Her Firefighter Hero (14 page)

He brushed his fingertips against Megan's arm. A soft, gentle caress that sent a zing of awareness racing down her spine. His eyes sparkled like sapphires. A dimple showed in his left cheek and she caught a whiff of his spicy aftershave.

“One ham and cheese with fries, coming up.” She quickly wrote the order down and snapped it up for Frank.

“Wow, you're busy today, huh?” Jared asked.

“Yep, we are. One of the busiest days of the year.”

“Did you enjoy the parade?”

She nodded. “Of course.”

“I saw you and waved.”

A cold part of her heart went all warm and mushy inside. She couldn't deny his smile. “Yes, I understand that you didn't want to be Smokey this year.”

She spoke low, so no one would overhear her. The identity of Smokey the Bear was usually kept a secret from the kids.

“No, I didn't think it'd be right... Who told you that?” he asked.

“Connie.” Her voice wobbled, betraying her nervousness.

“I hope I didn't hurt your feelings by being in the parade. But as the FMO, I'm kind of expected to ride along...”

She held up a hand, cutting him off. “No, it's okay. Really. I'm fine.”

He released a giant exhale of relief. “It looked like Caleb and June were having fun.”

“Of course. They love the parade every year.”

Scooping ice into a glass, Megan filled Jared's drink and slid it onto the counter with a straw, then bustled on to the next customer. Giving him no more than a nod. Giving him no more time to chat.

Ten minutes later, she set his plate of food in front of him. The kids finished their meals and went into the back office to watch some TV. Even they didn't want to be out in the crazy chaos of the restaurant today. Megan glanced over at Jared's seat, but he wasn't there. Just a crisp twenty-dollar bill tucked beneath his plate.

Good. He must have gotten tired of her ignoring him and left. That's what she needed him to do. And yet, she felt an inkling of remorse. When he wasn't around, she actually missed him. And that insight stunned her.

A moment later, she got another good shock. She looked up and saw Jared balancing a gray tub as he cleared a vacant table. Pete Rawlins and Dave Winton, both squad bosses on the hotshot crew, sat nearby heckling him.

“Hey, boss, I didn't know you were a dishwasher as well as an FMO.” Pete grinned.

“Yeah, you clear dishes away real well. Is this a new side job you've taken on?” Dave asked.

Jared didn't stop working as he showed a good-natured smile. “I'm just helping out a friend. I'm multitalented, boys. Laugh it up. I'll be sure to think of something fun for you two to do on the next wildfire.”

Though spoken with a laugh, his words held a veiled threat. Megan didn't think he'd do anything mean, but he got Pete's and Dave's attention. The two men ducked their heads over their double cheeseburgers and didn't say another word.

Ignoring the din of noise, Megan walked over and touched Jared's arm. “Thanks for the help, but you don't need to do this. I'll get to it soon.”

He tossed her a friendly smile and shrugged. “I don't mind. I don't have anything better to do. Besides, I've never seen you this busy before. It's a good thing you hired extra waitresses, but even with that, I think you need the help today.”

Yes, she did, but this wasn't his job.

“Really, don't do that. We can manage without you.” She tried to take the dishcloth away from him, but he moved it out of her reach.

“It's okay. Really,” he said.

With a few quick wipes of the clean table, he nodded and carried the tub to the back washroom.

Thinking that was settled and he'd move on now, she hurried about the diner, meeting everyone's needs. Too busy to spend any more time worrying about Jared and his generosity. But she couldn't seem to get him off her mind. And she admitted only to herself that she wished things could be different between them. Much, much different.

Chapter Thirteen

M
egan locked the front door behind the last customer of the evening. Finally, it was closing time. Finally, she could go home and soak her aching feet.

From the wide windows fronting the restaurant, she saw that bright stars glittered in the night sky, the tall lights outside adding a yellow glow to the street below. Slinging his jacket over his shoulder, Frank walked out into the dining room, his car keys dangling from his fingers. In his other hand, he held a pack of gum. He'd quit smoking five weeks earlier and had started chewing gum furiously to help alleviate his cravings. Megan was proud of his accomplishment and continued to encourage him not to give up the fight. So far, it was working.

Connie stood beside him, her short curly hair looking wilted by steam from the dishwashers in the back room. They'd both worked hard today, and Megan loved them for it. They were good friends as well as employees.

“Thank you so much for all your help today. You guys are the absolute best,” Megan said.

Frank's face flushed red with pleasure. “Anytime.”

“You're welcome. Will you be okay if we head out now?” Connie asked.

“Yes, I'm just going to finish up a few things and go home,” Megan said.

Connie shook a large foam cup that jingled pleasantly with coins. A wad of green bills stuck up over the top. “Lots of good tips today.”

Yes, they'd been crazy busy, but the business was good. Megan smiled and let them out the front door before locking it again behind them. Shoving the key into the pocket of her apron, she turned to assess the order of the diner. Connie hadn't failed her. Everything looked in great shape for the next day's breakfast shift, except the floors that needed to be mopped. But that would have to wait until tomorrow. Nothing left to do tonight except total the receipts, then turn off the lights and go home.

Walking to the back office, she glanced in at her two children, sleeping together on the little cot she'd set up for them. She gazed at their serene faces, so sweet in the dim light. Another thirty minutes of counting out the receipts, then she could gather them up and take them home. Tomorrow was Sunday. A day off work for her.

Thank goodness.

A slight noise caught her attention. She tilted her head to listen. A whooshing sound came from the kitchen. Maybe Frank or Connie had left the water running.

She stepped over to the doorway and peered around the corner. Jared stood in front of the sink, mopping the linoleum floors. He twirled the heavy mop around an area, then dipped it into the sudsy water of the bucket and sloshed the mop up and down to rinse it out.

For several moments, she watched him work, stunned that he'd stayed until closing time. She'd been so busy that she'd almost forgotten about him. She thought he'd left hours ago. But no. He'd obviously been washing dishes all afternoon and evening. He'd worked as hard as her staff, and she was grateful.

“I thought you had left,” she said, leaning against the doorjamb.

He jerked and snapped his head around, almost losing his grip on the mop stick.

“Hey! You startled me.” He flashed her a smile so bright that it brought a hard lump to her throat.

She jutted her chin toward the bucket. “You don't need to do that. You've already done too much. Thanks for all your help today. I already owe you so much.”

Oh, maybe she shouldn't have said that. If he asked her out on another date, she'd have to say no and she didn't want to hurt him again.

“It's no problem.” He lifted the stringy mop into the wringer and pressed hard on the lever. Water gushed through the holes on the wringer plate.

“Really, I can finish up,” she said.

He barely glanced her way. “It's okay. I've got this. If you'll give me just a few more minutes, you can get the kids up and I'll walk you out to your truck so you can go home. I want to make sure you're safe before I leave you.”

His consideration touched her heart. It'd been a long time since a man had looked after her, and it felt good. Too good.

“You mean your truck, don't you?”

“Hmm?” He released the lever and slapped the mop back onto the floor before swirling it around another section.

“The truck belongs to you,” she reminded him.

“Oh, yeah. That.” He waved his hand, as if the truck was no big deal.

Great. He just kept making it more difficult not to like him. If he wasn't so handsome and nice, she could find a way to get angry at him. But as it stood, she couldn't very well dislike a man who was always bailing her out of trouble. Could she?

She folded her arms, admiring the way his back muscles flexed and moved as he swirled the mop around on the floor. His strong hands held the heavy mop stick effortlessly, as though it weighed nothing at all.

“Where'd you learn to mop like that?” she asked.

With the toe of his boot, he propelled the bucket past her and out into the dining room. With swift, short movements, he kept working while he talked. “From my mom. My dad died when I was about June's age. It was tough on the family, but my mom was strong, just like you. She worked hard and kept us together, the way you're doing for your kids.”

“Oh.” Megan looked away, feeling more confused than ever. Somehow knowing this bit of personal information about Jared only showed how much they had in common. If anyone understood what her kids were going through by losing their father, Jared did.

Trying to ignore him, she opened the cash register and sat in a corner booth to count up the receipts. If he wanted to help her, she wouldn't argue. Her lower back ached and she was too tired to care. She just didn't have the strength to fight him tonight.

He mopped his way around the room, reaching far beneath each table to clean the floors. And after all the customers they'd had that day, the floors needed it.

Finally, he circled back around to her. Clutching the receipts in her hand, she slid out of the booth as he drew near enough to touch her. He stuck the mop into the bucket for a final rinse, then stood there, strong, safe and dependable. The kind of man she could rely on to look after her kids. And her heart. But that had no bearing on the turmoil rumbling around inside of her mind. God would determine their futures. Neither she nor Jared had a say as to whether or not he was killed in a wildfire. And she hated feeling vulnerable. Hated being afraid.

She looked up into his eyes, feeling mesmerized and frozen in place. She couldn't move. Could barely breathe.

“Megan, trust me. Just trust me. I'll never do you wrong. I promise.” He whispered the words, his lips curving into a slow, melting smile.

He leaned his head down and kissed her. Gently. A soft caress she readily embraced. He tasted of peppermint, and she lifted her free hand to place her palm against his chest, just over his heart. Her fingers tightened in the folds of his shirt, the solid wall of muscles warm and vibrant beneath her touch. She longed to confide in him. To tell him all the doubts rumbling around inside her heart. To cast her fears aside and rely on him forever more.

She burrowed nearer, feeling the solid beat of his heart beneath her fingertips. She shifted her weight, returning his kiss. Breathing him in.

“Jared, I just— I've already lost one husband. I can't lose another one. I've got two kids to think about. We can't do this.”

“Yes, we can,” he whispered against her lips. “We've both been afraid for a long time now. Afraid of commitment. Afraid of being hurt again. But I think it's time for us to trust again. To believe in the Lord and in each other. It's going to be okay. I promise you that. I want to see more of you and the kids. Just say you'll give me a chance. Please.”

She melted against him, her lips pliant beneath his as he kissed her again. She wanted to believe him. She really did. But what about the future? What if...?

“Mommy?”

She broke away and inhaled a trembling breath.

Caleb walked into the dining room, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

“I'm right here, son.” Her voice sounded shaky to her ears.

“Can we go home now?” the boy asked as she lifted him into her arms. He wrapped his legs around her waist as she cuddled him close against her neck.

“Yes, sweetie. We're going right now.”

She glanced nervously at Jared, hoping her son hadn't seen her in Jared's embrace. She wouldn't know how to explain it. Not when she didn't understand it herself. She mustn't forget that all good things came to an end. Just like the fairy tale Cinderella, the elegant coach turned back into a pumpkin at midnight. Megan had to go back to her ordinary, safe life. Without Jared, or any other man that might leave her with another broken heart.

Jared wheeled the mop bucket into the back and dumped the dirty water. When he returned to the dining room, Megan had shut off all but the night-light and had June and Caleb waiting to walk out to the parking lot.

She locked the front door and Jared escorted them to their truck. She breathed in great drafts of cool night air that smelled of honeysuckle and rain. Jared waited until they were safely inside the vehicle and buckled into their seats, then he leaned against Megan's door.

“I'll give you a call tomorrow,” he said.

She blinked. “No, please don't.”

“Why not?”

She looked away. “You know why.”

Frankly, she was lonely. And he was steady, kind, good-looking and fun to be with. It didn't help that her son adored him, too. But working with this man and loving him were two different things.

He reached out and lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. “That's not going to stop me, Meg. I can't fight my feelings anymore. I know you feel it, too. There's no use denying it. You know that now, don't you?”

She nodded, still feeling the throb of his kiss against her lips. She'd never met a man so determined, so focused on what he wanted. And it pleased, yet dismayed, her to know that she was his target. That he wanted her and her children. To be a family with her.

“Tomorrow won't change anything, Jared. Please, if you really care for me, let me go.” She rolled up the window and started up the truck. He stepped back as she pulled away. And she didn't look back, no matter how badly she wanted to.

* * *

Jared waited for Megan to pull out of the parking lot. Then, he drove home to his lonely house. He thought about the things Megan had told him and wondered if it was worth pursuing her any longer. After what he'd gone through with Sharon, he wanted to be angry at Megan for continuing to push him away. But he couldn't. She'd suffered enough already. Instead of anger, he wanted to comfort her. To take her into his arms and love and protect her. But he figured that was the last thing she wanted from him.

He pulled into his driveway and killed the engine. The porch light was on and the chirp of crickets escorted him as he headed up the sidewalk. In the gloomy night shadows, he unlocked the door to his house and went inside. In the kitchen, he'd left one light on, for the dog. Sophie galloped toward him, her puppy ears flopping. She yipped and wriggled a greeting against the dog gate where he'd blocked her off so she would have enough room to move but couldn't soil the carpets. He stepped over the barricade and she jumped at his feet. He reached down to pet her and she peed in excitement.

He laughed. “Yes, I'm glad to see you, too.”

First, he scooped her up and took her out onto the back lawn, then praised her when she pottied in the right place.

“Good girl. Oh, yes, you're such a sweet girl. A wonderful little dog.” He rubbed her soft fur and cuddled her before taking her back inside.

He checked to make sure she still had plenty of food and water. He didn't mind that she'd had one accident on the floor. After all, it wasn't her fault. Because he'd spent all day helping Megan at the restaurant, he'd been gone longer than he'd planned. Without a word, he cleaned up the mess, then took Sophie with him to bed. She curled into a ball beside him, and he lay there, thinking.

Megan didn't want him to pursue her. She was afraid he might get killed fighting a wildfire. He understood that. But he was determined to show her that life together was better than not being together at all. They couldn't live their lives in constant fear, because no matter what, bad things happened to good people. And one day, hopefully when they were both very old, they would pass on. But they had to enjoy their blessings while they still could.

He'd been lonely for so long. So hurt and fearful of loving someone else. But he no longer felt that way. Megan and her two little kids had wormed their way into his heart, and he wanted to build a family with them. To be a loving husband and a father to her two sweet children. To build a future and grow old together, sharing a full and rich life.

Suddenly everything became crystal clear, and that's when he realized he loved Megan, June and Caleb Rocklin. His love for them had come upon him slowly, softly. Something he'd never sought out or expected. But it was there just the same. He loved them. More than anything else in the world. And his feelings gave him the courage to take a second chance at love.

It seemed so simple when he thought of it that way. So amazing and wonderful. The future stood before them, filled with magnificent possibilities. And all he had to do was convince Megan that they should be together. In spite of what he did for a living. In spite of her misgivings.

Easier said than done.

In the darkness, Jared closed his eyes and prayed. For the first time in a long time, he asked for God's help. To help him woo Megan. To somehow ease her doubts and fears. Because Jared was not turning his back on her, no matter what. He'd wait forever, if that's what it took. But his heart was completely and utterly tied to hers now. Failure was not an option. Not with her. Not for him. Not ever again. Because he was finally ready to fight for her love.