Page 10 of Deck the Fire Halls

“You know,” I said, “I’ve always tried to keep my dietary habits secular.”

He tilted his head, confused.

I nudged the empty soup bowl. “But this was very near a religious experience.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “I wondered where you were going with that.”

“It was delicious. I’ve been told I simply had to come to the diner, and now I can see why.”

“Ah. I thought you were new to town.”

“Oh?”

“Well, new face and all, but also no gloves.” He smiled at the huge windows overlooking the street. “It’s looking pretty cold out there.”

“Ah, yes. I do have gloves, I just left them at home,” I said. “I’ll remember to bring them to work tomorrow.”

“Work?”

“Oh.” I let out a bit of a sigh. “Yes, I’ve just started at the health clinic in town.”

Recognition flashed in his eyes. “Ah, right, yes. Old Doc Humphries said he was semi-retiring and a new guy was taking over. That’s you?”

I gave a nod. “That’s me. Rob O’Reilly.”

His grin widened. “Jayden Turner.”

“Nice to meet you, Jayden.”

“Likewise. So, how are you finding Hartbridge?”

“Oh, it’s fine... so far. I bought a house on Elmwood Lane.”

“Perfect,” he said. “It’s a great little town. People here are the best you could meet. Where did you come from? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“I don’t mind. I’m from Seattle.”

He grinned again. “So, just a small change in pace, huh?”

“That’s why I’m here,” I said, without really meaning how it sounded. I mean, I meant it. I just didn’t mean to say it to a random stranger. “Well, I better get back. Katie has me on a tight schedule.”

Jayden laughed again. “I bet she does. Here, give her one of these,” he said, ducking back behind the service counter and taking a chocolate walnut brownie out of the cabinet. “These are her favorite. She’ll think you’re the bee’s knees.”

Bee’s knees.That made me smile.

“Then I should most definitely take herone.”

The door chimed behind me and two guys came in, but not wanting to keep Jayden from his work, I paid quickly and took the white paper bag with Katie’s afternoon snack in it. “Thank you so much.”

“Doctor O’Reilly,” one of the men behind me said.

I turned to find none other than Soren, with his breathtaking smile and those damn firefighter coveralls, which he had done up now. Sadly, no tight gray T-shirt on display.

“I’m beginning to think you’re following me,” I said.

His grin widened. “Oh, I absolutely am. Watched you walk in here and told the boss I was going to lunch.”

My heart stuttered a little and I hated that he and his damned smile had this effect on me. I’d known him for all of two minutes. For some stupid reason, I couldn’t seem to take my eyes from his.

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