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  “What do you think of the partners?”

  “I have no doubts about working with Megan. Zell’s a question mark for me. Not enough for me to walk away, just something I need to consider.”

  “Sounds like they’re ready to move as soon as you make a decision.”

  Mark sipped his coffee, his brows furrowing as he continued to think about the opportunity before him. “I’ll have a decision by the time I leave town.” He set his cup down and looked at Lainey. “By the way, I like your hair. It looks great.”

  Lainey’s hand reached up to touch the shortened locks. “Thanks. I did it on a whim before I picked you up yesterday, but I’m happy with it.”

  “Yeah. The team back in Bluebird Falls probably wouldn’t even recognize you,” he joked as they left the restaurant.

  ******

  Lainey sat at her computer, reading the last, short email from Cam. She hadn’t responded to his question about her engagement, instead focusing her last message to him on her excitement about the new business and home she’d be buying. Cam had congratulated her and asked again about her fiancé. Lainey tapped out a quick reply about being swamped and she’d get back to him soon.

  Mark had given his approval to the purchase of both the preschool and business after meeting with Helen, the owner, and taking a tour of both properties. He’d been impressed with the layout and operation of the preschool as well as the condition of the house.

  Lainey and Helen had settled on a price and signed the required documents. The sale would be final within a few weeks. Lainey was anxious to get into her new home and start work at the school. Tons of ideas for improving the facility and bringing in new children had been penciled out. The time had come to make it her own.

  “You ready?” Mark walked into the living room, dressed for their morning run.

  “When’s your meeting?”

  “Not until the afternoon. We have lots of time. Come on. I’ll buy lunch if you pull ahead, and stay there.”

  She drove to a wooded trail several miles away. They’d run a different route each day since Mark had been in town. She hadn’t been back to Golden Lake. It had lost much of its appeal after finding Mia crouched in the back of the small cave.

  Today’s run took them through a narrow, winding trail to a lookout. As usual, Mark let her take off in front before shooting ahead. She’d never been able to keep up with Mark and had long ago accepted the fact.

  At one point, Lainey took a wrong turn and stopped in a clearing with an open view of the campground below. Her eyes circled the area to see a man, binoculars in hand, looking in her direction. She watched him a moment before he dropped his hands and turned toward a waiting car. He’d been too far away to see his face. Lainey didn’t think much of it. Besides, bird watchers were a common sight in the town as well as avid photographers and nature seekers. She let the incident slip from her mind.

  Lainey rounded the final turn to see Mark standing with his hands on hips, staring at the blue sky above and valley below, his hair damp from the run.

  “Quite a sight.”

  “Yes, it is.” Lainey bent over to take in a deep breath. “What will your family think if you take the offer and move here?” They’d spoken a lot about the town, late into the evening each of the last two nights, debating its pros and cons, and comparing it to Bluebird Falls. He liked that an active SAR team existed and needed more volunteers. He’d already made up his mind to accompany Lainey to the SAR meeting that night. Even if he wasn’t a member of the team, he still held active status in Bluebird Falls.

  “It’s further away from most of my family, although there are some renegades spread out across the southwest. They’ll support whatever I decide.”

  Lainey smiled, as she did most times when Mark made reference to his Lakota heritage. His dark, black-brown hair and caramel-colored skin were testament to his one-quarter Sioux blood. He’d gotten his gray-blue eyes from his mother, and his slim nose from his European grandmother. The fact that some woman hadn’t snapped up her handsome friend had always been a source of amazement to Lainey.

  “I’m looking forward to meeting the team tonight and seeing if I’ll fit in. That would be a deal killer for me, Lainey.”

  She’d called Frank, asking if it would be all right to bring a potential volunteer to the meeting that night. Frank had responded right away that he’d welcome the chance to meet another volunteer. “I understand, although I believe you’re going to fit right in.”

  Chapter Seven

  Lainey checked herself once more in the mirror, deciding she’d made the right decision to cut her hair. Four inches had been taken off, and the ends now hovered at the base of her jaw, framing her face, and, as the stylist said, showing off her wide-set green eyes. She grabbed her coat before joining Mark in the living room.

  “All set.” She snatched her keys and headed for the door.

  “Hold on a minute.” Mark picked up his Bluebird Falls SAR cap and settled it on his head. “Now I’m ready.”

  She parked several cars away from the back door. An assortment of cars, trucks, and SUVs filled the lot, indicating a good number of people were already inside.

  They grabbed cups of coffee and met a few other volunteers before Jake Renner called the meeting to order.

  “We’re still missing a few people, but we’re going to start anyway. I’ve asked Frank to come up and tell you about some new equipment before I go into the updated training schedule. Frank?”

  Mark and Lainey sat back and listened. The format matched the one in the Bluebird Falls SAR team with a few minor fluctuations. The updated training routine sounded good, although Lainey groaned a little at the slight increase in pack weight for their runs.

  “Now, let’s have some introductions. First…” Jake stopped as the back door opened and closed. “Glad you could finally join us,” he called toward the back.

  “Same here,” the volunteer called back.

  Lainey sat up a little straighter and turned her head at the sound of the man’s voice—deep, clear, and familiar.

  “As I was saying, we have a new volunteer, and another potential volunteer who’s in town on business. Our new volunteer has already made an impact by locating a child who’d been reported missing. She can tell you all about it after the meeting. Lainey Devlin, from Bluebird Falls, Idaho. Stand up, Lainey.”

  Cam’s coffee cup stopped halfway to his mouth and his eyes grew wide at the sight of the woman he’d fantasized about for months. She stood, a broad smile radiating from her face as she acknowledged the greetings from those around her. She started to lower herself back into her chair when her eyes caught sight of a lone figure standing by the refreshment table and her knees locked—Cam. Her mouth dropped open and even though she knew curious eyes were focused on her, she couldn’t seem to rise or sit. Finally, she sat down, her hands gripping the sides of the chair.

  “Welcome Lainey. Now I’d like to introduce you to Mark Hill. He’s currently with the Bluebird Falls SAR group in Idaho. He may be buying into a business in Fire Mountain, and if so, we can expect to see him join our ranks. Right, Mark?”

  Mark stood and acknowledged the others. “That’s right. Hope to have a decision within a few days.”

  The meeting went on for another few minutes before Jake adjourned for the night, reminding them of the next meeting.

  Lainey walked toward the back, introducing herself to a few more volunteers while keeping her gaze searching the area where Cam had been standing. The sight of him, in this room, perhaps twenty feet away, had caused her to feel half full of anticipation while the other half was consumed with dread. He’d looked the same—tall, lean, and strong, and every bit as handsome as she remembered.

  She reached the far wall and turned back toward the front of the room, trying to locate him.

  “Hello, Lainey.”

  Startled, she spun around to see Cam standing a foot away, arms folded, radiating cool poise as he locked eyes with hers. Lainey took
a step back and took in the sight of him. She’d never seen Cam in anything except his rescue gear. Now he stood before her wearing a dark t-shirt stretched taut across a solid chest and well-defined arms. His broad shoulders tapered into a slim waist and his jeans molded perfectly around his muscled thighs.

  “Lainey?”

  She looked up to see a knowing grin and amused eyes. Her face heated, knowing he’d caught her staring.

  “Hello, Cam.”

  “You look good, Lainey. I like your hair.” He continued to let his eyes wander over her. “Did you come with Mark?”

  She raised a hand to the shortened hair while looking behind her to see Mark chatting with a couple of men. “Yes. He’s visiting—looking at a potential business opportunity.”

  Cam’s eyes shifted to Mark then back to Lainey. “Have coffee with me. He can find his way home, right?”

  Her heart began to thump, an odd, rapid staccato that took her by surprise.

  “Yes, I think he can manage.” She walked up to Mark and handed him the keys. He grasped them, then looked to the back and nodded at Cam.

  “So you’ve already hooked up with Sinclair.”

  “It’s just coffee.”

  “Right. Well, don’t be out too late,” he chided as she strode away.

  Lainey climbed into Cam’s gun-metal grey pickup and found herself staring again as he slipped behind the wheel. She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves, and trying to restore some confidence. Her body’s response to this man was out of control and beyond anything she’d ever experienced.

  “This your new town? One of the big changes you mentioned in your email?” Cam focused his gaze ahead, not risking eye contact. He’d been stunned to hear her name and see her stand up, wearing a red fitted top over skintight jeans. His body had responded without hesitancy, the attraction stronger than anything he’d ever felt before.

  “Yes, it is.” She licked her lips, deciding the time had come to share all her news.

  He made a turn and parked on the side of the road next to a family-style restaurant. “It’s not fancy but they make great coffee and decadent cinnamon rolls.”

  They settled into a booth, ordered coffee and rolls, then Cam rested his arms on the table. “So tell me all your news.”

  “It looks like I’m buying a preschool here in Fire Mountain.” Her eyes lit up as she spoke and Cam couldn’t help being drawn into her enthusiastic voice. “It’s been in town a long time, and the current owner is great. There’s a full roster of children, and a house, near the old downtown area, is included in the price. It’s perfect.”

  She stopped as the waitress delivered their order.

  Lainey grabbed some sweetener and cream. “I’m very excited about it.” She cut a piece of the sticky roll and slid it into her mouth. “Wow, this is wonderful.”

  “The business and home sound great.” He took a sip of the hot coffee. “And your fiancé?”

  Lainey set down her fork and took a slow breath. “It’s over. I ended it several weeks ago, just before I came here to check out the business. I should have broken it off a long time ago.”

  Cam kept his pleasure at the news to himself. He had some quick thinking to do about his situation with Megan and the opportunity he had with Lainey. One offered a steady, consistent relationship without demands or expectations—just what Cam needed at this stage of his career.

  The other offered excitement, surprises, and, he guessed, much more commitment and a loss of focus on what had always mattered—exactly what he didn’t need. His mind reeled at the possibilities. If Lainey’s response to him indicated anything, he’d lay odds he had a good chance with her.

  “Why didn’t you break it off with him sooner?”

  Lainey sipped the last of her coffee, reflecting on her engagement and the relief she still felt at calling it off. “I had a packed schedule with work, SAR, plus some involvement in a couple of local children’s programs. He hadn’t pressured me to give up my job or other activities until the last few months. I guess I thought he’d get over badgering me. One day I realized I just didn’t love him and could never mold myself into the wife he wanted. Now I have a fresh start and an open future.”

  “And Mark?”

  “Mark?” She thought a moment. “Oh. No, he and I are friends. Good friends but nothing more. We met in college, found jobs, and moved to Bluebird Falls about the same time.” She grinned. “It’s funny. I don’t think either of us has ever thought of the other as more than a sister or brother. So tell me what’s going on with you.”

  Cam talked about his IT job, as well as flying the company helicopter and co-piloting the jet. Lainey could see the pride in his eyes and hear the enthusiasm in his voice as he spoke of the many projects his stepfather kept giving him.

  “It’s what I’d always worked toward—working in a complex company where I can make an impact.”

  “Do you think you’ll stay here in Fire Mountain?”

  “I’d like to. Much of what I do depends on how my job changes and if I’m offered new opportunities. If I were to select one place to live, it would be here.”

  “What about your family? Do you have brothers, sisters?”

  Cam’s eyes sparkled as he told of his blended family. It took a few minutes for him to describe the intricacies of the MacLaren-Sinclair clan and how everyone fit together.

  “Your family parties must be entertaining.” Lainey loved the idea of a big family and lots of space.

  “That they are.” Cam checked his watch. “Guess I better get you home.” He stood and escorted Lainey to his truck. They spoke little on the way to her apartment.

  “This is it.” She pointed to a small complex on a side street off the main road.

  Cam pulled to a stop and hopped out, walking around to Lainey’s side and opening the door. She’d turned to slide down from the truck when Cam lifted her from the seat and slowly set her in front of him.

  “I’ll walk you to the door.”

  There were a couple of lights coming from inside and one porch light cast a soft glow over the entry. They stopped as Lainey dug out her keys then glanced at him.

  “Thanks for the coffee and roll, and the conversation.”

  Cam didn’t respond, just stared down into her face, his eyes never wavering from hers as he lowered his head to brush his lips lightly against hers, once, then twice. He lifted his face a fraction before capturing her mouth once more, wrapping his arms around her, and pulling her close. He’d fantasized about this for months, yet his dreams didn’t come close to what he felt now.

  Lainey moved into Cam, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down as his tongue traced the outline of her lips, encouraging her to open for him. He tasted of coffee and cinnamon. She felt his hands roam over her back, down to her hips, then back up. One hand settled at the back of her head, his fingers easing through her hair and holding her in place.

  Cam wanted her with an intensity that surprised him. He’d been with many women, been close to commitment at one point, yet none of them affected him like Lainey. The feel of her body aligned with his, her taste, the scent of vanilla and spice that wafted over him whenever she was around, overwhelmed him. He wanted more of Lainey, much more.

  Cam pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, his breathing labored, his heart pounding in his chest.

  “I knew it would be like this with you,” he breathed as he placed one more kiss on her swollen lips.

  “It was better than I imagined.” Lainey’s soft smile and glazed eyes confirmed that she’d been as affected by their kiss as Cam.

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “Can I have your number now?” he joked.

  “I think that’s an excellent idea.” She gave him her number and he entered it into his phone.

  “I’d better go.” He kissed her once more then turned to leave. “I’ll call you—soon.”

  Lainey let out a breath and watched him climb into his truck, excitement,
desire, and hope washing over her as he pulled away.

  ******

  Cam drove back to his cabin, knowing the time had come for him to have an honest talk with Megan, and break it off.

  He pushed open his front door as the phone in his pocket began to vibrate. Cam recognized the number.

  “Hi, Megan. What’s up?”

  “How’d your meeting go?”

  Cam hesitated a moment. “Good.”

  “The man who’s interested in the partnership asked if we could go out to dinner with him on Friday. I told him I already had a date, but he said to bring you along. I’d love to get your opinion of him, if you’re interested.”

  “Sure, I can do that. Tell me when to pick you up and where he wants to meet. I assume Zell is coming.”

  “She is. Thanks, Cam.” She paused a moment. “Well, I’ll see you Friday about six.”

  “See you then.” He hung up, deciding he’d have his talk with Megan after the dinner on Friday.

  Chapter Eight

  “You have plans tonight?” Eric strolled into Cam’s office at three o’clock on Friday afternoon.

  “I’m having dinner with Megan, Zell, and their potential new partner.” He looked up from his paperwork and smiled. “You want to come?”

  “Hell, no. I haven’t spoken with Zell since I called it off, and I hope not to run into her for a while. Nice lady, lots of fun, but pure poison for my peace of mind.”

  Cam chuckled. “Guess you’ll be on the lookout for someone else now that you and Zell are history.” He looked back at the papers in front of him.

  “Don’t know, I kind of like flying solo.” Eric started for the door then turned. “Except I did hear about a new SAR volunteer in town. Single, pretty, great body…”

  Cam’s head jerked up. “She’s off limits,” he growled, surprised at the edge to his voice.

  Eric looked at his brother a moment. He’d never heard Cam respond like this to a comment about an available woman. In fact, Cam rarely snapped at him about anything. Eric lowered himself into a chair. “You want to tell me about it?”