“Oh no, you don’t have to pay him. He’d do it for free.”
“Just because he enjoys it doesn’t mean he shouldn’t charge for it. It’ll be good for him to have a job. It’ll steady him, give him something to be proud of.”
“Is that the voice of experience speaking?” Debra smiled.
“Absolutely.” Sean exchanged a ten-dollar bill for his five cups of coffee and waved the change away. “Thanks for letting me come by in the evenings.”
She waited until the door closed on him, leaving her alone in the café. The tears she had held back brimmed her eyes. No, thank you, Sean. Thank you for wanting to come by.
Aidan’s hoots of laughter and Jewel’s joyous barks kept Debra company as she scooped large portions of browned chicken chunks and mixed vegetables into the pie crust. Sean’s laughter rang out as she slid the chicken potpie into the oven and set the timer. He spoke over the noise, “No, no, Aidan. When you hop up and down, she’s gonna jump too. Keep your voice calm and firm when you say, ‘Sit.’”
“Sit,” Aidan ordered. He pumped his fist into the air. “Whoot, she did it!”
“Her butt hit the ground for a fraction of a second. It doesn’t count.”
“Sure it did. I didn’t tell her for how long.”
Sean chuckled. “Okay, here’s another treat for her. Let’s try it again.”
Debra opened the back door and joined them on the patio. “How’s doggy training school coming along?”
“Awesome,” Aidan and Sean said in unison. They flashed each other a grin.
“Watch me, Mom.” Aidan held up the treat. “Sit!”
Jewel jumped high.
Debra laughed and sat on the lower step. “Is she too young for this?”
“No.” Sean shook his head. “Eight weeks is a good time to start. She’ll grow to be a big dog, so the sooner she learns to listen, the better off everyone will be.” He gestured to the empty space beside Debra. “May I?”
Her heartbeat skittered. “Yes, of course.”
“Thanks. I’ve been on my feet most of the day, getting things organized for the fire safety exhibit at Aidan’s school next week.”
His body heat warmed her and his scent—rich, musky, all male—went straight to her head. With effort, she dragged her thoughts back into the safe zone. “What’s the exhibit about?”
“Fire safety,” Sean repeated.
Oh, right. He said that. She tried for a graceful save. “I mean, what’s in it?”
“Most of what you’d expect. Safety tips like turning off stoves, blowing out candles. When to call 911. We’ll be bringing the fire engine up there too so the kids can check it out.”
“Sounds like fun.” She smiled. “Once, I wanted to be a fireman.”
“Oh?”
“I think it might have been after ballerina and before astronaut.”
Sean laughed. The deep, sexy sound set off the butterflies in her stomach. “And then what happened?” he asked.
“Life happened.” She gestured at Aidan, who was romping through the yard with Jewel. “I had Aidan at twenty-four, and I put a lot of plans on hold while I figured out how to be his mother.”
“And you did it alone.”
She nodded. “Peter, Aidan’s father, didn’t love me.”
A small furrow set in Sean’s brow. “You say that so calmly.”
“It’s a fact. I knew it then. I know it now.”
“And yet, Aidan…”
“I kept him. Everyone told me it was crazy, that I wasn’t ready to be a mother. And they were right.” Debra wrapped her hands around her knees, hugging her legs to her chest. “I think things might have been a little easier if my parents were still alive. I like to think they would have supported my decision.”
“You kept Aidan because you didn’t want to be alone.”
Debra shot Sean a startled glance. “I…” Her gaze drifted past his shoulder as she turned the words over in her mind. “I guess I did.” Their eyes met again and she stiffened against the tingle down her spine. “I wasn’t expecting to bare my soul.”
“You didn’t.” Sean’s smile flashed. “We’re just chatting.”
“So what brings you to Havre de Grace?”
“Jack’s an old family friend, and when he told me there was an opening for a fireman here, I decided to take it.”
“Are you enjoying it so far?”
Sean nodded. He leaned back on his elbows and stretched his legs out before him. He wore a faint smile as he raised his face to the breeze. “I love Havre de Grace. It’s got the small-town feel, but enough outside influences from D.C. and Baltimore to not feel entirely closed in. Right now, I’m renting an apartment, but I’m thinking of upgrading to a house with a yard.”
“For Jewel?”
He nodded.
“It’s an expensive upgrade just to keep a dog.”
He shrugged. “We all choose to spend money in different ways. Spending it on a dog who returns your affection with loyal companionship isn’t a bad trade. Besides—” His phone rang. He suddenly stiffened but made no attempt to reach for it.
Maybe he wanted to take the call in private. Debra shot to her feet. “I’m going to check on the oven. Dinner should be done by now.” She scurried into the kitchen and removed the chicken potpie from the oven, setting it on the island to cool. She glanced out through the window. Sean remained on the porch step. His relaxed sprawl had tightened into an upright pose and a subtle hunch of his shoulders, but he did not have the phone in his hand.
None of my business, she reminded herself as she set the table for three before delivering the chicken potpie and the mixed salad to the dining table. She raised her voice. “Dinner’s ready, boys. Come and get it.”
Sean came over every evening that week, and Debra fed him dinner. He never asked to stay, but how could she not extend the invitation when Aidan’s exuberance shot up several notches in Sean’s presence. Although training Jewel was a large part of their interaction, Sean’s conversations with
