Page 3 of Light My Fire Three Times
“VIP? What, for catching me in a fall?”
“Well, yeah. That’s a premium service. Not everyone can do it so… gracefully.”
I roll my eyes, but it’s hard to hold the look when I’m fighting a smile. “Right. And you’re not just showing off your firefighter skills?”
He shrugs casually, but there’s that hint of pride in his eyes. “Maybe a little. But I don’t mind. I don’t mind at all.”
“Lucky me,” I mutter, trying to keep it cool.
The air around us feels charged, but I can’t quite tell if it’s just the unexpected encounter or something more.
Jesse gives me a sidelong glance, his eyes still holding that playful spark.
“Well, if I’m being honest, I’m just trying to make sure you don’t hurt yourself before you get to know the place. CoyoteGlen’s not exactly known for its soft landings.” He gestures to the snow-covered trees, the untouched hills stretching out around us. “One wrong step and you’ll be hiking with a limp the whole trip.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Trust me, I’m not the type to go looking for trouble.Usually.”
He smirks, clearly amused by the idea. “Uh-huh, sure. And what do you normally do when you’re not gracefully face-planting into the arms of almost strangers?”
“Sit around and brood,” I reply quickly, just to see if I can throw him off. “You know, the usualrelaxingvacation activities.”
“Brooding, huh?” He looks me over with a mock serious expression, like he’s evaluating me. “Well, Coyote Glen’s got a few good spots for that, too. Quiet corners. Bars that only serve whiskey. You might like it.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Bars that only serve whiskey. How could I possibly resist?”
Jesse’s grin widens as he takes a step back, giving me room to breathe. “Actually, I’m heading into town for dinner. Thought I’d grab a bite. You know, you’re welcome to tag along if you’re looking for something a little more exciting than ‘brooding.’”
I hesitate for a moment, eyeing the long stretch of snow-covered road leading into town.
“Well, I’m not exactly drowning in dinner invitations,” I admit. “And I did promise Ivy I wouldn’t get murdered by any mountain serial killers, so…”
“Yeah, that’s important,” Jesse says, sounding all too serious before his lips twitch into a grin. “It’s a deal. You’re safe with me, Liv. I’ve got the best survival skills in the area.”
I snort. “Survival skills, huh? That sounds… reassuring.”
He gives a dramatic bow. “I am a man of many talents. And if you’re in the mood to enjoy some of them?—”
“Okay, okay, I’m in,” I interrupt with a grin, holding up my hands in mock surrender. “I’ll go. But I’m warning you, I’ve got akillerappetite.”
He winks. “I can handle it.”
We both laugh, the sound echoing across the mountain air, and for a moment, I almost forget about all the reasons I came here in the first place.
There’s something easy about Jesse. Comforting in the way he carries himself, like he’s used to handling chaos and still manages to keep everything under control.
I neverreallygot to know him when I was here before. I’ve only ever been in town for Ivy. But now…
Well, now it feels different.
He walks a few steps toward his truck and turns back, raising an eyebrow. “You coming or what?”
I take a breath, feeling like I’m walking into an entirely new chapter of my life. “Yeah, yeah. I’m coming. But don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because you caught me from falling on my face.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he says, chuckling, before turning and heading toward the truck.
The drive into town is anything but peaceful.
The truck hums beneath us, but the silence is thick, and it’s impossible to ignore the tension hanging in the air.
