Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3) - Kahlen Aymes (old books to read .TXT) 📗

“Ben…” she sighed my name and her hot breath rushed deliciously over my mouth. I swallowed as our mouths hovered together. Her fingers drifted up to lightly touch my jaw. I was struggling in a big way.

“Marin,” I returned, knowing I was losing the battle. The puppy whined and I pulled back, regaining my sense of logic, my hand running down her arm to squeeze her hand. I bent to pick up the pup and hand her to the young woman in front of me. “You’ll be okay. You have Gem and me to take care of you. I think she wants a bite of that delicious waffle.”

Marin sat back in chair, as if suddenly aware of what almost happened. She blinked, tears still clinging to her eyelashes as Gem licked at her face. Her hand ran down over the puppy and she reached forward onto her plate and broke off a small piece of the waffle, holding it while the dog gobbled it up greedily.

I moved back to my chair and started eating the now cold waffle. It was still delicious, and I had another one to down. That was close. If the dog hadn’t intervened, I was certain I would have been making love to her on the kitchen floor, and that wasn’t what I wanted for Marin. I wanted her, but when I made her mine, it would be in a bed with candlelight, and soft music. She deserved no less. I knew it would happen; the attraction between us was a tangible thing, but it would take more time. I had to be more aware so this “almost sex” didn’t happen again.

“After breakfast, let’s go see the foal. I told Gem about her new brother.” I winked at Marin, trying to lighten the mood, hoping she wouldn’t see my reticence as rejection.

I relaxed when Marin reached forward to pick up another small piece of waffle for Gem who happily gobbled it down licking her fingers. “Have you thought of a name yet?”

“Not yet,” I shook my head, pouring the now barely warm syrup on the second waffle Marin had made for me. “All good things come to those who wait.”

“Well, don’t be too long. I can’t keep calling him little colt.”

“That would be bad. I thought I’d speak to my nephew about it. Would that be okay?”

She smirked. “How old is he, again?”

“Eight,” I replied.

“As long as it’s not something dumb like Happy, Lucky, or Blacky.” Her nose crinkled in disdain and I burst out laughing.

“Hey don’t make fun! Lucky was my first dog’s name.”

“I rest my case. This little colt needs a dignified name. I can tell by looking at him he’s going to be magnificent.”

“You would know,” I said, taking a bite.

“I’ve seen a few foals over the years on the ranch, and he is just about perfect.”

“I got a few pictures to send to Dylan. I’ll talk to him later.”

As if on cue, my phone rang from my back pocket. I pulled it out and checked the screen. It was the station calling me in.

“Yeah?”

It was my chief. “Ben, we have flames on the west range of the Tetons and it’s windy. We have to get in front of it and we need all the help we can get. Sorry to pull you in on your day off, but we need you. It’s three-alarm already.”

“Not a problem. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I shut off my phone and stood up from the table. “Marin, I’m sorry, I have to go. There is a forest fire in the Tetons. They’re calling me in.”

“Oh no!” Marin stood up anxiously. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Just pray we get it under control. It’s on the west range so Jackson is safe for now, but I have to move. I’m sorry.”

Marin rushed forward and grabbed both of my forearms. “Ben… please be careful!”

My hands closed around her elbows as she looked up at me with worried eyes. “I will. Promise. I’ll call you later.”

She nodded and I rushed from the house and to my truck. Adrenaline was already kicking in as I tore out of the driveway of the ranch and I raced into town.

MARIN

I spent the day with Siri and her new foal in between watching the news for information about the fire. I was scared for Ben but tried to calm myself down by telling myself he was excellent at his job and keeping myself busy.

Gem followed me out to the barn, and curiously peered into the stall as we waited for the vet to arrive to give Siri and her foal a check-up. She was too small to crawl over the first board to get into the stalls but stood on her hind feet with her front paws holding onto it to peer in curiously between the slats. Her tail wagged furiously, and she barked a couple of times.

Yap! Yap! Yap! Yap! Booowwwww!

Her little bark reminded me that she was just a baby, too. “Come here, sweetie.” I picked her up and held her in my arms. “Soon you can go in and meet the new foal, but even though he’s a baby like you, he’s much bigger. I don’t want my little sweet face getting hurt,” I cooed, kissing her once on the cheek and the top of her smooth black head. When I set the puppy down again, she scampered around the barn as had become her custom, running up and down the main corridor; sniffing and exploring everywhere she went.

I pulled out my phone to call Dr. Porter; the large animal vet that Uncle Leonard had always used. I wanted to check on his arrival time, so I scrolled through my contacts to find the number.

“Marin?” I heard Gina’s voice from the outside in the yard.

I quickly moved toward the entrance to the barn. “Gina! I’m in here!”

It was nice to have a new friend. She smiled tiredly when she saw me. “Hey!”