Chapter 5 Grayson
GRAYSON
Grayson’s heart thundered as the girl tore her eyes from his.
But she couldn’t tear away the vision she had burned into his mind from the very first glance—pretty green eyes, wide with innocence, dark hair framing a heart-shaped face.
Evangeline. That’s a nice name.
But the girl was looking away now, her eyes fixed on the surface of the parking lot like she was suddenly uncomfortable.
That happened sometimes when people noticed his scars.
“Good to meet you, Evangeline,” he told her, his hand automatically reaching up to rub at his neck and jaw, as if he could cover up his ruined skin.
“Bah,” Leo added, waving his arms at her and kicking his little feet.
She looked up immediately, the embarrassment on her face melting into adoration.
“Hello,” she said warmly to the baby. “And what’s your name?”
She didn’t use that high-pitched voice women often slipped into with babies, but there was something extra gentle and soft in the way she spoke to the boy.
Leo stilled momentarily, the same way his lively limbs seemed to pause whenever Grayson first turned on the radio and the music began to play.
I like that voice too, buddy.
“This is Leo,” he remembered to say, only half a second later than would have been normal.
“Hello, Leo,” she said. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Leo kicked his legs out straight again and he made a funny, chuckling sound that had Evangeline laughing right along with him.
“When can you start?” Grayson heard himself ask.
“Don’t you want to check her references or something?” Jensen Webb called to him.
The man had a point, but Grayson had a feeling about the girl that went beyond her heroic stunt. And he’d learned to trust his gut when it came to judging people.
“After she threw herself on the pavement to save him?” he said lightly. “No, I’m good. Besides, you’re Sam’s friend, right?”
“I can vouch for her,” Sam agreed right away. “She’s a good person and she has experience.”
Sam was new to town, but her unflagging work ethic and the way she cared tirelessly for her younger sister had told him all he needed to know about her from the very beginning.
“Where are you staying?” Grayson asked, his eyes flicking back to Evangeline. “Do you have a car?”
“Um… no car,” she replied. “And I don’t technically have a place yet either.”
She was a little shy, but Grayson could relate. He’d spent plenty of time locked in a cage of his own making. It wasn’t until Leo came into his life that he’d started to feel more like his old self again, scars and all.
Maybe Leo will make her feel better too…
“You’re welcome to our guest room,” he told her. “That might make things easier anyway until you figure out transportation.”
It was already getting late, and it would be tough for her to find somewhere else to stay at this hour.
“Thank you,” she said, glancing up at him again.
His eyes caught hers before she could look away, and he felt that stirring in his chest again, like she already meant something to him.
Pull it together, Ward, he told himself.
It had been a while since he’d had any female attention focused on him, that was all. He wouldn’t let this green-eyed girl shake his world.
“Great job, Sam,” Jensen said to Samantha, chuckling. “You’re putting out fires after hours today.”
“Oh, speaking of putting out fires,” Grayson remembered, turning to Evangeline. “I need to bring those hoagies to the boys. Are you okay stopping by the fire station before we go home?”
“Of course,” she said.
“We’ll head over then,” he said before turning to the others. “See you guys later.”
Evangeline grabbed the stroller handles and walked alongside him, like she was already trying to make herself useful by leaving his hands free for Leo.
He appreciated it. Even though these carriers were supposed to be hands-free, he preferred to keep at least one hand on the boy. It just seemed safer that way.
As soon as they were alone, his old discomfort began to fall over him again. He knew he should probably make conversation with the girl, try to put her at ease. But he couldn’t seem to open his mouth.
“These are for the firefighters?” she asked after a moment.
“I used to volunteer,” Grayson said, nodding. “But I’ve got my hands full these days, so I do other stuff to help out.”
Leo smacked his lips, as if in agreement.
Grayson patted his little belly through the carrier and the baby grabbed his thumb in a vise-like grip.
“That’s really nice of you,” Evangeline said, glancing up at Grayson.
He felt an unexpected hint of pleasure at her praise.
“A lot of guys volunteer,” he said, shrugging instead of telling her how much he liked hanging out at the firehouse with the guys he’d known all his life.
They walked on in silence, moving from one pool of light to another as they followed the slope of the lot down to the entrance of the firehouse while Grayson stormed at himself for closing down.
Ever since Leo came to him, he’d been feeling more and more like his old self—laid-back and confident, with his old sense of humor rolling back in more often.
But right now, he felt like he was withdrawing into himself all over again, and he knew exactly why.
She doesn’t care about the scars, he tried to tell himself. When she looks over here, she’s just looking at the baby.
But that wasn’t exactly true. Those green eyes went right to his like magnets every time he opened his mouth.
It’s just new. That’s all. I’ll get used to her.
The big doors to the firehouse were open spilling light into the lot, and someone was playing Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” on the stereo.
They stepped inside to find Ashton Beck rubbing a microfiber towel over the door panel of one of the engines while Chad Stransky and Ken Oberfield lifted weights in the back corner.
“Hey there,” Ashton said, placing his towel down and wiping his hands on his coverall.
Grayson greeted him with a smile.
Ashton Beck had been completely dedicated to the station ever since they were teenagers. He was a full-time employee now with a wife and child, and the only person Grayson had ever known to say they wanted to be a firefighter when they grew up and then go on to actually make the dream come true.
They shook hands as Chad and Ken approached. Chad worked for Trudy Williams out at the inn, but Grayson had heard that he was in some kind of training program right now.
“Hey, guys,” Grayson said.
“Who’s the unlucky lady who has to put up with my buddy Grayson?” Ashton teased, smiling at Evangeline.
The other two chuckled as Grayson blinked at him.
He thinks we’re together.
He got a funny little charge out of the idea before he could remind himself it wasn’t true and now he was going to have to explain.
“I’m going to be watching Leo,” Evangeline told Ashton herself. “My name’s Evangeline.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Evangeline,” Ashton told her without missing a beat. “Grayson’s been on his own with Leo, so it’s great that he’ll have some help now. I’m Ashton, that’s Chad, and that’s Ken.”
“Great to meet you,” Chad said.
“So… you’re single, Evangeline?” Ken asked with a wolfish grin.
“She’s busy with work,” Grayson heard himself growl.
Ken’s eyebrows shot up and Grayson cursed himself inwardly for being such a grump. He had no reason to be protective of this girl he’d only met a few minutes ago.
“So,” Chad said quickly. “Exactly how many babies do you have?”
Grayson was confused for a second until Chad nodded at the stroller. Evangeline smiled and pulled back the blanket to reveal the hoagies.
“Yes,” Ken said, immediately reaching for a wrapped sandwich. “Are these from Mario’s?”
For some reason, Grayson wanted to smack his hand away, but he steadied his temper.
“Yeah,” he said. “Go on and take them. I figured you all might want something to eat for the overnight shift.”
“That’s really nice of you, man,” Chad said, bending to take a sandwich.
“Sorry I can’t be here with you,” Grayson said, looking away.
“Well, you’ve got your own overnight shifts to worry about,” Ashton said with a smile at Leo. “Maybe you’ll be bringing him back here one day to volunteer.”
“One day,” Grayson said, smiling as he tried to picture it. Right now, it felt like Leo was going to be a baby forever.
“The time will pass faster than you think,” Ashton said, shaking his head in wonder before bending to grab a sandwich for himself. “My baby girl’s already in preschool.”
Ashton had adopted his best friends’ daughter, Kaylee, when she was one-and-a-half and her parents died in a car crash.
It had happened a little over two years ago, while Grayson was still serving, but everyone in town knew what Ashton had done to offer Kaylee a home, and how it had indirectly led to him marrying Lucy Webb, who he’d loved for years.
“We’d better get a move on,” Grayson said. “Anyone else coming in tonight?”
“Nah,” Ashton said. “Take the rest of these with you. You’ll want your own supper.”
He almost said no, but when he glanced over at Evangeline something told him not to turn down the easy meal. He’d probably have to catch her up on a lot of stuff for Leo tonight, so there might not be much time for cooking.
“Okay,” he said. “See you guys later.”
“Later, man,” Chad called to him. “Thanks for dinner.”
“Thanks, Grayson,” Ashton said.
Grayson headed out, a little embarrassed that they were making a big thing out of something so small.
His investments had paid off handsomely, and he had everything he needed. Buying the guys a couple of sandwiches wasn’t generous when he did it, because there was no sacrifice to his own lifestyle.
He marched back up the darkened lot toward his car, lost in his thoughts.
“You okay?” Evangeline asked, jogging after him with the stroller.
“Yeah,” he said, slowing down. “Sorry, I’m a fast walker.”
“You don’t like them making a fuss over you,” she guessed.
He glanced over at her. Her expression was serious, like she understood, not like she was laughing at him.
“It’s not a big deal to bring them a little food,” he said.