Heidi McCahan - The Firefighter's Twins

“Hope so.” He also hoped he could find a way to get Natalie’s teasing smile out of his head. His thoughts had turned to her often. Too often. Dating wasn’t even an option. They’d lost so much when Monica left. While the thought of being a single dad forever planted an icy ball in his gut, bringing someone new into the boys’ lives was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.

Chapter Three

By the middle of the week, Natalie’s stomach was twisted in knots over the email from Forever Love, as well as the lack of progress on the service project. She paced the street in front of the unfinished house, her mind racing. Discarded candy wrappers and empty plastic water bottles littered the quiet space. Despite the community’s faithful commitment to help, they were woefully behind. At this rate, they’d have little more than a shelter to offer their chosen family.

She stopped pacing and glanced across the street to her family’s farm. Even though she’d read Karen’s email at least a dozen times, she still couldn’t believe it was real. The thought of telling her parents about the offer had squelched her initial enthusiasm. She’d conveniently avoided the conversation and kept the offer a secret from everyone. Maybe she needed to just get it over with. She fished her phone from the back pocket of her jeans and mentally rehearsed the call.

Hey, Mama. Got a minute? I’m thinking about selling Magnolia Lane and moving to...

Ha. That would not go over well. She sighed and shoved her phone back in her pocket. This was home. All she’d ever known, minus her years spent an hour away in Chapel Hill, at the university. Could she pick up and start over in Charlotte? If she said no, would she always wonder w hat if ?

The uncertainty weighed heavily on her mind. Despite her own personal heartache, orchestrating weddings that exceeded brides’ expectations made her happy. Fulfilled. Their ecstatic smiles, and the groom’s expression when he saw his bride for the first time, made all her efforts behind the scenes worth it. Forever Love’s offer meant an end to juggling Magnolia Lane and the farm. An end to her constant frustration over turning away clients because she felt pulled in two directions. She’d always dreamed of planning weddings full-time. Was this finally her chance to pursue her dream?

Tires crunched on gravel behind her, and she turned around. Three pickup trucks had turned off the highway and approached, easing into a tight line on one side of the street.

Car doors slammed, and she counted six men reaching into truck beds and pulling out toolboxes, power saws and a portable cooler. The guy parked closest to her was the last one to get out of his truck. When his boots hit the ground, he grinned at her through the driver’s-side window.

Her pulse kicked up a notch. Shay?

The guys chatted back and forth while they hauled their tools and supplies toward her. She stared in disbelief.

“Hey, Natalie,” Shay called out, pausing to anchor his tool belt around his waist. “How’s it going?”

“I’m—you—why are y’all here?” Warmth flooded her cheeks as she struggled to form a coherent sentence.

“Campbell rounded us up.” Trent angled his head toward Shay. “He said you needed a little help finishing this house.”

“A little help?” She let out a wan laugh. “That’s an understatement.”

Shay grabbed a large bottle of water from the truck’s cab. “We’re prepared to work hard. Why don’t you give us a quick rundown. What needs to be done first?”

The guys—most of them familiar faces from around town—fanned out around her, waiting expectantly.

“I—I don’t even know where to start. There’s so much to do. Finishing the plumbing and electrical work, hanging the drywall...”

“I’m up for a challenge. How about y’all?” Trent shifted his toolbox to his other hand and motioned for the guys to follow him.

They made their way up the driveway and onto the crude front steps, their work boots clunking against the plywood.

Shay stepped away, but she reached out and touched his arm. “Wait.”

His gaze traveled slowly from her fingers to her face. When their eyes met, something passed between them—an unmistakable spark that made her mouth dry and tangled her thoughts. Again.

Shay raised an eyebrow. “Something on your mind?”

She dropped her hand to her side before it lingered a second longer. “Thank you. Really. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“You’re welcome.”

“What can I do to help you? Who’s watching your kids? I mean, I’m assuming you’re single and all. Otherwise...” She pressed her lips together, heat climbing up her neck. Just stop talking.

His eyes gleamed, and a smile tugged at his lips. “Why do you ask? Is there childcare included for frequent visitors to the pumpkin patch?”

“Very funny. No, I’m not offering childcare.” She stopped short of mentioning that he probably wouldn’t trust her with his boys, given her limited experience with the toddler crowd.

“The boys are napping. I took a walk on the wild side and hired a babysitter since my mom’s enjoying a day off.”

“Good for you. I hear there are a few reliable ones around.”

He checked his phone. “So far, so good. She hasn’t called me.”

“They’re sleeping, right? How much trouble could they get into?”

Shay chuckled. “You don’t have kids, do you?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Can’t you tell?”

He studied her, as though he was going to say more. Instead, he put his phone away and grabbed his water. “I better get to work.”

“I didn’t bring any tools over, but if you have an extra hammer, I’d be glad to help out for a little bit.”

His eyes widened. “Seriously?”

She fisted her hands on her hips. “What? Girls aren’t allowed to use hammers?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to. Your expression said it all.”

“I’m pretty sure we can round up an extra hammer.”

“Good. Tell the guys supper’s on me. I’ll run and grab something when y’all get hungry.”

A wide smile stretched across his face, rocketing her heart rate into orbit. “Deal.”

* * *

Shay lingered in the driveway, feeling like a teenager with that stupid grin plastered across his face. He needed to get inside and get to work. The jolt of electricity that zinged from Natalie’s fingertips to his arm was hard to ignore. So was a pretty girl with the courage to grab a hammer and help build a house. Annoyed that he found the idea so appealing, his smile faded, and he reached for his tools.

“Shay? Do you have a tape measure on you? I must’ve left mine at home.”

Shay pivoted. Trent stood in the open doorway, one hand braced on the frame. His gaze flitted toward Natalie and then back to Shay. Curiosity flickered in his expression, and Shay willed him not to say a word. Nothing to see here.

“Yep.” Shay unclipped his tape measure from his tool belt and met Trent at the top of the steps. “Where should I start?”

“We’ve got to finish the subflooring first. Natalie, you’re going to have to get somebody else in here to handle the electrical stuff.”

“Yeah, I know.” Gravel crunched under her feet as she strode up behind Shay. “Electricians who are available to wire a whole house are hard to come by around here. Is there something else I can help with?”

Trent’s mouth twitched. “I don’t want to offend you, but we don’t expect you to move sheets of plywood by yourself.”

Natalie laughed, brushing past him and into the house. “I’m not offended. I didn’t want to move plywood, anyway.”

Shay stepped inside and studied the layout. The entry opened to a kitchen and breakfast nook on one side and a living area on the other. What would eventually be a hallway led to the bedrooms. Through the unfinished walls, he counted three more rooms, a bathroom and laundry area.