Free Stay: Changing Tides, Book 1 by Candi Wall Page B

over the back of a chair. “Could have.”
    “But where would the fun be in that?” she finished for him, certain that was what he’d planned to say.
    He turned back to tend the fire. “Check my coat pocket. There’s something in there for you.”
    Gladly. Anything to keep her mind off the potential surprise of the critters, as he called them, or the warmth lingering from his touch. Their fingers had brushed when he took the coat, and she decided now would be a great time to sit. Her legs losing half their solidity with the contact had something to do with the decision. She sat in the chair where his coat hung and pulled a paper from the inside pocket. Tipping it toward the firelight, she read it carefully. They were her induction papers. She was officially a member of the Brighton Fire and Rescue team. She glanced his way. “Thanks.”
    “I’ll have you sign out your equipment and pager at the next meeting so you can start responding to calls.” He chuckled then. “You know, the rest of the team would have skinned me if I hadn’t brought you on. You made quite an impression on everyone.”
    “But not you?” She couldn’t keep the disappointment from her voice. “You didn’t want me on the team?”
    “You’re wrong there.” He stood and closed the distance between them, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’d be surprised at what I want. Or maybe you wouldn’t. You tempt me, Abby. I haven’t felt tempted in a long time.”
    Okay, there was an open door if she’d ever heard one. Now what to do with it? Walk through and kiss him the way she’d been dying to for a week, or wait and see what he did? Before she could decide how to react, Jonathon burst into the cabin. He closed the door and moved to stand near the fire. Rubbing his hands together, he warmed them as Brack signed to him. She caught a word or two here and there, but nothing that made sense.
    With nothing else to do, she stuffed the papers in her jacket pocket. “What’s going on?”
    Brack eyed her, his expression wary. “He’s had an invite to the movies. Mind if he ditches us old folks?”
    She hurried over to where they stood and peeked at the text message. Giving Jonathon a thumbs-up, she said, “If you don’t go, I’ll be upset.”
    “You sure?” he signed. “We were supposed to ice fish.”
    She gave him a reassuring smile. Nothing was more important at sixteen than a date with the person you were crazy about. She wasn’t about to rob him of that. “I don’t want you hanging out here because of me. Go have fun!”
    “You sure?” Jonathon prodded again. “I feel bad.”
    Abby wanted nothing more than to relieve his concern. He had an opportunity that he shouldn’t ignore. “Go. We can do this anytime you want.”
    Jonathon’s smile lit up the room but it was nothing compared to the expression his father sent her way. He nodded over his son’s head. “Thanks.”
    Jonathon’s earnest excitement stole over her, and even as her heart tripped at the thought of being alone with his father, her mother’s words once again made perfect sense. You just never know where life is going to take you; all you can do is follow…
    She met Brack’s smile and shivered.
    Life never stayed on a particular track for long. Who would have thought she’d be in the middle of the woods with these two? Who would have thought the youngest Elliot would desert them, leaving them to their own devices, or that the elder Elliot would have shared his past with her? Suddenly, her heart opened to the possibility of the fun and experiences to savor.
    She ignored the vague little voice warning her to guard her heart. She shouldn’t be enjoying this as much as she was. It never lasted. Brack and Jonathon had no idea of the troubles that always followed her. They didn’t need to get close.
    And she didn’t want to leave her heart here.
    But damned if the two men didn’t make it possible to squash the warning thoughts.

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