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“I didn’t. He dumped me.”

Grandma straightened. The eyebrows she’d had tattooed on years ago rose in disbelief. “Then he must not be very smart and doesn’t deserve you. If I were you, I wouldn’t talk to him again.”

If only Marlowe had had that choice. “You were the one who called him before the crack of dawn and invited him here.”

She sniffed and leaned back into the couch, still considering the matter. “On the other hand, maybe he’s come to his senses. He was staring at you pretty intently while you two talked.”

If he had been, it wasn’t because he was interested. “He has a girlfriend,” Marlowe reminded her. “One who’s going to be a doctor.” They’d be the perfect medical power couple. “And I could tell Jace wasn’t impressed with me because he asked if cutting hair was really my long-term plan. Okay, he didn’t actually say it like that,” Marlowe amended before her grandmother could become indignant on her behalf, “but I could tell he thought it.”

“Fine,” Grandma said with a martyred sigh. “I promise to stay off the roof. I’ll call Joe or whatever other high-priced, overcharging service man we need the next time.” She waved away a protest that Marlowe wasn’t giving. “Don’t worry about me being on a fixed income. I’m sure I’ll be able to scrape up the money somehow.”

A guilt trip wasn’t going to work. Grandma’s fixed income not only covered her living expenses but also paid Marlowe for caregiver duties, with money left over at the end of the month. “That’s not the favor I’m asking for. I want you to do something that won’t cost you anything.”

Grandma cocked her head. “Do you want me to egg his fire engine with you? I’ll do it.” She looked entirely too pleased by this option, and Marlowe wasn’t sure she was joking.

Marlowe placed her hands together in a gesture of patience. “I just want one simple thing. I’ve decided to sign up for that business class, and once my parents find out about your trip to the roof, there’s no way they’re going to let me leave you alone every Wednesday night.”

Grandma groaned and reached for the remote, but Marlowe moved it out of her reach. “You were just willing to go to jail for me. You should be willing to have some chipper college student come over and spend a couple of hours with you before you go to bed.” Her grandmother was one of those morning people who rose at dawn and so went to bed at eight-thirty.

“You think I couldn’t egg a fire engine without getting caught? Jail was never on the table.”

“Grandma…”

Her grandmother groaned again. “Fine. But I’m running a background check on whoever you choose. No one is allowed into the house with anything more shocking than a speeding ticket.”

This, from the woman who had just suggested vandalizing a fire truck. Marlowe handed Grandma the remote. “I’ll create a post asking for recommendations, and you can help me pick the perfect candidate.”

A little thrill of determination, of expanding hope, grew inside Marlowe. She was going to take the plunge and sign up for the class.

Her dream of opening up her own salon was back on track.

CHAPTER 2

Jace rode in the engine with the others as it rumbled back toward the fire station. He’d wanted to get some experience over his break. Now he could officially add retrieving grandmothers from rooftops to his resume.

Small town life. He’d missed its quirkiness in California. He’d also missed the pine trees that towered over the roads in Lark Springs, making everything appear peaceful. So different from the clogged streets of LA. Being here was one more reason to be glad he’d passed his pretest with flying colors and didn’t need to study over his break as much as most of the med students he knew.

Definitely not a wasted day.

While the other guys on the crew talked and joked around, Jace’s mind firmly stayed on Marlowe. Yeah, seeing her would likely make everything else that happened today seem forgettable, and that was saying something considering that, theoretically, today could still see him in the middle of a blazing fire.

When had Marlowe started living with her grandmother? He’d heard that her parents moved to Bozeman after she graduated from high school, and he’d assumed she’d gone with them. If she’d been here in Lark Springs the whole time, it was strange that they hadn’t crossed paths during any of his trips back.

Coincidence? Or had she been avoiding him?

Granted, things between them hadn’t ended well, but he’d still been surprised to find her … well, not quite hostile, but definitely resentful.

After their breakup, she’d moved on quickly. A girl like Marlowe never lacked for attention. That long blonde hair of hers still had an effortless shine, like it was made of sunshine. And her eyes were a startling green that, when she turned them in your direction, made you forget what you were saying. She wasn’t just hometown-cute or high-school-nostalgia pretty but turn-your-head beautiful.

During his first two years of college, he occasionally checked on her social media to see what she was doing in high school. She’d been a varsity cheerleader and dated every jock in the school.

From the front passenger seat, Cameron, the captain of the crew, twisted to look over his shoulder. “Not a bad call to start the day. An easily fixed problem, and I rate Marlowe’s legs a ten out of ten. Plus, the woman is as nice as they come.”

She hadn’t been to Jace. Also, Cameron shouldn’t be rating the patient’s family, especially not Marlowe.

Eli, the driver, tapped his fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel. “I never mind getting calls from Mrs. Partridge since Marlowe moved in with her.”

“Are there a lot of them?” Jace asked.