Free Men of Courage by Lori Foster, Jill Shalvis, Donna Kauffman Page B

first, then your shower.” He touched her cheek. “Could I have a key?”
    This time her smile was natural. “On top of the fridge in the basket. I had it made for you months ago.”
    Ethan slipped his arm around her and startedher toward the front door so she wouldn’t be late. “I appreciate your confidence in my intelligence. You knew I’d wise up, didn’t you?”
    Rosie laughed. “I couldn’t bear to think otherwise.”

CHAPTER FIVE
    A T ONE O’CLOCK , Rosie parked in front of the entrance to the park where she’d set up a meeting with Regina Foxworth. The reporter said she’d be in the area to talk with a fireworks dealer located nearby, then at two, she would be interviewing Ethan over lunch at the diner across the street. She agreed to give Rosie half an hour first, plenty of time to set the record straight.
    Rosie had rearranged her schedule, but still it had been difficult to get to the park by the designated time. Luckily, when she shaded her eyes and looked around, she found Regina just seating herself on a park bench in front of a decorative fountain.
    Rosie strode forward, a woman on a mission. Ethan might be resistant to the idea of a big marriage now, but she’d get him around that somehow. In her heart, she knew he was over Michelle. She just needed him to know it, too.
    Regina was another matter entirely. She believed Ethan when he said he loved her, but he’d also made his admiration of the reporter plain. Rosie had waited too long to have Ethan to take chances now. She wanted Regina to understand that Ethan was already involved in a relationship. “Hello, Regina.”
    The pretty redhead smiled up at Rosie and extended her hand. She was dressed in a chic summer-weight suit and a camera hung from a wide strap around her neck. “Nice to see you again, Rosie.”
    “I appreciate you making the time for me.” After a friendly handshake, Rosie sat beside her on the bench. Though the day was hot, the park buzzed with life. Children were playing everywhere and she could hear the occasional happy bark of a dog chasing a Frisbee. Someday in the near future she and Ethan would bring their children here and watch them on the swings. She sighed.
    “No problem.” Regina crossed her legs and smiled. “You’ve got me curious, so I wanted to meet with you first. When I interview Firefighter Winters, I don’t want to be distracted.”
    Rosie clenched her teeth. Jealousy was new to her and she didn’t like it at all. “Please, call him Ethan—I know he’ll insist.”
    “All right.”
    A man and a woman jogged by. Regina waited, not saying anything more, leaving it up to Rosie to explain herself.
    She got right to the point. “Why do you want to interview Ethan?”
    Regina’s brows rose. “Just the obvious reasons. Ethan has a history of heroic deeds and he was rewarded for it. The ceremony was a big deal and I got some great photos, but obviously Ethan wasn’t up to an interview then.”
    Remembering how foolishly Ethan had behaved chasing the woman beside her, Rosie scowled. He’d thrown himself at her and the only surprise was that Regina hadn’t jumped on the chance to be with him. Rosie would have.
    “The paper has already done a couple of articles on him,” Rosie pointed out.
    “True. But in a town this size, a man like Ethan quickly becomes a role model. Pride for one of their own is top-notch news. Everyone wants to hear about him, about the ceremony the other night, his past good deeds and what’s happening with him now.”
    “What do you intend to ask him?”
    If Regina thought her questions intrusive, she didn’t say so. “You’re protective of him, aren’t you? I can understand that. His behavior at the ceremony was…” She searched for a word andfinally shrugged. “Well, as big and strong and capable as he is, he seemed vulnerable to me.”
    That startled Rosie. “He was drunk.”
    Grinning, Regina said, “That he was.” She tipped her head. “Does he drink