Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
As if Jordan can sense I’m about to break, she simply nods and wraps her tiny arms around me. “It’s okay, Mommy. Maybe I can make us a tree with my paper and markers so Santa can find us.”
Santa… Gifts…
I haven’t even gotten through Thanksgiving yet.
CHAPTER THREE
KELSIE
“Wow! That’s the biggest firehouse I’ve ever seen,” Jordan says when we arrive at the fire station.
It looks like those classic fire stations you see in the movies—two-story, red and gray brick. American flag blowing in the wind. It’s beautiful, just like everything else in this town. I wouldn’t be surprised if a Hallmark Christmas movie was filmed here. If one hasn’t been, it should be.
We’re heading up to the entrance when an adorable Dalmatian puppy comes flying around the corner and lavishes Jordan with kisses, making her giggle.
I’m so busy watching my daughter and the puppy that I don’t realize someone has joined us, until a deep, masculine voice says, “Cinder, come here, girl.”
I spin around and find the gentleman from the grocery store standing behind me. His hazel eyes lock with mine, and a heat I haven’t felt in years warms my insides.
“Sorry about that,” the gentleman says.
What did the bagboy say his name was again?
“I’m Pierce.”
Yes! That’s it.
“And that’s my pup, Cinder.”
“What’s a Cinder?” Jordan asks, scrunching her nose in confusion while the dog runs in circles around her, wagging its tail.
“Cinder is a piece of burnt coal,” Pierce explains.
“You named your puppy after something burnt?” Jordan asks, staring at Pierce like he’s lost his mind.
Pierce chuckles. “Burnt coal is used for heat,” he says. “I’m a firefighter, and she’s my fire dog. And”—he leans forward like he’s about to tell her a secret—“Cinder is short for Cinderella.”
“Like the princess?” Jordan gasps, her eyes going wide in excitement.
“Yep,” he says. “My niece helped me name her.” He glances at me and whispers, “Cinder sounds cooler, so I’m sticking to that, but if my niece asks, it’s Cinderella.”
He winks playfully, and I can’t help but laugh.
“And who might you be?” he asks, looking between Jordan and me.
“I’m Kelsie,” I tell him. “And this is my daughter, Jordan.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” he says, grinning, and for a moment, I get lost in him.
Today, his eyes are so bright in the sunlight, they’re practically sparkling. He has a single dimple on his left cheek that was covered before by his scruff at the grocery store. It’s visible now, though, because his facial hair is trimmed neatly.
My eyes glide down his face, to his navy-blue shirt that’s just tight enough to outline his corded biceps but loose enough that what’s underneath is left to my imagination—and after years of abstinence, mixed with hours upon hours spent reading romance novels, my imagination is running wild, wondering what he could do with—
A throat clears, popping my fantasy bubble, and my gaze springs back up to Pierce’s face, finding a smirk splayed across his full lips. He totally caught me checking him out.
Jesus, Kelsie, get a grip. This guy is so out of your league, and who the hell has time to date anyway?
“Mommy, Cinderella is so cute!” Jordan says, making me look her way. “Can we get a puppy?” she asks through her giggles. She’s now on the ground, petting the puppy, who’s flipped onto her back and is relishing the attention.
“Not today,” I tell her.
She pouts but is too occupied by the puppy to really put up an argument.
“Is there something I can help you with?” Pierce asks, reminding me why we’re here.
“Yes,” I tell him. “You probably don’t remember, but I was in line ahead of you…”
“I remember,” he says, his eyes locking with mine. “I’d have to have amnesia to forget a beautiful woman such as yourself.”
My cheeks instantly heat at his compliment, unsure if I’m more shocked that he remembered me or that he just said I’m beautiful.
“Thank you,” I mutter. “Then, you remember you paid for some of my groceries.”
“Mommy, I need to go pee,” Jordan cuts in, running over to us with the puppy at her heels. “Really bad,” she says, giving me a look that conveys she waited until the last second to say something.
“There’s one in the station,” Pierce says with a laugh as Jordan wiggles her body, doing the “I’ve got to go pee now” dance.
Pierce scoops Cinder up, and we follow him into the station. The main area is just as gorgeous as the outside. With sleek gray walls and comfy-looking plush couches, it looks more like a living room than a fire station. As we walk through the room, Pierce puts Cinder into a cage, then takes us past a huge dining room with a table that must seat twenty people. When we enter what appears to be the kitchen, a couple of guys are sitting at the island, drinking coffee and chatting.