Men of courage

by Lori Foster

  “But… I don’t want to just ‘be done with it.’” She looked stricken, a little pale. “I want a big wedding.” She tried a smile that went flat, and teased, “I’m only getting married once, you know.”

  Ethan couldn’t bear to see her hope. He turned away, stalking to the window to look out. Her small backyard was immaculate, perfect for the dog and kids that she wanted. He gave a muffled curse.

  The silence behind him was suffocating, but damned if he could think of anything to say to her. The idea of a fancy wedding with guests staring at him… no. He couldn’t do that.

  “Ethan?” She touched his bare shoulder. “I love you.”

  “I know.”

  Her arms came around him from behind. “I would never do anything to hurt you.”

  “I know that, too, Rosie. But I swore I’d never again put myself in that position.” He turned to face her. “If we had a big wedding, you know what everyone would be thinking? They’d be remembering the last time, how I was left standing there looking like a goddamned fool when your brother ran off with my bride.”

  Rosie backed up a step. Her chin lifted. “You weren’t the only one humiliated that day, Ethan Winters. Every person at that wedding wanted to ask me about it, too, to see if I’d known what my brother was planning.”

  “Did you?”

  Her eyes narrowed, her mouth trembled. “I’ll pretend you didn’t ask me that.”

  He rubbed his face. “Shit. I’m sorry.”

  “You weren’t the only one to lose someone you loved, either.” Her voice got shaky, her eyes a little liquid. But she didn’t look away, didn’t lower that stubborn chin. “I haven’t seen my brother since. With Mom and Dad gone, he’s the only family I have left, but until you forgive him, until you let everyone know that you’re over Michelle, I have no one.”

  Ethan hadn’t thought of it that way, and now he felt sick. “You have me.”

  She didn’t smile. “Yes I do, and I love you. But… maybe that’s not enough.”

  She waited, and he knew what she wanted. Rosie never bothered with subtlety. But Ethan couldn’t relent.

  With a resigned sigh, Rosie glanced at her watch. “Wow, look at the time.”

  “Rosie…”

  “Darn it, I have to go or I’ll be late.” She tried to look chipper—and failed.

  “I’m off today,” Ethan told her. “I’m going to see if I can get the interview with Red out of the way early this afternoon, then I’ll come back here. We can talk more tonight.” He hated to give her false hope about a big wedding, when just the thought of it made him break out in a cold sweat and sent cramps to his stomach. But he also hated to send her out the door when she was upset.

  “All right.” She turned thoughtful, and Ethan had the faint suspicion she was plotting something. “I’ll be back around five. Make yourself at home, okay?”

  “Coffee first, then your shower.” He touched her cheek. “Could I have a key?”

  This time her smile was natural. “On top of the fridge in the basket. I had it made for you months ago.”

  Ethan slipped his arm around her and started her toward the front door so she wouldn’t be late. “I appreciate your confidence in my intelligence. You knew I’d wise up, didn’t you?”

  Rosie laughed. “I couldn’t bear to think otherwise.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  At one O’clock, Rosie parked in front of the entrance to the park where she’d set up a meeting with Regina Foxworth. The reporter said she’d be in the area to talk with a fireworks dealer located nearby, then at two, she would be interviewing Ethan over lunch at the diner across the street. She agreed to give Rosie half an hour first, plenty of time to set the record straight.

  Rosie had rearranged her schedule, but still it had been difficult to get to the park by the designated time. Luckily, when she shaded her eyes and looked around, she found Regina just seating herself on a park bench in front of a decorative fountain.

  Rosie strode forward, a woman on a mission. Ethan might be resistant to the idea of a big marriage now, but she’d get him around that somehow. In her heart, she knew he was over Michelle. She just needed him to know it, too.

  Regina was another matter entirely. She believed Ethan when he said he loved her, but he’d also made his admiration of the reporter plain. Rosie had waited too long to have Ethan to take chances now. She wanted Regina to understand that Ethan was already involved in a relationship. “Hello, Regina.”

  The pretty redhead smiled up at Rosie and extended her hand. She was dressed in a chic summer-weight suit and a camera hung from a wide strap around her neck. “Nice to see you again, Rosie.”

  “I appreciate you making the time for me.” After a friendly handshake, Rosie sat beside her on the bench. Though the day was hot, the park buzzed with life. Children were playing everywhere and she could hear the occasional happy bark of a dog chasing a Frisbee. Someday in the near future she and Ethan would bring their children here and watch them on the swings. She sighed.

  “No problem.” Regina crossed her legs and smiled. “You’ve got me curious, so I wanted to meet with you first. When I interview Firefighter Winters, I don’t want to be distracted.”

  Rosie clenched her teeth. Jealousy was new to her and she didn’t like it at all. “Please, call him Ethan—I know he’ll insist.”

  “All right.”

  A man and a woman jogged by. Regina waited, not saying anything more, leaving it up to Rosie to explain herself.

  She got right to the point. “Why do you want to interview Ethan?”

  Regina’s brows rose. “Just the obvious reasons. Ethan has a history of heroic deeds and he was rewarded for it. The ceremony was a big deal and I got some great photos, but obviously Ethan wasn’t up to an interview then.”

  Remembering how foolishly Ethan had behaved chasing the woman beside her, Rosie scowled. He’d thrown himself at her and the only surprise was that Regina hadn’t jumped on the chance to be with him. Rosie would have.

  “The paper has already done a couple of articles on him,” Rosie pointed out.

  “True. But in a town this size, a man like Ethan quickly becomes a role model. Pride for one of their own is top-notch news. Everyone wants to hear about him, about the ceremony the other night, his past good deeds and what’s happening with him now.”

  “What do you intend to ask him?”

  If Regina thought her questions intrusive, she didn’t say so. “You’re protective of him, aren’t you? I can understand that. His behavior at the ceremony was…” She searched for a word and finally shrugged. “Well, as big and strong and capable as he is, he seemed vulnerable to me.”

  That startled Rosie. “He was drunk.”

  Grinning, Regina said, “That he was.” She tipped her head. “Does he drink often?”

  “No. Almost never, actually.”

  “But he drank too much that night.” She nodded. “I think that’s because he was so ill at ease. Being uncomfortable in that situation is a startling contrast for a man who enters burning buildings without a qualm.”

  Regina sounded far too admiring to Rosie. “Ethan doesn’t like all the fuss made over him.”

  “Maybe.” She watched a butterfly flit by, turned her face up to a warm breeze. The seconds ticked by and finally she shrugged. “I’m sure you know Ethan better than I do, but I don’t think that’s it.” She turned toward Rosie. “I think it’s the ceremony itself he didn’t like.”

  Regina sounded so sure of herself, Rosie grew uneasy. “Why do you say that?”

  “I skimmed some of the other articles done on him the last few weeks, just to get a bare-bones history on him, and in every case he spoke freely about his duties as a firefighter, posed for the occasional picture, even ribbed his chief a little. He was totally at ease, comfortable. He didn’t mind the one-on-one attention at all, or the publicity in the papers. No, it was the crowd, everyone looking at him and making him the center of attention at a formal affair that got
to him.”

  Rosie dropped back against the bench, stunned by how blind she’d been. And she’d accused Ethan of being dense. Realization pounded through her, causing her heart to ache. Knowing she might have hurt Ethan with the awful way she’d pressed him for a big, elaborate wedding was a weight on her chest. She’d been so insensitive.

  Regina reached over and patted her hand. “Forgive me for sticking my nose in where it doesn’t belong, but… well, I am a reporter.” She grinned at that. “I couldn’t interview Ethan the night of the ceremony, not because he was so drunk, but because all he wanted to talk about was you.”

  She’d said that at the gym. At the time Ethan hadn’t given her a chance to ask Regina any questions. He’d rushed Rosie out of there so fast her feet had barely touched the floor. “What did he say?”

  Ticking off comments on her ringers, Regina said, “You’re funnier, sweeter, pushier than any other woman he knows. You drive him nuts with your smart mouth, smother him with your mothering tendency—he grinned when he said that, by the way. You’re honest, loyal, a great cook with a big heart and…”

  Rosie covered her face and groaned. “Oh, God.”

  Sympathetic, Regina patted her again. “He hadn’t mentioned this Michelle person until I saw you both at Riley’s gym. And seeing you both side by side… well, it didn’t take a genius to figure out you’re in love.”

  Rosie had few female friends and she wasn’t close with any of them, not like she was with the guys. But she found she liked being able to confide in Regina. The woman wasn’t at all as she’d first assumed. “He was engaged to Michelle. I thought… I thought he was still upset because of what had happened between them.”

  “I found articles on that, too. She jilted him— in front of the whole town.” Regina shuddered delicately. “I can only imagine how that would affect someone like Ethan. It’d be tough on any man, but firefighters are naturally arrogant and more proud than most and to be humiliated that way… I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him.”

  Rosie found herself wringing her hands. She needed to see Ethan, to make it up to him, to assure him that having him for her husband was all she ever really wanted. “You’re not going to ask Ethan about that at the interview, are you?”

  “Heavens, no. For one thing, I try very hard to be fair and up front in my reporting. That means sticking to pertinent facts.” Then she wrinkled her lightly freckled nose. “Besides, I imagine Ethan would walk out on me if I invaded his privacy that way.”

  When Rosie just sat there, pondering her own guilt and how she’d tried to coerce Ethan into a big wedding just to prove he was over Michelle, Regina cleared her throat. “Was there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?”

  Rosie considered it for only a moment. “Yes. Would you like to come over tomorrow night? I was going to invite Riley and a few of our other friends, as well. Ethan will be there, too.” At least she hoped he would. She had to get home to him and apologize first. “I know you’re new to town and I think we can be friends.”

  A little surprised, Regina smiled. “I’d like that. Thank you.”

  Just then a young man came barreling up behind the bench, his attention on the ball he meant to catch. He collided with the bench and nearly toppled over into Regina’s lap. Rosie steadied him with both hands, but Regina gave a short scream, whirling around in what could only be described as near panic.

  With the ball safely captured, the man turned fiery red and apologized all over himself. When Regina seemed incapable of replying, Rosie told him not to worry about it, and he ran off, glad to escape.

  “You okay?”

  Nodding jerkily, Regina pressed a hand to her heart and closed her eyes.

  Watching her, Rosie remembered Riley claiming that Regina was “a little paranoid.” Seeing her now, Rosie understood. She was white as a sheet. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing. I’m sorry.” She opened her eyes, looked around again and, somewhat distracted, checked her watch. “I should be going if I hope to make it back here in time to meet Ethan at the diner. The address I have for the fireworks dealer is supposed to be in this area but I’m not sure where exactly and I don’t know how long it will take me to find him.”

  Considering all the insight she’d just gained into Ethan, Rosie felt she owed the other woman. This would be a good way to repay her in part. “If you don’t mind the company, I’d be glad to walk with you to the address. I’m a real estate agent and can pretty much find any building.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I’ve got an hour free.”

  Regina looked vastly relieved. “Thank you. It shouldn’t take me long. I’ve already found some background information on the guy, so mostly I just need to ask a few questions and take some pictures.”

  “He agreed to be interviewed?”

  Regina winced. “Not exactly. At least not until I told him I’d run the story with or without his input. He, uh, well, he wasn’t happy with my persistence. But with the Fourth almost here, and this guy’s reputation not quite aboveboard…”

  Rosie fought a smile. “It’s okay. I can be persistent, too, when I want something.”

  “This job is important to me. Riley told me how Ethan and the others feel about all the illegal fireworks that show up every Fourth of July. He suggested the public could do with a little more knowledge on the subject, and I agreed. So…” She made a face. “I’m going to do something of an expose.”

  “He does know you’re coming, right?”

  “He knows. But under the circumstances, I’ll understand if you don’t want to join me.”

  “No, I’ll go.” Now Rosie felt honor-bound to help protect Regina from the surly man. Besides, it felt like an adventure. As they started on their way, Rosie said, “Do you hope to uncover some illegal activities on his part?”

  Regina laughed. “I wish, but it’s doubtful. It’s just that I found out from Riley that Ethan is concerned over this guy. It seems he’s had several violations over the years. No fire alarm, narrow aisles. He didn’t have a guard posted at the door last Fourth of July and someone lit an exposed fuse. There was a small fire that could have been really bad. He waits to get cited, then he fixes the problems.”

  “Why does he need a guard?”

  “To make sure no one carries a lighter or matches into the store, so that there won’t be any fires. State safety regulations have been strengthened over the years. But from all accounts, this guy’s something of a shady character and he walks a fine line on keeping his shop legit. And since he’s a nasty-tempered fellow, too, he’ll make a good counterpoint to Ethan’s natural heroism. When I interview Ethan, he can add to the discussion on fireworks safety. I think my editor will run the articles side by side as a special feature.”

  To Rosie, it did sound interesting.

  They had no trouble finding the building, but once they did, Rosie stared in dismay. Though it was only two blocks away, she felt as though they’d crossed over into another city. The atmosphere of the industrial area was very different; darker, more desolate from that near the park.

  There were no children around, no joggers, only a few ominous, shadowed silhouettes hanging in deep, open doorways.

  This was not an area of town for two women alone.

  The buildings were spaced close together and included an abandoned factory and two warehouses. Large trucks were parked on the street and in alleys. A wolf whistle came from somewhere. Rosie admitted to feeling a little apprehensive.

  The fireworks store sat between two other two-story brick buildings, one selling risque novelties, the other a pawnshop.

  Rosie stared at the front door of the fireworks store with its crooked Closed sign and frowned. “It’s awfully rundown for a business, isn’t it?”

  Regina shrugged. “I’m told he sells mostly to companies that put on displays for large groups. I guess he considers this a warehouse of sorts.”

  “It’s closed.”

  Regina gave her a te
lling look. “Doesn’t that seem strange to you? It’s the middle of the afternoon, surely part of his business hours.”

  A pane of glass was missing from one of the upstairs windows, but darkened curtains blocked any view to the inside. A profusion of weeds grew in a narrow patch of dirt between the street and the building. The front stoop was littered with debris.

  “It’s an eyesore, but that’ll only make it a better contrast.” Regina took several photos of the front of the shop, all the while glancing around nervously. “Let’s try around back.”

  The narrow alleyway was overgrown with some type of scraggly vine that spread up the brick walls, into the gutters, and across every surface. They had to step around broken pieces of glass, empty boxes and garbage overflowing from a Dumpster. The gate to a rusted chain-link fence hung from one hinge and squeaked loudly when Regina pushed it open.

  They rounded the corner and saw that the tiny backyard was nearly filled with a gigantic oak tree planted too close to the structure. The tree had likely never been trimmed; branches spread out over the roof and kept everything so shaded that not a speck of grass grew on the small square of spongy ground. The back door stood open. Rosie could hear men caught in a heated debate.

  Regina took a breath and approached the door, cautiously stepping over twisted, exposed roots from the tree. “Hello?”

  No one answered. The voices were farther away, down a hall. There was no door blocking the interior doorway, only a thin curtain tacked up and pushed partly open. The women looked at each other, but when Regina went inside, Rosie followed.

  They were apparently in a back storage room and despite Rosie’s untrained eye she saw a catastrophe waiting to happen. Open crates overflowing with firecrackers were stacked to the ceiling against one wall. Opposite that was a narrow flight of stairs lined with boxes of sparklers and snakes and other gimmicky fireworks. To Rosie, it appeared someone had been riffling through the boxes, given how some of the packages had been opened and products cluttered the floor.

  Regina lifted her camera and snapped off several quick shots, getting a close-up of the exposed fuses. Rosie stepped around some boxes and moved to the stairs. There was a small bathroom built beneath the stairs and Rosie stared at it in disgust. Beyond being filthy, it also held several bottles of cleaner and a rag mop and bucket. Regina caught Rosie’s wave and took more pictures.