Page 5 of That One Heartbreak

Ethan sighed, looking like he was eighty, not eight. “I’ll look after her. And James is over there.”

Shana caught Kate’s eye. She knew how protective Kate felt, especially toward her youngest.

“Why don’t you message James?” Shana murmured. “See if he’ll keep an eye on her, too?”

Her chest felt tight, because she hated this. Hated her kids growing up. And yes, Addy was still young, but James wasn’t.

Paul was supposed to be here to help her navigate through this, dammit.

Within a minute James had walked back into the diner to grab his brother and sister, nodding patiently as Kate instructed him to keep an eye on them at all times, and to come get her if there were any problems at all.

“I’m a big girl, Mommy,” Addy said, shaking her head. “You gotta learn to let me go.”

That set Shana laughing, which was probably what they needed at that point. Kate’s own lips started to curl, right until the diner door open and Marley walked in, his long strides taking him straight to the counter.

Twice in one day. Kate took a deep breath and lifted her coffee cup, praying for him to leave quickly.

But then he turned and saw her staring. Oh God. She tried to relax her expression but he held her gaze a moment too long.

There was no smile on his face. She let out a low breath and nodded at him, thankful that Shana was too busy watching Addy and Ethan cross the road to the square with James to notice that the town’s hottest firefighter had just walked in.

No, no. Not hot at all. Just a friend of Paul’s. Or ex friend, whatever you wanted to call it.

Her chest felt weird, like she’d just run a hundred yard dash.

“What can I get you?” the server asked him at the counter. She heard his low voice as he put in an order for a coffee and pastry to go. Watched as he leaned on the counter, his thumb running along the length of his jawline. Felt herself flush like a teenager.

God damn it, what was wrong with her? She blamed her mom and all this talk of needing a man.

She didn’t need anybody. She was fine as she was.

“So come on,” she said to Shana. “Tell me about your date last night.” Because now that the kids were out of earshot, her friend could give her all the gory details.

Shana’s dating life was always diverting. And she sure could use some of that.

Chapter

Two

Slidinghis feet into his running shoes, Marley Hartson quickly laced them up and checked his watch. Almost nine in the evening. He’d spent most of the day at the fire station. Firstly, helping to run the training and Junior Firefighter drills. And then he’d headed over to his parents’ place to meet up with his family.

His brothers had been there. Including his twin, Pres, who he worked with. Along with Pres’ wife and kids, ten-year-old Delilah and his twin sons, who at two-and-a-half years old were out of control in the cutest way.

And though it was fun, he still couldn’t get Kate Connelly out of his mind.

The way she’d looked at him as he ran past. The way her stare had felt like a punch in the gut.

The way he always felt like he’d let her down. Let her kids down.

Broken the promise he’d made to Paul as his friend laid dead on a gurney.

He let out a long breath. He’d go on his run and then he’d try to get some sleep. Because working in construction alwaysmeant an early start. And juggling his day job with volunteering as a firefighter meant he was always on the go.

He was lucky because his brother owned the construction company and Pres had always been supportive of Marley’s volunteer career.

The cool evening air wrapped around him like a blanket as he stepped out of the front door of his small house. He’d bought it years ago, close to the fire station because that’s what volunteers did. They lived close so they could get there fast when there was a call out, because time could mean life or death.

And it was weird, because as soon as he started to move, he felt better. He always did. Standing still meant way too many thoughts rushing through his mind. According to his mom, he’d always been overactive, even as a kid. But as an adult – and especially in the last year – his need to always be doingsomethinghad become more of a compulsion.

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