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Olivia knew by the look in his bright eyes he didn’t mean a hospital or clinic. He was wondering why a man hadn’t snatched her up.

Well, if she ever met a man with the cajones to challenge her…

Her skin was warming under his, and there was a stomach-dropping sensation rolling through her. She looked down at his fingers. He was a solid working man, and his hands showed the wear. Little scars crisscrossed his tan skin, and his knuckles looked sore on his right hand, like he’d scraped them doing something within the past day or so. Veins traced beneath the skin, from his fingers all the way up his arms and beneath the sleeves of the T-shirt. Slowly, reluctantly, she drew her hand away, and scrambled for an answer to his question.

“It’s not that people haven’t tried, I just haven’t taken the bait,” she grinned. “I’ve had five digit offers from hospitals to stay on.”

His dark brows lifted, and he shook his head. “Damn… That’s impressive. I bet you’ve had men bend over backwards for you, too.”

She made a face. “Not so much. There’s not a lot of need for sarcastic veteran amputees on Mingle.com.”

Connor tipped back his head, chuckling. “I think they just don’t know what they’re missing out on.”

Damn. The look in his eyes… it made her want to be the one for him. Time to change the subject. “What about you? You seem to be one of the town’s favorite sons. How have you escaped the noose?”

Grinning, he sat back in his chair, making it creak. He looked delectable. Olivia knew he knew he was delectable, but it didn’t diminish his appeal at all. “I have some of my own baggage, if you must know.”

For a moment, his gaze dropped, and some of the fun left his expression. Pain had a universal look, and she backed off. She didn’t want him picking at wounds so she wouldn’t either.

“Besides,” he continued, “I haven’t found anyone around here I’m willing to let catch me.”

“Which, I’m sure breaks hearts everywhere,” she said smartly. “So, what is it you have to do today? I overheard you talking to one of the officials.”

Connor’s expression lightened. “I’m supposed to be one of the judges in the baby back ribs category. Manu doesn’t do ribs, so they thought I would be a good impartial judge since he wouldn’t be in the competition. I think I’m supposed to fill in in a few places like that.”

Olivia nodded. “Sounds good.”

“I need to stop at the convenience store and grab some ice on the way over, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.”

Connor locked up the fire station and walked across the lot with her. Then he opened the truck door for her. Olivia climbed inside, wishing that her ribs didn’t hurt so much. If she was just walking or sitting, they were okay, but when she moved, they ached like the devil. It was so uncomfortable. And the stitches in her forehead were healing as well, making them itch. She wasn’t sure she would be able to leave them in the prescribed time.

They were just leaving the lot when his phone rang. He punched a button on the audio system on the dash. “Hey, Rebecca. I didn’t expect a call back so quick. What did you find out?”

A woman sighed on the other end of the line. “Not a whole hell of a lot, Chief. I found records from her pediatrician out of Austin, but literally no family connections. The baby is in foster care right now, and it doesn’t look like she’s moving in the near future.”

Oh, they were talking about baby Jessamy. She glanced at Connor.

He was frowning heavily, his mouth working. He caught her glance for a moment, wincing. “I hate to hear that, Rebecca. She’s a beautiful kid. I know you’re looking. Keep me updated, would you?”

“Absolutely,” the woman promised, and disconnected the call.

“They’ll find someone,” Olivia said. “They usually do.”

Connor glanced at her again. “Rebecca has been doing this a long time and she usually knows all the tricks to find families. If she’s striking out, it could mean there’s no one to find.”

The thought of the baby being alone even longer made her incredibly sad. The poor thing was probably inconsolable right now, looking for her mother and only finding strangers. Her throat closed with emotion, and she had to turn away from Connor to look out the window. It wasn’t her place to worry about the baby. It wasn’t Connor’s either, but he did…

“Do you always check up on your patients?” Olivia asked, her curiosity winning out.

Connor gave her a look that was a little shamefaced. “No, not even close. I do check up on the important ones, though. And sometimes I move them into my firehouse,” he said with a throaty laugh.

She laughed with him, even as she felt her cheeks go pink. Jeez, Louise, when had she last blushed? Connor was looking at her, his eyes narrowed with consideration as he took in her blush. He didn’t say anything about it, though, just turned back to his driving.

That was fine. It gave her a chance to catch her breath from laughing— damn that hurt— and calm her emotions. Something must be in the air today, because it was all she could do to keep from laughing like a teenaged idiot. Was she really that hard up for attention that she was taking advantage of her rescuer’s time and good will, not to mention his firehouse?

“The firehouse is beautiful, by the way, and very comfortable.”