“Hey there. I’m Nick with the search and rescue team. We’re tying your vehicle to a fire truck to steady it. You might feel slight movement but just be aware we’re securing you.” The low, soothing voice washed over her, providing her with a much-needed reality check. She wasn’t alone!
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“H-Harlow,” she said, forcing the word out of her mouth. She was shaking so badly now she felt certain her voice must be trembling as well.
“Nice,” he said with a nod. “My granddad used to watch Jean Harlow movies. She was a blond bombshell from back in the days of classic films. Has anyone told you about her?”
“A few times,” she replied.More like a hundred.Basically every time she met someone new over a certain age they mentioned her namesake.
“Okay, Harlow. Do me a favor. Don’t look down. Just listen to my voice, okay?”
Harlow froze.Don’t look. Don’t look.If he was telling her not to look, then surely there was a reason. What would she see if she looked down? Try as she might, Harlow couldn’t resist the urge to peer down into the abyss.
As soon as she did, Harlow let out a scream worthy of a horror movie. She squeezed her eyes shut as a way of blocking out the terrifying sight of dark water and jagged rocks. She needed to wake up from this nightmare! Her life couldn’t end this way. Not when she was on the verge of being debt-free.
“I told you not to look down, Harlow.” Nick’s voice was as smooth as glass. It felt reassuring. Surely he wouldn’t sound like that if he thought she might die.
She let out a moan. “I know you did, but I couldn’t stop myself.”
“Slowly unbuckle your seat belt, Harlow,” Nick instructed. His voice was so close to her now, it felt as if he was talking into her ear. Seconds later his face appeared by her window. Whoa! If this was going to be the last face she ever laid eyes on, she’d hit the jackpot. Leave it to her to appreciate male beauty at a time like this.
Deep-set chocolate eyes framed by jet-black lashes she’d give her right arm for looked at her. Russet-colored skin. A strong jawline and amazing features. He was so close that Harlow could see a small scar resting by his full, nicely shaped lips.
“I know you’re scared, but I’ve got you. I’m going to open the door and get you out. Okay?” he asked in a buttery soft tone. “Make sure you place your arms around my neck. Really tight, all right?”
All she could do was nod. A huge lump was sitting in her throat. It felt impossible to trust this man she’d only just met with her life. But what choice did she have? Before she knew it, Nick had scooped her up in his arms and lifted her from the driver’s seat, swinging her back toward solid ground and safety. He gently deposited her on the pavement as a team of EMTs rushed toward her. She was still tightly wrapping her arms around his neck with no desire to let go.
“You’re safe now,” he said in a low voice as he gently pried her arms away. As soon as he released her, a warming blanket was placed around her shoulders as she was led to the back of an ambulance. After insisting she didn’t need treatment, Harlow accepted a bottle of Gatorade and a pack of graham crackers. Once she’d finished them and assured the EMTs that she was fine, Harlow looked around the area to try to spot Nick, but he was nowhere to be found. She really needed to thank him for saving her life. If she didn’t do it right now, the opportunity might slip through her fingers.
Harlow walked back toward the group of firefighters, singling out a pretty female with fiery strands of hair peeking out of her helmet. “Have you seen Nick? He’s part of the rescue team.”
“The tall dude with killer eyes and a rugged build?” the woman asked with a knowing look.
“Sounds about right,” Harlow said, noticing the way the pretty firefighter’s eyes lit up. It didn’t take a genius to figure out she had a thing for Nick. Harlow didn’t blame her. He made quite an impression.
“He headed out a while ago,” the woman elaborated, grinning hard. “Trust me, I noticed.”
“Thanks,” Harlow said, swallowing past her disappointment. Not being able to thank Nick didn’t sit well with her. It was the least she could do after his heroic actions.
Her life had just been saved by the most swoonworthy man in the entire state of Maine, and she didn’t even know his full name. She let out a sigh. Too bad she wasn’t looking for even a hint of romance. A man like Nick would check off all the requirements on her list.
Harlow needed to keep her eyes on the prize. She would fulfill the requirements of her agreement to work at Paws and then leave Mistletoe as fast as her legs could carry her.
***
Nick Keegan drove along the coastal road toward his hometown of Mistletoe, Maine. A quick glance at the clock on his dashboard confirmed that he would get home just in time to make dinner for his son, Miles, check his homework, then watch one of their favorite television shows together before it was lights-out for both of them.
As a single father of a nine-year-old, Nick always felt as if he were burning the candle at both ends. His career as a search and rescue agent meant grueling hours and emotional assignments. Sometimes he wondered if he was doing a good job raising Miles in the shadow of his wife Kara’s tragic death. She had been the magic glue that held their family together. Without her at the center, Nick had struggled for a long time, always feeling as if he was floundering.
The ache of loss was still there, but he was beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. He didn’t want to be single for the rest of his life, but finding someone he vibed with and who meshed with his life wasn’t easy. Sure, he’d put his toe in the dating waters in the past few months, but nothing had come of it. The thought of those awkward dates made him cringe. Nick hadn’t felt any true connection or chemistry with any of them.
Had he lost his swagger? Or was he simply rusty at wining and dining a woman? It had been a while, but at least he still looked half decent. Due to his career, he was in great shape. He even had a six-pack. Or at least a four-pack. Not that it did him much good.
Harlow.Seeing such a beautiful woman while on the job was rare. Curly black hair framed a gorgeous face. With her sepia-colored skin, full, rosy lips, and big brown eyes, she was absolutely stunning. And maybe a little bit out of his league, if he was being honest. Nick couldn’t help but wonder if she knew how close she’d been to imminent disaster. If the circumstances had been different and he hadn’t been on the job, Nick might have flirted with her a little bit instead of keeping his distance. Or maybe he would have invited her out for coffee.
Baby steps, he reminded himself. Getting back in the dating game wasn’t easy. But he knew he didn’t want to walk alone for the rest of his life. Seeing his younger brother, Luke, and close friend, Dante West, happily settled down made him want a loving partnership for himself. It didn’t even have to be a white picket fence and a wedding ceremony. Nick just wanted to be head over heels for someone again and to have those feelings reciprocated.
Nick paused for a moment as he pulled into the driveway of his white colonial-style house with black shutters. It was the quintessential New England family home. Two red Adirondack chairs sat out front, along with half a dozen pumpkins. His mind flashed back to the first time he and Kara laid eyes on this place. His heart had lurched when Kara turned to him and said, “I can see us growing old here.” They’d made an offer on the house that very day. And he had planned to live happily ever after with her, until a drunk driver hit Kara’s car head-on and snuffed out his wife’s life.
