Chapter 4
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“He asked me last week if I was interested in being a technical advisor,” Evan explained to Jake who had caught him in the foyer when he’d tried to take off during the final announcements. Today had been a hell of day and all he wanted to do was go home and go to bed. “I told him I wasn’t.”
“I know, but Kyle is adamant that you are Landon Carter.”
“Who?” Evan was trying his best to follow along, but he was more than a little preoccupied. The entire meeting, he’d watched the woman that had captivated him with one look. He used his peripheral vision to try and ascertain what was so special about her. To observe her without being noticed.
When she’d walked into the room, it was like she’d brought the sun with her. Except it wasn’t shining on her, it was shining from her. She radiated…something. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
It was more than just her beauty, which was undeniable, or her uncanny resemblance to Marilyn Monroe, which was striking. It was something intangible and yet tangible at the same time. He couldn’t see it, but it was there. Maybe it was that “it” factor that he’d heard celebrities have.
Whatever it was, he was unable to ignore it, no matter how much he tried. His thoughts and his focus kept being pulled in her direction.
“Landon Carter is the character Reed is playing,” Jake answered. “He’s come up with a backstory that his character was a major league baseball player that gets injured and then becomes a smokejumper. Sound familiar? He wants to use your story as research. From baseball to early retirement, to firefighting.”
The last thing Evan wanted to do was talk about his days playing ball, and he wanted to talk about his injury and recovery even less.
“Also, he feels that you have, and this is a direct quote, ‘a quiet, dominating authority’ that he believes his character also has.” Jake was wearing the same smug smile that Justin had had when he was busting his balls about the cheerleader picture. “But, seriously, he wants you to shadow him and give him notes to make sure that he’s authentic.”
“I can’t. I don’t have time with the crew and—”
“Since you aren’t cleared for active duty, Reyes and Spencer are going to be doing most of the heavy lifting anyway,” Jake interjected.
Marco Reyes and Oliver Spencer were his captains. They were both capable men, but neither of them were him. Evan was the first to admit that he had control issues and they were magnified by a thousand when lives were at stake. His crew was his responsibility. Medical leave or not. End of story.
As if reading his mind, Jake pointed out, “Since you still aren’t cleared for active duty so it won’t be taking you away from the crew.”
Evan appreciated the spin that the fire chief was trying to put on this new assignment, but he still wanted no part of it.
So far Evan’s cooperation with the filming of Red Card Warning had consisted of two obligations. One, he’d let Kyle observe his crew during their inaugural field exercise. Second, was this town hall meeting that the Mayor had asked both Jake and Evan to attend as representatives from the fire station and hotshot crew to show support of the film. Being a technical advisor was not something he’d ever consider. This wasn’t his world and he wanted to get back to his world.
Jake crossed his arms as he nodded. “I understand your reservations, but think about it: if the crew gets called out, which they will, the most you’d be able to do is coordinate off-site. You wouldn’t be permitted on scene for insurance purposes. If anything happened to you and you weren’t cleared, we’d be up shit creek without a paddle. At least this way, instead of twiddling your thumbs you’ll have something to do. You don’t have to say yes, but I don’t see why you’d say no.”
He’d say no because he wanted to be with his crew, even if it would kill him being on the sidelines.
“And head’s up, the mayor was at the station today and mentioned that Kyle wants to meet with you tonight to go over scheduling and wants you to meet Shayne Fox.”
Shayne Fox.
The one highlight in his otherwise shit day.
“Hey, bro. Nice throwback Thursday.” Jake’s sister Nikki approached them wearing a cat-that-ate-the-canary grin. When she noticed Evan, she lifted her hand. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Evan had gotten to know the entire Maguire clan over the years that Eli had lived in Hope Falls. When he’d first met them six years ago, they were all single but since then they’d all settled down, got married, and some even had kids.
He once believed that was going to be the path he’d travel down, too. But it didn’t look like it was in the cards for him. As much of a loner as he’d always been, he’d always wanted someone to come home to. Someone to share life’s ups and downs, twists and turns. Someone to have his back and vice versa.
The problem was, the only person he’d ever imagined being that for him was engaged to another man and pregnant with his baby.
But she’s happy, Evan reminded himself. That was all that mattered.
“So…” Nikki rubbed her hands together as her eyes narrowed. “Let me guess, it was payback for the sleeping pic?”
“That picture was cute,” Jake defended.
“So is your cheerleader pic,” Nikki countered.
Nikki’s husband Mike joined them and greeted Jake and Evan before wrapping his arm around his wife and kissing her on her head. Evan had met Mike Gowan back when he was an up and coming politician. He’d thrown out a pitch at a game when Evan was playing in triple-A.
“What cheerleading pic?” Mike asked his wife.
Nikki happily pulled out her phone as she explained, “Last week, Jake posted a picture of Tessa asleep on the couch with the kids. She told him to take it down because she thought she looked—”
“She looked cute,” Jake interrupted.
Nikki lifted her hands in surrender. “Agreed. But your wife thought otherwise. So, she told him to take it down. When he ignored her instruction…” She turned the screen so Mike could see it. “She posted a cute picture of him.”
Mike’s head fell back as he laughed. “What is that?”
“Senior year, Jake lost a bet to Eric. He had to not only wear my cheerleading uniform for an entire day, but he also had to shave his legs, wear a wig and let me do his makeup.” Nikki explained. “I didn’t know that there was photographic evidence of it until now.”
“Tessa took it,” Jake revealed with a lopsided grin. “She claimed it would come in handy one day.”
“Your wife is a genius,” Nikki enthused.
“I know.” Jake’s smile was full, and it was clear that he thought the sun rose and set with his wife.
People began filing out of the double doors, and Nikki glanced over her shoulder before tugging on her husband’s arm. “Let’s go before we get stuck here for hours.”
“Hours?” Mike repeated as if she were exaggerating.
“Yes. Hours,” Nikki emphasized before turning to Jake and Evan and pointing her thumb in the direction of her husband’s chest. “This one talks to everyone. You can take the man out of politics, but you can’t take the politician out of the man.”
Mike beamed down at his wife wearing a similar expression to the one that Jake got when he talked about Tessa. The one that Eli got whenever Kenzie walked into a room. The one that Deanna’s husband, Lucky, got whenever he looked at her.
It was the look of love. Something that Evan was starting to think he never really knew anything about. If he did, the chances that his true love would be planning her wedding with another man were slim.
“See you guys later!” Nikki waved as she pulled Mike out of the community center.
“I’m heading out, too,” Evan told Jake.
Today was one he’d happily put behind him, and since he’d been getting an average of four hours of sleep each night over the past few weeks, calling it early wasn’t such a bad idea.
“You may have missed your escape window,” Jake spoke quietly as he peered past Evan’s shoulder.
Evan turned his head and saw Kyle approaching them with Shayne Fox at his side.
“Just the men I was hoping to find. Gentleman, would you join us?” He held his arm out toward an alcove that was off the main foyer. It was private enough that people filing out wouldn’t spot them.
Once all four of them were tucked away and out of sight, Kyle made introductions. “Shayne Fox, this is the Fire Chief Jake Andrew Maguire, and this is Evan Douglas Bishop.”
He guessed Kyle’s obsession with using middle names extended beyond his own.
He’d been momentarily distracted by the odd intro, and it caused him to drop his guard. So, when his hand wrapped around Shayne’s, he hadn’t been prepared for what happened. Energy so powerful he had to lock his knees to stay upright, flowed directly from her palm to his. It wasn’t a shock, it was more of a pulse that vibrated through him. Not on a surface level, but on a cellular one.
Now he only had one question in his mind: who was this girl and why in the hell was he responding to her like she was a live wire?
*
What is happening?
Shayne’s entire body was shaking like a leaf. Her stomach felt like she was strapped into the world’s tallest rollercoaster heading to the top. Her heart was racing like it was mainlining adrenaline as Evan’s large hand enveloped hers.
And she had no idea how to disguise it.
By age ten she’d learned that just like dogs could smell fear, people could sense nervousness and uncertainty. Walking into foster or group homes if she had any trepidation, any worry, the other kids would view it as weakness and attack. Not always physically, although that did happen, but verbally, emotionally, and mentally.
So, she’d figured out tricks to stop herself from being nervous. Not just from appearing nervous, but from actually being nervous. Over time, through trial and error, she’d discovered several tricks that she could pull out of her bag depending on the type of anxiety that she was experiencing. By the time she hit her teens, she’d found ways to deal with her anxiety but it had still been there. Now she had professional help and it was even easier. But one handshake with this man had rendered her unable to draw upon any of them.
She’d been worried about disguising her reaction to seeing tall, dark, and sexy from across the room but up close and personal was downright devastating.
Speak. She instructed herself. Open your mouth and speak.
“Hi, Evan.” Shayne hoped that the full-body tremor that ran through her was undetectable to the man who’d caused it.
She tugged her hand out of his, and when she did, she noticed the difference in their skin textures. Hers was soft and supple and his was firm and rough.
As the two surfaces brushed against one another, it was like silk snagging on a tree branch. The sensation caused deep pulsing between her hips and her breath to catch in the back of her throat.
She let her hand fall to her side, and her eyes shot to his to search them for a clue to find out if he’d detected her tremor, but she came up empty. Next, she checked his body language for any hint as to whether or not he’d sensed or felt her body’s reaction. Again, she was unable to determine. He was unreadable.
In an effort to follow his lead, she hoped that she appeared as calm as a duck floating on a pond even though beneath the water her emotion-webbed feet were flapping furiously. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” His voice was not just deep, it was rich and full. The kind of voice that could soothe in one breathe, and intimidate in another. She was sure it had caused many a woman to swoon and many a man to wilt beneath its husky virility.
She wondered if Evan had ever considered doing voice-overs. Not that he couldn’t be a leading man. He had the looks and charisma. Between his chiseled features, hypnotic eyes, and dominating stature, he’d have no problem holding his own on screen.
No, wait, they weren’t in LA. It was difficult sometimes to remember that not everyone was in the business. Evan was a firefighter, and Kyle had mentioned that he’d played professional baseball. She’d bet Evan had had women lining up just for the chance of one night with him during his pro days. Come to think of it, he probably still did.
“Evan is the man I was telling you about. Rookie of the Year pitcher for the Waves turned hero firefighter. He was just awarded the Medal of Valor for the Basin Hills fire.”
Shayne noticed that Evan’s jaw tensed as his lips formed a straight line at Kyle’s praise. It was the first reaction of his that she’d been able to decipher. Although, in fairness, she didn’t need to use any of her superpowers to deduce it. All it took was sight to pick up that Evan was not comfortable receiving compliments, at least not those compliments.
Wait, the Basin Hills fire.
That fire had wreaked havoc on Southern California. Many people she knew personally were affected by it, and she felt like she needed to say something. “Thank you so much. I had quite a few friends that were forced to evacuate, and they could not say enough about how amazing all the first responders were.”
When she saw that her acknowledgment was not relaxing his facial muscles, she did an about-face and immediately shifted the topic. It was part of her arsenal of social tricks. Whenever an interaction wasn’t on the right track, she had a gift of seamlessly pulling the railroad switch lever and guiding the train to another track. “Bishop? Are you related to Deanna Bishop?”
The corners of Evan’s eyes crinkled almost imperceptibly. “Deanna is my cousin.”
He didn’t trust her. She wasn’t sure if that was the general state that he operated in, or if she was an exception, but his guard was up.
“Oh, great.” Shayne smiled brightly, trying to show him that she was a friend, not a foe. “I’m going to be meeting her for lunch tomorrow to talk about the role and what it’s really like being a female firefighter. I’ve been told she was the first female firefighter in Hope Falls.”
“She was,” Jake confirmed. “I know she’s excited to work on this.”
From the way the fire chief emphasized the word she Shayne concluded that what she’d heard about Evan’s hesitation must be true. Last week, Kyle told her that he’d found his inspiration and it was Evan Bishop—well, he’d said Evan Douglas Bishop—but that Evan hadn’t exactly jumped at his offer to be a consultant.
She cut her eyes back to Evan to see if her hypothesis was correct when Ruby rushed up beside her wearing an expression that told her something needed her attention.
“Excuse me, gentleman,” Shayne excused herself and moved to the side.
She hadn’t made it one step before Kyle started talking about what he envisioned for Landon Carter. The man was a born salesman, and he was convinced that Evan was the key to him becoming his character.
When they were a few feet away, Ruby spoke in a low voice. “I thought you’d want to know that Camilla Rhodes is here. Her mom drove for six hours so she could see you.”
“Camilla from the contest?”
“Yes.”
Camilla had won a radio contest for young leaders and the prize was a personalized message from Shayne on her YouTube channel as Mindy Reader. When she’d learned the girl’s story before recording the message it had struck a personal chord with Shayne.
Camilla was a third grader that had a severe speech impediment and was getting bullied in school, and it caused her to be painfully shy and withdrawn. But Mindy Reader had inspired her to start a club at school that meets at lunch for anyone who doesn’t have someone to eat with. It started with two people, and now there are over thirty kids.
“Of course, I want to meet her,” she enthused.
As important as her career was to her, kids were even more important. Especially ones that struggle in school either academically or socially. That show might not be what she wanted for her career, but she would forever be grateful for the opportunity that it had given her to be a positive influence on young people.
Ruby nodded. “I thought so. I’ll bring them here.”
Shayne stood waiting and felt the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand up, and she knew that she was being watched. As inconspicuously as possible, she glanced to her right. Evan and Jake’s attention were both directed toward Kyle. Evan wasn’t looking at her, but just like on the stage, she knew somehow he was.
It was the strangest thing.
“Shayne, this is Carly Rhodes and her daughter Camilla.” Ruby chirped. “Carly, Camilla, this is Shayne Fox, but you may know her as Mindy Reader.”
Shayne hadn’t consciously had any expectations of Camilla, but she must’ve had some subconsciously because the girl that she saw in front of her was not what she’d anticipated meeting.
The girl in front of her had to be close to eight but appeared much younger. She was a tiny pixie of a thing, with long, dark hair and glasses rimmed with neon purple that took up most of her face. Anger roared inside of Shayne at the thought that anyone would be mean or mistreat this tiny human being.
Bending down, so that she was crouching, she beamed at the young girl whose big, blue eyes were wide as saucers.
“Hi, Camilla. I love your shirt and shoes.”
The girl, who looked genuinely shell-shocked, looked down at her lavender shirt and plum-colored tennis shoes.
“Purple is my favorite color. What’s yours?”
“P-pa-purple,” she stammered, and her eyes shot to her mom.
It was clear that she was embarrassed that she’d stuttered in front of Shayne.
Nope. Not today. Not on my watch.
“Can I tell you a secret?” Shayne whispered, and Camilla nodded while she looked down at the ground.
“When I was in school I didn’t know how to read.”
“Y-y-ya-you d-d-d-didn’t?”
“No. I thought I was stupid because when other people looked at words, they could understand what they said, but when I looked at them, they were all messed up in my head, and I couldn’t make sense of them. I was so embarrassed that I stopped trying to read. Then, when I got older, I found out that I had dyslexia. I still don’t see what other people see when they look at words, but now I try. That was part of the reason why I loved playing Mindy Reader. People thought she was weird, but that didn’t stop her from trying. She was special, and she wasn’t embarrassed about being special like I was.”
Shayne could see the wheels turning behind Camilla’s eyes deciding if she was buying what Shayne was telling her. This little girl was one smart cookie.
“Mindy helped people by solving crimes, and I heard that you help people by being their friend. I heard that you started a special program at lunch so no one would feel lonely. Is that right?”
Camilla dipped her chin in a nod and Shayne could see that she was chipping away at her skepticism. This girl had obviously been through a lot and it tugged at Shayne’s heart. She wanted to do more for her.
“Well, I think that’s amazing, and I would love it if maybe I could come to your school and eat lunch with you and your friends. Would that be okay?”
Camilla nodded so hard that Shayne was afraid that she would get whiplash. Ruby was already getting the information from Carly.
“Thank you so much for being such an amazing person. I wish that I would’ve been half as incredible as you at your age. How old are you?”
“Eight,” she stated.
Shayne could see that she was happy she hadn’t stammered over it.
“How about I take your picture?” Ruby offered.
The girl nodded excitedly.
After they’d taken several, Carly ran her fingers through her daughter’s hair and told her, “Okay, Cami, we should probably get back on the road.” Then she shook Shayne’s hand and said earnestly, “Thank you so much.”
“My pleasure,” Shayne responded with equal sincerity as the two started to walk away. “I’ll see you soon.”
They only got a few feet before Camilla turned and ran back toward Shayne. Instinctively, she crouched back down just in time for the girl to throw her arms around Shayne’s neck.
She looked up and saw that Ruby and Carly were tearing up.
“Tha-tha-thank you,” Camilla whispered against her shoulder.
“You are welcome!” Shayne said brightly, even though she was seconds away from waterworks herself.
After a few precious moments, Camilla stepped away, a smile firmly in place as she left with her mom, waving the entire time.
She had just disappeared around the corner when the mayor rounded it. He was quite a character. From what she’d learned in her research, he’d grown up here and had never lived on a ranch or in the south, but his wardrobe was full-blown cowboy, and she loved it.
“Well hello there, young ladies.”
“Hello, Mayor Walker,” she and Ruby chorused.
“Oh please, call me Henry.” Recognition lighted his face when he saw Jake, Kyle, and Evan. “Just the man I was looking for, I thought you snuck out the side door.” He walked up to Evan and slapped him on the shoulder. “So, I hear that you’re the inspiration for Mr. Reed’s character and are going to be working with him.”
All eyes turned to Evan, including hers and Ruby’s. And when they did, she could not have been more surprised that the object of their undivided attention was looking directly at her. The same intensity that she’d seen the first time they’d locked eyes from across the auditorium flowed between them now, but this time it was more potent.
“Yep.” It was one word, but it shifted the energy in the small space.
When he finally spoke, she could feel the collective exhale from herself, the mayor, and Kyle. She knew why Kyle would feel relieved. He’d decided that his character was Evan Bishop. And the mayor had spoken to her about how much he’d always loved movies and was over the moon that one was filming in the town that he loved so much.
But she shouldn’t feel relieved. If anything, she should feel the opposite. She needed to focus and keep all distractions at bay. And she had a sinking feeling that Evan Bishop was going to be a distraction the size of the Grand Canyon… So why was she smiling?