Page 4 of Spring Break with a Fire Chief

She holds me at arm's length. “You look fucking amazing!”

I laugh at her choice of words. “Well, you look fucking amazing, too!” I pull her in tight to me once more for another hug. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“Me, too. Come on, let’s go sit on the back deck and catch up.”

Two hours later I’ve heard all about Candee’s son Maddox and his fiancé, Marigold. All about her daughter Reece taking the teaching job here and falling for her high school boyfriend, Isaac. I even know about Marigold’s cousin who’s now dating the new probationary fireman, Jace.

In turn, I’ve filled her in on my last few years of travel, being everywhere from New Mexico to Maine and even having spent time in smaller countries I hadn’t even known existed. I remember being placed in a large family compound where they all worked together to make their town run. It was a found family, it was friends. It was husbands and wives and kids and, though it was nothing like Love Beach, it was everything that Love Beach is.

“I found myself missing everything about our small town on the water, but being able to help those people at a moment's notice has been everything to me, Candee.”

I saw my days filled with the hospital. I saw my nights filled with Ryan and I saw weekends and parties and weddings, and babies filled with the family that had taken me in as their own.

And I knew at that point Love Beach is where my heart lies.

She nods while sipping from her iced tea. “I understand that. I loved being at the hospital and six out of seven days a week, I miss it. But I’m at a point in my life now where I would have missed out on the big happenings with my own kids had I been working the night shift the day Maddox proposed. Or the day Isaac and Reece moved in together.”

She grows quiet and I know why. “You think I’ve missed out on my best years?”

“No, honey, I don’t think that at all. But I do think your best years are happening right now though and in five years, or maybe ten you could be saying something different.”

“Is that why you requested me back here?” I eye her with suspicion.

Her lips twist. “Not completely.”

“Candee!”

“Maddie! Listen, we need a nurse. Naomi is going out on maternity leave and I couldn’t add any more rotations to everyone’s already packed shifts. She also expressed interest in changing roles. So while I figure that out, you being here will help the entire floor.”

I nod waiting for her to go on.

“But I won’t say I’m not secretly hoping you run into Ryan again now that you’re here.” She puts up a hand when I begin to speak. “And I won’t say I'm not secretly hoping you decide to stay a bit longer this time. Like forever. With me. And possibly him.”

I blow out a breath. “Staying here would be a dream. Of all the places I've been, Love Beach is always top of my list. I’m meeting with Saige tomorrow—thank you for putting me in touch with her by the way. I’m sure those little cabins are going quickly with the summer season approaching.”

“She’s the best realtor Love Beach has. She’ll get you everything you need.”

My mind races and I speak the words I’m afraid to say out loud. “But I don’t think Ryan wants to see me again. We didn’t exactly leave it as the best of friends.”

We didn’t leave as friends at all. And after the intense six months we spent together, and my abrupt departure on the night of one of the biggest events here at Love Beach, I know earning that trust back will be very hard, if doable at all.

“There’s only one way to find out.”

“What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything. But I think you should. Andyouthink you should, too.”

She’s right. I need to go see him.

Chapter 3

Ryan

“Come on, Chief, it’s hot as balls out today. Why are you making us do this?”

“And a fire isn’t hot? You won’t be wearing twice the gear you have on now and have to do triple the work if a fire breaks out?”

Maddox whines. “We will, but that's different.”

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