The Fireman's Ready-Made Family. Jules Bennett

Marly crossing her arms over her chest. “Thanks for bringing the pizza.”

      He nodded his greeting and held the pizza box in one hand while closing the door behind him with the other. “I hope you guys like fish eggs on it.”

      “Fish...eggs?” Willow asked, throwing a worried look to her mother, then shrugged. “I guess I’ll try it.”

      “I’m teasing,” Drake said with a laugh that showcased his wide smile and white teeth.

      Darn him. Was there nothing about the man that wasn’t perfect? Joking with her child and not acting as though Willow was in the way like...

      No, she wasn’t pulling Kevin into this evening. He occupied enough of her waking hours between the texts, voice mails and her mind working overtime on when he would start looking for them.

      Right now, she just wanted a few hours of peace, away from her monster ex and away from her own worried thoughts.

      Marly shot a smile to Drake and pointed to Willow. “This kid would try anything. She’s a tough one to scare.”

      Drake’s bold eyes went back to Willow, his brows rose. “Really? A brave girl? I like that. You sound more like a firefighter than a kindergartener.”

      Willow beamed. “When can I take a ride on your fire truck?”

      “Willow,” Marly scolded. “I’m sorry. She was really impressed the other day at the field trip. She’s hardly talked about anything else.”

      Drake moved through the living room and handed the pizza box to Marly. “I don’t mind at all, actually. What kind of chief would I be if I didn’t keep my promise to let such a brave girl take a ride on the truck? You may become a firefighter one day and you’ll need the experience.”

      “Me?” Willow squeaked, jumping up and down. “A firefighter? That would be awesome!”

      The man had been in the house for all of two minutes and had already captivated both women in the room, for totally different reasons.

      “Come on in and eat,” Marly suggested as she turned and headed toward the back of the house. “You two can discuss firefighter training over fish eggs.”

      Before long, paper plates were filled with chips and pizza. Marly pulled out two cans of soda and a bottle of water. They gathered around the small kitchen table and Marly resisted the urge to make everything perfect. The man sitting across from her was nothing like the man she’d left. Nothing.

      Marly highly doubted Drake cared if he ate off paper plates or fine china. He didn’t seem the type to need a linen napkin over a paper towel. She refused to bow down to a man’s every wish again. She would make Willow happy first, herself second, and if a man came along and could put up with being third on her list of priorities, then there was a slight chance that she would consider him in her life.

      To be honest, she doubted the yearning to want another man would come for a long, long time. Yes, she found Drake attractive and had those tingles in her belly when he was around, but she wasn’t ready for anything beyond that. How could she be? She was still recovering emotionally and physically from her last relationship.

      “Everything okay?” Drake asked, pausing as he reached for another piece of pizza. “You wandered off for a bit.”

      Marly took a sip of her soda and nodded, forcing herself to be in the moment. “Just thinking. So what have you thought of for a fund-raiser?”

      He slid the piece onto his plate and met her gaze. Those blue eyes could mesmerize a nun. She shoved a chip into her mouth to try to keep her mind on the task and not the man. Easier said than done when the man in question was as potent as Drake St. John.

      “We need something where the town comes together,” he told her, oblivious to the turmoil inside her. “The more people who pitch in, the more support Shawn and Amy will have. This isn’t just about monetary needs, they need moral support and people to lean on.”

      Rocked by his selfless declaration, Marly nodded in agreement. “You’re absolutely right. They will need assistance from all angles.”

      “How about a bake sale?” Willow chimed in around a mouthful of pizza. “The school had one the other day to raise money for books for the library.”

      “Honey—”

      “Willow.” Drake cut off Marly, giving her a wink. “I think a bake sale is a wonderful idea. Your mother and I were thinking of something really big for the entire town, but those people would love some treats, I’m sure.”

      Drake took a bite of pizza, took a full gulp of his soda before continuing, “What about something that incorporates several aspects of raising money? Maybe a dunking booth or three-legged races?”

      Marly’s mind started working overtime. Now, this was an aspect from her old life she was actually glad to have instilled in her. Planning, organizing a way to raise funds.

      “Like a festival?” Marly asked. “That’s great, Drake.”

      “A festival?” Willow smacked her hands on the table and jumped from her chair. “Can we have a Ferris wheel like the one we rode on a few weeks ago, Mama?”

      Marly laughed. “Oh, honey. It would be quite expensive to bring in a Ferris wheel. The whole point of this would be to make money, so probably nothing like that.”

      As the pizza was devoured, Drake and Marly volleyed back and forth various ideas. Some were good, some not so good.

      “I’ll get you a pen and paper, Mama.”

      When Willow ran out of the room, Marly shook her head and started gathering the paper plates. “That child has more energy than I can keep up with at times.”

      Drake came to his feet and folded the chip bags. “Where do these go?”

      “Oh, just leave them. I’ll get everything.” Marly tried to busy herself so she didn’t have to look in his eyes, didn’t have to talk about anything personal. “What do I owe you for the pizza?”

      Drake rested his hands on his narrow hips and shook his head. “Absolutely nothing.”

      “I need to pay at least half,” Marly told him, reaching for her purse on the counter.

      He laid his hand over hers. She hadn’t even seen him move toward her, but when she looked up and her eyes met his, she tensed. His hands were so big, totally blanketing her own. An image flashed in her mind of other large hands on her, hurting her. She forced herself not to completely seize up beneath his delicate touch.

      Between that intense stare and the heat from his hand, Marly swallowed hard, trying to reinforce that pep talk she’d had with herself earlier.

      Feeling anything toward Drake was a bad, bad idea.

      “You owe nothing,” he told her, keeping his eyes locked onto hers. “Maybe you can buy next time.”

      Holding her breath and praying her voice came out strong, Marly asked, “Will there be a next time?”

      Before he could respond, Willow burst back into the room. “I got paper and a pen,” she yelled. “Now, spell everything slow for me and I’ll make notes.”

      Drake’s hand slid away from Marly’s as she continued to stare at him. Willow was oblivious to the tension that had settled between them, but it left Marly...confused, intrigued...fascinated.

      What was Drake thinking? Flirting was one thing, but the way he looked at her, as if he was attracted and ready to act on it... How could she cope with a man who wanted anything from her? She truly had nothing left in her to give. But, she vowed, she would never be this low again. She would never allow another man to break her.

      Marly turned toward her daughter and concentrated on helping Willow write down some simple notes for the festival. If they were going full speed ahead with this plan, Marly feared there would most definitely be a next