Page 10 of There’s Trouble Brewing

“He’ll be fine,” Mark said as the woman collapsed beside them. “He swallowed a lot of water, but he’s already breathing better.”

The loud, piercing wail of the siren filled the air,cutting through the tension. Its echo bounced off the surrounding buildings, creating a sense of impending relief. “That’s the ambulance,” Emily informed them, her voice steady amidst the chaos.

The boy’s aunt thanked them both, breathless and shaky. “I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t been here.”

They loaded the boy into the ambulance, and his aunt climbed in beside him, still holding her toddler. “Thanks again,” she called out one final time before the doors shut to the ambulance.

The wail of the siren filled Mark’s head as he turned to Emily. She smiled at him, wide and easy. “You were amazing,” she told him. “I can tell it was natural for you to save his life.”

Mark shook his head, feeling the ache in his leg but doing his best not to concentrate on it. “Old instincts kicked in,” he explained as they walked over to his truck. “I didn’t even think about it; I just reacted.”

“Well, those were great instincts.”

“Right place, right time,” he said, grabbing his towel from the seat of his truck and drying off. “I could say the same for you riding by when you did.”

She nodded. “Fate has a funny way of putting you were you need to be.”

“Thanks for the help with the boy’s aunt.”

“You seem like a guy who doesn’t need much help,” she said, tilting her head at him. She stepped closer like she was trying to figure him out. “I think after all that, you deserve a good meal.”

Mark’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Are you asking to take me to dinner?”

“Only if you say yes,” she said, still smiling. Her voicewas light, and he found himself wanting to say yes even though he knew it wasn’t a good idea.

“Okay,” he agreed, ignoring the part of him that warned him it wasn’t professional. “I’d like that.”

“I have some things to take care of before we go. How about six at the bistro on the Waterfront?”

“Sure,” Mark agreed. “I’ll meet you there. It gives me time to head home and get into something more appropriate,” he gestured to his wet swim trunks.

She chuckled with a nod. “Okay, see you soon.”

“I’ll be the guy with the limp.”

She let out another laugh, already heading back to her bike. “I’ll be the one with the helmet and the leather jacket,” she called over her shoulder, a hint of mischief in her tone.

As Emily rode off, the sound of her motorcycle faded into the distance. Mark couldn’t help but watch her go with admiration. There was something about Emily’s fearlessness that intrigued him, that pulled at something deep inside him. He shook his head to clear it and turned his attention back to drying off and organizing his gear. The pain in his leg was a dull throb now, a reminder of the limits he hated to acknowledge.

A half-hour later, Mark stood in front of his closet after a quick shower, and his hand hovered over his limited choices. He opted for simplicity—a clean white T-shirt and blue jeans. It was casual but clean-cut enough for dinner by the river. Every so often, his leg gave a pang that made him pause, but he wasn’t going to let it deter him.

Driving toward the bistro, his mind replayed the day’s events—the rescue, Nicole’s panicked face, and Emily’s vibrant presence. He was glad he was there and able to help and that the little boy was okay. He had gotten a text from Nicole, who had gotten his number from one of thebaristas, telling him that her nephew was going to make a full recovery.

He arrived at the bistro early and chose a table with a view over the river. The water flowed steadily beneath the setting sun, its surface flickering with golden light as if signaling the end of another day.

When Emily arrived, Mark couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She wore jeans and a flowing top that seemed to capture every hue of the sunset itself—warm oranges and pinks that played off her dark hair beautifully.

She spotted him immediately and walked over, taking a seat across from him. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”

“Just got here myself,” Mark told her with a smile. “You look...great.”

“You too,” Emily grinned and looked straight at him with her bright brown eyes full of life.

“The hostess told me when I came in you’re a regular here. Got a secret life as a foodie?” Emily questioned as she picked up a menu.

Mark shook his head. “When I first got to Faith Valley, someone mentioned that this place had the best view in town.” He nodded toward the window, where the river caught the last light of day. “And food to match.”

“Guess that means you should know exactly what to order,” Emily teased.

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