“Look, lady,” the pissed-off looking elderly man in front of Hadley said. “I have to get to Philadelphia today.”

Hadley cringed as the airline employee at the desk looked away with disinterest, not seeming to give any shits about where the rude man had to be. She just kept spewing out the standard cookie-cutter corporate lines of fake sympathy. “On behalf of everyone at Montanya Airlines, I’m sorry for any inconvenience you’ve experienced.”

“I’m sure you are,” he muttered as he charged away from the desk with a huff.

The whole airport was in an uproar. All flights had been delayed indefinitely.

It was a gorgeous sunny summer day in Montana and all of the flights had been grounded due to extreme weather. None of this makes any sense.

The manager of the airline stepped up onto a platform and the crowd of outraged commuters quieted down for the first time since Hadley arrived at the airport that morning.

“There’s been a… situation,” the manager said, looking unsure of how to explain it. “All of the planes are non-operational.”

“It must be a terrorist attack,” someone behind Hadley whispered.

Hadley’s eyes widened in panic. What if it’s a terrorist attack?

“It’s not a terrorist attack,” the manager said. “At least, I don’t think it’s a terrorist attack. All flights arriving at and leaving Green International Airport have been canceled.”

The crowd exploded into angry shouts.

“What?!?”

“You can’t do this!”

“We have rights!”

“I have to get to Dallas for a wedding!”

Someone even threw a water bottle at the poor manager who was suddenly at the head of an angry mob of stranded travelers.

“Please!” the manager said, looking increasingly nervous. “This is beyond our control. The weather—”

“The weather is perfect you idiot!” the mom of four beside Hadley screamed out. “Where are we supposed to stay?”

The crowd pushed forward, overwhelming the balding manager who retreated behind the desk.

There were hundreds of stranded travelers in the airport who needed a place to stay and a cab to get there. Hadley hurried over to the line-up for the taxis and it was already around the corner with only one overwhelmed cab driver left.

Oh, crap. I’m really screwed now.

Then she saw him. Winding through the crowd like the savior that he was.

“Axel!” she shouted, waving her hand in the air.

His searching face lit up in a smile when he spotted her. Hadley had never been so relieved to see someone. Maybe there was nothing between them romantically, but she knew that Axel would take her out of there and give her a place to stay until the flights were up and running again.

“What’s going on in here?” Axel said after he pushed through the crowd to get to her. People were looking even more panicked now that their amount of options were quickly declining.

“All of the flights are canceled due to the weather,” she said, shaking her head. “Maybe too much sun? I don’t get it either.”

Axel took her arm and pulled her protectively against him. There were people rushing by with bags and suitcases, which could bump into her stomach and hurt the baby. She wasn’t very far along and the odds of that happening were pretty slim, but Hadley was already beginning to worry like a mother.

“You can stay with us until the planes are running again,” Axel said, holding her close. Her chest fluttered at being held by the muscular man like she was the most important thing in the world. He kept his thick arms out, protecting her and their baby against the unpredictable crowd.

“Thank you,” she said, getting a whiff of his masculine scent. “I really don’t want to sleep here.”

Axel took her bag and guided her to the exit, making sure that nobody bumped into her.

“What are you doing here anyway?” she asked when they were outside where it was less crowded.

“I came to see you off,” he said, looking at her with his soft brown eyes. “Did you really think I was going to leave without saying goodbye?”

Hadley didn’t answer. She just turned away as her cheeks got warm. She wasn’t used to men being so thoughtful and acting so chivalrous. The men she dated back in Philadelphia hadn’t been like this.

As they walked to Axel’s truck, she thought back to last night, wondering why there hadn’t been a spark. You know why.

The truth was that she was attracted to the hot firefighter and she did often think about him, even when she was back at home in Philly. But last night, she was too busy trying to convince herself that there was nothing there and pretending that she wasn’t interested to actually see if there was anything between them. Hadley was convinced that it would be easier that way in the long run.

Having a boyfriend in Montana, or feelings for her child’s father was just too complicated. It was bound to go all wrong.

Sure the feelings were real now, but what would happen when the attraction eventually faded and they were stuck in a hopeless marriage? She would be stuck in a loveless relationship like her mother and that was something she wasn’t willing to risk.

Still, a small part of her wanted it to work out. It was the part that took over when she was tired and her defenses were down. It was the part of her that showed itself whenever she saw a happy family walking down the street or an elderly couple holding hands. As much as she told herself that it was a bad idea, she still couldn’t help picturing moving out here to the beautiful town of Colwood, marrying a hot fireman, and becoming a happy family.

“Where are you going?” she asked as Axel pulled her away from the parking lot. He stepped onto the grass and was walking toward the fence, pulling her along with him by the hand.

“I want to see what’s really wrong with the planes,” he said as he glanced up at the impeccable blue sky. “Because it certainly isn’t the weather.”

Hadley was curious herself so she grabbed onto the top of the fence when they arrived and pulled herself up.

“Wha-?” she gasped when she saw what really caused the flights to be canceled. “How is that possible?”

There was ice everywhere. Covering every plane in thick frozen blocks, coating the runaway, even turning the tower into a frosted igloo. It was the middle of July and she was wearing a t-shirt. How could there be that much ice?

Axel nervously ran his hand through his mohawk as he watched with a tight expression on his face.

“What do you think happened?” she asked, staring at him in shock.

“Not sure,” he muttered as he got down from the fence. “Must be a freak ice storm or something.”

Hadley frowned as he helped her down off the fence. Freak ice storm? She had never heard of a freak ice storm in the middle of July. Maybe it was a Montana thing…

“Let’s get out of here,” Axel said, looking shaken up. He took her hand and hurried to the truck.

“It’s probably going to take a few days for them to clear that ice and check the planes,” Axel said once they were in the truck and driving down the highway. “You can stay with us in my room. I’ll take Gunner’s room.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” she said even though that sounded like fun. “I don’t want to put you out. I can stay at the inn again while I’m here.”

Axel shook his head, looking like he wasn’t about to take no for an answer. “You should save your money for the baby. I have a free room and free meals.”

Hadley thought about it as she looked out the window at the tall cedar trees whizzing by. She did need to save her money for the baby. There were going to be a lot of expenses coming up, and she had to start getting her finances in order—one more thing to worry about.

“Okay,” she said softly. “I’ll stay with you guys if it’s not too much of a burden.”

“Not at all,” he said, looking happier than he had all morning.

A few minutes later he pulled into the parking lot of a drug store. “I’m sure you’re going to need a few more things for your stay.”

“Thanks,” she said, looking at him in surprise. He definitely was thoughtful and attentive to her needs.

They walked in together and Hadley began picking up some stuff. She had only planned on staying for one night, so she was seriously understocked on deodorant, shampoo, and body wash.

Axel had disappeared down another aisle and she went to find him once she had everything she needed.

She let out a soft laugh when she found him in the baby aisle with an overflowing cart. It was packed with bottles, baby pajamas, diapers, spoons, cups, and a bunch of other stuff that she didn’t even realize she needed.

He’s cute. I’ll give him that.

Hadley leaned against the shelves and silently watched him as he read the labels on two different brands of formula. “Excuse me,” he said, calling over the woman who was stocking the shelves at the other end of the aisle. “Which formula is better for babies?”

“Let me see,” the woman said as she walked over. “This one is a little bit better, but it’s much more expensive. Your baby should be fine with either one.”

Hadley smiled as he tossed the more expensive one into the basket.

“How old is your child?” the woman asked with a big smile on her face.

Axel smiled back even wider. “Zero,” he said with a laugh. “It’s still cooking in the oven.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” the woman said, clapping her hands together. “When is your wife due?”

He took a second to count on his fingers and then turned back to her. “April,” he said with his face beaming.

“What a delight a baby is,” the woman said with a smile. “There’s no better feeling than when you first hold your newborn baby in your arms.”

Axel’s face dropped as the woman congratulated him and went back to work. His big round shoulders drooped down as he stared at the full cart with an empty stare.

Hadley knew what he was thinking. He wouldn’t be there to experience any of it. The pregnancy. The birth. The first smile, the first step, the first word. He would miss it all.

She walked over with a tight smile, feeling guilty for keeping him and his baby apart.

“What’s all this stuff?” she asked, trying to get a smile back on his face.

The smile returned when he turned and looked at her. “I hope you brought a big suitcase,” he said with a grin. “You’re going to need it.”

“Don’t go crazy,” she said with a laugh. “I just have a backpack.”

“Next stop, the suitcase store,” he said, tossing a plastic rattle onto the pile of stuff.

Hadley just watched as he continued to fill the cart, making sure that anything he put in was baby friendly. He would be a good dad.

She could picture him taking care of their child, and taking care of her. There was no harm in indulging in the fantasy a little bit. Is there?

But either way, it was too late. Hadley already had an image in her mind of them laughing together as they tried to change a diaper for the first time. She was picturing how hot he would look holding her baby in his big protective arms.

That’s just a fantasy. She had to remind herself of that. Reality wasn’t like that. Reality was her parent’s loveless marriage, and she definitely didn’t want that.

After Axel paid the huge bill, the two of them walked back to the truck. Axel insisted on carrying everything and Hadley just watched with a smile on her face as he spoiled her, loading the bags into the truck all by himself.

“Are you sure that Jax and Zane will be okay with me staying at the firehouse?” Hadley asked for the fifth time once they were back on the road.

“Of course,” he said with a smile. “They’re going to love you. Except maybe for Jax. He doesn’t like anybody.”

“Sounds great,” she said, laughing nervously. She really didn’t want to be a bother to his friends.

“He’s not so bad once you get used to him,” Axel said with a shrug. “Just don’t talk about kids around him.”

“Why?” she asked, looking at him funny, but he didn’t answer. He was distracted as he pulled onto the street. A few minutes later they pulled into the parking lot of the firehouse.

Butterflies made their way into Hadley’s stomach and were flapping around as they stepped out of the truck. She hadn’t officially met Axel’s friends and she wasn’t sure how she would be received—the girl from out of town who got pregnant with their friend’s baby and was keeping it from him.

“That’s Jax,” Axel said, pointing to a firefighter that Hadley remembered from the auction. How could she forget him? He was unforgettable with the way he stood on stage, glaring at the women who came to bid on dates. He didn’t get one single bid.

“And that’s Zane,” Axel added, pointing to a hot firefighter with brown hair and a short cropped beard. He looked a little nicer than Jax did.

Hadley got nervous as the two of them walked over. “I thought you were leaving,” Zane said.

Jax rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re staying to marry this clown,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s bad enough that you slept with him.”

“Uhm,” Hadley said, feeling her cheeks getting insanely hot. She couldn’t even deny that she had put out on the first date. The baby bump pushing out of her stomach had taken away any chance at that.

“Guys, this is Hadley,” Axel said, proudly presenting her. “She’s the mother of my child.”

Both of them smiled and congratulated her on the pregnancy.

“All of the flights going out today were canceled,” Axel said as he watched Zane closely. “The planes were covered in ice.”

Zane’s mouth dropped open.

“Must be one of those freak ice storms,” Axel said with a raise of his chin.

“Must be,” Zane muttered as he rubbed his bearded jaw.

Hadley watched them closely and couldn’t help but think that there was something going on under the surface. Did they know something about the ice that they weren’t telling her?

“I’m going to go check the news,” Zane said, hurrying inside.

“Are you staying here?” Jax asked her.

Hadley swallowed hard. “Uhm…”

“Yes, she is,” Axel quickly stated. “She’ll stay in my room and I’ll sleep in Gunner’s.”

“Is that okay with you?” Hadley asked in a sheepish voice.

Jax just shrugged his broad shoulders. “As long as you leave by the time the baby is born,” he said as he turned back inside.

Axel just smiled. “I told you he was a bit of an asshole. But don’t worry, you’ll get used to him.”

Hadley followed Axel into the firehouse and he had her laughing as he gave her a tour. “This is the fire-pole,” he said, slapping the pole. “It also doubles as the stripper pole that Jax practices on.”

“I hope I don’t see that while I’m here,” she said, laughing as they walked past it. Although she wouldn’t mind seeing Axel grinding on it.

He showed her to his room, which was simple but nice and cozy. The bed was comfy and the blankets smelled like him. Axel left her alone to set up as he moved some of his stuff into the room beside her.

“It’s so cute here,” she whispered to herself as she looked out the window at the little muffin store beside the firehouse. The spectacular Abrasoka mountains were visible in the background with a snow cap even though it was in the middle of summer.

It was the perfect place to raise a family, but her time here was almost at an end. It wasn’t healthy to indulge in the fantasy of staying here and marrying Axel, and it was best to stop before it got out of hand.

She sighed as she imagined Axel lifting up a little boy and putting him behind the large wheel of the fire truck.

Maybe I can indulge just a little bit longer.