Love by Christmas: Park City Firefighter Romance by Sarah Gay

Author:Sarah Gay [Gay, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christmas, Clean & Wholesome, Contemporary, Fiction, Firefighters, Romance
Publisher: Literary Evolution
Published: 2018-11-21T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 5

Wherever cloud nine was, Garrett was there. He released a sigh of contentment as he glanced up in his rearview mirror and saw how Piper snuggled her head into Maci’s arm like a purring kitten. Piper had asked Maci to ride home from the Thanksgiving feast in the back seat with her.

An epiphany hit Garrett with such strength that it nearly knocked the wind out of him. Piper needed Maci more than he needed her, if that was possible. She needed the tender affection of a mother that Garrett had tried to give her, but never really succeeded at.

What if Maci walks out on us like Carly did? Garrett didn’t think his heart could take that. Not again. How could he get Maci to commit to them without coming across as the abandoned and lonely guy he was? He did at least feel like he had more to offer than he did the year before, when his heart had just been ripped out of his chest—along with his life’s savings. Over the past year, he had begun to rebuild his savings and his self-esteem.

Garrett clutched the steering wheel with force, steadying his resolve to do whatever he could to make Maci happy. He had no problem working under the extreme stress of leading a crew during emergencies every day where people’s lives rested in the balance. But allowing himself to become vulnerable again by expressing his affection for someone? That was tough.

He ignored the beads of sweat forming on his brow and rubbed his thumbs into the gripping grooves of the steering wheel. “Piper and I never got a chance to express our Many Thanks at dinner.”

“And what are you thankful for, Mr. Garrett Macey?” Maci said nonchalantly as she wound Piper’s braids together.

Garrett cleared his throat and scratched at the two-day stubble on the side of his chin. “I’m grateful for second chances.”

Maci playfully raised an eyebrow. “Second chances at what, exactly?”

“A second chance to be happy. A second chance to make someone else happy. A second chance to find love.” He held his breath as he stared into the tiny rearview mirror.

Maci’s broad smile said what he had hoped he wouldn’t have to. Her smile gave him the courage to continue opening his heart to her. This was their first date, but he was an all-in-or-all-out kinda guy and his sentiments would either drive her away or bring her in closer. He prayed for the latter.

Thousands of hours he could have spent with Maci had been wasted on who knows what. He had already missed the entire last year with Maci; he wouldn’t miss out on another second without her. He marveled at how a bite of fruitcake had allowed him to see clearly.

He slowly released his breath. “Maci, you’re the most caring and amazing woman I’ve ever met. I physically rescue people all the time as a firefighter, but that’s my job. These past few months, I’ve watched how you reach out to others without knowing how your kind words or quick smiles affect the rest of us.

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