Tara finished the salmon and beans but pushed the potatoes around her plate. “I can’t eat any more.” She rested her fork on her plate and leaned back, huffing out air.
Ryan had cleaned his plate in the time it took her just to eat her salmon. “So. How did Silva do as crew chief?”
“Great. He knows the job and knows fire. Everyone likes him.”
“You like him?” he asked, sipping his wine.
She took a deep breath and her gut knotted. Where was he going with this? “He’s a nice guy and treats everyone fairly.”
“Heard he has a thing for you.”
She choked on her wine. “A thing? Who told you, a fast raven?” Who’s been gossiping about her?
“Fire is a small world. You know how word gets around.” His eyes penetrated hers. “Besides, I noticed his fondness for you in training.”
“Maybe you read too much into it. As I recall, the last time we talked, you chewed me out.”
“You did the same.”
“I know. I’m sorry for what I said.” Tara stared at the ducks riding the river current.
Ryan rested his forearms on the table. “I didn’t ask you here expecting an apology. I shouldn’t have pressured you about counseling.”
“I told you. I’d handle it on my own. I know Jim Dolan told you to help me with it and I appreciate that, but I’ve got this.” She looked at the river to steady herself.
“You made that clear the first time.” An awkward silence settled between them.
“How about we forget everything and start again?” He lifted his wine in a truce.
She thought a moment. “Not everything. I can’t forget Denali. Or the glacier. Or how easy you are to talk to—” She looked away then back at him. “Why did you show up at my door?”
Ryan glanced at the river, then locked his glacial eyes on hers. “I lit a backfire near Bettles—before the crazy. The sun hovered above the mountains, rays coming through the trees. The flames changed from orange to dark red as the fire settled for the night. Same color as your hair…it reminded me of you.”
She slid her gaze to him. “That’s so poetic.”
He had thought about her. She sat in a daze, her face warming at the casual way he said it. She lifted a hand to her cheek.
The server appeared and asked if they wanted more wine.
Ryan made a no gesture and set his glass on the table.
His voice quieted. “I don’t know how else to explain it. I want to know you better.”
“Well, I’d be lying if I said I never thought about you. It’s just that…I’m not sure I can get involved again.” Her words felt lame and immature, but it was her truth.
He leaned toward her. “Who hurt you? I probably know him, there’s only four-hundred-thirty smokejumpers nationwide.”
“Travis McGuire.” She shot it at him like a bullet.
“Seriously?” He sat back, looking surprised. “I’ve jumped fires with him. He’s a helluva smokejumper. Did a terrific job as IC on the Copper Peak Fire. Nice guy.”
She raised a brow. “Not how I would describe him.”
“What did he do to you?”
Tara sighed. “We were engaged to be married and he four-timed me.”
“Four-timed? How does that even work?” He tilted his head to the side and ticked off four fingers. “Four women at separate times or all at once? Sounds like an orgy.”
“Ha, an orgy!” She threw back her head, laughing as she envisioned it.
“Well, was it?” His smile spread to a full-fledged grin, like a dimmer switch gradually turning up.
She was grateful for the lighthearted moment. “No, not an orgy. He hooked up with three women and me at various times.”
Ryan shook his head. “I’m sorry he did that to you.”
“Don’t apologize. You didn’t do it.”
“You’re right. But if he hadn’t, you wouldn’t be here with me. Do you think I’d do the same?” He reached across the table and placed his hand on hers.
She searched his face, trying to decide whether to parachute off a cliff with someone who did it for a living.
“The answer is no, Tara. I wouldn’t.”
She wanted desperately to believe Ryan but couldn’t help thinking what Silva had said about him.
“You’re so…” The words balled up in her throat. She swallowed hard. “Are you a guy who goes from woman to woman?”
“Why would you think that? Don’t you trust me?”
“I don’t know you well enough to make that call.”
“How about we fix that?” He pushed back his chair. “Come on. Let’s walk along the river.”
“Sounds good.” She reached for her wallet.
They each stuffed their cash inside the folder with their dinner bill, leaving it on the table.
When Ryan stood and stretched, she tried not to gape as his shirt lifted, exposing tight skin. She imagined what he looked like bare-chested and drew in a short breath.
They followed a paved walkway next to the wide, serene river, a gentle breeze fluttering birch leaves along its banks. A couple strolled by with a golden retriever puppy on a leash.
“Oh, that reminds me.” Tara pulled out her cell and held it up, displaying Ryan’s photo with the wolf pups. “Tell me about finding the wolf pups. Ryan, you’re a celebrity. You’re even on national news.”
“While Gunnar and I waited for our ride, I heard whimpering from under a burned-out stump, and there they were. Brought them back and gave them to the Wildlife Rescue people.”
“Where was the mama?”
“Nowhere to be seen.”
“I’d give anything to hold a wolf pup. What an incredible experience.” She envisioned him kneeling on a blackened mountaintop and digging through ash to find the litter.
“Yes, it was. Glad we found them when we did.”
Ryan veered off the path to sit on a bench overlooking the river, where the mottled ducks gathered to ride the current.
She sat next to him, fiddling with a dandelion. Every cell in her body tuned into his heat.
He watched the birds for a long moment. “Thanks for having dinner with me. I wanted to see you before fire season ends
