Page 19

WILLA

* Ten Years Later *

C hildren are always a handful. When they were both small, there were honestly a few days when I thought I was going to lose my mind. But now that Noah is six and Riley is four, they can entertain each other a bit, and I can actually take a breath.

I sprawl on a blanket under a tree that overhangs this section of the beach, watching the little ones run around on the shore. Hux is lying beside me, skimming his email.

"Oh, sweet." He flashes me a grin. "The Johnsons liked their new bathroom so much they're going to have me do the kitchen this fall.”

"Amazing."

Many people don't like house renovations done during the dog days of summer. They would rather hang out on the back deck, not have workmen thumping around their home. So we've both taken the week off to relax in our own private paradise.

The children are playing one of their favorite games, which is finding the coolest stones and beach glass for me. And after last night’s big storm, there are lots of new treasures.

I watch as Riley picks something up, shows Noah excitedly, then they both run toward me. "Look, Mommy – this one's pink!"

She drops it into my hand so I can examine it. Sure enough, it's a large chunk of beautiful pink beach glass. “Wow,” I murmur. "I've never seen pink before." My chin jerks around to see Hux laughing. "You didn't."

His hand reaches out to play with the back of my hair.

"I…mayyybe? You mentioned it the first week we were together.

It took me about a month to find, but there was a candle shop getting rid of a whole bunch of pink jars.

So it was also recycling. Very environmentally responsible.

Plus I got to play with a rock tumbler for a weekend. "

My heart has been beyond full since we met – since I first moved in with Huxley, since we planned our intimate wedding right here on this beach, since he then surprised me the next night with a festive party at Betty's Bistro.

But this is… He's been planning this for ten years?

Noah comes running over to drop something in my hand. "Purple! That's way cooler than blue and green."

The kids race off to continue exploring, and I fall back, resting my head on Huxley's shoulder. "I still can't believe you did that."

“Anything for my Angel." His lips brush against my forehead. "I'm done with my email. Why don’t you nap while I watch the kids." He makes a pillow out of a balled-up towel, so I can lounge comfortably beside him.

I always wondered if I'd be able to find meaningful work or a real career. And now it's all around me. Raising two precious humans, creating whimsical jewelry that's now being sold all the way from Charlotte to Kingsville (!!!), and keeping a laughter-filled home with an incredible man.

I'm living my dream come true.

Check out the rest of the books in the

Mountain Man Summer series.

You'll meet more hot and rugged mountain men in Rescued by the Surly Woodsman , and the rest of the Wolfe Mountain Man series.

You’ll meet Crow and Desire again in She’s Got That Spark . Keep reading for a preview…

Emma

Quickly setting the tray down, I dash back to the front…

And stop dead in my tracks.

The most gorgeous man in the entire world is smiling at me.

He looks…dramatic. Like a movie star. No, a movie star playing a rock star.

His jet-black hair makes his dark brown eyes look nearly black as well.

He’s very tall and beyond ripped, with layers of muscle along his wide shoulders and down his ink-swirled arms. The worn black jeans and black tank top are casual, and the leather studded wristband adds a hint of danger.

I’d bet my socks that the motorcycle across the street is his.

“Hey,” he drawls. My knees almost buckle when I hear how low and smoky his voice is. “You’re new.”

“Yeah. I just started here. I’m Emma.”

A grin lights up his eyes almost wickedly. “I’m Crow.”

“Crow?” I blink in surprise, nervously smoothing down my apron. Yikes, I hope that didn’t come out sounding too rude. “Well, at least now I know where the shop across the street got its name.”

He runs a hand through his hair, chuckling. “Yeah. One of those things that cracked up my friends so hard I had to use it.”

Crow nods, amused. There’s something about the way he looks at me that makes me feel…what is it? Like that feeling in the air before a storm. I suddenly find myself wishing this counter wasn’t in the way so I could get closer to him.

Suddenly he sets his mug down and dashes behind the counter at a frightening speed.

I follow him to the kitchen, where he’s taking something out of the oven with tongs.

Oh no. It’s a completely scorched muffin, smoking something fierce.

He opens the back door, getting the sad, smoldering pile of oat cinders out of the kitchen in seconds. “Open the windows quickly, so the fire alarms don’t go off.”

I obey immediately, then prop the door open as well, while he strides to the end of the back parking lot and deposits the blackened blob near the end of the pavement.

He comes back inside, turning on the oven and ceiling fans. There’s only a slight smoky residue left. “You’ll want to run those for just a few minutes so the smoke doesn’t settle.”

“Oh. Um. Okay. Thanks.” I head toward the front, hoping the smoke doesn’t follow me.

“Hey.” Crow stops me in the narrow passageway between the kitchen and the area behind the front counter. His body feels huge so close to mine. “It’s okay. It can happen to anyone.”

“Thank you.” My hands nervously twist my apron. “I just can’t believe you smelled such a small bit of smoke. Have you had a lot of baking accidents or something?”

Crow chuckles, and my heart nearly stops when he reaches out to flatten the piece of my hair that always kinks into a freaky wave at the top of my head. “I’m a volunteer firefighter. We learn to use our noses as much as our eyes. We just finished our big annual training shindig, actually.”

“So that’s why you were closed.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I really appreciate your help. Another minute and it would have stunk something fierce.”

He fixes a different piece of my hair… Is it just an excuse to touch me? There’s something in the way he stares so deeply into my eyes. I’m completely flustered from being this close to him.

Man, I hope I’m not blushing. He’ll think that I’m hopeless.

“I’ll see you in around an hour.” Crow grins, then winks rakishly. “The place won’t have burned to the ground, will it?”

“I feel terrible about that fallen muffin.” My bottom lip thrusts out. “But I’m allowed to make one mistake, right?”

“As long as you keep a firefighter close by, sure.” My breath catches as he leans right against my ear. “I’m going to come back and ask you out tonight,” he whispers. “Are you going to say yes?”

It takes me a moment to swallow. To breathe. Blink. Focus. “I probably know how to say yes in two or three languages, for what it’s worth.”

I love the way his entire face lights up when he grins. “Good.” He hands me a business card. “Feel free to call or text if anything else catches fire. See you soon.” He strides out of the shop, grabbing his mug on the way.

I’m going to have to collect myself and top up people’s coffee. But for ten more seconds, I’m going to downright ogle Crow’s muscular butt as he walks away.

You’ll love Crow and Emma in

She’s Got That Spark .