Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3)

by Kahlen Aymes

  Pleasure burst inside me at the question. If she was asking, then it meant she had an interest in me as a man. I looked at her through hooded eyes. There was a faint blush to her cheeks. “I’m not with anyone. Since I moved here, I’ve been working a lot and pulling as much overtime as I’m allowed. I’m saving up to build a new house,” I explained.

  “That sounds like a great plan.”

  “It is.” The corner of my mouth lifted in a half smile. “Too bad I have no life in the meantime.”

  “You’re incredible at your job. I can see how dedicated you are.”

  Our eyes connected and locked. “I didn’t do so well at your place.”

  “It was too far gone when you got there. I just know you’re the best,” she said, simply. “You all did all you could.”

  I was enjoying the feeling her confidence caused, but I still felt like I’d failed her.

  We continued eating but there was a nagging need inside of me to ask about her relationship with Carter. Could she really love a man who raised a hand to her in anger? “Forgive me for asking this, Marin… it might be too soon, but was Carter… good to you?”

  She hesitated, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. “What makes you ask?”

  “The bruises. Did he beat you?”

  She set her fork down and shrugged her slim shoulders, her eyes getting glassy. “Not until after Uncle Leonard died. He was sweet and attentive before that, but it was like a light switch was flipped. He became very different. He drank a lot and got angry if I did or said the smallest thing he didn’t like. He yelled a lot. I thought if I changed, maybe he’d go back to how he was before, but even though I was careful, he didn’t. He got worse when I wouldn’t marry him.”

  “Why did you stay with him at all?” My heart ached for her, but I was also angry that she’d stay with someone who would abuse her.

  She shrugged again. “Carter was all I had, and I just didn’t have the strength to be alone right then. He tried to spend the money I got from the life insurance, but I wanted to use it to pay off the mortgage on the house. That’s what Uncle Leonard would want me to do. I think Carter expected me to put the check into the business account. He was running the business and had access. That was the first mistake, but I was so sad after my uncle’s death, and I trusted him. When the money wasn’t there, he basically ran off all of the other mechanics who had been at The Shop for years, and then, the customers stopped coming. Two months later, we had only a fraction of the jobs we had before, and he was hitting me daily and drinking heavily. I didn’t go into town as much because I didn’t want people to notice.”

  “If Carter were here right now, I’d literally beat the shit out of him,” I growled. Marin’s eyes widened in surprise. “I mean, I’m sorry he’s dead, but maybe he got what he deserved.” I wished I was sitting next to her and not across the table. I wanted to touch her, to hold her, to take away the pain I saw behind her eyes. “Remember, I told you about Missy.”

  “I remember.” A tear tumbled from her beautiful eye and she quickly brushed it from her cheek. “I don’t wish him dead, but I do wish I’d never met him. I was stupid. I believed him when he said he loved me. He was good looking and he swept me away. All he wanted was the money and the business, and I realized that the man he was at the start, was just a charade. He played both me and my uncle.”

  Did Carter kill her uncle? I couldn’t keep it from crossing my mind after what she’d told me. As delicious as the food was, the conversation was taking away my appetite. “Well, he can’t hurt you anymore.”

  “You’re right, but his family…” Fear laced her voice. “They blame me for Carter’s death since it happened at my business.”

  “I’ll ask Davis if he knows a good lawyer to help figure it out, but I think you need to file a restraining order.”

  “Would it work? I mean, I know Apollo’s name and his mother, but there were many others. I can’t get a restraining order on someone when I don’t know who they are.”

  She was right, it could be complicated, but I was grasping at straws. I couldn’t stay with her twenty-four-seven because of my job, but the thought of them hurting her filled me with terror.

  “All of the files from the business burned up in the fire, but I’ll call the insurance company on Monday. I think it best to just pay his family off.”

  I ran a hand down my face and over my jaw, feeling the growing scruff on it. I was frustrated and angry. “Marin, you can’t reason with criminals. They won’t stop.”

  Something haunting crossed her face and another tear fell. “My uncle said something just like that. About reasoning with bullies, I mean.”

  “He sounds like an amazing man, but I think he’d agree you can’t pay those bastards off because they’ll just keep coming,” I insisted.

  “I don’t know what else to do,” she said simply. “I think there is an injury or death clause in the insurance, and we carried workmen’s comp insurance, too.”

  “It was an accident, right? What happened, Marin?” It was direct of me to ask, but I wanted to help her, but I couldn’t do it without the full story. “What were you doing there?”

  I could see her visibly stiffen and the color drained from her face. She hesitated a moment too long.

  “I’m just trying to help.”

  “I know.” She nodded. “I went to The Shop to talk to Carter. He - he was drunk, and he got upset. He came at me and knocked over a lantern and it started burning some spilled oil on the floor. There was grease everywhere and it flashed. He was standing too close.”

  Tears flooded her eyes by the time she finished. It was a short explanation, but it was clearly an accident. I wondered if the coroner had taken a blood sample as part of the autopsy. Even though the poor bastard was burnt to a crisp, it was usual for any victims who succumb during fires to be taken to the coroner and an autopsy done.

  “Was there an autopsy report?” I didn’t know why I even asked. The poor bastard burned to death and had been obvious by the condition of the body.

  “I’m not sure, but I think it would have been sent to his family.”

  “As business owner, you have a right to know, too. I’ll check it out. If it’s okay.”

  “Okay.” She wiped at her face with both hands but ended up burying her face in her hands and crying.

  I felt like crap. I should have just shut my damn mouth and just enjoyed breakfast. I got up and walked to her side of the table, crouching down so my face was level with hers.

  “I’m sorry. Marin. I shouldn’t have brought it up and ruined this amazing meal. I just… I want to take care of you.” My voice was soft, but she only started crying harder. I couldn’t help myself, I reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace. Her forehead landed on my shoulder, her face turning into the cord of my neck as she cried. I stroked the back of her head with one hand and held her close to my chest with my other arm. Her arms curled against me.

  “Ben, what am I going to do?”

  I inhaled a big breath and filled my lungs completely while I continued to comfort her. “It will work out. I think you need security cameras on the house, though.”

  She pulled back to look up into my face with sad eyes, then nodded. “Okay.”

  “I’ll handle it, if you’ll let me.” I reached up and pushed a stray tendril behind her ear and placed a long, gentle kiss on Marin’s opposite temple. Our bodies were still close, and her hand came up to circle my wrist and her chin lifted, silently begging for my kiss.

  Electricity shot through me at the innocent touch of my mouth against her skin and went straight to my dick. I wanted to kiss her mouth so fucking bad. I was shaking, yet I resisted, telling myself that she was still too vulnerable. I wanted her so much it hurt, but I wanted more than sex once. She was fragile and she needed more than an orgasm and I realized… so did I. I wanted more and that would take time.

  “Ben…” she sighed my name and her hot breath rushed deliciously over my mouth. I swallow
ed as our mouths hovered together. Her fingers drifted up to lightly touch my jaw. I was struggling in a big way.

  “Marin,” I returned, knowing I was losing the battle. The puppy whined and I pulled back, regaining my sense of logic, my hand running down her arm to squeeze her hand. I bent to pick up the pup and hand her to the young woman in front of me. “You’ll be okay. You have Gem and me to take care of you. I think she wants a bite of that delicious waffle.”

  Marin sat back in chair, as if suddenly aware of what almost happened. She blinked, tears still clinging to her eyelashes as Gem licked at her face. Her hand ran down over the puppy and she reached forward onto her plate and broke off a small piece of the waffle, holding it while the dog gobbled it up greedily.

  I moved back to my chair and started eating the now cold waffle. It was still delicious, and I had another one to down. That was close. If the dog hadn’t intervened, I was certain I would have been making love to her on the kitchen floor, and that wasn’t what I wanted for Marin. I wanted her, but when I made her mine, it would be in a bed with candlelight, and soft music. She deserved no less. I knew it would happen; the attraction between us was a tangible thing, but it would take more time. I had to be more aware so this “almost sex” didn’t happen again.

  “After breakfast, let’s go see the foal. I told Gem about her new brother.” I winked at Marin, trying to lighten the mood, hoping she wouldn’t see my reticence as rejection.

  I relaxed when Marin reached forward to pick up another small piece of waffle for Gem who happily gobbled it down licking her fingers. “Have you thought of a name yet?”

  “Not yet,” I shook my head, pouring the now barely warm syrup on the second waffle Marin had made for me. “All good things come to those who wait.”

  “Well, don’t be too long. I can’t keep calling him little colt.”

  “That would be bad. I thought I’d speak to my nephew about it. Would that be okay?”

  She smirked. “How old is he, again?”

  “Eight,” I replied.

  “As long as it’s not something dumb like Happy, Lucky, or Blacky.” Her nose crinkled in disdain and I burst out laughing.

  “Hey don’t make fun! Lucky was my first dog’s name.”

  “I rest my case. This little colt needs a dignified name. I can tell by looking at him he’s going to be magnificent.”

  “You would know,” I said, taking a bite.

  “I’ve seen a few foals over the years on the ranch, and he is just about perfect.”

  “I got a few pictures to send to Dylan. I’ll talk to him later.”

  As if on cue, my phone rang from my back pocket. I pulled it out and checked the screen. It was the station calling me in.

  “Yeah?”

  It was my chief. “Ben, we have flames on the west range of the Tetons and it’s windy. We have to get in front of it and we need all the help we can get. Sorry to pull you in on your day off, but we need you. It’s three-alarm already.”

  “Not a problem. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I shut off my phone and stood up from the table. “Marin, I’m sorry, I have to go. There is a forest fire in the Tetons. They’re calling me in.”

  “Oh no!” Marin stood up anxiously. “Is there anything I can do?”

  “Just pray we get it under control. It’s on the west range so Jackson is safe for now, but I have to move. I’m sorry.”

  Marin rushed forward and grabbed both of my forearms. “Ben… please be careful!”

  My hands closed around her elbows as she looked up at me with worried eyes. “I will. Promise. I’ll call you later.”

  She nodded and I rushed from the house and to my truck. Adrenaline was already kicking in as I tore out of the driveway of the ranch and I raced into town.

  MARIN

  I spent the day with Siri and her new foal in between watching the news for information about the fire. I was scared for Ben but tried to calm myself down by telling myself he was excellent at his job and keeping myself busy.

  Gem followed me out to the barn, and curiously peered into the stall as we waited for the vet to arrive to give Siri and her foal a check-up. She was too small to crawl over the first board to get into the stalls but stood on her hind feet with her front paws holding onto it to peer in curiously between the slats. Her tail wagged furiously, and she barked a couple of times.

  Yap! Yap! Yap! Yap! Booowwwww!

  Her little bark reminded me that she was just a baby, too. “Come here, sweetie.” I picked her up and held her in my arms. “Soon you can go in and meet the new foal, but even though he’s a baby like you, he’s much bigger. I don’t want my little sweet face getting hurt,” I cooed, kissing her once on the cheek and the top of her smooth black head. When I set the puppy down again, she scampered around the barn as had become her custom, running up and down the main corridor; sniffing and exploring everywhere she went.

  I pulled out my phone to call Dr. Porter; the large animal vet that Uncle Leonard had always used. I wanted to check on his arrival time, so I scrolled through my contacts to find the number.

  “Marin?” I heard Gina’s voice from the outside in the yard.

  I quickly moved toward the entrance to the barn. “Gina! I’m in here!”

  It was nice to have a new friend. She smiled tiredly when she saw me. “Hey!” Gina was dressed in her hospital uniform and must have finished an overnight shift. “I just stopped to see how you were doing.”

  I’d texted her from the hotel in Minneapolis, letting her know I’d be coming home early but without a full explanation. “What happened?”

  “Oh,” I answered, mentally forcing myself to refrain from cringing. “Carter’s family was a bit more colorful than I’d bargained for.”

  She came forward and hugged me lightly. “Why didn’t you text me the details? I’ve been curious about what happened.”

  “I just wanted to get home as quickly as possible. His brother and mom… well, suffice it to say they were sort of thuggish. They basically…” I wondered if I should spill my guts and tell my new friend the entire truth. Who knew what they’d do to anyone who knew the truth and the last thing I wanted was to put her in danger. “Well, they only wanted me to come for the funeral because they wanted to talk to me about an insurance settlement.”

  Gina’s expression changed to one of disgust. “His mother did that? That’s hard to believe she’d be thinking of money at a time like this.”

  I nodded once. “Yes, I was stunned, as well. Maybe that’s why Carter didn’t have much of a relationship with his family. There were several of his relatives there. They reminded me more of a gang than a family. I just decided to get back to Jackson and figure it all out as quickly as possible.”

  “Wow. That sucks. I’m sorry. It must have been weird being surrounded by a bunch of people you’d never met.”

  “It was, but I’ll sort it out.” I decided to change the subject. “My mare had a new foal early this morning. Wanna see him? He’s so precious.”

  “I’d love to!” Gina agreed, and walked with me into the barn. “You have a lot of horses!”

  “Not all of them are mine. We board them for other people who don’t have the land or facilities needed to maintain them. My uncle started doing it for a friend and it’s grown into a little business. I’m at maxed-out capacity now, though.”

  Gina looked in a number of the stalls as we made our way toward Siri’s stall. “They’re so pretty.”

  “The little guy is in the last stall on the left.” Within a minute we were both standing on the lower rung of the stall with our arms folded over the top one.

  “Oh my gosh! He’s gorgeous, but he doesn’t look like his mom, does he?” Gina exclaimed.

  I laughed softly. “Nope. He’s all his sire.”

  “He’s so sweet.”

  I agreed with a nod, watching the little foal laying in the hay. Siri was standing, finally munching away at her alfalfa. “He is. He’s a tired little man. Being born wore
him out.”

  “All babies sleep a lot. I mean, human babies do, so animals must, too.” I couldn’t argue with her logic and after all, she was a nurse.

  “Did you get to watch the birth?”

  “Yes. Siri needed a little help, but not much. I was worried because this is her first foal. If you come back in a couple of days, he’ll be running around all over the place by then.”

  “It’s incredible how quickly little animals can walk.”

  “Yep. He was up and nursing within a couple of hours.”

  The little colt struggled to his feet and pranced around the small stall the best he could, his short, brush-like tail swishing behind him.

  “What’s his name?”

  “Not sure, yet. I told Ben that he could name him.” Gina’s head snapped around to look at me, her expression surprised. “Since he’s been so nice to me,” I explained guiltily.

  “Really? I mean, I knew he helped take care of your dog overnight, that once.”

  “Yes, and he’s helped with the horses and with Gem when I went to the funeral. And…” I bit my lip, hesitating. “He was here when Siri gave birth.”

  Oh, crap, I silently chastised myself. Now I’d have to explain why Ben was here so early in the morning.

  “Was he staying here while you were gone?”

  I didn’t want to lie to my new friend, but I wasn’t up to explaining every detail of the past few days, either. I vowed to come clean and tell Gina the entire truth when I had a chance to come to terms with it all myself. “Um… he was here when I got home this morning.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, though I was teetering right on the line.

  “What a welcome. Ben is so hot,” she murmured, almost to herself. “So… virile. I just want to lick him from head to toe.”

  My eyes widened in surprise at Gina’s boldness. I felt uncomfortable and I wasn’t sure why. “He is attractive.”

  “Understatement of the century!” Gina’s expression became more animated. “Oh, my God, I wonder if he’s seeing anyone.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Her smile brightened. “Wow. That’s sort of unbelievable.”