Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Ever the born leader, he directed a group of younger folks in blue Pancake Breakfast T-shirts on how to put bacon on baking trays. I liked watching Sean work, liked how effortlessly in charge he was, liked how good he looked in his own matching T-shirt. What I didn’t like was how relieved I felt to have found him or how I instantly felt more comfortable in his presence.
Sean didn’t deserve my grumpy mood, so I took a deep breath, located my seldom-used grin, and waited until he turned away from the group loading bacon trays. “Reporting for duty.”
“Excellent.” He beamed at me, a wide, genuine smile that made everything right in my world. Impossible to stay grumpy in the face of that smile.
“Hey, now, Murphy brought a ringer.” One of the younger guys gave a good-natured finger wag in my direction. “I know you. You’re the Honey’s Hotcake Hut overnight cook.”
“Murphy! You think we need pro help?” Suzy, the always sarcastic firefighter, was quick to join in the teasing.
Sean chuckled and held up his hands. “I think we need all the help we can get.”
“He’s not wrong.” Of course Caleb was among Sean’s bacon crew and, of course, he sprang to Sean’s defense. “Last year, we had people lined up waiting. Lukewarm pancakes, burned sausage, not enough syrup. Yeah, this is a fundraiser, not a fancy Portland brunch, but people still deserve a quality breakfast.”
“Thank you, Caleb.” Sean nodded at him, and Caleb grinned like he’d won a race. I remained suspicious of him crushing on Sean, but I tried to keep my expression neutral. It wouldn’t do to seem jealous.
“Besides, Tate brought Tennessee to help,” Caleb added. “And Johnson and Luther brought their wives. Let Murphy bring his…friend.”
The pause before friend was damning, as was Sean’s too-enthusiastic nod, but luckily Suzy saved us by tossing me a T-shirt. “I guess he can stay. As long as he can take orders.”
And with that, I found myself part of Sean’s crew, which was both strange and cool. I was content to let him be in charge. Not only were these his people and his fundraiser, but I knew he’d freely give the control back to me later. The strange part was how much I liked the firefighter banter, the happy chaos of multiple voices and hands. After the initial round of teasing, they’d all easily accepted my presence. I felt included. Wasn’t sure I liked that, but every time my back started to tense, Sean would catch my gaze and smile.
Lost. I was definitely lost. But at least the time passed pleasantly. The first responder crews produced mountains of pancakes, bacon, and sausage, and the crowds around the tents stayed thick.
“Denver!” I heard Wren call my name and turned to find Eric strolling in our direction with all three Wallace-Davis teens and the older kid, Maren, whom I’d only ever seen at the funeral. Sean had mentioned she was visiting for the weekend.
“Hey, Wren.” I motioned them over. “Everyone.”
“I’m not sure we’ve formally met.” Stepping forward, Eric stretched out a hand. I returned the handshake while glancing around for Sean, who was occupied plating bacon for the line of customers. “I’m Eric. Super grateful for your cooking lessons for the kids recently.”
“He ate all the leftover chili.” Wren grinned.
Rowan rolled his eyes. He wore orange sunglasses, a lime-green hoodie, and teal shorts. “Probably because you actually defrosted the meat this time.”
“Blow up one grill and hear about it forever.” Wren made a put-out face before gesturing at the oven behind me. “Did Sean tell you I came up with a precise mathematical equation for determining the cooking time for each strip of bacon?”
“I generally go by instinct.” I smiled at them, already anticipating the comeback.
“How unscientific.”
“Wren.” Eric rubbed his temples. “Wren is…”
“Pretty awesome.” My chest was strangely warm. I’d been…happy to see the kids. Not as happy as I was with Sean, but a different sort of feeling, one I wasn’t familiar with. “I’ve enjoyed spending time with your kids.”
“Ah. Well, thank you.” Eric jerked his head in Sean’s direction. “And uh…take good care of Sean?”
“I’ll try.” My voice came out all gruff. Eric’s request felt weighty. Me? Take care of someone? I didn’t even travel with a cactus. Sean was a responsibility I hadn’t wanted, but I also couldn’t seem to quit.
After Eric and the kids departed, I put my promise into action, trying to make Sean’s day easier by anticipating when the steamer trays needed refills. Producing mountains of bacon was hardly what Eric meant, but my shoulders still lifted when the crowd dwindled and Sean turned to me with a huge grin.
“We make a good team.” He patted me on the arm. Friendly. Not date-like. I tensed anyway. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Eh.” As usual, I’d rather be the one handing out praise. “Looks like the event is a success, at least.”