Ihad been on cloud nine since my talk with Arizona the other night, where the truth of our past came to light. Knowing I put everything on the line and not only had my feelings acknowledged but also returned, invigorated every cell of my being, that not even my restless spirit could dampen my mood. When I wasn’t on shift at the firehouse, I usually hit the gym to fill the gaps; however, since the fire at Arizona’s dad’s place, I’d been busy figuring out how to approach Dustin and offer my help with the rebuild.
“Jameson, what a surprise,” Dustin greeted me after opening his front door.
“Mr. Rhodes.”
“Nonsense, son. How long have I told you to call me Dustin?”
I snickered. “A long time.”
“Exactly.”
“Do you mind if I come in?”
“Of course not; you know you’re always welcome here.”
“Thank you.” I stepped across the threshold.
“I wanted to stop by sooner—” I stumbled over my words.
“You mean you didn’t just swing by to deliver your mom’s famous cabbage rolls?”
“Hmph,” I exhaled, releasing a rough burst of air. “No, I wanted to see how you’re doing.”
“Good, for the most part; some days, my energy dips. I suppose that’s also one of the joys of getting older.”
“There’s nothing old about you, sir; you still have a lot of vitality left.”
“If that were true, you wouldn’t have had to carry my old ass out of the fire.”
“You know?” I barely had a memory of that night myself, so I questioned how he knew.
“You think I wouldn’t talk to your father and find out? What you did was not only stupid and incredibly dangerous, you defied protocol and risked your life to save mine. I want to reprimand you, and yet I can’t because I’m forever in your debt and grateful for your selfless actions.” He placed a hand on my shoulder.
“When we arrived on the scene, I . . . honestly, it’s hazy when I try to think back. I’ve talked with the guys and my dad, and they all say I just reacted. I had tunnel vision; I knew you’d be inside the greenhouse if you weren’t outside fighting the fire. The idea of Arizona losing you too—” My mouth went suddenly dry like cotton balls had lodged themselves squarely in my throat.
Dustin pulled me in for a hug. “I know . . . I know.” He squeezed me tighter before taking a seat on the couch. “Just the thought of that alone has brought me to my knees more times than I care to admit.”
“Arizona’s got more fight in her pinky finger than most people have in their entire body.”
“Try raising her.” He chuckled.
“You did an exceptional job.”
“They say it often takes a village, but I’ve always been protective of my girl, and I still am. Knowing that you and yourfamily would be there to support her gives me peace of mind and helps me sleep at night.”
“There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.”
“I’m not the one you have to convince.” He turned briefly and looked out the window toward the rolling hills of picturesque greenery behind his property. “You know, I was once naive and reckless. Yet, there comes a time when we realize our actions were merely an attempt to fill a void. They didn’t make us happy or fulfill us like they once had. While I’ve certainly heard some whispers around town about you over the years, I see beyond all that. There’s no denying what I can see and hear with my own eyes and ears. I know you have feelings for my daughter and have for a long time. Don’t think I didn’t know you used to sneak into the greenhouse, plucking various flowers to leave on our front porch with little Post-it notes for Ari after her mom passed.”
My head nodded as I processed his words, realizing I hadn’t been as discreet as I thought, especially since he had picked up on it somewhere along the way.
“Now, it’s not my place to play matchmaker or anything, but I will say one thing. You’re a good man, Jameson Fisher, and if you happen to become more to my daughter one day, there isn’t any other person I’d trust to look after her more than you.”
“Thank you, Mr.—Dustin, that means a lot to me.”
“With that out of the way, I sense another reason for your visit?”
“Can’t a guy just stop by to check in on you?”
