Page 29 of Saved By the Firefighter

He glances up at me for a moment and nods.

Suddenly, with his gaze now on me, I’m feeling a tad uncomfortable. Or maybe it’s this mix of emotions inside me. Whatever it is, I point at the pasture, catching sight of a chestnut horse ambling towards us. "You ever think the horses get lonely out here?"

"Sometimes," Jake says, following my gaze. Then he stands, dropping his hammer and pulling some sugar cubes from his pocket. "You can feed Caramel."

"Is that really its name or are you trying to bribe me with sweets?" Despite my sass, nerves tingle down my spine as the horse gets closer. Though I grew up in Cedar Ridge, I didn’t grow up around horses like Jake. They honestly make me a little nervous—they are huge.

“That’s her name.” Jake flashes me a rare half-smile. "And it's not a bribe if you want to do it."

"Fine, but if I lose a finger, I'm blaming you." I extend a shaky hand as Jake places the sugar cubes in my palm.

"Like this," he guides me, his hand covering mine. A shock of awareness zips through me at the contact, my pulse thrumming in my ears louder than the distant whinnying.

Jake moves my hand closer to the beast until Caramel dips her head over the fence and licks up the offering, slobber included.

"Ugh, gross." I grimace, looking at my sticky hand.

"Part of the charm," Jake chuckles, wiping my hand on his jeans. There's an ease between us that feels dangerously comfortable. "Good thing I didn't invite you to go riding. You'd have panicked and fallen off."

"Maybe," I admit, wiping more slobber onto Jake’s thigh, "but sometimes you've got to face the scary stuff. That's when the magic happens."

"Magic, huh?" He's so close now, I can see flecks of gold in his brown eyes. My heart races, urging me to close the gap, to taste his lips that I’m already missing after two days.

"Yes," I whisper, breathless with the closeness.

"Here." He gently takes my hand again, guiding it to stroke Caramel's nose. "Not so scary."

"Soft," I marvel, and our eyes meet again as we share a smile. For a split second, Jake's walls seem to crumble, and I catch a glimpse of the warmth he keeps hidden away.

But before the moment can stretch any further, Caramel snorts, breaking the spell, and I step back, laughing nervously at my own boldness. “Well, maybe that’s enough of facing my fears for one day.”

"Let me show you something," Jake says, his voice a low rumble that sends a shiver down my spine.

I follow him as he strides toward the stables, the setting sun still casting long shadows across the dirt.

We navigate through the dusky light of the barn, and Jake stops at a particular stall, nodding for me to peer inside. My breath catches at the sight—a brown mother horse lying close to her foal, their bodies a tangle of warmth and serenity.

I press a palm to my heart. "Oh, Jake...they're beautiful."

"Her name's Bella," he says softly, watching my face. "Gave birth just last week. I wasn’t here to see it, but mother and baby are doing just fine."

"New life," I murmur, my heart swelling at the scene. A pang of longing flutters in my chest, surprising me with its intensity. "Family is something precious. I would love to have my own baby someday…" The words slip out before I can stop them.

"Family's everything," Jake responds, his proximity making my skin tingle. He's closer now than I realized, his voice laced with an emotion that's raw and real. "Charlotte's the best thing that ever happened to me."

I bite my lip, fighting the urge to ask about Sarah. “She’s a wonderful little girl. You have so much to be proud of.” I glance up at him through my lashes, not really sure what I’ll see. But there’s a softness in his gaze, pulling words from my throat I probably shouldn’t say. But they’re too eager to get out. “I’ve really liked getting to know more of you these past few days.”

"Ellie," he starts, his voice deep and gentle, "thank you for taking care of Charlotte. It’s the happiest I’ve seen her at home in a long time. But I can’t say it has been easy having you here. You’re too tempting."

I look into those brown eyes, rich with layers I'm only beginning to understand. His gaze holds mine, and in the quiet, something shifts—like a current passing through the air between us. “Who says you have to resist?” I say, barely above a whisper, because screw being “professional” around each other and trying to deny all of this chemistry.

And then he leans down and kisses me. It's tender, more tender than any kiss before, tasting of vulnerability and hope. I kiss him back, my hands finding his chest and pressing against his warmth. My body responds with a yearning that's both terrifying and exhilarating.

In this moment, my feelings for Jake swell beyond the confines of my heart, growing into something wild and untamed. I'm lost in the softness of his mouth, the firmness of his embrace. And I also realize I’m falling for this firefighter, completely and hopelessly.

I’m in trouble.

A cough pierces our bubble. "Uh, Jake? You want the horses brought in for the night?" a ranch hand calls from the stable entrance.

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