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“Cole Aaron.” He didn’t sound friendly, but he’d managed not to snarl.

“Hi, Cole.” Her smile was dazzling as she went into full sunshine mode. He fought the urge to put his hands up to block her radiant glow. “I’ve lived in Pine Hill my whole life and don’t believe we’ve met.”

Fine, he’d play along. Why not?

“Moved here earlier this year,” he admitted.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here and that we finally met.”

In another lifetime—if he hadn’t been warped, if there’d been no journal full of grim thoughts for her to have read, no grim life experiences to fill a journal with—he’d have been glad to meet her. Ecstatic.

Too bad they couldn’t really erase that they’d met or what she’d read.

Self-disgust filled him and he glanced around to see if Andrew and Ben were ready to leave yet. He needed to get out of the community room and away from Sophie and those sympathetic eyes of hers that he didn’t understand or like.

Knowing what he’d done, how could she even stand to be polite to him, much less act as if she wanted to be his friend?

Chapter Four

“That fireman doesn’t seem your type.”

At Maybelle’s comment, Sophie paused from straightening up the church community room to gawk at the older woman.

They were wiping down tables and running a sweeper over the floor to leave the area clean and ready for its next use.

“You’ve lost your eyesight in your old age,” Rosie accused Maybelle. “That hunky man is every woman’s type.”

“I never said Cole was my type,” Sophie told Maybelle. When Rosie opened her mouth to protest, Sophie held her hand up. “Just because you and Sarah are playing matchmaker doesn’t mean I approve.”

Carrie, who’d joined them in their cleaning, raised her head. She was Sophie’s fellow church member, friend, and more recently, business associate, since her pet store was selling Sophie’s handmade pet bandanas. “You’re interested in Cole Aaron? The grumpy firefighter in your group?”

“He’s not grumpy,” Sophie defended, even though she knew she was at the risk of adding fuel to the gossiping fire. At least, he hadn’t been grumpy until he’d realized she had read his journal.

“He’s just, well…” She pushed a chair back beneath a table and tried not to let too much show. “He’s more the strong, silent type. That’s all. Besides, he’s been through a lot.”

Sophie glanced toward Sarah for help. If anyone should understand what Cole had been through, Sarah should. Although her fiancé now worked for the sheriff’s department, in addition to acting as Sarah’s handyman at her bed and breakfast, Hamilton House, Bodie had endured some rough times during his own military career. Sophie didn’t know the details, but Bodie’s emotional recovery had taken much longer than his physical one from an explosion where he’d been the sole survivor.

As she had hoped, Sarah joined them where her friends now circled Sophie.

Sarah gave an empathetic nod and patted Sophie’s back. “Sophie’s right. Our brave military sacrifice a lot.”

She’d known she could count on Sarah.

“I’m sure Carrie didn’t mean any disrespect to Cole or his service,” Sarah continued. “But I have to agree with Maybelle. Watching you with Cole surprised me, too. He’s nothing like any of the guys you’ve gone out with over the years. He’s cute, though.”

There Sarah went with the “cute.” What was up with everyone calling Cole cute? He was so much more.

Besides, in and of itself, that Cole wasn’t like any of the other guys she’d dated wasn’t a bad thing. Obviously, none of them had been all that amazing, which was why, for one reason or another, she wasn’t with any of them now.

“I’m not interested in Cole,” Sophie insisted. Then, realizing no one was buying her quick retort, she added, “Not like any of you are implying or trying to set up. I don’t want to date him.” She didn’t. “Nor does he want to date me.” That was the understatement of the year. “But I do feel badly for him after all he went through when he was deployed. He’s still new to Pine Hill and it can’t be easy making a life for himself here.” She shrugged. “I wish I could make things better for him.”

Which was the absolute truth. Her heart broke for the things he’d suffered during his time in Special Ops and wished she could take away his inner turmoil.

Just like Dad.

Sophie gulped back the thought.

Sarah’s brow rose. “Did he tell you something about his past or do you know about it because of what you read in his journal?”