Page 13 of Hearts on the Mend

“Sleep on it,” my aunt counters with a sigh. “I know it’s been hard since the accident.”

I straighten against the doorway, my interest piqued.

“I’m fine,” Nolan grumbles. “I’ll think about it, but my answer will likely be no.”

“You’re handy,” his father pipes in. “You can do this. Saves Cassie here from having to deal with a whole crew in the house when it’s just her and Miss Ruby.”

“I like to paint. I can help.” Ruby swings Noodles, then trips over her shoes, nearly tumbling straight into the counter.

Nolan dives, swooping his arm around her middle and steering her clear of whacking her head. She shrieks, falling into giggles before he sets her down and that same stiffness settles back in.

A man behind a thousand walls.

Not the one who traced his lips down my back, his fingers searing my skin as they explored my curves. Or the one who laughed over fries at the diner after I punched that drunk asshole.

Richie must notice too because he quickly says goodbye to Ruth, then me and Ruby, before heading back to the truck, leaving me alone with Nolan.

“I can walk myself out,” he says, checking over the woodstove once more. “Don’t turn this on until the chimney is inspected. If it hasn’t been used in a while, it’s a big fire risk.”

“My daddy is a firefighter,” Ruby says.

Nolan scratches his jaw before his eyes meet mine. “I am too.”

Just in time to see me rub the spot over my chest that’s been aching for months now.

He edges closer, that same magnetic pull between us as that night. There’s a faint coconut smell to him that’s different from when we last met.

“You’re married?”

“Separated, and waiting on the divorce to be finalized.” I feel the floor buckle beneath me. “You’re a firefighter?” The disappointment curls through my question.

I’ve lived that once, and I have no interest in living it again.

If I had known that night, I want to believe I wouldn’t have slept with him. But that’s not true. Can’t be, because the ache in my fingers from wanting to touch his face, to kiss him one more time, is overwhelming.

And entirely confusing.

“Yeah. Smoke jumper.”

“What’s that?” Ruby asks.

Without breaking eye contact, I swallow. Not just structural fires, then—worse. “Means he jumps out of planes to fight wildfires.”

“Right,” he says.

“Jump out of a plane? You can’t do that. They lock you in, and you have to wear a seat belt.” Ruby tugs at my sleeve. “I’m hungry. Can I have a snack?”

“Check my purse. We’ll go to the store⁠—”

“We’ll head out.” Nolan gives a curt nod. “Sorry about all this. My dad was trying to help.”

I shrug. “There’s no arguing with Ruth. Thanks for entertaining her idea at least. Not sure what I’ll do with this place.”

“You’ll find someone.”

“But not you?”

“No. Not the guy you need.”