by Cora Seton
Right now, his duty was to his team. Not a lover from his past…and sort of present. Keeping his team safe and putting out the fire were the only things that mattered.
Except, that wasn’t true. That was pure bullshit. Somehow, between that night in the Poconos and tonight’s call, things had changed.
Big time.
Gwen sat at Caitlin’s kitchen table the next morning, cupping a mug of coffee, after just getting out of her second, long, hot shower in an attempt to get warm. Heat seeped into her palms, but she was still cold. The shaking had subsided a few hours ago, but she couldn’t shake the chill. Standing under a hot shower had helped. A little. It had warmed her skin, but for some reason, she was still cold on the inside. Logic told her it was shock and would wear off, so she tried to ignore it by reassuring everyone she was fine.
She’d already Skyped with her sister, father, and brother on Caitlin’s laptop an hour ago. Lea’s fiancé, Ben, and his sixth sense had struck again. The man had always had premonitions. He’d foreseen her mother’s death, and apparently last night’s fire. But, she’d reassured them all she was good, and they were appeased enough to let her go.
Now, she was eating and making small talk with her friend, trying to get warm.
“That dress looks a lot nicer on you than it ever did on me,” Caitlin said, sinking a fork into a slice of banana nut bread Gwen had whipped up before dawn.
After going to the hospital—only because everyone had insisted she be checked out—Gwen took her hot shower, then tried to sleep, but every time she closed her damn eyes she heard phantom sounds of the smoke alarm and roar of the fire. So, she’d given up, pulled on one of the sundresses her friend stuck in the guestroom closet, and headed to the kitchen to bake.
One dozen blueberry muffins, two loafs of banana nut bread, and that Skype call later, she cleaned up her mess and put on a pot of coffee.
“Of course, it’s not quite that short on me.” Her friend crinkled her nose. “Sorry.”
Gwen shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m used to it.” Her throat felt scratchy and dry, from the smoke, no doubt. “We may be the same hip and bust size, but I’m two inches taller and that makes a difference when it comes to hems.”
Caitlin nodded. “At least the two brand new pairs of bikini panties fit.” She giggled. “I’m sorry. They were gag gifts from my sister.”
“Shayla has a weird sense of humor,” she said before biting into a muffin.
She was grateful to have something to cover her goods. Really, she was. But, less than thrilled to be wearing lime green panties with the face of a frog in front and the words ‘My Pad Or Yours’ across the back. Still, it was a hell of a lot better than the second pair—pink with the gray trunk of an elephant strategically placed in front and an elephant tail in back, appearing as if the elephant had been sucked up into…Neverland.
Gwen didn’t want to offend her friend by refusing them, so she left the panties on the pile of clothes Caitlin had set in the guestroom. But…hell, she’d go commando before donning those suckers.
“At least they don’t have matching bras.”
“True.” She snickered as a knock sounded at the door.
Her heart kicked up speed. Maybe it was Tanner. Last night was a bit of a blur, but she remembered feeling warmth for a brief moment when he’d set his jacket around her shoulders and held her hands.
Then he was gone, and so was her warmth. The brief glimpse she’d caught of him fighting the blaze, with the roof collapsing, was etched in her mind. She’d been whisked off to the hospital then, and had been cold ever since. She thought about calling him, or texting, then remembered she didn’t have his number. Besides, she had no idea what his firefighting duties were. He might only be getting to bed now.
“Hey, Gwen. How are you?” Kerri rushed into the kitchen and pulled her to her feet for a tight hug. “Jordan assured me you were okay, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to see for myself.”
She returned the hug then drew back, needing to change the subject. “I’m fine. Where’s that cute little girl of yours?”
“Downstairs with her daddy.” The new mother smiled. “I have to fight him to hold her, even to change her diapers.”
A genuine smile found her lips for the first time that day. “He’s a proud papa.”
“Yes, he is, and worried about you. We all are,” Kerri added. “You need to come downstairs to the Pub. But here, put these on first.” She handed her a pair of flip-flops. Bless her. Gwen had climbed out of the cottage barefoot last night. “Out of all of us, my shoe size is probably the closest to yours.”
And before she could ask why or protest, she shoved her feet in the flip-flops, surprised to find they fit, then was ushered out the door, down the hall, then down the stairs that led outside. Several familiar cars were parked out back, which was weird. Only the cooks usually parked in back. And her rental was back there. How had that happened? She didn’t remember moving it.
“I drove your car over,” Caitlin said, noticing her strange look, no doubt. “Don’t you remember giving me the keys so I could move it before the fire engines arrived last night?”
She shook her head. “Not really.” She was having enough trouble functioning on the norm today. Considering the circumstances, she thought she was doing pretty well. She had clothes on her back, shoes on her feet, and her purse.
Hell, she didn’t remember grabbing it before crawling out the window last night, but she had the crossbody around her when she’d stumbled into Caitlin in her yard. At least she wouldn’t have the added headache of ordering new cards and a license.
Trying to keep her mind blank and focusing on putting one foot in front of the other, she followed the women the few yards to the back door of the Pub kitchen. Once inside, she made to sit at the table in the corner, but Kerri grabbed her hand and tugged her straight to the dining room…where she stopped dead.
Half the county was there.
Hell, more than half. Every booth and table was full. And someone had placed a long table on the dance floor, which was piled high with bags and boxes, dishes and towels, a new TV and laptop. Her mind had trouble digesting it all.
“Wh-what’s going on?”
“Everyone heard what had happened and wanted to help,” Kerri said, stepping aside as the crowd approached.
The next ten minutes were spent receiving hugs and wiping the damn tears from her eyes that had appeared out of nowhere. Okay, that wasn’t true. They arrived with the very first hug—the instant Tanner’s strong, blissfully warm arms pulled her into his solid chest and held her tight.
Oh, how she wanted to stay there and take refuge in the comfort he offered, but she knew if she did, she’d break down altogether. Not an option. Too many people around. So, she stiffened, and drew back, forcing a smile as she met his concerned gaze. Then the warmth was gone as someone else pulled her in for a hug.
This went on for ten more minutes, and her brain absently noted most of the men in Harland County were damn solid. The one that surprised her the most was Jordan’s husband, Cole. For some reason, she hadn’t expected him to be packing so much muscle under his expensive Italian suits. Damn. Same with Kevin, Shayla’s husband. Where did all his muscles come from? Didn’t he sit behind a desk and write codes or something? Most businessmen she’d encountered were…well, soft.
Not those two.
She hiccupped down a hysterical giggle. Why in the world was all that going through her mind?
Because it was shot. To hell in a hand basket.
“Hey, come here, you,” Lacey said, wrapping her in a tight hug. “You can hug me back, you know. I won’t break.”
Another giggle hiccupped up her throat as she returned the hug. “Sorry, I’m running out of steam.”
“No worries.” Her friend drew back and narrowed her gaze. “You ready to get out of here?”
Hell yeah, except… “I don’t have anywhere to go.”
Caitlin had told her she could stay w
ith her indefinitely, but Gwen was used to being on her own. She was kind of set in her ways. Stubborn, and yeah, ornery at times. Okay, bitchy; she could be bitchy, but she was working on it. The poor, sweet girl didn’t deserve to be subject to bouts of bitchy on a daily basis.
“Maybe I can help with that,” Mr. Crowley said, stepping out from behind Lacey. “You can stay in the cottage my niece stayed in. I haven’t rented it out yet.”
“Really?” This time, she initiated the hug. “Thank you, Mr. Crowley. That’d be great!”
He laughed. “I happen to have the keys with me.”
“Perfect.” She drew back and grinned as he dropped the keys in her hand.
“I left the lease agreement on the kitchen table.” He winked. “I’ll swing by later to pick it up.”
She couldn’t believe the turn of events, or the generosity of the people in the county. The trait had been lacking in the circles she’d moved in over the past decade. It was a bit of a shock. She kept waiting for the punch line, or people to ask a favor in return.
“Listen up, everyone,” Tanner said, and the place quieted down. “We have a destination. Let’s get my truck loaded.”
Twenty minutes later, Gwen stood in her new rental, an exact replica of her old cottage, and watched the parade of handsome cowboy volunteers carry in the boxes of her donated goods. Connor had reluctantly given little Faith to Mrs. Masters at the Pub, while Kevin had handed Sarah to Mrs. McCall, so they could help Tanner and the rest of the guys.
“How you holding up?” Brandi asked as she approached with Jordan, Caitlin, Shayla, Lacey, and Kerri who shoved a glass of homemade sangria into her hand.
She sipped the refreshing blend of fruit and alcohol, and sighed. “Better now.”
They laughed with her and clinked glasses.
By the time she got to the bottom, Gwen felt a lot more relaxed, and wondered just how much alcohol was in the drink, since she had a warm buzz going on. Despite the coldness of the beverage, her chill had started to evaporate.
“Thanks, Kerri, that hit the spot,” she said. “I’m just going to unpack a box or two, then head over to the Pub to start my shift.”
The woman shook her head. “Absolutely not. You’re not working today. In fact, you’re not working the next few days. I have others that can cover temporarily. You take the week off and get settled in here.”
“But…” She blinked, meeting a wall of determined female faces, especially her two bosses. “I can come in tomorrow.”
“I know, but I’d like you to wait a week.” Kerri stared unblinkingly at her through compassion filled eyes.
She appreciated the concern. Everyone was being very sweet. Gwen wasn’t stupid enough to claim she was a hundred percent okay, but neither was she in need of a whole week off. “All right, but only a few days. Today’s Friday, how about I come back Monday? Sitting around for seven days will end up driving me nuts.”
“Monday is good.” Jordan stepped close to drape an arm around her shoulder. “I wouldn’t last that long being idle, either. But, since the weather is supposed to rock, maybe you can get that handsome man of yours to take you paddle boarding or something. He’s very outdoorsy.”
My man?
“I don’t have a man.”
“Are you sure?” Jordan asked, releasing her. “I think maybe you do.”
She followed the woman’s gaze and her pulse hiccupped. Tanner stood with a beer in his hand and a smile directed at her. Just looking at him in a white T-shirt and jeans with delicious worn spots near his hips, made her all warm and tingly inside, reminding her she was alive.
And she owed him one.
Her mind immediately shot to their heated embrace in Barry’s kitchen yesterday morning, and how she’d gotten…hers, but the poor cowboy had been left hanging.
“Yeah.” Lacey smiled. “I’d say that was a big ten four.”
Caitlin nodded.
Shayla patted her back. “The woman’s always the last to know.”
“But once we do, we make the best of it.” Brandi raised her glass and winked before sipping her concoction.
Gwen was still contemplating that conversation as she unpacked the last box, which was full of towels. Stacking them in the small closet in the bathroom, she felt her composure starting to slip. Ever since the fire, she’d been operating on adrenaline and pure grit, but they were both beginning to desert her.
Throughout the day, she had bouts, but every time she did, Tanner appeared out of nowhere, and the feel of his steady hand on the small of her back, or touching her arm, gave her the strength to continue on.
And she had, signing her new lease and handing it to Mr. Crowley when he’d shown up a half-hour ago. He didn’t make her sign a year lease. What a sweetheart. He agreed to let her stay for only three months, or however long she desired.
After he left, she’d turned her attention to filling up her cabinets with the new dishes Kerri and Caitlin had washed. She’d left them to finish the donated silverware and small kitchen appliances, while the men stocked up her refrigerator.
Jordan and Shayla were tackling her bed, so that had left the bathroom.
Glancing out the small window above the towel rack, she clenched her jaw to steel herself against the sharp tightening in her chest. The burned out structure she’d stood in twenty-four hours earlier was visible from the back of the house.
Brandi walked in, then moved past her to pull down the shade. “Maybe you should keep this down for a while. Even I have trouble looking at it.”
She nodded, forcing air past her hot throat. “Sorry, Brandi. I was practicing a recipe for the Pub last night, but I could’ve sworn I shut everything off before I went to bed.” All the dishes had been washed and food packed in a container and shoved in the fridge. Surely, she’d shut off the oven.
God, she didn’t know.
No matter how many times she went over last night’s events before bed in her head, she just didn’t know. Guilt clawed at her gut. She might’ve been responsible for destroying her friend’s property.
“Hey.” Two hands grabbed hers and squeezed. “It’s okay. It doesn’t matter how it started, just that you are okay,” Brandi said. “When I think of what might have happened if I hadn’t changed the batteries in the smoke alarm…”
She squeezed back. “Well, it worked. Trust me.”
The blaring had startled her right out of a good dream. A hot one. So hot the smoke detectors had gone off in the dream. She’d had her legs wrapped around a fully naked Tanner as he set her on the counter, and they’d taken care of his needs and hers, furthering that hot embrace in Barry kitchen earlier that day.
Cripes. Was that only yesterday morning?
The sound of the doorbell echoed through the house, bringing reality back into view.
“Must be the pizza Jordan ordered,” Brandi said, ushering her into the living room where the others were waiting.
The sheriff opened the door to two men on the porch, their hands full of shoe boxes and garment bags with the logo from a famous high-end shop.
“Delivery for a Gwen Gablonski?”
She frowned as she approached. “I didn’t ord—”
Kevin stepped forward. “I got this,” he said, then directed the men to place everything on her bed. “Thanks.” He tipped them and sent them away with huge smiles on their faces…all while she stood staring with her mouth open.
She blinked at him. “What just happened?”
The gorgeous man set his hands on her shoulders and smiled. “Well, darlin’, your new wardrobe arrived, and I paid for them.”
“But I didn’t order any clothes…”
Amusement danced in his blue eyes. “Shayla, Brandi, and your sister did.”
Wow. How…? Jeez, they worked fast.
“Thank you. Thank all of you,” she said. “But…how did they get here so fast? And how did you know what size?”
A lopsided grin tugged his dimples to life. Damn, the man should’ve been
in pictures. “Trust me, darlin’, I can afford it, and I’m good at sizing people, especially women.” He released her and brought a finger to his mouth. “Shh…my wife knows, but she gets a little jealous of my past. It’s the red hair.”
His wife walked over and laughed. “Don’t listen to him, Gwen. Your sister told us what sizes to get. My husband likes to think he’s still a ladies’ man.”
“But I am, darlin’. You’re a lady, and I am your man.”
Shayla rolled her eyes, but there was nothing but love in her gaze. “Oh, boy. I’m glad I didn’t eat yet or I’d be tasting it twice.”
Gwen was still smiling an hour later when the last of the pizzas disappeared. It was nice to be surrounded by good people. The genuine honesty and emotions passing between them was real enough to feel. It was refreshing. She was coming to realize the only bullshit in Harland County came from the bulls on Connor’s ranch.
“Well, I think it’s time we all get out of Gwen’s hair.” Jordan rose to her feet. “She can handle the rest of things from here.”
She rose, too, and hugged each of them. “Thank you all so much for everything. I can’t even contemplate what has gone on today.”
“No worries,” Kerri said. “Just remember, no work until Monday.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She nodded and followed the crowd outside, watching them walk to their cars parked across the street at the Tex Pub.
All but three. Brandi had stopped to stare at the charred cottage, and Gwen’s heart busted at the anguish that crossed Kade’s face as he pulled his wife in close. It was obvious the man was grateful Brandi hadn’t been in there last night.
Gwen had never felt so horrible in her life. Well, maybe once before, and she still hadn’t recovered…
“Come on inside,” Tanner said, his warm, sure hand clasping hers as he tugged her back into the house.
It would be so easy to lose herself, to beg him to hold her until she couldn’t remain conscious. But, the poor guy didn’t deserve her wigging out on him. He’d been a rock, going beyond the call of any type of duty to help her today. And she knew, she could tell by the exhaustion lining his face, and slump of his shoulders, that he hadn’t slept last night, either.
