Page 3 of Ignite My Heart

Jared waves a hand. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

I may have an idea…

chapter two

Felicity

I never thought I’d come back to Saddle Creek, Texas. Yet here I am. Late for my first day at my new job. Well, technically, this is the same job I’ve had for the last five years, but now I’m working here in Saddle Creek instead of downtown Austin. My view from the window won’t be the cityscape I’m used to. Now, it’ll be the gentle rolling hills that surround my small hometown. Who would’ve thought my cushy office job in Austin would get relocated to such a small town?

I suppose this is what I get for working for two guys I grew up with. They would’ve let me stay in Austin to work. Yes, they officially moved the headquarters of H & J Funds to Saddle Creek once Hayes and JD, the two owners, decided to move back home.

It’s not until I’m standing in the elevator heading up to my new third-floor office that I realize my shoes don’t match. Well, they’re the same shoe, but one is black and the other navy blue.

“Awesome,” I mutter to myself.

Nothing I can do about it now.

As I walk to my office, I realize no one else is here. Anywhere. How is that possible?

I tilt my arm to see my watch, which spills coffee from my travel mug onto my pants leg. I’m not crazy early or super late, so I don’t know where they are. Maybe there’s a meeting somewhere I’m unaware of.

I’ll see if I can find anyone after I put all my stuff on my desk and check my email. My nameplate is already on the door, and the room is unlocked for me. Handy since I haven’t gotten my keys yet.

I set down my coffee and try, in vain, to wipe off the black droplets now speckling my pants. Blowing out a breath, I fall into the rolling chair behind the desk. At least it’s comfortable. I decide to unpack my laptop and other items before going in search of people. Maybe they have a breakfast meeting downtown at the diner every Thursday?

I don’t recall JD or Hayes saying anything, but memories of this town are sensitive for me, so I would likely tune out any mention of Saddle Creek.

When Hays and JD opened the new office here, they offered me a position. I was hesitant to take the job at first. Then, I mentioned the possibility of moving home to my mom. She was so over the moon excited about me moving back, how could I say no?

I took the job, packed up my place in Austin, and moved back home—back into the house I grew up in, no less—imagining that Mom and I would get to spend time together.

However, she had other plans.

Since she’s newly retired from her teaching job, she has her heart set on traveling like she always dreamed of when I was young. So now that I’m back home to look over the house and care for her cats—okay, technically, our cats—she’s hit the road.

As soon as I agreed to move home, she booked a cruise. To Australia. She’ll have weeks on the boat and two months Down Under.

I moved home to be near her, and all she saw was a glorified pet sitter.

I pinch my nose as a headache threatens. Caffeine will help. A door flings open down the hall as I reach for my coffee, followed by the thump of heavy booted steps.

“Yeah, I’ve got this floor,” a deep, masculine voice calls. Something is familiar about that voice, but I can’t place it.

I wait, sitting behind my desk, and he comes into view. Holy hot fireman calendar! I’m pretty sure Mr. October just stopped in front of my new office. He’s wearing full firefighter gear—at least, it looks that way to me. His helmet shield thingy is raised, giving me a glimpse of his masculine beauty.

He storms into the room and kneels beside my chair. A huge, gloved hand braces on one of the armrests, and he winks at me. “Don’t you worry, ma’am. I’ll get you out of this building safely.”

The wink solidifies my recognition. Mr. October is Garrett Whitmore. But before I can say anything to the bane of my high school existence, he tosses me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Probably way heavier than most bags of veggies, considering the extra weight on my five-and-a-half-foot frame. But that’s too damn bad. I sure as hell didn’t ask him to pick me up!

Then he’s running—running—to the staircase. His beefy shoulder jars into my belly, and he takes us down the stairs. I’m so damn confused that I don’t say anything, though my mouth is open and ready to spew words in his direction. I don’t even know what to say.

Is the building under some kind of threat? I inhale deeply but don’t smell smoke or gas.

“Is there something wrong with the building? I didn’t see anyone else, but I don’t smell smoke,” I huff.

“You’re safe with me,” is all he says in response.

Garrett bursts out a door on the side of the building and sprints into a field where I see other firefighters, EMTs, and presumably my co-workers. He moves as far away from the building as possible, near a large shade tree. Judging from the amount of acorns littering the ground around us, it’s an oak tree.