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caterer for him. He had to remind himself that her husband used to work for the Minoa Hotshots. She’d been a firefighter’s wife, just like his ex-wife. And yet, she seemed to fit in so well with the other hotshots. Without resentment. Without hating everything about small towns. Without longing for the large shopping centers and bright lights of a big city. Instead, he got the vibe that Megan was well-adjusted to living here in Minoa. That she actually liked being here. If only Sharon had been the same way, their marriage might have worked.
    â€œHave you lived here long?” he asked.
    She nodded, gripping the armrest with whitened knuckles. No doubt she was still upset about her truck. “Yes, eight years. We moved here just after June was born.”
    â€œDo you like it here?” He decreased his speed as he turned down Main Street.
    She flashed a smile. “Oh, yes. It’s a sweet community. Perfect for raising a young family. I wouldn’t live anywhere else now. I grew up in Elko, Nevada, but my husband grew up here. That’s how we got the restaurant. His father died five years ago and left the diner to us. Since I’d graduated from culinary school, I loved to cook. It seemed a perfect fit. A great way to do what I love. Then, four years ago, we bought the mobile kitchen, to cater meals to the firefighters. While Blaine worked his job as a hotshot, I ran the diner and catering business. But we never thought it would end so soon.”
    Her voice cracked and so did his heart. He held the steering wheel with both hands. “I’m sorry you lost him.”
    â€œThanks,” she said very quietly.
    And that was that. They didn’t speak again until they arrived at her house. The air seemed to fill up with a lot of unspoken words. They both had past loves and broken hearts. Hopes and dreams that had been dashed to smithereens. Vanquished yearnings that kept rattling around and making a lot of noise in their minds.
    He pulled into her driveway and killed the engine, then hopped out and hurried around to open her door. He helped her down, then walked with her up the dark sidewalk to her front doorstep. The cool night air smelled of rain. Another lightning storm that had the potential to start a forest fire in the mountains. Except for being set up on a blind date by Connie and Tim, it’d been a perfect evening. Despite his misgivings, he had enjoyed himself tremendously.
    â€œI know neither of us planned it this way, but I had a lot of fun tonight,” he said.
    â€œYeah, me too. Thanks.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.”
    She stood close, and he gazed into her soft brown eyes. A hypnotic force seemed to pull him nearer, until his gaze lowered to her lips.
    The porch light came on and the door jerked open.
    â€œHi, Mommy!” Caleb called.
    June bulldozed her way past her brother and stood there with her arms crossed and a disapproving frown curving her mouth. “Hey, are you gonna kiss my mom?”
    â€œNo! Of course not.” Heat flooded Jared’s face.
    â€œJune, don’t be rude,” Megan said.
    â€œYuck! I’d never kiss a girl. You might get a disease.” Caleb stuck out his tongue in disgust.
    â€œYou won’t get a disease,” June said.
    â€œWill, too,” Caleb replied.
    Jared couldn’t help laughing. If he had two little kids, he’d want them to be just like Caleb and June. But the situation was anything but comfortable.
    â€œSorry, Mrs. Rocklin.” The babysitter pulled the children back inside the house and closed the door.
    Jared breathed a sigh of relief, but he couldn’t help chuckling as he jerked his thumb toward the house. “Looks like you’ve got two little watchdogs.”
    The children had hopped up on the couch and had their noses pressed against the glass windowpane as they peered out at them.
    â€œYes, they’re a bit overly protective of me. I’m sorry about