Page 61 of Holiday Hook Up

Chapter 14

“What doI do with this?” Rachel asked, holding the oxygen mask to her face.

“Here, let me show you.” Adam sat down next to his ex on the back of the firetruck, brushing her blond bangs out of her face and placing the mask strap over her head. He adjusted the cup to cover her nose and mouth. “Now breathe.”

She did, giving a thumbs-up signal.

“Keep doing that.” He took her small hand in his and watched as the firefighters began retreating from the house. It wasn’t much of a fire, so he guessed that it should only be a few more minutes before it would be fine to go back inside.

He’d gotten to the two-bedroom home he’d once shared with Rachel in minutes. Having traveled that dirt road numerous times, he’d taken the one proven shortcut that would get him there in half the time. He glanced over at the red maple tree off to the side that, although only branches right now, would produce the most beautiful autumn leaves next fall.

He smirked. Leaves that he’d nearly broke his back raking. Being here certainly brought back a lot of nostalgia.

Like the day they’d toured the rental property for the first time. She’d fallen in love with the white ranch house with light yellow shutters the minute they’d pulled into the pebbled driveway. It was situated on top of Buttermilk Ladder with a breathtaking view of the lake. They’d signed their lease on the spot and moved in a week later.

From memory alone, he could smell the fresh wild flowers he’d brought home to her that first night. He’d picked them a half a mile down the road. Even though she had more exquisite flowers in her shop, she’d gushed, saying they were the prettiest she’d ever seen.

If something happened to Rachel, he didn’t know what he would do.

He wasn’t in love with her anymore, he knew that. He still cared for her, though, and hoped they could get to a place where they could honestly say they were friends because he did miss that part of their relationship.

He’d been relieved to immediately see her when he pulled in, and in full Rachel form, she’d let the firefighters know in no uncertain terms that she was perfectly fine and didn’t need to go to the hospital. It was a small stove-top fire that caused the Fire Department’s visit.

Apparently, Rachel’s twin brother, Donovan, had been cooking up a Mexican fiesta in her kitchen and wasn’t paying attention to one of his greased pans. He’d left the room briefly to take a call when his fajitas went up in flames.

“When can I go back in?” Rachel asked, flinging off the mask. She stood and placed her hands on her knees, rounding her back.

He looked over at his captain who gave him a nod that it was fine to go inside. “I guess now if you’d like. Are you sure you’re okay?” Adam asked.

“Absolutely.” She straightened her black sweatshirt over her ripped jeans and then adjusted her messy ponytail.

Her outfit had surprised him. In all the time they were together, he never saw her in a sweatshirt not to mention torn jeans. Never. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the emergency room?” He pointed to his truck. “You wouldn’t have to ride in the fire truck. I could take you.”

“No. That’s not necessary. Really. I think I was more in shock than anything.” She nodded to the house. “I could kill my brother. I kept telling him our kitchen wasn’t equipped like the fancy state-of-the-art one he has in his restaurant and not to run all the burners at once, but of course he didn’t listen.”

Our kitchen.

She kept talking, but all he could do was focus on her mistake. Ithadbeentheirkitchen once upon a time, and if he’d gotten around to ripping out the old stove and putting a new one in like she’d asked him to do a million times, tonight never would have happened. He felt his throat constrict. Tonight was his fault. Thank God it wasn’t a lot worse. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” she asked, rubbing her arms.

“Lots of things. I’m glad you’re okay, Rach.”

She eyed him for a second, then asked, “Would you like to come in? See for yourself that my idiot brother isn’t going to cause any more trouble. I also wouldn’t object if you read him the riot act or at least gave him a few safety tips. For a seasoned chef, he’s pretty reckless in the kitchen.”

Adam looked down at his watch. The gang at the inn had probably called it a night by now, and Bethany, no doubt, would have to be at the Christmas Corner pretty early tomorrow. She might be fast asleep. Besides, even if she hadn’t already gone to bed, he wanted to respect her desire to take things slow. Showing up on her doorstep close to midnight probably wouldn’t be doing that. “Sure. Maybe for a minute.”

“Great. I’ll be in there.” She headed down her walkway and entered her house.

Once the captain released him from his duties, Adam joined her. The remnants of smoke filling his lungs.

“Well, look who showed up for the party?” Donovan came up and slapped his back. “Good to see you, man. Hey, you could have done a complete kitchen renovation before you and my sister split.”

“I thought you were going to move back and do it. Nice to see you, too, big shot.” Adam grinned and shook Donovan’s hand. It’d been a couple years, but Donovan still looked the same with the identical blond hair color and blue eyes of his twin.

Even though it had been a rough breakup, Adam and Donovan had stayed friends. Not that they talked much, but they usually ran into each other when Donovan was home for Christmas. “So, how’s life?”

“Can’t complain. Restaurant business is good.” He motioned for Adam to follow him into the living room. “I’m thinking I might need a change, though. I’m getting a little antsy, and apparently want to burn shit.”

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