Carrie Nichols - His Unexpected Twins

She wanted it to last forever, but cooled air and noise from the restaurant blasted them as the inner door opened. Someone cleared their throat and Liam pulled away so quickly she swayed. His hands darted out, coming to rest around each side of her waist and lingering for a moment before dropping away.

“Ellie?” a familiar voice inquired.

Liam stepped aside and she came face-to-face with Brody Wilson. She groaned inwardly. As if getting caught kissing in public wasn’t embarrassing enough, it had to be by someone she knew, someone who would tell his fiancée, Mary, who would tell Meg. Trying to salvage the situation, Ellie plastered a smile on her face, which was probably as red as the ketchup on the tables inside.

“This is, uh...a surprise.” She turned toward Liam. “Have you two met?”

Brody juggled a large white paper bag into the other hand, then reached out to shake. “We met very briefly at Meg and Riley’s wedding.”

“Speaking of weddings, you must be the groom.” Liam shook hands. “I met the bride a couple days ago.”

“Yes, Mary mentioned that.” Brody nodded, his assessing gaze darting between them.

“Are Mary and Elliott with you tonight?” Ellie glanced through the glass door to the restaurant.

“No. They’re at home.” He held up the bag. “I stopped to grab burgers on my way back from checking in on Kevin Thompson.”

“Checking on Kevin?” Ellie touched Brody’s arm. “Did something happen?”

Kevin Thompson was a local youth who could have headed down the wrong path if not for Loon Lake’s caring residents. Ellie knew Riley and Meg had encouraged Kevin to stay in school, and Brody and Mary had boosted his self-confidence by having him interact with the kids at their summer camp for children in foster care.

The camp had been Mary’s dream. When she and Brody became a couple, they’d started a nonprofit and made her dream a reality. Their farm on the edge of town was the perfect spot.

Brody nodded. “Yeah, he sprained his wrist yesterday.”

“Oh, no. Wasn’t he your helper for the carnival preparations?”

Brody sighed. “With Riley working on their house and picking up overtime hours, I hate to ask him, but I may have to if we’re going to be ready on time.”

Liam quirked an eyebrow at her. “What’s this about a carnival?”

“I help out with a childhood cancer survivor group,” Ellie said. “We counsel survivors and those going through treatment. Plus, every year we put on a carnival as a fun activity for the kids.” She enjoyed giving back to a group that had been so helpful when she’d needed it. “We have as much fun as the kids and it’s important for them to see they can get through sometimes grueling treatments and enjoy life.”

“What sort of help do you need?” Liam asked Brody.

Brody stroked his chin with his free hand. “Mostly muscle and someone to assemble wooden booths. You good with a hammer?”

Liam bobbed his head once. “Sure. I’d be happy to help out.”

The inner door opened and Brody stepped aside to let a couple pass through. “Ellie, why don’t I give you a call later and we can make arrangements.”

“That sounds good. You might want to get home before those burgers get cold or you’ll be in trouble with Mary.”

“Yeah, we don’t want that.” Brody laughed and winked.

* * *

Liam’s hand found the small of Ellie’s back as if magnetized. He licked his lips at the cherry taste that lingered on them. What had he been thinking, kissing her like that in public? Yeah, no thinking involved. Ellie’s presence tended to scramble his thought process.

A hostess inside the restaurant greeted them and led them to a booth.

“Thank you for offering to help out with the carnival,” Ellie said as she slid into the seat. “You’re here working with Riley and now spending off-time working some more. Hardly seems fair.”

He sat across from her. “Are you going to be there?”

“Yeah. I always help out,” she said, and picked up the colorful menu.

Normally he’d run a mile from reminders of the disease that claimed his ma. Just thinking about cancer made his skin crawl, but he could man up and do this. For Ellie. “Then I’m in.”

She gave him a big smile and flipped open the menu. Yeah, that smile was worth giving up a few hours to help some kids. He should regret the kiss but he didn’t, couldn’t regret something that felt so damn good. With that kiss, tonight felt more like a date, despite him being careful not to turn it into one.

He’d decided to keep things casual with Ellie because being in remission was no guarantee the cancer couldn’t return. Nothing like wanting his cake and eating it, too, or in this case, wanting his Ellie and none of the burdens of a real relationship. How the hell was he going to make this work?

“Do you want to?”

Ellie’s question brought him back with a jolt. Had he said any of that aloud? “Huh?”

She tsk ed. “I asked if you wanted to split an appetizer.”

Before he could answer, someone called her name. Two men in EMT uniforms approached their booth. Liam frowned at the way they strutted over to Ellie’s side. The tall one appeared to be around Ellie’s age, while the shorter, dark-skinned one was older.

“Sorry, Ellie, we didn’t mean to interrupt your date,” said the older one.

She glanced over at Liam. “Oh, we’re just—”

“On a date but it’s no problem.” What the hell prompted him to say that? He was still striving for control, for keeping his feelings casual. If they’d run into two of Ellie’s female friends, would he have made the same claim? If he were a better man he’d know the answer. Since he didn’t, that put him in the “not a better man” category.

“We’re not staying, just picking up our supper, and noticed you in here while we were waiting,” said the younger guy.

“I’m glad you came to say hi,” Ellie said. “This is my friend Liam. Liam, this is Mike and Colton. As you can plainly see by their uniforms, they’re EMTs. It just so happens Liam is a firefighter.”

Liam shook hands with both men, applying a bit of pressure with the younger one, Colton, whose intense gaze had been on Ellie since they’d come over to the table. Yeah, more juvenile than a better man would behave, that’s for sure.

“We missed you at the softball game last weekend,” Colton said to Ellie, but gave Liam the once-over as he said it, as if Liam had prevented Ellie from playing.

Ellie rested her elbows on the table, lightly clasping her hands together. “Sorry I missed it. Did you win?”

“No. We got clobbered.” Colton shook his head and scowled. “That’s why we need you.”

Mike backhanded his partner on the arm. “Looks like our order’s up.”

Colton nodded but didn’t take his eyes off Ellie. “The cops challenged us to another game to raise money for a K-9 unit. You in?”

“Sure.” Ellie smiled and nodded. “Give me a call when you get a time and place.”

Liam bit down on the urge to tell the guy to get lost already. If Colton was interested, why hadn’t he taken her to the new patio at Angelo’s? Pot? Kettle. You brought her here instead of trying to get reservations at Angelo’s.

“Some of the guys were talking about getting a bowling night together.” Colton mimed holding a phone. “I’ll give you call.”

“Hey, man, you can’t pick her up while she’s on a date with someone else,” Mike said, and attempted to pull his partner away from the table.

“Sheesh, I wasn’t picking her up, just asking if she was interested in bowling. It’s for charity,” he grumbled, but turned back and grinned at Ellie. “See ya, Els.”