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

love making an appearance. I wanted to rush to her, pull her up into my arms and kiss her for all I was worth. My heart swelled inside my chest so much my lungs had no room to expand. I sucked in another life-saving breath and finished the hotdog in my hand.

Teagan held little Jace on her lap and helped him hold his hotdog over the fire, though he was quite impatient, and Missy sat on her own log to Dylan’s left. It was an incredibly clear night and twilight was upon us, turning the sky lavender and purple as the stars began to appear… this was heaven on earth.

No words were spoken by the adults for a while as we enjoyed the evening, though Jace began to fuss until Teagan was able to hand him a finished hotdog and it wasn’t long before Remi and Dylan both had another over the fire.

“This was a perfect set-up because Teagan and Jace can sleep in the house with Marin,” Missy commented as she took a sip from her can of Diet Pepsi.

“Uncle Ben,” Remi began, “Can Gem sleep in the tent with us?”

“Yeah, and can you sleep in the tent with us, Uncle Ben?” Dylan wanted to know.

“I wouldn’t think of letting you sleep out here without me, buddy. It would be my pleasure. And of course, Gem can sleep with us. She’ll be a good watch dog.” We were right on the edge of Yellowstone and so coyotes and bears were possible, though rarely this far south and west of the mountain range.

“Remi, I think your hotdog is done,” Missy said. “Marin has the buns, baby. Go get one.”

Each of us had a plate with a scoop of pork and beans from a cast iron pot that was warming on the edge of the fire and Dylan had gobbled his down before he’d roasted his first hotdog.

Remi walked over to Marin, who put her plate down and reached in the top of the cooler to hand over an open bun so Remi could put her hotdog onto it. She then closed it around the hotdog.

“Now, pull on the stick, Remi,” Dylan instructed. “Yeah, just like that.”

The pretty little girl did as she was told. She looked a lot like her mother, except her vibrant green eyes were like her famous father’s. I watched the interaction between the two, Remi making a funny face at Dylan’s instructions and Teagan laughing under her breath, wondering what it was all about. Surely some secret, inside joke between the two.

“Hand me the stick, sweetheart,” I said, then Marin handed her the completed meal.

Teagan shivered. “It’s so cool here. I thought it would be warmer in July,” Teagan said, hugging Jace, with a blanket wrapped around him, on her lap. He wiggled free and went over to sit next to Dylan and Remi unperturbed about the temperature. “Be careful, Jace. The fire is hot.”

He glanced back at her “Spicy hot?” Jace asked, wide eyed.

“Temperature hot.”

“Okay, Mommy.”

“I’ll help him, Aunt Teagan,” Dylan assured.

Teagan smiled and nodded. “Perfect. It was in the eighties earlier, but now that the sun has set the evening air is so much cooler. I can’t get over it.”

“The mountain range in the west hides the sun much earlier than you’re used to in Atlanta,” Ben explained. “Plus, we’re a lot further north.”

“I wish I could sleep outside in the tent with you guys. It will be good sleeping weather,” Teagan commented.

“Maybe you can when Daddy gets here, Mommy,” Remi said wisely, walking over and sitting down on the log next to her mother. She was munching on her hotdog but leaned her head on Teagan’s shoulder. It had been a long day traveling and they were clearly tired. They needed an early night so that they’d be refreshed tomorrow.

“Sure, you can,” I offered. “One for you and Jensen, too, sis. We can pitch a couple more tomorrow.”

“Marin, can you sleep outside with us tonight, too?” Remi asked.

My heart warmed at Remi’s request and the delight that erupted on Marin’s face. “I’d love too!”

“Goodie! Thank you!”

“Let’s make s’mores and then turn in. It’s been a big day. We can save the campfire songs for tomorrow night when your dad’s show up. Deal?”

“Can we tell ghost stories in the tent, then?” Dylan asked.

“No!” Remi shook her head. “Cowboy stories! Ghost stories are scary.”

“Duh. That’s why they are called ghost stories! Girls are sissies,” Dylan moaned.

“Well, I told ya, boys are dumb!” Remi retorted cheekily.

I almost laughed out loud, but managed to hold it in.

“Do ya think Uncle Ben is dumb?” Dylan goaded. “He’s a boy!”

“No, he’s not. He’s a grown up man,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Kids,” Missy admonished. “That’s enough.”

“How about we roast some marshmallows before any stories, okay?” Marin suggested with a smile, and a knack for diverting their attention. “We don’t want to miss dessert! I bought those fudgy covered graham crackers so we can just smash the marshmallows in between.”

“Yeah!”

“Okay!”

The children answered in unison and Dylan, who was always keen on sweets was quick to get one roasting over the fire while Remi finished her hotdog but left a couple of bites on her plate. “Marin, can Gem have this please?”

Marin smiled. “Sure! She’s been waiting so nicely just make sure to give her small bites and tell her to be gentle.” Remi nodded and proceeded to offer the yummy remnants of her meal to the puppy who took it from her hand gently, but delightedly devoured it.

The stalls were left open and there were a few horses roaming in the pasture nearby, casually grazing. I decided that once we were finished eating, I’d get them settled inside their stalls but leave the top halves of the doors open so they wouldn’t be over heated. Siri and Dark were already settled in for the night.

Dylan grabbed two marshmallows and shoved them onto his stick. “I’ll make one for Jacey, too!”

“Sounds good, buddy. Make sure you get them firmly on there and be