Chapter 12
Twelve
“Does your ex-husband live nearby?”
“He’s in Seattle.” Annie handed him a mug of tea. “Would you like some lemon or milk?”
He shook his head and murmured a thanks. “That’s a long trip for a pair of two-year-olds.”
He flashed her a smile, his brows low over his eyes.
The tension in her chest eased as Annie took a seat. Miles got it. How could Roy not?
“It’s tough,” she admitted.
Annie wasn’t going to pull him into her drama. She was not going to be the bitter ex-wife, dumping her problems on people who were only asking polite questions.
His eye lingered on hers. “How often does he make the trip?”
His smoldering gaze threatened to pull her in, though.
She stared back at him, trying to decide how much to say. “About once a month.”
One side of his mouth tipped up. “A dedicated father.”
She broke first, a small laugh escaping her. “I take the twins over early on a Saturday, and he brings them back on a Sunday. It’s not been easy on them.”
“One night a month? It must not be easy on him either.”
Oh. Of course Miles would sympathize with Roy. He was a father, too. He’d see his side of things; he’d think about how much Roy must miss the kids.
Annie sucked in a breath to explain herself, but Miles went on before she could form a word.
“The poor guy must lose so much sleep – the one night a month they’re with him.”
Annie laughed again. “You almost had me there.”
Miles took a sip of tea, a smile dancing on his lips. “Sorry, I – I hear about these kinds of dads and it blows my mind. I would die if I had to be away from Bella even half the time.”
“Thank goodness you’ll never let her go to college,” Annie said.
His smile was unchanged. “Exactly. She’s not the type. I’ve always discouraged her from growing up or following her dreams, especially if it takes her away from me.”
“That’s healthy.”
“Isn’t it?” He grinned.
This wouldn’t do. If she stayed any longer, that gorgeous smile beaming at her, those broad shoulders shaking as he laughed, she’d melt into a puddle.
Or worse, she’d confide in him even more.
“Would you want some cookies with your tea?”
“Sure.”
In the kitchen, her face nearly touching the cabinet, Annie forced herself to take a deep breath. Do not make a fool of yourself, she silently whispered as she grabbed two packs of Lorna Doones.
“Are these okay?”
His eyes widened. “I love a Lorna. Or a pack of Lornas—let’s be honest.”
Impressively muscular and in shape, but not so much that he’d refuse a pack of cookies. Annie realized then and there that was her new type. Not whatever zero body fat thing Roy had gotten into.
She handed him a pack and opened one for herself.
“One night a month.” He unwrapped the cookies carefully, resting them in his big hands. “Is that all he wanted?”
“We never put together a formal custody agreement.” Annie paused. “After he insisted on moving to Seattle – ”
He cut her off. “He insisted on moving to Seattle? Why?”
She really shouldn’t tell him all of this. But how often did she come across a sympathetic ear? How often were people not uncomfortable when they heard about the divorce? Especially people on the island who had known Roy growing up. They’d make excuses, or make an awkward face and try to rush away.
“It was a big factor in our divorce, actually. We both grew up on the island. We were high school sweethearts, and we moved back to be closer to my mom. To have help. He said it was the most beautiful place on earth and he’d missed it.”
“At least he was right about that,” Miles said with a nod.
Annie went on. “After the twins were born, he got overwhelmed with it all. He told me he needed to keep an apartment in Seattle so he could have time away from the family to improve himself, and that he’d use our house as his home base.”
Shock registered on Miles’ face, his eyebrows shooting up and his mouth opening slightly. “Well, if that isn’t a load of – ” Miles stopped himself, clearing his throat. “Sorry. I have no sympathy for deadbeat dads.”
Annie couldn’t get the smile off her face. She dipped a cookie in her tea and took a bite. It melted in her mouth.
He stared at her. “I’m sorry, is that too far?”
She looked up, unable to stop the smile crossing her lips. “No, it’s just…I feel bad. Like I’m gossiping about him.”
“Is it gossip? Or are those the facts?”
The facts. That was it. As much as she turned it over in her head, as many times as she’d doubted herself, these were the things Roy had said, those were the actions Roy had taken. She’d presented it exactly as it had happened.
Annie set down her tea. “I get that having twins is intense. Believe me, I’ve been here for it all.
But he gave up so quickly, and I didn’t – I never thought he’d crumble like that.
I’d known him for most of my life, and nothing about him screamed ‘I’m going to run away at the first sign of trouble. ’”
And worst of all, people still blamed her. Like she should’ve known he would act like that, like she should’ve chosen a better man.
She wasn’t going to mention any of that.
“It’s not you,” he said, as if reading her mind. “It’s a tale as old as time. Dad going out for milk and all. Don’t blame yourself. Some people can take the heat, and some people can’t.”
A mischievous smile lit his face.
“You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?” she asked.
“I know a thing or two about heat,” he said, lifting his shoulder with the slightest hint of a shrug.
Was he flirting? Or was she losing her mind?
The tea was overheating her. Or he was overheating her.
Annie took a gulp of tea, letting the burn bring her back to earth. “How long have you been a firefighter? And would you say it’s a calling?”
He smiled, the warmth reaching his eyes for a brief moment.
“Six years. I got interested in it when I became a dad. I felt powerless to prevent bad things from happening to the people I loved.” He scrubbed his jaw with his hand, pausing, as though weighing his words.
“Madeline died in a freak accident. An amniotic embolism minutes after Bella was born. There was really nothing that could have been done, but part of me felt like if I’d been more prepared, I could have saved her. ”
“I’m so sorry.” Annie could feel tears pricking at the backs of her eyes. She remembered only too well how vulnerable pregnancy and childbirth was, how aware she was that at any moment, it could all go terribly wrong.
“From that day forward, I felt like I had to protect Bella from everything. And, for some reason, I kept having nightmares about fires.” He laughed. “So, I guess in a way, it’s a calling. I started as a volunteer, became an EMT, and eventually got hired on full time.”
“That’s incredible. Really.”
He shrugged, eyes averted to his remaining cookies.
She sat back. “Well, I had an idea, and I was hoping I could tell you in person.”
“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow, his eyes smoldering with playfulness.
That scowl. He was ridiculously handsome. It shouldn’t be allowed.
“I think it’s absurd you don’t have a working firetruck. I talked to Margie, and we’re going to hold a fundraiser – a gala at Saltwater Cove.”
His expression brightened. “Really?”
She nodded, her voice picking up speed. “I don’t know how much we can raise, so I’m sure it won’t solve all of your problems, but Margie is pretty good at these things, and I’m going to help.”
“That’s incredibly kind of you. All of us at the station will appreciate it.” He stood abruptly. “All right, enough gossiping between us girls.”
She laughed.
He went on, “I’m going to get to work on that window, then I’m going to hit everything else that your mom listed off for me.”
Annie shook her head. “It’ll take weeks.”
“I’ve got weeks,” he said.
Her heart leapt at the idea. Weeks of having Miles at her house, sauntering around in those t-shirts, biceps lifting those tools up and down, up and down.
It was like a dream come true. Annie couldn’t believe it was real.
Except it was real. Over the next three weeks, Miles was at her house every chance he had. Whenever he had a day off, he showed up with his tool bag, more supplies, and more sassy comments about Roy.
After the second week, Annie started to question whether the fire department really had so many extra home improvement parts lying around.
All he’d say on the matter was, “I cannot reveal my sources.”
If she could’ve afforded to pay him back, she would have – not that he would have accepted it.
Annie rearranged her work from home days so she could be there with him as much as possible. They passed the time gossiping, laughing, and trying to keep Annie’s mom from adding more items to the list.
She’d meant to host him for dinner again, but things got so hectic with work and planning the gala that the idea got away from her.
Then he beat her to it. “I’ve got the holiday off, and I want to invite you, the kids, and your mom over for a Thanksgiving feast.”
It was too much. Too kind, and altogether too… enticing.
“I wouldn’t want to impose,” Annie said.
He shook his head. “My parents never come for Thanksgiving, and Madeline’s parents are long gone. It’s usually just me and Bella, unless we invite some of her friends.”
Annie cocked her head. He seemed like someone who would have a big, happy, warm family all around him. “Really?”
“Really. You’d be doing us a favor.”
Annie scoffed. “If you want chocolate melted into your carpets, sure.”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” he said, staring her down.
Annie let out a little laugh. He was serious! Who was she to deny him?
“What can I bring?” she asked.
He held up a hand. “Absolutely nothing. You are my guest. Bring your mother, bring your kids, bring an appetite.”
She grinned at him. He was impossible to argue with. “Okay, if you insist.”