Jane's Gift (Lone Pine Lake 1)

“Want to go with me?”

…

Chris waited with bated breath for Jane’s answer, hoping like crazy she wouldn’t turn him down.

On the other hand, he wanted to kick himself across the town square for even asking her such a question. Setting himself up to get rejected yet again was stupid.

Being around Jane, it was as if he couldn’t help himself. He’d become a glutton for punishment. He’d realized on Thanksgiving night, once he got back at his house—despite her protests, despite his own, maybe he didn’t want to be “just friends.”

Her attitude that night at Thanksgiving had intrigued him. She’d become flirtatious, funny. Over dessert, her brothers had shared story after story, many of them starring Jane. They’d involved her in their antics and surprisingly, she’d played right along.

He’d enjoyed the stories. Enjoyed even more watching Jane blush and laugh and try her best to keep her brothers quiet. It didn’t work. And he’d been glad for it.

“What day are you going?” Her soft voice washed over him, made all sorts of things stand at attention, and he focused on the cold air, the fact that plenty of families and children, Jane’s children, surrounded them. Anything to get his mind out of the gutter.

“Probably Sunday.”

“You’re off?”

“I was off today, but the mayor asked me to drive the engine as a favor. In fact, I need to get it back to the station. They’re engine-less and that’s not supposed to happen.” He paused, studied her carefully, looking for some sort of reaction or emotion on her pretty face.

She looked frustratingly neutral. He wished he felt the same. But his stomach was tied up in knots, and he swore he was sweating in thirty-degree weather.

“Lexi’s staying the night at my parents’ house, so I’m thinking I’ll be busy with family tomorrow. But Sunday would definitely work.”

A twinge of jealousy moved through him and he tried to ignore it. Damn if he didn’t wish for an invitation to hang out with the family again. Even if they weren’t doing anything but sitting around and eating Thanksgiving leftovers, he would’ve enjoyed it.

Especially if pumpkin pie was involved…oh yes, and Jane.

“Sounds good. We’ll load up in my truck and take a drive up the mountain. I know the perfect spot, full of trees.”

“All right.” She didn’t even hesitate, and the vulnerable smile she flashed shot him straight in the heart.

“Okay. Perfect.” He nodded, shoved his hands in his pockets. Afraid he might grab her and pull her close. “I’ll pick you up at your house, say around one?”

“I’ll let the kids know. They’ll be thrilled.”

He had a feeling he was more thrilled than the children could ever be.

Chapter Nine

Chris was exhausted,

wiped. He could barely keep his eyes open. But he couldn’t deny he still wanted to see Jane, despite the fact he’d gotten minimal sleep the last couple of nights.

He’d gone back to the station to drop off the engine Friday only to find Eric sick as a dog, hovering over the toilet. Some sort of nasty stomach bug had his second-in-command fevered and glassy-eyed, so Chris had immediately sent him home and taken over.

The weekend had been busy. Icy roads brought car accidents, both minor and major, and it didn’t help that there was extra holiday traffic. Get-togethers brought arguments and chaos, which usually resulted in more medical aid calls. He’d gone on quite a few, been first on scene before the ambulance arrived.

One of them had involved Audrey Daniels and her ex. From the looks of it, Audrey and Pete had gotten into a knock-down, drag-’em-out fight. Both of them showed signs of abuse and the police had called for medical assistance.

Pete had a bloody nose and a black eye. Apparently Audrey knew how to pack a punch—which was crazy. This had been a woman who’d seriously pursued him last summer, despite the fact she was married. She’d shot him a look last night that he supposed she thought sultry, but it didn’t quite meet the mark, considering she had a bloody and swollen lip.

Family drama. It always quietly freaked him out. His parents had fought like cats and dogs when he was a kid. Though his father had never raised a hand toward his mom, the yelling and screaming had been ferocious, especially near the end of their marriage.

Yet another reminder that despite everything, love didn’t usually work. People couldn’t keep it together. Making it worse, he’d caught the stomach bug he sent Eric home for last night.

Tired, slightly dehydrated, and lying in bed, he thought of Jane. Her marriage looked and sounded ideal, and still it ended in tragedy. There were no guarantees in life; he knew this. So why let your heart get involved only to have it smashed to bits? That had always been his theory, and he’d held fast to it his entire adult life.