Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3), Kahlen Aymes [essential reading txt] 📗

“One fork it is.” I smiled, holding it up.

“I have soda, iced tea and beer in the refrigerator. What would you like?” Marin got up slowly, careful not to hurt herself, opened the fridge door and waited.

“Tea’s great, thanks.”

Within five minutes we were both sitting at the table with plates of steaming hot food and a glass of iced tea in front of us, an awkward silence looming. Though curiosity about the man who’d perished in the fire was killing me, I didn’t want to ask too many questions that would make her sad. Instead, I decided to let her lead the conversation as we began our meal.

“You’re not from around here, are you?” Marin asked before she put her fork in her mouth and began to eat. Little Gem was curled up into a ball at her feet. “I mean, originally?”

“No, how did you know?”

“Everyone knows everyone in Jackson. Mostly, anyway, and I don’t remember you from school.”

“I’m probably a few years older than you, but no, I grew up in Tallahassee, Florida. I’ve lived in a few places,” I admitted. “My mom took my sister and me down there after our dad split when we were little. She worked hard, and she was gone a lot. I had to watch out for my little sis, but it wasn’t an awful childhood. What about you?” I asked, picking up an eggroll and dipping it in soy sauce before taking a bite.

“I moved here when I was only nine. My parents were killed in a car accident, so I came to live with my uncle.”

She’d had a difficult time, and I felt terrible for her. She lost her parents, her uncle and now, this guy; whoever he was.

“That’s rough.”

“It was at first. He wasn’t used to having a kid, but it worked out in the end. I loved him a lot. He always put me first, even when I was being difficult. I had a lot of anger that my parents died, and I took it out on him.”

Admiration and love showed in her expression, but also sadness, and I found myself empathetic.

“How was growing up on a ranch with all of these horses? I bet it was amazing. My nephew talks about horses all the time. He just turned eight, so being nine when you moved here, you must have loved it.”

“I did. They basically saved me from misery. I started hanging out in the barn after school.”

“I can’t imagine losing both parents like that. I’m so sorry, Marin.”

Marin contemplated me for a few seconds as she swallowed a bite of food. “It’s okay. That was a long time ago. The loss that hurts me now is my Uncle Leonard. It was kind of like that story of Heidi. Remember that from when you were a kid?”

I thought about it for a bit. “Can’t say I’ve ever heard that one.”

“Well, it’s the story of an orphan who comes to live with a gruff grandfather who doesn’t know what to do with her. It was kind of like that. My uncle had no kids, though he was older than my dad, so we had to get used to each other, but he was the best person I’ve ever known. We were so close, and I could count on him for anything. I never thought I’d lose him this soon. He taught me to ride and I helped him in the shop. I never would have gone to college if I’d known he’d die just a couple of years afterward. I really miss him.”

“I’m sorry.” What else could I say? She was probably blocking out the horrific burning of Carter Stanton.

Marin sighed. She’d eaten a little but put down her chopsticks. “I’m sorry I’m such a drag.”

I wanted to reach out and cover her hand with mine, but resisted the urge.

“I didn’t come here to be entertained, Marin. I just want you to know that I’ll help with the horses and Gem as long as you need me. From the look of how you move, I know your ribs will give you pain for several weeks.”

Her face fell. “Oh, I couldn’t impose on you that long, Ben. I’m so thankful you were there last night. I was frantic about my little Gemmy. I—”

I shook my head. “It’s not imposing when I’m volunteering. That’s the rules. Besides,” I scooted my chair back from the table and lifted the puppy onto my lap. “Gem and I have this mutual admiration society going on.” I held her up against my chest with one hand and the puppy began licking at my slightly scruffy chin. “See? She loves me.”

Marin let out a little laugh. “I do. I think I’m sort of jealous.”

“Consider it a favor to let me come out here and hang with her and the horses. You’re the one doing me a solid.”

Marin’s head cocked to one side and a small smile graced her mouth. Her expression softened and she might as well have reached into my chest and squeezed my heart. “That’s very sweet of you, but…”

“Listen, you’ll break my heart if you make me say goodbye to little sweet face, here.” I was joking, but I could see her hesitation. She’d just lost her man, and I didn’t want her to think anything dishonorable about me. “You don’t even have to see me. I’ll come over and take care of the horses in the morning and evenings, and if you happen to let Gem outside while I’m here, that would be awesome. I’ll keep an eye on that mare. She looks like she’ll be having her foal soon. My mother would never forgive me if I didn’t help out a damsel in distress, and she’s certainly in distress!”

“Her name is Sriracha.”

“Now, there’s a coincidence! A fiery red horse with a red-hot name, and her own personal fireman to care for her,” I teased.

My words were met with