The Firefighter's Match (18 page)

Alex walked quickly, trying hard to hold in whatever it was he came to say. His passion for life, his vitality, seeped into her whenever they were together. Maybe that was why she missed him so much when he was gone. In half a block his impatience got the best of him and he turned to take her by both shoulders. “I’m moving here. I’m going to pick up the pieces of what used to be AG and move the whole operation here.”

“But...”

“There is no AG or Adventure Access without me. And there is no me without you. It’s so simple I don’t know how I couldn’t see it earlier.”

“Because it’s not so simple. All those people, all those jobs you were trying to save...”

“The ones who matter will come along. And we’ll partner with the rehabilitation hospital for others. I built a company from the ground up in Denver, so I can build one in Chicago. Or right here. Or someplace in between. Because you belong here and I, well, I used to belong everywhere in the world but now I only belong in one place. And that’s here with you.”

JJ tried to take in the enormity of what he was saying. “You’re moving your company here to be with me.”

“Unless you know some way to pick up all of Gordon Falls and move it to Denver. But that wouldn’t work either because I need it to be here.
I
need to be here. I can’t guarantee I won’t have to travel now and—”

She cut him off with a kiss that let loose her whole heart for the first time in her life. Her whole, healed heart. Tony Daxon had been wrong; she wouldn’t have to choose where her loyalties lay. God had given her a whole, healed life where, in true Alex Cushman fashion, everybody won.

“Wow,” Alex exclaimed softly, no less stunned than she. “If I had known a little relocation would bring that out in you, I’d have moved a month ago.”

JJ let her head fall against his shoulder. “No, you wouldn’t have. Not until you were sure you’d found the solution. That’s what I love about you, Alex—you never give up.”

He brought her hand up and kissed it. A grandly elegant gesture to a woman in jeans, wet hair and a GFVFD T-shirt. “I couldn’t give up on us. Even if I wanted to—which I absolutely did not. It just took me a while to work it all out. If there’s anyone who doesn’t give up, it’s God trying to get an idea through my thick skull.”

She turned her head to look up into his eyes. How perfect it felt to be in his arms. How safe and whole. “Speaking of thick skulls, what about Max?”

“I’m hoping he’ll say yes now that he can stay here.” He sighed. “I really think he’s the guy to bring into Adventure Access. We’ll still stand by any settlement that comes down, regardless, but I still think we have more than just money to offer him. I’ve decided it might be best to trust that God has someone else in mind if Max says no.” Alex put his arm around JJ’s shoulder and began walking with something close to a swagger. “Who knows? Maybe he’s not quite ready for a family business. Studies show it takes a certain personality to work with relatives, and I know how badly it can turn sour.”

JJ stopped walking and stared at him. Did he just say what she thought he’d said? “Relatives?”

“Well, in six months when we’re ready to take Max on, I figure you’ll definitely have succumbed to my legendary charms and said yes.”

Every ounce of calm left her body. “Yes to
what?
”

His smile was nothing short of gleaming. “You don’t think I’m going to let you in on that now, do you? These things take time to do well. An Amazonian chief once told me I was a veritable fountain of patience.”

JJ applied a mock scowl. “And some chief once told you that you had the soul of a monkey. I didn’t believe that, either.”

Alex started walking, chin up, smug as could be. “Nope. No spoilers. But you’re smart, so you can guess what it might be. You’ll never get it out of me until the time is right.”

JJ caught him by the arm and kissed him for all she was worth. For all
he
was worth. For all the two of them could do together, right here in Gordon Falls. She took no small amount of pride in rendering him momentarily speechless.

“Wow,” he said, his voice gruff. “Maybe you will get it out of me sooner than that.”

She chuckled, loving how light the world felt right now. “Can I be the one to tell Max?”

That surprised him. “You? Really?”

“Well, the two of us together. I want the chance to give him some happy news. And even though you are Mr. Persuasion, I think maybe I can help him see how good Adventure Access would be for him.”

“I imagine you could.” His smile made her heart pound. “I love you, you know that?”

“I love you back.” And this time, it didn’t feel at all wrong to put it that way.

Epilogue

T
he antique paddle wheel steamboat was decked out almost beyond recognition in white-and-red bunting. Alex stood at the edge of the dock trying to breathe. In seconds, JJ would come down the path and join him and the guests gathered there. They'd board the boat as Alex and JJ, but they'd step off as Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Cushman.

He loved that JJ insisted they get married on the river, even though the late April date made for risky weather. God had smiled on their plans—today was clear and bright with just the perfect bit of briskness. Doc put a hand on Alex's shoulder as the sound of sirens echoed across the way. The Gordon Falls Volunteer Fire Department had insisted on delivering JJ to the wedding in dramatic style.

The gathered guests broke out in applause as a fire truck, decked out as ceremoniously as the boat, pulled into view. He caught a glimpse of white fluff inside the cab and he saw a wave of JJ's hand, but nothing prepared him for the vision of her stepping out onto the path. His bride was breathtaking. No vista on earth could compare to the sight of her standing there in the brilliant April sunshine, smiling at him for all the world to see.

A second later, Max rolled up beside JJ, and she placed her hand on the back of his chair just as tenderly as any bride takes her father's elbow. Max cut a pretty fine figure in his tux, not to mention the pinstripes done up on his wheels for the occasion. One of his first projects at Adventure Access had been a series of customizable wheel placards for the company's off-road wheelchair line. “Maxing out” had become a company catchphrase for tricking out equipment, and Alex couldn't have been happier to adopt the term.

“Ready to welcome your bride aboard?” Pastor Allen said with a wide smile.

“Absolutely. Will you look at that woman? That beauty is gonna be Mrs. Cushman the next time she steps on land.”

The ceremony was a blur of joy as Alex watched himself place the ring on JJ's hand. “Now we start the greatest adventure of their lives,” he whispered after they kissed, “with this.” At that moment, the steamboat whistle announced man and wife to the whole wide world. He thought that would be the most unusual touch of the celebration until the captain called for the bride and groom to take their first dance.

None of the guests would understand the band's orders to break into “White Christmas” in the middle of April, but he knew why. Now it was the new Mrs. Cushman who was the source of brilliant creative ideas. Everybody won.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from YULETIDE TWINS by Renee Andrews.

Dear Reader,

We all fall down. Some of us physically, some of us
emotionally, some of us figuratively. As someone wise once said, “It’s the
getting back up that matters.” It’s a fallen world, and we are surrounded by
people trying to get back up. Most times we’re just trying to get back up on our
own two feet ourselves, aren’t we? God often sends us a lifeline, but frequently
it isn’t in the shape, form or person we expected. That’s because the Author of
our faith knows, even better than we do, what’s truly needed. I hope that JJ and
Alex’s story gives you “hope at the end of your rope.” God can always be counted
on to heal, to equip and to restore. As always, feel free to contact me at
www.alliepleiter.com
or P.O. Box 7026, Villa Park, IL, 60181—I’d love to hear
from you!

Questions for Discussion

1. Would you have gone out on the dock to see who was there? Why or why not?
   
2. Alex says, “I’m trying to figure out why it doesn’t all fit together anymore and what to do about it.” Have you ever felt like that? What happened?
   
3. The nurse tells JJ to remember to let people help her in her crisis. Do you have trouble accepting help in a crisis? Why or why not?
   
4. Is JJ right or wrong to blame Alex for his involvement in the accident?
   
5. Alex says, “There’s no way to make this right, ever.” Have you ever found yourself feeling like that? What did you do?
   
6. How is your relationship with your sibling, if you have one? Is it strained or strong?
   
7. Alex says, “I can’t...not...help even though I don’t see how I
   can
   help.” Has there ever been a situation where you felt you had to help but didn’t know how?
   
8. Is there an insomniac in your life? How do they deal with it?
   
9. JJ says she no longer believes life is supposed to be fair. Do you agree or disagree?
   
10. What are your feelings about pranks like the ones at the firehouse? Are they good for bonding or mean chances for things to get out of hand?
    
11. Have you ever had a battle that you could fight
    with
    someone but not
    for
    them? What did you learn?
    
12. Alex says he’s been all around the world but his time on the Gordon River was the best vacation he’s ever had. What was your favorite vacation and why?
    
13. Have you had a “radical, drastic opportunity” in your life? What came from it?
    
14. JJ says that “there’s a huge difference between losing and surrender.” Do you agree?
    
15. JJ says trust is a choice to be made, not a skill to be learned. Where has that been true in your life?
    

We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

You believe hearts can heal.
Love Inspired
stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired every month!

Visit
Harlequin.com
to find your next great read.

We like you—why not like us on Facebook:
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

Follow us on Twitter:
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

Read our blog for all the latest news on our authors and books:
HarlequinBlog.com

Subscribe to our newsletter for special offers, new releases, and more!

Harlequin.com/newsletters

Chapter One

L
aura Holland climbed out of her jam-packed Volkswagen bug and squinted toward the windows of the bookstore across the Claremont town square. During the entire four-hour drive from Nashville to this tiny North Alabama town, she'd attempted to convince herself that she'd made the right decision. Staying with her parents, especially with her mother threatening to leave again, was out of the question. But now she wondered what made her think she could show up here, reconnect with her old friend and somehow convince him to give her a job?

What if David sent her packing? Then where would she go?

Laura took a step toward the bookstore but halted when an elderly gentleman made his way to the entrance. He stood out from the other shoppers with his slow and steady gait. A shadow passed in front of the window as someone went to greet him when he entered.

Was that David? Laura remembered the tall, dark-haired guy who'd been Jared's college roommate the entire time he and Laura dated. Nice-looking in a Clark Kent kind of way, David wore dark-rimmed glasses, dressed impeccably and jogged regularly. He would be twenty-five now, merely two years older than Laura, and yet he'd already “made it” in the world, was self-sufficient and running his own business. A far cry from where Laura was now. More shadows passed in front of the awning-covered window, and then a man carrying a briefcase entered. How many people were in the store? And did she really want an audience when she begged for a job?

Spotting a rack of free classifieds outside of the five-and-dime, Laura grabbed a copy and sat on a wrought-iron bench while she waited for a few of David's customers to leave. If—and that was a big if—David was willing to hire her in her current state, she'd also need somewhere to live.

The unseasonable weather was nice enough that she could probably sit and browse the paper until dark. In Nashville, it'd already turned too cold to spend time outside. But here the first Monday in November felt uncommonly pleasant, with merely a slight chill in the air. Then again, Laura stayed warmer these days due to the extra weight she carried. She wondered if David was still the same big-hearted guy he'd been in college. Would he be willing to help her out? She suspected—and hoped—that he hadn't changed.

Laura rubbed her swollen belly. She sure had.

* * *

David Presley flipped the page of the quarterly report his accountant personally delivered and saw the nasty numbers on the P&L sheet identifying the sad state of his bookstore. He closed the folder, but the image of those red numbers wouldn't go away.

“I'll borrow more from my line of credit.” The muscles in his neck immediately tightened, and he shifted his shoulders to relieve a little stress.

“Can I be honest with you, David?” Milton Stott had inherited the bookstore's account when his father retired, in much the same way David had inherited A Likely Story when his grandmother passed away. However, Milton's inheritance gave him the accounts of most everyone in town, so it wouldn't be all that terrible if he lost the bookstore as a client. David's inheritance, on the other hand, plopped all of his eggs in one basket. A basket that was, based on these numbers, almost empty.

Somehow David managed a smile. “I'd love to think that you weren't being honest and that those numbers were lying, but I know I can count on you giving me the truth. And since you've already delivered a painful dose, you might as well add the rest.”

A noise in the back of the store caused Milton to turn. “You have a customer?”

David nodded. “Zeb Shackleford, but he wouldn't spread news of my financial state even if he heard it.”

Milton heaved a sigh. “Okay, then. I'm going to tell it to you straight. Your grandmother barely got by with the store. I told Vesta she should sell the thing before she passed away so the family wouldn't be burdened. Your parents weren't interested in it....”

“They were pretty excited when Dad got the job opportunity in Florida.” David's folks had been thrilled about the potential for a year-round warm climate, but even if they hadn't been tempted by the beach, they wouldn't have taken over running A Likely Story. They'd never appreciated the old store on the square the way he had.

“Well, Vesta knew they didn't want it and insisted you could breathe life into the old place. Back then, I told her that probably wasn't possible,” Milton said, then added somberly, “I'm sorry that it appears I was right.” He placed his copy of David's financials back in his briefcase and snapped it shut. “I don't see how you can keep the place open more than a couple of months, and that's only if you get enough holiday business to boost your numbers.”

David swallowed past the bitterness creeping up his throat. He'd tried so hard to make the bookstore work, but Milton was right. He lost money every day the doors were open. He scanned the multitude of shelves lining the walls, the tiny reading corners his grandmother had insisted on having for customers to sit and enjoy their books—all of them persistently empty—and his sole customer, Zeb, gingerly perusing the packed shelves. “I'm not ready to give up,” he told the accountant. “My grandmother thought I could make this place work, really believed it could be done, and that I was the one to do it. You said so.”

“I also said that it probably wasn't possible,” Milton reminded.

Zeb rounded the end of one of the stacks and held up his plastic basket. “Found some good ones today,” he said with a grin.

David's heart moved with a glimmer of hope. “I had several bags of used books turned in this week for credit, so I thought you'd be able to find quite a few.”

Zeb's face cracked into more wrinkles as his smile widened. Oddly, the weathered lines made him even more endearing. “Any of those suspense ones I've been looking for? Miss Tilly at the nursing home has been asking for some.”

David pointed toward the other side of the store. “I think so. Look over there, about halfway down.”

“Thanks.” Zeb nodded at Milton. “Good to see you, Mil.”

“You, too, Zeb.” He waited for the old man to move a little farther away, lowered his voice and said, “Credit? You're still taking books for credit? I told your grandmother years ago that she should stop that. It makes no business sense whatsoever.”

“That's the way used bookstores typically work. And I carry new books, too, but there are folks in Claremont, like Zeb, who like the used ones.” David said a silent prayer that Zeb would take his time finding the books he wanted so Milton wouldn't also learn the elderly man got his books for free.

Milton tsked and tapped David's folder on the counter. “Listen, I'm not charging you for my services this quarter. I know you can't afford it right now.”

“I can't let you do that,” David began, but Milton shook his head.

“Nope, not taking a penny. But what I
am
going to do is start praying that you'll think about what I've said and consider other options. You're a smart young man with a business degree from a great university and your whole life ahead of you. There are other things you can do, businesses that can make a profit and keep your head above water.” Milton turned to leave. “However, if you're determined to give it a go, I'll pray for your success.”

David agreed that a prayer wouldn't hurt.

Help me out, Lord. Show me what I need to do to breathe life into this place. I could really use some guidance here.

The bell on the front door sounded as Milton exited, and Zeb Shackleford edged his way toward David with books balancing over the top of his red plastic basket. He gingerly placed the basket on the counter and then reached to his back pocket and pulled out a worn leather wallet. “Now, I'm gonna pay you today, David. Please don't fight me on this. I got a lot of books, and I know you can't afford to keep giving 'em to me for free.”

David suspected Zeb had gotten the gist of his conversation with Milton, even if he might not have caught every word. He loved the old man and the way he took care of so many people around Claremont. Right now he was trying to take care of David, but there was no way David would take his money. “We've been through this before. Those books are a donation.”

Zeb opened the wallet and moved a shaky thumb across the top of a few dollar bills. “Please, David. Let me pay.”

David placed his hand on top of Zeb's, and the trembling ceased. “It'd be different if you were keeping those books yourself, but I know that you'll be hauling them over to the nursing home and to the hospital and then to the shut-ins around town. You'll read the books to them, and then if they like the story, you'll let them keep them, won't you?” When Zeb didn't answer, David added, “My grandmother's last days were so much better because of your visits. She loved listening to you read. You've got a way of bringing stories to life. She had that gift, too, before the cancer got the best of her. But with your visits, she could still enjoy a good story.” He pointed to the books. “I'm not letting you pay for them.”

“She never would take my money, either,” Zeb huffed, folding the wallet and sliding it in his back pocket. Then he lifted his eyes and said, “I know you need the money.”

David didn't want the older man to worry, even if his own anxiety made his stomach churn. He placed all of the man's books in two plastic bags. “I'll be fine.”

Zeb placed a hand on David's forearm and squeezed. “You have a blessed day, son.”

“I will.” The words had barely left David's mouth when he heard someone moving through one of the aisles from the front of the store. He hadn't heard the bell sound, but he definitely had another customer. “Hello?”

Zeb turned so that he saw the pregnant woman at the same time as David. But David was certain Zeb didn't recognize the lady, since she wasn't from Claremont. David, however, did, and his heart squeezed in his chest the way it always had whenever he saw the stunning blonde in college. Infatuation had a way of doing that, lingering through the years, and David's had apparently hung around. “Laura?”

“Hey, David.” She continued toward the counter. “I came in when the other man left,” she said, which explained why David didn't hear the bell, “and then I didn't want to interrupt you while you were talking to a customer.”

“Well, I'm about to leave.” Zeb extended a hand. “I'm Zebulon Shackleford, but folks around here call me Zeb.”

“Laura Holland,” she answered, shaking his hand and giving him a tender smile.

Holland. David didn't miss the fact that she was still Laura Holland. No married name. Why not? And who was the father of the baby she carried? So many questions, and he wanted to know the answers.

“I...” She hesitated. “I hope it's okay that I came here.”

Shell-shocked, David realized he hadn't said anything more than her name. He mentally slapped himself out of the momentary stupor. “I'm sorry,” he said. “Yes, of course it's okay.” Though he suddenly wondered why she was here, in his bookstore, when he hadn't heard anything from her in over two years. The last time he'd seen her, in fact, she'd been very much in love with his college roommate.

Zeb slid his arms between the loops of the bags then pulled them off of the counter as he stepped away. “David, if it's okay with you, I might sit a spell and read in one of your nooks before I head out. I'm feeling a little weary and think it might do me good to rest a few minutes.”

David had to forcibly move his gaze from Laura, still amazingly beautiful, to Zeb. “Sure, that's fine. And let me know if you want me to drive you home. It isn't a problem.”

“Aw, I drove today, wasn't quite feeling up to walking this time. It's just that I parked on the other side of the square, and I think I'll handle that walk a little better if I sit a minute or two.”

“Take all the time you need,” he said, glad that his mind began to work again, the surprise of seeing Laura finally settling in to reality.

She looked even prettier than he remembered. She had her straight blond hair pulled back, drawing even more attention to pale blue eyes and a heart-shaped face. Jared had often compared her to Reese Witherspoon, and David agreed they were similar, but Laura was...Laura. Back then, he'd found an instant attraction toward the striking beauty, but as usual, he'd fallen into the role of second fiddle when she dubbed him her friend, and Jared her love. Then again, David was wise enough now to realize that his fascination with her had been merely that, a fascination. But beyond the intriguing element that'd always been a part of his relationship with Laura, had been the friendship that David had found with Jared's girl. He was certain that friendship was what brought her here now, because David knew she was no longer with Jared. His buddy had married in June.

Laura forced a smile, blinked a couple of times and then seemed to struggle to focus on David, as though she were afraid if she looked directly at him, he'd see too much. Which was probably true.

In college, he mastered reading her eyes. If Jared had hurt her, David could see it in those telling eyes. He'd seen that look way too many times. Even though he was close to Jared, David never believed his old friend treated Laura the way she deserved. She had a kind heart and would do anything for anyone. Jared took advantage of that; he'd taken advantage of her love. David hated seeing that look of emotional pain in her eyes back then.

He studied her now and didn't see pain, but he saw something else that bothered him almost as much. Fear.

“Laura, is something wrong?” he asked, then quickly added, “I'm glad that you're here, but—” he decided it best to state the truth “—I haven't heard from you since I graduated from Tennessee, so to see you now, over two years later...” His gaze moved to her belly. “Do you need help?”