Page 39 of Single Mom for the Firemen

“So did I!” Callie’s voice chirps up from beside us, and I glance down at her, surprised. She’s not usually the kind of girl who speaks her mind so bluntly, especially around new people.

But I guess these aren’t new people to her, not anymore. She’s gotten to know them in the last few weeks—maybe more than she has any other man who’s been a part of her life till now. The thought of it shocks me. I’ve been so careful to make sure not to overwhelm her with any male presence after her father passed away, but here I am, letting all three of them develop a relationship with her.

“Good to hear, kiddo,” Killian replies, flashing her a grin. “Well, we should get started for the night, huh?”

“Agreed,” Jake replies, and he nods at me, a smile warming his features for a moment and making the corners of his eyes crinkle just slightly. I can still feel, all too clearly, the brush of his hand against mine when we were back at my cabin—the temptation that had coursed through me to forget all the sweetness of the night and get into something a little more dangerous.

But as we wave them off, I know I’ve made the right choice. I don’t want to turn this into something it’s not. Instead, I slip my hand into Callie’s, and we turn to make our way back to the cabin.

“You like the guys, huh?” I ask her, doing my best to keep my voice casual. I don’t want her to read any more into it than she already has. With things going so well, I feel like I’ll cast a jinx on it if I’m not careful.

“I really like them,” she replies, her voice brightening as soon as I ask the question. “We have fun. And they like my table decorations.”

“Well, how could anyone not like those?” I protest, as though the mere thought is a shock. “When they’re so beautiful…”

She grins up at me, that slightly toothy smile that lights up her whole face, and I am overwhelmed by love for her. I work so hard back in the city, sometimes I can let the important things slip through my fingers. It’s such a rush of just staying on top of everything that the details get away from me. But here, seeing her surrounded by the guys, I can’t help but be so damn proud of her. Even though she’s grown up without a father, in the city, with my constantly overwhelmed ass as a mother, she has turned into the sweetest, most curious little girl, who always seems to be searching for more.

“I love you so much, babygirl,” I murmur to her, and she glances up at me with that sweet smile on her face, as though she has no idea why I might suddenly be coming out with that.

“I love you too, Mommy.”

We follow the track the rest of the way home, and I can’t help but notice how still and quiet it is out here. No matter how much time I spend in this place, I can’t get used to that part. The longer we’re out here, the further the city seems to me—the harder it is to imagine going back there when all of this is over?—

But before I can linger too long on that thought, something catches my attention. Movement. Out of the corner of my eye. Accompanied by a sound—like a twig snapping, maybe. My head whips around just as we reach the edge of the yard, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

“What is it?” Callie asks, a frown crossing her small features.

I shake my head. “I don’t know, sweetheart,” I murmur, scanning the tree line. I must have been imagining it. But…but it’s not like I’ve been paranoid tonight, not like I have been for the past few days. Why would my imagination choose now to throw this shit at me, when I’ve been so relaxed all evening…?

And then I spot it. A sudden shift in the dark—something moving. Not something.Someone.

“Callie, get inside the house,” I tell her, trying to keep my voice as steady as I can. I don’t want to panic her before I have reason to.

She stands there, clearly confused, and shrugs. “Why?”

“Callie, listen to me, you have to?—”

But before I can finish what I’m saying, the shadow bursts forth from the trees—and terror grips my system as I realize a man is sprinting toward me. Toward us.

“Callie, into the house, now!” I yell. But I can see out of the corner of my eye that she’s just as scared as me—she’s not moving, panic getting the better of her. The man closes the distance between us, and I step in front of Callie, blocking his view of her.

“Who the hell are you?” I demand. “What do you want?”

The man locks eyes with me. And to my horror, I see a smile spread across his face. As though whatever comes next, he’s going to enjoy it.

“You’ll find out.”

And with that, he closes the distance between us, and the terror that has been threatening to overwhelm me grips at my throat like a choking fist.

20

KILLIAN

I cometo all at once, and it takes me a second to work out what has yanked me from my sleep so suddenly.

“Jesus, what is it?” I mumble, rolling out of bed and making my way over to the door. Someone is pounding on it—Jake, if I had to guess, since he’s usually the one to act with this much urgency. Slowly, I shrug off the sleep that’s still clinging to me, and pull the door open.

Sure enough, standing on the other side is Jake—and judging by the look on his face, something bad is going on. I plant my hands on the doorframe, staring at him and raising my eyebrows.

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