CHAPTER TWO
Sarah Robinson stepped out her front door and drew in a deep breath, the fresh, clean air filling her lungs. She glanced up and down the street she now called home. Cottage-style houses sat side by side in both directions as far as she could see. Each boasted a wide front porch, but unique touches had been added by their occupant. A swing hung on one. Maybe she’d get one of her own, a place she and Lily could rock away the sun with Lily’s favorite book between them. Probably an Angelina Ballerina book, if she knew her daughter. A huge overflowing pot of impatiens, its bright colors cascading from the basket as it swayed in a gentle breeze, would brighten the doorway. She could fill the now-empty flower boxes with happy daisies next spring.
She looked forward to warm evenings, enjoying the summer weather on her neighbor’s porches, or her own, an iced tea or a glass of wine in hand. She’d only met a few nearby residents so far and couldn’t wait to meet the rest. In Philly, she’d barely known her immediate neighbors except to wave and say hello. But here, the prospect of having friends nearby excited her. On a street like this, she couldn’t be anonymous; she couldn’t shut herself away from the world outside her door, as much as she would like to.
Large maple trees lined both sides of the street. Their brilliant red leaves hung in stark contrast to the bright blue, cloudless fall sky. The sidewalk that wove a serpentine path in front of the homes sat empty now, but, by the end of the day, it would be filled with kids on bicycles, skateboards, and roller blades. Before long, Lily would be old enough to join the neighborhood children playing out front of her house—under Sarah’s watchful eye, of course. She pictured herself in one of the white wicker rocking chairs on her porch, smiling as Lily dug in the dirt or rolled in the grass. When it came to her spirited daughter, she just never knew what to expect.
As much as she loved her home on the tree-lined street, this was not the life she’d planned for herself. How could she have expected to be raising her daughter alone at twenty-eight years old? Alex should be here, standing beside her—with her—to take their daughter to her first day of preschool. Her breath hitched and she slammed her hand over her aching heart. As their daughter got older, the problems got bigger, the questions harder. She needed Alex with her to tackle parenting together.
Quick, little footsteps thumped on the hardwood floor behind her. Sarah turned and laughed as her curly-haired, tow-headed daughter spun in a circle, showing off her favorite purple, sparkly shirt with pink leggings, rainbow sneakers, and a fuscia tutu.
“I’m ready, Mommy.”
“Are you sure that’s what you want to wear?”
“I want my new friends at preschool to see my tutu.”
“Okay. If you’re sure.” Sarah grabbed the new backpack Lily had picked out at the store yesterday. “Here, put this on.”
Lily extended her arms, and Sarah slid on the backpack. She placed a gentle kiss on her daughter’s head. Sweet moments like this, just the two of them, made everything she’d been through worth it. But today, the feelings of unrestrained, unconditional love she felt for her daughter mixed with sadness. Another milestone—another first in Lily’s short life—without Alex.
Lily hopped down the three front porch steps and ran to the car, her laughter mingling with Sarah’s. Her daughter had two speeds: running and asleep. After locking the door, Sarah hurried down the stairs and, before long, they were both buckled in and pulling out of the driveway.
The preschool was on the other side of the town green, so the drive only took a few minutes. Not nearly long enough to calm Sarah’s racing heart or settle the nerves that beat in her stomach. She pulled up to the house. “We’re here, baby.”
“Yay!” the sweet voice from the back seat squealed. Lily fumbled with her buckles and reached for the door handle.
Once out of the vehicle, though, Lily pressed her back to the car and grabbed for Sarah. She’d expected this. Lily gripped her hand tighter, and Sarah smiled down at her daughter, her bottom lip pulled between her teeth and her restless feet shuffling on the pavement. Sarah didn’t want Lily to see the butterflies that danced in her own stomach. Lily needed this. They both needed this step toward independence and a new life.
Sarah’s eyes scanned the street and her stomach tightened. She noted a fire hydrant close by and another just at the corner. Her muscles still tight, she turned back to the home, taking comfort in the brick construction. Weren’t brick houses less likely to burn? With all of her being, she wanted to throw Lily back in the car and drive home where they would be safe. And together. But that wouldn’t be healthful for Lily… or Sarah. For both of their sakes, Lily deserved a normal childhood. Full of happiness and love and none of the grief that had shrouded the past two years of their lives.
Sarah squeezed her hand into a fist, the sting of her nails cutting into the skin on her palm. “It’ll be okay, baby. You’re gonna have fun.”
But before long, a broad smile crossed Lily’s face and Sarah’s nerves relaxed. Lily’s positive outlook on the world, her innocent belief of everything good, calmed Sarah. Hand in hand, they headed up the sidewalk.
The preschool teacher, Michelle, met them at the door. She smiled at Sarah before looking down at Lily. “Are you ready to have fun today, Lily? You sure look pretty with your pink tutu.”
Lily didn’t step forward, her anxious eyes seeking Sarah’s approval. Maybe Lily wasn’t ready, either. To this point, it had been just the two of them against the world. Sarah wasn’t ready to let that go, let Lily grow up just yet. To be left alone at home with her own thoughts. But they’d moved to Oak Grove so Sarah and Lily could start a new life, have a fresh start, with none of the negative memories of their home in Philadelphia. This was just another step in the process.
Sarah nodded at her daughter and nudged her forward. Lily planted her feet on the ground at first, her hand squeezing Sarah’s. Michelle smiled at Lily, and after a few sweet words from her teacher, Lily released Sarah’s hand and reached for Michelle’s.
“Bye, Mommy.” Lily waved to Sarah and then tugged her teacher.
“She’ll be fine. Really. I’ll call you if she needs anything,” Michelle said as Lily pulled her new teacher into the house.
The storm door slammed. A barrier of glass now stood between Sarah and her daughter.
Sarah placed her hand over her heart and drew in a deep breath. This shouldn’t be so hard. It was just a few hours, and Sarah would just be a few miles down the road. But that didn’t make handing her baby off to someone else’s care any easier.
Sarah backed away slowly at first, the separation between her and her daughter growing stronger with each step closer to the car. She threw one last look at the house before getting in her sedan. There wouldn’t be a fire. And if there was, Michelle had discussed fire safety with Sarah the first day she’d visited. Lily was meant to live a long, full life. But Sarah had thought the same of Alex, too.
She could do this. If she didn’t learn to trust again, the fire would control her forever. She’d moved to Oak Grove for a fresh start, and this step was an important first one. She was sick of being controlled. Tired of circling the house for frayed cords, loose wiring, or faulty bulbs. Exhausted from going over the fire drill with Lily, who’d forgotten about what had taken her daddy’s life, and found the everyday drill a fun game. Most of all, Sarah needed peace. Peace in the knowledge that she and Lily would be okay. Peace in her decision to start over in Oak Grove.
Sarah pulled away from the curb and headed toward the center of town for her upcoming business meeting, throwing a couple of glances in her rearview mirror on the way.
Finding a convenient parking spot in front of the line of shops on Main Street only took a moment. One of her favorite parts of Oak Grove was the centrally-located town green where many of the residents walked rather than drove their cars.
She easily spotted the brightly colored sign hanging above Mug ’n Muffin, her friend Emma’s shop and her current destination. The promise of a steaming cup of coffee and a festively decorated cupcake warmed her insides as much as the fall sun warmed her body.
Each time Sarah strolled the sidewalk in front of the shops, she imagined stepping back into time, when life was simpler. When she lived in Philly, she could have walked down the same street at the same time every day and never have seen, much let met, the business owners. Here, she was already on a first-name basis with many folks in town and she was greeted with a wave and a smile.
She opened the door to Mug ’n Muffin, the high-pitched tinkle of the bell above the door announcing her arrival. The scent of sweet, decadent chocolate enveloped her. Her mouth watered and her stomach growled. She’d be taking home a box of Emma’s freshest confection when she left. Again.
The somewhat round, short woman in question stepped out from the back and wiped her hands on the bright pink apron covering her floral dress. A matching bandana pulled her curly silvery hair off her face and delicate, frameless glasses hung on the tip of her nose.
Emma’s face broke into a smile when she spotted Sarah. “Come on in, sweetie. You’re right on time.”
Only a few customers sat at a single table in the corner. The perfect time to talk business. Sarah’s heart raced but she drew in a deep breath and gave herself a silent pep talk. She had this. The prospect of owning her own business excited and scared her at the same time. She’d spent several hours perfecting her business presentation, and Emma was her first potential customer. Sarah took a few wary steps forward. When she reached the shop owner, Emma wrapped her up in a motherly hug. At times like this, Sarah missed having her mother living just around the corner. As hard as it was to be away from her family, this was the right decision for her and Lily.
“Well, how did it go?”
“How did what go?”
Emma’s matronly eyes softened. “Preschool drop-off.”
Sarah’s eyes shifted to the door, and for one moment, the draw of the closed door of preschool was strong. Maybe she could just peek in the door and check on Lily for a minute. She pressed on her belly with her hand to calm the butterflies and kept her feet firmly planted. “Hard. I thought I was ready, but then I got there, and I wasn’t. Lily was nervous for a minute and I was ready to drive us both back home. But then she ran up to the teacher and into the house. And you wouldn’t believe her outfit—she wore a sparkly, pink tutu.”
“That girl. She’s quite a spitfire.”
“Yes, she is.”
“Well, why don’t we get down to business? I just took some double-chocolate cupcakes out of the oven. They should be ready to frost about the time we’re done here.” Emma grabbed two coffee mugs and led Sarah to a table in the corner.
Emma reminded Sarah of her own mother—the smile on Emma’s face, caring eyes and a soft, gentle touch. When Sarah first arrived in town, she’d been immediately charmed by Emma’s shop. The bakery had a sophisticated feel to it, with its deep walnut shelves displaying various gourmet coffees. A dozen or so tables with cushioned armchairs sat around the room, inviting customers to sit and stay a while. A dark wood customer counter and brightly lit display cases stretched from left to right across the middle of the shop. The sparkling clean glass case burst with color and presented a wide variety of delicacies Emma baked from scratch.
Sarah had returned several times after her initial visit, and before long, she’d struck up a conversation with the woman behind the counter. Having recently expanded her business, Emma needed to hire outside accounting. Perfect timing for Sarah. Emma was not only Sarah’s first customer, but her first real friend in town.
Alex would have loved this bakery. Although he had been happy in the city, he’d been a small-town guy at heart. They’d hoped to move to a town like Oak Grove after their family grew. Now Sarah was fulfilling their dream. Alone.
From the day she and Alex met, their relationship had been intense. The two of them spent every free moment together while they were dating and had been quick to move in together. They’d married within a year of meeting—the very definition of a whirlwind romance. Before long, Sarah was pregnant and they became a family of three, Alex the doting father to his newborn daughter. They had so much in common, including their goals for their careers and family. By this point, she’d hoped to have at least two kids and be focused on raising her family. Instead, here she was, new in town and raising her daughter alone.
“You miss him,” Emma said.
Sarah’s face heated. She was in the middle of a business meeting. Of all the times to think about the past. “Uh…”
“S’okay dear.” Emma patted Sarah’s hand. “I can tell, you know?” Her dark eyes warmed. “You rub your ring every time you think of Alex.”
Sarah lowered her hand from her neck where she’d unconsciously fingered the gold wedding band hanging there. Maybe she wasn’t as ready for a fresh start as she’d thought. By wearing her wedding ring on a chain, she kept Alex close to her heart, even while she tried to move on with the rest of her life.
“I’m sure it’s hard to think about life without Alex, but I’m proud of you for taking this step, moving away from your family, and starting fresh here in Oak Grove.” Emma reached across the table and placed both of her hands over Sarah’s. “You’re a strong woman, Sarah Robinson. Stronger than you know.”
How wrong Emma was. But she meant well, and her words were appreciated. Sarah smiled to make her new friend feel good, even if she didn’t feel it herself.
While downing two cups of coffee, Sarah and Emma completed their business and solidified their working relationship. By the end of the meeting, all of Sarah’s nerves had calmed and she had a solid start on her accounting business. While Sarah tucked her papers back into her bag, Emma stood from the table. “Let me go frost you some of those cupcakes, and we’ll get you on your way.”
“That sounds heavenly. I’m just going to get a refill.” Sarah crossed the room, mug in hand.
She pulled the coffee off the burner, pouring the steaming liquid into her cup as the bell above the door announced another customer. With pot in hand, she turned… and stopped short. A man strode into Emma’s shop with his shoulders back and a broad smile on his face. His thick, brown hair was swept to the side and hung a little long over his ears.
Sarah’s stomach leapt into her throat and her breath hitched. Her skin tingled and her pulse raced. She couldn’t move, her feet frozen in place, coffee pot suspended in air. What in the heck was happening to her? She couldn’t remember ever reacting to the sight of a man this way.
A blue T-shirt with a gold logo over his heart stretched over his muscular chest, his biceps stretching the restraints of his short sleeves. Either he earned those on the job, or he spent hours at the gym. She guessed the former. Despite his tough-looking exterior, a gentle, easy smile graced his face. But a storm brewed just beneath the surface of that smile. Everything about him drew her in, pulled her toward him, and her body wavered.
The man stopped halfway to the counter, his rich, whiskey-colored eyes locked on hers. Customers milled around him, but he didn’t move. Sarah’s heart raced. What was happening to her? Images of this man’s arms wrapped around her flooded her mind. Picturing his mouth lowering to hers had her puckering her lips. Heat rose on her cheeks. Even though her face was probably flushed, she clenched her fist at her side to keep from hiding behind her hands.
Stop it. She was married… well, had been married. She was Alex’s wife, she shouldn’t be staring at another man in this way. But she couldn’t help herself. Her rapidly beating heart and the ache in her gut was something she hadn’t felt in a long time. And it wasn’t wholly unwelcome.
Her eyes remained locked on the man as he swaggered toward her, his arms relaxed at his sides, confidence seeping from his pores. Nice that he could be so calm while her skin prickled and her hair stood on end. He stopped when he reached her side, leaning in and crowding her against the counter. A wolfish look settled in his eyes as his face closed the distance between them.
She drew in a deep breath. The musky scent of his aftershave mingled with the aroma of fresh coffee in the air, creating a heady combination.
With his voice barely above a whisper, he said, “Are you finished with the coffee?”
“What? Oh.” She still stood with the coffee pot in her hand. Get a grip. She wasn’t a silly schoolgirl mooning over her recent crush, although that’s probably what he thought of her. “Yeah, I’m done.”
She tried to return the coffee but banged into the machine instead, the hot, black liquid sloshing nearly over her hand. He was too close, his presence overwhelming her. If only she could move her feet, she could put some distance between herself and this man. She finally slid the pot onto the burner and took a wobbly step back, finally tearing her eyes away from his. They dropped to her mug and she ran her finger along the rim then stole another peek at the man. He hadn’t moved, her very presence filling the room. His lush lips formed into a wide grin and his whiskey-colored eyes twinkled.
He arched one black, thick brow. “Thanks.”
Flirt. This man knew the effect he had on women and he flaunted it. And now, that attention was turned toward Sarah.
Emma stepped out from the back just in time to save Sarah from further embarrassment. “Here you go, hon. A half dozen cupcakes. Now you be sure you share with Lily, you hear?”
Sarah heard the woman enter. Heard the words she’d said. But they didn’t compute. She couldn’t turn away from the man in front of her. Her tongue couldn’t form words to thank Emma. Instead, her eyes stayed locked on the man.
“Oh, Lucas. I didn’t hear you come in,” Emma exclaimed.
Lucas. Sarah tucked that piece of information away for later… maybe when she could focus and her brain was firing on more cylinders. Because right now, standing next to this man, she could hardly string two words together. Not since Alex had she turned into a trembling bundle of nerves. Even though Lucas’s body screamed strong, his demeanor said so much more. Protector. Nurturer. Lover. She felt helpless in his presence.
Lucas’s eyes finally broke away from hers and he turned toward Emma. “Hey, Emma. How’re you doing today?”
“I’m great. You on a break?”
“Nope, just coming off duty. Wanted to grab a cup before I headed home.”
“Sounds great. Can I get you a muffin to go with your coffee?”
“You know I never say no to one of your treats.”
Not only was he a flit, but he was also a tease. And his attentions weren’t solely on the young crowd. His charm extended to the older woman, his sassy grin a permanent fixture. There was no way this man wasn’t involved with someone already, so why had he turned his attention toward Sarah.
“I’ll be right back.” Emma headed into the kitchen, leaving Sarah alone with Lucas. She stood frozen in place. She couldn’t make her feet move to escape from this embarrassing situation.
The man extended his hand. “I’m Lucas.”
After drawing in a deep breath to calm her racing heart, Sarah reached out and placed her hand in his. The minute her skin slid against his, a jolt traveled up her arm, spearing her straight in the heart. She didn’t speak. She couldn’t make her mouth form the words.
His grin grew a bit wider. “…and you are?”
After shaking her head and willing her mouth to work, she finally responded, “Oh, I’m sorry. Sarah. I’m Sarah. Nice to meet you. I’m not normally this scatterbrained.”
“Well, nice to meet you, Sarah. Will you join me for a cup of coffee?”
Was he serious? If she sat with him now, she’d be a salivating mess by the time they finished. Clearly, she could only handle this man in small doses. Sarah shook her head. “No, um, oh. I was just leaving.”
“Maybe another time. It was nice to meet you. Hope to see you again.” He chuckled. Had he seen through her poorly-veiled embarrassment?
Heat rose on her cheeks. “You, too, Lucas.”
After another minute staring into his eyes, she finally forced herself to take a step… and then another, until she reached the door and pulled it open.
As soon as she stepped out of sight of the shop, she sagged against the front of the building. What just happened? He’d asked her out, right? At least it sounded like he asked her out. She hadn’t been asked out in so long she wasn’t sure.
No way could she drive home with her hands shaking like this. Besides, it was a beautiful day and she had told herself she wouldn’t hole up in the house when she could be outside, enjoying the weather and getting to know her new town. And what better place that the town green right across the street, a plush, peaceful haven from the bustle of life around it.
When she stepped into the large park, her heart rate slowed and her breathing calmed. The town green had been the first place she’d visited when she first came to town and its peacefulness always calmed her. Wrought-iron benches with wooden slats lined the sidewalks, and the bench directly opposite Emma’s shop gave Sarah a perfect view of Main Street and into the large picture window of the Mug ’n Muffin. Lucas still stood at the counter, waving his hands and talking to Emma, his head thrown back in laughter. Sarah’s stomach fluttered. Had he been as affected when their arms brushed? She’d been a wobbling mess while he stood there looking completely unaffected. And he hadn’t pulled away. It had been a long time since she’d felt this kind of attraction toward a man. Since Alex.
As she kept her eyes fixed on the bakery, Lucas turned and faced the window. Sarah snapped her head away. Had he seen her? That would be so embarrassing. Her eyes darted furtively back to the shop. Lucas had crossed the shop and now stood, hands on his hips, staring out the window. She could tell the moment he spotted her—a huge grin broke out on his face and he raised his mug. She snapped her head around. She was no better than a shy schoolgirl afraid to look at her latest crush. She couldn’t meet his eyes again. She had barely the courage to move her daughter an hour and a half away from her family, she wasn’t ready for a crush. As she forced herself to keep her eyes off of Emma’s shop, she studied the other buildings on Main Street.
Across First Street, on the corner of Main, the firehouse and sheriff’s departments stood as beacons of strength and order, watching over the residents of Oak Grove. While she’d been drawn to the stations on her first visit, she’d never entered either building. She’d come close on several occasions, but each time, she stopped with her hand hovering over the handle. She couldn’t bring herself to enter the symbol of everything she’d lost in her life.
Station One. Funny since it was the only firehouse in town. Equipped with one fire engine and one ambulance, the station served Oak Grove and the surrounding rural areas. Volunteers filled most of the positions, with the station maintaining only a small full-time fire and EMS crew. She bet no one else in town knew as much about the stations as she did, but she’d researched the details of the local fire response before making an offer on her home. She couldn’t bear another delay like the one that had killed Alex.
Two brass bells mounted on the front of the fire station clanged and reality broke into her train of thought. The firefighters and paramedics milling around the front of the station scrambled into the open doors, shouting commands as they did. In no time, the fire engine and ambulance screeched out of their bays and turned onto Main Street, sirens blaring and lights flashing. Sarah held her breath, tension squeezing her chest.
She was unable to wrench her eyes away until the vehicles rushed out of sight. A deafening silence replaced the clamor of bells and engines. Was someone else living through the horror that struck her family just two years ago? Would another family lose a loved one to a fire?
A strangled huff sounded from across the street, and she turned to see Lucas standing on the sidewalk in front of Mug ’n Muffin, his head lowered and his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
* * *
Lucas stood, frozen in place, watching his fellow firefighters and paramedics racing to an emergency. He ached to be on the engine with them. His heart raced and his feet had moved toward the station on their own when the bells rang. But he wasn’t welcome on the engine. Not right now. The captain shouldn’t have taken him off the crew. They needed him... and he needed them. He clenched his muscles, forcing his body to stay put when every cell yearned to follow after the vehicles.
After the last strains of the sirens faded on the air, he glanced into the park. Sarah had been sitting on that bench, staring across the street, since she’d walked out of the coffee shop. As he talked to Emma, he’d kept his gaze pinned on Sarah. A mixture of concern and longing shone on her face. What could be going through her mind that left her with such a troubled look?
Their initial conversation was too short. Maybe now after she’d had a few minutes to relax, she’d be up to spending some time with him. They didn’t have to drink coffee, he’d be happy just to sit beside her on the bench. But before he could head across the street, she hustled in the opposite direction, his opportunity to redeem after his rocky introduction lost.
Where was the smooth, suave Lucas that the ladies in town called Oak Grove’s Most Eligible Bachelor? Could he have sounded more like a dork? That Lucas must have stayed outside, and Awkward Lucas had entered the coffee shop alone.
He couldn’t pull his eyes from her the entire time he’d been in the shop. She’d worn a pair of tight-fitting jeans that perfectly showcased her round hips. As his eyes traveled up her body, they landed on the bright red sweater that hugged her breasts. Her blonde hair hung straight and long down her back. He hadn’t meant to, but he’d stared so long he’d nearly embarrassed himself. Acted no better than a horny teenager drooling over the cute girl across the classroom. She’d smiled when their gazes had locked, but happiness didn’t reach her eyes. Sadness permeated her look, the swirl of emotions drawing him in and he couldn’t look away.
When he’d touched her, the air between them sizzled. He’d felt it and he was certain she had, too. At least he’d regrouped in the end and had gotten her name before she left. If his brain hadn’t been scrambled from the mere sight of her, he’d have gotten her number. Considering how quickly she ran out of the shop, he’d probably scared her off.
She was clearly new in town. No way had she lived here long and he not have met her. Now, he just needed to find a way to run into her again. Smiling at the challenge he had ahead of him, he headed to his brother Joey’s bar, looking forward to a cold beer and a hot plate of nachos.