A band tightens around my chest. “There wasn’t any money for tuition,” I admit. “I didn’t take out loans. I didn’t want to leave school with them hanging over me. Then everything got all messed up. I wasn’t sure when I’d be able to drive again. It was too late to apply for financial aid. So I had to drop out of the program.”
Caleb frowns at his plate. His brows pull into a V. “Do you still want to be a paramedic?”
“Yeah. There’s a program near Burlington I could do, once I get everything else figured out. It’ll probably be a couple years, but that’s what I’d like to do.”
“A paramedic.” He nods thoughtfully. “I could see that.” Then he frowns again. “Not a firefighter, though?”
“No, not a firefighter. I’m not sure I’m strong enough for that. Or brave enough.”
He stares at me for a second. “I don’t know, Vienna. You seem pretty brave to me. Although—” He flashes me a crooked smile. “It’s better if you’re not running into burning buildings. It’s too dangerous.”
I’m sure it’s just polite concern. But I can’t deny the burst of warmth in my chest that comes anyway.
The rest of our meal passes in pleasant conversation. I tell Caleb about my first week at The Laughing Goat and some of the recent shows I watched—well, before my ex-roommate changed the Wi-Fi password so I couldn’t watch anything at all. He shares his addiction toStar Trekreruns and explains how he got his love of restoring old snowmobiles from his dad.
“I don’t really advertise my business,” he explains. “It’s mostly through word of mouth. And I only take jobs I’m interested in. That probably sounds dumb, not trying to make more money. But I have my retirement from the Marines. And I’m not trying to get rich. I just do the work because I like it.”
“Could I see one?” I blurt.
“A snowmobile?” Caleb asks.
My cheeks warm again. “I just thought… Well. I’ve never seen a snowmobile up close.”
Time stretches as I wait for him to answer. And with each passing second, I regret my question even more. What was I thinking, asking for even more than he’s given already? Despite what I told Tom about being friends, we?—
“I can show you around my garage,” Caleb replies. He almost looks shy as he says it. “If you’d like, I can even take you out on one.”
“You would?” I perk up. “On a ride?”
He smiles. “I would.” He glances at our now near-empty plates. “Are you done? Or do you want to order more?”
“I’m done.” Anticipation bubbles inside me. I get to see Caleb’s snowmobilesandtake a ride on one. Coupled with the trip to the shelter and an unexpected lunch, this day is turning out a heck of a lot better than I expected.
“Okay.” Caleb stands and grabs the two bags of cookies. Then he comes around to my side of the table and pulls out my chair. “I know the perfect place to take you. There are a few hills and dips, but nothing too crazy.”
I rise from my seat, but my leg, stiff from sitting, protests. As it wobbles, I grab the edge of the table for balance. But like yesterday, Caleb is right there, wrapping his arm around my waist and holding me steady.
“You okay?” he asks. His expression is creased with worry. “Do you need me to get you some ice? Do you need to sit back down? Walking back to the car is probably too much. I can drive over and pick you up at the door.”
“No, that’s okay.” I give my leg a quick shake to loosen it. “I can walk. It just gets stiff sometimes. And I haven’t been doing my exercises lately.”
Caleb regards me with concern in his eyes. “I don’t want you hurting yourself.”
“I won’t.” I smile in reassurance. “I’m fine now.”
“Still.” He readjusts his arm around my waist. “I think I’ll hang onto you. Just in case.” His gaze searches mine. “If that’s okay?”
That fizzy warmth in my chest blossoms even more. And I smile at him. “I’d like that.”
CHAPTER 6
CALEB
I’m trying to ignore the lure of the kitchen window again.
I spent enough time with Vienna today, after all. Breakfast, a trip to the shelter, lunch in town, which I didn’t think I’d enjoy but surprisingly, did, a snowmobile ride around my property, and finally, coffee and cookies back at her cabin before leaving to come back over here.
I can’t think of the last time I spent an entire day with a person. Back in my Raider days, there were stretches when I’d be with my teammates twenty-four-seven, and I didn’t mind it. But that was different.
