Page 69 of Starting Back
Instead of saying goodbye to her that day at the airport, I should have tried everything I could to keep her in my life, no matter how hard it would have been.
I’d told her to have no expectations when it came to me and us, when I was the one afraid of wanting more, and I regretted my stupid mistake more and more each day.
Roots didn’t scare me anymore, and neither did attachments, not where she was concerned.
She wasn’t mine, then or now, but losing her terrified me all the same.
TWENTY-SIX
LEO
“You’re the new fireman-nurse, right?”
I put down the string of lights I was winding around one of the mirrors on the truck and turned to an older woman with fiery red hair.
“I am. I guess word travels fast around here.” I smiled and held out my hand. “I’m Leo. I’m the new lieutenant, and I work per diem as a nurse in the ER.”
“Nice to meet you, Leo. I’m Mary, owner of Mary’s Coffee Shop on Main Street. I never knew anyone who did both.”
She took my hand, holding it for a few extra beats after the customary shake. Her eyes traveled up and down my body, and I couldn’t tell if she was giving me a shameless perusal or sizing me up.
The festival was set up on the main road in town, where most of the businesses clustered together. The long street was blocked by our fire truck on one side and two police cruisers on the other.
The road was lined with vendor booths and Christmas trees. It did seem a little out of place to have a holiday festival in November, but I’d been told that small businesses ruled this little town.
Every Kelly Lakes resident I’d met so far had been friendly, but more than a handful were just plain nosy. I supposed a new firefighter and nurse from out of town was something different enough to raise interest.
“I guess you must be single, then. If you can work two such demanding jobs.”
“For the moment,” I said, bracing myself when her eyes lit up.
“My daughter is single too. Recently divorced but not too recent. She’s helping me at the booth today if you’d like me to introduce you.”
“I get the feeling we may be too busy today to socialize too much.”
“Fair enough. But make sure you stop by the shop. I always take care of Kelly Lakes’s first responders.”
“I appreciate that…” I trailed off when I noticed Kristina over Mary’s shoulder, holding Emma’s hand, with an older girl lingering behind them. I guessed that was Chloe, as she looked every bit the bored teenager as they got closer.
Even in a winter jacket, Kristina was still gorgeous. The jacket was fitted enough to tease the curve of her hips and trigger the sweet memory of her thighs squeezing my face as she came in my mouth.
Her body had been burned into my brain ever since that night in the pool. It was the memory that rolled around in my head the most, especially on weak nights when I’d wrap my hand around my lonely dick and wish for her.
I’d played a little dirty to get her to the festival early, but I couldn’t waste the opportunity for some extra time with her today. After missing her for so long and resenting how perfect we could be together, she was here.Wewere here.
All that time I’d spent restless and unsettled, wanting to jump out of my skin if I stayed still for too long, didn’t seem to apply here. I had my family close, a place to live that didn’t seem like a glorified hotel room, and—I hoped—a second chance with the one I’d let get away.
“Hi, Mary,” Kristina said, her smile tight as she held Emma in place by her shoulders. “I’m sure Emma will be visiting your booth for a cinnamon roll.”
“They’re the best,” Emma told me as she bounced with excitement. “Are you going to keep all the lights on?” She pointed to the fire truck behind me that now looked like Christmas had thrown up all over it with my last touches of lights and garland streaming over the front.
“Just the lights for sirens, sweetheart. It would be hard to drive and get out what we need to when we have a call. Ready for the tour?”
“Yes!” Emma squirmed out of Kristina’s hold and grabbed my hand.
“I was just getting to know Leo. Do you know he’s a fireman and—”
“A nurse, yes. It’s impressive, isn’t it?” Kristina shot me a glance, her smile real enough to kick up my heartbeat.
