Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 95886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
For a suffocating moment, Rain wasn’t entirely sure that he meant the dog.
“Long story,” Garrick said with a groan. “She’s temporarily my dog. And this is Rain, my neighbor who is helping me out with her. Rain, this is my dad, Kenny.”
“Hi.” Rain gave a wave, which Kenny returned with a nod.
“I see.”
“I’ve got the coffee on. You want to help yourself to a cup? I’ve still got some of that creamer you liked.”
“Sure.” Kenny’s mouth moved like he still wasn’t sure what to make of Cookie, Rain, or their breakfast. “You cooked?”
“Well, Rain helped a lot. But, yeah. There are more pancakes by the stove. And no bacon, so your doctor will thank me even if you won’t.”
“You with your health kicks. But guess I could eat.” Not seeming too put out at the change in plans, Kenny grabbed a cup of coffee and a plate with two pancakes. He brought them to the seat opposite Rain but kept talking to Garrick. “So, if tomorrow’s PT, why do you look ready for a workout?”
“I did exercise a little.” Garrick was pretty close to adorable when he preened, and Rain resolved to drag him on every outing from here on out. “I’m helping Rain train for a shot on one of the wildfire crews. Maybe an engine since he’s a total newb.”
“Garrick.” Kenny used the same long-suffering tone Garrick had when he was exasperated.
“What?” Garrick’s expression was carefully innocent.
“You’re still all-in on going back, aren’t you? Can’t leave it well enough in the past, maybe get a new—”
“Hobby. I know. And training Rain is my new hobby. A fun one.” Garrick’s grin made Rain’s stomach flip even as he hated watching the conflict between father and son. “And as for going back, I told you. That’s my goal. I know you hate the risks, but it’s a part of me. You should understand. I bet you’d have stayed on a hotshot crew if Mom hadn’t made you quit. Some things get in your blood.”
“Maybe so, but that doesn’t mean it’s a risk worth taking. And your mother didn’t make me quit. You’ll see if you ever settle down. It’s different with kids in the picture.” The father-son bickering, while not loud, was enough to have Rain eying the front door and debating whether Cookie needed a second walk.
“Hey. I am settled. Job I love. House I own. Almost got the pet thing handled too. Rain, tell him that I’m plenty domesticated already.”
“Hell no. I’m not getting in the middle of this.” Having a healthy sense of self-preservation, Rain quickly cleared his and Garrick’s plates, making sure his shorts stayed up this time. He wondered if Garrick was out as pan to his dad. Kenny’s multiple quizzical looks for Rain might suggest so, but whether he approved was anyone’s guess.
“Smart.” Kenny winked in Rain’s direction. “You both know I’m right. It’s not worth the risks of going back, even if it ends up being possible.”
Not worth the risks. The same could be said of pursuing a flirtation with Garrick, but that wasn’t about to stop Rain. And he doubted that Garrick was going to be swayed by that logic either.
“We’re going to have to agree to disagree. Finish your pancakes.” Garrick had the tone of someone who’d had this argument a time or ten and who loved his dad, but not this topic.
And maybe Rain didn’t like the risks to Garrick’s life that smoke jumping presented either, but he knew the truth of what Garrick said. Firefighting was a part of that man’s soul. So for his sake Rain hoped a comeback was possible. And to that end, if Rain could be a pleasant distraction on the road to recovery, so much the better. If Garrick was going to be Rain’s cheering squad, the least he could do was return the favor.
Chapter Five
Garrick liked Rain. He liked his devious smile, liked his confidence, liked his readiness to help, and really liked his humor. What he didn’t like, however, was the way Rain was under his skin, running through his dreams, worming his way into his idle thoughts, making Garrick count down the hours until he saw him again. Like right then, he was supposed to be at PT, and his body was hanging out on the parallel bars, but his mind was back on Rain, thinking about how fun the morning exercise had been, Rain managing an extra pull-up and gamely trying the extra exercises Garrick had devised for him. Rain had picked up vegan protein powder, so they’d made recovery smoothies and enjoyed them on the patio until Garrick’s dad had arrived to take him to physical therapy.
His dad was using the time Garrick was at PT to do a shopping run at the big warehouse store. Garrick had ordered up extra frozen fruit and nuts.