by Lizzie Shane
When he finally lifted his head, all she could do was smile up at the man of her dreams. Fate, luck, random coincidence—whatever force had brought them together, she was going to hang on tight. Nothing would ever separate them again. “I hope Ellie finds her Chris Evans, because I’m never planning to let mine go.”
He grinned. “Now that is a plan I like the sound of.”
She went up on her toes, lost to her surroundings, forgetting all about flights and managers, morning talk shows and med school—even the Little Plus Sign of Doom. They would have their addition soon enough. But in this moment the only thing that mattered was the man lowering his mouth to hers and the adventure of spending the rest of her life in his arms. She couldn’t ask for more.
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Finding Chris Evans:
The Hotshot Edition
By Jennifer Bernard
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Chapter One
Sisters. Grrr.
As the knocking came again, Jenna groaned and buried her face in her pillow. She’d know that knock anywhere. That knock meant, “Wake up, Jenna, it’s Ellie, and I have to talk to you right now so get your butt out of bed and if bribery is required. I promise I’ll buy you breakfast.”
Hmm. Breakfast. If Ellie wanted to take her out for breakfast, that was a whole different story. Jenna never turned down breakfast; it was her favorite meal of the day. She opened one eye and considered her options. Smother herself with her own pillow while drowning out the sound of Ellie’s knocking. Or allow her big sister to treat her to pancakes.
Fine. Maple syrup wins.
She rolled out of bed and marched to the front door of her studio apartment. Ellie, her annoyingly tall, blond and gorgeous sister, burst through the door as soon as Jenna undid the latch. She brandished a newspaper in one hand. “Jenna, the time has come. We’re taking your car for a spin.”
Jenna blinked at her sister. Just recently, she’d acquired a used red Cabriolet. But driving it was another matter. She still hadn’t managed that, and Ellie knew exactly what was holding her back. “What about breakfast?”
“Breakfast? Did we have breakfast plans?”
“No, but…” Was Ellie really going to make her do this? Jenna rubbed the sleep out her eyes. “Sorry, I was asleep until a minute ago. I was dreaming about…” She frowned, trying to remember. “The Avengers?”
“See? It’s a sign. Here. Take this, I’ll make the coffee.” Ellie handed her the newspaper and dashed past her toward the little kitchenette, in which the coffeemaker was pretty much the only appliance Jenna ever used. “Hurry up and get dressed. We don’t have much time; it’s a forty-five minute drive.”
Moving at double speed, she dumped coffee grounds from a can of Folgers into the filter and filled the carafe.
“Whoa whoa whoa. Can you just, maybe, back up and explain what’s going on?”
“Well…” Ellie busied herself with the coffeemaker, her back turned to Jenna. “I found another Chris Evans.”
“Ellie, you can’t be serious!” Jenna rolled her eyes, wishing she’d stayed in bed after all. “I can’t believe you’re still thinking about that stupid fortune teller!”
At the Haralson Fall Festival, , some lady with a crystal ball had told Ellie that she was going to marry a man named Chris Evans. Since then, Ellie had been googling up a storm, hoping to track down her “soul mate.” At first Jenna had gone along with the joke—she wouldn’t mind being a movie star’s sister-in-law. But Ellie wasn’t joking. She had a romantic streak a mile wide.
Jenna’s romantic streak was more like an ultra-thin line of invisible ink.
Okay, maybe she used to be a romantic, back when she wrote a letter every week to her pen pal and secret crush.
“There’s no harm in checking it out,” Ellie said stubbornly. As the coffee dripped, she leaned against the counter and folded her arms across her chest. “Read the article.”
Jenna sighed and opened the newspaper. The headline —circled in yellow highlighter—read, “Town Thanks Wildfire Crew.”
She read aloud. “After over a week of intensive efforts by firefighters from as far away as California and Arizona, the huge wildfire threatening Southwestern Minnesota has finally been contained. The town of Elmer, whose fairgrounds served as the Incident Command Center for hundreds of firefighters, is showing its gratitude today. A pancake breakfast will take place at the Lakeside Diner on Route 24, from six to ten. Pete Blake, the diner’s owner, says, ‘The whole town donated to make this happen. We want to do something for all the firefighters who came here and risked their lives. The least we can do is give them a free breakfast before they go home.’ The firefighters say they’re honored. Chris Evans, a member of an interagency hotshot crew from Jupiter Point, California, says, ‘This is our job and we love what we do, but of course we never turn down breakfast.’”
Jenna stared at the quote. Funny how it echoed exactly what she’d been thinking when Ellie pounded on her door. “But Ellie, this guy is from California. He doesn’t even live here.”
“So? Destiny works in mysterious ways. How would I feel if I spent the rest of my life alone because I didn’t even bother to drive forty-five minutes to meet my soul mate?”
“This whole thing is making you crazy! You’re not going to spend your life alone. You’re beautiful and smart and a really great-if-sometimes-annoying sister and you’ll find your true love when it’s the right time. Not because some whacked-out fortune teller is messing with your head.”
“Aw, that’s sweet.” Ellie splashed coffee into Jenna’s favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles thermos and thrust it at her. “Now get dressed, we’re leaving in two minutes.” She steered Jenna towards her closet, which was really just a pipe on which she hung her clothes.
Jenna tried to dig in her heels, but found herself sliding across the hardwood floor in her stocking feet. When Ellie wanted something, she was pretty much unstoppable. “And why can’t you take your own car?”
“Because it wouldn’t start. I think the alternator’s shot. I ran all the way over here. Besides, you have a perfectly adorable car that you never use. It’s time to get over that hurdle. Come on, Jenna. There are pancakes in it for you.”
Well, that was a good point. Besides, when it came right down to it, Jenna would do almost anything for Ellie. Seven years ago, when Ellie was nineteen and Jenna sixteen, their parents were killed in a car crash. Since then, their family had consisted of just the two of them. Ellie had stepped in and finished raising her desperately grieving little sister. They might squabble now and then, the way sisters always did, but Jenna owed her so much. And she loved her.
For Ellie, she would attempt to conquer her freaky fear of driving.
“Blueberry with whipped cream and real maple syrup?”
“You drive a hard bargain.”
“Hey, we’re talking soul mates here, right?”
Jenna threw on a pair of denim shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt emblazoned with a Day of the Dead dancing skeleton design. She knew that she fit the “girl next door” look, with her brown hair and hazel eyes. She didn’t have Ellie’s blond slenderness or height. She liked to dress against type, because underneath her freckles and open smile, she had a dark side. Actually, she thought of it more as a “realistic” side. Bad things happened in this world. Any doubts, see “Parents, deceased.”
“Really?” Ellie looked her up and down, then shrugged. “Need I mention there are likely to be plenty of sexy firemen at this diner?”
“Look, I’m going for the breakfast. End of story. Random hookups with firemen who happen to be named Chris Evans are your department.” She grabbed her car keys, which she carried on a “Elvish leaf” key ring Ellie had given her. With her love for all things Lord of the Rings, she figured it had to be good luck
.
They hurried outside to the infamous Cabriolet, which had been parked in the same spot since she’d inherited it from a neighbor who had upgraded. The people of Haralson had been so kind to her and Ellie after the crash. That was one of the things that kept her from having a completely dark view of life.
But when she reached the sidewalk, she stalled. Such a cute little car. She loved it. And the crash was seven years ago. She could do this. She wanted to do this.
After a long moment in which they both stood in the late-September sunshine, staring at her car, Ellie slung an arm around her shoulder and hugged her gently. “I know—how about you let me drive while you drink your coffee? Best not to drive while under-caffeinated. Maybe you can drive on the way back, when there’s less of a time crunch.”
Relief made her go limp. “That sounds like a good plan. I’m not so good with deadlines, and we definitely don’t want to miss out on our Chris Evans sighting.”
She handed Ellie the keys and got into the passenger seat. Not that she loved being a passenger either, but at least the jitters wouldn’t hit the way they did when she was behind the wheel. Getting her driver’s license had nearly given her—and Ellie—a nervous breakdown. Since then, she’d barely used it. Walking and biking did the job for her. But for Ellie…
“So,” her sister said when they were well on the road to Elmer. “Since I let you off the hook with the driving, I get to bring up a few things that have been on my mind, right?”
Uh-oh. Jenna felt a big-sister lecture coming on. She scrunched down in her seat and slid her sunglasses over her eyes. “I deserve extra maple syrup for this,” she grumbled.
Ellie took in a deep breath and dove right in. “That job of yours. When are you going to come to your senses?”
“Ellie, everyone uses toilets. What’s wrong with doing my part to keep them clean?”
“Because you’re so bright and creative and amazing, and…okay, never mind the job. Keep the job. What about the guys you hang out with? Where do you even find them? Slackers Anonymous?”
“See, that doesn’t even make sense because a real slacker would never join a group like that.”
Ellie shook her head and stared at the highway ahead. “I love you, I’m your big sister, and it kills me to see you drifting through life.”
Jenna unscrewed the lid of her thermos and took a long swallow of life-giving coffee. Maybe she was drifting. Or maybe she was just…waiting. Waiting for what, she couldn’t say exactly. “I’m only twenty-three. Do I have to have everything figured out already?”
“No, of course not.” Ellie expelled a long breath. “Sorry. I can’t help it, I just worry. I know how hard it’s been for you.”
Oh no…Jenna didn’t want the conversation headed in that direction. Sure, she’d had a meltdown after the crash. But she’d worked through it. “I wish you wouldn’t worry so much, Ellie. I graduated high school and community college, I’m supporting myself now. Hey, I even own a car. I’m a fully functioning adult-ish kind of person now.”
Ellie laughed. “Adult-ish, huh?”
“Well, I don’t drive the car yet. But I own it and I’m driving in it and that’s progress. So would you please stop worrying about me and get back to your Chris Evans obsession?”
“I’m not sure obsession is the right word…” Ellie glanced at the dashboard clock. “Oh sweet mother of pearl. The breakfast is almost over!” She jammed her foot onto the accelerator and the Cabriolet sped up.
Jenna worked on taming her jitters while they rocketed down Route 23, past farmhouses and birch forests. They reached Elmer at about fifteen minutes to ten, then spent precious moments trying to find the Lakeside Diner on GPS.
“No, that’ll put us into the lake!” Jenna yelled as Ellie swerved down a side road.
“Then find the right street, quick! The Lakeside Diner has to be on a lake, or a pond, or a big puddle or something. We have ten minutes, come on.”
Jenna frantically tried to get her MapQuest to make sense. She threw out directions—left at the light, right on Lakeside, straight through the next intersection—and finally spotted a sign for the Lakeside Diner.
Ellie pulled into the spacious parking lot, past a stream of cars already exiting.
“Oh no, oh no, it’s over!” she wailed.
Even though Jenna thought the whole “finding Chris Evans” mission was ridiculous, she hated seeing her sister disappointed. “We don’t know that. Just because some people are leaving doesn’t mean it’s completely over.”
She spotted a group of incredibly fit-looking guys approaching a large boxy green vehicle—like a cross between a fire engine and an ice cream truck--on the other side of the parking lot. They wore jeans and t-shirts and hiking boots. Even though they were laughing with each other, they looked weary, as if they’d been working hard. “Those look like firefighters.” She squinted, trying to make out the words on one of the t-shirts. “They’re from Jupiter Point!”
“Crap! It’s them. And they’re leaving.”
Jenna gestured across the lot. “There’s a parking spot right next to them. Go!”
Ellie swung the wheel so the Cabriolet headed toward the firemen. Jenna clutched the edge of her seat. Suddenly she was totally getting into the spirit of this quest. Maybe because of the skin-of-their-teeth timing, or maybe because the firefighters were actually extremely hot. Or maybe because she loved Ellie and wanted to see her happy. Whatever the reason, she didn’t question Ellie’s single-minded swerving across the parking lot. She gasped along with Ellie when the firefighters climbed into the box-like truck, which had ‘Jupiter Point Hotshots’ written above the windows.
“Hurry,” she urged as one of them pulled the side door closed. Ellie sped up and spun the wheel so the Cabriolet swung into the spot next to the hotshots’ truck. She slammed on the brakes. Both sisters jerked forward against their seat belts.
Clink-crunch-grind.
Was that the sound of her headlight?
Heart pounding, Jenna craned her neck to peer at the front of the car. The driver’s side bumper was smushed right up against the lamppost.
Ellie reached for Jenna’s hand. “Are you okay?”
Jenna drew in a deep breath and let it out. “Fine. You?”
“Yeah. Oh my God, your car, though. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. I don’t care.” Relief poured through her—they were both okay. Wow. They were both completely unharmed. A car-crash-ish situation had occurred, and they were fine.
Next to them, the truck doors opened and men came pouring out to check on them. The sudden appearance of so much rugged manliness made Jenna’s head spin.
“Are you all right?” A big bearded man who looked a little like a bear tapped on the driver’s side window.
Ellie rolled it down. “Hi,” she said weakly. “Yes, we’re both okay. Just feeling a little…um…silly.”
“Hey, it could happen to anyone.” A tall, good-looking guy with blond hair to his jawline leaned on the car. “Those lampposts never look where they’re going.”
“Right?” Ellie laughed. Jenna could tell she was a little overwhelmed by the influx of male attention.
The big bear-like man said, “Listen, my name is Rollo, this is Josh, and we’re firefighters, which means we’re pretty experienced with all sorts of first aid. Want us to check you out?”
The blond firefighter elbowed Rollo. “Really? That’s you how you want to phrase it?” He flashed Jenna and Ellie a grin packed with mischief. “Smooth, right? It’s a good thing he’s not a paramedic. The beard alone would frighten small children. “
Jenna actually liked the beard, along with his kind eyes, and the way the two firemen teased each other. They had a realness about them that appealed to her. Maybe her sister had a point. Maybe it was time to date someone who did more than play video games all day.
From the way Ellie was eyeing these guys, Jenna knew she wouldn’t be disappointed if any of them turned out to be Chris Ev
ans.
But right now, she had bigger things to worry about. All that coffee was catching up to her.
“I’m going to leave you to it,” she whispered to her sister. “I need a bathroom break. By the time I get back, I expect you to be making out with Chris Evans.”
Ellie whispered back, “Neither of these is Chris Evans. Maybe it’s one of the guys checking out the headlight? They’re all so good-looking, it’s crazy.”
“Well, take your pick. This is the Jupiter Point crew, so it must be one of them. Have fun finding out which one!” With a wink, she slipped out the passenger-side door and hurried across the parking lot. She avoided looking at the wound on her Cabriolet. She and Ellie were fine, that was all that really mattered.
The Lakeside Diner was a sprawling restaurant with a wide terrace overlooking the lake. Jenna shuddered just thinking about the mosquitoes that must dive bomb guests who chose to sit out there. At a near-run, she dashed through the front door and darted between customers until she reached the bathroom.
The aroma of pancakes filtered through every part of the diner, including the bathroom. It brought to mind vivid images of liquid-gold syrup, pools of butter melting into fluffy cake, hot blueberries bursting with juice. Her mouth was still watering when she emerged from the bathroom and bumped right into a customer striding past.
She must have jostled his arm, because his to-go container flew from his hand and landed upside down on the floor. Moving with impressive speed, the man—a young one—knelt down and scooped it up.
“Close one.” He grinned at her. “No matter what anyone says, there’s definitely crying over spilled pancakes.” He had a very slight Texas drawl.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there.”
“Not a problem. Me and my pancakes survived.” Geez, he was really good-looking. Unruly brown hair, clear blue eyes behind square-rimmed glasses, a warm smile. He wore a black-and-blue plaid shirt open over a white t-shirt. He looked extremely fit, every bit of him solid muscle.
