where you were.”

Kody joined them. “Sorry, the birthday party Lucy was at went longer than I expected.” He reached out a hand and spoke to Ross. “Hey, man.”

Ross gave Kody’s hand a hardy shake. “Glad you made it. Have you tried the ribs yet? They’re great.”

“Yeah, we just ate, then saw y’all down here. Thanks for taking care of my sister.”

Heat went through Sally. She didn’t need taking care of. She gave her brother a quelling look. “Kody!”

He acted as if she hadn’t said anything as Ross said, “We saw each other and I invited her to eat with us. No big deal.” Ross made it sound as if he was trying to explain keeping her out too late to her father.

“Daddy, can I jump?” Lucy pulled on Kody’s hand.

“Sure, honey.”

Lucy kicked off her shoes and entered the box. Soon she was busy having fun with Jared and Olivia and the other children.

A few minutes later the man monitoring the game told the children inside that it was time to give others a chance. The kids climbed out, put their shoes on and joined them.

Sally put her hand on Lucy’s shoulder. “Lucy, I’d like for you to meet Jared and Olivia. Jared and Olivia, this is Lucy. She’s my niece.”

“Like Uncle Ross is our uncle,” Olivia chirped.

Sally smiled at her. “That’s right.”

A man announcing over a microphone the relay games were about to begin interrupted their conversation.

“Can we go watch, Uncle Ross?” Jared asked.

“Sure. You guys going?” He looked from her to Kody.

“Why not?” Kody responded for them both.

They walked toward the field that had been set up as a relay course. A crowd was already lining up along each side of the area marked with lanes.

“The first race is the egg carry. Children only. Get your spoon and egg and line up.”

All three of the kids wanted to participate.

Jared and Olivia were in lanes next to each other. Ross stood behind them. Lucy, with Kody doing the same, was in the lane next to them. Sally stood on the sidelines to cheer them on. The children put the handle of a plastic spoon in their mouth and sat the boiled egg in the other end.

The man said, “You have to go down and around the barrel with the egg in the spoon. First one back wins. Go on three. One, two, three.”

The children took off. Olivia only made it a short distance before her egg fell out. She hurried to pick it up and place it in the spoon again. Lucy and Jared were already at the barrel. Not getting far, Olivia lost hers again. She looked at Ross, her face twisted as if she was about to sob.

With what looked like no hesitation, Ross hurried to her. He went down on one knee and said something to Olivia. He offered her the spoon. She looked unsure but placed it in her mouth. Ross added the egg, then wrapped his arms around Olivia’s waist and lifted her. He walked with a slow steady pace toward the barrel. Sally’s heart expanded. Ross Lawson was a good uncle. They were way behind the others but the crowd cheered as Ross and Olivia rounded the barrel and headed for the finish line.

They were the last to cross the line but the people acted as if she was the first. Ross placed Olivia’s feet on the ground and went down on a knee. The little girl dropped her spoon and egg, and turned around, beaming at Ross. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a hug. What could have been a horrible memory for his niece, Ross had turned into one of joy.

Ross and Olivia joined their little group once more and they watched more of the races, cheering on people they knew.

A little while later the man with the microphone said, “Okay, it’s time for the three-legged race. We’re going to do something a little different this year to start out with. We need a male and female to represent each fire station. We’re going to have a little friendly house-to-house competition. Pick your partner, and come to the line.”

“Uncle Ross, you and Sally need to go,” Jared said.

“Yeah, you need to,” the girls agreed.

“I don’t think so.” Sally looked around for an excuse not to participate. She received no help from Kody, who just grinned at her.

“Someone does need to represent our station.” Ross studied her.

“Go, Aunt Sally.” Lucy gave her a little push.

She returned Ross’s assessing look. Surely he wouldn’t want to do it.

He said with far more enthusiasm than she felt, “Come on. Let’s win this thing.”

It figured Ross was competitive.

They hurried to a lane. Ross quickly tied the strip of cloth lying on the ground around their ankles. The entire time she tried not to touch him any more than necessary. She wasn’t very successful. They met all the way up the length of their legs. Her nerves went into a frenzy when Ross’s arm came around her waist. He felt so solid and secure. What was going on with her?

“Put your arm around me,” Ross commanded.

With heart thumping harder than normal, Sally did as he requested. Her fingers clutched his shirt.

“Not my shirt, me.” His words were teasing almost, but demanding, drawing her gaze to his face, which was fierce with concentration and determination. She bit back a laugh as her fingers gripped the well-founded muscle of his side.

“You really do want to win?” she murmured.

He glanced at her with disbelief. “Don’t you? We start with our outside leg. You ready?”

“Uh, yeah?” She wanted to run for her car.

The man asked, “Runners ready?”

“Okay, here we go.” Ross’s voice was intense.

“Go!” the man said.

Ross called, “Outside, inside…”

They were on their way. He was matching the length of his stride to hers. Ross continued to keep the cadence as they hurried up the lane. She tried to concentrate on what they were doing but the physical contact kept slipping in to ruin it. When she tripped, his grip on her waist tightened.

“Outside, inside…” He helped her to get back in sync.

As they made the turn around the barrel, he lifted her against his body as if she weighed nothing. After they had swung around, he let her down and said, “Inside.”

Her fingertips dug into his side. Ross grunted, but didn’t slow down. His ribs must still be tender. She eased her grip and concentrated on their rhythm again.

The crowd yelled and Ross held her tighter, plastering her against him. They picked up speed.

Between breaths Ross said, “Come on, we’re almost there.”

Sally put all the effort she had into walking fast. They were near the line when Ross lifted her again and swung her forward with him. The crowd roared as they crossed the finish line. They stumbled hard and went down. Ross landed over her. They were a tangle of arms and legs and laughter.

Ross’s breath was hot against her cheek. Her hands were fanned out across his chest. His arms were under her as if he had tried to protect her from the fall. As he looked at her, his eyes held a flicker of masculine awareness. Her stomach fluttered with a feminine response.

“Stay still. I’ll untie us.” His breath brushed over her lips.

“Well, folks, that was a close one,” the man said.

“Aunt Sally, you won! You won!” Lucy’s voice came from above her.

“We did?” she grunted as she and Ross worked to untangle themselves from each other.

Ross finally released their legs and stood. He had that beautiful smile on his face again as he offered her a hand. She put hers in his. He pulled her up into his arms and swung her around. “We sure did!”

“Oh.” Her arms wrapped around his neck as she hung on. Just as quickly, he let her go. It took her a moment to regain her balance.

Lucy hugged her and Kody slapped Ross on the back. Jared and Olivia circled them, jumping up and down.

“You were great.” Ross grinned at her with satisfaction.

She brushed herself off. “Thanks. You did most of the work.”

“Okay, everyone,” the man said. “There’s ice cream for everyone before we have the stations’ tug-of-war events.”

“I don’t know about you guys but I think Sal and I earned some ice cream,” Ross said to their group.

“It’s Sally, Uncle Ross,” Olivia corrected him.

Ross looked at her. “Sally and I, then.”

“I’ve always called her Sweet Pea,” Kody quipped.

Sally groaned.

Ross glanced at her and beamed mischievously.

Sally started walking. The three kids joined her. She might never live this day down.

Ross spooned another bite of ice cream into his mouth. He, Kody and Sally were sitting at a table finishing their food while they watched the kids playing on the park playground equipment. The kids had become fast friends.

He looked at Sally. Her concentration remained on her bowl. She’d really been a trouper during their race. Yet by her expression he’d gathered she hadn’t wanted anything to do with it. Was her silent objection to the race or running it with him?

His reaction to having her bound to him had been unexpected. That response had grown and hung like a cloud over them when they had been tangled in each other’s arms. There had been a smoldering moment when she had looked at him with, what? Surprise? Interest? Desire? He was male enough to recognize her interest but smart enough to know that she was off-limits, for a number of reasons.

Sally was the sister of a friend. She worked with him. From what he understood she wasn’t yet over her divorce and had no interest in dating. More to the point, she didn’t strike him as someone who would settle for a fling. As for himself, he couldn’t afford to have his mind or emotions anywhere but on his job right now. A real relationship would be a distraction, and something about Sally made him believe that she would be the definition of distraction.

Then there were his scars. More than once they had turned a woman off. A number of women he’d dated had expected a big, strong firefighter would be flawless, would look like a subject of a calendar. They had been disappointed by him.

Thankfully Kody asking him a question directed his mind to a safer topic. A few minutes later the announcer called the tug-of-war teams to the field.

Ross said to Kody, “Well, it’s time for the fun to begin. We need to win this thing. I’ve heard about all I want to about how strong the Twos are.” He raised his voice. “Come on, Jared and Olivia, it’s time for the contest.”

The kids stopped playing and started toward them.

Sally chuckled. “You’re really looking forward to this, aren’t you?”

“Oh, yeah. All I’ve heard from Station Two is how they won last year. I’m ready for payback. Do you mind watching Jared and Olivia while I’m pulling?”

“Not at all.”

“Lucy too?” Kody added.

“Sure. I’ve got them all. You guys go on. I’ll bring the kids.”

He and Kody loped across the field to join the other members of the station. When they reached the part of the field where the tug-of-war would take place, Ross raised his hand. “House Twelve. Here.”

Other station captains were doing the same. There was a great deal of commotion as everyone located their fellow companies.

The announcer came on again. “Firefighters and first responders may I have your attention?”

The crowd quieted.

“This is how the competition is going to work. We’ve set up brackets by pulling station numbers out of a hat. Those will pull against each other. The winner will continue on to the next bracket until we have a winner. Now each house needs to huddle up and decide which six people from your station will be pulling. There must be at least one woman on the team. If your house doesn’t have enough people present, then you may recruit from your family members. If you have any questions you need to see Chief Curtis up here. As always, he’s our final word.”

Using his “at a fire” voice, Ross spoke to the people around him. “Okay, Erickson, Smith, Hart, Kody and me. Rogers, you’ll be our designated woman. Does that work for everyone?”

“Ten-four, Captain!” they cheered.

“Great. Now, get into position and get ready to give it all you’ve got.”

Those who weren’t chosen went to join those lining the tug-of-war area. Ross and his team moved to the large-diameter rope lying on the ground. A piece of cloth was tied in the middle of it. A chalk line had been drawn across the pulling area.

He glanced over to see Sally and the kids standing near the line. There was excitement on their faces. They all hollered, “Go, Twelves!”

Each team member picked up a section of the rope. Ross anchored at the back where a knot was tied.

The announcer said, “We have our first two teams. The Twelves and the Thirty-Fives. On the word go I want you to start pulling. You must keep pulling until the last man is over the line. Is everyone ready?”

“Ten-four!” both teams shouted.

Ross called, “Dig in, firefighters. Let’s win this thing.” He grabbed the rope tighter.

When the announcer yelled, “Go!” Ross pulled as hard as he could. The grunts of the others ahead of him joined his as they slowly walked backward. The shouts of the crowd encouraging them grew louder. Suddenly there was slack in the rope and he staggered to keep himself upright. They had won. The crowd cheered as his team turned to each other, giving each other high fives.

He would be in pain before the day was done with that much exertion. His ribs had objected when Sally had gripped his side during the three-legged race. With the pulling, they had spoken up loudly again. Still, he was going to do his part to win the tug-of-war. His team needed him. The key was not to let on he was hurting.

Sally and the kids joined him and Kody, giving them their excited congratulations.

Sal said, “Hey, kids, how about helping me get some bottled water for our team?”

“Okay!” all three of the kids agreed.

Sally and the kids hurried away and soon returned with arms filled with bottles. Those standing around took one. Ross finished his in two large gulps. With the next competition about to begin, they moved to the side to watch as the next two teams took the field.

Soon it was time to compete again. They won the next three pulls and were now in the final facing Station Two.

Ross lined up again with his team.

“Go, Uncle Ross, go!” Olivia yelled.

“Go, Twelves! You can do this!” Sally called.

Ross’s heart pounded in anticipation as the announcer said, “Go!” On that word he dug his heels into the ground and pulled with all of his might. His hands, arms and shoulders strained. The muscles in his legs trembled with the effort to move backward. Sweat ran into his eyes and still he pulled. His side burned. Clenching his teeth, he tried not to think about it. Concentrate was what he had to do.

The crowd shouted, voices mixing into a roar of encouragement.

Despite the pain he continued to tug. His legs quivered from the effort. Once, twice, three times the team was pulled forward. Only with strength of will did they remain steady and reverse the movement.

He dug deep within himself and called, “Let’s take these guys.”

With a burst of energy, Ross pulled harder. The others must have done so as well. They made steady steps backward.

Not soon enough for him the announcer said, “And the winner is Station Twelve.”

A cheer went up. Ross put his hands on his knees and gulped deep breaths. The other members of the station surrounded them. A bottle of water appeared before his face. He looked up. Sally held it. She gave him a happy smile that made his already racing heart thump harder. All his efforts were worth it for that alone.

“You were great.” Her voice was full of excitement.

Ross returned her smile. “Thanks. It wasn’t just me. We did it as a team.”

“Yeah, but you got them to give their all.”

His ego expanded. He had to admit he liked her praise.

Others coming to congratulate him on the victory separated him and Sally.

As everything settled down, the announcer said, “Well, that’s all for this year’s picnic, folks. We look forward to seeing you next year. Be safe on your drive home.”

Everyone slowly drifted off. Their party started toward the parking lot.

“Can I ride piggyback, Uncle Ross?” Olivia asked.

He didn’t think his body could tolerate it, but didn’t want to disappoint her.

Before he could say anything, Sally suggested, “How about holding my hand?” Lucy already had one of them. “I think your uncle Ross is tired after all that pulling.” She gave him a knowing smile.

“Okay.” Olivia took it.

Thank you, he mouthed to her.

She nodded.

“We’re down this way.” Kody nodded, indicating the other end of the parking lot. He gave Sally a quick hug. “See you soon.”

Lucy did the same. “Bye, Aunt Sally.”

“I better head to my car too.” Looking unsure, Sally let go of Olivia’s hand. “It was nice to meet you, Olivia and Jared. I enjoyed the day.” She started off.

“Hey, wait up, we’re going that way too,” Ross called.

Sally paused. Olivia took her hand again.

“We’ll walk you to your car.” Why he’d decided that was a good idea, he didn’t know. Sally was fully capable of getting to her car by herself.

“Uh, okay.”

He grinned. “You thought you’d get rid of us easier than that, didn’t you?”

“I’m not looking to get rid of you.” She glanced at him. Her cheeks were pink. “You know what I mean.”

He chuckled, then immediately winced.

Her face turned concerned. “Are your ribs still bothering you?”

“You’re not going to get all up in my face if I tell you yes, are you?”

Her lips drew into a thin line. “I might.”

“Yeah, today’s activity didn’t help much.” He didn’t like people seeing weakness in him and for some reason it really mattered that she didn’t.

“Have you been taking it easy, until today, that is?” She studied him.

He couldn’t meet her gaze. “Well, I’ve been trying. How’s that for an answer?”

She quirked her mouth to one side in disappointment. “When you get home, run a hot bath and soak. It’ll help. You do know someone else could have taken your place in the tug-of-war?” There was a bite to her words. She wasn’t happy with him.

He grinned. “Yeah, but what fun would that have been?”

She shook her head. “Men. Here’s my car. Bye, Olivia and Jared. See you later, Ross.”

He and the kids called goodbye and continued on.

Why did he miss her already?

As he was about to start the truck, there was a knock on his window. He jumped. It was Sally. She motioned for him to roll down the glass.

“Hold out your hand.”

He did. She deposited some capsules.

“These’ll help with the pain. Bye, Ross.” She said the last softly.

Something sweet lingered as she walked away. Something better left alone.

CHAPTER THREE

TWO DAYS LATER Ross was in his chair in the office doing paperwork when the ambulance backed into the bay. He watched out the window as Sally came around to the rear of the ambulance. She looked tired. They had already made twice as many runs as the fire side had during the shift.

His company had spent the last few hours washing the trucks, checking the supplies and making sure the station was in pristine order. Now some of the men were in the exercise room working out while others were watching a movie in the TV room.

One of his men stopped at the open door and looked in. “Hey, Ross, it’s your turn to cook tonight. Do we need to make a run to the grocery store or do you have what you need?”

Each shift shared kitchen duty. Some stations had one person who liked to do the cooking, while others had a revolving schedule and the crew took turns. His station shared the duty. They assigned two people per shift to handle the meal. His turn had come up. He wasn’t a great cook but he could produce simple meals. Mostly he hoped to have someone more skilled than him as his partner.

“I’ll check. Who’s on with me?”

“Sal.”

He’d planned to stay out of her circle as much as possible, spooked as he was by his over-the-top reaction to their time together at the picnic. Cooking a meal with Sally wouldn’t accomplish that, but how could he get out of it without causing a lot of questions or hurting her feelings? No solution occurred to him, so he resigned himself to spending time with her. Surely he was capable of that.

During the last few weeks it seemed as if they had seen more of each other than they had in months. In spite of their one day on and two off schedules, he was aware she often worked extra hours in order to have extended time off. What did she do during that time? Why that suddenly mattered to him, he had no idea. He huffed. It wasn’t his business anyway.

Ross again glanced into the bay, then back to the man. “They’re just rolling in. I’ll give her time to clean up, then go see what she thinks. They’ve already made a couple of runs this afternoon. I don’t know for how much I can depend on her.”

“Ten-four.”

A few minutes later Ross crossed the bay to the door of the medical area. Sally was going through a drawer. “Hey.”

She turned. “Hey.”

“Tough shift?”

“You could say that. Two big calls back-to-back.” She shrugged. “But you know how that goes.”

She was right, he’d had those days as well. “I hate to add to it but we have KP duty tonight. I’d say I’d handle it, but I’m not a great cook.”

Sally grinned. “You’re not one of those stereotypical firemen who has his own cookbook?”

Ross chuckled. “No, Trent who works over at Tens does. I bought his cookbook to be supportive but that doesn’t mean I know how to use it. I could see if one of the other guys wants to help.”

“What gives you the idea I’m not any good either?”

He wasn’t used to people putting him on the spot and gave her a speculative look. “Are you?”

Her eyes twinkled. “Yeah, I’m a good cook.”

Ross wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. “Woo, that’s a relief. If we need something, my crew can make a run to the grocery store.”

“I have a couple more things to do here, so I’ll meet you in the kitchen in a few minutes and we’ll see what we’ve got available. Surely you can open some cans if I’m called out.”

“That I can do.” He left and headed toward the kitchen.

This was the first time they’d been partnered in any real way. They had each done their jobs during runs but had never really interacted until the picnic. He rather liked Sally. She challenged him even at creating a meal. He wouldn’t have thought he would appreciate that kind of confrontation but he did.

He was already in the kitchen area when she showed up. “Any ideas?”

“Let’s see what’s in the pantry.” She opened the oversize door off to the side and propped it open with a crate, despite the fact the closet was large enough to hold both of them with ease. Was she fearful of being in a closed space with a man, with him in particular, or was there something else? It was just as well he wouldn’t ever take a chance on being caught in a suggestive situation with a female at the station. Having that on his record would ruin any chance for advancement. This promotion was important to him, his opportunity to make a real difference.

It had been while he was in the hospital after the fire that he’d decided one day he would help people as that firefighter had helped his grandpa. As soon as Ross had graduated from high school, he’d joined the same volunteer fire department that had saved them. He’d continued to do so while he was in college. After that, he’d joined the Austin Fire Department. He loved everything about being a fireman.

In some odd way, he was determined to outdo fire. To be smarter than it. Learn to anticipate its next move. He wanted to control, conquer it so no one else would ever have to live through those moments of fear he’d had.

Sally ran her fingers down the canned goods stacked on a shelf. “Yeah, I think we have enough here for vegetable soup. Corn, beans, chopped potatoes and tomato juice. Two tins of each should do it and we can always make grilled cheese sandwiches.”

He pursed his lips and nodded. “That sounds good.”

Ross stepped to the doorway but didn’t enter. Their meal would have to feed six firefighters and two medical support techs.

“Is there any ground beef left over, or roast beef in the freezer or the refrigerator?” she asked as if she’d been thinking along the same chain of thought.

“I’ll check.” As he walked across the kitchen, he could hear the clinking of cans being shifted.

After rummaging through the freezer for a moment, he announced, “Yeah, there’s two or three pounds of ground beef.”

“Pull it out to thaw. It can go into the soup,” she called from the closet before she appeared with her arms full of cans. She dumped them on the counter as he placed the beef in the sink.

“There’s a couple more cans in there. Do you mind getting them?”

He went to the closet and retrieved the cans sitting off by themselves. “Are these them?”

“Yeah.”

With his foot, Ross pushed the crate back into the pantry and let the door automatically close before going to the counter. He put the cans beside the others. “What now?”

Sal looked at him with her hand on a hip. “This is a partnership, not a chef/sous chef situation.”

“I prefer the chef/sous chef plan.” Ross grinned.

“You act as if you don’t do this often.”

He leaned his hip against the counter. “I don’t, if I can get out of it.”

“Okay, since you’ve designated me to be the chef, I’m going to put you to work. Start by opening all the cans. You’re qualified on a can opener, aren’t you?”

“I can handle that. It’s electric, isn’t it?”

Sally laughed. “Yeah. It is.” She turned her back to him. “And they let him be captain of a company.”

Ross pulled the opener out from under the counter. “I heard that.”

Pulling a large boiler out from under the cabinet near the stove, she put it on a large unit and turned it on. Ross opened cans and set them aside as he covertly watched Sal uncover the still-frozen meat and place it in the pot. She worked with the same efficacy that she used in her medical care.

“So you just have that recipe in your head? Carry it around all the time?”

Sally glanced over her shoulder. “I made it for my family all the time growing up.” She tapped her forehead. “I keep it locked away right here.”

“Well, I have to admit I’m impressed. I had no idea you had such skills.”

“I’m not surprised. We really haven’t worked together much.”

Ross sort of hoped that would change even as he sternly told himself, yet again, he wanted no interferences in his life right now. Socializing with a female he worked with would definitely qualify as that.

“It’s nothing but meat and a few cans of vegetables.” She turned serious. “But the secret ingredient is Worcestershire sauce. Would you mind checking the refrigerator door and see if there’s any there?”

He did as she requested. “There’s half a bottle.”

“That’ll be enough.” Her attention remained on what she was doing. “We’ll make it work. Is there any ketchup, by chance?”

Ross opened the refrigerator door again. “Yeah, there’s some of that.”

“Then bring that too.”

“Ketchup?” He’d never heard of such a thing.

“It’ll add a little thickness to it and also a little sweetness.”

“You really are a chef.”

“It takes more than ketchup soup to make you a chef.”

A loud buzz followed by a long alarm then three shorts indicating it was their station being called ended their conversation. Ross was already moving as Sally turned off the stove and put the pot into the refrigerator along with the open cans.

As they ran down the hall toward the bay, the dispatcher’s voice came over the loudspeakers. “Two-car accident at the intersection of Taft and Houston. One car on fire.”

Moments later Ross was sliding his feet into his boots next to his crewmates. He jerked up his pants and flipped the suspenders over his shoulders. It took seconds for him to pull on his turnout gear that had sat ready on the bay floor. Grabbing his coat, he swung up and into the passenger seat of the engine, while the other firefighters got into their seats behind him. He secured his helmet with the strap under his chin.

One of his men was assigned the job of pushing the buttons to open the huge overhead door. The driver hopped in and they wheeled out of the station with the siren blaring. His company worked like a well-oiled machine. They were out the door in less than a minute. They had four to get to the scene. This economy of effort was another of his leadership qualities that hopefully would get him an edge on that promotion.

Sally and her crewman were right behind them. The traffic pulled to the side and stopped, allowing them to go by. At the lights they slowed then continued on. The goal was not to create another accident in their speedy effort to get to the first emergency.

As they traveled, Ross was on the radio with dispatch, getting as much information about the accident as possible. His heart rate always rose as the adrenaline pumped and thoughts of what to expect ahead raced.

They pulled up to the accident but not too close. Sally and her partner did the same. Ross’s stomach roiled. The driver’s-side door of one car was smashed. It had been the center of impact. The passenger door behind it was a mangled mess but standing open. A child-size jacket hung halfway out the door and a doll lay on the road.

Smoke bellowed from the hood of the other car and oil covered the area. His job was to get the fire contained and put out. Thankfully there was no gas spreading.

“We need a fire extinguisher up here. Spread for the oil.”

As his men worked with the fire, he could see that at least the car seat remained intact inside the first car and the child was gone. Looking about, he could see Sally’s partner assessing the kid, who looked about four years old. The bigger issue now would be getting the woman who was still wedged in the front out.

Another ambulance arrived.

Ross continued to give orders and his men moved to follow them without questions. They knew their duties and went to work. He moved closer to the car to see Sally climbing into the back seat.

“What do you need?” he asked.

She didn’t look at him. “We’re going to need the Jaws of Life to get her out. The car is crushed so badly the front doors won’t open. I suspect the driver has internal injuries. We need to get her out right away.”

Using the radio, Ross said, “Rob, we need the Jaws of Life. Jim, you help him.”

The men rushed to the supply truck. Ross looked at Sally again to see her securing a neck brace on the woman. All the time she was reassuring her patient she would be fine, and her child too. He walked away long enough to see that everything was under control with the other car. The driver was sitting on the curb, dazed but otherwise looking uninjured. One of the EMTs from the second ambulance was seeing to him.

A couple of his firefighters were rerouting traffic along with the police.

He rejoined Sal as his men with the heavy-duty machine returned to the car. They inserted the mouth of the instrument into the area where the doors met and the machine slowly pushed the two apart. It took precious minutes. The metal creaked as it bent and groaned as it shifted. Finally, the firefighters were able to separate the doors.

“We need the gurney over here,” Sally called, then said over her shoulder to Ross, “We’ll need some help getting her on it.”

Ross and another firefighter moved into position, while she and another EMT stood across from them.

“I want us to slowly move her out, scooting her along the gurney.” This was Sally’s area of expertise and he would follow her lead.

Minutes later the patient was in the box with Sally in attendance and sirens blaring, headed toward the hospital. Ross and his company went to work seeing that the vehicles were loaded on wreckers and debris was cleared from the road.

By the time Sally finally made it back to the station kitchen, she found Ross stirring the soup, which bubbled gently on the stove. He was more talented than she had given him credit for.

“Hey, I’m glad you could join me. I thought I was going to have to take all the glory.” He grinned at her. The kind that caused a flutter in her middle. Why him? Why now? He was a nice guy. The kind she might be able to trust. She shook her head. If it was another time in her life, she might be tempted.

She smirked. “Like I was going to let that happen.”

“You were right. Looks like I can brown meat and dump cans of vegetables.” He sounded pleased with himself.

“Turns out you have more talent than you let on.”

“Some say that about other areas as well.” His comment sounded offhand but she suspected there might be more to it. Was Ross flirting with her? No, that wasn’t possible. What if it was? She had to stop thinking like that. There was nothing but trouble down that road.

Suddenly self-conscious, she cleared her throat. “So where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?” She pulled the loaf of bread that was sitting on the counter toward her. “I’ll get the grilled cheeses ready. Everyone must be hungry.” She started buttering bread.

“What’re you doing there?”

“Making fast and easy grilled cheese sandwiches. Pull out one of those large sheet pans, please.” Sally kept moving the knife over the bread as she spoke. “Then get the sliced cheese and start putting it on the bread. We’ll slip it into the oven, put it on broil, and we should have grilled cheeses in no time.”

Ross went to work without question. Soon they had the sandwiches browning. “I’ll get the plates, bowls and things while you go tell everyone soup’s on.”

“Are you always so bossy?” Ross asked as he exited the kitchen.

Did he really think she was dictatorial? She never thought of herself as being that way. Yet Wade had complained she was always on his case. Toward the end of their marriage, she guessed she had been. Wade hadn’t ever been at home. More often than not he’d been between jobs; either it wasn’t the right one or he was too smart to work with the people around him, or some other excuse. His parents had raised him to believe he could do no wrong.

She’d dreamed of being a doctor all through high school but after she and Wade had married he’d not wanted his wife going to school. He’d said school took up too much of her time. Time she could be spending with him. He’d never been a fan of her working as a paramedic, but she’d refused to give up volunteering when she’d been needed so badly by their rural community. That was the only thing she had defied him on. She had wanted their marriage to work.

Looking back, she could see how selfish Wade really was. That had certainly been brought home when she’d learned he was having an affair. But where she’d really messed up was not seeing through Wade before she’d married him. Her judgment had been off, so caught up in the fantasy rather than the reality. Next time, she’d be more careful about who she opened her heart to.

Ross returned with the other firefighters on his heels. Over the next hour the company shared a meal, told stories and laughed. When the meal was over, she and Ross cleaned up, each thankful that most of the dishes went into the dishwasher.

Ross was washing the last of the pots when his phone rang. He shook off his wet hands and pulled the phone out of his pocket. He moved away from the sink and Sally stepped into his spot. She was tired and still had paperwork to take care of. Hopefully they wouldn’t be called out anytime soon.

As she rinsed off the pan, Ross said with a disappointed note in his voice, “I’ll work something out.” He paused. “No, you can’t help it,” he said, before saying his goodbyes and hanging up the phone.

Sally hesitated to say anything, afraid it might be wrong, but didn’t want to appear unsympathetic. “Everything all right?”

“No, not really. The lady I have watching Olivia and Jared while I work? Her mother has had an accident and Marcy has to go help her. That leaves me having to find someone to help me out.”

“Would swapping shifts help?”

He was scrolling through the numbers on his phone. “Naw, I’ve got a meeting with the Chief. One I can’t afford to miss.” Ross spoke more to himself than to her.

“What day are you talking about?” Sally dried her hands on a dishrag.

“This Friday.” He still wasn’t giving her his attention.

“I’m not on the rest of the week. I have too much overtime. I’ll watch them. If you don’t mind Lucy joining us.”

“Hey, if you’d do that it would be great. Jared and Olivia would love to have someone to play with.”

“There’s only one problem.” She paused until she had his attention. “I don’t think three kids are going to be happy overnight at my place. It’s too small. I guess I could ask Kody if we could go there.”

“Y’all can come to my place. There’s plenty of room there. A lot of space outside to play. Plus, Jared’s and Olivia’s stuff is already there.”

“Are you sure?”

He took the pot from her and put it under the cabinet. “Of course I am. You’re doing me a favor.”

Sally wasn’t sure that going to Ross’s house was a good idea. It seemed as if they were getting too friendly. Yet her place was so small and Kody’s would be a little tight for three active kids as well. She didn’t see another good choice. “That would probably be best.”

He studied her a moment. “I’ll owe you big-time for this.”

“Don’t worry about it. It sounds fun. The kids and I’ll have a good time together.”

“If you could come out around eleven, that should give me time to show you around then get to town in time to start my shift. I’ll text you my address.” He headed out the door.

“Hey, don’t you need my number?”

He looked bashful. Cute, in fact. “I guess that would be helpful.”

“You don’t arrange childcare often, do you?”

“Nope.” Ross grinned. “It’s a fine art I’m just now learning.”

She gave him her number. He punched it into his phone, then he was gone.

CHAPTER FOUR

SALLY HAD MADE a serious mistake by agreeing to watch Ross’s niece and nephew. Doing so was another step into further involvement in Ross’s life. Being together at the picnic had revealed she was far too attracted to him. An attraction she neither wanted nor needed. She must stay focused. Still, she liked the guy. The last time she’d been this enamored with a man, she’d been devastated. That mustn’t happen again. She wouldn’t allow it. The upside to the day’s arrangement was that Ross would be at work the entire time.

And she would be with the kids…

In his home. His personal space. She hadn’t thought that through either. She would be where he lived. Touching, sitting and sleeping among his personal belongs. No, she hadn’t considered that part of this agreement at all. She should have done so before she’d blurted out her willingness to help. Yet helping out a fellow firefighter went with being a member of that family. It was just what a team player did in an emergency situation.

Ross had texted her his address as promised. Sally had picked up Lucy from Kody’s house on her way to Ross’s. Lucy had been so excited about seeing Jared and Olivia again she couldn’t get in the car fast enough. The idea of an overnight stay had heightened her anticipation. She’d chatted most of the way about all the fun they would have. Sally certainly hoped so. The closer she came to Ross’s house, the tighter Sally’s nerves knotted. She hadn’t acted this way over seeing a man in a long time. Control—she needed to get some over her wild emotions.

The drive was ten miles out of town to where the land rolled gently, the trees were tall and the fields green. When she had moved to this part of the country, it hadn’t taken long for her to fall in love with Texas. Even though she liked her apartment, she wished she could find a place with more outdoor space.

The day was beautiful with the sun shining in a blue sky as she turned the car off the two-lane highway onto a dirt lane. On either side were fenced pastures with a few trees here and there. The lane ended at a white clapboard house with a porch along the front. Large oaks shaded one side and the lawn surrounding the house was neatly mown. Behind it there was a small red barn with a couple of horses in the corral.

She sighed. When she got her medical degree, this was just the type of place she would look for. There was something restful, comforting about it. A place someone could find contentment. She loved everything about it, immediately.

When she’d taken Kody up on his suggestion to move to Texas, she’d realized how right he’d been. She’d had no trouble getting a job and there had been something cathartic, cleansing, about leaving all the ugliness of her marriage behind and starting over again. It had taken some time, but she’d finally settled in, had decided on a plan and was now focused on seeing it through.

Soon after arriving in Austin, she’d enrolled in college and finished her degree. Sally smiled. To think she was studying to take her MCAT now. If she did well enough, she hoped to enter medical school in the fall, while continuing to work part-time at the firehouse when she could. She wasn’t going to let anyone or anything divert her this time.

As she climbed from the car, Ross stepped out of the beveled glass front door.

A warmth washed over her. Especially not a man with striking blue eyes and a hunky chest.

He came to stand beside a wooden post of the porch. He wore his usual fire station uniform of navy pants and T-shirt with the department logo on one breast. Practical work boots completed his attire. He appeared healthy and fit. His welcoming smile made him even more handsome than she remembered. Her stomach quivered. She had to get beyond this fascination with Ross. Still, couldn’t a girl enjoy a moment of admiration for a man?

He drawled, “I see you found us.”

Returning his smile, she gathered her purse. She’d bring in her MCAT study books after he’d left. Lucy had already hopped out of the car and gone to meet Jared and Olivia, who were in the side yard.

Ross came down the wide steps. His agile movements reminded her of a panther she’d once seen in a zoo. “Are you ready for this?”

“What if I said I wasn’t?” She glanced at him as she gathered Lucy’s and her overnight bags.

He grimaced. “I don’t know what I’d do.”

She grinned, looking at the kids. “I’m going to be fine. We’ll all be fine.”

“Here, let me get those for you.” He reached for the bags.

“Thanks.” His hands brushed hers and she quickly pulled away. The physical contact had intensified her growing nervous tension.

They walked side by side to the house. Happy laughter from the kids filled the air. Ross moved ahead of her and hurried up the steps. Tucking Lucy’s bag under his arm as he reached the door, he opened it and held it. She strode by him, making sure they didn’t touch. If they had, would he have felt the same electric reaction she had when their hands had met?

The room Sally entered was dim and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. Only a few feet inside the door, she looked around the large open space. The high ceiling was supported by dark beams. The walls were a cream color complemented by a gleaming warm wooden floor. It was furnished with a brown leather sofa and two armchairs along with an old chest she assumed he used as a coffee table. A TV hung over the mantel of a stone fireplace.

In the back of the house was the kitchen. A large bar separated it from the living area. A table for four sat to one side. Windows filled the corner, giving a beautiful view of the barn, trees and the fields beyond. Everything was neat, but masculine.

This was a man’s abode. Ross’s. Sally shivered. She had truly entered the lion’s den.

Ross set the bags down beside a door to a small hallway and walked farther into the house. “Come on in. Let me show you around. As you can see, this is the kitchen.” He pointed toward the hallway. “Over there are two bedrooms. Jared and Olivia are in them. Olivia has the one with the twin beds so there’s an extra bed for Lucy. On the other side of the house is my room. The sheets on the bed are clean. Ready for you.”

Her breath caught. Her eyes widened. Finally she blinked. “I, uh, think I’ll just sleep on the sofa. That way I’ll be closer to the kids in case one calls out.” Spending the night in Ross’s bed would be far too…personal? Uncomfortable? Nerve shaking? Lonely? Whatever the word was, she wouldn’t be doing it.

“I want you to be comfortable. I think you’d be happier in a bed. It’s the only one I have that’s available.” He shrugged. “But all that’s up to you.” She made no comment and he continued, “You can find all kinds of movies and games in the cabinet beside the fireplace. The kids know where everything is.”

She nodded.

“I’ve already ordered pizza for dinner tonight. It should be delivered at six. Right, here’s the tip.” He tapped some bills on top of the counter. “My number is on this pad if you have any questions, anytime.”

Sally moved closer to look.

“There should be plenty of sandwich fixings in the refrigerator. I also have peanut butter and jelly. Chips. And drinks.”

Her smile widened as she softly laughed.

His look turned serious. “What’s so funny?”

“You are.”

“How’s that?” He watched her too close for comfort as if he didn’t want to miss any change in her expression.

“Firehouse Captain turned Mr. Mom.”

He chuckled. One that started low and rough then slowly rolled up his throat and bubbled out. “I do sound a bit that way, don’t I?”

“You do, but it’s nice to know there’re supplies, I’ll give you that. Thanks for taking the time and thought to make it as easy as possible for me.”

“You’re welcome.” He picked keys up off the counter. “I’d better get going.”

She followed him out onto the porch.

“Oh, I forgot. Could you see that the horses are fed tonight and in the morning? Jared knows what to do.” He moved to the porch railing and called, “Jared and Olivia.”

Both children stopped playing and looked at him. “I don’t want you giving Sally any trouble. If she needs help, you do so. No argument about bedtime either.”

“Yes, sir,” they called in harmony.

He smiled and nodded. “Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye, Uncle Ross.” Olivia waved.

“Yeah, bye,” Jared said as an afterthought as he ran for a ball.

Ross turned to her. “I really appreciate this.”

“You’ve already said that.”

“I know, but I do.” He walked to her, stopping just out of reach. His gaze met hers. A spot of heat flushed through her middle that had everything to do with his attention. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow around one.” He went down the steps.

“Okay.”

He hadn’t made it to his truck before he said, “Call if you have any questions.”

“I will.” Sally wrapped her arm around the post he had stood beside earlier and leaned her cheek against it. She watched him leave. Ross put his hand out the window and waved. She stayed there until he was out of sight.

What would it be like to have someone who wasn’t eager to leave her? That she could say bye to who would look forward to returning to her. At one time she’d believed she had that. Instead Wade had acted as if coming home to her was a chore. Why had he married her if he hadn’t really wanted her? In less than a year he had been off with someone else.

She wanted a man who desired her. That she was enough for. Maybe one day she would try again, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. She had plans, dreams. That was what she should be thinking about. She was better off without the obstacle of a man in her life for the time being.

Yet here she was seeing to Ross’s niece and nephew. At his house. When he’d driven away, it had seemed as if they were husband and wife and she were seeing him off to work. But that wasn’t reality. She was the babysitter and nothing more. And she didn’t want anything but that.

Lucy interrupted her troubling thoughts with, “Aunt Sally, we’re hungry.”

“Well, it’s about lunchtime. Come on in.”

The kids stomped up to the porch.

“Let’s go see what we can find in the kitchen.”

After lunch they returned to playing. The pizza Ross had promised arrived just as he’d said it would and they ate it picnic style under one of the oak trees.

The sun was low as they finished then went to feed the horses. Jared took the lead. First, he turned on the hose to add water to the trough. Sally grinned at his puff of importance as he went into the barn to get grain. He returned with a gallon tin can full and let each of the girls dump a part of the feed into two buckets for each of the horses.

As Lucy took her turn, she hit the rail with the end of the can. It went flying and landed in the water trough. She gasped and tears filled her eyes.

Sally placed a hand on her back. “It’s okay, hon. We’ll get it.”

“I’ll do it.” Jared started pulling his shirt off.

Sally looked at him in dismay. “What’re you doing?”

“It’ll get wet if I don’t take it off.” He handed her his shirt, then leaned into the trough far enough that his head almost touched the water. When he straightened pulling the can out, the water inside spilled all down his front.

Sally laughed. “Obviously you knew what was going to happen.”

Jared grinned, dropped the can on the ground and took his shirt from her. “Yeah, we drop it in almost every time we visit.”

“How come a boy can take his shirt off and a girl can’t?” Lucy asked.

This wasn’t a discussion Sally wanted to get into, especially with other people’s children. She just had to keep the answers simple. “Well, because boys and girls are different. Especially when they get older.”

“Uncle Ross is a boy and he never takes his shirt off,” Olivia announced. “Not even when he’s swimming.”

What was she to say to that? “Guys don’t have to take their shirts off if they don’t want to.”

“When it’s hot I like to take mine off.” Jared picked the can up and headed for the barn.

Olivia’s statement left Sally curious. She’d have thought a man with Ross’s physique should be proud to show it off.

Lucy took Sally’s hand. “Sometimes when I’m playing with the water hose, I take mine off.”

It was time to change the subject. “Let’s go get a bath and have a snack before bedtime.”

By just after dark, Sally had all the kids in bed. She wasn’t sure who was happier, them or her. She’d had less active days at work. Plopping on the couch, she stretched out her legs, letting her head rest on the pillowed leather behind her. Sally closed her eyes and sighed. She and the kids had had a nice day. They were a good tired and she was as well. While she was trying to convince herself to get up and do some studying, her phone rang.

Digging in the back pocket of her jeans, she fished it out.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Ross’s rich voice filled her ear.

Her heart did a little pitty-pat. “We’re doing great. Have you been worried about us?”

“More about you. Two kids can be a handful so I can imagine three’s more difficult.”

He had been thinking about her? “Everybody’s fine. They’re all in bed now.” She yawned.

“I bet you’re thinking about going as well.” The timbre of his tone suggested ideas better left locked away. She sat straighter. “I’ll be up for a little while longer.”

“I really thank you for this.”

It was nice to feel useful to a man to whom she was attracted. For so long she’d felt unworthy. In the end duped and rejected. “You don’t have to keep saying that. How did your meeting with the Chief go?”

“Really well.”

He’d asked her some personal questions, so she felt entitled. “Do you mind if I ask what’s going on?”

“No. It’s just that I’m on the shortlist for Battalion Chief. I’ve been trying to make a good impression. Not being there when the Chief’s making his rounds wouldn’t have been good.”

“You’ll make a great Battalion Chief.” Of that she had no doubt.

“I don’t have the job yet.”

“Maybe not yet, but you’ll get it.” He was good at his job and others noticed. She certainly had.

“The competition is pretty strong. I’ve worked with all of them at one time or another.”

“I can’t imagine anyone being more qualified than you.” And she couldn’t.

“Thanks, Sal, for that vote of confidence. It means a lot.” Ross’s voice held a note of gratitude.

She couldn’t stem her curiosity about him. “Have you always wanted to be a firefighter?”

There was a pause. “Yeah, ever since I was a little boy.”

“That’s a long time.” Her amazement rang in her voice. They shared something in common. They both had known what they wanted to do since they were young.

“I’m not that old.” He chuckled.

“You know what I mean. What made you want to be a firefighter?”

This time he didn’t falter before answering her. “I saw firefighters at work when I was a kid and I decided then that I want to help people like they did.”

She almost said aww out loud. “That’s very admirable. Was it a bad fire?”

“The worst. My grandfather’s house was a total loss.” His voice had grown rougher with each word.

She could tell that it had been a life-changing event for him in more than one way. “Oh, Ross. I’m sorry. I hope he was all right.”

“He was. He rebuilt. You’re sitting in his house now. He left it to me when he died a few years ago. I’ve made some updates.”

Sally looked around. “I like your house. I want something like it one day.”

“I’m happy there.” There was a pause, then he said, “Tell me something, are you going to sleep in my bed tonight?”

Heat flowed hot and fast throughout her body. Her mouth went dry. Ross coming on to her. She liked it.

The buzz of the fire station alarm going off, then the dispatcher speaking, was all she could hear for the next few seconds.

“Gotta go,” Ross said. “See you tomorrow.” More softly, as if a caress, he finished with, “Take care, Sweet Sally.”

“Bye,” she said into an empty line. Sweet Sally? She liked the sound of that coming from Ross.

Ross neared the end of the drive to his home with keen anticipation. He was coming home to someone. Was his life really that isolated? Not until this moment did he realize how much he liked the idea of having someone waiting on him at home. He’d looked forward to seeing Sally and the kids. Hearing how their time together had gone.

He grinned. Maybe now he’d get an answer about where she’d spent the night. It still shocked him that he’d dared to ask. Had called her Sweet Sally. After all, she was doing him a favor and he’d hit on her. He hoped things wouldn’t be strained between them now. He should have kept that question to himself. In a twisted way he was relieved to have been out on a run most of the night. At least he hadn’t had time to think about her in his bed—without him.

He’d put taking a real interest in a woman on the back burner for so long his reaction to Sally was unsettling. Did he dare take a chance on her? Gambling on how a woman would respond to his scars, he’d kept most of them at arm’s length. He’d let Alice in but that hadn’t ended well either.

Maybe it was time for him to think about more than his job. Still, the idea of living through major rejection again struck him with fear. Was it Sally in particular or just that it was time for him to try again that had him thinking this way?

He parked his truck next to Sally’s car, then grabbed his duffel bag.

The kids were playing right where they had been when he’d left the day before. They called hello as he climbed the steps. A fireman’s schedule with the staggered hours had always seemed like a difficult schedule for a family to live around but there was something nice about the idea of having children. What had caused that idea to pop into his head? He’d been satisfied with Jared and Olivia’s visits and hadn’t thought of having his own children in a long time.

These days he was having all sorts of odd thoughts.

As he entered the house, he was tempted to call, “Honey, I’m home,” but he didn’t think Sally would appreciate his humor. An amazing aroma filled the air. There was food cooking in the oven. Sally’s back was to him as she chopped something.

Her hair was pulled up in a messy arrangement, yet it suited her. She wore a flowy top of some kind and jeans. There were sandals on her feet. There was nothing special about her clothes, yet the combination made her appearance fresh, simple and disturbingly sexy.

Music played softly from the radio. She swayed and hummed along. It was strangely erotic. His blood heated. He wanted to walk up behind her and pull her back against him. Leave her in no doubt of his need for her. How would she react to him kissing her neck?

Not a good idea. At all. Tamping down his desire, Ross cleared his throat. “Hey.”

She turned and smiled. “Hey. I didn’t hear you come in.”

He walked toward her, sniffing. “I’m not surprised. What’s that wonderful smell?”

“My father’s favorite meat pie. I thought since we’ve had sandwiches, pizza and cereal that we should have a real meal. We voted to wait on you.”

He could get used to this. “Are you saying what I left wasn’t nutritious enough?”

She shrugged. “I’m not complaining. I like to cook and it’s nice to do it for more than just myself.”

“You’re welcome to cook for me anytime.” He met her look and held it.

Her gaze turned unsure as she said, “Will you call the kids in and tell them to wash their hands while I get this on the table.”

“Sure thing. Let me put my bag up first.” Yes, he liked coming home to Sally, the kids and a meal. He sure did.

Picking up his bag, Ross went to his bedroom. Sally hadn’t slept there. Nothing had been moved and he had no doubt that her scent would have lingered. For some reason these days his body picked up on every detail of hers despite his best effort not to notice. The idea she had slept on the sofa bothered him. She should have been comfortable at his house.

Stepping to the bath, he saw that she hadn’t been in there either. He didn’t know much Shakespeare, but he did think maybe the woman did “protest too much.” He grinned. Maybe she was more affected by him than she wanted to admit.

He went outside to call the kids. After a good deal of noise and shuffling around, including adding a chair to the table, he and the kids were seated. Sally placed a bowl of salad on the table and joined them.

He looked at Sally. Her face was rosy from being in a warm kitchen. Tendrils of her hair had come free and fallen across her cheek. She pushed at them with the back of her hand. She was lovely. “It looks wonderful, Sweet Sally.”

Olivia giggled. “It’s just Sally.”

He waved his hand over the table. “Don’t you think she’s sweet? She did all this for us. I sure do.”

The kids chorused their agreement.

Sally giggled and her color heightened. “Thank you.”

This was a real family moment. The type of thing he’d not given a thought to having in a long time. He liked it. Found himself wanting it more often.

The kids spent the rest of the meal talking about all they had done while he was gone. Sally remained quiet, listening and smiling. Not once did she make eye contact with him, despite the fact he was sitting across from her. Was she afraid of what she might see or what he might find in her eyes? He’d have to give that more thought.

After their meal was over, she said, “Kids, please carry your plates to the sink, then you may go back out and play. Lucy, we’ll need to be leaving soon.”

They did as she asked without an argument, which Ross couldn’t believe. When they were gone, he turned to her. “How do you do that?”

She stood and picked up her plate. “Do what?”

He gave her an incredulous look and pointed with his thumb over his shoulder. “Get them to do something without back-talking?”

She shrugged and carried the plate to the sink. “I’m a woman of many talents.”

“I don’t doubt that.” Some of those he’d like to explore.

Sally began filling the dishwasher. Ross brought the rest of the dishes off the table to her. They finished straightening the place together.

“We make a pretty good team in the kitchen.” Ross returned the dishrag after wiping the table off, trying to keep his mind off the other things they might be good at together.

Sally dried her hands and hung the dishcloth on a knob. “Seems that way.”

Ross noticed a stack of books at the end of the bar and walked over to see what they were. He placed a hand on them. “Are these yours?”

“Yes.” Sally picked them up and hugged them against her chest as if protecting them. “I don’t want to forget them.”

“This says MCAT on it. Are you studying to take the test to be a doctor?” He didn’t even try to keep his surprise out of his voice.

“Yeah. I’m trying to get into medical school.”

He leaned a hip against the counter. “I’m impressed. I had no idea.” How had he not heard talk at the house? “Is it a secret?”

Sally shook her head. “No.”

Apparently, he’d been so caught up in his wish of being Battalion Chief he’d not noticed that about her. What kind of boss would he be if he didn’t see more outside of his own world? He needed to do better. “So, when’s the test?”

“Two weeks from today.”

“Good luck.”

“I’m afraid I’m going to need it.”

“I doubt that. I think you’ll make an amazing doctor.” And he did. The more he knew about Sally, the more captivated he was by her.

Her eyes were bright. “Thanks for that. I hope I do.”

He gave her his best encouraging look. “I’ve no doubt you will.”

“Thanks, that’s nice to hear. I’ve always dreamed of being a doctor.”

“Is this your first time taking the test?” Ross was far too interested in her life, but he couldn’t stop himself from asking.

“Yes.”

“Why haven’t you done it before now?”

“My husband didn’t want me to go to school. He wanted me to be there when he came home.”

Something close to anger boiled within Ross. The dirtbag hadn’t even supported his wife’s dreams. Kody had said he was a jerk, but Ross had had no idea how big of one.

Ross heard the laughter of the kids. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you didn’t get much study time here.”

“I did some this morning while the kids were playing. When I get home, I’ll go at it hard. Only thing is that they’re replacing the siding on my apartment complex, so I’ll have to work around that. Speaking of going, Lucy and I need to be doing that.”

Ross was reluctant to see her leave. He found he really didn’t like that idea.

“You’re welcome here anytime. I mean, it’s quiet here. You can come out anytime, whether or not I’m here.”

“I don’t know…” She looked uncertain.

He raised a hand. “Hey, just know the offer’s there if you need it.”

“Thanks. That’s kind of you.” She gathered her books and left them at the front door before she stepped outside and called, “Lucy. We have to go now.”

“Do we have to?” Lucy whined.

“Yes. Your daddy’s expecting you, and I have studying to do.”

Ross joined her with her bags in hand.

She grinned at him. “So much for my talents.”

He laughed. She reached for their belongings. “I’ll carry them to the car.”

The kids came up on the porch.

Olivia pointed her small finger toward the rustic star nailed over the door on the beam above his and Sally’s heads. “Look, Uncle Ross, you and Sally are standing under the Texas star. You have to kiss her!”

Ross had forgotten about the star. It was a game he’d been playing with Olivia since she was a baby. Before she left from a visit, he gave her a kiss under the star.

“When you’re standing under the star, you have to kiss the one you’re with. Isn’t that so, Uncle Ross?” Olivia gave him an expectant face.

Sally’s eyes had grown wide. “What?”

Ross spoke to Olivia. “Yeah, but that’s between you and me. It’s not for everyone.”

“But you kiss Mom and Grandma under it,” Olivia insisted.

“I, uh, don’t think that’s necessary.” Sally took a step away.

“That’s not what you said, Uncle Ross,” Jared said. “You said you must always tell the truth.”

“I did say that.” He was caught in a trap and he was afraid Sally was as well. He looked at her. “You wouldn’t want me not to be a man of my word?”

“It seems I have no choice.” She didn’t sound convinced. In fact, she acted as if she’d like to run. Yet she put the bags down and placed her books on top of them.

He took her hand and led her back to where they had been standing under the star. She must have been in shock because she offered no resistance. He placed his hands on her waist. Their looks met. He said softly, “You do know it won’t be a fate worse than death, don’t you?”

“I’d like to think so.”

He kissed her, stopping any further words with his mouth. Her lips were soft and warm. Everything he had imagined and more.

Sally’s hands came to his waist and clutched his shirt as if she needed him as a stabilizer. After the first seconds of indecision, she returned the kiss. His body hummed as his hands tightened with the intention of pulling her closer. This kiss was too sweet, too revealing, too little. It had quickly gone from an intentioned friendly kiss under the star to one of passion.

“Ooh.”

“Ick.”

“Ugh…”

The sounds coming from the kids made him draw back. Ross looked into Sally’s eyes. She appeared as shaken as he. He registered the shiver that ran through her. Sally broke from his hold and he didn’t stop her.

“Lucy, we need to go.” There was a quiver in Sally’s voice as she grabbed her books.

He reached for the bags before she had time to pick them up and followed her to the car. She opened the door and without looking at him said, “You can just throw those in the back seat.”

“Will do. Thanks again for helping me out.”

“You’re welcome. Lucy, buckle up.” Seconds later she and Lucy were ready to go.

Ross stood out of the way as Sally turned the car around and headed down the drive. He watched her go with his body still not recovered from their kiss. By the way Sally had acted, she’d been as affected as he had been. One thing was for sure, he wanted to kiss her again. If he had anything to say about it, it would happen again—soon.

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