Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“We rented an apartment in the city, and we both worked a lot of hours. She mentioned she had to work late at the office one night, so I thought I’d surprise her with dinner. Joke was on me, though, because she was already having dinner.” He chuckles humorlessly. “Caught her with her married boss’s dick in her mouth, and I officially became a cliché.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell him, placing my hand on his. “But you’re not the cliché. She is.”
He smiles softly and nods. “I ended things between us and moved back home. Thankfully, I was able to get my job back here, and I’ve spent the past three years focusing on work and building this place.”
“It really is a beautiful home.”
“My brothers and I were each given the money to build our own place since our parents knew we couldn’t do that on our salaries. It was important to them, especially my mom, that we live on the property near each other. My brothers were given the money as a wedding gift, but when my mom saw me struggling after the breakup, refusing to date, she gave it to me early.”
He laughs softly. “I’m almost positive she did it based on that famous quote from Field of Dreams: ‘If you build it, they will come.’” He chuckles. “I think she was hoping once I built the home, I would fill it with a family.” His eyes lock with mine, his gaze turning heated. “I didn’t get it until now.”
“Pierce,” I whisper. “I… I can’t be that person,” I tell him, despite wishing I could be.
“Why?”
“Because…” I swallow hard, unsure if I should tell him the truth or go with a lie. The look in his eyes, begging me to tell him why we could never work, has me going with the truth. “I lost Jordan’s dad in a fire.” I close my eyes, not wanting to cry but knowing it will happen regardless. “One minute, Trent was alive, and the next, I was attending his funeral.”
“Shit, Kels.”
Before I can open my eyes, strong arms envelop me. He holds me tightly, rubbing his hands up and down my arms while I cry against his chest. It’s not that I’m still pining after Trent. I know he’s gone. One day when I meet the right guy and I’m in the right place in my life, I’ll move on, but it won’t be with Pierce.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper against his chest. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for Jordan and me, but I just can’t do it. The thought of letting you in and…”
“Shh, I get it,” he says. “I don’t like it and wish I could convince you otherwise, but I get it.”
When we pull away from each other, he reaches out and wipes the tears that have settled on the tops of my cheeks. “Thank you for telling me. You ready to head back up to the main house?”
“Yeah, Jordan and I should probably get going.”
“What? Why? I thought you guys were going to eat over. Jordan was excited about roasting the marshmallows.”
“I know, but now that you know…”
“Changes nothing,” he says. “We’re friends, like you insisted before.”
“Yeah, I did, but I know a part of you hoped I would change my mind. And now that you know it won’t happen…”
“Still changes nothing. We’re friends. Now, let’s go eat dinner and then roast some marshmallows as friends.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
PIERCE
It would be my luck that the first woman I’m interested in would be against dating a firefighter. Not that I can blame her—she and Jordan lost someone close to them in a fire, so it makes sense that she’d be afraid to give her heart to someone who fights fires for a living.
What she doesn’t realize is that the risk isn’t as high as she thinks. I looked it up out of curiosity, and only about seventy firefighters, on average, die a year in a fire. That’s a small number in the grand scheme of things, especially since Christmas Valley hasn’t had any firefighter deaths, ever. I have more of a chance of dying in a car accident or crossing the street than in a fire.
But knowing that her fear isn’t based on numbers, and that it comes from her heart, means I need to handle the situation carefully. If I didn’t think she felt the chemistry between us, didn’t want to get to know me on a deeper level… If she didn’t look at me like she wants me but wishes she didn’t, I’d give up, throw in the towel, and chalk it up to having one-sided feelings. But I can see it in her eyes. She feels the chemistry between us and wants me on a deeper level, and if I wasn’t a firefighter, I know damn well she would be letting me take her out.