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Chapter 1
At last, the rains started. Fire season had been horrendous that year, more deaths across the nation of young hotshots than ever before, and the grief-stricken country moved on as they tried to make sense of it.
The Saint family remained in mourning. For Charlie Saint, it was the loneliest he’d ever been as an adult man. The previous year, his wife, Clare, had moved out, and although he realized the shock of it must have meant things were really as bad as she’d complained about, he hadn’t recovered. It wasn’t her as a person that he missed, and that wasn’t a fact he’d share with his two adult sons, Paul and Oliver, or anyone else for that matter.
What he missed was her presence, another human being in the house who could answer his call, or let the dogs out, or share the responsibilities of the mundane. They hadn’t shared a bed for at least five years, but it could have been longer. “Your snoring is impossible,” she’d complained. “See a doctor.”
So he did; his most hated thing was to have to go to the medicinal-smelling office, take all but his boxers off, and sit like a statue on the end of the hard vinyl table. But the remedies they offered hadn’t helped, or so his ex-wife had complained, and she stayed out of his bed for good.
Then the truth: she was in love with another man. They’d been having an affair for years, and when Oliver graduated from college, she was free. The worst part, he was right there in the neighborhood, an enclave of wealth and prestige that Charlie, as an ordinary firefighter, could afford to live in because he’d bought Apple at twenty-six. Fortunately, their paths rarely crossed, and he could come and go as he pleased without sneaking out of the driveway, worried her car would pass.
Then with Mike’s death, she had to contact her ex-husband. It was the polite thing to do, and she’d always been fond of Charlie’s many nephews. The call, which Charlie felt was superficial, triggered something within him, and he made the decision to call Lila Conner after Devon gave him the phone number.
The house phones were scattered throughout the sprawling estate even though rarely used, but he would call her from the one in the butler’s pantry, closing off both doors even though he was alone in the house. She answered on the first ring.
“I haven’t seen this exchange since I was a kid,” she said after he introduced himself, then cringed because she didn’t want him to think it was a statement regarding his age. It was the first thing she’d mentioned when Devon told her Charlie was interested.
“My battalion chief wants to meet you,” Devon had said.
“Not that older guy I just met in your hospital room?” She was glad he couldn’t see the grimace on her face.
“Jeez, Lila, he isn’t that old. I bet Charlie isn’t fifty yet.”
“He’s at least twenty years older than I am,” she said.
“And he’s not married, by the way, has a good job, and he has an awesome house in Rancho Santa Fe.”
“Rancho Santa Fe? Maybe you firemen are making too much money,” she said, laughing. “Although that does make it more inviting.”
“You’ve done worse.”
“Now that you mention it…and he’s got a bod on him. And a nice head of hair.”
Now back to the present, she thought of that body. Closing her eyes, she imagined him in swimming trunks. She’d have to start going to the gym again.
“Ha! It’s my landline,” Charlie replied, not seeming to take offense. “I get lousy cell service in my house.”
“Devon said you might call. I’m glad you did.” She thought she heard a sigh of relief and remembered the circumstances of how she’d met Charlie. “I’m so sorry about Mike.”
“Thank you. Frankly, I’ve never had a loss like this before. The family is torn up about it. Maybe I should have waited to call you, but now seemed like the right time.”
Trying not to melt, Lila immediately felt a kinship to Charlie Saint that transcended the physical attraction. The heat turned to delicious chills when he spoke again. Her body was responding to his voice in ways she’d never felt before.
“Can you see me for coffee today? Or are you working? I’m taking the week off and forget other people might have to punch a time clock.” He knew nothing about Lila Conner, what she did for a living, where she worked, if she had kids.
“I would love to meet you for coffee. I’m not working. I volunteer at the Safari Park.”
“You do? I love that place.”
“So where do you want to meet? I live in Elfin Forest.”
“I love that place, too,” he said. “There’s a Starbucks in San Elijo.”
“That’s a farther ride for you.”
“I don’t care about that,” Charlie replied.
Lila grinned. So he was a gentleman. “Okay, this time I’ll let you go out of your way.”
