Betsy Amant - Fireman Dad

“That’d be great. I wouldn’t know what to do with them until the festival, otherwise.” Marissa stepped back as Jacob made arrangements with a salesman to reserve the cacti for pickup, then they headed back outside into the fading sunlight.

“That went well.” Jacob checked his watch. “Where to next?”

Marissa pointed down the row of shops. “We could check out the party supply store. It’s right around the corner.”

They headed in that direction. “Any suggestions for Olivia’s big day?” Marissa asked. As hectic as her schedule was, she was looking forward to helping make the birthday girl’s party a hit. Girl parties were usually more involved, but also more fun—probably because it gave Marissa a break from the constant little-boy-world of superheroes, worms and fire trucks in which she daily resided.

Jacob opened the door to the party store and motioned for Marissa to walk in first. “Olivia’s mom—Liz—suggested anything pink, frilly or princess. Pretty much everything I know nothing about.” He snorted. “If she wanted a superhero, however, I’d be her man.”

Marissa grabbed a shopping basket and led Jacob toward the far right section of the store where the girlier items were located. “Closet comic book fan, huh?”

He offered a guilty grin, pausing to examine a box full of old-fashioned Slinky toys. “It’s not that big a secret. My coworkers tease me all the time whenever a new superhero movie comes out.”

She could see that. After all, Jacob already possessed a superhero vibe, playing the role of rescuer to his brother’s family and even saving her from a lonely Friday night.

But his potential hero status had nothing to do with the party plans in question, and she’d only get in trouble following that line of thought. She led the way past the balloon counter. Interesting that he referred to his lawn service employees as coworkers. Such humility, if that’s what it was, would certainly be a refreshing attribute in a man. Not that it mattered—Jacob was her client.

So why was she constantly reminding herself of that fact?

She shook her head to clear it, trying to focus on their conversation instead of on her own wayward thoughts. “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with superheroes. Owen would attest to that.”

“I don’t think Olivia would agree. She’s easy to please, but evil villains and red capes at her party is pushing it.” He chuckled.

They rounded the corner and were suddenly surrounded by pink fluff. Jacob threw his arms up to shield his face in an exaggerated, dramatic duck. “Yikes, it’s the princess row.”

“Nothing on this aisle bites, I promise.” Marissa laughed, swatting his arm. “It’s the right decision, trust me. Girls Olivia’s age usually love a princess theme, and there are a ton of options for games and food. It’s a win-win.”

Jacob picked up a plastic jeweled tiara. “I guess you’re right. Every girl—or woman, for that matter—deserves to be a princess for a day.”

Their gazes collided and lingered before Marissa quickly looked away. Did she agree? Princess for a day—nice concept for a seven-year-old, not so realistic for a single mother. She lifted her chin, hoping to steer the conversation back on course and away from the heavy. “So, princess theme it is?”

“Princess theme it is.” Jacob picked up a sparkly fairy wand from a box on the shelf. “What about some of these?” He waved it through the air, sending a shower of glitter cascading to the floor. “On second thought, Liz might kill me—or even worse, make me vacuum after the party is over.”

Marissa took the wand and replaced it on the shelf. “I actually already have some less glittery versions of these in my leftover-prop box at the office, along with some other things the girls will like.” She smiled. “The biggest problem with this party is going to be narrowing down my list of ideas.”

“Good. I was hoping this would be easy, since I railroaded you into the short-notice favor.”

Marissa shook her head as she paused in front of a huge display of stickers. “No, trust me—you’re doing me the favor by letting me host the fundraiser on your land.” She tossed several packages of princess stickers into the basket she held. “Speaking of, we should probably plan a time for me to see your property. I need a visual of the layout so I can get things moving for the festival.”

“Good idea. Let me check my schedule.” Jacob pulled out his phone and clicked a few buttons. His eyes skimmed the contents. “How’s Monday around one-thirty?”

Marissa set the basket on the floor, then plucked her day planner from her purse. “Fine with me.” She made a quick notation. “That would give me plenty of time before I need to pick up Owen from school.”

Jacob gestured to the planner. “Does that thing travel everywhere with you?”

“Everywhere. It’s funny, I got used to carrying Owen’s diaper bag for so many years that when he got older, I kept feeling like I was forgetting something every time I left the house.” She tucked it back inside her purse. “This is my new security blanket.”

“Well, I just admitted I’m a comic fan, so your secret is safe with me.”

Safe. Now, there was a concept. Marissa risked a glance into his eyes, now a darker blue, as he picked up the basket from the floor and handed it to her. The teasing lilt had left his gaze, replaced with something deeper.

“I don’t want a train party! I want a zoo party!” A child in the next aisle screamed a tantrum, and Marissa jerked, losing the moment. Or had she only imagined the chemistry sizzling between them?

“At least she’s a young woman who knows what she wants.” Jacob nodded toward the commotion with a laugh. “Hey, how about feather boas?”

“Of course. Grab the purple ones, too.” Marissa sneaked a glance at Jacob’s profile as he draped the boas into the basket. There was something incredibly endearing about watching a grown man pick out and handle little-girl toys.

She wished she could recapture the moment they’d shared before the distraction from the next row shattered it with reality. But as the parent in the next aisle knew all too well, reality came with being a mom. There was a reason fairy tale princesses didn’t have children—it wasn’t always happily ever after and romance. Maybe the interruption had been for the best. Anything other than a business relationship would be a joke. Marissa was a mommy first and entrepreneur second, with little room for a third label.

Even if for the first time since Kevin’s death, she sort of wanted one.

The wind teased the edges of Marissa’s blond hair and blew several strands across her cheek as they ambled toward the parking garage. Jacob wished he could brush them back, but the night had gone so well, he wasn’t about to mess it up now with something that forward. The moon cut a path between the clouds, providing them with a momentary spotlight before they walked under the cover of the concrete garage.

After leaving the party store, they’d gotten burgers and ice cream cones and sat outside on a bench by the river to eat. In between bites, they talked about Owen, Marissa’s business, Jacob’s brother and family, and various plans for the upcoming festival. The more they talked, the better they connected, bouncing ideas off each other and feeding upon the other’s creativity. The longer he remained in Marissa’s presence, the more he felt like he’d known her forever.

“Where’d you park?” He scanned the almost empty bottom level of the garage, a reminder of how late the evening had gotten—and how quickly it had passed.

“I think … over there? My sense of direction isn’t the best.” Marissa pointed toward the back with a shrug. “It’s sort of a guessing game every time I leave a restaurant or the mall. Owen usually remembers better than I do.”