“Do I scare you?” Drake asked.

“A little,” Marly murmured. “But it’s nothing you did. It’s just … There’s a lot of stuff I’m working through,” she told him. “Sometimes it hits me harder than others.”

Drake knew all too well about painful memories creeping up at random times, cutting you off at the knees when you least expected it. But he’d learned to conquer those demons when they threatened him. He was stronger than he’d been a year ago, and he wanted to help Marly build on her strength.

“I’m a pretty good listener,” he said.

Drake stepped closer, fully aware that he was teetering on a thin line with her emotions. But that damn pull between them crackled in the air, making him want to hold her, to offer some sort of comfort.

“Sometimes it only looks like there’s no hope,” he told her. “Trust me.”

Damp eyes came up to meet his and the punch to the gut was swift and unexpected.

The St. Johns of Stonerock: Three rebellious brothers come home to stay.

The Fireman’s

Ready-Made

Family

Jules Bennett

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Award-winning author JULES BENNETT is no stranger to romance—she met her husband when she was only fourteen. After dating through high school, the two married. He encouraged her to chase her dream of becoming an author. Jules has now published nearly thirty novels. She and her husband are living their own happily-ever-after while raising two girls. Jules loves to hear from readers through her website, julesbennett.com, her Facebook fan page or on Twitter.

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I dedicate this book to all the real-life heroes who shine a light into someone’s darkened world.

May you ever be blessed.

Contents

Cover

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

The firefighter was back.

Once again dressed in his blue cargo pants and matching blue polo with the Stonerock, Tennessee, fire department’s seal embroidered on the left side of his chest...a chest that really maxed out the material of his shirt.

But muscles meant something entirely different now. A few years ago the well-sculpted body of a man would have had her appreciating the view. Unfortunately, her world had been vastly changed six months earlier, and now muscles, power and strength only reminded her of the scars she’d be wearing forever.

Pediatric nurse Marly Haskins moved farther into the private room of her six-year-old patient. The young boy had been badly burned in a house fire only a few days ago. The doctors were waiting to see how the wounds healed and pumping him full of antibiotics to ward off infection before discussing the use of skin grafts on his arm and torso.

Marly’s heart ached for the boy, who had started kindergarten with her daughter, Willow, just a few weeks ago. This little guy should be at school running around on the playground, not recovering from a fire that had claimed his home.

As Marly approached the side of the bed, the firefighter raised his gaze to her. Those piercing blue eyes shouldn’t make her belly do flips, but she couldn’t control her body’s reaction. Her mind, though... Her mind knew better than to be impressed by beauty, brawn and silent allure.

“Let me know if I’m in your way,” he told her as his eyes drifted back down to the sleeping boy. “I just wanted to see him before my shift.”

Other than family, no one had been by to see Jeremy. Marly had been told by Jeremy’s parents that the fire chief was a close friend of the family and he would be visiting often. Marly didn’t know his name, just that he was the chief—another man in a powerful position. A man whose physical appeal had her wishing she wasn’t so cynical and jaded. Would she always look at muscles and power as a bad thing?

“I’m just giving him another round of antibiotics,” she told him, hoping he didn’t want small talk and thankful that he stood on the other side of the bed.

Marly wiped the boy’s port with an alcohol pad and injected the medicine before slipping the needle into the biohazard bin on the wall.

Jeremy slept peacefully, due in part to the pain medication he was on. This was the hard part of her job. The part where she imagined how easily this could be her daughter lying here and how fortunate Marly was that Willow was in school right now, safe and having fun with her friends...just as any five-year-old child should.

“I’m Drake, by the way.”

Marly turned her attention back to the imposing man. With wide shoulders stretching his polo, his tall, lean build and those captivating baby blues, the mesmerizing stranger silently demanded attention. Her pulse kicked up whenever they made eye contact, and she hated the thread of fear that niggled at her.

He reminded her too much of her past life—a life she was still trying to escape. A life she was privately rebuilding one day at a time.

Guilt slid through her. Judging a stranger wasn’t quite fair. After all, a stranger hadn’t hurt her. The man who’d vowed to love, honor and cherish her, though, had nearly destroyed her.

“I’m Marly.”

“I know.” With a soft smile, he nodded toward her badge clipped on the pocket of her puppy-printed smock top. “I should’ve introduced myself before now.”

“You were preoccupied.” The man may be menacing in size, but the worry lines between thick, dark brows spoke of vulnerability. “I understand you and Jeremy’s parents are friends.”

Nodding, Drake gripped the edge of the bed rail and stared down at the boy. “Yeah. I graduated with his dad, Shawn. I was on the scene of the fire.”

Marly swallowed. Remorse seemed to envelop this man, and there was no doubt he was mentally replaying said scene in his mind.

She’d witnessed that level of sorrow many times over the years as a burn-unit nurse at a children’s hospital in Nashville before moving to the suburb of Stonerock. And that was the only reason Jeremy was allowed to stay at this small-town hospital.

“I just wish I could do more,” she whispered. “His parents...”

She trailed off, not wanting to get too emotional with this stranger.

Private. That was the theme for this stage in her life. She needed to remain private and locked in her own world, where she could protect herself and her daughter.

“They’re having a tough time,” he added as he pushed off the rail and came around the edge of the bed. “But you’re doing all you can. Keeping their son as comfortable as possible is a blessing to them right now.”

Marly nodded, Drake’s large, looming presence causing her to step back. He’d done nothing to her, yet she couldn’t help that proverbial knee-jerk reaction.

“Are you okay?” he asked, dark brows drawn together.

Easing her side bangs over a tad to keep her scar covered, Marly nodded. “Yeah, just worried. It’s hard not to get swept into the lives of my patients.”

“That’s what makes a good nurse.” His soft smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, as if the gesture was only for her. “Getting emotionally involved is an occupational hazard.”

On one level she knew he understood. After all, they were both public servants and protectors. But on another level, she really didn’t want to bond with this man who had her emotions all jumbled up because of his gentleness and potent sex appeal. A lethal combo.

If she wasn’t careful, she would find herself slipping into his personal space, and she’d promised herself no more letting herself trust—not yet and probably not for a long, long time. There was too much at stake in her life for her to let her guard down...with anyone.

“When will he be transferred to another hospital with a burn unit?” he asked, crossing his arms over his wide, taut chest.

“We’ll have to wait and see if the doctor and his parents decide on the skin grafts.”

She tried to ignore the way Drake’s size dominated the room. Tried to ignore the way her heart kicked up at the way he seemed to study her.

“I think he needs to be transferred to a hospital that specializes in this type of care,” Drake told her, crossing his arms over his wide chest.

Marly wasn’t really in the mood to defend her medical position or to discuss her patient’s needs with a nonfamily member. And she definitely wasn’t up for being bullied by this man, who no doubt was used to getting his way. She didn’t think he was posing for an argument, but he was making it clear his opinion mattered.

“For now he’s fine to stay here.” She forced herself to meet his gaze. She was no longer that meek woman who was afraid to stand up for herself. “I’m able to care for him because I was a nurse on a burn unit at a larger hospital before I moved here. But if his parents choose for him to have skin grafts, he’ll go to a specialist.”

“Why the wait?” Drake demanded. “Wouldn’t he heal faster if he were with a specialist now?”

Fisting her hands at her sides, Marly shook her head. “The doctors here have Jeremy’s best interest in mind, and he’s getting the best possible care. And we can’t transport him yet anyway.”

Drake swore under his breath. “Shawn and Amy are self-employed, and this is really going to hurt them financially on top of all the emotional turmoil they’re already experiencing. Never mind the fact they lost their house and they’re staying with Shawn’s parents.”

Okay, so the overpowering man had a soft spot. Seriously, though, how dare he question not only her, but the doctors and Jeremy’s parents? Perhaps he was just speaking out of worry, but still, Marly wasn’t interested in this chief’s medical opinions.

But he was right about one thing. Medical bills were going to flood their lives before they ever got their son home. Marly couldn’t imagine the financial strain this would put on the poor family.

Since she’d run from her ex and left behind all the money and flashy things, she was having a hard time adjusting to her single salary, but it was hard to feel sorry for herself when a tragic case like this smacked her in the face with a dose of reality. There was always someone worse off. She had to remind herself of that when pity started to settle in.

“Can I talk to you outside?” Drake asked, intruding on her thoughts.

Surprised at his request, Marly nodded. This was the first real interaction they’d had since Jeremy had been admitted to her unit two days ago. Even though he’d been here both days, she’d made sure to just stick to the pleasantries, getting in and out of Jeremy’s room quickly when Drake visited.

They stepped outside the room, and Marly eased the large wooden door closed behind her. Trying to come off as a professional was hard when your hands were shaking, so she crossed her arms over her chest and tipped her head to level his stare.

“Something wrong?” she asked.

“I’m going to be at the station for the next thirty-six hours,” he told her, stepping closer so there was only a small gap separating them. “I know Shawn and Amy won’t let me know if they need anything, but could you keep an eye on them when they’re here? If they need food or a break, could you let me know? I can give you my cell. If I’m not busy I can run over or I can have one of my brothers stop by. I don’t want Shawn and Amy to feel like they’re in this alone.”

Wow. He was serious. The fire chief was ready to drop everything to help a friend in need.

The cynical side of Marly wanted to know if he was using this opportunity for publicity in his position, to look good in the eyes of his superiors. Or did this man actually have that kind of a heart?

She shook off the pull to want to know more. The old Marly would’ve reached out, but that woman was dead, cut off from all the emotional tugs toward the wounded hearts of others. She had her own heart to heal.

Pulling herself back to his request and his intense stare as he waited on an answer, she smiled. “Of course I can let you know.”

His mesmerizing blue eyes continued to study her, and she resisted the urge to reach up and make sure her side bangs were covering her scar. She didn’t want to know what he was thinking, didn’t want to know what he saw when he looked at her.

Her ex had used her as a trophy, only wanting her to look good at his side and remain silent. But, gone was that quiet, reserved, perfectly-coiffed woman. Now Marly kept her long blond hair in a ponytail, downplayed her voluptuous chest and wore little to no makeup. This was the real Marly Haskins.

“Did you need anything else?” she asked, ready to get out from under his questioning gaze.

Drake shrugged one shoulder. “Just wondering why you look so sad.”

Taken aback by his abrupt, imposing question, Marly shook her head. “I’m not sad. I mean, I’m sad for Jeremy and his family, but that’s all.”

Reaching out, Drake slid a thumb beneath her eye. “No, you’ve got shadows and there’s sadness there.”

Swatting his hand away, Marly stepped back. “You don’t know me, so I’d appreciate if you didn’t analyze me.”

Drake raked a hand over his closely cropped dark hair. “My apologies. It’s second nature to worry. I just wondered if you were okay.”

Was she okay? Far from it. Was she going to spill her heart to this charming stranger? Absolutely not.

But, oh, how she wished she had someone she could open up to. It was so hard being a single mother in the best of times, let alone when trying to keep her abusive ex from discovering where she was living and trying to remain strong and put up a cheerful front for strangers who had no clue the hell she’d endured.

She couldn’t focus on Drake or his charms. She needed to concentrate on getting her life back in order and setting a stable foundation for her and her daughter. No room for a handsome stranger with vibrant blue eyes and a killer body. Those two qualities meant nothing in the long run.

Drake reached back and pulled out his wallet, producing a business card. “My cell is on there.”

As she slipped the card from his grasp, her fingertips slid across his—the briefest of touches, but enough to have her pulling back. She hadn’t touched a man in any way since leaving her husband. Her patients were all children and she’d made a point to stay clear of men at least until her mental state returned to normal.

Scars weren’t always just on the outside.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked, brows drawn in as he leaned closer.

Great, now he was seriously concerned about her.

Forcing what she hoped was a convincing smile, Marly nodded. “Fine. Just thinking about Jeremy.”

That answer seemed to pacify the chief as he pulled his keys from his other pocket. “Call me anytime. If I can’t talk, I won’t answer, but leave a message.”

Marly nodded, still eager for him to be on his way.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” he said.

Yeah, that was what she was afraid of. Each time she saw him her heart would speed up and she’d find herself drawn deeper and deeper into his appeal. That type of mentality was exactly what had gotten her in trouble to begin with.

As Drake walked out of the cheerily painted pediatric unit, Marly couldn’t help but watch him go. Those broad shoulders, that uniform, those dark forearms...Drake St. John was all man and all powerful.

But whatever fluttery feeling she got from being around him would just have to be ignored, because no way would she ever get involved with another man—especially one so sexy and powerful. That combination nearly killed her once before.

Chapter Two

Confident that the pretty nurse would notify him if Shawn or Amy needed anything, Drake felt a sliver of satisfaction. Marly, with her wide, chocolate doe eyes, may be leery of him, but he had to assume she’d keep her promise.

He mentally cursed himself for reaching out to her. Good Lord, she’d think he was some type of creep. But he’d seen fear spread through those beautiful eyes of hers when he neared, felt her stiffen beneath his touch.

Drake figured he intimidated her, which was a shame, but he couldn’t figure out why. Someone or something had hurt her. The protector in him wanted to keep her safe, as strange as that may sound, considering he barely knew her.

He also couldn’t figure out why he kept finding himself thinking about her when he’d leave the hospital. He’d seen her a total of three times—she was fairly new in town, according to all the chatter—but other than that, she was a total stranger he knew nothing about.

Well, he’d known when he’d stepped closer to her earlier that she’d smelled like strawberries; he knew she had a gentle, patient bedside manner; and he knew she was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. With her long blond hair, dark eyes and creamy skin, Marly was a stunner, and he’d never even seen an ounce of makeup on her.

He’d not felt a pull toward another woman in over a year. Not since the day his fiancée had died. He never thought he’d feel for anybody again. In his defense, he’d even been on a couple dates since then, but nothing had ever come of them.

There was something pulling him toward Marly. Whether it was her underlying vulnerability or just the woman in general, he truly had no idea. But he knew he couldn’t ignore it, either.

Drake pulled from the hospital parking lot, but before he went to the station, he swung by the courthouse to check on the status of the budget. Granted, the official meeting was tomorrow, but Drake knew the good ol’ mayor already had some sort of clue as to what was going on.

Drake mounted the steps, waving to a few city workers as they exited the old historic building. Quickly making his way to the third floor, Drake went in and greeted the elderly secretary, who had been the smiling face of this office for the past forty years. No matter the mayor, Betty May Allen was the right-hand woman. That woman probably held more secrets than the Pentagon.

“Chief St. John.” She beamed, sliding down her reading glasses to dangle off the pearl chain. “What can I do for you?”

“Is he in?” Drake asked, nodding toward the closed door.

With the frosted glass and large block lettering, Drake couldn’t see.

“He is. You don’t have an appointment, do you?” she asked.

“No. I’ll just be a minute if he’s free.”

Betty May slid from behind her L-shaped desk and walked to the door, easing it open a crack. Her silver hair bounced as she nodded and spoke, but he couldn’t make out what she was saying.

Turning with her signature smile, Betty May gestured as she opened the door wider. “Go on in, Chief.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Drake closed the door behind him as he took in the overweight, half bald, half comb-over man behind the large mahogany desk. The man looked every bit the part of a small-town mayor. Too bad he didn’t play the part like one.

“What can I do for one of my city’s finest workers?” Mayor Tipton asked, easing back in his chair hard enough to cause very questionable creaks.

Was it too much to hope the jerk would tip the chair too far and fall backward?

Gripping the back of the leather chair across from the desk, Drake leveled the man’s gaze, refusing to return the smarmy smile. “How’s the budget looking? Are we going to be able to bring my men back on board?”

Tipton blinked. “The budget meeting is tomorrow.”

Drake never did like a man who couldn’t just answer a question straight-out. And he’d certainly never liked this lazy, selfish mayor. He hadn’t voted for the man, and he sure as hell hated working under him.

“I’m sure you have some idea,” Drake said, clenching the chair and trying to rein in his patience, as he had for several months now. “My department is suffering, and because of that we were shorthanded on the fire at the Adkins’ residence on Sunday.”

“Yes, I heard all about that.” Mayor Tipton leaned forward, propping his flabby forearms on his cluttered desk. “I was told the young boy was severely injured.”

Drake swallowed the bitter truth as images of that boy lying beside his bed as flames licked all around his room consumed him. Drake had dragged the unconscious boy out, praying the entire time that he hadn’t been too late.

“The city simply doesn’t have the extra money,” the mayor was saying. “We had to cut somewhere, and unfortunately your department was one of the areas.”

Fury bubbled within him, and Drake knew if he didn’t leave he’d say something that may get him suspended. But he also wasn’t going to back down, not when he had dependable men who needed the income, not to mention men that worked harder in one shift than this mayor did in an entire year.

“Did you happen to look at cutting your own income? Or maybe the new landscaping in the park? How about those new streetlights that just went up around Main Street? None of that was ever considered? That little boy’s injuries lie directly on your head, not mine. I did my job... Can you say the same?”

Drake didn’t stop when the mayor pushed his pudgy frame away from the desk and stood. In fact, the idea of the mayor gearing up for the argument was rather amusing and fueled Drake even more. He was definitely teetering on a thin line here.

“Oh, I see where you’re coming from,” Drake said in his most condescending tone. Sarcasm had always been a strong suit for him and his brothers. “Why pay honest, hardworking men when we can make things pretty? I see that logic. Best to put lives in danger so we can have purple pansies and lantern-style streetlights.”

“You better watch yourself, Chief.” The mayor’s face was slowly turning red, his gobbler neck wiggling back and forth when he spoke. “You always were a smart-mouthed hellion.”

Ah, yes. The infamous St. John reputation he and his brothers had had to overcome in order to rise to their rankings in this small town.

Drake didn’t care if his character came into play here. He knew he was right and the mayor was flat-out wrong. Drake also didn’t care if Tipton got angry. Angry didn’t even cover what Drake felt when he thought of the moment he’d had to tell three of his men that they were no longer needed.

“A young boy is lying in the hospital with second-and third-degree burns to his arm and torso,” Drake went on, the image alone adding fuel to his anger. “We would’ve been able to get to him faster had all regular responders been available. We’re shorthanded, Mayor, and it’s time you realized just how dangerous those cuts have become. The guys left on staff are working overtime, and it’s not safe for them or the public to have them so exhausted.”

“I sympathize for the boy. The accident was tragic, but I am not to blame here. I have a job, just like you. I suggest you focus on that.”

A whole new level of rage slid through him. “Are you suggesting I didn’t do my job?”

With a slight shrug, the mayor merely stared across the desk.

Yeah, if he didn’t leave, Drake would get fired...at the very least, because the urge to punch the guy in the face was too strong. Fortunately Drake had self-control and actually cared about protecting the people in this town. That right there proved he’d overcome his rebellious days. Once upon a time Drake and his brothers would punch first and discuss later.

“One way or another, my men will come back to work,” Drake assured him. “Your term is almost up. Then we’ll see who really cares about the safety of the citizens.”

“Are you threatening me?”

With a slow grin, Drake raised his hands, palms out. “Just stating a fact. The voters will take care of you.”

And with that he walked out, nodding to Betty May, who was wide-eyed, no doubt hearing the heated encounter—not Drake’s first with the mayor, but perhaps the most hate filled.

Drake marched all the way back to his truck and slammed the door. Damn it. He had to figure out a way to get the city to allow him to hire his men back on. The men who were currently working were maxed out. They were tired and all feeling the extra stress...not good when lives were on the line every single day.

Drake clenched the steering wheel and stared out the windshield toward the old fountain in the distance at the park.

Andrea had loved that fountain. Had always said if she got married she’d do it there in the summer with all the beauty of the tall old oaks surrounding her.

Drake had every intention of giving her that dream. He’d had every intention of giving her everything she’d ever wanted.

But that dream had died in a fiery crash.

Starting the engine, Drake forced out the crippling images of that day. His counselor was right. Focusing on the past wouldn’t help him rebuild for a better future. And he knew that Andrea would want him to move on; she’d want him to live his life. Besides, he had a department he needed to fight for and a boy in the hospital he cared about.

Which brought him right back to the pretty nurse who seemed a bit skittish when he was around. Her beauty was rather shocking, and Drake hadn’t felt a physical pull toward anyone since Andrea. Which only made his mixed-up emotions even more confusing.

How could he find another woman so appealing in such a short time? Should he ask her out? He had to keep trying his hand at dating if he wanted to truly move on.

But Marly was afraid of something. Perhaps he should approach this on a friendship level, because Drake knew one thing. He had to find out what had put the shadows beneath her pretty eyes.

* * *

Marly was thankful her supervisor gave her a few hours off to chaperone Willow on the kindergarten field trip. Marly knew it was going to be tough to hold a full-time job and be the parent Willow needed, especially after removing Willow from the only home she’d known.

So far Willow was adjusting perfectly, and today’s field trip to the fire department was all her sweet little five-year-old could talk about this morning.

Marly left work early and pulled into the department lot just after the bus did. It didn’t take long for Marly to zero in on the chief, and she cursed herself for instantly seeking him out.

Drake stepped up to the open doors of the bus and greeted the kids with a wide grin as they bounced off the last step and raced across the lot to the closest shiny red truck. Another group of men in blue polos and matching pants herded the children to the grassy area, where they had them take a seat.

As Marly got out of her SUV, her eyes locked on the chief. She hadn’t seen him since that awkward moment in the hallway two days ago. He hadn’t popped in yesterday like he’d said he would, and she hated that she’d had a sliver of disappointment when her shift had ended and she hadn’t seen him.

Marly crossed the parking lot and headed toward the front of the bus to wait for Willow. Before she could spot her daughter, Drake raised his head. Even with his dark aviator sunglasses on, she knew he was looking right at her.

Sweltering heat from the late-summer sun did nothing to prevent the chills from racing through her. The instant reaction her body took to this man was unexplainable and unwanted. Yes, at one time she would’ve loved to have felt chills over the thought of a man like Drake looking at her, but that was years ago, before she’d married a monster.

Trusting her judgment now wasn’t the smartest move. She needed to regroup, build a solid life on her own before trying to appreciate a man like Drake. Her personal life would have to come later—much later.

Such a shame, though. She didn’t remember the last time a man had looked at her and made her feel anything but fear.

“Mama!”

Marly smiled as Willow came running up to her. “Come on.” Willow started tugging on Marly’s hand. “They’re going to let us squirt the hoses in a minute, and the teacher said we may get to climb inside a truck.”

Laughing, Marly allowed herself to be pulled toward the other smiling, wiggly kids. She passed by Drake, earning a devastating smile and a nod of his head.

“Marly.”

Unable to help herself, Marly returned his smile. “Chief St. John.”

Mercy. Just passing by the man and his spicy scent had Marly wondering where on earth her head had gone. Hadn’t she scolded herself already? Physical attraction wasn’t something she could indulge in. But just because she didn’t plan on doing anything about this sudden onslaught of emotions didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate the view of such a spectacular man.

“I want to sit in the front,” Willow said, taking a seat beside a little boy wearing his school spirit T-shirt. “This is my friend Alan. Just stand over there with the other moms, but watch me when I squirt the hose. Okay?”

“All right, sweetie,” Marly agreed.

She stepped aside, but not too close to the other moms. She was only here to see her daughter, help if needed and snap some pictures of her baby’s first field trip. What she wasn’t here to do was make friends with other moms or spend her time fantasizing about Chief Drake St. John.

But as she watched him interact with the children, she found herself softening toward this local hero even more. The children all stared up at him with wide eyes as he projected his strong voice over the young crowd. They were his captive audience as he discussed how firefighters rescued people when they were scared and needed help.

Within moments he had donned full firefighting gear to show them how they may look scary, but all the equipment was to keep them safe so they could help others in danger.

That instant, Marly found herself drawn deeper into his world. Whether she wanted to or not, she was mesmerized and hung on his every word...just like the children.

Great. Now what? The emotions were there. No matter how she’d tried to dodge and deny them, they were in the forefront of her mind. So what on earth did she do with that revelation?

* * *

Drake absolutely loved this part of his job. He loved the interaction with the kids, enjoyed seeing their smiling faces as he explained the different tools on the different fire trucks; he even loved letting them play with the fire hose.

But today, all of that faded in the background. Marly had a child—a little girl who looked exactly like her. Once his initial shock wore off, he realized he was staring like a fool.

Drake wasn’t sure if he was more shocked at the fact she had a child or the fact she was smiling so widely, so beautifully. He’d not seen her so happy before. Of course, he’d only seen her in her element at work, caring for Jeremy.

The second he’d spotted her, his heart had tightened, but when her face had lit up at the sight of her little girl, Drake had literally felt that punch to the gut he’d heard his brother Eli talk about.

Now that the children had gone through their tour and were starting to line back up for the bus, Drake realized Marly had pretty much stayed in the shadows. He’d caught her snapping photos of her daughter, and now she was holding the little girl, kissing her on the cheek. Drake lurched forward. He couldn’t let an opportunity pass him by.

“Would you like a picture together?” he offered.

Marly’s head whipped around. “Drake.”

“You know the chief?” Willow asked, wide-eyed and obviously impressed. “Why didn’t you say so? That’s the coolest!”

Drake laughed. “Maybe your mom could bring you back sometime. I’m sure I can find time to take you for a ride in the fire engine.”

The little girl’s mouth dropped. “If you’re kidding, Chief, I’m gonna be sad.”

Drake couldn’t help but reach out and give a tug on one of her long blond ponytails. “I would never kid someone so eager to learn about firefighting. But you have to promise one thing.”

“Anything,” she squealed and wiggled in Marly’s arms. “What is it?”

“You won’t try to take my job once you learn all this stuff.”

He forced his eyes to stay locked onto the little girl, which wasn’t a hardship because she was so adorable. But he could feel Marly’s gaze on him, and he wanted to turn and see those dark eyes of hers.

“I promise, Chief,” the little girl assured.

“Call me Drake.” He held out a hand for her to shake. “And your first name is?”

Her tiny hand slid into his and she squeezed. “Willow.”

“Nice to meet you, Willow. Your bus is loading, so how about I take a picture of you and your mom in front of the station so you guys can always remember this day?”

“Oh, Drake, you don’t have to,” Marly protested.

He cut his gaze to hers; thankfully he’d removed his sunglasses so he could see her with no barrier. “I know I don’t have to. I want to.”

Marly smiled as she handed over her phone. “In that case, we’d love a picture.”

Drake made sure he took a couple. He knew from experience that most women wanted options. Sweet Willow, with her golden pigtails, gave her mommy a big hug and scrambled down to race to the bus.

Marly waved goodbye and turned to Drake. “Thank you. You’re really good with children.”

Shrugging, Drake rested his hands on his hips. “Kids are great. You just have to know how to treat them.”

A shadow passed over Marly’s eyes. “Do you have kids?” she asked, raising her arm to shield the sun from her eyes.

He thought of Andrea, of the dreams they’d had. The family they’d planned.

“No,” he told her. “I’m an uncle to a beautiful baby girl, but none of my own yet.”

Sliding her phone back into her smock pocket, Marly started to pass him. “Well, I need to get back to work. Thanks again for being so great with all the kids, and especially Willow.”

“I meant what I said.” He turned to meet her stare as she started to walk away. “Anytime you see my black truck here, swing in, and if we’re not busy I’d love to give her a ride on the engine. I know she’d enjoy it.”

Marly studied him for a moment before a corner of her mouth kicked up. “You really do love kids, don’t you?”

Taken back by her odd question, Drake nodded. “What’s not to love?”

There it was again, that ghost of an emotion taking over, and Marly’s smile turned sad in an instant. “I agree. See you around, Chief.”

Drake watched until Marly was in her car and headed down the street. A hand slapped him hard on the shoulder, and Drake turned to see one of his men grinning.

“She’s a looker, Chief.”

Drake nodded. No sense in denying the truth.

“Gonna ask her out?”

Shaking his head, Drake laughed. “I have no clue what I’m going to do. No clue.”

And that was the honest truth. Because on one hand he wanted to see Marly on a personal level, but on the other hand she was scared of something—or maybe someone.

The pull Drake felt toward her, though, was only getting stronger. As much as he wanted to see more of the beautiful pediatric nurse, he also knew he needed to take things slow.

After all, he was still on shaky ground himself in regards to relationships.

Chapter Three

Those piercing blue eyes had penetrated her once again. If Marly thought Drake a big man before, now that she’d seen him in full gear, he was even more impressive. She knew broad shoulders lay beneath that bulky coat, and his towering height was only emphasized by his helmet.

What drew her to powerful men? Although she had to admit, Kevin’s power was used to blackmail and lie to get what he wanted. From the little she’d seen of Drake, the man genuinely cared for his job, the people he encountered. Drake certainly didn’t seem the type to use others for a publicity stunt.

Marly steered her car back into the hospital lot and found an open spot. Now that Willow had been given the invitation to go to the fire station, no doubt the rambunctious little girl would ask every two minutes when they were going.

Which meant Marly would have to go back and witness Drake in all his gorgeous glory. A part of her so wanted to address the tension that settled between them each time they were within breathing space of each other, but at the same time, she wanted to deny any attraction existed. She wanted to ignore the desire that seemed to creep up on her when she didn’t have the mental strength to stop it.

Killing her engine, Marly sighed and rested her head against the steering wheel. No matter her sudden attraction to Drake, she had a war she was still fighting, and that had to come before anything else.

When her phone chimed to signal a text, Marly pulled the cell from her purse and cringed at the screen.

Call me. You can’t avoid me forever.

That didn’t mean she wouldn’t try like hell.

Tossing her phone back in her purse, Marly stepped out of her car, welcoming the warmth of the midday sun. When she’d left Nashville, she’d found enough courage to force Kevin into letting her go, taking Willow and not disclosing her whereabouts in exchange for the pictures she had promised would not go to the newspaper or other media outlets.

Kevin didn’t know she’d gone to the police... Of course, she figured he knew now. No doubt some corrupt cop who was friends of the family had called Kevin moments after Marly had left. Marly knew the power Kevin’s family held, so she also knew that was probably why the Nashville Police Department hadn’t returned her calls and she’d heard no more on her case...if there even was a case.

Marly figured the only reason Kevin hadn’t hired a PI and traced her phone was because of his powerful status and the fact that he tended to avoid public conflict. For once, his social standing was working in her favor.

Even with the sun beating down on her, she trembled. There was no way in hell she’d ever return to Kevin. If she had to stay on the run the rest of her life to protect her child, then so be it. She would never be another man’s punching bag or pawn again.

* * *

The day after the field trip, Marly was stepping out of Jeremy’s room when Drake came striding through the bright yellow walls of the pediatric unit. The cheery surroundings made him seem less intimidating, but the man’s impressive size still dominated the space.

When his gaze met hers, his lips spread wide in a smile that hit her hard. Then she spotted the small stuffed Dalmatian in his hand and she couldn’t help but return the grin. Why was she softening toward this man so fast? She’d learned her lesson, right? Just because a man was charming and good-looking didn’t mean he treated women right when no one was looking.

But there was still that nugget of doubt that kept telling her Drake was nothing like the man she’d married. Nothing.

“You carry toys everywhere you go?” she asked, once he closed the gap between them.

Glancing down at the toy in question, Drake shrugged. When his eyes met hers once again, they held as his voice lowered. “My toys are a bit larger than this.”

She shivered at the veiled flirting and innuendo. The part deep inside her that had thought no man would ever find her attractive again sparked to life. For so long she’d not even been given a second thought, other than being used as a pawn or publicity stunt.

But Drake had a way of making her feel... Just feel, and that was something she’d have to get used to if she was going to keep seeing him in this small town.

“I assume that’s for our patient?”

With a nod, Drake asked, “How’s he doing today?”

“Good. Amy just stepped out to get a bite to eat and Shawn ran home to shower. I nearly had to bribe them to take care of themselves.”

Drake swallowed hard, glancing away.

“You okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, I just... This whole situation kills me. I don’t know what to say to Shawn. Words won’t fix what happened.” He shook his head. “Talking to people after accidents is part of my job, yet this is on a whole new level of difficulty. Shawn and I are friends.”

“You saved their son’s life,” Marly pointed out. “They’re grateful.”

“I know they are,” he told her, waiting until another nurse went by before he continued, “I’m thankful I got to him in time, but the entire situation just sucks.”

“You didn’t tell me you were the one who pulled Jeremy from the fire. Amy was telling me earlier how she doesn’t know what they would’ve done without you.”

Drake’s eyes held hers, but he didn’t utter a word. A true hero was someone who didn’t boast or brag of his achievements. A true hero did his job, though fear may overpower him. A true hero cared for others, put their needs first, even at the risk of being injured himself.

And before her stood a true hero.

“You can go in and see him, but I’ll need to put the toy at the nurse’s station with his other things. We’ve been keeping all of the balloons and flowers out here since his room is set up for his special needs due to the burns.”

He passed the stuffed dog over, and Marly was careful not to let her hands brush his again. The less contact with this potent man the better. He was already wreaking havoc on her nerves and consuming way too much of her mind and she barely knew him.

“Go on in,” Marly said, afraid of just how fast she was becoming infatuated with the town fire chief. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

She quickly rushed off and went straight to the employees’ restroom. Flicking the lock, Marly sank against the back of the door. Drake St. John was becoming a bigger issue than she’d first thought.

When he’d first come into the pediatric unit she realized he was probably there to check on the boy because that fell in line with being the chief. But then when he’d been there nearly every day, he was great with Willow and now he’d brought a stuffed animal for Jeremy... He was becoming more and more real.

Marly sighed. Real? That sounded ridiculous. Of course he was real, but now he was even more genuine and melting away that layer she’d formed around her heart. She needed to be on guard, not to start feeling all schoolgirl over a handsome, charming fire chief.

No doubt, his physical appeal couldn’t be denied, but how could she allow herself to be so taken with him so fast? She’d learned her lesson—the hard way—on big, powerful men. Right now she had to focus on rebuilding her new life and trying to keep custody of Willow. Kevin wouldn’t stop at sending texts and voice mails. He’d take action by hiring a PI, if he hadn’t already.

But it was getting harder and harder to focus when Drake came around. Between his easy rapport with Willow and his dedication to Jeremy’s welfare, there was so much more to Drake than power.

Perhaps that was what scared her most.

Marly looked at herself in the mirror. In twenty-six years, she’d been through too much. All she wanted was happiness, a settled life in which she felt safe, protected and secure. Not only for herself, but also for her daughter.

She eased her blond hair back, facing the ugly, jagged scar that ran down her temple. Vanity had never been her thing, so the physical image wasn’t what bothered her. Kevin’s fists had taken so much more than physical beauty. They had taken away her freedom, her sense of self-worth and her courage. But she was getting those back. No way would she give Kevin the satisfaction of stealing everything from her.

Including her daughter.

Her eyes roamed down to the small scar on her chin. That one was impossible to hide, but at least it was on the underside, so it wasn’t as noticeable and easier to chalk up to a fall from childhood.

Adjusting her hair back in place, she took a deep, calming breath and headed back to work. At some point she’d have to face the fact that she was finding herself more and more intrigued by—and dare she say attracted to—Drake.

She couldn’t act on her unstable emotions. After all, how could she trust anything she felt after her poor judgment regarding her ex? On the other hand, she couldn’t keep lying to herself about this invisible tug whenever Drake was around. She was a woman who had desires and eyes, for pity’s sake. How could any woman not do a double take at Drake? And after that double take, the real problems started. Because the looks didn’t make the man...the big heart and devastating smile did.

* * *

Drake eyed the young boy lying in the sterile bed wearing a sheet up to his waist, dressings wrapped around his torso and his left arm. Drake’s heart literally ached for Jeremy, Shawn and Amy. Such a beautiful family living in a small town like so many others around the country, and now fate had turned their world upside down.

Someone needed to step up and help them. There was no way Shawn and Amy could take on this financial burden alone. Wasn’t that what people in small towns did? Rallied behind each other when one of them was hurting? Besides, they needed mental support, as well. No one should ever go through a trauma like this alone.

Drake figured he’d get the ball rolling in the direction of a fund-raiser to assist Shawn and Amy. He couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

Drake wanted to drag the mayor from behind his desk and his cushy leather chair and show him the ramifications of cutting good, hardworking firefighters. Drake had zero tolerance for that man, and this was just another reason Drake couldn’t wait until the next election when hopefully a new mayor was sworn in...a mayor who actually cared about the people of the town.

When Drake stepped from the room and eased the door shut behind him, Marly was nowhere to be seen. He walked up to the nurses’ station and was greeted by a middle-aged lady wearing character scrubs with her hair in a tight, high bun.

Balloons, teddy bears and flowers were piled high on the back counter. Drake figured all of those gifts were for Jeremy, since Drake saw the stuffed toy he brought nestled in the mix.

“Excuse me,” he said, leaning an arm on the top of the high counter. “Is Marly busy?”

“I haven’t seen her for a couple of minutes. Maybe she’s in the break room.” The lady turned, gesturing behind the desk to a narrow hall. “It’s the first door on the right. Go on in.”

Drake smiled. “Thank you, ma’am.”

Drake figured wearing his department logo on his shirt had gotten him the pass to the employee area. He went around the desk and into the break room but didn’t see Marly. As he turned to leave, Marly rounded the corner to enter the room and plowed right into him.

Instincts had him reaching out, gripping her arms tight in an attempt to steady her. The second he grabbed her, she screamed and jumped back.

The color had gone from her face, and Drake held his hands out to his side. “Are you okay?”

A shaky hand came up to her heart as she nodded, her eyes not quite meeting his.

“Marly.” He eased closer. The disturbing look in her eyes wasn’t just shock at finding him in here, this was pure fear. “Come in and sit down.”

After a moment of silence, she sought his eyes and shook her head. “No, no. I’m okay.”

“You’ve gone pale and you’re shaking.” He started to reach for her, but she moved back. Dread settled deep in his stomach. “Are you afraid of me?”

Marly closed her eyes and sighed. “No,” she whispered.

Drake had no clue what demons she was battling before his eyes, so he remained silent. God knew he’d never wanted anyone to witness his rough moments after Andrea’s accident.

It wasn’t long before she raked a hand down her face and opened her eyes. With her shoulders back and head high, Drake knew she’d pushed through whatever hell she’d entered into moments ago.

“Sorry,” she told him, trying hard for a smile, but failing. “You just caught me off guard.”

And she didn’t like to be touched, apparently. There was a story there...a story he feared would make him want to protect her at all costs and dig even deeper into her world.

“It’s okay,” he assured her. “I was just heading out, but I wanted to run something by you.”

Nodding, she gestured toward the table and chairs. “Let’s have a seat.”

He moved out of her way, letting her go where she wanted before he pulled out a chair across from her. The last thing he needed was her to worry about being alone with him. He wanted to gain her trust, and after what he’d just witnessed, he feared getting into Marly’s inner circle would take more time and patience than he’d first thought...but something told him she would be worth the effort.

“Is something wrong?” she asked, lacing her fingers on the tabletop.

“No, I just wanted to discuss Jeremy with you.”

He hadn’t realized he was going to bring up the fund-raiser with Marly, but he found that he wanted to include her in the planning.

“You and I are both worried about his parents financially, especially since the doctor decided he’ll have to have grafts. When he’s transported to the specialist, Shawn and Amy will have added travel expenses.” He eased forward in his seat, resting his forearms on the table. “What if we did a fund-raiser for them?”

Marly’s eyes widened. “We? Like you and me?”

Smiling, Drake nodded. “Well, yeah. I’d appreciate your opinion. But if you don’t have the time, I understand.”

Marly rested her chin on her palm and seemed to process the idea. Drake didn’t know what had come over him, why he wanted to work with her on this project, but he found himself holding his breath until she nodded with a smile.

“I’ll do it. Willow can help, too. We could all work on this.” A slow smile lit up her face. “What did you have in mind?”

Yeah, he hadn’t got that far yet, but now that she was all in, he had to come up with something.

“I’m not sure yet,” he told her honestly. “Why don’t I come over and we can discuss it more? I’m off until tomorrow.”

When she remained silent, he knew she was battling that same demon as moments ago. Someone had hurt her, someone had scared her, and he damn well wanted to know who. Another invisible tug pulled him toward her whether he liked it or not...whether he was ready or not.

He didn’t want to push her, didn’t want to scare her, but at the same time, he needed to let her know he wasn’t going anywhere and he wasn’t treating her with kid gloves. She was the type of woman who needed to find her courage again, and he’d damn well be the man to help her.

“I can bring pizza so you don’t have to worry about dinner,” he told her. “Willow seems like a kid who would love pizza.”

“As if she didn’t think you were cool enough already after the invitation back to the station,” she told him with a slight grin. “I get off work at four and I need to pick her up from the sitter, so why don’t you come over about four-thirty?”

Feeling as if he’d truly accomplished something, Drake came to his feet. “Sounds good. Any special requests for toppings?”

Marly rose as well and shook her head. “I’ll eat anything, and if Willow doesn’t like it, she’ll just pick it off. But, if you want to gain extra points, she really loves banana peppers.”

“I’m all about scoring extra points.”

When Drake stepped closer, Marly’s eyes widened as her head tilted up so she could look him in the face. That underlying vulnerability kept eating at him. He had no clue what she’d been through, it was none of his business, but he had a feeling whatever war she was battling, she wasn’t finished yet.

Everything in him wanted to get to know her more. He knew he needed to move on, knew Andrea would want him to find happiness. And Marly was the first woman since Andrea who had sparked this much emotion inside him, so he couldn’t ignore it.

What if he wasn’t ready? What if he tried to get closer to a woman and he couldn’t follow through?

Damn it, he couldn’t live in fear. He wouldn’t live in fear. Going slow with Marly, working on gaining her trust, was the best step to take.

He focused on those dark eyes as they looked back up at him. “Can I ask you something?”

Her gaze held his as she nodded.

“Do I scare you?”

“A little,” she murmured. “It’s nothing you did. It’s just...”

Unable to help himself, he rested his hand on her shoulder, keeping his touch light when she started to tense. “I don’t want you uncomfortable around me, Marly.”

“There’s a lot of stuff I’m working through,” she told him. “Sometimes it hits me harder than others.”

Drake knew all too well about painful memories creeping up at random times, cutting you off at the knees when you least expected it. He’d be lying if he said he was over Andrea’s death, but he’d at least learned to conquer those demons when they threatened him. He was stronger than a year ago, and he wanted to help Marly build on her strength.

“I’m a pretty good listener,” he said, giving her shoulder a slight squeeze, pleased when she didn’t pull away.

“I’m sure you are, but I...” She shook her head and sighed.

Drake stepped closer, fully aware that he was teetering on a thin line where her emotions were concerned. But that damn pull between them crackled in the air, making him want to hold her, to offer some comfort.

His other hand came up to cup her other shoulder as he eased forward. “Sometimes it only looks as though there’s no hope,” he told her. “Trust me.”

Damp eyes came up to meet his, and the punch to the gut was swift and unexpected.

“My trust was shattered,” she whispered, keeping her wet eyes locked on his. “I can’t face this... I can’t get close to anyone, if that’s what you were thinking.”

Shocked that she’d called him out, Drake slid his hands from her shoulders and let them drop.

“I wasn’t looking for anything more than friendship, Marly. I want to help Jeremy and I’d like to be your friend.” He met her gaze, ripped apart at the sight of those big brown eyes brimming with unshed tears. “Before you can learn to trust others again, you need to trust your heart. What’s it saying about me?”

With that loaded question, he walked from the lounge. His own heart beat fast in his chest as he made his way out to the parking lot and to his truck. Once he settled in behind the wheel, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

When he’d told her to trust her heart, he’d been talking to himself more than anything...but now he realized it was solid advice.

Drake knew Marly was a strong woman, but someone had pushed that strength aside and had taken advantage of her. He intended to honor his promise of friendship and not press for more. Marly was special, she was worth being patient for, and Drake couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

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