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

Missy had the table set and was pouring us both a cup of steaming hot coffee. “Do you take anything in yours?”

“Never have. My uncle always said good, strong black coffee puts hair on your chest.” I laughed.

“Ben mentioned you lost him a few months ago. I’m very sorry, Marin.”

I laid several strips of bacon in one of the pans and it started to sizzle and fill the air with that wonderful smoky aroma. “I miss him, but it’s getting easier.”

“I’d say I’m sorry about your boyfriend, but if your situation was anything like mine, it was a blessing in disguise.”

I paused for a beat, considering her words. “You know? I’ve never thought about it like that. What happened to you? I mean, if it’s not prying. Ben told me your ex-husband was abusive.”

“Yes. He would beat me whenever I had a thought of my own. If I defied him in any way or spent one dollar too much at the grocery store. When he started to direct his anger at Dylan as he got a little older, I took him and ran. It wasn’t easy. It took a lot of planning. Derrick was charming to the outside world, but to me, he was the devil. It was like a prison.”

“I’m glad you were able to get away.” A shiver ran through me and I felt an even stronger kinship with her. “With Carter, it was whenever he got drunk that he turned violent.”

“Maybe his death was your uncle’s way of looking out for you from above.”

I shook my head. “My uncle would never wish death on anyone, though he never liked Carter.”

Missy set her cup on the table and came to stand beside me at the stove, picked up the fork I had laying on the counter and began to help turning the bacon as I worked on the thick slices of French toast. “Men can be awful, but most aren’t. I’m so glad I was brave enough to try again with Jensen. My life has turned around a hundred and eighty degrees. We’re so happy now.” There was a glow to Ben’s sister’s face as she spoke about her husband.

I nodded as I flipped over a piece of egg coated bread. “Ben told me. That’s wonderful.”

“It wasn’t easy, and I’m sure it isn’t for you, but you can trust Ben, I promise. He’s a keeper.”

I felt a warm flush of pleasure run through me. “I’m seeing that. He’s so protective. I’ve never had that before. Of course,” I shrugged, “Carter was my only serious relationship, really.”

Her shoulder touched mine in a gentle nudge as we stood there. “I know it’s hard. Just give it a chance. Besides, if he hurts you, I’ll just have to kick his ass,” she said, with a small laugh.

We soon had a plate piled with fried bacon and another of French toast warming in the oven while Missy poured orange juice and I started the scrambled eggs.

“Do you have one of those triangles to ring for meals?” Missy asked. We both laughed out loud.

“No, but you know, that’s a good idea,” I replied.

“If you do start a dude ranch, you might need one. How big is your ranch?”

I’d have to consider it seriously. “Well, the ranch is only about five-hundred acres.”

Missy’s eyes widened. “Only about five-hundred acres? That’s huge!”

“Some of those are hills, but there is a stream running through it, and a lot of trails.” The more I thought about it, the more the vision of the property as a dude ranch materialized. Maybe cabins could be built instead of rebuilding the shop.

“Well, I think it’s a great idea!” Teagan said as she came down the stairs with Jace in her arms. “Something smells amazing! You ladies have been busy!”

“We aim to please around here,” I said. “Good morning, young man,” I addressed the adorable little boy squirming in his mother’s arms. “What do you like for breakfast?”

“Beckfust!” he piped up. “Beckfust!”

I couldn’t help but giggle, just as the door burst open and Remi and Dylan rushed into the kitchen, followed closely behind by Ben.

“Mom! Dark is so cute! He came right up to me and I kissed his nose!” Remi’s excitement was contagious as she went and stood by Teagan who put one arm around her little girl.

“Really? That’s amazing! I can’t wait to meet him!”

“Yeah, she canned on feeding the rest of them. Uncle Ben and I did it, though Aunt Marin. We gave them oats and alfalfa!”

“I see that!” I beamed at the little boy as I walked up to him and picked several pieces of the green stuff from his hair. “It looks like you rolled in it!”

“Nah,” Ben said, shaking his head. “Come on kids. We have to wash up before breakfast. I’m starving!”

“Oh, boy! Me, too!” Dylan exclaimed.

“Yeah!” Remi said following Dylan. Ben waited for her to precede him back into the mud room to the sink in there.

“Maybe they should take a bath,” Missy suggested.

“Why? They’ll just get dirty again. There won’t be any keeping them inside today,” Teagan offered. “But they smell like they have horse manure on their pajamas.”

“My uncle said it’s the scent of money! I can throw them in the wash after breakfast.” I chuckled as I removed the food from the oven and started to fill the plates that Missy had stacked on the counter near the cook top. She had purposely added a small bread plate on top and I knew that was for Jace.

“Beckfust!” Jace demanded again.

“It’s coming, sweets,” Teagan reassured her youngest.

The aura of family and joy that filled the house was so incredible. I knew Uncle Leonard would approve. My eyes met Ben’s as he towered over the two little ones scampering in to take their place at the table. The corner of his mouth lifted in an adorable grin and he winked.

Just having him look at me like that set my heart and blood racing. He was so beautiful and experiencing the kids and seeing