Hometown Fireman. Lissa Manley

a difference, I totally understand.”

      “No, it’s fine,” he replied. “Mom and Dad have always had dogs up until three months ago, when their German shepherd, Duke, died. And my mom has a soft spot for animals. So I’m sure they won’t mind. In fact, I think all of Duke’s stuff is still in the basement.”

      Ally studied him. “Why are you being so nice to me? You don’t even know me.”

      He shrugged. “When I was a kid, our house burned down, and I remember how traumatic it was for the whole family.”

      She cast her eyes to the smoldering house and garage, shaking her head. She froze for a couple of seconds, and some of the light faded from her eyes. Gradually a sense of what looked like inevitability seemed to envelop her like a gray cloud. Clearly, she felt as if her life had crumbled before her eyes, and honestly he couldn’t blame her for thinking that. Fire struck a blow no one should have to endure.

      Suddenly, Drew had the urge to wrap an arm around her for comfort. But he didn’t; he was sure ol’ Rex and his teeth would think that kind of gesture was a really bad idea. And the dog would be right. Drew barely knew this woman, and after he dropped her at Mom and Dad’s, he and Ally would only see each other in passing. He had no business offering her any more than a roof over her head, and a part of him wondered why the urge to comfort her had even crossed his mind. He wasn’t usually one to establish quick connections.

      After a long, silent moment, Ally straightened her shoulders, took a deep breath and finally spoke. “Well, I’ll agree on the condition that the arrangement would be only temporary.”

      He held up his hands. “Fine.”

      “Good.”

      He lifted an eyebrow. “What do you plan on doing in the long run?”

      She sucked in a large breath. “Maybe I’ll...move to a hotel or something.”

      He liked her determination. But with the talk of her rent-free situation, he got the impression her bravado, while understandable, was false. Not to mention that she wasn’t being realistic about finding somewhere else to stay, given that she was bringing two big dogs with her, one expecting puppies any day now.

      He nodded. “Unfortunately, there are only two lodging possibilities in Moonlight Cove, and as far as I know, neither one of them allows dogs.”

      “Oh.”

      Another idea occurred to him. “Listen, my dad owns a real estate company and has tons of connections around here. I’m sure he could help find an inexpensive rental for you.”

      “I don’t have the money for all the deposits necessary, and until I get work, I can’t afford any kind of rent, either.”

      “No savings?”

      “Nope.”

      Man, she was really in a bind....

      “I’ll figure something out.” She gave him a brittle smile. “I always do.”

      Again, her determination impressed him. “Okay, I hear you loud and clear.” He paused, his gaze on the smoldering house. “Any clue as to what caused the fire?”

      She shook her head. “I had the dogs out for a walk. We came back inside, and I was getting to work making more flyers for the housecleaning business I’m setting up.”

      “This is in addition to the dog rescue?”

      “Gotta find a way to pay the bills.”

      Good point. “Do you have any clients yet?”

      “Not yet, but I just posted an online ad yesterday, so hopefully something will come from that.”

      Sounded like a good plan. “I know just about everyone in town, so I could probably rustle up some prospects.”

      “That’d be great.” She smoothed her wind-tossed hair behind her ear. “Anyway, Rex here started barking, and when I came out to the kitchen to investigate, there were flames shooting from the wall behind the stove.”

      “Wiring maybe? That house was built a long time ago.”

      She shrugged. “Maybe.”

      “I take it you hightailed it out of there fast?”

      “I went straight for the door, then called 911 on my cell when I got outside. I didn’t even think to grab my keys.”

      “Good thing Rex was on top of things.”

      “No kidding.” Her lips trembled. “I hadn’t even unpacked everything yet.” She laughed without humor. “Guess now I won’t have to.”

      Sadie whined, and Ally gave Drew a lopsided smile as she gestured to the dog. “This one is turning out to be quite sympathetic.” Crouching down, she put her arms around the dog’s furry neck and hugged her close. “Thanks, girl. But don’t worry. Everything’s going to be just fine. I promise you won’t be homeless again.”

      Drew’s throat went tight. Ally was clearly a compassionate soul, and he couldn’t help but admire that trait. Once again, her plight had him wanting to come to her rescue, fix everything and present it to her all wrapped in a neat and tidy bow.

      Guess he’d need to get ahold of himself and his crazy need to help out Ally and her dogs more than he’d already planned to. Because if things worked out and he was chosen to take the slot he’d interviewed for earlier today at the Atherton Fire Academy, he’d be long gone from Moonlight Cove in just a few weeks.

      And once he realized his dream of becoming a full-time firefighter, and eventually a paramedic, he wasn’t planning on looking back. For anything or anyone.

      * * *

      Homeless.

      The word roiled around in Ally’s head like a river of toxic waste as Drew pulled up to his mom’s Victorian-style home situated a few blocks from Moonlight Cove Beach. He’d called her as soon as they’d left the scene of the fire, and she’d readily agreed to have Ally and the dogs stay with her. Pregnant Sadie and all.

      Ally hated imposing, but what other choice did she have, knowing no one, and having such limited funds at the moment? Working minimum-wage retail and waitressing jobs in Seattle since high school had barely supported her, and she’d always just scraped by living paycheck to paycheck. Saving money hadn’t been an option. Hopefully, that would change as soon as she had her housecleaning business up and running, but without the benefit of no rent, things would get dicey.

      Ally’s stomach clenched. How could this disaster have happened, just when she’d thought she’d finally found a good place to put down roots after so long without them?

      Ever since Sue had described Moonlight Cove to Ally when they’d been in foster care together, Ally had wanted to move here. The town had seemed to embody everything she’d ever wanted in life but never had—a close-knit community and small-town values—all topped off with an idyllic, peaceful life that had been absent from her life for as long as she could remember.

      She’d been dreaming of living here forever.

      When she’d heard from a friend that the Washington Coast area around Moonlight Cove was in dire need of dog rescue organizations, she’d thought her castle in the sky had become a wonderful reality. Especially when Sue offered Ally her uncle’s house rent-free when she’d heard about Ally’s aspirations to start a dog rescue here.

      For once in Ally’s life, things seemed to be going her way. Ha. Now her dream had turned into a nightmare.

      She cast her gaze through the back window of Drew’s truck, making sure Rex and Sadie were okay in the canopied bed. Both dogs were looking out the closed back window, happily watching the scenery go by in typical dog fashion.

      “They okay back there?” Drew asked as he put the truck in Park.

      She looked over at him, not for the first time admiring his strong