Setting Off Sparks (Jupiter Point Book 4)

by Jennifer Bernard

  “I’m cynical about relationships, not babies,” she responded. Although even that was starting to change, if she were totally honest. Just look at Josh and Suzanne. The baby wasn’t even his, but he still teared up whenever he looked at Suzanne and Faith. When Evie said he was a mess, she wasn’t exaggerating. He kept giving everyone big sloppy hugs and bursting into happy laughter at random moments.

  It was enough to melt the most cynical heart.

  About a week after that, she made a fairly shocking discovery.

  It happened when she went to the Moon Glow Salon and Spa to apologize about the tabloid she’d “borrowed.” It had burned up in the fire. No one had even noticed it was missing, but she felt better having apologized.

  When she stepped outside, she found Brianna leaning against her Mercedes, arms folded across her chest, as if she was waiting for her. Brianna’s little red Toyota truck was parked right behind her car.

  “Hi, Brianna.” Lisa gave her a puzzled smile. “Are you looking for me?”

  “Yes. I…uh…are you hungry? I could use some breakfast.”

  “I already ate, thanks.”

  Brianna didn’t move from her position by the Mercedes. “I could really use a hand at the greenhouse. Do you happen to have some free time today?”

  Lisa stared at her in confusion. “Greenhouse? I know nothing about plants. I only deal with plastic plants that I can dust, that’s my policy.”

  “Don’t worry about it, you’ll pick it up in no time.” Brianna gave her a sunny smile. “Come on, breakfast is on me. You can call it brunch if you like. Have you tried the banana-walnut pancakes at the Milky Way? To die for. We can take your car if you like.”

  She opened the passenger door of Lisa’s Mercedes and plopped herself onto the seat.

  Lisa gaped at her. “What are you doing?”

  “Getting into your car. Like we just decided.”

  “I don’t exactly remember deciding anything. What’s going on?” Lisa folded her arms across her chest. “No pancakes until you tell me.”

  Brianna heaved a long sigh, then tapped her forehead against the glove compartment a few times. “I told him this wouldn’t work.”

  “Told who?”

  “Finn. He’s nervous about you being alone.”

  Lisa’s mouth fell open. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “No.” She screwed up her bright face in apology. “I told him it would be better if he just told you.”

  “Told me what, exactly?” Lisa drilled her with her best Nurse Badass stare. It always worked on obstinate patients. Brianna folded like a cheap suit.

  “Have you noticed anything odd over the last couple weeks?”

  “Odd?” Lisa shook her head in confusion. “Not especially. I’ve been at the shelter, and helping Evie mount her new exhibit at the gallery and hanging out with Merry at the café and…” Then it hit her. “Oh my God. Did Finn put you all up to this? He’s lining up babysitters for me?”

  “No, no, no. It’s not like that. Okay, it’s kind of like that, but we volunteered. Babysitters isn’t the right word. Friend-sitters is better.”

  “Friend-sitters,” Lisa repeated. “That’s not a word. And Finn is a dead man.”

  Brianna groaned. “Please don’t be mad at Finn. He’s just worried about you and he’s stuck at the base all day. I know the police are on the case, but they can’t be with you all the time. So you’re stuck with us.”

  “Us?”

  “Me, Rollo, Evie, Merry, Josh when he can tear himself away from the baby. Suzanne can’t really do anything right now, but she’s put all the resources of Stars in Your Eyes at our disposal. So if you need a water escape, there’s a catamaran we can use. If you can ride a horse, there are some lovely trail rides the honeymooners just love. I wish we had air support, but the airstrip isn’t quite open for business yet. I did hear that someone’s buying it, though. Did you hear about that?”

  “Brianna,” Lisa interrupted. “I don’t need a sitter. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time now.”

  “Maybe not, but do you need breakfast?” Brianna’s winning smile could have lit up a city block, and all of a sudden, Lisa wanted to cry again.

  What was wrong with her? All these people wanted to help her. They wanted to keep her safe and offer her boats and horses and friendship. And she had to dig in her heels like a stubborn mule? Some things deserved stubbornness—like helping an abused wife escape her husband. But some things didn’t.

  “Banana pancakes sound pretty good,” she said weakly.

  Brianna grinned in relief. “Thank God. Finn just texted me and I hate to see His Gorgeousness upset.”

  “His Gorgeousness? Seriously, that’s what you’re calling him?”

  “Only when I really want to piss him off.”

  The banana pancakes truly were out of this world. Between them, Lisa and Brianna devoured three orders. “Okay, so how did Finn explain my situation? It’s not supposed to be common knowledge.”

  “He didn’t give any details. He said someone has been harassing you. We’re supposed to be an extra set of eyes and ears.”

  “I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of me. I couldn’t bear that.”

  “Absolutely not. Finn gave us all strict orders. We’re supposed to call Will or nine-one-one if we see anything strange. You’re more vulnerable when you’re alone, that’s all. So you won’t be alone. End of story.”

  “And if I want to be alone?”

  “You’ll have to suck it up, buttercup.” Brianna winked at her. “Once the situation is resolved, you can ditch us all. Until then, you have your very own entourage.”

  Lisa looked down at her pancakes to hide her emotion. Ditch Jupiter Point? That didn’t appeal to her at all. But when—if—the “situation” was resolved, she’d probably go back to Houston. Wouldn’t she? Wasn’t that where her life was? She’d go back to the nonstop madness of the ER, the humidity, her family’s new Porsches, new speedboats, new chemical peels.

  She’d say goodbye to this charming little stargazing town. And to Finn.

  But not yet. First she had to help Brianna at her greenhouse.

  It was a lot more fun than she’d expected. She learned how to repot little seedlings and prune rosebush plants. Brianna told her about Rollo’s family and how hard it was getting used to their upper-crust lifestyle.

  “You’d fit in a lot better than I do,” she told Lisa. “I’m always putting my foot in my mouth.”

  “If the Warehams don’t love you, they’re crazy. You’re adorable.” She said it a little wistfully.

  Brianna picked up another plastic pot and filled it with soil. “I’m a gardener with dirt under my fingernails. I’m a peasant in their world. You, on the other hand, are a classic beauty.”

  Lisa felt the burn of a blush sweeping across her cheeks. Brianna put down the bag of potting soil and stared. “Did I embarrass you? See, I put my foot in my mouth again!”

  “No, no. It’s not you. I’m just more used to being the kickass night-shift ER nurse, that’s all.”

  Brianna twinkled at her. “You’ll just have to be both, that’s all. Do you miss the ER?”

  “A little,” she admitted. “It was my entire life for so many years.”

  Which was kind of sad, now that she thought about it.

  After several hours in the greenhouse, they stopped at Suzanne and Josh’s house for a late lunch. Suzanne opened the door with a finger to her lips.

  “I finally got her down for a nap,” she whispered. They tiptoed inside. Suzanne led them to the back patio, where she’d set out jars of peanut butter and jelly, along with bread and a block of cheese and a motley collection of silverware and plates, everything in a jumble.

  “Can you believe I’m the most meticulous party planner in town?” she joked in a slightly louder voice now that they were outside. She set the baby monitor on the table and collapsed into a lawn chair. “This motherhood thing is a whole different deal. Babies
don’t do what you say, have you noticed that?”

  Lisa laughed as she pulled up another chair. “Honestly, this is above and beyond, Suzanne. New moms aren’t expected to do anything but sleep and feed the baby. How are you doing?”

  “A lot better than I probably look.” She grabbed a napkin and dabbed at a spot of drool on her t-shirt. “Sorry, I intended to shower before you guys came over but that never quite happened.”

  “Where’s Josh? Isn’t he supposed to be waiting on you hand and foot?” Brianna busied herself making peanut butter sandwiches.

  “He’s grocery shopping and doing ten million other errands. I thank God for him every day. And every night.” She gave a naughty wink. “Back rubs, my friends. That’s where it’s at these days.”

  Lisa gazed around the backyard, which was surrounded by a weathered fence and held a kiddie pool, a plastic tricycle and a colorful jungle gym—all too advanced for a newborn.

  “Hand-me-downs,” Suzanne explained, following her gaze. “Either people around here are very generous or they’re anxious to clean out their yards. Maybe a little of both.”

  A pang of longing twisted Lisa’s heart. It all felt so normal and tranquil. Would she ever have anything remotely like this? She’d never wanted it before. She’d been so focused on her nursing work. But the past year had changed her. She didn’t know what she wanted anymore. Again, the thought of Finn flashed through her mind, along with a rush of happiness.

  She wanted him. God, how she wanted him.

  “I spy a blush,” Suzanne announced. Lisa put her hands to her treacherous cheeks. “Which leads to my next question. You, Finn, and a cozy little guesthouse. What gives?”

  Brianna flicked Suzanne on the arm. “Suzanne, I’ve just spent the entire day with Lisa and didn’t once ask her that. And I’m supposed to be the tactless one!”

  “Look, that kid might wake up any second. I have to grab my gossip opportunities while I can.”

  “You don’t have to answer.” Brianna turned to Lisa. “She’s easy to distract. All I have to do is tell her about the rumor I heard about the airstrip.”

  Suzanne brightened. “Rumor?”

  “See?” Brianna laughed as she distributed the sandwiches she’d made. “Works every time. Yes, rumor. It’s a good one, too. I heard two brothers bought the airstrip. I also heard they’re very good-looking and very single. Figures.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Suzanne picked up her sandwich.

  “All those years with no hot men in Jupiter Point, and now look at us. We have our hotshots, and now we’re getting some flyboys. They’re former Air Force, I heard. Or maybe Navy. I don’t know. Rescue pilots. Something military and very, very hot, that’s all I know.”

  “Works for me.” Suzanne’s eyes sparkled. “I see some matchmaking in our future.”

  As they continued to joke around about the new pilots, Lisa’s attention wandered. An odd sound caught her attention. It sounded like a gurgling, with an overlay of static.

  She jumped to her feet, nearly knocking over the little glass-topped table. “Where’s the baby?” she asked Suzanne urgently.

  Suzanne leaped to her feet as well. “In her bassinet…bedroom…” She started toward the house but Lisa ran past her at full speed, through the back door, toward the direction Suzanne had waved.

  She burst through the open door and ran to the bassinet. Faith was on her back, spit-up dribbling from her tiny mouth. Choking, her face turning red.

  Suzanne ran up behind her. “What’s wrong? What’s happening?” she cried.

  Lisa didn’t have time to explain. She threw up her arm to block Suzanne. “Hang on,” she barked at her. Reaching into the bassinet, she gently turned the baby on her side and opened her mouth. With a quick swipe of her index finger, she cleared out the spit-up.

  Then she waited, holding her breath. Behind her, Suzanne was sobbing softly.

  The baby coughed, a strong jolt that shook her whole body. Then came another cough. Lisa reached in and cleared out this new batch of saliva. After a few more strong coughs, the child’s color normalized.

  “She’s okay,” she told Suzanne. “A little too much spit-up to handle, but her cough reflex is really strong. She might have been able to clear it all on her own, but sometimes a little help is a good thing.”

  Lisa gently picked up the still-shaking child and handed her to Suzanne, whose face was wet with tears. She gathered the baby into her arms, hugged her close, cradling her head on her shoulder, soothing her while tears rolled down her own cheeks.

  “I’ve never seen her do that before,” she wailed. “Jesus, I nearly had a stroke when I saw you run in here.”

  “If you want to put your mind totally at ease, you can get her checked out for reflux. All babies spit up, as you know. Some babies have a weak esophagus and the spit-up can get stuck. The best thing is to keep her elevated until her digestive system strengthens. Your pediatrician can check for anything more serious than that.”

  “What do you mean, elevated?”

  “Like so.” Lisa inserted an extra pillow under the mattress to lift it up.

  “Okay, I’ll do that from now on and I’ll call the pediatrician right away. I can’t believe I was out there gossiping. What if you hadn’t been here?” Suzanne showered kisses onto her baby’s soft head. “Lisa Peretti, I think you should move in. You can have our bedroom. We’ll sleep on the floor.”

  Lisa laughed. “You’ll be fine. She’ll be fine. She coughs like a champ. She probably would have gotten it all out on her own, but it’s the nurse in me. I have to check these things out, I can’t help it.”

  Brianna, who’d been hovering by the door, came to Lisa’s side and threw her arms around her in a warm hug. “So we finally got to see Nurse Badass in action. Wait’ll I tell the hotshots.”

  23

  When she walked into the guesthouse that night, Finn folded her into his arms. “You’re a hero,” he murmured in her ear. “Anything you want, you got. I have a steak dinner and a bottle of wine waiting for you. How about a bubble bath? A foot massage? A hot fudge sundae? All of the above?”

  She sighed against him, melting into the haven of his embrace. Every part of her felt better when it was next to him. “I’m not a hero, silly. That’s ridiculous.”

  “You saved Josh and Suzanne’s baby’s life. That makes you a hero around here.”

  “I’m a nurse. I was there at the right moment. That does not make me a hero. And besides,” she drew back and swatted him lightly on the chest, “I’m supposed to be mad at you. You’ve been lining up watchdogs for me behind my back.”

  He groaned. “Brianna let it slip, didn’t she? That girl can’t keep a secret to save her life.”

  “Don’t blame Brianna. This is on you. Why didn’t you just tell me?”

  “You would have said no. Because you pride yourself on your independence and self-reliance and competence and practicality and—”

  She reached up to cover his mouth and stop the flow of words.

  “Okay, I get it. I get it. It’s really sweet of you. And really nice of everyone to go along.” She nestled against him and rested her head on his chest. She listened to the reassuring thump of his heartbeat.

  “It’s no hardship, Lisa. They want to help. They care about you. How long have you been in Jupiter Point, just a couple of months? It already feels like you’re part of things here. Everyone knows you because of Molly. And now you’re going to be even more of a town hero. No one’s going to ever forget today.”

  Suddenly she was back with the baby, gazing into the bassinet waiting for that first cough. She tilted her face up, resting her chin on his chest. “It felt like I was back in the ER. I miss that. I miss feeling useful.”

  “Do you?” He traced his fingers along her jawline, making her shiver. “I have an idea about that. But let’s eat those steaks first.”

  Since it was a warm night, they took a blanket out on the lawn. After they’d polished off the stea
ks he’d grilled, he poured them each a glass of wine. He bent his long legs and settled her against his chest. The scent of wool sweater and shaving cream surrounded her. For a while they sipped red wine in silence as they gazed up at the sparkling panorama overhead.

  “I passed my pack test today,” Finn told her. “Three miles with a forty-five-pound pack, took me forty-one minutes and ten seconds. That means I’m officially on the crew. I’m a Jupiter Point Hotshot.”

  “Woohoo!” They clinked their wine glasses in a toast. “I never doubted it for a second—once I started treating you, of course.” She winked at him.

  “I owe it all to you, naturally.” He picked up her free hand and kissed the palm. “I still wish I had something solid on my real family. That’s the only piece that worries me. What if there’s more inside my head waiting to pop up out of nowhere?”

  “All you can do is train, right? Train hard, trust yourself and your crew.”

  “Right. You’re right. I think Sean still has trouble trusting me completely. I don’t blame him.” He drew circles on her palm with his thumb. Her eyes half-closed from the sweet tingling sensation. “Okay, I lied. Two things make me nervous.”

  “Let me guess. The fact that you could be inside a wildfire pretty soon?”

  He finished his wine, then turned her to face him. “Nope. It’s the fact that once the season starts, I’ll be gone a lot. And they haven’t solved the motorhome fire, so you could still be a target.”

  “But I have all those friend-sitters,” she teased, touched that he would still be worried.

  “I have another idea. An even better one. How about a job in which you use your badass nursing skills at a secured location?”

  “What, like…a prison?”

  He laughed. “No. Well, maybe, depending on how you look at it. It’s the Miracle in Big Canyon movie. Shooting starts this week at the base and they still need a nurse on call, especially for the fire sequences.”

  She shook her head “no” before he even finished. “No. No way. My mantra is keep a low profile. A movie is definitely not low profile.”