Page 5 of Burning Escape

“I can pay for that.” Tori started to pull out her debit card from her jeans pocket.

“No need. It’s already done.” His clear, steady gaze quieted the accusations and doubts. Maybe letting someone take care of her for a night wasn’t so bad. As long as she didn’t get used to it.

Once their food was ready, they strolled out along the main drag and headed to the riverside park.

“So, what do you do around here for work?” he asked. “Or are you on vacation?”

“I live here. But let’s not talk about work. I’ve given myself this one night to forget about jobs and responsibilities. That’s for tomorrow.”

“So you’re one of those live-in-the-moment kind of people?”

“Tonight I am.”

He chuckled. “Fair enough. So what do I call you? At least for tonight. I thought I heard someone call you Tia?”

“I’m—” For tonight, she wanted to be someone different. Someone without her past, without the bad choices weighing her down. At least with this man, who had honor written all over him, from the way he’d rescued her on the dance floor to the fact that he’d paid for her meal. “—Victoria.” She held out her hand. He shook it.

“Nice to meet you, Victoria.” His hand was calloused, the shake firm, but he didn’t squeeze like he had something to prove.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

He didn’t let go right away. “I’m Orion.”

“You’re named after the Greek hunter?”

“The constellation.”

“Ah, so you’re a star.”

“Nah, just an ordinary guy from Montana with a weird name. What about you? Are you from Alaska?”

“California.”

“So what brought you up here?”

“Regrets. A man. Take your pick.” She grabbed an onion ring and ripped it in half, popped a piece in her mouth. Shoot. Why had she said that? She sent him a playful wink to dispel any sense of pity that he might throw her way.

“But the joke’s on him. I found a career I love. A good group of friends. I stayed, and he’s gone, so…” She shrugged as she ate the rest of the o-ring. “So for now, Alaska is the closest thing I have to a home.”

Maybe someday she’d find a place where she belonged. Her sisters kept asking when she’d settle down and find a permanent address. But like they could talk. They had both moved multiple times in the last couple years, even though now they both claimed Last Chance County was home sweet home for them.

She wiped her fingers on a napkin. “What about you? What brings you here?”

“An opportunity. I love Montana, but I wanted a chance for something bigger in a place I didn’t have a history or connections. I want to be able to say I did this on my own, ya know?”

“I do. I have two older sisters that are…amazing, but also a lot. They practically raised me, so I kinda get it, but they are always checking on me like they don’t believe I can handle myself, even though I’m grown up and have been on my own for years. So, yeah, I can respect the need to be your own person, even if it means starting from scratch.”

“Exactly.” His blue eyes lit with understanding…connection.

They enjoyed the rest of their ribs and onion rings, chatted about useless things, and listened to the frogs along the river. Tourists wandered past. The sun drifted toward the horizon.

A text notification dinged from Tori’s phone. The time glared up at her from the screen. “Shoot. It’s almost midnight! I should get back.”

“Afraid your carriage will turn back to a pumpkin?” Orion stood to throw the to-go boxes away.

“No, I just have an early morning.” A morning she needed to be at her best for. She’d worked too hard for that smokejumper spot to flounder now. “I set my alarm for midnight. I have to head back.”

“I’ll walk with you.” Orion’s dark hair, longer on top, ruffled in the wind, which had picked up. “Here.” He shook off his flannel and laid it over her shoulders.

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