The Fireman's Ready-Made Family

“Do I scare you?” Drake asked.

“A little,” Marly murmured. “But it’s nothing you did. It’s just … There’s a lot of stuff I’m working through,” she told him. “Sometimes it hits me harder than others.”

Drake knew all too well about painful memories creeping up at random times, cutting you off at the knees when you least expected it. But he’d learned to conquer those demons when they threatened him. He was stronger than he’d been a year ago, and he wanted to help Marly build on her strength.

“I’m a pretty good listener,” he said.

Drake stepped closer, fully aware that he was teetering on a thin line with her emotions. But that damn pull between them crackled in the air, making him want to hold her, to offer some sort of comfort.

“Sometimes it only looks like there’s no hope,” he told her. “Trust me.”

Damp eyes came up to meet his and the punch to the gut was swift and unexpected.

The St. Johns of Stonerock: Three rebellious brothers come home to stay.

The Fireman’s

Ready-Made

Family

Jules Bennett

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Award-winning author JULES BENNETT is no stranger to romance—she met her husband when she was only fourteen. After dating through high school, the two married. He encouraged her to chase her dream of becoming an author. Jules has now published nearly thirty novels. She and her husband are living their own happily-ever-after while raising two girls. Jules loves to hear from readers through her website, julesbennett.com, her Facebook fan page or on Twitter.

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I dedicate this book to all the real-life heroes who shine a light into someone’s darkened world.

May you ever be blessed.

Contents

Cover

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

The firefighter was back.

Once again dressed in his blue cargo pants and matching blue polo with the Stonerock, Tennessee, fire department’s seal embroidered on the left side of his chest...a chest that really maxed out the material of his shirt.

But muscles meant something entirely different now. A few years ago the well-sculpted body of a man would have had her appreciating the view. Unfortunately, her world had been vastly changed six months earlier, and now muscles, power and strength only reminded her of the scars she’d be wearing forever.

Pediatric nurse Marly Haskins moved farther into the private room of her six-year-old patient. The young boy had been badly burned in a house fire only a few days ago. The doctors were waiting to see how the wounds healed and pumping him full of antibiotics to ward off infection before discussing the use of skin grafts on his arm and torso.

Marly’s heart ached for the boy, who had started kindergarten with her daughter, Willow, just a few weeks ago. This little guy should be at school running around on the playground, not recovering from a fire that had claimed his home.

As Marly approached the side of the bed, the firefighter raised his gaze to her. Those piercing blue eyes shouldn’t make her belly do flips, but she couldn’t control her body’s reaction. Her mind, though... Her mind knew better than to be impressed by beauty, brawn and silent allure.

“Let me know if I’m in your way,” he told her as his eyes drifted back down to the sleeping boy. “I just wanted to see him before my shift.”

Other than family, no one had been by to see Jeremy. Marly had been told by Jeremy’s parents that the fire chief was a close friend of the family and he would be visiting often. Marly didn’t know his name, just that he was the chief—another man in a powerful position. A man whose physical appeal had her wishing she wasn’t so cynical and jaded. Would she always look at muscles and power as a bad thing?

“I’m just giving him another round of antibiotics,” she told him, hoping he didn’t want small talk and thankful that he stood on the other side of the bed.

Marly wiped the boy’s port with an alcohol pad and injected the medicine before slipping the needle into the biohazard bin on the wall.

Jeremy slept peacefully, due in part to the pain medication he was on. This was the hard part of her job. The part where she imagined how easily this could be her daughter lying here and how fortunate Marly was that Willow was in school right now, safe and having fun with her friends...just as any five-year-old child should.

“I’m Drake, by the way.”

Marly turned her attention back to the imposing man. With wide shoulders stretching his polo, his tall, lean build and those captivating baby blues, the mesmerizing stranger silently demanded attention. Her pulse kicked up whenever they made eye contact, and she hated the thread of fear that niggled at her.

He reminded her too much of her past life—a life she was still trying to escape. A life she was privately rebuilding one day at a time.

Guilt slid through her. Judging a stranger wasn’t quite fair. After all, a stranger hadn’t hurt her. The man who’d vowed to love, honor and cherish her, though, had nearly destroyed her.

“I’m Marly.”

“I know.” With a soft smile, he nodded toward her badge clipped on the pocket of her puppy-printed smock top. “I should’ve introduced myself before now.”

“You were preoccupied.” The man may be menacing in size, but the worry lines between thick, dark brows spoke of vulnerability. “I understand you and Jeremy’s parents are friends.”

Nodding, Drake gripped the edge of the bed rail and stared down at the boy. “Yeah. I graduated with his dad, Shawn. I was on the scene of the fire.”

Marly swallowed. Remorse seemed to envelop this man, and there was no doubt he was mentally replaying said scene in his mind.

She’d witnessed that level of sorrow many times over the years as a burn-unit nurse at a children’s hospital in Nashville before moving to the suburb of Stonerock. And that was the only reason Jeremy was allowed to stay at this small-town hospital.

“I just wish I could do more,” she whispered. “His parents...”

She trailed off, not wanting to get too emotional with this stranger.

Private. That was the theme for this stage in her life. She needed to remain private and locked in her own world, where she could protect herself and her daughter.

“They’re having a tough time,” he added as he pushed off the rail and came around the edge of the bed. “But you’re doing all you can. Keeping their son as comfortable as possible is a blessing to them right now.”

Marly nodded, Drake’s large, looming presence causing her to step back. He’d done nothing to her, yet she couldn’t help that proverbial knee-jerk reaction.

“Are you okay?” he asked, dark brows drawn together.

Easing her side bangs over a tad to keep her scar covered, Marly nodded. “Yeah, just worried. It’s hard not to get swept into the lives of my patients.”

“That’s what makes a good nurse.” His soft smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, as if the gesture was only for her. “Getting emotionally involved is an occupational hazard.”

On one level she knew he understood. After all, they were both public servants and protectors. But on another level, she really didn’t want to bond with this man who had her emotions all jumbled up because of his gentleness and potent sex appeal. A lethal combo.

If she wasn’t careful, she would find herself slipping into his personal space, and she’d promised herself no more letting herself trust—not yet and probably not for a long, long time. There was too much at stake in her life for her to let her guard down...with anyone.

“When will he be transferred to another hospital with a burn unit?” he asked, crossing his arms over his wide, taut chest.

“We’ll have to wait and see if the doctor and his parents decide on the skin grafts.”

She tried to ignore the way Drake’s size dominated the room. Tried to ignore the way her heart kicked up at the way he seemed to study her.

“I think he needs to be transferred to a hospital that specializes in this type of care,” Drake told her, crossing his arms over his wide chest.

Marly wasn’t really in the mood to defend her medical position or to discuss her patient’s needs with a nonfamily member. And she definitely wasn’t up for being bullied by this man, who no doubt was used to getting his way. She didn’t think he was posing for an argument, but he was making it clear his opinion mattered.

“For now he’s fine to stay here.” She forced herself to meet his gaze. She was no longer that meek woman who was afraid to stand up for herself. “I’m able to care for him because I was a nurse on a burn unit at a larger hospital before I moved here. But if his parents choose for him to have skin grafts, he’ll go to a specialist.”

“Why the wait?” Drake demanded. “Wouldn’t he heal faster if he were with a specialist now?”

Fisting her hands at her sides, Marly shook her head. “The doctors here have Jeremy’s best interest in mind, and he’s getting the best possible care. And we can’t transport him yet anyway.”

Drake swore under his breath. “Shawn and Amy are self-employed, and this is really going to hurt them financially on top of all the emotional turmoil they’re already experiencing. Never mind the fact they lost their house and they’re staying with Shawn’s parents.”

Okay, so the overpowering man had a soft spot. Seriously, though, how dare he question not only her, but the doctors and Jeremy’s parents? Perhaps he was just speaking out of worry, but still, Marly wasn’t interested in this chief’s medical opinions.

But he was right about one thing. Medical bills were going to flood their lives before they ever got their son home. Marly couldn’t imagine the financial strain this would put on the poor family.

Since she’d run from her ex and left behind all the money and flashy things, she was having a hard time adjusting to her single salary, but it was hard to feel sorry for herself when a tragic case like this smacked her in the face with a dose of reality. There was always someone worse off. She had to remind herself of that when pity started to settle in.

“Can I talk to you outside?” Drake asked, intruding on her thoughts.

Surprised at his request, Marly nodded. This was the first real interaction they’d had since Jeremy had been admitted to her unit two days ago. Even though he’d been here both days, she’d made sure to just stick to the pleasantries, getting in and out of Jeremy’s room quickly when Drake visited.

They stepped outside the room, and Marly eased the large wooden door closed behind her. Trying to come off as a professional was hard when your hands were shaking, so she crossed her arms over her chest and tipped her head to level his stare.

“Something wrong?” she asked.

“I’m going to be at the station for the next thirty-six hours,” he told her, stepping closer so there was only a small gap separating them. “I know Shawn and Amy won’t let me know if they need anything, but could you keep an eye on them when they’re here? If they need food or a break, could you let me know? I can give you my cell. If I’m not busy I can run over or I can have one of my brothers stop by. I don’t want Shawn and Amy to feel like they’re in this alone.”

Wow. He was serious. The fire chief was ready to drop everything to help a friend in need.

The cynical side of Marly wanted to know if he was using this opportunity for publicity in his position, to look good in the eyes of his superiors. Or did this man actually have that kind of a heart?

She shook off the pull to want to know more. The old Marly would’ve reached out, but that woman was dead, cut off from all the emotional tugs toward the wounded hearts of others. She had her own heart to heal.

Pulling herself back to his request and his intense stare as he waited on an answer, she smiled. “Of course I can let you know.”

His mesmerizing blue eyes continued to study her, and she resisted the urge to reach up and make sure her side bangs were covering her scar. She didn’t want to know what he was thinking, didn’t want to know what he saw when he looked at her.

Her ex had used her as a trophy, only wanting her to look good at his side and remain silent. But, gone was that quiet, reserved, perfectly-coiffed woman. Now Marly kept her long blond hair in a ponytail, downplayed her voluptuous chest and wore little to no makeup. This was the real Marly Haskins.

“Did you need anything else?” she asked, ready to get out from under his questioning gaze.

Drake shrugged one shoulder. “Just wondering why you look so sad.”

Taken aback by his abrupt, imposing question, Marly shook her head. “I’m not sad. I mean, I’m sad for Jeremy and his family, but that’s all.”

Reaching out, Drake slid a thumb beneath her eye. “No, you’ve got shadows and there’s sadness there.”

Swatting his hand away, Marly stepped back. “You don’t know me, so I’d appreciate if you didn’t analyze me.”

Drake raked a hand over his closely cropped dark hair. “My apologies. It’s second nature to worry. I just wondered if you were okay.”

Was she okay? Far from it. Was she going to spill her heart to this charming stranger? Absolutely not.

But, oh, how she wished she had someone she could open up to. It was so hard being a single mother in the best of times, let alone when trying to keep her abusive ex from discovering where she was living and trying to remain strong and put up a cheerful front for strangers who had no clue the hell she’d endured.

She couldn’t focus on Drake or his charms. She needed to concentrate on getting her life back in order and setting a stable foundation for her and her daughter. No room for a handsome stranger with vibrant blue eyes and a killer body. Those two qualities meant nothing in the long run.

Drake reached back and pulled out his wallet, producing a business card. “My cell is on there.”

As she slipped the card from his grasp, her fingertips slid across his—the briefest of touches, but enough to have her pulling back. She hadn’t touched a man in any way since leaving her husband. Her patients were all children and she’d made a point to stay clear of men at least until her mental state returned to normal.

Scars weren’t always just on the outside.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked, brows drawn in as he leaned closer.

Great, now he was seriously concerned about her.

Forcing what she hoped was a convincing smile, Marly nodded. “Fine. Just thinking about Jeremy.”

That answer seemed to pacify the chief as he pulled his keys from his other pocket. “Call me anytime. If I can’t talk, I won’t answer, but leave a message.”

Marly nodded, still eager for him to be on his way.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” he said.

Yeah, that was what she was afraid of. Each time she saw him her heart would speed up and she’d find herself drawn deeper and deeper into his appeal. That type of mentality was exactly what had gotten her in trouble to begin with.

As Drake walked out of the cheerily painted pediatric unit, Marly couldn’t help but watch him go. Those broad shoulders, that uniform, those dark forearms...Drake St. John was all man and all powerful.

But whatever fluttery feeling she got from being around him would just have to be ignored, because no way would she ever get involved with another man—especially one so sexy and powerful. That combination nearly killed her once before.

Chapter Two

Confident that the pretty nurse would notify him if Shawn or Amy needed anything, Drake felt a sliver of satisfaction. Marly, with her wide, chocolate doe eyes, may be leery of him, but he had to assume she’d keep her promise.

He mentally cursed himself for reaching out to her. Good Lord, she’d think he was some type of creep. But he’d seen fear spread through those beautiful eyes of hers when he neared, felt her stiffen beneath his touch.

Drake figured he intimidated her, which was a shame, but he couldn’t figure out why. Someone or something had hurt her. The protector in him wanted to keep her safe, as strange as that may sound, considering he barely knew her.

He also couldn’t figure out why he kept finding himself thinking about her when he’d leave the hospital. He’d seen her a total of three times—she was fairly new in town, according to all the chatter—but other than that, she was a total stranger he knew nothing about.

Well, he’d known when he’d stepped closer to her earlier that she’d smelled like strawberries; he knew she had a gentle, patient bedside manner; and he knew she was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. With her long blond hair, dark eyes and creamy skin, Marly was a stunner, and he’d never even seen an ounce of makeup on her.

He’d not felt a pull toward another woman in over a year. Not since the day his fiancée had died. He never thought he’d feel for anybody again. In his defense, he’d even been on a couple dates since then, but nothing had ever come of them.

There was something pulling him toward Marly. Whether it was her underlying vulnerability or just the woman in general, he truly had no idea. But he knew he couldn’t ignore it, either.

Drake pulled from the hospital parking lot, but before he went to the station, he swung by the courthouse to check on the status of the budget. Granted, the official meeting was tomorrow, but Drake knew the good ol’ mayor already had some sort of clue as to what was going on.

Drake mounted the steps, waving to a few city workers as they exited the old historic building. Quickly making his way to the third floor, Drake went in and greeted the elderly secretary, who had been the smiling face of this office for the past forty years. No matter the mayor, Betty May Allen was the right-hand woman. That woman probably held more secrets than the Pentagon.

“Chief St. John.” She beamed, sliding down her reading glasses to dangle off the pearl chain. “What can I do for you?”

“Is he in?” Drake asked, nodding toward the closed door.

With the frosted glass and large block lettering, Drake couldn’t see.

“He is. You don’t have an appointment, do you?” she asked.

“No. I’ll just be a minute if he’s free.”

Betty May slid from behind her L-shaped desk and walked to the door, easing it open a crack. Her silver hair bounced as she nodded and spoke, but he couldn’t make out what she was saying.

Turning with her signature smile, Betty May gestured as she opened the door wider. “Go on in, Chief.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Drake closed the door behind him as he took in the overweight, half bald, half comb-over man behind the large mahogany desk. The man looked every bit the part of a small-town mayor. Too bad he didn’t play the part like one.

“What can I do for one of my city’s finest workers?” Mayor Tipton asked, easing back in his chair hard enough to cause very questionable creaks.

Was it too much to hope the jerk would tip the chair too far and fall backward?

Gripping the back of the leather chair across from the desk, Drake leveled the man’s gaze, refusing to return the smarmy smile. “How’s the budget looking? Are we going to be able to bring my men back on board?”

Tipton blinked. “The budget meeting is tomorrow.”

Drake never did like a man who couldn’t just answer a question straight-out. And he’d certainly never liked this lazy, selfish mayor. He hadn’t voted for the man, and he sure as hell hated working under him.

“I’m sure you have some idea,” Drake said, clenching the chair and trying to rein in his patience, as he had for several months now. “My department is suffering, and because of that we were shorthanded on the fire at the Adkins’ residence on Sunday.”

“Yes, I heard all about that.” Mayor Tipton leaned forward, propping his flabby forearms on his cluttered desk. “I was told the young boy was severely injured.”

Drake swallowed the bitter truth as images of that boy lying beside his bed as flames licked all around his room consumed him. Drake had dragged the unconscious boy out, praying the entire time that he hadn’t been too late.

“The city simply doesn’t have the extra money,” the mayor was saying. “We had to cut somewhere, and unfortunately your department was one of the areas.”

Fury bubbled within him, and Drake knew if he didn’t leave he’d say something that may get him suspended. But he also wasn’t going to back down, not when he had dependable men who needed the income, not to mention men that worked harder in one shift than this mayor did in an entire year.

“Did you happen to look at cutting your own income? Or maybe the new landscaping in the park? How about those new streetlights that just went up around Main Street? None of that was ever considered? That little boy’s injuries lie directly on your head, not mine. I did my job... Can you say the same?”

Drake didn’t stop when the mayor pushed his pudgy frame away from the desk and stood. In fact, the idea of the mayor gearing up for the argument was rather amusing and fueled Drake even more. He was definitely teetering on a thin line here.

“Oh, I see where you’re coming from,” Drake said in his most condescending tone. Sarcasm had always been a strong suit for him and his brothers. “Why pay honest, hardworking men when we can make things pretty? I see that logic. Best to put lives in danger so we can have purple pansies and lantern-style streetlights.”

“You better watch yourself, Chief.” The mayor’s face was slowly turning red, his gobbler neck wiggling back and forth when he spoke. “You always were a smart-mouthed hellion.”

Ah, yes. The infamous St. John reputation he and his brothers had had to overcome in order to rise to their rankings in this small town.

Drake didn’t care if his character came into play here. He knew he was right and the mayor was flat-out wrong. Drake also didn’t care if Tipton got angry. Angry didn’t even cover what Drake felt when he thought of the moment he’d had to tell three of his men that they were no longer needed.

“A young boy is lying in the hospital with second-and third-degree burns to his arm and torso,” Drake went on, the image alone adding fuel to his anger. “We would’ve been able to get to him faster had all regular responders been available. We’re shorthanded, Mayor, and it’s time you realized just how dangerous those cuts have become. The guys left on staff are working overtime, and it’s not safe for them or the public to have them so exhausted.”

“I sympathize for the boy. The accident was tragic, but I am not to blame here. I have a job, just like you. I suggest you focus on that.”

A whole new level of rage slid through him. “Are you suggesting I didn’t do my job?”

With a slight shrug, the mayor merely stared across the desk.

Yeah, if he didn’t leave, Drake would get fired...at the very least, because the urge to punch the guy in the face was too strong. Fortunately Drake had self-control and actually cared about protecting the people in this town. That right there proved he’d overcome his rebellious days. Once upon a time Drake and his brothers would punch first and discuss later.

“One way or another, my men will come back to work,” Drake assured him. “Your term is almost up. Then we’ll see who really cares about the safety of the citizens.”

“Are you threatening me?”

With a slow grin, Drake raised his hands, palms out. “Just stating a fact. The voters will take care of you.”

And with that he walked out, nodding to Betty May, who was wide-eyed, no doubt hearing the heated encounter—not Drake’s first with the mayor, but perhaps the most hate filled.

Drake marched all the way back to his truck and slammed the door. Damn it. He had to figure out a way to get the city to allow him to hire his men back on. The men who were currently working were maxed out. They were tired and all feeling the extra stress...not good when lives were on the line every single day.

Drake clenched the steering wheel and stared out the windshield toward the old fountain in the distance at the park.

Andrea had loved that fountain. Had always said if she got married she’d do it there in the summer with all the beauty of the tall old oaks surrounding her.

Drake had every intention of giving her that dream. He’d had every intention of giving her everything she’d ever wanted.

But that dream had died in a fiery crash.

Starting the engine, Drake forced out the crippling images of that day. His counselor was right. Focusing on the past wouldn’t help him rebuild for a better future. And he knew that Andrea would want him to move on; she’d want him to live his life. Besides, he had a department he needed to fight for and a boy in the hospital he cared about.

Which brought him right back to the pretty nurse who seemed a bit skittish when he was around. Her beauty was rather shocking, and Drake hadn’t felt a physical pull toward anyone since Andrea. Which only made his mixed-up emotions even more confusing.

How could he find another woman so appealing in such a short time? Should he ask her out? He had to keep trying his hand at dating if he wanted to truly move on.

But Marly was afraid of something. Perhaps he should approach this on a friendship level, because Drake knew one thing. He had to find out what had put the shadows beneath her pretty eyes.

* * *

Marly was thankful her supervisor gave her a few hours off to chaperone Willow on the kindergarten field trip. Marly knew it was going to be tough to hold a full-time job and be the parent Willow needed, especially after removing Willow from the only home she’d known.

So far Willow was adjusting perfectly, and today’s field trip to the fire department was all her sweet little five-year-old could talk about this morning.

Marly left work early and pulled into the department lot just after the bus did. It didn’t take long for Marly to zero in on the chief, and she cursed herself for instantly seeking him out.

Drake stepped up to the open doors of the bus and greeted the kids with a wide grin as they bounced off the last step and raced across the lot to the closest shiny red truck. Another group of men in blue polos and matching pants herded the children to the grassy area, where they had them take a seat.

As Marly got out of her SUV, her eyes locked on the chief. She hadn’t seen him since that awkward moment in the hallway two days ago. He hadn’t popped in yesterday like he’d said he would, and she hated that she’d had a sliver of disappointment when her shift had ended and she hadn’t seen him.

Marly crossed the parking lot and headed toward the front of the bus to wait for Willow. Before she could spot her daughter, Drake raised his head. Even with his dark aviator sunglasses on, she knew he was looking right at her.

Sweltering heat from the late-summer sun did nothing to prevent the chills from racing through her. The instant reaction her body took to this man was unexplainable and unwanted. Yes, at one time she would’ve loved to have felt chills over the thought of a man like Drake looking at her, but that was years ago, before she’d married a monster.

Trusting her judgment now wasn’t the smartest move. She needed to regroup, build a solid life on her own before trying to appreciate a man like Drake. Her personal life would have to come later—much later.

Such a shame, though. She didn’t remember the last time a man had looked at her and made her feel anything but fear.

“Mama!”

Marly smiled as Willow came running up to her. “Come on.” Willow started tugging on Marly’s hand. “They’re going to let us squirt the hoses in a minute, and the teacher said we may get to climb inside a truck.”

Laughing, Marly allowed herself to be pulled toward the other smiling, wiggly kids. She passed by Drake, earning a devastating smile and a nod of his head.

“Marly.”

Unable to help herself, Marly returned his smile. “Chief St. John.”

Mercy. Just passing by the man and his spicy scent had Marly wondering where on earth her head had gone. Hadn’t she scolded herself already? Physical attraction wasn’t something she could indulge in. But just because she didn’t plan on doing anything about this sudden onslaught of emotions didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate the view of such a spectacular man.

“I want to sit in the front,” Willow said, taking a seat beside a little boy wearing his school spirit T-shirt. “This is my friend Alan. Just stand over there with the other moms, but watch me when I squirt the hose. Okay?”

“All right, sweetie,” Marly agreed.