This was Taylor’s fault, not hers. And for once in her life, she wasn’t going to take the blame.
“I agreed to this date because Brooke matched us up,” Kate said, the words icy. “The real question is, why did you agree to this date?”
“I wasn’t going to. But when I recognized you, I thought maybe you wanted to talk and get some kind of closure.”
He hadn’t wanted to go out with her. The reality sliced through Kate, a sharp pain that had her inhaling.
“Okay then.” She reached down, fumbling with the knot in her shoelace.
“Wait!” Taylor ran a hand through his hair. “Geez, Kaitlynn. That came out all wrong.”
“It’s Kate,” she spit out. This evening was nothing more than an opportunity for him to drag out painful memories of her past. She couldn’t believe someone would be so cruel.
“Kate, then. That came out all wrong. I’ll admit, the widow thing made me nervous when Brooke first called. It seemed like a lot.”
“Yeah, it’s been hard for me, too.”
Taylor flushed, his dark skin pinking. “Crap, I keep screwing this up. I was going to say no, but then I recognized you, and I thought maybe you wanted to talk about it. I thought I owed it to you to show up, if that’s what you needed.”
“You don’t owe me anything.” Kate tore the knot free and flipped her hair over her shoulder, then started on the next knot. If he wanted to talk about that night, he’d gone out with the wrong person. She couldn’t believe she’d wasted nearly a hundred dollars on an outfit for this.
“Please don’t leave.”
She wanted to leave more than anything. But if she walked out those doors, she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to force herself back on another date. “Why?”
His sparkling blue eyes stared at her with worry and concern. “Because I’ve been a complete idiot, and I don’t want things to end like this. You deserve better.”
You deserve better. The words echoed in her mind, causing a lump to form in her throat. What a line.
She crossed her arms. “Do you have any idea how weird this is for me?”
He held his fingers up, a centimeter apart. “I have a very small idea.”
“I’ve spent the past year and a half trying to put the past behind me. That night was one of the most traumatic of my life.”
“No one would expect it to be anything less.”
She wondered what Taylor would say if he knew the night wasn’t traumatic for the reasons he probably thought it was. “I don’t want to talk about that night.”
“Okay.”
“If that’s why you came on this date, I’m leaving right now.” She should leave anyway. But maybe she’d overreacted, and if she left now, she’d never go back.
“We don’t have to talk about the fire.”
“And I’m not talking about Beau. This isn’t a chance for you to satiate your curiosity.” Her heart hammered in her chest with the bold declarations, but it felt good to state an opinion and stick to it.
“Sounds fair.”
She cocked her head, regarding Taylor. His eyes were open and vulnerable, his relaxed posture welcoming instead of threatening.
“This is really weird,” she said.
“I know. Let me make it up to you.”
Surely the date couldn’t get any worse than this. If she stuck it out, she’d be able to move forward with the confidence that it could only go up from here. And she would’ve successfully taken that first, rocky step forward. Slowly, she nodded. “Okay.”
He blew out a breath. “You’ll stay, then?”
“I’ll stay. But if you bring up Beau or the fire even once, I’m leaving.”
“Deal.”
She shifted from foot to foot, still not sure she’d made the right decision. Then she slowly bent down, allowing her hair to hide her expression as she retied her shoes with trembling hands.
I’m not doing this for him, she reminded herself. I’m doing this for me. To prove I can.
“I swear I’m not usually such an idiot,” Taylor said.
Kate picked up her bowling ball, ignoring the comment. “I’m up first, right?”
Taylor folded his arms, regarding her. “Yes.”
Kate took her place at the front of the line, eying the pins at the end. How had Beau managed to ruin her first date when he wasn’t even alive? She would never be free of that man.
Just get through tonight, she told herself.
Kate let the ball fly. It swerved abruptly to the left, dropping into the gutter and making its way to the end of the lane. Her face heated, and knew she was blushing again. Why did she have to be born with red hair and fair skin? It always gave away her emotions.
She turned around, prepared to face whatever smug satisfaction or criticism Taylor had to dish out. He leaned forward, arms on the table, still regarding her with intense blue eyes.
“Good try,” he said.
Kate let out a nervous laugh. “That was awful.”
“Nah, it’s just been a while. You need to warm up a bit.”
Kate nodded and swallowed. She took her position again and took a deep breath, then let the ball roll. It hit slightly off center, taking down all but two pins.
“Great job!” Taylor held up his hand and Kate shyly gave him a high-five.
“Thanks.” Kate held his gaze briefly before looking away. She hoped he knew she meant for more than bowling. She was so grateful he was playing it cool, not making a big deal over what had happened. Hopefully it lasted for the remainder of the date.
He smiled again—a look she was quickly realizing was a trademark of his. “You’re welcome.”
She hadn’t known. Taylor felt like an idiot for not immediately suspecting as much. It had been dark that night, the hazy smoke further distorting vision. He’d been suited up in his full gear, helmet and all, and his face had probably been streaked with ash and sweat from helping put out the blaze. She’d just found out her husband was dead and had been in shock, shaking despite the warm California air and the three blankets wrapped around her shoulders.
Of course she wouldn’t remember him. Some people remembered traumatic events in crystal-clear intensity, like an instant replay every time the event came to mind. And some barely remembered it at all. He’d only lost three people to fires over the past eighteen months, but he remembered each event with near perfect detail. He shouldn’t have assumed it’d be the same for the loved ones affected.
His phone buzzed, and he quickly opened and read the text. Amy was going off on one of her rants again.
Kate lined up the ball, then let it fly down the alley. It veered sharply to the left, but still managed to take down about half the pins. Taylor watched her shoulder slump before straightening again. When she turned to face him, she had a smile pasted on her lips. “I’d say I’m out of practice, but I’ve never been that great at bowling.”
It seemed she had a decided lack of self-confidence as well. Taylor swallowed, his overprotective hero complex kicking into gear. Of course she’d taken an emotional beating these last eighteen months. That didn’t mean he needed to fix it.
Taylor rose, grabbing his own bowling ball from the stand. “I’ve never been that great at bowling either, but I still enjoy the occasional game.” He let his own ball fly, taking down about the same number of pins as she had. “I’m almost as good as you are.”
Kate cocked her head to the side, as though trying to figure him out. Was she comparing him to her late husband, perhaps? He’d never dated a widow. Didn’t want to date someone with that heavy of baggage. He should’ve let her leave, but he hadn’t been able to let her walk out thinking badly of him.
He watched as she bowled another frame. The silence between them had passed uncomfortable ten minutes ago. Her deep auburn curls bounced against her back with the movement, her frame so slender as to be almost sickly.
He’d been the one to find Beau’s body, and a death at his first fire had shook him. He cou
ld only imagine the kind of trauma Kate had experienced. He would make this date a good one. Then he would leave her life for good.
“So, Kate, tell me about your job. Your file said you’re a nurse?” He’d guessed she was something medical from her scrubs the night of the fire.
“Yes. I used to work at the hospital in labor and delivery, but after …” She cleared her throat, twisting the bowling ball around in her hands until she found the finger holds. “Anyway, I’m at a pediatrician’s office now.” She let the ball roll and this time it hit dead-center, knocking down every pin.
“And you said you weren’t a great bowler. I haven’t managed to get a strike yet. Great job!” Taylor held up his hand for a high-five, and Kate tapped it with her own.
“Dumb luck, I guess.”
“Nah, I think you’ve got hidden skills that are finally being set loose. So a labor and delivery nurse, and now a pediatrician’s office. You must really like kids.”
“I do.”
Taylor tossed his ball down the lane, not caring when it headed straight for the gutter. “Do you have any nieces or nephews?” He remembered the way she’d shook her head and said there was no one she could call after that fire. He hadn’t been able to get it out of his head for days.
“It’s just me.” Kate took a sip of her water and shrugged. “My grandpa and grandma raised me. They’ve both been gone over a decade now. I think my dad’s still in prison. I’m not sure where my mom is, or if I have any siblings. Not exactly an ideal family, huh?”
“I’m so sorry.” His phone buzzed again, but Taylor ignored it. Kate hadn’t been exaggerating when she claimed to have no one. Had she at least had good insurance to help with the financial blow, or had she truly lost everything? He wanted to ask so badly but wouldn’t go back on his promise.
Kate shrugged, the movement slow and a little self-conscious. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Do you have any nieces or nephews?”
“No, thank heaven.” Taylor rolled the ball in his hands, then let it fly. Amy could barely take care of herself. He itched to check his phone, but didn’t want Kate to think him rude. Hopefully Amy hadn’t been picked up for a DUI. Her license had already been suspended, but he knew she still drove when she could get access to a car. He was already mentally rearranging his finances to help her post bail.
“Oh.” Kate opened her mouth as though to ask a follow-up question, then pursed her lips and bowled her frame.
This date had entered painful territory.
“Tell me more about you,” Taylor said. “What’s your favorite thing to do on your day off?”
“I usually just run errands.”
This conversation would need the jaws of life to recover. “Yeah, me too. I’m at work a lot, and when I’m not on shift I’m catching up on sleep and household stuff. There’s a lot of down time at the station, or shifts when all we do is train, but on days when there are blazes …” He trailed off, realizing they were heading in a direction she’d asked the conversation not to go.
Kate sighed, twirling the ball between her palms. “It’s weird not talking about it, isn’t it?”
“A little.” She wasn’t shying away from the topic, and that somehow made her more attractive. “But that’s okay. I don’t want to do anything that would make you uncomfortable.”
Kate looked up at the score board. “Last frame.”
“Yup, and we’re tied.”
Kate chewed on her lip, then nodded, as though making a decision. She let the ball fly. It went straight and true, hitting the pins dead center and knocking them all down.
Taylor lifted his hands up in the air in a victory cry. “Strike! That was amazing, Kate. Good job.”
She looked down, blushing. “I’m sure you’ll get a strike, too.”
“No way. You’re totally going to win. You get to go again.”
Kate rolled a gutter ball, then hit two pins on her last bowl. When she turned back around, her face was bright red. “Told you I suck.”
“Even pros have off days.” Taylor took his place and ended up with eight pins down. The pins on the score board danced in celebration, proclaiming Kate’s win.
“Sorry I beat you,” Kate said, sitting down and slipping off her shoes.
“Why? You earned that, fair and square. I think that means I owe you dinner.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I want to,” Taylor said, already cursing himself for asking her. Conversation had been stilted and uncomfortable. Why had he just asked for another hour of the same?
His phone buzzed again. Amy was getting more impatient.
He should leave Kate well enough alone. But she was a mystery he was dying to uncover.
Kate cocked her head to the side, as though regarding him, then finally nodded. “Okay. Dinner would be nice. Thank you.”
Relief and disappointment hit him simultaneously. He wanted to get to know Kate better. But he wasn’t equipped to deal with her past. He motioned to the Mexican restaurant connected to the bowling alley. It wasn’t one of his favorites—he’d always opt Vinny’s when given a choice—but it was close and the cafeteria-style line lent a casual atmosphere a sit-down restaurant wouldn’t provide. “How’s this?”
“Sounds great.”
Kate followed him into the restaurant and stood silently beside him as they waited in line. Smoke billowed from a stove in the back and an employee let out a yelp.
“Everything okay?” Taylor asked the server, motioning to the stove.
The girl laughed. “Oh, yeah. Just training someone new. What can I get you?”
“A beef burrito, smothered with everything,” Taylor said.
The girl quickly prepared the burrito, then looked up at Kate. “And what about you?”
Kate pointed to the sweet pork. “Is the sweet pork burrito peanut free?”
The employee nodded. “We’re a nut-free restaurant.”
“Okay then. I’ll have that.”
“You’re allergic to nuts?” Taylor asked.
“Just peanuts. I always carry an epi-pen in my purse, just in case.”
“That sucks. I love peanuts, especially on ice cream.”
She shrugged. “The side effect of not breathing has kind of turned me off them.”
A laugh rumbled in Taylor’s stomach. He paid for their food, then took their tray to a table. More steam billowed up from the stove. Looked like their new employee wasn’t suited for the kitchen.
“I can’t stop thinking about it,” Kate murmured as she cut her burrito. “You were there.”
Taylor pushed the button on the side of his phone to silence another vibration. “I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“I don’t talk about it often. Aside from Liza, no one has ever asked me for details about that night.”
Taylor set down his fork. “I’m so sorry, Kate. I’m sorry about your husband’s death, and I’m sorry you didn’t realize who I was before agreeing to this date.” But he was beyond impressed with how she’d handled herself this evening. If he’d been in her situation, he wasn’t so sure he would’ve stayed.
“It’s not your fault.” She dragged her fork through the spicy sauce smothering the top of her burrito. “I must’ve told Beau a thousand times to not smoke in the house, but he never listened.”
“I saw the fire inspector’s report. I hope that insurance didn’t contest it.”
“They did, for a while. But eventually we got everything straightened out. I moved into the new house about four months ago. It’s really nice.” She gave a small smile. “The fire wasn’t all bad.”
Taylor felt his eyebrows skyrocket in surprise, and he quickly took a bite of his taco salad to hide his shock. “A new house hardly makes up for the death of a husband.”
“Everything happens for a reason.”
What did that mean?
“I saw on your profile that you enjoy hiking,” Kate said, changing
the subject. “Me too, but it’s been a few years since I’ve had a chance to do any. Are there any nearby trails I should try out?”
“There’s this one that leads to a waterfall you’ve gotta try. Here, let me show you on a map.” He pulled out his phone and showed her where the trail began, still trying to figure out what she’d meant.
His phone rang, the shrill sound making Kate jump.
“Sorry,” Taylor muttered. Amy was getting more persistent. If he didn’t answer, she’d just keep calling. “I’ve got to get this. Just a sec.”
Kate nodded, glancing away to give him privacy. Taylor quickly answered the phone.
“Why have you been ignoring me?” Amy demanded.
“I’ve been busy,” Taylor said, lowering his voice. Kate remained focused on her burrito. “What’s up?”
“They’re kicking me out if I don’t pay my rent by five o’clock,” Amy said. “I’m starting a new job next week and I swear I’m good for the money, if you can just lend it to me.”
Taylor ran a hand through his hair and sighed. At least she hadn’t been arrested. “How far behind are you?”
“Three months. But if I give them a couple thousand today, I think they’ll lay off.”
“That’s a lot of money, Amy.”
Kate let out a tiny cough. Taylor looked up, and she mouthed sorry, her cheeks bright red.
Taylor stared. He barely noted the hazy air around Kate before an ear-splitting shriek filled the restaurant. Flames flew up from the grill top and Taylor jumped to his feet, shoving the phone in his pocket without even turning it off.
“Everyone out!” he yelled, heading toward the kitchen.
Patrons jumped to their feet, rushing toward the door. Taylor caught a glimpse of Kate’s red hair in the crowd as he fought his way toward the kitchen. The flames were three feet high, nearly brushing the ceiling. He saw a pimply employee grab a pan of water out of the sink.
“Don’t!” Taylor shouted. He reached around the flames, quickly flicking off the burner.
“I don’t know what happened,” the kid wailed, his voice raising an octave in fear.
“Get the fire extinguisher,” Taylor yelled. He grabbed a frying pan and tossed it on top of the flames. Orange glowed underneath it, the angle of the handle not allowing the oxygen to be smothered completely.
Strike a Match (No Match for Love Book 1) Page 4
