Page 1 of Sweet on Her

CHAPTER 1

Hank

There’s nothing like Wildwood in the soft, still light of morning. Fall crispness is in the air and I can smell that metallic tinge of cold that makes me cringe, knowing the snow will fly in the mountains soon. But the sun is bright and warm, heating up my cold skin and making me feel more alive than I’ve felt in ages.

I love this time of year. Just before the crispness of fall melts into the icy chill of winter and snow. This season is my favorite. It lacks the chill and rain of spring, the blistering heat of summer and the endless snow and freezing cold of winter. It’s the perfect amalgam of all the best of all the seasons.

I lean against the side of the big, open bay doors of the firehouse drinking my first cup of coffee of the day. I used to only drink one, maybe two cups a day but I’m up to three now. Age is creeping up on me and I’m exhausted half the time.

When I first started working at the fire station I was a brash, immature man of twenty who thought he could conquer the world. Then the world kicked me in the teeth and I’ve just been struggling to keep my head above water most days.

My mind drifts back to college and Katrina Barker. My first love. The women that I met in my last year of high school. She was so young, so damn pretty with her bright hazel eyes that sparked with green and gold fire when she smiled or when she…

I yanked myself back from those thoughts. We weren’t meant to be. Obviously, since she took off. Just wrote me a Dear Hank letter and ran away.

My heart lurches and guilt washes over me. I still think about here to this day, sometimes more than I think about my late wife and I can’t stand it. I should miss my wife more than I miss the woman who broke my heart and left me standing all alone until I met Ashleigh. Then Ashleigh got pregnant and I knew what I had to do. I’ve never regretted it to this day.

Yet I still can’t forget Katrina, dammit! Fall days like this especially. I groan and then walk back inside the fire station, hearing my cousin yapping like a freaking chihuahua. The guy can’t shut up and today it’s scraping along my nerves like sandpaper.

“Can you believe that woman? She just glared at me and walked away. I was just trying to talk to her.”

Sighing, I step inside the downstairs gym and glare at him. “You know, you might be able to work up to less of a pansy weight if you actually worked out something other than your mouth!”

He dropped the weight back in the bar across the bench. “Dude, that’s kinda harsh.”

“You sound like a freaking frat boy! You’re way past that Rafe.”

“Jesus! Could you take it down a notch, man? What bee crawled up your ass?”

“One with your face.” I know I’m being a bit of a dick but I can’t help it. He’s done nothing but whine about Odette for the longest time. I’m almost positive the idiot is in love with her but he’s too busy pushing her away to figure it out. So instead he talks about her constantly.

“Alright. I’m gonna assume that you’re nervous about Reva coming back home and give you a pass but maybe just dial it back. She’s gonna be home soon and then you can drive her nuts.”

“Fat chance. She’s still on about being a firefighter and I’m not letting her do that.”

“You might want to rethink that, man. If you keep her away from her dream, she might just decide to leave town and not talk to her pushy daddy.”

“Shut up! You think I don’t know that? I’m not gonna tell her that directly.”

“You’d do better to just let her join and then keep an eye on her, hoping she changes her mind. It’s not the easiest job in the world.”

“I don’t want her doing this.” My mouth sets in a mulish line.

“You might not have a choice. Be smart and if she wants to do this, just support her. You’ll lose her if you don’t.”

“I’m not going to lose her.” Reva is all I have left from the mess that was my marriage. I refuse to let things go like this.

“Fine. Just remember what I said. And if I’m right and you’re wrong, well, we’ll see. You might have to do a dare.”

“Fat fucking chance. I know how to handle my daughter.”

“You know your daughter but your daughter is a woman now. How good do you know women?”

My belly flips. “She’s not a woman. She’s still my daughter.”

He snorts and Michael walks in. “Oh brother. You are about to get a rude awakening. I love it!” His laughter follows him out the door and up the stairs.

“Bastard,” I growl under my breath.

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