Page 197 of Forbidden Heroes

Miles’ dad stops in for a pastry three times a week and is never spotted without a book in his hand. In my experience, he loves his family but tends to nod and agree with just about anything his wife says if it means he can get back to his book faster.

Please don’t let her say she hears wedding bells. I hold the cringe off my face but just barely.

“I heard about the fire.”

I nod.

A hand comes out to pat mine. “Happened to me too. Don’t feel bad.”

I nod again.

“Want to know a secret?”

Again...nod.

“Oh, since I have you, do you have a social media plan?”

“A...” Scratchy at first, I try again. “A what, ma’am?” My heart floats back into my chest from where it fell on the floor. “Social media? For the bakery?” She throws me a look that says she wonders if I hit my head this morning.

“Yes! Even in a town this size, you have to have a social presence.”

I groan inwardly. More coffee. I need more coffee. She’s right, but stages and I’m not at that one just yet in my business plan. “It’s only me and Casey right now. Learning social media marketing… that will be a huge learning curve I don’t have time for.”

“Good thing for you, I know all you need to know. Let me handle it.” The other woman has her back to me, packing up the muffins in the containers I found and set out on the counter. Once a baker, always a baker.

She turns with a look of determination on her face. “Don’t do what I did. Go digital as soon as you can. You’ll love how fun it will be! I have so many ideas!”

Whoa. What? I throw a hand up, my blanket slipping. I grab and tuck, not wanting to make this conversation any more awkward than it already is. “Can I take a raincheck on that, ma’am?”

“No ma’am here, sweetie. Call me Mandy. You bought my bakery. That practically makes us family.”

Mrs. Malone winks and I’m beginning to think that in the Malone family it’s equivalent to case closed, moving on.

“And yes. I can see you’re rather occupied.” She eyes the blanket and pulls out that all-knowing smile only parents can manage. My mother included.

“I have to run. Muffins are fabulous, by the way. New recipe?”

“Yes, I was trying it out before adding it to the catalog of treats. The guys down at the station will be my guinea pigs later today.”

“Good plan. Your secret is safe with me.”

Mandy gathers her purse and heads for the door. “Here’s my secret for you. Miles has never brought another woman to his house. You’re the first, chick.” She winks a perfectly cat-winged eye at me, and I feel a rush of emotions. First, the seventh level of hell kind of embarrassment followed by envy. My winged eyeliner will never be that on point.

Mrs. Malone, muffin in hand, points it at me, “Interesting, huh.”

“You don’t say.”

Six

Miles

Ifind the fire station in a rumbling of energy. Normal for a Monday morning. The men are running their rounds, organizing oxygen tanks, polishing the rig and doing the rounds that keep our house in top shape. Later on, we’ll run drills, check the equipment again. Duke does a pretty damn good job at checking off things on a list, and this morning he’s hot on my heels ready to deliver this morning’s report.

I step into my office and look at the pile of paperwork that awaits me from the accident at Bela’s yesterday. It’s going to be a very long ass day. Maybe I’ll leave the paperwork for later, take a few hours longer than needed, drag it out and not go home until I know she’s asleep.

I fall into my chair and kick out my feet, hooking them. Coffee and too much muffin churn in my gut. But Duke doesn’t seem to notice.

He barrels in, fresh mug in his hand and a clipboard in the other.

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