Page 3 of Playing with Fire

Willa steered around a gentle curve, noting that the evergreens that lined the main road created a thick wall and obstructed her view of the town. “Not sure how much fun I’ll be,” she scoffed. “Until I find a job, most of my time will be spent hitting the streets, not having pajama parties and painting my nails like in those movies you love so much.” Lottie loved romances from the 1940s and 50s, which was fitting since she looked like a pinup from that same era, but Willa needed to be practical and get a source of income before she started relaxing with her friend.

Lottie grumbled on the other end. “Don’t knock a pajama party until we’ve had one. Though I maintain that you don’t need a job to stay with me, I happen to have made some headway on that front for you. If you’re interested, that is.”

Smiling, Willa turned off the interstate and followed the bright green sign with a cartoon apple that was pointing her toward the center of Applewood. As it flashed past the corner of her eye, Willa felt like she hadn’t just been transported to another town, but maybe even another time where people were kinder to one another. It might have been one of the more whimsical notions she’d had of late, but Willa could use a little of that small-town magic after the last few years of turmoil.

“I’m not interested in mooching off of you, so yes, I am still interested.” Even though Lottie may be able to cover her rent for her and would never use that fact against her, Willa didn’t want to feel like anyone held anything over her ever again. “Is it legit, or did you get this from your gossip network?” In addition to tending bar at a local brewery, Lottie put together the town newsletter and seemed to have connections with just about everyone in the area.

A strangled garble came through the speaker. “I am offended that you would reduce my contacts to mere gossipmongers. Yes, I did get it from them, but I checked and itis legitimate.” She clucked her tongue disapprovingly. “I’m not sure how much fun it will be to work for Mayor Kemp, but this town is small. Beggars can’t be choosers.”

The last name she mentioned niggled at the back of Willa’s brain until it triggered an epiphany. “Isn’t that the guy you’re always complaining about?”

“Yes,” Lottie replied immediatelyandemphatically. Willa could practically hear the steam coming out of her friend’s ears anytime she mentioned the man, but she could also hear the wistfulness in her tone. Whatever was going on between Lottie and the mayor was definitely a story that needed to be told, but it was also one her friend refused to talk about. “But I seem to be the only person in town he has an actual problem with. He’s friendly to everyone else, though I guess as the mayor, he kind of has to be.” A thoughtful beat passed before Lottie spoke again. “Would you be okay doing admin work again? I know you were taking a break after you-know-who.”

Willa hummed in reply, wondering if maybe it wasn’t the best idea to be someone’s assistant again, but she really enjoyed the work before Jeff had tainted the experience with his toxicity, and she hadn’t done much actual work for him beyond being his gopher.Go for my coffee, Willa. Go get me those copies, Willa.She shuddered slightly at the memory of it. That had been hard, but getting to help someone keep their day organized and being at the hub of activity had always been fun for her, and helping the mayor would allow her to meet so many new people, something she’d missed dearly over the last few years.

“I think that sounds like a great idea, actually,” Willa replied, willing to at least try in that arena again. “Let’s talk more when I get there. I’m just approaching downtown right now.”

“Yay! See you soon,” Lottie squealed.

Willa’s mouth pulled into a wide grin at her friend’s enthusiasm. After she clicked off the call, she switched herphone over to start pumping her hype music through the car speakers. She’d always loved listening to different types of music and singing along as loudly as possible, but she also needed to for her recovery. Hearing lyrics about moving on, getting better day by day, and becoming her own person again had helped Willa immensely. After thinking about Jeff so much over the last part of the drive, she could use a refresher.

Rolling down her windows, Willa took her first breath of fresh air in hours as a gritty bass line blared throughout the car, signaling the beginning of Britney Spears’sStronger.As other instruments and a melodious voice joined it, Willa slapped the wheel rhythmically to the girl power anthem as she took in the sights of Main Street. Small shops stood among tree-lined streets, like the quaint little town Lottie always described it as. People scattered among the sidewalks, stopping to greet one another and probably share a little gossip as well.

Soon enough, Willa got too lost in the music to notice anything else, her voice straining as she belted out lyrics that boasted about being stronger than yesterday and her loneliness no longer killing her as she pulled up to a stoplight. As she waited for it to change back to green, her body joined in on the fun, twisting and moving along with the beat. Her complete lack of coordination and grace were a concern for another time as Willa let her arms flail around and her head bob wildly, stands of golden hair falling over her face like a curtain.

Only when the song ended and she heard clapping did Willa realize that she had an audience. Reluctantly, she brushed aside her now tangled locks and peeked through her open window. Her eyes widened at the sight of an incredibly handsome man giving her a nod of appreciation as he brought his manly hands together in applause. Light brown hair fell in his eyes and a warm expression painted his face as he gazed back at her. He could easily have been mocking Willa, but despite herrather embarrassing display, his smile was genuine.

Still, Willa’s cheeks flushed, the warmth spreading down her neck at the attention, but she had enough bravery left to give a mock bow. The man’s mouth opened as if to speak to her, but a horn honking behind the two of them signaled the light change. It was time to get moving. With a shrug at the attractive stranger and one last wistful glance in his direction, Willa drove off toward her new home as she giggled at herself, idly wondering if she would ever see the man again.

Chapter Three

~Beckett~

The walk from the fire station to Branch and Brew, the cider brewery owned and operated by Beckett’s younger brother Felix, was only about half a mile long, something Beckett had always appreciated. Normally, he would make short work of the distance with his long legs. Today was no different. Even though the walk was brief, it did afford him the opportunity to stretch his muscles after an intense post-shift workout. The last forty-eight hours had been uneventful as far as calls went, so Beckett had decided to burn off his restlessness with an extended lower body workout. The squats, lunges, and deadlifts that would build up his strength also had his legs feeling more like blooming gelatin than their usual hard steel. The sore, wobbly muscles he was currently working with would be worth it in the end. They were nothing an early lunch at Branch and Brew wouldn’t fix.

A full meal wasn’t usually on offer until later in the evening, but Beckett knew that if he showed up hungry, Felix would fix him something to help rebuild the brawny tissue he’d just torn to shreds. With the exception of the eldest, Aiden, a man who was grumpier than a bear woken up mid-hibernation, all of Beckett’s brothers were friendly enough. Felix was by far the most open and welcoming of the bunch. Despite his propensity to nerd out about cider, his baby brother was all easy smiles and patience, something that made his work as a brewery owner that much easier.

Branch and Brew had started as a side project of Felix’s when he was a teen, determined to put his brain and love of apples to good use for the family. After his first batch of cider was a hit at the local famer’s market, their dad had invested a little more capital into Felix’s blossoming business. Soon enough, there was so much demand for his cider that thepurchase of a brick-and-mortar operation downtown became the next logical step. It was not the only bar in Applewood, but it was by far the most popular, especially with tourists who would come to sample fresh cider.

Beckett’s chest puffed up with pride as he considered all the hard work his little brother put into his business venture. Felix knew from a young age exactly what he wanted to do, just like Beckett had, and made it happen. He and his brothers had been fortunate in that regard, being driven and going after what they wanted. They hadn’t all wanted the same things, but being good at whatever they chose to do was something they had in common. Even so, each brother had naturally fallen into a respective role over the years.

Felix had always been the youngest and smartest, experimenting and coming up with his own cider recipes, using them to start a business that brought people together. Nate had always been a leader, determined to make a difference through public service and continuing that journey by becoming Applewood’s youngest mayor at the age of twenty-eight. Travis was the most like their father. The middle child and peacemaker, who loathed drama and people in equal measure, loved the apple orchard more than anything. He had always been the one who wanted to continue caring for the farm to preserve the family legacy.

Aiden, the oldest of the five siblings, was a world-class chef. He left their small town when he was eighteen. Though he returned to Applewood occasionally, he spent most of his time cooking in various Michelin star restaurants around the world. Aiden was as determined as the rest of the brothers, only he had been so singularly focused that it had turned him into a bit of a cantankerous asshole. That didn’t make Beckett love or miss him any less. Like his brothers, Beckett’s role had also become clearly defined. The townspeople and his family referred to himas a hero, but he didn’t really see himself that way. Beckett just liked helping those who needed it. He didn’t require any kind of glory that might come with it, preferring to just keep his head down and get the job done.

A smile pulled at Beckett’s face as he thought about his brothers and how lucky he was to call four of the best men he had ever met family. Their parents were also just about the best damned role models a kid could ever ask for. Nolan and Cora Kemp were probably the most caring and affectionate people you would ever meet, and that kind of influence definitely rubbed off on the boys. Well, some more than others, but even though a few of them might have prickly exteriors on occasion, they hid a warm, gooey center.

Beckett was more of a “wears his heart on his sleeve” kind of guy, not bothering to try and hide his emotions. His parents had always talked at length about openly expressing themselves, not keeping their feelings trapped inside them, and that had really resonated with Beckett. Emotions weren’t something to fear or hide, but something to embrace and speak about as often as needed. It worked out well for Beckett when those feelings were more positive, though even he could admit that was difficult to do when they were less so.

Normally, Beckett was a pretty happy guy, so negative emotions didn’t come around often. Lately though, it had been happening more and more. Despite having a wonderful family and plenty of friends at the station, he grew lonely. His loneliness had started to creep in little by little, winding its dark tendrils around his heart and taking root. While his social life was doing just fine, Beckett’s romantic life was practically on life support. It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to find someone. He even went so far as to make the long drive to Seattle to meet people. Even there, he never felt anything beyond a fleeting attraction and gratitude for a moment of good company.

Beckett hadn’t felt that flutter in his chest, that tingling of awareness all throughout his body like he had since the storm. That night, as bolts of electricity lit up the sky and every fiber of his being, he’d known exactly what his life’s purpose was. He hoped to find love a bit later in his life. Beckett wasn’t so naive as to think it would happen at first sight of someone, but the inklings of it would, and he had never even had that. Unless, of course, he counted the other day as he drove along Main Street.

Watching that woman dancing and singing wildly, with so much fervor and a carefree attitude, had been like watching that lightning storm. Everything around Beckett brightened and his body came alive. Suddenly he could feel every beat of his heart against his ribcage, every hitch of his breath and squeeze of his lungs as he witnessed something so absolutely incredible. The strands of golden hair waving in the breeze and the long lines of the woman’s slender body moving to and fro caught his attention first, but what held it was the look of rapture on her face. She had bright eyes and a wide smile, moving with so much freedom and joy that Beckett couldn’t help himself from bopping his toes and drumming the steering wheel as he watched her.

When the music ended, Beckett clapped automatically. It had been a shame to see her raptured expression turn to one of shock, but Beckett wouldn’t change his actions for the whole world because when she turned to face him, he had gotten a good look at her. Whoever she was, she had been the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The pink tint to her cheeks as embarrassment settled in accented her already stunning good looks. Beckett was about to ask for her name when one honk ruined the rest of his day. The wild woman drove off, and he went to the store to do the shop for the station, cursing the timing of it all.

He smiled and huffed as he recalled the incident. Then he turned the corner and walked up to Branch and Brew. Thewhite brick exterior and large windows shined brightly against the mid-morning sun, nearly blinding him as he reached for the door. When the handle wouldn’t give, he peeked inside, noting the empty wooden tables and chairs. That was to be expected given that technically Felix didn’t open for another few hours, but his brother had always come in early despite that. He scanned the front room. There was no sight of him there either. Nabbing his phone, Beckett started to text him when he looked across the street and saw the man in question strolling his way, juggling an apple crate and large grocery bag in his arms.

---