Free Her Firefighter Hero by Leigh Bale Page A

charity. Not as long as she could find a way to help herself.
    â€œHow about if I rent it from you?” she asked.
    He opened his mouth, then closed it, as though he wanted to argue, but realized it was futile. “Okay, but just enough to cover the mileage. Say twenty dollars a month?”
    She snorted. “How about a hundred dollars a month, along with parts and service?”
    He folded his arms, making the fabric of his sleeves tighten around his big biceps. “Make it fifty and an occasional home-cooked meal, and we’ve got a deal.”
    Oh, boy. His terms would mean that he’d be coming over to her house now and then to have dinner with her and the kids. Laughing, joking, having fun. Becoming good friends. And she couldn’t let that happen.
    â€œI’ll agree to seventy-five,” she said, omitting anything about fixing him dinner.
    He stood before her, his legs spread slightly. Unfolding his arms, he rested his hands on his lean hips. Solid and tenacious. But she could be stubborn, too. On the one hand, she wanted to accept his offer. She’d be crazy not to. She’d already spent a sleepless night wondering how to pay for major repairs on her old junker truck. Wondering how she was going to get her kids back and forth to school and the restaurant, much less haul food up on the mountain. But on the other hand, Jared was being too generous. There to bail her out of trouble as he’d done with the washing machine and the ride home the previous night. And it’d be crazy to have him over to the house for supper with the kids. Kind of like jumping from the pan into the fire.
    He shook his head, the sunlight gleaming against his dark blond hair. “Nope. Fifty dollars a month or no deal.”
    So he’d called her bluff. They stood there looking at each other in a standoff, and neither of them spoke for several pounding moments. She couldn’t deny the urge to accept all that he offered. It’d be so easy to say yes. To give in and make life easier on herself. But it was an illusion. She’d pay a heavy price later on. She couldn’t get any closer to him. Even as friends. No, not again. She just couldn’t. She opened her mouth to tell him so, but the words wouldn’t come out.
    â€œAgreed, but you’ll have to eat your home-cooked meals over at the restaurant,” she finally said. “As a general rule, I only have Sunday and Monday nights off, so I’m not usually here at home during the dinner hour.”
    Of course, she could invite him over on her nights off, but she didn’t say that. It was better not to offer that option to him.
    Placing the key in her hand, he flashed a smile so bright that she had to swallow.
    â€œAgreed,” he said. “And we’ve already had Grant Metcalf tow your truck over to his garage for service.”
    â€œWe?” she said.
    â€œYes, Tim and me. He thinks the alternator’s gone out. If that’s the case, Grant said he’ll have to order parts, which could take several weeks before the repairs are done.”
    She shook her head, feeling dazed. He’d made this matter so simple for her. She hadn’t had to do a single thing. “You’ve already spoken to Grant about my truck?”
    He jerked one shoulder. “Yeah, Tim and I took care of it for you early this morning. I thought it might help you out since you’ve got the kids to deal with and all.”
    â€œI was going to see Grant now,” she said.
    â€œActually, Tim made the first call to ask the mechanic to come over and tow your truck back to his garage and take a look at the engine,” he said. “I just followed up to find out what he thought the problem was. Tim says the guy’s good. And seems that he is, because Grant said it can be fixed but it will take time.”
    Oh. So Jared hadn’t acted completely on his own. Like all the other hotshots, he was just looking out for