Saved by Love (Willow Valley Book 3)(21)

Abby rolled her eyes. "God forbid."

She reached for her own spoon and dug in, and they both enjoyed it until they couldn't eat another bite. She had to stop way before Ethan. To her complete shock, he devoured it all, down to the very last bit in the bottom.

"I never would have believed it," she said. "How did you possibly eat all that? I feel sick and I didn't even have half. Maybe not even a third."

He flexed his biceps. "Benefits of working out. I burn calories at a ridiculous rate."

"Must be nice," she muttered.

"Yeah, but now I think I'm going into a sugar coma." He leaned back in the booth and stretched, his leg brushing against hers. "So what did you think?"

"Delicious, no doubt."

He grinned. "I knew you'd like it. No room for dinner?"

Abby looked at him like he was crazy. "Ha! I think I'm set until dinner tomorrow."

Reaching for her, Ethan placed a hand behind her head and leaned in to give her a slow, lingering kiss. Her body responded instantly, and before she realized it, she was pulling him closer, deepening the kiss.

Abruptly he pulled back, his eyes boring into hers with an intensity she hadn't seen before. "I think we should get out of here before we get kicked out."

Abby blushed and whispered, "You're probably right." She had to start controlling herself better around him.

Ethan paid the check up at the counter and thanked the woman with the name 'Kate' embroidered on her apron. Abby was surprised to see that she didn't look much older than she and Ethan.

On the way back to the car, Ethan pulled her to his side again and rested a hand on her hip. "Thanks for coming with me tonight."

"It was an experience for sure." She smiled. "Thank you. But honestly, I don't think I'm ready for the night to end." She bit her lip as she waited for his response. He'd only invited her out for ice cream, but she really wasn't ready for their date to be over. She just hoped he felt the same.

His smile said enough. "Good. Neither am I. Maybe a movie? Dancing again? What sounds fun? Maybe there's something going on in the square that I haven't heard about. They do events on the weekends this time of year. Let me check." He pulled out his phone and froze. "Oh no. This is terrible."

Abby's stomach clenched at the tone of his voice, and she clutched his arm. "What's wrong?"

"It's the firehouse. They've been trying to reach me but I had my phone on silent. There's a brush fire outside of town that's gotten out of control and they need everyone on the force to help out." He looked up from his phone and his face looked pinched. "I'm sorry, Abby. I've got to go."

She nodded, swallowing past the tightness that had just formed in her throat. "I understand. Completely." He hurried to let her in the passenger side and she was barely buckled up before he was in the car and careening back toward their apartment building.

Gripping the edge of the seat until her knuckles turned white, Abby looked at Ethan as he drove. He had lines of strain around his eyes. "Is it...um...dangerous?" She knew it was a stupid question. Fires were never safe. But she didn't know exactly how bad the situation was that the firemen were dealing with.

He cut his eyes to her for a second, then focused back on the road, his expression grim. "Potentially. It depends on how out of control it is already and how close it is to any buildings."

They reached the apartment in record time and he jumped out and came around to open her door. As she stood up he gripped her arms. "I'm sorry to have to leave you like this, but I can't wait. I have to go now." His expression was odd, almost regretful. "It's part of what I do, Abby." He studied her face, the intensity in his gaze taking her by surprise.

"It's fine. I get it." She gave him a weak smile. "Now go put out that fire."

Without warning he pulled her against him and pressed a hard kiss to her mouth. When he pulled away, he cupped her face. "I'll call you tomorrow."

And then he was back in his car and gone. Abby barely had time to process it all. She knew emergency calls were part of his job, so she didn't mind that he'd had to cut their date short. But the way he'd looked at her, as if he were memorizing her face as he kissed her goodbye, had her stomach wanting to empty itself of the dessert they'd just shared.

She walked slowly up the stairs to her apartment, the enormity of the situation weighing heavily on her. For a firefighter, this was just a routine call. But for someone that cared about a firefighter, it was the beginning of a sleepless night full of worry and fear.

How had she let herself get back in this place? Had she truly convinced herself that she was past her fears? That she could let herself get involved with someone again? Especially someone who led a life like Ethan's. He was as dangerous as they came.

Abby didn't know what was more terrifying. The fact that Ethan had just left for a job that might not see him back again safely, or the fact that she already cared so much about him that she wouldn't rest soundly until she knew he was okay.





CHAPTER SEVEN





“Earth to Abby.”

Abby shook herself out of her reverie and resumed chopping the peppers, giving Denise Kincade an apologetic smile.