Chapter One
As Jamie watched Smith work the party, shaking hands and smiling for the camera, she was sure it was some kind of crime to be that good-looking.
He had a sinful combination of smolder and charm, with his close-cropped dark blond hair, strong jawline, and pure blue eyes. And his body. Just kill her with its perfection. A body like that should be outlawed.
There was a reason he was the star of the fireman’s calendar, and that was the same reason every woman here—and probably around the country, come to think of it—had a copy of the Hidden Oaks Volunteer Firefighter’s Calendar.
Because Smith Grayson was gorgeous, and a glass of wine or two had a way of making her check him out more than usual.
“Hey¸ Jamie, you might want to stop staring, or Smith will think you actually like him.”
Her cheeks flushed as she returned her attention to her friend Kaitlyn, who leaned against the bar. They both worked at The Panting Dog—Jamie was the manager, Kaitlyn a waitress—but they had the night off and were here at the kickoff party for the town’s upcoming Spring Festival that would lure a whole slew of tourists to Hidden Oaks. Jamie had organized the party, so wanted to see how it turned out, and she was pleased with her work. Laughter and music rang through the bar, and spilled out into the wide and grassy town square, where the festival would be held in a week.
“I’m not staring at him.”
“Right. And I’m the Queen of England, and these are my people,” Kaitlyn said, gesturing widely to the crowd that filled the microbrewery. A new establishment, The Panting Dog had quickly become a popular watering hole in their Northern California town, known for its vineyards, boutique hotels, cute shops, and its absolutely fine men who put out fires.
“I always had a hunch you were royalty,” Jamie said, grateful to segue into any other topic than the volunteer fireman she should absolutely, positively not be lusting after. The trouble was, Smith was always around. He’d been spending even more time than usual at The Panting Dog since the construction company he ran was building out the back of the bar. To top it off, she and Smith bowled together once a week at the local lanes with a group of friends. Bless those friends; they made it so she didn’t really have to be alone with him. She could only imagine how that would work out—them bowling together, him trying to show her how to improve her form, standing behind her, slinking his arms around her waist, making her shiver.
Damn, why did her mind stray there when it came to Smith? She wasn’t the type of woman who was given over to thoughts of lust, who let her body’s physical cravings lead her on. Besides, she’d spent enough time around that man and had resisted him because he simply wasn’t her type. She wasn’t his type either. She was organized, a planner, devoted to her to-do list, and he was fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants. She was the woman who didn’t swear; he was the fireman with a sailor mouth. She wanted someone serious, someone studious, someone she could see having a future with. Too bad she hadn’t met anyone in a long time who fit that bill.
A long, dry, aching drought of a time.
“You should just go for it with Smith,” Kaitlyn said, nudging her with an elbow.
Jamie shook her head. “I can’t and I won’t, thank you very much.”
“Oh, c’mon. You two can’t stay away from each other. You’re always chatting.”
“No, we’re not,” she said, narrowing her eyebrows as if her friend were crazy. Though, admittedly, there was some truth to Kaitlyn’s comment.
“And you’re always hanging out together here at the bar, or at the bowling alley.”
Jamie flubbed her lips. “We do not.”
“And he’s always giving you the eye like he wants you.”
Her heart beat faster, betraying her brain. “Really?”
Kaitlyn’s eyes widened, and she pointed at Jamie. “See? You’re into him, aren’t you?”
Jamie shook her head quickly, trying to deny the way her heart skittered with the possibility that he was attracted to her too. “I was just surprised, that’s all.”
“That’s why your cheeks are all red and flushed.”
Her hand flew to her face, and she could feel the warmth there.
Kaitlyn lowered her voice. “You’re always looking at him like you want him too. So why not see if there’s something to the two of you?”
Jamie sighed. “I can’t. You know that. Look what happened to Diane when she got involved with a guy she was good friends with. I’d be walking down the same path of trouble she faces with her ex,” she said, mentioning her sister’s ex-husband. They were friends first, and even though he had a whole lot of notches on his bedpost, Diane took a chance on him anyway. A fireman a few towns over, he’d wound up trampling all over Diane’s heart and marriage, and was one more reason why Jamie needed to stay far away from those love ’em and leave ’em types. A smooth one with the ladies, Smith had that same easy way about him, especially on nights like this, as he held court, telling a story to the curvy brunette, Lisa, who seemed to cling to his every word. A photographer for the calendar, she’d been snapping party pictures, and was now trying to glue herself to Smith’s side. When she ran a hand down his arm, jealousy flared inside Jamie.
What the hell? Why on earth would she feel a sliver of anything? She had no reason to feel jealous, and she wanted to drop-kick her stupid envy right out into the night.