Page 25 of Fall at Once

“Hey, it’s okay.” My heart broke at the concern for his daughter shining in his eyes. “Divorce is hard on a kid. I know all about that firsthand.”

“I’m so sorry. Thank you for being there for her—today, especially. It meant a lot.”

“You’re welcome. However, spending time with your sweet girl is no trouble at all. She’s good company.”

He cleared his throat, and I watched, entranced, as his eyes grew lazy on mine, crinkling at the corners, while his lips tipped up in an intimate smile. “I’m pretty good with a coffee maker. Can I make you a cup before I head to the station?”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I protested. “I can get another one when I get to the bakery.”

“We both know Gigi’s coffee is crap, even she won’t drink it. I insist. Plus, you need something to eat before you go down. I’ll fix some toast too. Do not move a muscle.”

“Okay. I can’t believe I got lightheaded like that. I’m so sorry.”

“It happens to the best of us, sweetheart. No apologies.” He reached out and ran his finger gently down the bridge of my nose where, for all my life, I’d mistakenly thought I had been cursed with freckles. “So cute. Stay put, you hear? Let me take care of you so I don’t have to worry about you passing out later.”

I nodded. “Okay, yes. Thank you, Cole. It’s good to know I was rightabout you.”

He turned back to face me. “Oh yeah? How?”

“You’re a hero. Are you sure you aren’t a Disney Prince? Wait, you’re already a firefighter; that’s even better than a prince, except for Prince Eric because he has a dog.”

His cheeks turned pink above his stubble. I watched, entranced, as he drew his lower lip between his teeth and looked away. “Are you sure you didn’t hit your head on something while you were up that tree?” he murmured.

“It’s funny how we never see ourselves as others do. Gigi says that all the time. Kenny and I owe you big time.”

“You don’t owe me a thing. But I could say the same about you. I bet she tells you things you don’t see about yourself, too, doesn’t she?”

My eyes drifted toward the window. “Maybe she does.”

“Maybe you should listen to her. You’re wonderful, Madi. Believe it.”

My lips parted as I inhaled a sharp breath of disbelief.

I had no words to answer him. But he was gracious enough to head into the kitchen and let me off the emotional hook. Or maybe we both needed to be let off the hook.

“How do you take your coffee?” he called out.

“I have vanilla creamer in the fridge. Would you like some too? You could join me.”

“I wish I could. But I have a meeting I can’t miss in about half an hour.” I could hear him rummaging around in the fridge. “Found it. Hey, I drink this one too. Anyway, planning for the station’s fall fundraiser starts today.”

“Oh! How fun. That’s what I do back home. I’m an event planner.”

He popped his head through the kitchen entrance. “I know. I heard you’re pretty good at it, too.”

“Gigi talks about me a lot, doesn’t she?”

“Yup.”

“Is there anything you don’t already know about me?” I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his face as he answered.

“I only know the facts. She doesn’t gossip about you. She’s proud of you. I know you just turned thirty. You’re an event planner. You love books and cats. You bake amazing brownies—which my kids and I devoured in one day, by the way. And today, I discovered you are fearless, have a face full of adorable freckles, and can climb a tree if the need arises.” He punctuated that sweet statement with a wink, and I’m pretty sure I almost died.

“Oh. My.” The words left my mouth with all my breath because he had taken it away.

“Be right back.”

“Okay.”

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