Read Online Fireman Dad by Betsy St. Amant - Free Book Online

She looked, but saw nothing worthy of his devoted attention. She turned back with a puzzled frown.
    “I saw your sister-in-law today.” Marissa stretched on tiptoe, angling sideways to try to catch his eye. “She came into the store.”
    “Liz did?” Jacob’s gaze collided with hers. “What did she say?”
    Marissa blinked rapidly at the clipped, nearly defensive words.“She said she was grateful for all you were doing for them, and all the community was doing. She offered to help me in the office with the grunt work, if I needed it.”
    “Oh, right. Yeah, Liz is nice like that.” Jacob shook his head as if clearing it. “Well, this is it.” He gestured to the property. “Think it will work?”
    The warmth from Friday night was missing in his voice, leaving a stilted, businesslike tone instead. What happened? Marissa crossed both arms in front of her chest, confused and more than a little defensive. “Yes, I think it will work well.”
    Jacob nodded, hands in his pockets now, his back stiff. Something was obviously wrong, judging by the tick in his jaw.
    Marissa brushed a piece of hair from her face that had come loose from her ponytail and faced him, holding one hand up to her eyes against the sun. “Is everything okay?”
    He nodded again.
    “Bad day?” That much was obvious, but maybe the acknowledgment would encourage him to explain.
    He opened his mouth, closed it, then said, “Why don’t we look at the area behind the house? I was thinking we should set up an arts and crafts area for the kids, and that might be a good spot.”
    He’d obviously rather talk about glue guns and glitter than whatever was bothering him, so Marissa bit back the argument on her tongue and followed him around the porch.
    “They could set up here.” He pointed toward the tree line. “Out of the way of foot traffic, but still easily accessible.”
    Marissa pulled out her pen and planner and made a notation. “Good idea. Thanks.”
    Thumbs hooked in his jeans pockets, Jacob looked off toward the red barn that sat about an acre back to the left. An open outbuilding beside the barn served as a covering for two trailers, probably the ones he carted his lawn mowers on. “So what else do you need?”
    Was he in that big of a hurry for her to leave? Frustration and confusion burned the back of her throat, and she found it difficult to meet his eyes. Not that he was giving her much chance of that anyway. Obviously, whatever expectations she had for her time with him today were far from accurate. She must have misunderstood his intentions Friday night. But he asked her out—officially, and almost nervously as if he had really hoped she’d agree. How else was that to be interpreted?
    “I guess that’s it.” Marissa turned back toward the driveway and her car, angry at herself for allowing the waver in her voice. “I better head back into town before Owen gets out of school.” She could call her mom on the way home and cancel their plans, although Owen would be disappointed not to see his nana. But at least if Marissa got him from school herself she could avoid seeing her dad tonight when she picked up Owen. Another verbal round with him was the last way she wanted to end this rotten afternoon.
    “Marissa, wait.”
    She hesitated at Jacob’s voice, but didn’t stop. She had enough of his bad mood for today. Maybe if she left without revealing her hurt, it wouldn’t cause awkwardness between them later. “I should go.” She stuffed her planner in her purse and grabbed for her keys. They fell on the gravel drive, and Jacob scooped them up before she could bend over.
    “You were right. It’s been a bad day.” He blew out a short breath and attempted a smile. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”
    Her hopes rose. If he was simply having a rough afternoon, then he wasn’t upset with her personally after all. Perhaps he wasn’t trying to back out of their future date and she was just being paranoid. After all, Kevin had been