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“And I have a town to protect. A pack of one.” He reached across the table, his hand covering mine. “But I also have space in my life for more. If that’s what you want.”
The casual offer—so huge in its implications, so casually delivered—made my heart stutter in my chest. “Are you saying…?”
“I’m saying I don’t want you to leave.” His thumb stroked over my knuckles. “I’m saying there are remote work options for safety inspectors. I’m saying Liberty Lake could use someone with your expertise on a permanent basis.”
I stared at him, processing this unexpected proposal. “You want me to move here? To Liberty Lake?”
He nodded, his expression open and vulnerable in a way I’d rarely seen it. “To Liberty Lake. To this cabin. To me.”
“We’ve known each other for a week,” I reminded him, though my objection sounded weak even to my own ears.
His smile was knowing. “Time works differently for my kind. When we know, we know.”
“And you… know?” I asked, something warm and hopeful unfurling in my chest.
“I knew the moment you stepped out of your car with that clipboard,” he admitted. “Though I fought it pretty hard at first.”
I laughed, the sound slightly shaky with emotion. “You hid it well with all that shouting about tradition.”
“You were threatening my town,” he pointed out, his grip on my hand tightening slightly. “But yes, I was also fighting the urge to claim you on the spot.”
The casual use of “claim” sent a shiver through me, memories of our night during the full moon still vivid in my mind. “And now?”
“Now I’m asking you to consider staying.” He released my hand, leaning back in his chair. “No pressure. Just an option to think about.”
I picked up my fork again, using the action to hide the turmoil of emotions his offer had triggered. “I’ll think about it.”
His smile was warm and confident, as though he already knew what my decision would be. “That’s all I ask.”
Chapter 8
The Liberty Lake town square was transformed for the Fourth of July celebration. Strings of lights hung between the trees, food stalls lined the perimeter, and a bandstand had been erected in front of the gazebo. Children ran with sparklers under careful parental supervision, their faces alight with excitement.
I stood at the edge of the crowd, clipboard in hand, conducting one final inspection of the safety measures we’d put in place for the fireworks display. Fire extinguishers were positioned at strategic intervals, the launch area had been thoroughly wetted down as promised, and Shep’s fire team was on high alert, dressed in their formal uniforms but ready to respond if needed.
Shep himself was making the rounds, stopping to chat with townspeople, kneeling to talk to excited children, every inch the respected Fire Chief. In his dress uniform—pressed navy pants, crisp white shirt with the department insignia, and those red suspenders that did unreasonable things to my heart rate—he was more handsome than any one man had a right to be.
As though sensing my gaze, he looked up, amber eyes finding me immediately in the crowd. The smile he gave me was private and heated, a promise for later that made my cheeks warm despite the evening breeze off the lake.
“So you’re the infamous safety inspector who tried to cancel our fireworks.”
I turned to find an elderly woman regarding me with shrewd eyes and a knowing smile. Her silver hair was pulled back in a neat bun, and she carried herself with the dignity of someone who had seen it all and wasn’t impressed by much.
“Mrs. Patterson,” I said, recognizing her from town meetings. “I wasn’t trying to cancel them, just ensure they meet safety standards.”
She snorted, clearly unconvinced. “And yet here they are, about to light up the sky just like they have for fifty years.” Her gaze shifted to where Shep was now helping set up a row of chairs for older residents. “Though I notice our Chief seems much happier about your presence than he was a week ago.”
I felt my face heat further. “We’ve… reached a professional understanding.”
“Is that what they’re calling it these days?” She cackled, patting my arm with surprising strength. “Well, whatever it is, it’s good to see him smiling again. That boy’s been alone too long.”
Before I could formulate a response to that unexpectedly personal observation, she wandered off, leaving me flustered and thoughtful. I returned my attention to my clipboard, checking off the final items on my list more out of habit than necessity. The truth was, Shep and his team had addressed every concern I’d raised, implementing safety measures that exceeded regulations in many cases.
“All clear, Inspector?”
I looked up to find Shep standing before me, his expression professionally neutral despite the heat in his eyes. In public, we’d maintained our respective roles, though I suspected most of the town had figured out that something had changed between us.
“All safety protocols have been implemented according to regulations,” I confirmed, tapping my pen against the clipboard. “The fireworks display is officially approved.”
