The local grocery store sat just ahead, part of a short strip mall that housed the bakery, a small ice-cream store, and a tiny, cluttered gift shop just for tourists.
“What’s going on over there?” Logan asked, pointing his chubby fingers at the wide parking lot that sat in front of the strip of stores.
Jane noticed white tents and strings of colorful balloons streaming above them. Small clusters of people walked about the two rows of tents, and she swore she heard the faint sounds of a band playing in the distance.
“I smell popcorn,” Lexi said and Sophia clapped her hands, repeating the word.
“It must be a little fair or something,” Jane said as they approached the parking lot.
She hadn’t noticed them setting it up earlier when she’d gone to her parents’ place, but Mac had picked up her and the children, buckling the two oldest in the backseat while Jane clutched Sophia in her lap for the short mile drive. They’d been too busy chatting for her to pay attention.
“Can we walk through it, Mama?” Lexi asked, tugging on Jane’s sleeve.
“Can we get popcorn?” Logan shouted, running off ahead of them.
“Logan!” Jane picked up the pace, trying to keep up with her son, but he was too fast and she was hindered by the stroller and the bumpy sidewalk, not to mention her still sluggish muscles. “Slow down!”
“I’ll get him,” Lexi said, taking off after her younger brother. She was fast and caught up to him with ease, clutching at his chubby hand as she gave him a stern lecture about running away.
Like a little mama, Jane thought with a shake of her head. And Logan actually listened to his sister, too. At least they were on the same side of the street as the store and not across the road. Jane followed the children into the parking lot and caught a quick glimpse of the shiny red fire engine that stood at the other end of the white tents.
Her heart kicked over itself and she exhaled slowly. Was he here? Mac had told her he was the only fire captain stationed in Lone Pine Lake for the winter.
Lexi caught sight of the engine as well. “Do you think Captain Nelson is here?”
“Probably,” Jane said with a nod. She smoothed a quick hand over her hair, wishing she wasn’t so self-conscious in a crowd. Lots of people milled about the booths filled with various arts, crafts, and other wares for sale. She didn’t want to attract their attention or feel their stares.
“Can we go see him?” Lexi asked.
“Let’s get to the end of the row and see if he’s there, okay?” Jane took her time, careful not to run down to Captain Nelson—she needed a few minutes to gather her thoughts and come up with something to say first. She really shouldn’t feel this way—excited to see him, curious what he might say. She had no business being interested in a man so soon after her husband’s death. Or so she told herself.
It didn’t take long to check out all of the booths, since there weren’t that many and what they had available held little interest for her three busy bees. They flitted from one booth to the next, only lingering around the man who sold freshly made kettle corn. She bought a bag, unable to resist, and she grabbed two handfuls, setting the little pile into the cup holder on the stroller handle before passing the bag to Lexi.
Logan finally caught sight of the fire engine. “Can I go, Mama?”
When she nodded, he took off yet again, his little legs taking him as fast as they could pump. Lexi followed, her dark hair streaming behind her, the bag of kettle corn clutched in her right hand. A tall, familiar shape stood in front of the truck and she knew without a doubt it was Christian Nelson.
Logan shouting “Captain!” at the top of his lungs also gave it away.
“Hey,” Christian said when he spotted her, his voice easy and relaxed, Logan’s body wrapped around his legs. He ruffled Logan’s light brown hair with a large hand and Jane’s gaze dropped to it.
He had big hands, capable hands. They looked strong, as if they could do anything, but she also knew they were gentle. She’d witnessed how carefully he’d handled her children. He was kind, patient.
She found that wildly attractive. And she found her reaction just the slightest bit disturbing.
“Hi,” Jane said in greeting. Why couldn’t she come up with something a little cleverer to say? Instead, she just stood there like a dolt, her fingers clutched around the stroller handle so tight she white-knuckled it.
“Out for a stroll?” He lifted a dark brow at her, gave a chuckle when Logan pushed away from him and ran to the engine.
“We were just coming from my parents’ house. I needed to stop by the store before we head back home.” The wind ruffled a lock of dark hair across his forehead.
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sp; “You live close by?” He crossed his arms in front of his chest, emphasizing his sheer size.
“Down the road a little bit.” She waved her hand in the general direction of her brother’s house.
“Wow, so you live on the lake? I bet the view’s amazing.” He looked impressed.