Chapter One
Teagan
November 23rd, 2017
Thanksgiving has always been a huge deal in my family. We have never missed one before. That is until this year. My parents decided that since my three older brothers were going out of town that they were going to go on a cruise. Leaving me, their youngest, at home to fend for myself. At twenty-two, you’d think I would be okay with having my parent’s huge house all to myself, but I’m not.
I have always been family-oriented. While most girls my age want to go to college and party their life away or get high powered jobs, I would rather stay at home and read a book. I have always wanted to be a wife and a stay-at-home mom. I just want to take care of my family while my husband works. I know that sounds so old-fashioned, but I don’t care. That is my dream, and I am determined to have it all.
The only flaw in my plan is I can’t cook to save my life. I figured it was a great year to start trying. I invited Suzy, my best friend, and my two older cousins, Evan and Sam. That cascaded into Candy, Evan’s new fiancée, and her friend Kristy. I also invited a guy from my gym as a date for Suzy. I am hoping that I get along with the new girls because I think Suzy and I need some new girlfriends to hang out with.
I know cooking a massive meal for six people, when I can’t even cook for myself is an asinine plan. It would have been my first year without the traditional turkey and all the fixings, and I could not let that happen. I knew I was going to need to get up early, so I went to bed at ten and set my alarm for six. When my alarm goes off, I briefly think that it is no wonder my mom quit this year. As I walk into the kitchen, I start to question my sanity. Why the hell did I think I would be able to do this? I’m doing it though, and it’s not like I am going to burn down the house or anything.
It’s too damn early for me to have a freak out, so I set those feelings aside. Taking a few calming breaths, I get my first cup of coffee for the day. I add sugar and pumpkin spice creamer to doctor it up. With a long sip, I relish in its addictive qualities. Anyone who knows me knows that I cannot start my day without my coffee. I then pick my phone up off the counter and put on some country music, turning it up full blast.
Giving myself another quick pep talk, I head to the freezer. I pull out the twenty-five-pound beast and place it in the pan my mom always uses. I butter up the bird. I use a shit ton of butter, because who doesn’t like butter? Then I sprinkle on salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, sage, and thyme. Deciding that should do it, I open the oven and shove the turkey inside, close the door and turn it up to 500 degrees.
“I can do this,” I say out loud as I wipe my bangs out of my face. Turning to the counter, I start making all the other fixings: Mac and cheese, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and yams. I tell myself that this isn’t so hard. All I gotta to do is follow all of Mom’s instructions. Which I hastily wrote down yesterday afternoon. I cheated and bought pies in the big grocery store two towns away. Kissing Junction is a small town, and if I bought them at the local store everyone would know!
As I empty the dishwasher to get a head start on the dishes I have already used, I start singing along to “Jolene” by Dolly Parton. I’m so lost in using my spatula microphone that I don’t notice the soapy water on the floor until it is too late. One minute I’m singing and dancing and the next I’m slipping on the floor smashing the back of my head on the counter. I cry out and fall forward and hit my forehead against the corner of the open dishwasher. I smash it so hard that I see stars and my vision blurs as I reach up to my face with a shaky hand that comes away with blood. My last thought before my world goes black is ‘oh fuck is that the smoke alarm?’
Chapter Two
Marc
At thirty years old, I have been thinking more about settling down. I’m just waiting for that special someone. Someone who wants to be taken care of and be the mother of my children. I want the kind of unconditional love my grandparents had. My Papaw always told me that when I see her, I’ll just know she is the one for me. That if I am patient she will find me. I am starting to give up hope though. Most of the women I meet, or date just turn out to be badge bunnies who like the thought of me being a firefighter. However, it doesn’t last long with my long shifts. They say I don’t have enough time for them. They move on to the next guy quickly. Even though the long shifts are the standard, unless you are the chief.
I’ve stopped looking. Besides, there isn’t much I can do with it being the holiday season. Most of my time is spent at the station, fighting fires. I have been a firefighter for ten years, and I can honestly say that the holiday season is our busiest time of year. I can’t even tell you how many fires I have been to over the years. All because someone decided it would be a good idea to try and deep fry a turkey or put it in the oven still frozen.
We get at least thirty calls a day, even in a small town like Kissing Junction. Luckily, I am at the end of my forty-eight-hour shift. Then I get three glorious days off where I will be watching the football game and drinking beer then sleeping for twenty hours straight.
I’m about to clock out when we get a call about a house fire in Tremont Hills. Those old ass McMansion’s burn like paper. I must go. I can’t leave my brothers in the lurch. I groan out loud. “Fuck!” I was so close to freedom. Sliding down the pole, I see my best friend Cameron already getting his gear on, and I’m not far behind him. We are dressed and in the rig in under two minutes and on the road.
The Tremont Hills subdivision is about two miles from Main Street, where the firehouse is situated. Once we turn in the already open gates, Cam looks over at me with his trademark smirk, “I told you we’d have one more call right when you were about to leave. Now pay up sucker.” I never should have bet him that I’d get out of here on time. I am about to answer him when I see the house ablaze with thick smoke and fire on one side. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. My onl
y thought is that it is imperative that I get into that house now. I don’t know what comes over me. It’s like I am being pulled by an invisible force.
Breaking protocol, I burst out of the rig and start running towards the front of the house. I can hear Chief Evers screaming “What the fuck are you doing Elson? Get your ass back here.” I am already kicking the front door open and running inside. To my left is the living room. I turn to the right and duck under the flames into what used to be the kitchen. I frantically search around, but there is no one at eye level.
As I move to clear the room, I see her. “Shit, someone’s in here,” I yell into my headset. I feel like my heart is going to break just looking at the woman sprawled on the floor with blood on her face. I have never felt this way before. With shaky hands, I reach down to check for a pulse. Just as I get close to touching her pale, slender neck, she starts to stir and immediately begins coughing. I blow out the breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.
Quickly composing myself I ask “Miss, is there anyone else in the house? Kids, pets, anyone?” I have already lifted her into my arms as I ask these questions. Fuck, she is light as a feather. “No, Sir. I am all alone.” She starts sobbing as I pull her closer to my chest and run to the back door, kicking it open. I rush towards the ambulance. I see my team has already started putting out the blaze and my Chief is glaring at me like he is going to kill me. I don’t care though. My only thought is making sure the woman in my arms is going to be okay.
Reaching the ambulance, I softly lay her on a gurney. When I start to back away from her, she grabs my hand. “Please don’t leave me,” she begs with tears running down her face. God, she sounds so vulnerable with her little voice begging me to stay. Pulling my helmet off, I look down into her big brown eyes. All the air leaves my body and it feels like I have been sucker punched in the chest. Most people don’t believe in love at first sight, but one look at her beautiful face and I know that I’ve found the woman that is meant to be mine.
“What is your name Princess?” I ask her, trying to keep her awake. She says “Teagan,” before going into a coughing fit. The paramedic tells us we have to go. I know that I am going to get reprimanded for leaving a scene, but I don’t care, my only thought is to keep my Teagan safe. So, I hop in the back and grab her small hand giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Seeing her small hand in mine feels so right. In that moment I know I am never letting her go. Leaning down, I say “My name is Marc, and I am not going anywhere Princess, you are safe with me.” I have never been surer of anything in my life, I would kill anyone who tried to hurt her. I am like some kind of caveman, because the only thought that keeps going through my head is she is mine.
Chapter Three
Teagan
I had never felt as safe as when I was in his arms. When he went to pull back from me I started to panic, and I asked him not to leave. I don’t know who this man is, but for some reason, he feels important to me. When he gets into the ambulance with me, I feel this calming wave of energy rush over me. It’s like my soul already knows this man will never hurt me.
As soon as we arrive at the hospital, I am immediately wheeled to a triage room, where I see that the nurse is Suzy, my best friend. She and a couple of other nurses start to hook me up to machines. Checking my head, they determine that I don’t need stitches. Thank God, I hate needles.
Suzy is fussing over me like a fucking mother hen, all the while bitching me out. “What the fuck is going on in that head of yours T? I knew this was a bad idea. You can’t even boil water, let alone cook for multiple people.”
Finally looking away from me she sees Marc for the first time, and her mouth drops open. “Wow,” she clears her throat. She gives me a questioning look. “I’m going to call Evan and have the doctor come in to check and see if you have smoke inhalation.” Squeezing my leg, she leaves the room.
Throughout this whole ordeal Marc has not let go of my hand once. When Suzy said she was calling Evan I could feel Marc stiffen slightly give me a strange look. He almost looks jealous, and a bit pissed off. As soon as the door closes, Marc turns to me and gazes into my eyes.
“How are you feeling Princess? Are you sure you’re okay? Who is Evan?” I am about to answer when the doctor comes in and starts examining me. “I am Doctor Pillman. Let’s see what’s going on here. He is attractive. In a very clinical way he puts his gloved hand under my shirt and places the stethoscope wherever it needs to be. Marc stiffens beside me. I instinctively squeeze his hand. He instantly relaxes. Doctor Pillman listens to my lungs and checks my nose and mouth. “Any chest pain or dizziness?” The doctor asks. “No just a headache. Other than that, I feel fine. Are you related to Candy Pillman?” I ask. “Yes. She is my younger sister. Are you a friend of hers?”
“Not yet. She is my cousin's fiancée. I was supposed to meet her today, before I burnt my parent’s house down.” I start crying again and Marc rubs circles on my back. I don’t know why but that small action instantly calms me. The doctor looks like he is no stranger to tears though and continues like I am not being a huge baby.
“All right Teagan, you have a mild concussion, but the good news is that you don’t have any signs of smoke inhalation and you’ll be able to go home tonight. I recommend you have someone with you so that you can be woken up every two hours. I’m also prescribing you something for your pain. I’ll have Suzy come in with your discharge papers and instructions for things you should be looking out for with a concussion.”
He leaves, and Marc and I are left alone again.
“Who is Evan, Teagan?” He growls. I see he has his other hand in a fist and he looks like he is about ready to punch someone. He looks even hotter when he’s pissed.
“He’s my cousin. He used to work here.” He looks like he is about to say something when Suzy rushes in with a stack of papers and she is talking a mile a minute
“I’m so sorry T, Evan isn’t picking up the phone, and I know your parents and brothers are out of town. One of the nurses called in sick, and I am stuck here all night. I don’t want you to be alone.” I swear that when she says no one was picking up, Marc breathes a sigh of relief.
“You’re going to come home with me, so I can take care of you, Princess. I would be more than happy to have you stay with me.” My heart leaps into my throat. I have just met this man, and already I feel like I can trust him with my life. I decide to throw caution to the wind and go with him. He is the most handsome man I have ever seen, let alone spoken too. “Okay.” I say in a small voice. I don’t want to be away from him anyways. I feel like I can’t be away from him.
Suzy is looking at me like I’ve lost my damn mind. I look at her right back, daring her to say something. She knows better than to question me, we both know that I am stubborn as hell, hence the reason I am in the ER right now.
“Great. I already texted one of my buddies from work to bring my truck, and he just got here. Suzy, you don’t mind watching her ‘til I get back, do you?” He asks.
Before she can answer, he is standing up from where he has been sitting for the last hour. Jesus, I didn’t realize how tall he was. He’s gotta be at least six feet tall and towers over Suzy who is the same height as me. When she just looks at him dumbfounded. He crosses his arms and raises a dark brow. He waits until she gives him a meek nod, before turning back towards me.
I don’t know why but just the thought of him leaving has me starting to panic, I start to shake, and big tears start to form in the corner of my eyes while my lip starts to tremble. He quickly leans over the bed placing his hands on of face, which effectively stops my tears from free-flowing. I grab onto his forearms and practically dig my fingers into his skin.