Page 1 of The One Who Changed Everything

CHAPTER 1

Samantha

The piercing wail of the fire alarm sliced through the hush of the Minden Public Library, and I jumped out of my chair. Heart thudding with unwelcome memories of the past, I kept my voice even, masking my concern with a steady calm as I directed the few patrons here on a weekday morning toward the exits. As chaos threatened to bubble up inside me, I caught sight of Daniel, my weekday volunteer, sheepishly waving away smoke from the staff break room.

A sigh of relief accompanied my automatic eye roll.

"Daniel, what did you do this time?” I chided lightly, hoping humor would keep the panic at bay for everyone present.

"Sorry, Ms. Brown. I guess multitasking isn't my strong suit," he replied, his face flushed with embarrassment. He was young, barely out of high school, but a sweet kid. Clueless, but sweet.

"Let's focus on getting everyone out safely. We'll work on your cooking skills later," I said with a gentle smile despite the tightness in my chest.

Though it seemed there was no real danger, I made the rounds, scanning for any stragglers, my sensible shoes silent on the well-worn carpet. The acrid smell of burnt plastic clawed at my nostrils, covering the usual scent of aged paper and polishedwood that comforted me on quieter days. I couldn’t help but think of the nightclub fire—a night that altered my entire life—and those thoughts added speed to my steps. As though I could outrun the memories.

"Anyone here?" I called out, peeking between the stacks, ensuring no one was left behind. I was pretty sure no one was upstairs in the reference section or community rooms, but I did a quick check just to be sure.

Once outside, I let the fresh air fill my lungs, a welcome change from the smoky tendrils that had chased us from the library. My eyes, stinging slightly from the irritation, swept over the small cluster of folks huddled on the sidewalk, their faces etched with concern and curiosity. A few elderly gentlemen, a mom with two young kids, and a middle-aged woman still clutching the romance novel she’d been about to check out stood like misplaced characters, plucked from different stories and genres, all sharing this unexpected plot twist.

The wail of sirens crescendoed then stopped as a gleaming red fire truck rolled to a halt in front of us. My heart, which had been thrumming steadily from the adrenaline of the evacuation, skipped a beat—not because of the so-called emergency, but at the sight of the man in the passenger seat of the truck.

Could this morning get any worse?

I hadn't seen that face since the Spring Sparks Auction, and I’d done everything in my power to make sure he hadn’t seen me then. I’d harbored a secret hope—a foolish one—that I might somehow continue to avoid him. The man didn’t belong here anyway. But in a town the size of Minden, avoidance was never truly an option.

As for before the Spring Sparks Auction? It had been fourteen years since I laid eyes on his cool green eyes and dimpled chin. And I’d hoped it would be even longer.

I slid behind Daniel’s bulky frame, ducking my head to stay out of sight. But I couldn’t help stealing a peek. I was just a girl, after all. And the most gorgeous man I’d ever met was here.

Evan Mercer stepped out of the firetruck, his tall frame clad in turnout gear that marked him unmistakable against the backdrop of the fire truck's vibrant hue. He moved with an assuredness that spoke volumes of his experience, assessing the situation with the precision of someone born to handle crises, despite the fact I knew he’d been born with a silver spoon and no doubt a nanny or five to care for his every need.

His focus was absolute, and his eyes moved toward our small group. For a suspended moment, time seemed to slow—just as it did when we were younger, before life quickly taught me the cost of our recklessness. His eyes held a depth I didn’t remember, swirling with emotion that didn’t match the practicality of his movements as his gaze slid past me, still seeking their target. A breath shuddered out of me in relief.

Maybe I was being paranoid. What were the odds he even remembered me? That week in Florida had involved more than a few drinks and a severe lack of sleep.

I watched, still half hiding behind the shifting group of evacuees, as he barked orders to his team, clearly outlining the steps they would take next. He glanced around, his eyes landing on the small group of bystanders gathered on the sidewalk. “Who’s in charge here?”

My heart plummeted into my stomach. Maybe lower. Yeah, it was all the way to my toes. I was going to have to grab a spatula to peel it off the sidewalk from the way it had crashed at the realization that I couldn’t hide any more. Mr. Henley was off today, which meant I was the most senior library employee.

I swallowed and stepped forward, relinquishing the cover my volunteer had been unknowingly providing. “That would be me.”

His eyes widened. “Sam?”

So much for not remembering me. Had he really not known I lived here? The shock in his voice was genuine, I could tell that much. I couldn’t dwell on it though. His hand reached up, as though he were going to touch me.

I stepped back, putting space between us that I desperately needed. “I walked through the whole building,” I said, keeping my voice calm and professional. Surely, he couldn’t hear the way my throat was tightening. “Everyone is out. I’m pretty sure it is just a microwave ramen tragedy, courtesy of a volunteer.” I could barely hear my own words over the clamor of my racing heart. My jaw set firm even as my emotions threatened to spill over like ink on pristine pages.

Evan’s hand stilled on its way toward me and his brow furrowed. He cleared his throat, his eyes, full of questions, tracing my features. “We’ll do a sweep of the space and give you the all clear.”

Anger swelled within me, rising like the tide against the levees of my self-control. Betrayal, sharp and bitter, clawed its way up my throat. What right did he have to have questions? He was the one who never called. The one who’d disappeared after our week together and our one-night indiscretion. The night that resulted in a daughter he’d never met.

Though the storm of emotions threatened to drown me, I kept my expression carefully unreadable. I wouldn’t let him shake me.

“Thank you.”

His frown deepened. “Sam?”

I steeled myself internally, clenching my fists tight enough to feel my nails bite into the flesh of my palms. This was a test of everything I’d built, every wall I’d erected around my heart fourteen years ago. Today, I wouldn't let them crumble—not in front of Evan Mercer, not in front of anyone.

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