The Fireman's Ready-Made Family. Jules Bennett

Willow was in school right now, safe and having fun with her friends...just as any five-year-old child should.

      “I’m Drake, by the way.”

      Marly turned her attention back to the imposing man. With wide shoulders stretching his polo, his tall, lean build and those captivating baby blues, the mesmerizing stranger silently demanded attention. Her pulse kicked up whenever they made eye contact, and she hated the thread of fear that niggled at her.

      He reminded her too much of her past life—a life she was still trying to escape. A life she was privately rebuilding one day at a time.

      Guilt slid through her. Judging a stranger wasn’t quite fair. After all, a stranger hadn’t hurt her. The man who’d vowed to love, honor and cherish her, though, had nearly destroyed her.

      “I’m Marly.”

      “I know.” With a soft smile, he nodded toward her badge clipped on the pocket of her puppy-printed smock top. “I should’ve introduced myself before now.”

      “You were preoccupied.” The man may be menacing in size, but the worry lines between thick, dark brows spoke of vulnerability. “I understand you and Jeremy’s parents are friends.”

      Nodding, Drake gripped the edge of the bed rail and stared down at the boy. “Yeah. I graduated with his dad, Shawn. I was on the scene of the fire.”

      Marly swallowed. Remorse seemed to envelop this man, and there was no doubt he was mentally replaying said scene in his mind.

      She’d witnessed that level of sorrow many times over the years as a burn-unit nurse at a children’s hospital in Nashville before moving to the suburb of Stonerock. And that was the only reason Jeremy was allowed to stay at this small-town hospital.

      “I just wish I could do more,” she whispered. “His parents...”

      She trailed off, not wanting to get too emotional with this stranger.

      Private. That was the theme for this stage in her life. She needed to remain private and locked in her own world, where she could protect herself and her daughter.

      “They’re having a tough time,” he added as he pushed off the rail and came around the edge of the bed. “But you’re doing all you can. Keeping their son as comfortable as possible is a blessing to them right now.”

      Marly nodded, Drake’s large, looming presence causing her to step back. He’d done nothing to her, yet she couldn’t help that proverbial knee-jerk reaction.

      “Are you okay?” he asked, dark brows drawn together.

      Easing her side bangs over a tad to keep her scar covered, Marly nodded. “Yeah, just worried. It’s hard not to get swept into the lives of my patients.”

      “That’s what makes a good nurse.” His soft smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, as if the gesture was only for her. “Getting emotionally involved is an occupational hazard.”

      On one level she knew he understood. After all, they were both public servants and protectors. But on another level, she really didn’t want to bond with this man who had her emotions all jumbled up because of his gentleness and potent sex appeal. A lethal combo.

      If she wasn’t careful, she would find herself slipping into his personal space, and she’d promised herself no more letting herself trust—not yet and probably not for a long, long time. There was too much at stake in her life for her to let her guard down...with anyone.

      “When will he be transferred to another hospital with a burn unit?” he asked, crossing his arms over his wide, taut chest.

      “We’ll have to wait and see if the doctor and his parents decide on the skin grafts.”

      She tried to ignore the way Drake’s size dominated the room. Tried to ignore the way her heart kicked up at the way he seemed to study her.

      “I think he needs to be transferred to a hospital that specializes in this type of care,” Drake told her, crossing his arms over his wide chest.

      Marly wasn’t really in the mood to defend her medical position or to discuss her patient’s needs with a nonfamily member. And she definitely wasn’t up for being bullied by this man, who no doubt was used to getting his way. She didn’t think he was posing for an argument, but he was making it clear his opinion mattered.

      “For now he’s fine to stay here.” She forced herself to meet his gaze. She was no longer that meek woman who was afraid to stand up for herself. “I’m able to care for him because I was a nurse on a burn unit at a larger hospital before I moved here. But if his parents choose for him to have skin grafts, he’ll go to a specialist.”

      “Why the wait?” Drake demanded. “Wouldn’t he heal faster if he were with a specialist now?”

      Fisting her hands at her sides, Marly shook her head. “The doctors here have Jeremy’s best interest in mind, and he’s getting the best possible care. And we can’t transport him yet anyway.”

      Drake swore under his breath. “Shawn and Amy are self-employed, and this is really going to hurt them financially on top of all the emotional turmoil they’re already experiencing. Never mind the fact they lost their house and they’re staying with Shawn’s parents.”

      Okay, so the overpowering man had a soft spot. Seriously, though, how dare he question not only her, but the doctors and Jeremy’s parents? Perhaps he was just speaking out of worry, but still, Marly wasn’t interested in this chief’s medical opinions.

      But he was right about one thing. Medical bills were going to flood their lives before they ever got their son home. Marly couldn’t imagine the financial strain this would put on the poor family.

      Since she’d run from her ex and left behind all the money and flashy things, she was having a hard time adjusting to her single salary, but it was hard to feel sorry for herself when a tragic case like this smacked her in the face with a dose of reality. There was always someone worse off. She had to remind herself of that when pity started to settle in.

      “Can I talk to you outside?” Drake asked, intruding on her thoughts.

      Surprised at his request, Marly nodded. This was the first real interaction they’d had since Jeremy had been admitted to her unit two days ago. Even though he’d been here both days, she’d made sure to just stick to the pleasantries, getting in and out of Jeremy’s room quickly when Drake visited.

      They stepped outside the room, and Marly eased the large wooden door closed behind her. Trying to come off as a professional was hard when your hands were shaking, so she crossed her arms over her chest and tipped her head to level his stare.

      “Something wrong?” she asked.

      “I’m going to be at the station for the next thirty-six hours,” he told her, stepping closer so there was only a small gap separating them. “I know Shawn and Amy won’t let me know if they need anything, but could you keep an eye on them when they’re here? If they need food or a break, could you let me know? I can give you my cell. If I’m not busy I can run over or I can have one of my brothers stop by. I don’t want Shawn and Amy to feel like they’re in this alone.”

      Wow. He was serious. The fire chief was ready to drop everything to help a friend in need.

      The cynical side of Marly wanted to know if he was using this opportunity for publicity in his position, to look good in the eyes of his superiors. Or did this man actually have that kind of a heart?

      She shook off the pull to want to know more. The old Marly would’ve reached out, but that woman was dead, cut off from all the emotional tugs toward the wounded hearts of others. She had her own heart to heal.

      Pulling herself back to his request and his intense stare as he waited on an answer, she smiled. “Of course I can let you know.”

      His mesmerizing blue eyes continued to study her, and she resisted the urge to reach up and make sure her side bangs were