Page 26 of Silver Fox Firefighters Next Door

I gasped at my reflection and drew toward the mirror so I could see everything closer. They’d left their mark, that was for sure. I’d never let my ex leave marks on me but as it was happening with the guys, I hadn’t thought twice about it. I just knew everything they did felt amazing and that I wanted more. Even as I stood there, staring at the evidence of what we’d done, I grew wet with desire.

Gripping the sink, I shook my head at myself and blew out a shaky breath. I couldn’t be addicted to sex with them that quickly. I needed to play it cool.

I wanted to listen to music while I showered and check to see if I had a message or call from Grandpa before I did, so I grabbed my phone from my room. I also grabbed clothes, picking something I thought would be cute. I laughed at myself and rolled my eyes. I couldn’t even pretend like I wasn’t dressing to make the guys look twice.

I turned on the hot water and checked my phone as I undressed. No missed calls or messages from Grandpa. There was a single message, though, and as I opened and read it, I felt my stomach sink and my body erupt in anxious tingles. Of all the days to get a message from my ex, he’d somehow managed to send it on the worst one.

I hadn’t heard from Mark in months. The last time I’d reached out to him, embarrassingly a month after his wedding, he’d ignored me. Yet, there he was, sending me a text the morning after I’d let myself move on.

I found the mug we bought at that apple orchard in New Hampshire. I know I should get rid of it, but I can’t. The memories are too good.

Shame slammed into me, right along with the memories he meant. After picking too many apples and having an amazing day, Mark and I had gotten lost on the way back to the city and spent the night in his backseat. We’d eaten apples and had sex until the sun came up. It was the night he’d first told me he loved me.

I tossed the phone down on the counter and stepped into the stream of scalding hot water. I didn’t want to think about that night with Mark. I didn’t want to think about him at all. Especially after I’d finally slept with someone new.

Like a tidal wave, the heartache I’d felt every day over the previous year came rushing back. I’d been madly in love with Mark before I moved back to Harmony Valley. I’d wanted forever with him. The breakup hadn’t felt like a breakup at first, but a ‘see you later’. I had almost expected him to fly out to be with me after the first week apart. Instead, he’d met and fallen in love with a woman he didn’t need years to know he wanted to be with forever. He’d proposed to another woman while I was still thinking we were going to get back together.

I’d say I was devastated but that would’ve been an understatement. My entire future went up in flames because Mark fell in love with a woman named Stacey he met at a coffee shop. She’d bumped into him and it was love at first sight. I hadn’t been able to look at another man so I couldn’t understand how he could see another woman. In my head, I was still with Mark. I had years of really amazing memories and then…it was just over.

So much of me had believed I was done after that. I didn’t want to date. I didn’t even want to think about marriage, or love, or babies. Which made working hard for a while. That woman who’d moved back to Harmony Valley with hearts in her eyes about the future ceased to exist. The woman who remained in her place was so different she’d gone to bed with three men the night before with no silly ideas of the future.

It was hard not to feel ashamed of myself when I was forced to remember the night after the apple orchard. The woman I’d been that night never would’ve touched the guys next door. She was so deeply in love with one man that she’d tied herself to him for life, even if he’d never proposed.

That text would’ve hurt at any time but getting it while I was still covered in the come of three different men left me hating myself. I scrubbed myself clean and didn’t get out of the shower until the water ran cold and my skin was raw.

I dressed and stared at my reflection with a sour feeling working its way up my throat. The marks covering my neck and shoulders were reminders of how far I’d gone to be someone else, someone who wasn’t still crushed over Mark. I covered them as best as I could and then hurried out to my car. I needed to get away. I couldn’t face the guys when I was feeling the way I was. I couldn’t face what I’d done.

I drove into town and parked outside The One and Only. I could already smell the pies and my stomach growled but I couldn’t force myself out of the car. I thought of Nash’s horrible cooking and the ache in my stomach just grew bigger. I didn’t understand it. As much shame as I felt over the night before, it didn’t tarnish the way I thought of the guys. It was just me I didn’t like.

I rested my head against the seat and sighed. Looking out across the street, I frowned and sat up straight as I spotted a familiar face. Convinced I was imagining things, I got out of my car and jogged closer. “Vera?”

CHAPTER 21

Eve

The woman spun around and her eyes went wide. “Oh, my god! Eve? What the hell? What are you doing here?!”

I grunted as Vera grabbed me and hugged me tight. She was strong and excited to see me, so excited I had to take a breath when she let me go. “God, you’re strong. I think you just squeezed half a cup size from my chest and I didn’t have that to lose.”

She laughed like she didn’t have a care in the world, with her head thrown back and the musical sound of her laugh loud enough to draw stares our way. Her soft southern accent as she spoke drew eyes, too. “You’re just as funny in person as you are over the phone. I can’t believe you’re standing here in front of me. How are you standing here in front of me?”

“I live here. Well, I moved back here a year ago. What are you doing here?”

“My brothers live here. I snuck into town last night and I’m going to hide out for a few days. I don’t want them to know I’m here yet. The moment they do, they’ll be up my ass trying to boss me around.” She linked her arm through mine. “This is crazy. The odds of this happening have to be wild.”

“Who are your brothers?”

“Promise you won’t tell anyone I’m here?” She grinned and grabbed my hand and held it. “Of course, you won’t. You know me as Vera Springs, or V.H. Springs. The H is for my real last name, Hellstone. My brothers—”

“Holy shit. Your brothers took over the Myers Ranch.” My eyes widened and I shook my head. “One of my best friends used to own that ranch. She still works with them. This is too weird.”

“Your best friend is Billie?!” She realized she was shouting and winced. “This is so weird. I can’t believe you’re here.”

“I can’t believe you’re here. My mind is struggling to catch up. I was just editing your latest book a couple of days ago. Which was great, by the way. As usual.” I motioned towards the park and led us in that direction. “Do you have time to hang out for a minute? I need to give my brain time to process this.”

She almost skipped to the bench I’d pointed to. “I devoured your edits the night you sent them. I loved your idea about the guys being more pissy about the date thing. I’m going to tweak it a bit and send it back to see what you think. And of course I have time to hang out. I’m hiding from my brothers and there’s only so much to do in this town. Although, the number of men floating around is…fun.”

“Why are you hiding from them again?”

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